Good morning everyone! I pray that you have had a wonderful Christmas holiday with friends and family, celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus! As you can imagine, the holiday season around our house has been busy, but very enjoyable. Jeff, my husband, has been home for many days which is a rare treat for our family, and we have enjoyed many wonderful days of restful bliss! I pray that all of your are happy, healthy and safe this holiday season. May God bless you!
Another reason for writing today is that I have been away from this blog for several weeks, soul-searching, spending time being transformed through God's Word, and I have felt as though I was supposed to be away from this for a short while to "regroup." Over the past year of this blog, I watched the readership grow from (2) hits per day, to more than (60) hits per day. The Lord blessed this work of His, and it was wonderful. But...at the end of the year, the Lord began making some very serious changes in the way I think about myself and others. He began to show me that this blog was still too centered on ME and not enough on HIM. I have been in pryaer and study, and have been allowing the Holy Spirit to change me, so that this blog could be a blessing to many. This blog was a plan that came into my mind one day, and I ran with it. I believe it was the Lord's idea, planted within me, but as with every ministry....it needs the fine tuning of God's Spirit.
Over the past couple of weeks, I have been burdened in my heart that many who were following this blog would not return. I felt as though they gave up because I had to take a hiatus. Perhaps, this is the case, or perhaps not! But I am here to say that I am going to make another go at this, and I am going to begin the new year with a fresh wave of God's Word and His teaching. That was the original idea that the Lord gave me, but in my own circumstances of life, I strayed from the intended purpose of this blog. There were blog days where I did not even mention a scripture, and that is FAR from what the Lord intended. For my own faultiness, I am sorry...but I am thankful and rejoice in the fact that my Lord never fails! What HE has begu n, HE will continue, and carry on to completion!
I wanted to share with you a message that God has been giving to me through scripture, friends, and my church. He has taught me that we are to submit our plans for life to the Lord, and He will direct our steps.
Proverbs 16:9 (NASB):
"The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs His steps."
Sometimes, we are waiting so long for the God's direction that was just fail to do anything at all. I, on the other hand, tend to step out on an idea TOO quickly at times. I have to learn to wait, others have to learn to step out! But this scripture says we should think on things, plan our way, but we also allow the Lord to direct our steps. How do we do this? Through intimate fellowship and communion with God in prayer. When we are walking with God, He is leading us in every step, and we can make plans and He will bring them to pass. However, when we are walking closely with the Lord, we begin to want less our own selfish desires, and more of His divine will and plan. Therefore, His plan becomes our plan, and He brings it to pass! We begin to meld together as one. This is the close fellowship with the Lord that I hunger and thirst after...but the Bible says that I will be satisfied.
Matthew 5:6 (NASB):
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
Lord,
Today, I thank you for your friendship and fellowship. I thank you for walking by my side through peaceful valleys and mountainous climbs in life. I thank you for taking me through the fires and across rivers. I thank you for the adventure of life that you have given me in You. I thank you that I can wake up each not worrying about what I will do, or where I will go, or what I will eat or drink. I do not have to worry about having clothes to wear. I certainly never have to wonder if there is a purpose to this life. You show me purpose every day, and I am truly blessed beyond measure in everything you lead me to do. I look forward to many more days of following you, no matter where you might lead me. I thank you for listening the plans of my mind, and for giving me the steps to accomplish my greatests dreams and desires, which are yours also. I thank you for saving me from a worthless and meaningless life with no purpose or direction, and yet continuing to bless me during that time with a precious family who loved me. You have used my family to show me unconditional love and I thank you for that! I pray right now, Lord, that you will these readers' lives with meaning the richness of following your will. I pray that you would bless them by choosing them and calling them to have the right to be Your children. I pray that you continue to reveal to their hearts the message of Christmas, the birth of your Son, but also the meaning of His death and resurrection....for their salvation. Lord, I pray all this in the precious name of Jesus, Amen.
Blessed beyond measure,
Sarah
Monday, December 29, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
The Greatest Gift of All - Jesus!
I want to take a moment to wish all those readers out there a very Merry Christmas. Today in Guam is Christmas Eve. Tonight, my family and I will be joining up with friends and family and enjoying a wonderful meal in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Interestingly enough, the Bible does not command us to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The way I SEE it is that we celebrate the birth of Jesus because God came to earth in the flesh through Jesus, and that was the part of the process of bringing us salvation through Him. However, if we stop celebrating at the birth of Jesus, we miss the whole reason for His coming. Jesus came, not only to be born, but to live and minister to the world, then be sacrificed on a cross, taking our punishment for sin. It still doesn't stop there...if you celebrate the death of Jesus, but the not the resurrection, then you are still missing the point.
