He Will Prevail

"That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

"Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

"Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."

1 Corinthians 2:5-8 KJV

It's interesting to think about the wisdom from God as hidden. Not all who hear it understand it. The Romans who crucified Christ, and those in the crowd who shouted for His death, did not know the hidden wisdom of God. While Christ could have revealed Himself in true form to all that day, He didn't. He allowed those blinded by the world to stay blinded, not understanding the hidden wisdom of God. "For had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord" and He would not have died in our place.

It is an interesting thing to think about: the Lord does not force us to obey Him. He does not force us to believe in Him. He does not make us to understand or follow Him. He will bless us beyond our wildest dreams if we do...

"But it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV

However, God will still make good out those who deny Him. What the Devil means for evil, the Lord can turn into something good. While He does not control the world like a puppet master, He does orchestrate the current situation into something useful.

"But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."

Genesis 50:20 KJV

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Romans 8:28 KJV

The Devil may think he is winning when evil strikes, but in the end it is the Lord who is victorious. Our God has a bigger plan we couldn't begin to fathom. So take heart when trouble arises. He in all His righteous wisdom is sure to prevail.

Longing After Him

"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

"My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?"

Psalm 42:1-2 KJV

I am reminded of those lyrics inspired by this Psalm.

As the deer panteth for the water

so my soul longeth after Thee

You alone are my heart's desire

and I long to worship Thee

You alone are my strength my shield

To You alone may my spirit yield

You alone are my heart's desire

and I long to worship Thee

This is how we ought to strive for God everyday, every waking moment of our lives, just as He strives for us. We are the center of His attention from the beginning of creation. He gave everything so that we might be able to be with Him for eternity in paradise. Despite our downfalls He loves us without regard, unconditionally. If the Maker of the universe will go to such lengths to be with us, shouldn't we reciprocate? Shouldn't we strive to follow Him, to dwell in His midst, and be near Him?

When you have a crush it seems they consume your thoughts. They keep you up at night, and they occupy your dreams. When they are absent, the room feels empty and amiss. You become anxious like their is something you're missing out on somewhere else. Yet as soon as they walk in that all changes. Suddenly, you can't imagine yourself anywhere else. Just being there near them makes you happy. Their presence almost gives you a sort of high. You look for any excuse to be around them, and get to know them. You want to, no, you have to know everything about them.

This is how we should think about Christ. He is our first love, and the more we seek Him the more we want to be near Him. He should dwell in our conscious day and night, and through everything we do. He IS the fire that lights up the room, and without Him every room becomes dark. In His midst you find peace and unfathomable love. You find that you have to know everything about Him, and you relish every word recorded in His Bible. The moment you start seeking Him will be the moment you find you need Him in your life. All you have to do is open your heart and let Him in, every new morning.

Let us seek Him as He sought us...

Words of Kindness

"For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able to bridle the whole body.

"Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

"Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

"Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!"

James 3:2-5 KJV

Working in customer service can be a difficult job. Many times you deal with people talking to you disrespectfully, taking out their frustrations on you when you had absolutely nothing to do with their problems. Often they are mad at the world because someone wronged them, and now here you are available for them to yell at. Or sometimes they simply feel entitled and they see you as a "commoner". Regardless of how they speak to you, we don't have to give it back.

Perhaps you don't work in customer service. You don't have one of those jobs where, "the customer/guest is always right". The truth is, your "customer"/"guest" extends to your family, friends, coworkers, even the cashier at the market. Everyone you interact with on a daily basis is also in a way your guest. Do you think Jesus talked to the multitude one way, and then his Disciples a completely different way? What then would give us the right to think that we can talk to anyone with spite? Just because the cashier at Walgreens can't file a complaint to your boss and get you fired, it doesn't make it right to lash out at them.

So today, when you are conversing with people, let your words be spoken in kindness and gentleness. Despite the attitude others may give to you. Reply no in malice or spite, but in grace and patience. For that is how Christ would wants us to speak. Just how the thin leather of a bridle is able to guide about a horse, or a helm able to turn about a whole ship, so is your tongue capable of uplifting someone or causing destruction. It only takes a single lit match to burn down a forest. Likewise, a few choice words can lead to ruin.

Ever Present

"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

"If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

"If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

"Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."

Psalm 139:7-10 KJV

Despite our circumstances the Lord is always watching over us. Through the deepest and most treacherous valleys He walks with us. Like Jonah, who found himself in the belly of a whale, there is not any place too far or too dark where the Lord cannot find us.

"If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

"Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee."

Psalm 139:11-12 KJV

The God we serve is omnipresent. He surpasses space and time. He holds the universe in His hands, and yet dwells in each of us who accept Him. No matter your tribulation, He is there. He is walking with you. He may not deliver you from your suffering, but He will stand by you and suffer with you. And in the morning when you wake up... He will be there.

Random Thoughts

So I realize that most people only read the main page of this blog. That's great and I am so thankful! If you ever bore with the posts here I also have been working on some other pages (some still need work) that you are more than welcome to check out.

On the right here as well, I have short devos or inspiring scriptures that I miyself have come to learn as I seek God more and more. Some are simply from Church services while others are what the Lord has shown me throughout random days.

Below and to the right of this pain page I also have a few links posted. The list grows longer as I discover more amazing faith based sites. If you have any you know please let me know. I would love to check them out and link to them.

