Tuesday, December 31, 2019

The Lord is with us all the time

The Lord is so rich in mercy and so good. Here we are, privileged to see the end of another year, the start of a new year and decade. The 'roaring 20s' are coming up. For me personally, this year was one of the hardest years I've ever lived through. 

So what? Life is hard for everyone. We all have different struggles. At the end of the day, you have to stay in your lane and live out the life that has been set before you no matter the circumstances. 

Before David could be King, David was the lowest of the low. David was the youngest of his brothers. He was a shepherd. Before David fought Goliath, David fought a lion and a bear. David had to learn that God was with him so that when he stood before the giant, he had experience to defeat the giant. 

David fought and killed a lion and a bear with his bear hands. I'm sure those battles were hard and bloody. David must've took a scars but he didn't die. In the time out in the pastures, David also gained confidence and the favor of the Lord so that when the day came to fight Goliath, he was ready and he killed the giant. 

God has been preparing you. You've been down and out. You've been passed up and looked over. You've been lied on and gossiped about. When everyone has turned their back on you, the Lord has not. You've been faithful, as hard as it was, but you kept on with the Lord. You've fought the lion and the bear but now it is time to fight the giant. It's time to put to use what you have learned. It's time to exercise faith in God. God has been preparing for such a day so that when Goliath steps up you can boldly say " Who is this uncirmcised Philistine that defies the armies of the living God?" Not only that, but strike down the giant and cut its head off in victory. 

It wasn't until the giant was killed that David could receive the blessing of the crown, the blessing of the kingdom and enter into the palace. So all you have dealt with this year, was preparing for what's coming. The giant is next, but God is with you and the giant will go down. It's not only because God can, it's knowing God will be with you when the giant comes. After the battle, will come God's blessing. 

One other thing I want to mention. After David became king, he sinned by taking a married man wife, empregnating her and having her husband killed. Did even such a great sin change who David was? No. Did God have to judge David and correct him, yes. But David didn't loose his place and his blessing. David repented of his sins and continued to serve the Lord. David is still considered one of the greats of the Bible even to this day. 

The bottomline is this. You've been through a lot. You've wanted to quit but you didnt. You fought hard battles but you received victory because you stayed praying and going after God. Now the climax of it all is upon you and it's time to ready up. The giant is coming, but there is no reason to fear because you've been prepared long before this battle. 

Fight well in 2020 and remember that God is with you always, even unto the end of the age. Happy new year and new decade! 





Friday, December 27, 2019

Thankful for the affliction

Up until I began to write this blog post, I despised 2019. No lie,the hardest year I've ever lived...so far. We are not promised an easy life, but we are promised that the Lord Jesus would accompany us the entire way. Even until the end of age. Something changed today. I began to learn how to be truly thankful. Not just for the good times and the blessings, but also for the storms, the trials and tribulations of life. 

Father, I praise your mighty name. Not only for all the amazing, wonderful and excellent things you have done, but also for who you are. You are ADONAI, JEHOVAH, YHWH, IAM, EMMANUEL, LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS. 

Thank you for all the job opportunities I was not hired for and positions I was passed up for. You showed me that you are my provider. Although I spent most of the year broke and unemployed, I was never without. I even had enough to give away. I had everything that I needed. You took care of me and my family. 

Thank you that you brought me low and humbled me. You showed me that we should not think so highly of ourselves. That you hate pride and you love humility. Thank you for humbling me and making look more like Jesus. 

Thank you for preserving my life. I wanted to quit, but you have me grace to keep going. How dare I attempted to destroy the temple of the Holy Spirit. Lord forgive me! I was such a fool. But thank you for stopping me from pulling the trigger. Thank you for loving me through it and never forsaking me. 

Thank you for all the heated discussions me and my wife had. It taught me how to love and forgive someone who isn't lovable and unforgivable. You taught me through your love for me, that I can love my wife. You taught me to forgive the unpardonable because You forgave the unpardonable in me. 

Thank you for my enemies and my haters. Lord, bless them. You said to pray for your enemies and those who persecute you. I have plenty of them. But they provide me a chance to exercise my faith and show that I love you. Because you said those who love you, obey your commands. And your commands are not a burden. 

Thank you for the times when I was alone and I was balling my eyes out, calling out to You, pleading my case before the throne of grace, boldly. Forgive me Lord the times that I was frustrated and I was so angry. Forgive my carnality. Thank you for forgiving me. 

Thank you for the times we didn't know how we were going to make it. Because you showed yourself faithful and full of mercy. Great is thy faithfulness! His Mercy endureth forever and evermore! 

Thank you for all the tears I cried. I cried tears of sadness and tears of joy. Ive wept for the lost, the orphans, the needy, and the sick. Ive been broken over my sins and cried tears because I offended the Lover of my soul. I owed you death, but you gave me life. Thanks you for the tears of joy. I experienced the joy of the Lord and it was so good and so powerful. I look forward and long for the day to praise the Lord at the foot of His throne. 

Thank you for sending your word to me when I needed it. When I was feeling down. When my faith was small. When I felt hopeless. When I wanted to give up on everything. 

50 - This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me. 

67 - Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.

Psalms 119:50‭, ‬67

Lord, this year was really tough but You got me through it. I pray that one day I understand why I went through what I went through. I give you praise for all you've done in the past, present and future. Hallelujah praise the Lord! 

In the name above all names, the name that every knee shall bow and the name that all tongues will confess as Lord, in Jesus mighty and holy name..

Amen. 

Saturday, December 21, 2019

The Chef and the Waiter.

I read a quote recently that likened an evangelist or a pastor as a waiter and God as the Chef of the restaurant. Please allow me ask you, the reader, a question. When you go to a restaurant, do you compliment the Waiter for cooking the meal? You may say to the Waiter to send your compliments to the Chef; but who gets the glory for cooking the meal? The Chef. 

And like that, the pastor and the evangist are the ones who serve the people and delivery the word of God. To the babes in faith, they get the warm milk of the gospel. For the more mature believer, a hearty meaty steak of the gospel. God is the one who has spoken and we are the ones who deliver the message. 

Now, if the Waiter has done a good job, by all means let the Chef know that his servant is doing a fine job. So that, the Chef may bless the Waiter for a job well done. But all the honor and glory goes to the Chef. All honor and glory to the Lord Most High! 

"Taste and see! The Lord is good." I just realized that sounds almost like a slogan for a restaurant. So what am I trying to tell you? The conclusion is this; God has spoken through the Bible and has given us all instructions on how to be in right standing with Him. God the Father has been good to His promise of sending us a Son to die on our behalf. The Father has validated the death of our Savior, Yeshua the Christ, with the resurrection of the Son of God. The Lord Jesus spoke of sending us a Helper, the Holy Spirit. God has given us His word and 'plated' it and has had His servants go out and deliver the word much like a Chef and a waiter work together. The glory for to the Lord, not the servant for the word. 