In order for God to save us from our sins, He was born a human (in full deity and divinity), fulfilled prophecies regarding Himself scattered throughout the Old Testament, was condemned to hang on a cross (crucifixion), was forsaken by His father (bearing our sin's punishment) and be resurrected to eternal life at the right hand of God. He went through all this, so that you could pray in faith for salvation through Him and receive eternal life.
We definitely got the easier end of this deal. Yet, so many refuse to accept His sacrifice. WHY?
1.) Their own PRIDE tells them they do not need a Savior.
2.) They figure they can live life their own way, accepting Jesus at the last moment for salvation.
3.) They believe science and Christianity are at opposite ends of the spectrum (and have become wise in their own eyes) - when really the two correspond.
4.) They do not believe that anything, or anyone, can save them from the hellish life which they are living.
5.) They are deceived.
6.) The idea of following God's commandments is abhorrent to them. They do not want restriction on their lives. They want to live in FREEDOM from authority in their lives.
I am sure there are many more reasons why people do not accept Christ as the perfect sacrifice for their sins, and believe in Him for salvation of their souls. I am sure that I came up with a thousand excuses (at least) as to why I DID NOT accept Him. Yet, like 90% of America, I grew up telling people I was a Christian who believed in Jesus. It was all "lip-service," with no heart attached.
It was not until I realized that the gospel of the Bible was TRUE and that I needed Christ to save me that I really began to live. Since then, my life has been full and rich, and exceedingly abundant. Did I get rich overnight? Not in the sense of money, some would say we are quite poor. But I received a greater wealth than I could ever imagine the moment I accepted Christ for salvation. Things turned on a dime, and I suddenly found everything going in my favor rather than feeling the whole world against me. I became RICH!
Today, I would once again like to challenge you to think about where you are in relationship to Christ's sacrifice for you on the cross. Have you accepted Him yet? Have you moved past your feeble ways that never seem to pan out, and decided you want more for your life? Or will this Christmas pass in your life like any other. Will you open some presents, eat some food, look at some Christmas decorations, and move into another dismal year. It doesn't have to be that way. God gave us something amazing to celebrate EVERY day of the year! His Son Jesus! And through Jesus, He gave us abundant and (eventually eternal) life.
May God bless you this season with the Truth of His salvation, and may He open your eyes and ears to all He has for you in the coming new year. If you already know Jesus, remember to focus this holiday season on Him, and not the gifts you will be receiving. You already know you have received the greatest gift of all!
In God's amazing love,
Sarah
ps....I would like to bring to your attention something that is going on here in Guam. The Lord has gathered a small group of Christians here on Guam who have a heart for reaching people with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and He is leading us to plant a church here on Guam. We are already in the process of finding a space (building) and God is already providing funds for His work through us. If you would like to part of an amazing opportunity to reach Guamanians and military families with the gospel of Jesus Christ, you can donate to our cause through our parent organization, United Christian Minister's Association, website:
Here is the link if you are led to donate to the Guam Mission:
http://www.ucmaonlinestore.org/category.sc;jsessionid=427CF1D7089117D3AA644899A52F1FB6.qscstrfrnt04?categoryId=19
The donations are in $1 increments, so you can select the quantity that you would like to donate and fill out your billing information. All money goes into an account set aside for our Guam Mission, and will be available directly to our group for the funding needs of this project. We are under the guidance and leadership of this organization, with whom my pastor has been affiliated with in church planting in the past. I thank you for your time and consideration of this wonderful work of God!
In order for God to save us from our sins, He was born a human (in full deity and divinity), fulfilled prophecies regarding Himself scattered throughout the Old Testament, was condemned to hang on a cross (crucifixion), was forsaken by His father (bearing our sin's punishment) and be resurrected to eternal life at the right hand of God. He went through all this, so that you could pray in faith for salvation through Him and receive eternal life.
We definitely got the easier end of this deal. Yet, so many refuse to accept His sacrifice. WHY?
1.) Their own PRIDE tells them they do not need a Savior.
