I know He catches every one of my tears

James 4:8-10 : Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Psalms 56:8  You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?


I want to share something a close friend of mine told me. He told me that he knows when I am in the presence of God or the Lord is touching my heart, that I begin to weep. I still don't understand why I get so chocked up and weep all the time. Not a day passes that I do not weep once. Ive been told its because the heart of stone I use to have, has been replaced with a soft heart (Ezekiel 36:26). Ive been told its also because my mind is being renewed (Romans 12:2).

To the majority of the world, tears,crying, weeping are all a sign of weakness. Thing is, as followers of Christ, this is not a sign of weakness. We should weep for our own sins. Our eyes should shed tears because for other people's sin. We should weep for other people's afflictions. Tears of gratitude come out when I realize I do not deserve what I have but God gives it to me anyways. God is so good! He doesn't treat us like our sins deserve (Psalms 103:10). Just thinking about it I get a knot in my throat.

  I just thought I would share some thoughts. I apologize if you feel like this entry doesn't have a closing. But I am still wrestling with this. Maybe someone might want to share your experience with weeping? I was advised when I first became a believer to not loose my soft heart. That is not something to be ashamed about.That is my advice to you, my audience. Do not be ashamed of your tears. This world says weeping is for the weak. But we are not of this world (John 15:18-19). Where we come from, it is not a sign of weakness. I still don't quite understand how its not a sign of weakness, but I wont stop asking God to help me understand.

Test the spirits and put on the armor of God

The scriptures say that we are to love God with all your heart, soul and mind. Then we are to love others as we love ourselves (Mat. 12:30-31). We are to love the Lord with everything we have because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). We have been forgiven of many sins and as a result, we love God very much (Luke 7:47). We should want to be obedient because we know this pleases God (1 Samuel 15:22) . We should  want to be a doer of the word, not just a listener (James 1:22).

So what am I getting at with all of this? Because I very much desire to obey my God and because I love myself so much, I love others like I love myself. I desire to know the truth and I want others to know the truth. I dont want to be deceived and I do not desire that others to be deceived. Its one of my greatest fears because this does not please God and I dont want to have to tell Him why I deceived others. 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 states that there should be no divisions amongst us and we should be united by the same mind and judgement. Paul says in  Romans 16:17-18 "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them." We are told to avoid people who are contrary to the doctrine we have been taught.

Titus 3:9-11 "But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned." I do not believe I am a person who creates division. If there is any division between us is because we do not follow the same doctrine. In 1 John 4:1 it says "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." So my challenge to my readers is to test me then. I invite you to test my spirit. Test others too because we are commanded to do so by our heavenly Father.

I ask a special favor of people who follow my my pages on social media to please test my spirit because I dont want to lead the people of God down the wrong path. Please pray for me that I do not be deceived nor deceive others. Please ask the Lord to give me wisdom, knowledge and understanding concerning what He wants His sheep to be fed. I pray for all of you that you are not deceived and that I do not lead you astray. I pray that the truth sets us all free (John 8:32). We are to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-13) and we are to fight using the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17 // Hebrews 4:12-13 ). We should also use the shield of faith to quench the firey darts of the wicked (Ephesians 6:16).


My closing thoughts: I truly try to do my very best to deliver the word in an honest and truthful way. Before I post anything, I pray that the words I have been given are true and in accordance with God's will and word. I want to share my faith and how Jesus has changed my life forever. I want to tell the world that I love Jesus and I am not ashamed to say it (Romans 1:16). I very sincerely believe the word of God and I want to teach from it because 2 Timothy 3:16 says "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,".

The burning house story

 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. - Matthew 28:18-20

“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our strenuous effort, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”- Charles Spurgeon

The great commission that our Lord Jesus Christ gave us was to preach the gospel. To make disciples, baptize them, and teach the things He has commanded us.  So what does this have to do with a burning house? At a bible study I went to, not sure when, but it was when I just got saved because I needed help preaching the gospel to my wife who wasn't saved at that time. She is now saved and baptized. This story helped me to realize that there was nothing I could do to save my wife. She sat in a burning house of sin while I was outside frantically trying to go in and save her. I wasn't equipped. But Jesus is equipped and He has the power to save.