The Lord said that He would speak to us at times in parables so that with the example used in the physical to explain what is occurring in the spiritual. Today He spoke to me and made this reference. I understand it because I have worked as a waiter in high school. Also, I recall all the times I've sat at a restaurant and was served. Then, I recalled the times the Lord has used me. (My prayer is that He would use me even more!) I recalled the times a brother in Christ would preach or be teaching or testifying about the Lord. Delivering the word like a waiter bring a fresh meal to a customer's table. 

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Love is the greatest because God is

The greatest of these is 
L O V E. As I was meditating on this verse, I wondered why love is the greatest. I found several reasons. First, God is love. God is Almighty, Alknowing and Holy. God is eternal and there is no one that can be found to be His equal. Without love, our works mean nothing to God. So, Love is powerful and it's unique. Love is to be treated with the reverence. Without God, there is no such thing as love. Faith and hope are the two things we being to the table. Our faith and hope may fail, but the love of God will never fail. Not that faith and hope don't carry any kind of eternal weight. It is faith that moves the hand of God and pleases Him. It is our blessed hope to one day stand before the throne of God and praise Him forever, for eternity. Amen.

Who are you?

Someone needs to read this. 
Who are you? The Bible says that YOU are the crowning glory of ALL creation. The climax of creation is mankind. Take all the wonderful and marvelous creatures and created things in all existence past and future; despite how good looking or how unattractive you are, you are still the climax of creation. We were made in the image of God and we were created to be in intimate relationship with our God and creator. Your value is extremely high. If you are born again, you were purchased at a HIGH price; the life and blood of Jesus Christ who is the word of God made flesh. He is the visible image of the invisible God. In other words, if God took a selfie, the image would look like Jesus. Jesus is God with us. The word became flesh and dwelt among us. Sin was punished and paid for by Jesus, on the cross. The sacrifice was validated with the resurrection. 

You are highly valued, and your God loves you beyond measure. Literally, you cannot measure the height, depth, and width of God's love. It is an everlasting love. You are eternally loved. Do t listen to your feelings or what other people say. The only opinion that matters is God's opinion and YOU are to DIE FOR! What is love? Here is some homework and go read 
1 Corinthians 13 4-7

Thursday, December 5, 2019

A vision I received July 4, 2019

To be honest, I have been very hesitant to share what I am about to share. In fear of what others will say and my damaging my reputation. But that was just a form of pride and self preservation. For that, I repent and ask the Lord for forgiveness. 

On July 4th 2019 sometime in the early hours I suspect, I got this vision or dream. I believe it's from the Lord, but I invite you to pray about it and test the spirit to ensure it is infact from the Lord. If you have the gift to interpret the dream for it's true meaning, please contact me. 

In the vision I was hovering over a Roman era colossium and Christians were being burned at the stake. I saw Christians tied to a stake in the ground with their arms tied behind their back. There was large piles of wood at their feet. Then I heard the Christians singing "Amazing Grace." Oh, the sound was so beautiful and glorious. As the fire smoke began to get thick, then I looked up and I saw clouds and a very bright light shining through them. I saw these Christians being lifted and floating into the light. But I also saw myself lifted and going into the clouds to meet the Lord. We continued to sing and it seemed to get louder as we got closer the light. It was beautiful! It was a beautiful sight to see and hear. I was overwhelmed with joy and tears. It encouraged me that even if we are perscuted, even unto death, we can still sing the praises of the Lord. Even unto death! Get to the other side singing the praises of the Lord along with all the angels and Saints in heaven. 

Have you been born again?

When Christians ask, "Have you been born again?"what we're really asking is, "Have you repented of your sins and trusted in Christ as Lord and Savior and been made alive and transformed by His Holy Spirt?"

So...have you been born again?
Book of John, chapter 3, verse 7, Jesus said "You should not be surprised when I say 'You must be born again.' "

Dont be surprised that in order to be a born again disciple of Christ, you must've repented of your sins, trusted in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and made alive and transformed by the Holy Spirit.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Stop Trying To Fulfil the Law Yourself

If you are being taught to follow the law as a Christian, you are being taught wrong. I invite you to read Galatians 3, Matthew 22:35–40, Mark 12:28–34, and Luke 10:27. 

Jesus fulfilled the law, meaning He did every command, over 600 and excuted then perfectly. That's why we are born again and hidden in Christ so that it can be counted towards us the fulfillment of the law through Christ. 

The sum of the law is this: love the Lord your God with all your heart soul and mind. The 2nd command is to love your neighbor as yob love yourself. We are justified by God's grace and our faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Not by works or the law. 

The law isn't done away with. Jesus fulfilled it and then taught us how to live it out, by love. Without love, we are nothing. God is love, so without Him, we can not do anything that has any eternal weight in glory. 

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

The salvation of a rap star

If you haven't heard already, Kanye West is saying that he is a born again Christian. He took it up a notch by saying he would not record any more secular music, only gospel music. His next album at the time of this post is "Jesus Is King".I remember how Kanye thought that he was a god. He had published a Bible where he removed the name of God and put his name in its place. Kanye West who would disrupt music award shows and commit outlandish things on TV. This man now praises Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior. What I have a hard time believing is how Christians are rejecting him as a follower of Christ.

Now I understand how it must've been like when Paul had converted to Christianity. Remember, the great Apostle Paul, a hero to many, Paul who wrote most of the New Testament, was a murderer of Christians. The Lord Jesus appeared to Paul and saved Him.
Every testimony of salvation you will hear a common theme, "I was a sinner and Jesus saved me". I was a sinner once and I committed vile sins. And if I had more means and money to commit more sin back then I would have gladly done more to send me to hell. I needed saving from myself, my sins and the wrath of God. You were a sinner and you needed to be saved. Don't forget that.

The problem I am seeing is that some Christians have become spiritually prideful. The culture of "Churchianity" is to vilify everything and call it evil even before there is any proof. I, for one, am watching and monitoring the developing story of Kanye West. I suggest you all should too.
I remember a few years ago I had seen a video where Kanye West said that he was a Christian. I scoffed and I didn't believe it but I prayed for him anyway. I found out that other believers were being led in the Spirit to pray for Kanye West too.

That must've been about 3 or 4 years ago. Here we are now and I see a radical transformation. I experienced a radical transformation when I got born again too. My family couldn't believe what had happened to me. Did you experience something similar? It's a beautiful thing when someone is born again, but it can be messy too at the beginning because a new believer's theology and beliefs aren't quite right. That is why Bible study, fellowship, proper doctrinal teaching, and prayer is vital in the infancy stage of a new believer. We have to start them off with spiritual milk. I always suggest new believers should read the Sermon on the Mount, that's Christianity 101.