2.) They figure they can live life their own way, accepting Jesus at the last moment for salvation.
3.) They believe science and Christianity are at opposite ends of the spectrum (and have become wise in their own eyes) - when really the two correspond.
4.) They do not believe that anything, or anyone, can save them from the hellish life which they are living.
5.) They are deceived.
6.) The idea of following God's commandments is abhorrent to them. They do not want restriction on their lives. They want to live in FREEDOM from authority in their lives.
I am sure there are many more reasons why people do not accept Christ as the perfect sacrifice for their sins, and believe in Him for salvation of their souls. I am sure that I came up with a thousand excuses (at least) as to why I DID NOT accept Him. Yet, like 90% of America, I grew up telling people I was a Christian who believed in Jesus. It was all "lip-service," with no heart attached.
It was not until I realized that the gospel of the Bible was TRUE and that I needed Christ to save me that I really began to live. Since then, my life has been full and rich, and exceedingly abundant. Did I get rich overnight? Not in the sense of money, some would say we are quite poor. But I received a greater wealth than I could ever imagine the moment I accepted Christ for salvation. Things turned on a dime, and I suddenly found everything going in my favor rather than feeling the whole world against me. I became RICH!
Today, I would once again like to challenge you to think about where you are in relationship to Christ's sacrifice for you on the cross. Have you accepted Him yet? Have you moved past your feeble ways that never seem to pan out, and decided you want more for your life? Or will this Christmas pass in your life like any other. Will you open some presents, eat some food, look at some Christmas decorations, and move into another dismal year. It doesn't have to be that way. God gave us something amazing to celebrate EVERY day of the year! His Son Jesus! And through Jesus, He gave us abundant and (eventually eternal) life.
May God bless you this season with the Truth of His salvation, and may He open your eyes and ears to all He has for you in the coming new year. If you already know Jesus, remember to focus this holiday season on Him, and not the gifts you will be receiving. You already know you have received the greatest gift of all!
In God's amazing love,
Sarah
ps....I would like to bring to your attention something that is going on here in Guam. The Lord has gathered a small group of Christians here on Guam who have a heart for reaching people with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and He is leading us to plant a church here on Guam. We are already in the process of finding a space (building) and God is already providing funds for His work through us. If you would like to part of an amazing opportunity to reach Guamanians and military families with the gospel of Jesus Christ, you can donate to our cause through our parent organization, United Christian Minister's Association, website:
Here is the link if you are led to donate to the Guam Mission:
http://www.ucmaonlinestore.org/category.sc;jsessionid=427CF1D7089117D3AA644899A52F1FB6.qscstrfrnt04?categoryId=19
The donations are in $1 increments, so you can select the quantity that you would like to donate and fill out your billing information. All money goes into an account set aside for our Guam Mission, and will be available directly to our group for the funding needs of this project. We are under the guidance and leadership of this organization, with whom my pastor has been affiliated with in church planting in the past. I thank you for your time and consideration of this wonderful work of God!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
A Time to Believe...
Today in Guam, we are 4 days away from Christmas Day. Every time I turn on the television, I see a movie about Santa Clause. My children have enjoyed watching movies such as Miracle on 34th Street, The Santa Clause 2, and Polar Express. This is a time for all children to join together and believe in something that is not only invisible, but represents goodwill and selfless giving. Most American children probably believe in Santa Clause at one time or another, but give up the belief later in childhood due to a lack of solid evidence for his existence, a careless slip of truth from an older individual, or simply because they lose hope in something as wonderful and whimsical as a jolly man who brings toys to children. Am I saying that children should believe in Santa Clause as children? Not necessarily. It is up to each parent to decide whether to instill in their children a belief in this mythical figure. But there is One who we can teach our children to believe in, a belief which can be built upon with evidence in their own lives, and a belief that will never disappoint or leave them hopeless when they "find out it isn't true."
I remember the year that I stopped believing in Santa Clause. My mother came to me and asked me if I believed still, and I was having doubts, but I told her yes. I believe I was older than other children who still believe, so she figured I had stopped believing that year. The way she asked me and reacted told me that there was no Santa Clause. I didn't need anyone to tell me, but I remember the feeling of emptiness when I realized that there was nothing greater than this physical world to believe in. Not only that, but I had always accepted evidence (presents secretly stashed and presented to me on Christmas morning) as the truth. Truth was shattered that day in my home because I realized that my parents had lied to me all those years. I will still grateful for the presents I received, but the "magic" of it all was gone.
