"Born-again" Christian?

Jesus replied, “I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven.”

“Born again” Christian, I had always thought that was an “odd” term before I became one.

Ever try to play games such as Chinese checkers, chess, Cribbage or Mancala without knowing the directions? Ever try to build one of those Lego models without instructions? How about painting a picture of a landscape without knowing the basic principles of perspective, dimension, scale, and color?

Those things would be difficult to do and even harder to appreciate without some kind of knowledge or direction.

That was what it was like before I was a "born again" Christian. I couldn’t appreciate, behave, act or live out a Christian life because had not received the Holy Spirit from heaven. Before I was “born again” I saw Christianity as a religion even though I considered myself Christian. And I only regarded myself Christian because I attended “Christian” churches as a child and believed in God not Buddha, Muhammad or some other god.

I knew some bible stories but the stories didn’t make this collective cohesion that made total sense. I would also try to read the bible but it either didn’t bring much meaning or didn’t stick. Church services… I might as well been wearing earplugs.
It was like I had this great treasure map but the “X” to mark the spot to change my life was invisible.

You could have told me that Jesus is the “X” on the treasure map but it would had made no difference. I would have been blind and deaf to the fact that Jesus was the “X”.

Christianity didn’t start make sense until I was “born again”.

Just as Ananias placed his hands on Saul and he received the Holy Spirit I too had received the Holy Spirit when a woman, a total stranger, prayed and placed her hand on me when I went to church as a courtesy to some family moving out of state . (ACTS 9:17) A new spirit had come within me. Figuratively the Holy Spirit had turned on the lights.

The Holy Spirit let me see the things of God and the importance of the role of Jesus Christ in our lives. He let the words and messages from the bible and our pastor make sense as I soaked them up like a sponge. A tender heart that was receptive to what God was showing and teaching me had replaced the stony heart. In short not only was my blindness and deafness healed but I had been given new life.

The love of the Father God and Jesus had birthed me a new spiritual life by the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 35:5 “And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf.”

Ezekiel 11:19 “And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead, so they will obey my laws and regulation. They will truly be my people, and I will be their God.”

OUT OF THE HOLE

I have been speaking to others who have found themselves in a hole in which they have dug themselves. They have tried to claw their way out of this hole and no one has been able or willing to help them out of this hole they have found themselves in.

Their calls for help have been ignored.

They have been enabled by others and professionals such a doctors who write up subscriptions to mask the effects of the root of the problem.

They have been encouraged to stay in their hole in hopes it will all pass in time.

They have been spoon fed this idea that it is everyone elses fault that they are in this hole.

They have been beat back into the hole with remarks that they will never change and/or deserve to be stuck in that hole.

They have been threatened and lied to and fear a life outside the hole.

They have gotten so used to “misery” and “burden” that they have decided to make them their constant living companions.

I can’t get them out of this hole. You can't get them out of this hole. I could throw them a rope and if I some how convinced them to climb the rope, they would probably end up coming to the top of the hole- taking a quick look around and jump back into that hole again.

I have seen one of those holes first hand and you would be surprised what a person can get used to after a while.

Nope… the only way a person will want to come out of that hole is when the hole starts to collapse and it’s life or death threatening and they still won’t be able to get out of that hole themselves.

God’s is the only one who can retrieve a person from a hole they have dug themselves

No way out and no one to turn to… I gave my life to God and he seeing something of value in me, that I could not, pulled me out of that hole and gave me a new life, a new perspective which is maturing and growing everyday under his watchful and loving eye.

If you are in that hole….

Do yourself a favor and give your life to God. He created you. He knows what you need and he will give you a life that you did not even know was possible as long as you trust Him.

From there he will give you to Jesus who will give you the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will give you greater insight of why Jesus is so important in your life and through this growing understanding you will gain greater maturing insight about life, hope, love, joy, and peace.

You will overcome many of the things in your old life and have a "continual" testimony to share with others for many years to come.

You will still have trials and struggles but through the new insight that God gives you, you will overcome all of them with "his" help.

If you aren't in a hole but know some who is, don't give up on them but continue to pray for them and ask God to give you the words and actions for when you do speak to them.

Life and Death

I am being constantly reminded lately that this body I live in is only temporary. It is simply a vessel to carry what is precious to God. It is not constructed and created for eternity like our soul. It is just for the number of days we have here on earth and it is useless once we exit out of it.

Life…. It is so brief no matter the age- when we go to meet our maker. Life has no guarantees that we will make it to ripe old age and only God knows the number of our days we have here on earth.

“For we are like a breath of air; our days are like a passing shadow.” Psalm 144:4

Life is impossible to hold onto, that includes ours and anyone else's.

"If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life." Luke 9:24

Holding onto life is like holding onto fear. If a person who holds on to fear, they only find their fear worthless and that they have lost their life holding on it.

If we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, why worry over something we have no control of - love and live like you have no tomorrow for we don’t know when it will be our loved ones last day with us or our last day with them and heaven’s angels come to get us.

I have seen those who slip away surrounded by loved ones- grateful to God that they are no longer suffering and now I have seen the young- the so very young taken without warning and their parents crushed and brokenhearted as they cry out in such great sorrow over their tiny ones body.

This mission trip I have felt the daggers of painful sorrow as if it were my own child lying there in that make do casket in our sister church in Mexico.

A beautiful one-year-old boy, a gift from God. One day there… attached to his mother’s side and the next -him breathless and still in a box surrounded by a white blanket and white plastic. A child should never be put in a box especially this early.

I was not angered for I know nothing is impossible with God.

I remembered Jesus words,"Then he said, 'Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.'" and "The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father." John 11:11 & John 14:12

Perplexed, I held his hand; lay my head on his little chest, touching his baby cheeks, whispering, “Wake up precious boy,” over and over again. He didn’t seem dead to me but in deep sleep. His skin still filled with color, still filled with many years to go. His body no odor of death. His fingers and arms still loose and untouched by the stiffness of death. This was no shell of a body like I seen in the recent days and in past.