One in particular is my favorite. Harvest Time is the name, and currently it is previewing a talented Christian Country artist on the rise. You can check that out here at - http://www.ourchurch.com/member/h/harvest_time/index.php?p=1_7_Music-Multi-media

Thanx everyone so much for reading and commenting. It truly is so encouraging. I love writing to you all and am so glad I have people to share my experiences with as I grow deeper in the Lord.

God bless!

Letting Him be real

Check this page out - Is Christ Real To You?

"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:29

Very true!

A little faith

"Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

"And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 

"And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God."

Acts 2:6-8 KJV

If only that faith existed today. If only we confessed the name of our Lord Jesus Christ like that. Imagine the miracles! Imagine the witnesses and testimonies! The lame man jumped for gladness when he was healed. He praised God. Imagine the revival that would sweep through the nations if such happened in 2013.

Indeed, we hear of certain miracles once in a while and blessed if we have a chance to witness one. It takes great faith and the first of the Christians had such. What then became of it? The Bible says if we were to have faith the size of but a mustard seed we could move mountains. It truly causes us to take a hard look at ourselves and question where we stand in our walk with Christ.

Some may argue that it was only while Jesus walked the earth that such miracles did happened. But have you not heard that He is with us now? Even unto the ends of the earth. We may not be able to see Him with our eyes but He is ever present, and we can witness His work in our lives if we just let Him lead... if we but have a little faith.

Be not afraid to proclaim His name. Be not afraid to pray for the sick. Pray and have faith. Dare to speak such words as "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." For it is when we do that, we will start to see miracles happen. We will start to see mountains move. We will start to see Christ ever existing and working in our lives and in our midst.

So dare to have a little faith!

Abiding in Him

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

John 15:4-5

 I don't think you can ever draw too close to God and this verse confirms it. For the more you abide in Christ the more you will grow in Him and bear goodly fruits. Yet what does that mean exactly? To bear fruit? For certainly we are not branches of a grape vine literally.

In Galations 5 it speaks of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. Perhaps this is just what John meant when he spoke of us bearing fruit. Do we portray these characteristics? Is our relationship with Christ evident in our life?

Those who abide in Him will portray these fruits of the Spirit. It may not be overnight but every day we should be becoming more like Him and making these characteristics of God apart of our lives.

So make it a goal today. Dare to take on the challenge of abiding more in God. Dare to deepen your relationship with Him. Dare to walk in your Father's footsteps... and see what happens!

Living it Out

Do our actions match what we proclaim? We sometimes say one thing but end up doing another? Maybe all the time?

Being a Christian is not an easy task. Many times the grass does seem more greener on the other side. Thats when we look to Jesus. We didn't choose this path with Christ for benefits here on earth. We didn't make that commitment to make life easier and more pleasurable here in this world. We did it for a higher reason. We did it for the future of our souls and for the joy and peace that we can expect there in our home in Heaven

So then why can't we skip this life on earth and just jump to Heaven? Chances are you already know this answer. Everybody's heard it and every body talks about it. But if we really understood the reason of our existence on this earth - to the share the Gospel - then why aren't we stepping up and doing it?

Yes, we may do something here or there. Yes we may say "God loves you" once, twice or even a dozen times a week, but there's more we can do then just saying it. We can act it. If we really believed God loved the world, then would we even hesitate to love our enemy? If we really believed God had the power to perform miracles, then wouldn't we be laying hands on the sick? If we really believed that God was coming back soon and that there was no time to lose, then wouldn't we be sharing the Gospel even as I am writing?

I'm not saying I'm perfect. This is something I have to tell myself everyday. I fail and I doubt and I laze around the house doing nothing all too often. But God is calling us, this generation, us youth, to rise up and lift our voices. He is calling us to be laborers in His fields and plant the seeds and water the soil.

Sitting in the church pews being fed by God's powerful Word and worshiping Him with other Christians is all good and well. I'm not saying you can't be fed and uplifted too, but during those other six days of the week it is important to bring the Gospel to the world. We are uplifted so that we might uplift others. We are fed and strengthened so that, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, we might help strengthen and encourage others.

You can do it at your school, job or even on the streets of your city. You don't have to be talented or have lots of money. But you do have to have a willing heart and yielding spirit. And remember, sometimes actions do mean more than words. So remain strong in your faith, always drawing closer to God and letting His light shine in you, because if we took the time to remember why we are here on this earth... then we would realize it is for such a purpose as to be those laborers in the Harvest.

"...The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest."

Luke 10:2 (KJV)

Will you be a laborer for Jesus?

For He sees us...

"JUDGE me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity..." Integrity. How many of us can claim we have it? How many of us can claim we have it continually? How many of us can bravely and sincerely say, "Judge me, oh Lord"? The Scripture goes on to say, "Examine me, prove me, try my reins and heart." If the Lord were to search your heart right now, what would He find? Do you wince as you wonder? Do you hesitate to imagine what He would think? Or could you come bravely before Him and let Him search your heart, knowing you have walked justly in His ways? The truth is, He IS searching your heart, mind and soul even now.

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth..."

II Chronicles 16:9a KJV

"I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."

Jeremiah 17:10 KJV

It's not to say we won't be making mistakes - after all we are just human - but that we will continually seek the Lord and live after Him with a full heart and complete integrity and truth. That is how we ought to live. No we are not perfect, and yes we will stumble at times, but every day we should be growing more and more to be like Jesus; to live like Jesus; to speak and walk in God's ways like Jesus.

"JUDGE me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.

"Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

"For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth."

Psalms 26:1-3 KJV

"I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."

Jeremiah 17:10 KJV