The story goes like this. A house in the middle of nowhere is engulfed in flames. A man happen to be passing by and runs to the home. He looks through one of the windows and  sees somebody sitting in the middle of this empty house. The man wants to help this person and asks them if they can call for help. The person inside the burning house says "No! I don't need your help and go away!" Determined, the man keeps trying to help. He cannot go in because he risks dieing in the flames. So the man outside the firey house, waits. He keeps asking if the person in the house  wants him to call for help. This goes on for a while. The flames get bigger and closer inside the house and the person inside finally says "Please call 9-11! CALL 9-11 I am burning up!" So the man calls for help. The fire department comes to the house and puts the fire out and save the person in the home. The man who passed by, represents the believer in Christ. The person in the burning house is the non believer. The burning house represents sin. The fire department represent Jesus and His saving grace.

I want to share how this applied to me and how I understand it. I really hope this becomes a blessing to somebody. At the time, I had just received Christ, but my wife had not. She was not ready to come out of the burning house.  No matter how much I preached, how much I talked about Jesus, or invited her to church, she would have to come on her own time. As the man on the outside watching the house burn with my beloved inside, all I could do is pray and wait. I had to wait until the flames got too much to bear for my wife to withstand. I had to wait until she called out for help to ask Jesus to come save her life. Sometimes it happens quick. Sometimes it takes a while. Worst case scenario...the person in the burning house never responds. Remember that we can choose if we want to be saved or not. Some people love their sin. We do not decide who gets saved or who doesn't. We also do not know if and when they will ever turn their life over to Christ. We as believers must be faithful to God's commandments, be the light and salt of this world. When somebody is ready for help, make yourself available to them for support but let Jesus put out the fire because He has been given all authority in heaven and earth. 

UPdate: New Job - This is what grace looks like

For a while I have wrestled with the meaning of grace and Gods favor. I didn't know what it was because before I had very little favor with anyone. I saw others excel because somebody favored them and helped them. It felt like it would never be me. It is a lonely feeling. In my life there have been many disappointments. Big deal right? When God is for you, who can stand against you? NO ONE! This is a big humungous deal.

I started a new job on August 6th. A job I thought I wasn't too sure about. I was like " Lord are you sure this is where you want me?" The answer I believe is YES.

I am learning a lot about obedience to the Lord, praying with out ceasing, repenting quicker, and showing people love no matter who they are. A lot of what I learned from the proverbs challenge is manifesting. I hope that others are experiencing the same thing.

The job I have in comparison to my last job which was technical support, is easier. The new job has its challenges but I believe I will have success.  The Lord has  gone before me and made way for me. A small example.  The shift I was put on at first I honestly didn't want. I had to give up my Saturday so I can work. Come to find out working on Saturday can help me to move up in the company. Coincidence? I think not. I asked once to change it and the shift offered was even worse. A few days ago I was offered to change my shift. I declined. My path has been confirmed. It's so weird how things just seem to work out for my favor. It's my Lord's favor on my life. It's wonderful!
More and more He is earning my trust. I have had trust issues with people and especially with God. Problem was, I had no faith. So many let downs. So many times I had been passed up. Always picked last. I thought something was wrong with me. I know there are some of you who deal with this and I am here to tell you that there is nothing wrong with you. You belong to Him and this world hates you for it. The Lord knows this but He will put things in your favor for you. His desires become your desires. Seek the Lord, you will find Him. He is trustworthy. Yes, all of your trust.

Please do not get the wrong idea. Don't come before the Lord just so you can profit from His grace. When you got/get saved you relinquish your will to the Lord. It's the Lord's will you will do from now on. The Lord wills it for me to work and I believe that He has a purpose for me there. HIS purpose. Not mine. He wants His plan to be successful. He desires for my success. So He will put things in the favor of His own. He can also do the opposite. Remember...His will not ours. In the end it always works out for the best.

Proverbs Challenge 2014 : 31 days of wisdom

 Proverbs 4:5  - Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

James 1:15 - If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

I would like to share how God works in my life to give people hope. That if it is happening to me, it can certainly happen to you. With that in mind, if you do what James 1:15 says, that prayer will be answered. Allow me to share with you my experience. 

For maybe 8 or 9 months I have been praying for more wisdom, more knowledge and more understanding. I will admit that when I began to pray for these things, they were not for things pertaining about God. I wanted more wisdom, knowledge and understanding about things that pertained to my job I had at the time. Not only the technical stuff, but to know how to treat people in a way that Christ would have treated them. I also admit that I wasn't always the nicest, most polite or most patient technical support specialist on the floor. But as time went on, I gained knowledge because my supervisors would constantly train and coach us. Then I began to understand how to treat people and defuse certain situations. Once I learned all of that, I had this burden to quit my job. See I had also been praying that I wanted more time with God. I missed that. I did my best when I was at work. In between calls I would read my online bible, i would pray, or read parts of a devotional. I wanted more. 