Perplexed, I was kept there by the Spirit. Believing God could breath life back into him again. Though people were mourning I had no inkling that this was truly the end. Though the hospital denied him my God never denies even when there is lack of sufficient funds.

My God provides. My God heals. My God is the resurrection and the life. I believed that God was going to put breath back into his little body again, heal the little one of his wounds and the painful sting of death would be erased with great celebration in Christ Jesus.

These weren’t good intentions -these were humble and believing and fruitful Spirit filled emotions.

The Holy Spirit then told me to have his mother come over and be with her baby boy. The Holy Spirit then released and I was only left to comfort the mourning.

(A week or two later, I was told by a sister in Christ that she got the impression that Hector was being held by Jesus. She, my pastor and I were the ones the Holy Spirit kept near baby Hector's body. She said that she got this image that baby Hector would laugh and giggle with joy as he was being held by Jesus and then he would look down as if looking at his mother for a moment or two and then would return his focus to Jesus and begin to laugh and giggle again. After I heard this, this made perfect sense to me. If you are in the presence of Jesus why would you want to come back. For when I was in the presence of Jesus, he brought me such joy that I did not want to stop looking at him. No matter how much praying and encouraging, you cannot stop the will, even a small child's will, to come back if he/she doesn't want to come back to this life. For Jesus brings so much joy you want to be in his presence.)

Soon after his mother spent some more time beside her baby son's body, news came that the death certificate had been finalized and they had permission to bury the baby boy’s body. The baby boy’s father and our pastor carried his little casket to the church with mother and family and friends following.

I am sure I was not the only one who wept. I did not weep for baby boy Hector but his family for Hector was with Jesus.

Death... it had followed me to Mexico it seemed and now I was experiencing a different type of passing then I did a few days before with my dad’s passing of cancer.

This type of death stung and felt like a ripping deep within one’s soul. Oh this life would not pass by soon enough for those left behind -when it came to the passing of this precious child.

For Hector would only have to wait moments for his family to join him because he now lives in God's time but those left behind it would seem like a very fair away reuniting.

Was this an unfair death? What would come of this sudden and too short of life?

The memorial service was followed by a long drive out to a dusty road to an unkempt cemetery with many wood white crosses. People stood under umbrellas and a single shady tree. The tree branches had thistles and I could not help but feel how painful poetic it was….

It was then I heard the father let out a painful cry over his son’s body as he kissed his flesh and embrace his body one last time. Oh the pain….. His mother Sandra, again deeply mourned and kissed his little face one last time. Again the pain…..

They then closed… the casket and carried it to a small rectangle hole where I could not bare to watch for it did not seem right.

Family then dropped dirt on the casket and the cemetery grounds men quickly covered the box and I wondered how everyone could watch as the dry dust stirred in the 100 degree heat.

Life is precious. Life is sweet. Life is painful.

Life...

Do we make the most of every opportunity to love in life? Do we trust God more then everything else in life? Do we pray more then we fear? Do we let go more then we hang onto? Do we think before we speak not knowing if those would be the last words our loved ones would hear from us or we would hear from them? Do we live knowing we have no guarantees of tomorrow?

Yes my God provides. Yes my God heals. Yes my God is the resurrection and the life.

What came of precious boy Hector's death? His father and grandmother came to the Lord and the day following Hector's memorial service many children cheerfully accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior at the churches vacation bible school. I was reminded so vividly of all the above. Life here on earth is short no matter what our age. Life is fragile and with God's help we have to make the most of every opportunity to do right and love as if it were our last day to do so. That God cares for our physical needs but it's our soul that is most important to him. That God is God, I will probably never "completely" understand His ways and I am just a passing shadow...

“For we are like a breath of air; our days are like a passing shadow.” Psalm 144:4

It is the God in Us.

I have been thinking about my encounter of seeing Jesus in the tree.

The other day I shared with my sister about my encounter with Jesus in the tree as I read what the Spirit of the Lord lead me to. Isaiah 41:11-20 said, "I will plant trees- cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir and pine- on the barren land. Everyone will see this miracle and understand that is the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, who did it."

The Holy One of Israel is Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 61:3 "To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the LORD has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory."

Then one of my favorite psalms came to mind. Psalm 1: "Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper."

King David spoke about this joy and how this joy gave him strength. Psalm 73:24 "You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever."

We are trees planted by the Lord and because he has planted us we trust in Him. Though the storms come, the winds blow strong, the conditions of the weather of the situation may change drastically but we are kept upright by the Lord's Spirit which is in us. For the Lord's Spirit is in us and He gives us joy in the midst of diversity. For in diversity we turn to God and because he loves us he turns to us.

He cares for those he has planted and "those mountains" are soon torn apart into dust and tossed up and carried away in the wind for we know this can not happen unless we turn to the LORD, our GOD.

And when people happen to ask, why don't you settle, why you believe, you don't try to get even... you can say, "It is the God in me".

Vision of Jesus In a Tree- Joy

Last night I just spent some time in the presence of the Lord because I have been feeling this mixture of negative feelings lately. I was more or less feeling misunderstood, undesired and even resented and hated and this caused me to rebuke and wrestle sinful and dark thoughts and suggestions.

I thought, " This is how the Lord must feel when we don't desire him." He must feel hurt, hated, misunderstood and taken for granted."

I continued to stand my ground but it was HARD. So what did I do...? I turned to God for I know how great a friend He is to me. (He is also probably the only one who understands me.) I turned on some Hillsong music, put in my ear phones and let the Spirit of the Lord take hold and there I saw Jesus in a tree. He wasn't surrounded by some mystical light but it was just him.

He wasn't in the top of this tree but I kind of felt like he climbed down this tree so I could see him - not so he could see me. He smiled at me and when he did I felt this unexplainable joy as I smiled back and even chuckled.