I recently read that a Pastor named Adam Tyson, senior pastor of Placerita Bible Church in Santa Clarita, was contacted by Kanye West and they spent hours going over the Gospel. Kanye flew Adam out to one of his ranches and they spent days in Bible study. We know the natural man, the flesh, has no desire to seek the Lord or even to study the Bible for hours. This is what salvation looks like. I still am testing the spirits to ensure that they are from God; as we all should. We should be wise and observe before we make a judgment.

A few years ago, a rocker from a popular band got saved. He has paraded around and he made lots of videos about how he came to faith. This same man is now back with his band singing secular songs. Where is the outrage? In fact, this man is still called a brother and a part of the faith by some. Aren't we all baptized into one faith by one Spirit?  I hope it's not because of his celebrity status that people brush it off. I really hope it's not that this man is favored because of his skin color.

Let's not be hypocrites. Let's not forget that we were once a lost sinner and we also needed a Savior. We weren't saved because we were good people and salvation is not an heirloom that is passed down. Don't get on a high horse because you're saved now and you feel entitled to point your finger at people and lift your nose at them.

Kanye West is not our enemy because he is doing what so many of us wish we could do, share the Gospel. He is being persecuted for this. Think about the last time you suffered any hostility for proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know some can, but most cant.
Pray that God will be glorified for all of this. Pray for Kanye, his family and the ministry supporting him. Pray that West's faith and conversion would be authentic and are strong. Pray for souls that hear the gospel message during the Sunday Service of Kanye West, that those who have ears to hear, would be saved.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Time to get alone with God (short note)

There are times no sermon, no worship song, no consolation, and there is nothing that can satisfy your suffering like getting alone with the Lord. There is a time and place for preaching, teaching, singing and praying together. 

But, there is a time where we have to go in private and be with the Lord. Find the time. If all you got is 10-15 minutes to give then give that time to the Lord. If you don't have a special place to pray, pray in the privacy of your mind. Go for a prayer walk and pray as you walk. Lock yourself in the bathroom. Wake up early in the morning before everyone else in the house. Find a place and  whatever you do, get alone with God. 

If you have nothing to pray for, pray for someone else. Or just praise him in your alone time. He is worthy of your praise. Read Matthew 6:6 and Matthew 6:9-10


Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Are you REALLY saved?

Do you want to make sure you are saved/born again? We should be concerned for our own salvation and the salvation of others. This post will either offend you or save you. In the first epistle of John, the Apostle John writes a method in which we can examine ourselves in order to make sure we are in the faith. Its taking the Bible like as a mirror and reading it. By reading we are looking into the mirror to see if how much do we resemble the image of Christ according to the word of God. 

I must establish this first. The word of God is the ABSOLUTE truth. The word of God is true and factual. My opinion amd my feelings mean nothing when placed next to the perfect word of God. So in other words, what I am about to share is not my opinion or my feelings. It is what God Himself has revealed through the Bible and the Holy Spirit. Who cares what I think and feel? Nobody cares what I have to say. But we should all care what God has to say. 

I will list off 10 verses from 1 John chapter one. I will describe what a saved person should be like. A person who is really saved is radically changed and it is noticeable. It goes beyond the emotions felt during an alter call on a Sunday morning. Its continuing to walk with God during the week and the rest of your life.

1:7 - You like to fellowship with other believers
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin."

1:8 - You are appalled by your sin and yourself (Total depravity)
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

2:3 - Motivated to be obedient to God's commands
"And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments."

2:15 - You love the Creator more than you love the creation
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

2:23 - If you believe in Jesus and believe that He is God
"Whosoever denies the Son, they do not have the Father: he that acknowledges the Son has the Father also."

3:2 - You long for the return of Jesus
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it do not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as he is."

3:9 - You do not practice sin (habitual sin)
"Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for His seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

3:14 - Love the brethren more than your unsaved family
"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."

4:6 - You love good teaching
"We are of God: he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God hears not us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error."

4:15 - You dont fear sharing your faith
""Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God."

So how did you do? If at any point you felt that you missed the mark and dont know what to do, have no fear. There is hope! Repent and believe in the gospel. Repentance is a change of heart, that leads to a change of mind and action towards the ways of God. Believe that Jesus Christ is not only a man, but He was God in the flesh and that God in the flesh went on the cross in our place in order to save us. A sinless man took all of our sins, so that we can be the righteousness of God. Jesus died so that we can be reconciled to Himself. We made the mistakes, Jesus paid for them with His life, to save our lives.

 Know that no body, NOT ONE, is righteous and we all need to be saved. Being saved is also being "born again". Its a spiritual occurance when a sinner repents of their sins and they believe in Jesus. Their old life and past sins die. Then the sinner birthed into a new life as a Saint and as a child of God. No longer of the sinful ancestry of Adam, but adopted into the royal bloodline of God through Jesus Christ. 

So after the emotions have calmed down, you've left church and went home. The next day, life comes at you. What do you do? It is very important to read your bible daily and pray. Spiritually, we are feeding our inner man the word of God. If you dont feed it daily, it will be weak. When you are saved/born again, your relationship with God has been reestablished and He has become your Father. So, communicate with your Father. He speaks to us in many various ways. Mainly through his word, the Bible. You may experience as you are reading the bible, a particular verse stands out and speaks right into your situation or you will gain some sort of understanding. Its an amazing experience. 

The true Christian lifestyle is a life of prayer, repentance, love, and Bible study. If we lack knowledge or see that we are not representing Jesus in a certain area in our life, all we must do is ask the Lord for wisdom and He will give it to us. I always encourage folks to ask the Lord for wisdom, knowledge, understanding and discernment. A real good place to start is by reading the book of Proverbs which is a book of wisdom within the Bible. If you have felt convicted in any way, do not despair. There is still hope to be saved. The fact that you felt convicted proves that you are saved. Repent + Believe = Forgiven

What do I mean when I say "saved". Saved from what? To be saved means to be saved from the wrath of God. Those who reject Jesus as Lord and Savior, the wrath of God is upon them and one day they will have to pay for their own sins. Since they rejected God and wanted nothing to do with Him but continue to sin, they will be separated from God. So in other words, God is saving you from Himself, from you sins and from hell. This is good news! God made ONE way to be saved and it is through Jesus Christ. God will give those who rejected Jesus what they want, a life without God. And a life without God is hell. All the good in the world is because of Him. If that is taken away, what is left? Hell. 