I quit on "Jersey Day". It was a Friday and I went in at 5am like I did every morning for the past year or so. But I had made up and prayed up my mind that this was what God wanted me to do. I felt relieved and I have no regrets when I quit that day. Since the middle of June I have been with out a job. But I was working for God. On Jersey Day I retired my jersey and traded it in for a Jersey that has the name GOD on it. I am on His team now. I prayed for more wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Then the answer to my prayer came. I was on Facebook and I came upon a post by a man named James Fortune. He leads a gospel choir. One of my brothers (Ron) introduced me to this man's music. Mr. Fortune posted about the Proverbs Challenge. 31 days, 31 chapters, 1 chapter a day. Easy. Right? 

Let me tell you how gracious my God is. I missed a few days where I didn't read the chapter. I would forget or get distracted. Or I would put it off and I'd say to myself 'I will do it later". Mind you that I prayed and asked for this and the Lord delivered. Even when I missed a day, He still gave me wisdom. So when i finally did remember to read my chapter, I would read the chapter I missed and the one for that day. If I didn't understand it, I would pray and read it again. This is the first time I have EVER finished a reading plan. Ive tried before and failed. Perhaps before I was trying to do too much.

I told my (biological) brother about this. He was recently saved and I believed this would benefit his walk with the Lord. I think he went through the whole book in one night. He used a phone app to read the bible to Him. I had never done that before. Its one thing to read the bible, its another to hear it. I thought reading it alone was better but listening to someone read it and then reading it for yourself, at least for me, helped me remember the verses better. So thanks to my brother Kristian for helping me! 

So, do I feel more wise? Its not a feeling, its knowing. I understood what God wanted me to understand. I understand what God wants from me. I know more about how I should live and how I should conduct myself. I know to not be foolish. Foolishness was one subject that Proverbs talks about a lot. Also talks about staying away from loose women. Which I believe is a metaphor for sin and the enemy.  We will see in the future how I will use this new wisdom, knowledge and understanding. It sure will be interesting because I am now armed with new spiritual arsenal. 

I am going to read Proverbs again. Why? There are times when scripture means something different when you read it again. The bible is truly God's living word. Ive read verses in the past that didn't mean anything to me. But I read them again and they meant something. The scriptures that meant something to me one way when I read them again, meant something completely different this other time. I love it when God blows my mind away. I am fascinated by Him. He wants you to be fascinated by Him. 

So hopefully next year, if we are all still here, maybe we can do the challenge together. Encourage and share what the Almighty has taught us. Iron sharpens iron.

A list of Proverbs that are now highlighted in my bible. The Lord has spoken to me in these verses. I encourage you to check them out.

Chapter 1~ 1:7 , 1:22 , 1:33
Chapter 2~ 2:10-19
Chapter 3~ 3:5-6 , 3:9 , 3:11 
Chapter 4~ 4:5
Chapter 5~ 5:3-4 (I've met this woman before. Stay away from her!)
Chapter 6~6:32
Chapter 7~ 7:22 (Ive been there. Have you?)
Chapter 8~ 8:7 , 8:13 , 8: 32-36
Chapter 9~ 9:10
Chapter 10~ 10:5
Chapter 11~ 11:2 , 11:22
Chapter 12~ 12:1 , 12:28
Chapter 13~ 13:5 , 13:13
Chapter 14~ 14:12 , 14:29
Chapter 15~ 15:1
Chapter 16~ 16:7 , 16:9 , 16:20 , 16:32
Chapter 17~ 17:17  
Chapter 18~ 18:1 , 18:6-7 , 18:20-21 , 18:22
Chapter 19~  19:15 , 19:26
Chapter 20~ 20:3
Chapter 21~ 21:3 , 21:9 , 21:13 , 21:19 , 21:23
Chapter 22~ 22:6 , 22:9 , 22:11 , 22:15 , 22:16
Chapter 24~ 24:1-2
Chapter 27~ 27:1 , 27:2
Chapter 28~ 28:6 , 28:9 , 28:21
Chapter 29~ 29:3 , 29:11 , 29:17 , 29:25 , 29:27
Chapter 30~ 30:8-9 <-- This needs to be OUR prayer
Chapter 31~ 31:6-7 , 31:10-31 (The Virtuous Wife)