I wanted to continue to stay in his presence of unexplainable joy but then the Spirit of the Lord had me lay down (though I was sitting the entire time in this reality) and as I did I began to weep. And as the Spirit of the Lord comforted me, I started to be drained of these negative feelings and burdens.

I got to see Jesus again as the Spirit raised my head and once again his smile made me smile and chuckle again and then the Spirit of the Lord lay me down again and I started to weep again until I was drained of all this negative feelings and burdens, Exhausted I then went to bed in peace.

How wonderful to feel the joyful presence of the Lord.... who takes our burdens and smiles upon us.

Numbers 6:22-27 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Instruct Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: `May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.' This is how Aaron and his sons will designate the Israelites as my people, and I myself will bless them."

The End of The Road

I think at some point in our Christian walk we come to the end of this road of ourselves. We may try to jump back on that road from time to time but we get off because we remember nothing in this world satisfies as God does. All your earthly goals have been deemed useless in your new and growing perspective God has given you.

And when we get to that place where we seem to slide towards this ramp that seems to lead nowhere- it can be scary. You feel like and see no plan in front of you but that is when you have to slowly reach to the things in life that God has given you an interest in.

You may say I don’t have a talent or you may say I am talented at many things. Don’t let what you think you have talent in or not talent in define what God wants to do in your life but know the very things God has given you a love or interest in- maybe used in a way you didn’t expect.

God has many canvases he wants to paint in our lives and they stay blank because we limited ourselves and when we choose to do that - we limit God. We may even say, “God this is what I am good at but I don’t want to live my life doing those things. I don’t want them to get tired and boring. And will “they” even be useful in the end?”

You may say, “I don’t have the money! I don’t have the time! I am not as young as I was! I got responsibilities! Look at my background!

How about you take one step forward at a time and let God take care of what needs to come next. We can look too far into the future and before we know it we have more fictional happenings on our plate then non-fictional ones that will actually happen.

Don’t worry about tomorrow focus on today.

We need to slowly reach into those areas and have God guide our way. We need to listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say to us about those areas in our life and grab a hold to the different aspects of those things and ask God to help us put those pieces together so they can lead us to a satisfying and lasting goal and growing purpose.

Recipe in life.... Imagine… if you will… a cupboard that is filled with different “aspects” of the different “subjects” that interest you. These “aspects” are represented by spices, sugars, flours, eggs, butter, cheese, oils, herbs, sauces, vinegars, flavors, meats, veggies, and yeasts but in order to make the perfect satisfying recipe for you and your guests- you have to listen to the Holy Spirit and have him guide you in each step.

In some parts of the recipe you have simmer.

In some parts of the recipe you have sauté.

In some parts of the recipe you have to rub down and tenderize.

In some parts of the recipe you have to marinate.

In some parts you will have mix.

In some parts you will have to knead.

In some parts you will have to let rise.

In some parts you will have to pray, pour, break, cut, boil, cook, maybe even barbecue.

And as proceed you will will see, taste, smell, feel, hear and others around you will also see, taste, smell, and hear as you proceed in this meal/ (these purposes) God has for you and when all is complete, you and your guests won’t be unsatisfied because you have done everything in how the Holy Spirit has directed.

God uses our experiences before we come to Him and after we have come to Him.

I have always appreciated music since I was a child. I have always wanted to be a musician to play on a stage. (I would sing into the hairbrush and play the air guitar and the invisible drum set when I was a kid with the radio on.) I appreciated movies and film. (We as kids made many movies using an old 8mm camera and VHS camcorder.) I appreciate art and photography. (I majored in art and teaching art.) I appreciate writing. (I write these blogs and stories in my free time.) I feel it is reward to teach and it is a privilege. (I now teach young adults what God wants them to learn from the Bible)

Today the scope of my artwork is growing and being transformed into other things such as visual movies and illustrations that God uses for teaching others about God and now I play in a praise and worship band in the church I fellowship in.

Through the Spirit of God I have become sensitive about certain things within those areas that God has given me an interest in. I have experienced many different emotions and experiences, some of them Godly some of them not but God uses them all.

God is continually incorporating things in life that touch me to guide me to a growing and maturing route of possibilities within Him. I may not see the entire picture but I am learning to just take one day at a time knowing there is a plan I cannot see in front of me. Jeremiah 29:11:-13

“For we walk by faith not by sight,” 2 Corinthians 5:7

We may just see a sea of nothingness in front of us and storms that rage around us but holding Jesus' hand we may slowly see the plans God has prepared and wants to bless us with. Every person wants to be satisfied but no lasting satisfaction can occur without God’s help.

For he makes us a vessel that is capable of holding what he pours in and what he pours in is never useless or ends up being worthless in the end.

Remember what Paul said about deeming everything useless? I think that is true but God still used the knowledge he learned and his experiences to make him a great apostle for Christ. God used those things from his past to season, build and mature him. He knew he didn’t want to go back to his past and he knew why he didn’t want to go back and those reasons only made him want to persevere and persist more in the faith of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said what about the path? It is narrow. The same is true with living a satisfying life.

I remember summers being a kid. We would go to the beach on vacation. To get to the beach we would have to cross several acres of sand dunes and it was easy to lose track of the narrow path if we were in a hurry. And it seemed once we lost the path it took more time to get to beach then if we had taken the time to look for that narrow path that led directly to the beach.

In this life, we don’t race against others but ourselves. And the narrow path we cannot find or stay on without God’s help.

I conclude with this as a reminder to you and me: Read your bible. Know that God has a plan and purpose for your life. Know He have given you promises that you can count on and listen to the Holy Spirit direct you through those subtle/ settle turns in your life.

Recieving From God.

It's your birthday. You get a gift. You have a choice to accept that gift or not.

You get flowers. You have a choice to accept those flowers or not.

You are offered a tuna sandwich or a slice of your favorite type of pizza. You have a choice.