Jesus said that He is the way, the truth and the life. Without Him, no one can come to the God the Father. Narrow is the the path that leads to eternal life and few find it. But broad and wide is the path to destruction and many are on that path. 



Tuesday, August 27, 2019

**Attention Christians** This is a call to prayer!

Mankind isn't supposed to work all the time or play all the time or eat all the time. We are commanded by God to pray with out ceasing. Pray all the time. Pray when the thought of praying comes to mind. Pray when the nights that you cannot sleep and feel restless. Pray when you're awaken early in the morning. Pray when life is good and wonderful. Be thankful.

Pray when life is bad and you don't even feel like praying. Pray when you wake up and pray before you lay down to sleep. Pray when someone comes to the forefront of your memory. You may be the only one praying for that particular person and God has called upon you to lift them up in prayer. God instructs us to pray and then to pray some more. That is our all.

Pray before and after reading the word. Pray before reading and ask for God to reveal Himself in His word and give you understanding. Pray and ask for the ability and capability to live out what you are reading. Pray when you're done feasting on the word of God and thank Him for it. Pray and give thanks because it was His desire to draw you nigh to Him and speak to you through His word.

Pray that God would fill the rooms of your home and push and evict any spirits of darkness that dwell even in the corners of your home. Pray before, during and after your travels. Don't forget to thank Him for His travel mercies and keeping you safe. Pray before going out to minister or do any works of the Lord. Without His blessing, it will mean nothing.

If you don't know how to pray, ask the Lord to teach you how to pray. The very first thing that the disciples asked Jesus was to learn how to pray. It wasn't to learn how to cast out devil's or heal the sick. "Lord, teach us to pray". There is a wonderful book in the Bible called the Psalms, which is a prayer book within the Bible. It's the longest book in the entire Bible and for good reason. Read it and it will give you language and words for you to speak. Regurgitate the word back to the Lord. He knows full well the meaning of what you're saying but also knows how you understand it.

Jesus teaches us how to pray in Matthew 6. The Lord's Prayer and we ought to pray in that manner. Or read where Jesus prayed for all of us in John 17. Prayer is our lifeline to the Lover of our soul. A Christian is only as strong as their prayer life. If your prayer life is weak, pray some more. If you have nothing to pray for, pray for others. There is always something to pray about. Pray and pray some more. Pray the best you can. Pray in tears, the Lord knows their meaning and collects our tears. Look around you, there is so much to be thankful for.

Did you wake up today? Go and pray and thank the Lord. Regardless of our circumstances, we can pray at all times. We can come BOLDLY to the throne room of God and receive mercy and grace in our time of help. Or we can come into His presence just to simply display our gratitude for saving our life and establishing our new life in Jesus Christ. Never stop praying. Pray as much as you can. It is our all.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Stop looking

Lust procedes adultery. But what precedes lust? Looking! Jesus said that even if someone LOOKS at another person and then thinks about lusting after them, they have committed adultery in their heart (Matthew 5:27-28). 

Want to overcome your battle with watching porn and masterbation? Want to overcome lust? 
STOP. LOOKING. AT. PORN. Stop looking at that co-worker and lust after them. Discipline yourself to not look. I wouldn't ask you to do something I myself haven't done or tried. 

I also have struggled and struggle even now. Jesus said that if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out because it is better for one member of your flesh to perish than your whole self in hell. (Matthew 5:29). It's better to crucify the flesh now than to have to pay for your own sin. 

If you struggle with lust, it's a good thing you struggle because there are people out there who don't struggle and they have gone head over heels in their sin and have no problem with their sin. There is proof that God has moved in and your flesh and the Spirit of God are at war with one another. 

Pray and ask the Lord to help you. Remember that greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). You and God against the world, the world is outnumbered and it isn't a fair fight because God is on your side!

Saturday, August 10, 2019

The power of Gospel via social media

Let's not be selfish and keep the word to ourselves. Let's not get lazy and fat on knowledge. Social media can be such a powerful tool for evangelism. You can reach your friends and family no matter where they are. You don't have to personally be face to face in order to share your faith with them.
Do any of your friends and family actually know your a follower of Christ? Ask yourself this and be honest with yourself. If the answer is no, then there is still time to turn from your ways and do the God pleasing thing.

Scenario: If the only way to prove your faith to the world was by what you posted on your timeline, would people be able to point out that you're a follower of Christ? Examine yourself.
I'm not condemning anyone, I'm trying to STIR SOMETHING IN YOU. I am trying to encourage you to do good works, the works the Lord had ordained for you since before the foundation of the earth was laid.

If your call is to be an evangelist but it scares you, there is hope. The fear is a spiritual attack on you to petrify you with fear so you don't say a word about Jesus. The Bible says that God has not given us a spirit of fear; but has given us a spirit of love, power, and a sound mind. The word of God and prayer are your tools and weapons to combat the attacks of the enemy. You have to read and study the word of God. Study so that you show yourself approved by God Himself.

God has called you to mature in your calling. Take baby steps. Start by sharing Bible verses, videos on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. You may loose some followers along the way, but the closer you get to the cross, the less people will want to be around you. As Jesus approached closer to the cross, the less followers He had.  Only John the Apostle was there. The other disciples and followers left Jesus.

You will have seasons where you are on fire and the word is flowing out of you like a strong river. Then there will be season where you feel dry and dead and you have no desire to even click SHARE on a post on Facebook. But we must always be ready to give an account for the reason we believe in Jesus.

We are all that's left

We are all that's left. There will no back up or cavalry to come and help us. Do you realize that we are all that's left? To your godless friends, family, colleagues and aquaintances, you are all that's left. They are not going to a church to hear a Pastor preach the word of God.
For one, they don't want to go to church and two, in many churches the word of God is just reference, a source of inspiration, and not the absolute truth. No one is preaching Christ crucified to your family and friends. But you can.
Let's all pray that we would be bold and also show ourselves worthy to yield the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. Let's pray that God would fill us with His love for the lost. We are all that is left and we have to let others know that Jesus is coming back soon. His mercy remains and He is willing to save and forgive if they would believe on Jesus and turn away from their sins.
How will they know that the name of Jesus is the ONLY name given unto man that he might be saved? How will they know if there is no one to preach to them? We are all that is left. You can't pray for someone else to go in your place. We are all that is left.

Look at the cross

Some people say they don't like to look at the cross. That we shouldn't think about what happened to Jesus on the cross. It's too gruesome, depressing and violent.
I beg to differ because the cross reminds us of God's hate toward sin and how Jesus, the perfect sinless Son of God, paid for our sins. The story doesn't end there.
After the cross, Jesus rose from the dead proving His sacrifice was suffice and He conquered sin and death. Without the cross, there is no resurrection.