We all believe in something. Some people live in their own abilities and their own strength, depending solely on themselves for survival in this world. Some people believe in gods, myths, withcraft, spells, sorcery, mediums, ghosts, aliens (all of which are invisible and unfounded as truth). Then there are those Christians who believe in God. They believe God is who the Bible says He is, and that He came to save the world from their sinful and corrupted state. They believe the Word of God is inerrant and true, and they live their lives according to what is written in it. They place their belief (faith) in a God that loves them, saves them, and is the giver of ALL good gifts from above. They trust Him for provision, love, mercy and salvation. They love Him as the real God that He is, and they interact with Him through prayer and good works in helping others. In the same way, everyone serves something.
Some serve others, some serve themselves, some desire only to seek pleasure in this life, and some serve ideas that they believe to be true. Some serve Jehovah, the God of Israel. I personally put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and God as the total source of my joy, peace, and pleasure in this life. I trust the promises of God that not only sound good on paper, but when applied to my life, have brought me great peace. I have truly been blessed beyond measure through studying and living the Word of God.
Although my children still believe in Santa Clause, a time will come shortly when I will sit down with them and tell them the truth. There is only One who is worthy of their faith and devotion. I never want them to lose sight of the what is really important - the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is the Giver of all good gifts. Through His birth, death and resurrection, God gave us the greatest gift of all - His love, and His eternal salvation of our souls. He gave us the right to become part of His family, and to enjoy the benefits of being a child of God. He gave us everything we could ever need or want, and He gives to us more than we imagine or comprehend in the work He does in our daily lives. I only wish that I had believed in Him as a child, much more than believing in Santa Clause (who is only a myth)....and put my faith in the One who is able to make all my hopes and dreams come true...and actively does EVERY DAY...then I may have had a much more peaceful childhood.
However, I am not here to look back on the past in regards to what I DID NOT DO, but I am looking forward to tomorrow with excitement and hope because I DO believe in something very real, and very present in my life, Jesus Christ. I thank God every day that He made that incredible sacrifice for me, and for showing me a new way to live! I praise God for His amazing wisdom, His overwhelming generosity, and His always near Presence in my life. I love God with all my heart, soul and strength. I hope this Christmas season, you will remember the One who gave YOU the ultimate gift of life, should you choose to accept His gift! All you have to do is pray one simple prayer of salvation, and the gift is yours for the taking. You only have to BELIEVE, and act on your belief in asking God to save you! Here is a simple prayer you can pray right now and ask God to be the One you can put your trust and belief in for the rest of your life. You will never be disappointed again.
Sinner's Prayer - Recognizing the NeedThe "Sinner's Prayer" is a term that describes the words spoken by a person when he or she has recognized their sin and their need for a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It goes something like this:
“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”
If you decided to repent of your sins and receive Christ today, welcome to God's family. Now, as a way to grow closer to Him, the Bible tells us to follow up on our commitment.
--Get baptized as commanded by Christ.
--Tell someone else about your new faith in Christ.
--Spend time with God each day. It does not have to be a long period of time. Just develop the daily habit of praying to Him and reading His Word. Ask God to increase your faith and your understanding of the Bible.
--Seek fellowship with other followers of Jesus. Develop a group of believing friends to answer your questions and support you.
--Find a local church where you can worship God.
If you prayed today, send me a comment, and I would be happy to pray with/for you, and may God bless you mightily in the name of Jesus.
Have a very merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!!!!
Thankful for the gift of LIFE,
Sarah
I remember the year that I stopped believing in Santa Clause. My mother came to me and asked me if I believed still, and I was having doubts, but I told her yes. I believe I was older than other children who still believe, so she figured I had stopped believing that year. The way she asked me and reacted told me that there was no Santa Clause. I didn't need anyone to tell me, but I remember the feeling of emptiness when I realized that there was nothing greater than this physical world to believe in. Not only that, but I had always accepted evidence (presents secretly stashed and presented to me on Christmas morning) as the truth. Truth was shattered that day in my home because I realized that my parents had lied to me all those years. I will still grateful for the presents I received, but the "magic" of it all was gone.