The woman/or man of your dreams leans forward to give you a kiss. You have a choice to receive that kiss or not.

Did you know the same is true with "receiving" from God? It's a choice to receive from God or not.

In the past/ or even right now you might not have wanted to receive from God because you were afraid and even fearful that if God took an active role in your life- you would no longer enjoy life but the fact is that you are already receiving from God.... And life is more satisfying when God is your friend in this life.

You got air in your lungs? He made that air. He created those lungs. They go together.

You like that sunshine? How about that nice bath or shower?

It says in Matthew 5:45 God makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

If that scripture didn't make sense... think about it... it will come.

Wouldn't you like to know there is more then just "existing" in this life? That God has a real purpose in your life and he wants you to receive all that he has to give to you.

So... "What can I receive from God?"

Well the obvious (the first)..... Salvation/eternity in heaven made possible by His Son Jesus Christ.

Second... how about receiving a real sense of God in your life? How about ability just not to receive but to give mercy, grace, love, forgiveness, peace, physical healing, spiritual healing to others. Even to give others that you presently or once thought didn't deserve your mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness. How about that love and patience to speak peace and wisdom into a situation? How about receiving information from God to tell someone who is waiting to hear from God? How about speaking in another language you have never studied before or speak the language of angels?

Third... how about receiving and learning in God's wisdom and understanding via the Holy Spirit. To have the ability to not just feel the presence and nearness of God in your life (which is pretty awesome) but to move in God's directives to touch others supernaturally so they might come to know and have a relationship with God.

Fourth... how about the ability to give up sin, addictions and withstand the negatives tendencies that want to influence our Christian walk. How about receiving the ability to walk in the cleansing blood and Spirit of Christ knowing he is working within us everyday.

Fifth... To learn. To Step. To See.... that your purpose in life doesn't just end like an earthly position but grows as you mature in Christ.

There is more and I know I am not mentioning all the possibilities God wants you to receive but the most important thing God wants you to receive from him is an intimate relationship with him.

You may say, "Well I know there is a God. I have received Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I have received the Holy Spirit. I have some of the gifts you spoke of given by the Holy Spirit... Yet I feel I haven't received from God lately and I am feeling a little tired, dry and discouraged."

I have been there... My question to you is this: "Have you placed yourself in a place to receive?"

Are there things in life that God has put in your path but because of:
-your worries of tomorrow,
-your lack of ability, (feeling your are not qualified enough)
-your assumption of others,
-your uncertainty about the situation,
-your unwillingness,
-your cares
-your lack of interest,
- You feeling pushed into the situation... we just haven't "done" it.

If so God has good reason for that "something" to sit before you. It is not there to strike you down, make a fool of you but to build you up and encourage you.

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

Ask God what exactly he wants you to do with that "something" and how far he wants you to assist him in that "something".

God maybe encouraging you to do something in your church (a much more active roll or an outreach) but you haven't been receptive or willing to walk it out. There maybe a family/friend situation that he wants you to assist with. Maybe God is telling you to do something simple like raise you hands during praise and worship but you have been resistant because you don't want to look silly. Maybe God has given you a word to share with the church but because you feel self-conscious you say nothing.

And because you haven't been receptive or willing to walk it out - you haven't received what God wants to give you and bless you with. God wants to strengthen, encourage you, build you up but he can't do that unless you are willing to receive what he puts in front of you.

I have felt this way about mission trips and taking youth to camp but when I did finally take the step I received more then I could possibly imagine.

It seems God wants us to climb this beautiful mountain were there is this path of views and experiences but this path "isn't" to burden us but to bring us closer to him. These views and experiences may look very "uncertain" at times but as you go in humble "willingness" - you see past the uncertainty and God makes your purpose clear for that venture. He tells you when to go, stop, turn right or left.

Sometimes we put ourselves in the way of receiving from God. In God there is no useless vessel, no retirement, or age limit to receive from God.

Fate and Destiny

Most people believe in fate or destiny in some form or fashion.

We all have to discover however if we are believing and/ following a false fate and destiny.

God wants to invest in our lives but we must be willing to resist the temptation of following something that isn't based on God's fate and destiny for us.

He doesn't want us to get confused by a false fate and destiny.

Here are some examples that confuse an individual in a false fate and destiny situation:

1. Popularity (Popular/ Unpopular) (What others think of you.)
2. Fortune (The amount of money you have.)
3. Circumstances (Good/Bad)
4. Superstitions (such star alignments/horoscopes/ reports from false prophets, mediums, 1-800 call a (you know what), fortune tellers, etc)
5. Yourself (Your thoughts, feelings, outlook or perception of yourself, comparisons to others.)

Your fate and destiny have very little/ if nothing to do with these things.

In fact some of these are faith killers and are despised by God.

That is why the word says we walk by faith not by sight.

Remember Job, Moses, Joseph, teenage Mary, tax collector Matthew, Lazarus, the apostle Paul once known as Saul, the seemly nobody apostle James the son of Alphaeus?

We can not base our fate and destiny on our circumstances or our feelings on our life.

We can't say I must be going to heaven because I haven't killed anybody or murdered anyone. Have you lied? Have you cheated? Have you wanted something someone else had? Then you have sinned just like everyone else and have broken God's commandments.

Our Fate and Destiny is trusting in God, coming to God, and becoming one of God's children through Jesus Christ. For Christ paid the price for our sins.

It is only by faith we can walk through all the variety and even difficult experiences in this life. Fires, deserts, calm shores, cloudy days, and sun filled days of pure bliss. It is only by faith can we endure and see pass all the things that want to claim they are our destiny and fate. Vessels of Christ are poured into and out of, they are tested as gold is purified to become pure to reflect Christ.

For a false fate and destiny is easy to believe but if it's not your destiny or fate then you are just following and believing in something that is false. You follow something that is false -leaves an individual having an eternity in hell stead of heaven.

"So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him."- Hebrew 11:6

God holds our fate and destiny in his hand.