Monday, July 8, 2019

We have the same creator, but different fathers

What I'm about to say next might not sit well with some. We are NOT all children of God. We are all creations of God, but only those who are born again, they are truly the children of God. Don't confuse the two. God does desire that NONE should perish and that all would come to repentance.
People who go to hell, chose to go there because they refused to believe in Jesus and repent of their sins. God gave them what they wanted, which was no God in their life so they're eternally separated from Him. 1 John 3:10, the word says "By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother." Why? Because Jesus said in John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Also Jesus said in John 14:15 "If you love me, keep my commands." 
Jesus also said in John 8:43-44 
"Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

So there is a obvious difference between the children of God and the children of the devil. The children of God love Him by obeying His commands and love others like they love themselves. On the other hand, children of the devil hate God and disobey His commands. Children of the devil cannot understand the word of God and the things of God. This is why we must be born again! So that we can hear the instructions of God so we can obey Him. And so that we go out and tell others about Jesus and the good news. 

We can't all be children of God, according to the Bible.

Monday, June 10, 2019

June 10th - 5 year anniversary

Today marks 5 years that I have been writing in this blog. With no intention of stopping either. I may get busy with life, but somehow I always come back to writing in my blog. By the way, My Burning Heart 4 Jesus is also on Youtube, Instagram, Tumblr and Facebook. Anyways, I wanted to share some notes with you I recently took that I believe would encourage somebody who is reading.

Good people don't go to heaven, forgiven sinners do.

One thing all Christians should be taught as quickly as possible after their conversion is that Jesus Christ is all they need.




Monday, April 8, 2019

Little Children

Matthew 18:3-5 Verily I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.   Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.   And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receives me.

What does it mean to become like a child? It means to believe, have faith and obey just as a young child does to their parents or guardians. A child loves and trusts in whom they love and trust. They do not question, they just trust that they will be lead in the right path. A child's love is pure. The love they have is unconditional. Children have great faith even when they cannot see it. A young child will humble themselves before their parents.

So in that same way, have faith and obey God just as young child does their parents. Specifically, live and obey the Father. Do not question, trust that God will lead you in the right path. God's love is pure. Allow Him to pour His pure love into you. Ask God in prayer to increase your capacity to receive this love and to let it over flow so that others may taste and see that the Lord is good. Have great faith. Pray "Jesus, I believe but help in my lack of belief."

Stop looking to see God work in the background. Stop trying to guess what His next move will be or what He is doing. Don't try to understand Him. His thoughts are not our thoughts. His thoughts are much too high for our feeble brain. Just rest in the fact that God knows what's best, He hasn't forgot you and He hasn't left you. Humble yourself before the Lord and He shall exalt you at the proper time.

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Video Testimony: Let me tell you how Jesus saved me

I recorded a video where I share some more about my testimony. I hope you enjoy it, are encouraged by it and are blessed. To God be all the praise, honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.




Sunday, March 17, 2019

How many times shall we forgive?

So how many times must we forgive someone for doing us wrong? Matthew 18:21-22 "Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." Matthew 6:14 says "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."
The take away: Never stop forgiving those who do wrong against you. If you forgive them, God will forgive you of your sins. If you do not forgive, you will not be forgiven. So if you feel like your patience is running out and you feel like your going to get mad, deny those feelings and forgive. You will feel much better and happier. Ive said it once and ill say it again, forgiving someone does make what they did wrong to you  is right. It means you release the anger and bitterness which are not from God. Show mercy like you would like to have mercy shown to you.

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Jesus > Religion

It's not about if my religion is right or your religion is right. It's about God is right and He has set the conditions upon which we can be reconciled with Him. Any deviation from His conditions is rebellion. Don't follow the traditions and religion that man kind has made. Simply do what God says. All the pomp and circumstance of man made religion cannot save you. There is only ONE way to heaven and it's through Jesus Christ. Praise God that He made only one way and not multiple ways. Jesus said in John 14:6 that He was the way, the truth and the life and that no one can see the Father unless it is through Him. Repent and believe in the gospel and you shall have eternal life.



Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Is God a gift ungiver?

There are two conflicting teachings within Christianity in regards to salvation. Either we are once saved, always saved or you can loose your salvation if you don't do what God commands. Honestly, I am confused about the matter. On one hand, we know God is merciful, kind, graceful and loving. But God is also a righteous judge and He must punish sin. Gods gift of salvation is free. Its a gift. Why would God take back the gift He gave away? He doesn't need salvation, we do. We have a choice to accept or reject the gift. Maybe its not about the validity of Gods gift, but the validity of our faith. Is our faith real? Did we really repent and were born again? Or were we caught up in our emotions and when the emotions pass, things go back to normal? Was our salvation authentic or fake? The questions are rhetorical questions. They are questions you should ask yourself and examine yourself.

There are folks who will say that God has predestined people and He knows who will be saved. So why do we need to go out into the world and preach the gospel if God already knows who will be saved? If we are predestined, then if a person is supposed to be saved, they will be saved because God commanded it. But we have free will. Some teach that we have no say in the matter when it comes to salvation and that we are too sinful to realize our need to be saved and nor can we make our own choice to follow Jesus. So God forces His salvation on those He predestined. Love doesn't force itself on others. So why would God do such a thing? If we are all predestined, then why is there a command to tell the world to repent and believe in the gospel? Did Jesus give us this task to keep us busy while we wait for His return? Or was it so that we can go find the lost and bring them to the light? Perhaps we are predestined but since God is the only one who knows who are His, and we don't, God would lead us via the Holy Spirit to those who are His so they can be found and set free from their sins. It may be a little bit of both. In Hebrews 2:3 there is great question asked. "How will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?"

You know, this is important. We have to get this right in this life because what we do here will dictate where we will spend the rest of eternity. I know at least for me it is. Obviously there are some teachings that are the foundation of the faith and cannot be changed. For example, Jesus Christ is Lord. He is God the Son, the image of the invisible God. Jesus was fully man and fully God the entire time He walked on Earth. Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead 3 days later. Our faith is based on those teachings. Most Christians agree with those beliefs. But when it comes to subjects regarding when the tribulation will take place or what skin color Jesus was, those are not subjects that if you don't get quite right, you wont be in sin for believing that. But we have to know and be convinced that we have accepted the gift of salvation that God graciously has given to us. I believe it dictates how a person will live. Will the person be a casual believer or a disciple of Jesus Christ? In my opinion, once saved always saved makes it too easy. Believing in Jesus is so much more profound than believing He lived once 2000 years ago. Its trusting in Him and obey His commands out of love and not out of obligation. But, I also believe that having an unhealthy fear of God is very bad for the growth of someones faith, but also is a false, unbiblical image of Jesus Christ our Lord and God. Once again, perhaps its a little of both?