We all believe in something. Some people live in their own abilities and their own strength, depending solely on themselves for survival in this world. Some people believe in gods, myths, withcraft, spells, sorcery, mediums, ghosts, aliens (all of which are invisible and unfounded as truth). Then there are those Christians who believe in God. They believe God is who the Bible says He is, and that He came to save the world from their sinful and corrupted state. They believe the Word of God is inerrant and true, and they live their lives according to what is written in it. They place their belief (faith) in a God that loves them, saves them, and is the giver of ALL good gifts from above. They trust Him for provision, love, mercy and salvation. They love Him as the real God that He is, and they interact with Him through prayer and good works in helping others. In the same way, everyone serves something.
Some serve others, some serve themselves, some desire only to seek pleasure in this life, and some serve ideas that they believe to be true. Some serve Jehovah, the God of Israel. I personally put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and God as the total source of my joy, peace, and pleasure in this life. I trust the promises of God that not only sound good on paper, but when applied to my life, have brought me great peace. I have truly been blessed beyond measure through studying and living the Word of God.
Although my children still believe in Santa Clause, a time will come shortly when I will sit down with them and tell them the truth. There is only One who is worthy of their faith and devotion. I never want them to lose sight of the what is really important - the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is the Giver of all good gifts. Through His birth, death and resurrection, God gave us the greatest gift of all - His love, and His eternal salvation of our souls. He gave us the right to become part of His family, and to enjoy the benefits of being a child of God. He gave us everything we could ever need or want, and He gives to us more than we imagine or comprehend in the work He does in our daily lives. I only wish that I had believed in Him as a child, much more than believing in Santa Clause (who is only a myth)....and put my faith in the One who is able to make all my hopes and dreams come true...and actively does EVERY DAY...then I may have had a much more peaceful childhood.
However, I am not here to look back on the past in regards to what I DID NOT DO, but I am looking forward to tomorrow with excitement and hope because I DO believe in something very real, and very present in my life, Jesus Christ. I thank God every day that He made that incredible sacrifice for me, and for showing me a new way to live! I praise God for His amazing wisdom, His overwhelming generosity, and His always near Presence in my life. I love God with all my heart, soul and strength. I hope this Christmas season, you will remember the One who gave YOU the ultimate gift of life, should you choose to accept His gift! All you have to do is pray one simple prayer of salvation, and the gift is yours for the taking. You only have to BELIEVE, and act on your belief in asking God to save you! Here is a simple prayer you can pray right now and ask God to be the One you can put your trust and belief in for the rest of your life. You will never be disappointed again.
Sinner's Prayer - Recognizing the NeedThe "Sinner's Prayer" is a term that describes the words spoken by a person when he or she has recognized their sin and their need for a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It goes something like this:
“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”
If you decided to repent of your sins and receive Christ today, welcome to God's family. Now, as a way to grow closer to Him, the Bible tells us to follow up on our commitment.
--Get baptized as commanded by Christ.
--Tell someone else about your new faith in Christ.
--Spend time with God each day. It does not have to be a long period of time. Just develop the daily habit of praying to Him and reading His Word. Ask God to increase your faith and your understanding of the Bible.
--Seek fellowship with other followers of Jesus. Develop a group of believing friends to answer your questions and support you.
--Find a local church where you can worship God.
If you prayed today, send me a comment, and I would be happy to pray with/for you, and may God bless you mightily in the name of Jesus.
Have a very merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!!!!
Thankful for the gift of LIFE,
Sarah
Friday, December 19, 2008
Life or Death?
We never know what today or tomorrow holds in store for us. A day in a life of a person can make a dramatic difference in their circumstances...in one day, a person can find out that he/she may be on the verge of death, or that someone else whom they love might be. I have experienced both within the past few days. A few days ago, I had a cold/sinus problem that was irritating at best, and two days ago, I went to the doctor for a diagnosis and medication because my cold had given me a terrible headache that was worsening by the hour. When I arrived at the doctor's office, I was taken into the physician's private office and told that my symptoms matched a diagnosis for meningitis. I was told that it could be potentially life-threatening, and I would be sent to ER immediately for testing. What started out as a cold/flu now could kill me. My husband had driven me to the hospital because I was becoming increasingly irritated by light and sound, and he thought I had a vicious migraine. He was with me the entire day as I endured a lumbar puncture, a CT scan, and I can't even remember what else. They gave me medicine that made me very drowsy, but I could still feel every bit of the pain in my head. I wondered for a short moment if this was the end for me. I even talked to my husband about it.