Job: 23:14 "So he will do for me all he has planned. He controls my destiny."

Ecclesiastes 6:10 "Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there's no use arguing with God about your destiny."

Psalm 73:24 "You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny."

God wants to invest in our lives but he wants us to be aware of what is a false fate and destiny and keep our hearts and minds on Him regardless at what screams and says is obvious because the obvious can sometimes not be so obvious and changes without notice.

Investing in Others as God Directs

There are times in our lives where we seem to be at the end of this ramp that seems to lead out over nothingness. Nothing really makes us satisfied or we know that nothing in this life really makes us feel very satisfied for very long. It seems we really have no purpose and reason for being and in fact we can seem a bit lost.

Here is a suggestion:
Ask God about investing in others as He directs.

"Those" Times

There will be times you'll stop running and it will just be a struggle to just put one step in front of the other.

There will be times where you'll wonder why all the strange "happenings" come all at once.

There will be times that everything will fail like a sand castle in a rising tide. No matter how hard you work it all falls apart.

You trust God and asked God to prepare the way, things just don't happen.

And like always, people won't understand where you are coming from even though they might have a lot of observational wisdom. And oh how their words seem like a knife even though they mean well.

People will tell you to pray over your house and family and I will say "strive" to pray for your family and your home but if can't know God knows your "temporary" weakness.

There will be times where you want to know where God is and if he is so powerful why did he let these things happen.

There will be times where you will want to blame God and be angry with God.

I will say this, no matter how hard it gets always turn to God even if your words are bitter.

I will say lament to God and lay it all out.

It's easy to keep the anger and let all the hurts burden us BUT something happens when we lay our deeply troubling matters out before God even with tears in your eyes and an ache in your stomach and anger in our cries.

I don't understand why we go through hard times and I won't pretend there are any easy answers.

I won't tell you why the reasons we go through these hard times because there is sometimes no really good answer I can really give.

I will say even if it seems God is against you and you feel you are all by yourself, know he's listening.

Know that tomorrow is a new day.

Know this is all temporary even though it may all seem stuck and even going backward.

Life is hard at times.

Hugs to you who are going through rough times.

God Bless

The Greatest Kingdom

The greatest kingdom is in the heart and mind but where this is only self-preservation there is only a dark prison, decay and death. Where there is hate, self justification, and only conditional love there is little or no conscience- but where the Spirit of God speaks- and those who listen -there lay the greatest kingdom that has ever come or ever will be for the greatest kingdom is in the heart and mind and it can never be taken. J.D. Johns

Freedom From Our Circumstances

Peace in our Lives

We all have the gift of choice as God’s prized creation.

Choice:

1. We instinctively know right and wrong when it comes to choice because God has put this knowledge in us.

2. Choice is only a freedom to us when we trust God in our choices.

Paul faced with death and prison still considered himself free in Christ.

So what is this “freedom” we have as Christians?

1 Corinthians 6:12 “You may say, “I am allowed to do anything,” But I reply, “Not everything is good for you.” And even though “I am allowed to do anything, “I must not become a slave to anything.”

This includes our thoughts and feelings and what others think about us (good or bad.)
Is this freedom a matter of degree or extreme circumstances?

Hum…. Stephen still had the freedom of peace even though he was attacked and stoned to death.

Can you and I groove to our Christian principles and beliefs even when the roaring sea of life tosses our lives around like some little toy boat?

Can you and I keep every human instinct from coming unleashed or unglued in trying circumstances?

Can our Godly love keep us moving up that mountain of life even when everything seems to spinning all round us?

Can you and I stay calm when everything is crashing down all round us?

When everything seems to be stacked against us can we believe and stand and remember in what we have been taught and believe about God?

Will we stay faithful and aglow when the unthinkable comes to darken and shadow our dreams or what we hold dear?

Will we remain flexible and bendable and fixed on the foundation God has placed us on or will we give in to the pressures and opinions of others in this life?

We will rationalize, move to human understanding and let our imagination go to “what if’s”?

Tough are the choices in life but they taste better in the long run if we trust in God and rely on his Holy Spirit instead of our human nature, which often leads to destructiveness.

The human mind seems to wonder, bringing up imaginary circumstances that haven’t even occurred, or will occur and we worry and doubt. Oh yeah we have all been there?

What is going to influence us? Is it going to be our human understanding, the ideals of others and attractive proposals of the world or are we going to listen and follow that still quiet voice of God inside of us.

God voice (The Holy Spirit): The voice that guides us to all truth, peace, wisdom, love and real understanding.

I saw a saying on a church board recently that said, “ Take a deep breath…”. We all need to take a deep breath and instead of look at everything that needs to be done on our checklist and prioritized to our wants and needs we need to just take a minute, moment, hour at a time.
Have you ever noticed when we try to force something instead of wait and work and walk in God’s timing? What happens?

We need to “walk out” on of our frazzled mindset and walk back into God’s mindset.

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind there is life and peace.” Romans 8:5

Same is true with our thinking….. Are we selective about what comes in or do we just let everything come?

The human ways of understanding wants to pay God no mind. It wants to ignore God….
Now look when we doubt, have fear, are stressed out…. It really shows a lack of faith. We have all been there……

Hebrews 11:6 “So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”
If we are getting stressed and don’t have our minds where it needs to be then how is God going to be pleased? For only in God’s love do we ever have a lasting effect. Thank God for his Holy
Spirit that ministers to us.

God isn’t moved by others negative opinions of him. He isn’t worried about when something is going to get done or happen. He knows what our needs are before we even ask him. He knows the fight isn’t really a fight because he has already won and we just have to get back in line to “see” straight.

See straight in every act of our lives…… We have the mind of Christ … right?
Quiet……

“Don't be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.
You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. “1Peter 3:3-4

Don’t be concerned with what the world tells you, you need.