Some people say "I believe that if you are once saved, always saved, you can live anyway you like because no matter what, you are saved because you prayed a prayer a long time ago." That may not always be the case. If we give Satan an inch, we all know he will take a lot more. So why give the enemy a way into someones life? When you got born again there should have been a change inside you that comes out. You are a new creature and all the old has been done away with. On the other hand, a person who lives thinking that you can loose your salvation, could lead to a life of unhealthy fear of God. Fear that God is waiting to smash you like a tiny ant at any time you commit a sin. It could also lead to a worked based faith where a person feels the need to add to their own salvation by doing works. Yes, I know that the by-product of our faith is works and without works our faith is dead. Its not the works that is the problem, its our heart and our motive. Is the works really for God or is it really for you? That is something, though, that only God can judge because He knows our real motives. There will come a day when God will judge our lives and including our true motives.

Would God take away salvation? The real question is were we ever really saved?









Sunday, March 3, 2019

The Gospel According to (Insert Your Name Here)

Disclaimer: I am not saying that what I write is Biblical canon. Nor am I adding or taking away from the word of God.

The word "gospel" is defined as the teaching and revelation of Jesus Christ. The gospel is also good news. So my gospel, is my story on how Jesus revealed Himself to me and what He has taught me. The good news is that even a wretched sinner like me can be saved by Jesus Christ and so can you.

The gospel is knowing that I didn't have to earn salvation because it was free and given to me as a gift from God. But it cost Jesus His life so that mine could be spared. The good news is that a person who is saved does not have to endure the mighty wrath of God and be separated from Him for eternity.

I was born again in 2013. The prequel to my salvation was...lets just say a huge mess. I found God when literally everything I relied on was taken from me. I was forced to make a decision on the day I was born again. At the fork in the road I had to decide to keep going my way or go down God's way.

Being a follower of Christ has not been easy. I use to foolishly think that Christianity was an easy cake walk. I've done some very difficult things in my life, but being a disciple is nowhere close to easy. Although, there are some good times and those are very good. In the storms is where I grew and matured spiritually. I also began to understand God a bit more and know Him more.

My gospel story is not yet complete. Lord willing, there is still a lot more days that are exciting, nerve racking, supernatural, amazing, joyful, fulfilling and the most difficult. If this is how I must come to know God, then so be it. Its not the most luxurious life, but we are not suppose to be living for the now, but for what is to come.




Tithing is not commanded to Gentiles

Money and the church. This is a hot topic and a touchy subject but I am going to stir the pot anyways. I know what I am about to write is going to upset people and I may lose followers. But after reading the Bible some more and studying the subject, I found that tithing is not commanded to the New Testament church. Not Jesus, not Peter, not John not Paul commanded to do it. We are encouraged to give with a cheerful heart what we have decided in our hearts. So, you dont have to give 10 percent of your income because you can give whatever amount you please.

What God cares about is whats going on in your heart, not in your bank account. Are you giving out of compulsion, or our of man made tradition? Or because your church leaders have taken the verses about tithing out of context. I went to a church and for 3 weeks straight all they preached about was tithing to the church more money. At the beginning of every service, they had people who were tithers to the church and they told their story about how God blessed them. That is great because the testimonies that come with them are good. But I felt like the church was more concerned with making money than the condition of the congregation's eternal soul.

So what if you aren't tithing, then what? Is the Lord going to punish you? No. Some folks cannot afford to pay tithe but feel that if they dont give a large sum, their tithe means less. I read a quote I would like to share with you.

"Quit preaching tithe lessons to broke people," he said. "Let's teach them how to get on a budget. ... The natural byproduct of a Jesus lover when they have money is giving." - Dave Ramsey

Amen to that. But that is not how its done anymore. Praise the Lord for churches who still offer budget classes and for Pastors who care for their financial well being of their flock. Now, one thing I want to address is for those who are tithers and who gladly give to their church or a ministry. For those who do it, if you are obeying the Lord, then do it. All I am saying is that the Old Testament command of giving 10 percent of your income, isn't in the New Testament. Jesus didn't do away with the law, but fulfilled it. We are in Jesus Christ, so the law is already fulfilled through Him. No longer must we obey the laws that were given to the Jews. Obeying what God says is a by product of our salvation.


Remember that Jesus said that those who obey the two greatest commandments are His disciples. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Love others as you love yourself. If we do obey those commands, we have fulfilled our requirement. Without love we can not do anything and we are nothing without love. God is love and without Him we are nothing and can not do anything of eternal significance without love. So don't think I am saying do not tithe, or give an offering or give alms to the needy. It's not how often you do it or how much you give. It's the motive behind it. This should be encouraging and freeing to some. In my experience, God has blessed me more when I gave out of love than out of obligation.


Remember Jesus told the parable about the Pharisee who gave from His riches and a woman who gave all that she had left. It was the poor woman who pleased God because it was because of the condition of her heart. I actually saw an interaction like this recently at a small conference I went to in December. The Pastor was done preaching and he asked for an offering. He asked that if the ministry blessed you, could you bless the ministry. By the way, that kind of invitation is so much more inline with scripture. It's partnering up with God through that ministry by giving. Almost everyone gave it seemed like. People gave what they could and some gave more. I'd like to believe they all did it out of love and obedience towards God and they had given out of a cheerful heart and gave what they decided was good. God gives us the choice to give what we want to give. Anyways, I was an usher and I helped pass around the containers to collect the offering. I saw one guy drop 100 bucks like nothing. I wish I couldve done that at the time. Then a woman came to me and said "I am sorry. This is all I have." She dropped in less than 50 cents. She seemed ashamed and walked away quickly. Right before we were done collecting the offering, the woman came back again and dropped in a handful of pennies, dimes and nickels. She apologized again and I once again said it was okay and blessed her and thanked her. But do you see what this whole false teaching of tithing has done to the church?! Poor folks don't want to give because they are ashamed because their offering/tithe/ gift/ whatever is too small. But God also knows our true intentions.


Also, I want to remind folks, you can also give by giving your time and talent to benefit others. Not just on the church campus, but also outside of church where all the lost folks are. God blesses us so that we can be a blessing to others. Nothing He gives us is just for us to have and not share it with others.

In conclusion, once again I want to remind people this: I am not saying you can't give 10 percent to your church or favorite ministry. If 10 percent is what you decided is good and you give it cheerfully, then praise the Lord and do it. If all you have is a couple dollars or coins and that's all you can/want to give, then praise the Lord and do it. If you don't have income or a very tight budget, give yourself (time and/or talent). But I am saying the command to tithe 10 percent to your church is not found in the New Testament and Jesus fulfilled the law so that we do not have to do it. Remember that if you fail at one of the law, you are guilty of all the law. Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly and because we are in Christ, we are not guilty of the law anymore. Hallelujah!