Don’t be concerned about what the opposite sex may think or not think about you? Are you a slave to them? Don’t let them occupy your mind and cause you to act foolish.

For only a gentle quiet spirit can hear from God.

Sure things come to stir and knock but like headlines in the “daily planet” … they come and go and change day to day but the “Good News” never changes. -

The temporary evils that ripple will soon fade. The waves that come to make many run will wipe many out by their own human understanding but those who stand on the rock and assist others up on the same foundation of Jesus Christ will see and “experience” many glorious things.

The clouds may come to cloud up our skies but we know where our source of light comes from and we know he is trustworthy because he has shown himself faithful so many times and times again.

Trust God not our human understanding or our circumstances… good or bad.

Jesus told us to give him all our worries so they would not become bondage and slavery issues.
Remember God spins the earth. He is the one who built the tallest mountains, the stars in the skies, and he reminds forever… and since he is in us… we will remain in his love in what sometimes seems the ruins of life… but we must trust him to have peace in all situations.

Remember anything not done in love is useless.

The world makes regulations to follow…. Some good some bad.

When we “follow” negative regulations that go against God’s word and ideals we become slaves.

The world says we have to dress the part, smell the part, look the part… The world says we have to earn “it” (praise, salvation, friendship, love, etc) but we have received someone who can never be earned but thankful given freely to those who believe in the Son of God Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus we have received the choice of real freedom.

In that freedom we can see the Lord work in our lives for those who trust him. We are no longer slaves to what may come or present itself in our lives but we are free in Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:30-31, John 8:34-36, Gal 2:4-5

Joseph sold to slavery did not let his circumstances that seemed all set against him hold his faith in God captive but continued to trust in God- and God used him mightily. Acts 7:9-10

John a man that ate locusts and honey and dressed in furs and looked more or less like a wild man didn’t let the pressures of life and what others thought of him to influence his calling.

You have a choice to be free regardless of your circumstances.

Check out Mercy Me’s new CD… is pretty good.

Proof.

We all do things to prove something to ourselves but there comes a time when God wants to prove things to us. We must take time to learn, trust, and obey. J.D. Johns Feb. 2010

Would Anyone Know?

Would anyone know if your lighthouse went out? Are you a city on a hill? If your light went out would anyone come to see what was wrong and see if they could help?

Building Character Through Circumstances

Circumstances can be extreme. Losing a loved one to- a divorce, someone taking out their anger on you, test results that say you have cancer to just feeling like nothing is happening, as it should. Circumstances happen- things happen that are out of our control.

Last night we talked about circumstances and how our perspective and focus determines a lot on how we are going to handle a situation. If our perspective or focus is on ourselves, the world and/or a circumstance we are going to be miserable. We are going to get angry, frustrated, have anxiety, be fearful, and fall into doubt.

But if our focus and perspective is on God and comes from God then we are going to be able to show God’s power in our lives even if the situation leaves us broken and cut deep. When we trust God through our trials and struggles our faith has a chance to grow stronger and when we fail (because we don’t keep our eyes on God) -hopefully we learn from our failures, so we can have successful results the in the future.

“Circumstances” will happen in life but - are we going to give up our faith or get angry with God when those circumstances do occur?

That is what the devil wants us to do. In fact that is one of the ways he tries to keep people away from the faith in Jesus Christ. John 10:10 Jesus says: “The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.”

Where is our focus going to stay and be during the trying times in our life? Are we going to run to God or are we going to run away from God? Where are we going to go for shelter to heal and to preserver? OR are we going to sink/ drown our burdens in the ways of the world that only bring ruin to our body, heartache, and spiritual ruin?

Romans 5:1-5 Faith–Hope-and Love.

(Our perspective needs to hold and stand steadfast to Jesus Christ and our Father in Heaven -faith)

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because our faith, Christ has brought us into his place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we are confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

(Our perspective –faith- in action)

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us- they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Personally I don’t know anyone who “rejoices” while they are going through the trials and trying circumstances in life but I have seen those who hold strong to their faith. They humble themselves and ignore the evil natures of the tongue and they put one foot in front of the other in the mist of diversity and struggle. They don’t wrestle with the situation but instead believe in God to bring them out of their time of brokenness, hurt, uncertainly and slander.

Paul points out what at the beginning of this chapter? – Our Faith

Paul points out when we run into trials and problems they help us to learn to “endure” and the endurance develops strength of character and this development strengthens our confident expectation of our salvation in Jesus Christ.

Our relationship with our Brother Jesus and our Father deepens. We learn and experience God in ways that we could have never experienced if we had not gone through those trials and struggles.

Paul then points out this very important fact: “For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

The Holy Spirit fills our hearts with God’s love. 1 Corinthians 13:7 it says that God’s love “never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance.” God’s love is in us if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and have followed his ways.

You know even when one faces their greatest trials - where it seems impossible to go on- an awesome thing occurs- sometimes without us really knowing it at the time. We are encouraged by the Holy Spirit to carry on.

Romans 8:26 “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. An the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.”

The Lord led me to a testimony by one of the worship Hillsong leaders on youtube. Click link to see.

Watching Jill share her heartbreaking testimony of her losing her baby son Max… the night after he was born and listening to her friend Brook Fraser speak of the battle her friend was going through spoke to me about Jill’s character. Even in Jill’s hurt and brokenness Jill turned to God. God showed his love by reminding her of His truths and His purpose for her life. The Holy Spirit was interceding for her and encouraging her to continue to sing and worship even though she didn’t feel like it.

And I know there are times when we don’t feel like reading God’s word, worshiping God or singing to him because of whatever circumstance but I have found that during those times just as Jill, the Holy Spirit has encouraged me to do so – regardless of my feelings and gradually my perspective and focus goes back to where it needs to be – on God. The Provider, Father, Counselor, Protector and Savior.