Tuesday, February 26, 2019

The glory of God is the Lamb

The Lord showed me this as I was reading His word.

Philippians 2:11 "And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

And

Revelation 21:23 "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."

My mind was blown away...
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER BECAUSE THE GLORY OF GOD IS THE LAMB. THE GLORY OF GOD SHINES SO BRIGHT THAT THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE SUN OR THE MOON ANYMORE.

That is how glorious Jesus Christ is.


posted from Bloggeroid

God gains an angel everytime someone dies?

Does God gain an angel every time someone dies? What's the Bible say about it. Humans are humans and angels are angels. When a believer dies, they go home to be with the Lord. They are still human, but in their glorified state.

This is just how valuable mankind is to God. For the angels who rebelled against God, there is no atonement or forgiveness for their sin. They don't get to enjoy God's grace or mercy. In fact, angels are intrigued by the love God has for mankind.

But God so loved mankind that He became a man, and yet still fully God, and died for the salvation of mankind and took upon the cross the sins of whosoever would believe in Him. Jesus didn't die for angels or to save them. Jesus died for the sins of mankind to save mankind. God became human to die on behalf of humans. This is not a boastful thing to say, it is the truth about who God is and His plan.

Humans were the climax of creation. We also don't become and angel when we die and NO we never were angels. So don't tell people God gained another angel when a loved one passes away of someone you know.

 If that person was a believer, they are with the Lord because the Bible says so. It should be a time to rejoice because they don't have to suffer and nor will they will they ever suffer again. If we aren't sure about someone we know salvation, then this should provide us even more to share the gospel with them.



posted from Bloggeroid

Monday, February 25, 2019

The balancing act of grace and truth

The Bible teaches that Jesus was full of grace and truth (John 1:14). We must ask to get this balance as well because we can hurt people with too much grace and too much truth. There are times being blunt and honest is effective and there are also times when showing grace and love is good. Take me for example, I lean more on the truth side. But I pray that I can also become graceful and maintaining to be truthful.

Clobbering people with the truth all the time isn't good. Grace all the time isn't always good either. Finding the perfect balance is like throwing a punch with a velvet glove. The punch is the truth, but the soft velvet glove is the grace. Sometimes we have to be the one to deliver a harsh message, but we do it in a loving way.


posted from Bloggeroid

Friday, February 22, 2019

A church is a hospital for saints and museum of sinners

There is a saying that says that a church should be a hospital for sinners and a museum of saints. I disagree and I'll tell you why.

A church is a hospital for saints and a museum of sinners. It's where saints can come and be uplifted, encouraged, loved, learn more about God, worship God and get inner healing.

The church is a museum of sinners because think about it, what do we go to museums for? To learn about the past. So the church should be a museum of sinners so that we learn how NOT to be or how not to live.

I mean, if you look up the true meaning of the word church in the original language of the Bible, it means "called out ones". Honestly the only reason a sinner should be in a church is to give their life to God and repent of their sins.

God uses extreme vetting in order to be one of His people, but the church nowadays thinks this is an all inclusive institution.


posted from Bloggeroid

Saturday, February 16, 2019

It doesn't matter what your name is

This just hit me like a ton of bricks.

"You know, who cares what man knows you name? The question is, does God know your name?" - Paul Washer.

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

I've heard it once said "To be known by God is to be loved by God. To be loved by God is to be known by God." The scenario in Matthew 7:21-23 is the worst thing I could possibly hear, ever. I mean, doesn't that scare you? When I read the quote from Paul Washer, it made me think about how lately I've been trying to get myself known. I felt convicted because that was speaking about me and it brought things back into focus. Who cares if people don't know me. Does God know me? That's what I should strive in my life to be known for.
posted from Bloggeroid

Monday, February 11, 2019

Welcome to the world today

Sharing from Facebook

Welcome to the world today.....
Where sex is free and love is expensive. Where losing a phone is more painful than losing your virginity. Where modernization means nudity, profanity, and if you don't drink/smoke dope you're out of fashion/style. Where boys stay boys and never want to become men, and girls become men to rule over them. Where if you don't fool your partner it's because you're not clever enough. Where the bathrooms have become photography studios. Where pizza delivery is faster than the emergency response. Where people fear the thieves and the terrorists more than God. Where Worshipping God is difficult. Where temples turn into dating pools. Where lies become realities. Where the ladies fear pregnancy more than h.i.v., and babies are murdered so the ladies can escape. Where people become toxic when they speak the truth or you're resisting to turn from what is actually toxic. Where perspectives and clothes decide the value of a person. Where money is more important than family and God. Where children are ready to leave their families for their love of the moment, rebellion and spite. Where the marriage covenant is no longer sacred or taken seriously. Where it's easier to play house than to build a home. Where jumping from partner to partner for sex or attention is easier than waiting for the right partner for life.
Where love is a game.
Where evil no longer exists.
Whoever plays with the mind always gets happiness and who plays with the heart always hurts.
Modernity, love and liquid education...

The new generation of humanity.

II Timothy 3: 1-4
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

Matthew 24:12-13
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of many will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

There's still hope in Jesus, it's not too late!

posted from Bloggeroid

Life is like a rally car race

Life is like a rally race. You have to race on tarmac, gravel, mud, mountains, in different locations, in the cold, in the heat and in the rain or snow. Sometimes you will have accidents, deaths, victories and happiness. Sometimes you go off course. But you keep on fighting. You keep on going. Some rally drivers have more success than others and some drive on the safer side. Most crash at sometime. But all you do is repair and get back out in the race. You may not goes as fast as you would like to but you can say "I finished." No one can take that away from you.

Jesus dealt with our sin on the cross. Once you get saved God isn't dealing with your sin. He is dealing with your lack of love, lack of patience, lack of spiritual fruit. But you keeping fighting and going and get back on the narrow road and go for the goal. Jesus is your co-driver who tells you how to maneuver through the course so that you can have victory  over sin. Your exceedingly great prize awaits you in all of Gods glory. That prize is Jesus Christ.

 As I watched the video in the link below,  when I thought about how sometimes life is like a rally car race, it makes the win of God's race so much more special above all others.
10 Minutes of Pure Rally Crashes and Saves






The genius of God

I am totally amazed and blown away at how great God is. Man may be able to duplicate something God made, but they cant make anything from nothing. Man cannot speak things into existence without Gods will. Everything I look at God made. What mathematicians and scientist have spent centuries trying to figure out the mystery's of creation, God simply spoke them into existence. From nothing. That is so amazing to me. I look into the night sky from my balcony and I see the stars. God made them and I am blessed to be able to just see them. How can you deny a God like that? Remember it was mans sin that made things the way they are. But that's why Jesus is going to come back and make things right once and for all. Wow.

posted from Bloggeroid

Getting older is a privilege not many get to enjoy

Getting older is a privilege in my opinion. Sure it comes with some negative draw backs but think about this. How many people did you know that you have out lived? I can look back and recall friends and acquaintances that died young. There were times in my life when I know that I should have died. Getting old is looked down upon and youth is celebrated. People will go to great lengths to try to stay young. That is impossible. But yet, here we are alive. Thanks be to God that we are alive today. We are never promised our next breathe, our next heart beat or the next day.

posted from Bloggeroid

Friday, February 8, 2019

I am a messy Christian

I read the following in a devotional I was doing. This is totally who I am and I am sure many others are like this too.

"I’m a messy Christian. That’s the only way I can describe it. Sometimes I feel so hopeless, but other times, I feel the peace of God full force. Yet, he never leaves. My heart may pound and my hands may shake, but my God is strong and he will calm my uneasy soul.My bible has tabs that are tearing my pages, and my highlighter has bled through too many pages too count. My bible notes for bible verses are so tiny and scrunched that it’s barely readable. But they are the notes and verses and books in my bible that have kept me afloat in even my weakest moments. I can barely keep up with my reading plans on my bible app and barely keep up with writing on my blog. Some days I forget to thank God or even think of him during my day. I let the desires of my flesh influence the pureness of my heart that the Lord has made white as snow. I get so prideful that I forget what it’s like to be in the dirt and when I’m in the dirt, I forget what the blessings of God feel like.I can tell you I’m barely someone anyone should look up to. I’m barely making it in this life I have where I’m surrounded by negativity and hatred of one another. But I can tell you this: I am trying. The Lord will always be my captain and I will never think of Him any less. He brings the thoughts to my pen when my mind is just an empty void. He brings creativity to my brush when my imagination has run dry.I’m just a messy Christian and I’m barely making it, but God has made something of me." - Anonymous

posted from Bloggeroid

God chose you

I was inspired to write this and I wanted to share this with you. SHARE PLEASE!! Somebody else needs to read this.

God looked at humanity and picked me out. He saw my life, from start to finish and said "This one, he is worth it. Pay his debt". I was worth Jesus, God's beloved son, to die on a roman cross for. I was worth every whipping, every insult, every beating and every drop of His blood. I am now righteous through Christ Jesus. Jesus gave up His life for me so that I can live. So that I can walk in righteousness with Jesus. I now truly know how much God favors me. He did not send Jesus to die on a cross for me just to send me to hell. I may not be able to see who I will be in this life but Jesus does. I must trust that He knows my end. I must have faith that He knows what is good for me and what I need. Before His return, He will perfect me. Jesus loves me because the bible tells me so. The bible is God's word and God does not lie! Jesus is the manifestation of God's perfect word. God's perfect word is truth. The truth will set you free. Jesus Christ has set me free from ALL sin. When God sees me, He sees a blameless man. He sees a righteous man. He sees a man who does not want to get away with sin. He sees a man who wants to get away FROM sin. I can do all things through Christ Jesus. I can do nothing without Christ Jesus.

When you get born again, this is how God values you and sees you. Your past doesn't make up who you are now. Your debt of sin was paid for with a very high price. God thought you were worth all of it and He loves you.

posted from Bloggeroid

Thursday, February 7, 2019

Racist people will not inherit the kingdom of God

Does it matter if Jesus was black or white or middle eastern? No. Whatever His skin tone was, His red blood washes all the sins away of all people of different nationalities, races, ethnicities and skin colors. Racism has no place in the kingdom of God. All nationalities will be represented in Heaven. There is no superior race or a race that is favored over others. Racism is a form of hate and arrogance. Hate is murder. Arrogance is a form of pride. God hates murder and pride. Those who are racist will not inherit the kingdom of God! I can guarantee you that because God's word says so. If you are racist and are caught up on people's skin color and want to exult one race over an other, REPENT of your sin.

posted from Bloggeroid

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Self Righteousness

I imagine that at some point in our walk with the Lord,we forget that we were not saved because we were so good. We forget that God is eternally merciful and forgiving to all. I am guilty of being self righteous but the Lord corrected me. Have you been corrected about your self righteousness? I've seen on social media and even in person, blatant acts of self righteousness. Where is the conviction? Where is the repentance? There are repeat offenders. Examine yourself and ask yourself "Am I self righteous?" God loves those who He corrects. He is a good Father and as a good Father should, God chastises and disciplines His children. It's for our own good that He does this.

Self righteousness is a form or pride and arrogance. Here is an example of self righteousness and on the other hand, humility unto God. Luke 18:9-14 "He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ..." We cannot forget that we did not chose God, but God chose us. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save whosoever would believe in Jesus.

Now, we are righteous but it's not based on anything that we said or did. In Ephesians 2:8-9 Paul wrote "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." How can anyone boast about the gift God chose to give us? When I came to the Lord, I didn't come to Him when I was doing good. I came to Him in my brokenness and covered in filthy sin. It is by God's undeserved grace and our faith that we are saved. All we bring to the table is the sin that was required to hang Jesus on the tree and faith. God has done everything else.

In Romans 3:10 the word says that no one is righteous, no, not one. Therefore, how can we then become self righteous? How can we think better of ourselves over others? Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me,That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.

In Genesis 15:6 God credited righteousness to Abraham because of his faith in God. Abraham had faith, God said Abraham was righteous. Abraham did not say he was righteous because he believed in God. But some of us think too highly of ourselves and think we are "all that" because we prayed a prayer, got dipped in water, attend church, serve in the church and we tithe our money. But yet lack faith when times get hard and don't believe in the promises of God.

Paul warns in Romans 12:3 to not think too highly of ourselves. So at best, your sinner's prayer bounced off the ceiling, when you got baptized all you did was get wet, your church attendance doesnt save you, serve the Lord in the ways He prescribes and tithing money is not biblical because NOWHERE in the New Testament did Jesus or the Apostles command us to tithe. Without faith, we cannot please God and it is not credited to us righteousness if we do not have faith. Our works do not save us. We perform works as a result of our salvation and transformation through the Holy Spirit.

It is so very important to read the word. It is the mirror we look at daily to see if we look more Christlike in comparison to the day prior. Wherever we see where we are not being Christlike, we need to repent and ask God to forgive us and ask the Lord to help us in our weakness. In 1 John 2:1, the Apostle John says that we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, who is just and faithful to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. In Revelation 1:5 the word says that Jesus washed us of all of our iniquity with His own blood. Thanks be to God for His lovingkindness, His mercy and His grace towards us who believe.
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