I thought about her deep cut emotions as a mother carrying her child inside of her and losing in him within a 24 hour period and how the Devil had tried use her loss to his advantage to challenge and weaken her faith. How the devil hates when we are salt and light to others and how much we are a threat to him. How we are considered a threat to Satan and his demons when we live and stand for God.

Then I thought what it must have been like to be in the midst as Jill was singing, “Desert Song” knowing what she was going through and how much that spoke of her faith in God and her strong character as a Christian woman. What she was sowing with her outward testimony –powerful!

I remember praying for a pastor and his wife’s newborn baby in California. I was trusting in
God to touch this baby’s organs that weren’t functioning properly and when I got news that the baby died I myself mourned their loss. To my surprise the words of the pastor and his wife weren’t of angry and regret but of gratefulness. God gave them enough time to connect with their son and time to realize that God was in control and even if their child couldn’t be with them, he would be in the greatest arms ever known- The Creator of the universe.

I thought about how delicately God works in our lives and sometimes- without us really knowing. I thought how God helps us overcome our circumstance and supernaturally shows himself in our life. I thought of the love of God in us (the Holy Spirit)- that never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance speaks in volumes of our God who loves us, comforts us, and gives us a peace beyond understanding. How this should speak of the character of God’s people and where our focus needs to be always.

Jill chose to not allow her circumstance to drive her away from God- may God help us do the same in all things- in Jesus name.

There are three things that will endure- faith, hope and love- and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Sincere Faith

In church this weekend we were reminded of Hebrews 11:6

“So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”

That statement has been true every time I sought God. It was true before I came to Christ, when I became a born again Christian and is true today - for myself and all those who sincerely seek God. Before I came to Christ I would sincerely ask God to help me and he would help me but unfortunately I would go back to my old ways and wouldn’t even thank him. When my life became lost in a dark hole I had fallen into over time and there seemed to be no constructive way out -I cried out to God and surrendered my life, he gave me new life. When I sincerely seek God now, he answers.

The Holy Spirit reminds me of different times before I came to Christ when God was there with me. He reminds of different things, people and incidents. The lights come on in the attic and in the heart when we sincerely seek God- admittedly “mostly” after we come to Christ.

The power of God comes into our lives but in order for the power to stay on we must continue to leave that power switch on in our lives. It does no good to have electricity connected to our house if we aren’t going to use that electricity. The same is true with God’s Holy Spirit.

Jesus said his Holy Spirit never leaves…. so we must seek Him instead of what our flesh feels.

John 16-17 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

God rewards those who sincerely seek Him. “Sincerely.” When you are sincere about something - your intentions and focus are not wishy washy they are targeted on a desired objective. Our Christian lives can’t be like an unsettled way of the sea.

James 1:3-7 “For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. If you need wisdom- if you want to know what God wants you to do- ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can’t make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do.”

Noticed that James says, “…. has a chance to grow” – our faith growing or not growing is contingent on if we are going to sincerely seek and trust God or not seek or not trust God in our life and times of trial.

When you are in a burning building, you are sincerely seeking for a way out of that burning building. When you cry out for help you are sincerely waiting for someone to answer. When a loved one is in a hospital bed, you are sincerely praying and asking God to intervene and heal. When you’re feeling uncertain and fear wants to take residence within your soul, you sincerely pray and God gives us the peace beyond understanding.

God’s word says, “a righteous person will live by faith.” Hebrews 10:38. A righteous person sincerely seeks God- sometimes with "every" ounce of their strength but God won’t allow the test to overcome us- if we sincerely seek him.

I heard another pastor speak on radio about a coming storm, a storm the Lord has shown me through a series of dreams. A storm that many people within the church and not in the church can sense coming. A storm where it won’t be so pleasant as it is right now for us as Christians in the United States.

The only way for us endure such a storm and not walking away or turning away from God and be salt and light to people in need in such a time is ONLY through faith. Faith endures all storms. Through our faith in Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit changes us and empowers us to thrive and endures every struggle, trial, testing and good and bad time.

Lamentations 3:25 “The LORD is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him.”

I was telling the youth about a tree my parents had in one their gardens growing up. The tree was anchored with a rope so it wouldn’t fall over but instead of removing the rope as the tree grew they left that rope on and because they didn’t remove that rope, the tree never matured a deep root system to keep it securely rooted in the ground and when the rope finally rotted away and we had a big wind storm that tree fell over.

The worldly things that we try to secure our lives with -don’t last and when they finally do fail us, our lives will be like that tree in my parent’s garden because we never endured the smaller storms in life with God’s help but instead trusted in the “worldly” ropes of this world.

Ephesians 3:16-19 “May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

Colossians 2:7 Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.

A brother in Christ and I were working at the church when we saw a tiger tail butterfly. It was probably one of the biggest butterflies I had ever seen. It was yellow, black and violet blue. It glided in the air like pieces of tissue paper stretched over a fragile frame in effortless flight. Unburdened by life it circled in the air and knew where the tastiest nectar could be found.
Now that I think back on the experience I reference it to this scripture:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Jesus Christ. And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into the practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:6-9

Keep the faith… seek and trust in the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me.

Thoughts about Agua

It rained last night. That is an exciting event here in the Texas Hill Country because when it rains, it usually rains hard and it comes with thunder and lightening and wind. We are on our 50th something day of temperatures in the 100’s. It has been one hot, dry summer - definitely one of the hottest since we moved to Texas. Plants are looking pretty dry, brown and dead BUT I think things are going to start to cool down some soon.

It is amazing how it can rain only for a short time and everything starts to green up again- even the plants in the garden are happier when they receive the rains from the skies then the hose. The ground also remains damp and moist longer when it rains verses when you water it with a sprinkler. That is something you don’t have to think about all that often growing up in the mossy Pacific Northwest.

Water it beneficial for survival but so is spiritual water for a Christian.

I am talking about the living water you receive when you accept Jesus Christ into your life- the Holy Spirit. It is what makes you THRIVE as a follower of Jesus Christ.

The world would like nothing more then to bleach and chlorinate your faith for the rest of the world. It would like nothing more for you to follow its customs and doctrines. It would like nothing more for you to muddy the lines between Christianity and this world so people don’t know the difference.

I am not going to “water down” my faith for the rest of world because I cannot help but to speak about God. He gives me excitement about life and peace in troubling times. He provides when the world says there is no way to provide. God cures when the world says there is no cure. He is wonderfully God even when in times where I have been so wonderfully awful. So often lately I feel as the prophet Jeremiah wrote, “And I can't stop! If I say I'll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It's like a fire in my bones! I am weary of holding it in!” Jeremiah 20:9

God wants us to live out our faith in the “fullness” he intended.

God does not want your faith to be dictated by the “tap water” of this world. He wants you to drink, eat, breathe and move in his “spiritual nutrients” that are beneficial to your life as a Christian.

If we are 90% water (correct me on that if I am wrong) then wouldn’t it make sense in our Christian walk, that we live on at least 90% on what God provides - not just physically but spiritually as well?

Jesus shows us if we come to him we will never be thirsty again but if we look to the world to quench our thirsts we will become thirsty again. The world makes us thirstier! It is always trying to find new things to catch our attention but the new things never satisfy and they don’t last. They are just old shadows of previous things and themes. God, as I have said before, over shadows all the things of this world and makes them unimportant and even useless in the mind of a Christian.

Jesus says, “But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life." John 4:14

Religion gets old but God does not get old. God only gets old in our lives if we set limits on God in our lives. You want life to get thirsty real quick don’t expect anything from God. If you want your cup overflowing then seek God.

Jesus said, “You must love God with all your heart, soul and mind. Matthew 22:37 Do you ever wonder why he said that?

I believe he said that because with God you can never lose in the end, you are satisfied, and you will never have any personal regrets.

Jesus said, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:25-26

Do you ever wonder why he said that?

Are you going to exchange your soul for reputation? Are you going to exchange your soul for money and profit? Are you going to exchange the useless stuff of this world for what God has to offer and give? Are you going to exchange the knocks-offs and idols of this world for the real God and Savior - who offer you the Spirit to overcome all things including death?

If you are holding out on God in any part of your life, you will not experience all that God has in store for your life- not only that but the parts you are clinging to and holding back from God will slowly fall apart.

In my time being a Christian I have seen people cling onto things in their life, that they knew God had a problem with, and slowly they were led away from God, their family and friends by those things.

I have seen and heard stories of people working hard to gain riches and some kind of reputation only to find it worthless and waste of time and energy- fortunately they found Christ through someone living out their faith.

How can we possibly be salt and light to anyone if we are swaying this way and that way in the oceans of humanity and not being consistent?

I am not judging or condemning my brothers and sisters in Christ but I have a genuine concern for those who are whish washy with their faith. Ask yourself where is your heart, mind, and soul? Where are your eyes looking?

God does not want His people to be lukewarm Christians. Jesus said it himself:
Revelation 3:15- 19 "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, `I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you to buy gold from me--gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness. And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference.”

Don’t be ashamed of your faith in Jesus Christ. There is nothing to be ashamed about! He is Lord. He is the only Savior and way into heaven for all our friends and family. He is the one who gave you His Spirit so in Him you may overcome the world.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

"Don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28

You cannot be on the fence when you are a Christian. If God has told you something in his word and/or through his Holy Spirit then you better not just listen but there better be some follow through.

Not saying you will never makes mistakes but when you do make mistakes you make those mistakes “right” by apologizing to the person you have wronged and then apologizing to God.

Be consistent, up front, genuine and humble.

1 Peter 2:1-3 “So get rid of all malicious behavior and deceit. Don't just pretend to be good! Be done with hypocrisy and jealousy and backstabbing. You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness.

John 1:13 “They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan--this rebirth comes from God.”

For the passion and drive come from God and to continue in the passion and drive we must stay with God for the garden hose water of the world just won’t do.

For Whom God is Calling and Called

This is something for those in Christ and those God is calling but haven’t come to him yet. This is also a bit of a warning and reminder for you to hold on to as things start to unravel and there is a line drawn in the sand.

Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Note: Even though man may condemn our Christian faith and want to control what we can and cannot say, always stay true to the word of God. Even though they will take more and more things of “religious” symbolism down this should only strengthen your faith.

Rom 8:2 For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.

Rom 8:3 The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.

Rom 8:4 He did this so that the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

Rom 8:5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.

Rom 8:6 If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.

Note: Remember this, for this action affects everything you do.

Rom 8:7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will.

Rom 8:8 That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

Rom 8:9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.)

Rom 8:10 Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God.

Rom 8:11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you.

Rom 8:12 So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.

Note: This does not just include sin but letting fear take residence in you. Trust not in what you see but God.

Rom 8:13 For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live.

Rom 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

Rom 8:15 So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into his family calling him "Father, dear Father."

Rom 8:16 For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's children.

Rom 8:17 And since we are his children, we will share his treasures--for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

Rom 8:18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later.

Rom 8:19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.

Rom 8:20 Against its will, everything on earth was subjected to God's curse.

Rom 8:21 All creation anticipates the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay.

Rom 8:22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Rom 8:23 And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us.

Rom 8:24 Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already
have something, you don't need to hope for it.

Rom 8:25 But if we look forward to something we don't have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently.

Rom 8:26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

Rom 8:27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.

Rom 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Rom 8:29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters.

Rom 8:30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And he gave them right standing with himself, and he promised them his glory.

Rom 8:31 What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

Rom 8:32 Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else?

Rom 8:33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with himself.

Rom 8:34 Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us.

Rom 8:35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death?

Rom 8:36 (Even the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.")

Rom 8:37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved
us.

Rom 8:38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and
life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away.

Rom 8:39 Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Note: Remember this in the days to come. Fear only God. Trust in God. Know even in the “darkest days” God is with you.