After many hours of waiting to hear the results, I was told that I DID NOT have meningitis, but they also could not explain my terrible headache, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. They gave me several OTC medications and sent me home to rest until it got better. The past few days have been a blur to me, and I have not been able to fully regain clear consciousness, but I think that may be in part due to the medications. I faced the possibility of death once again, and was once again rescued from it by my Lord Jesus Christ. I had a keen sense that He was with me in the room, and that He will always be with me. I never feared dying, and at the worst point of pain, found myself imagining what heaven would be like without pain or suffering. While I waited to hear an answer, I imagined myself going into the arms of my Lord, and being in His Holy Presence, and I was at peace. He helped me through the word I had hidden in my heart to not fear evil or death. This is the result of knowing that I have received salvation through Jesus Christ, and that if I keep my mind steadfast in Him, He will keep me in perfect peace.
While recovering this morning, I received another round of disheartening news. Someone very close to me, whom I love, has been diagnosed with advanced stages of leukemia. She was given six months or less to live, and it made me wonder if she was assured - as I am - that her resting place is with the Lord Jesus in heaven. She and I have discussed the issue before, but she has never told me that she was sure of her salvation in Jesus Christ. I do not fear for her death, but only that she will die not having received salvation, and will spend an eternity in hell without a second chance. Death comes knocking on many people's doors, and you never know which is YOUR day to die. Shouldn't we all be sure of where we are headed after our life here is through? I believe there is only two directions - heaven or hell. The Bible tells us to examine ourselves to see if we are "in the faith." Today, I challenge you to examine where you stand. Are you 100% sure you are going to be face-to-face with Christ the moment you die, and will live eternally with Him? Or are you not sure, and wonder if you might be headed for hell instead? If you don't know where you are going....I pray that you would examine your own faith and heart today, and make it assured that you will be in heaven for all eternity. You can do that by praying a simple prayer, confessing that you are living in sin, that God sent Jesus to be your Savior, that He rose from the dead, and that through Him, you can live eternally. Pray this to God today, and God will regenerate your heart and grant you salvation. I pray that the Holy Spirit would fall upon you today, and that He will guide you into all truth. Trust in Jesus today, and you will never again be afraid of death - Jesus conquered death when He rose from the grave.
Be blessed today in the name of Jesus with peace, hope, love and faith!
Held Securely by Him,
Sarah
After many hours of waiting to hear the results, I was told that I DID NOT have meningitis, but they also could not explain my terrible headache, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. They gave me several OTC medications and sent me home to rest until it got better. The past few days have been a blur to me, and I have not been able to fully regain clear consciousness, but I think that may be in part due to the medications. I faced the possibility of death once again, and was once again rescued from it by my Lord Jesus Christ. I had a keen sense that He was with me in the room, and that He will always be with me. I never feared dying, and at the worst point of pain, found myself imagining what heaven would be like without pain or suffering. While I waited to hear an answer, I imagined myself going into the arms of my Lord, and being in His Holy Presence, and I was at peace. He helped me through the word I had hidden in my heart to not fear evil or death. This is the result of knowing that I have received salvation through Jesus Christ, and that if I keep my mind steadfast in Him, He will keep me in perfect peace.
While recovering this morning, I received another round of disheartening news. Someone very close to me, whom I love, has been diagnosed with advanced stages of leukemia. She was given six months or less to live, and it made me wonder if she was assured - as I am - that her resting place is with the Lord Jesus in heaven. She and I have discussed the issue before, but she has never told me that she was sure of her salvation in Jesus Christ. I do not fear for her death, but only that she will die not having received salvation, and will spend an eternity in hell without a second chance. Death comes knocking on many people's doors, and you never know which is YOUR day to die. Shouldn't we all be sure of where we are headed after our life here is through? I believe there is only two directions - heaven or hell. The Bible tells us to examine ourselves to see if we are "in the faith." Today, I challenge you to examine where you stand. Are you 100% sure you are going to be face-to-face with Christ the moment you die, and will live eternally with Him? Or are you not sure, and wonder if you might be headed for hell instead? If you don't know where you are going....I pray that you would examine your own faith and heart today, and make it assured that you will be in heaven for all eternity. You can do that by praying a simple prayer, confessing that you are living in sin, that God sent Jesus to be your Savior, that He rose from the dead, and that through Him, you can live eternally. Pray this to God today, and God will regenerate your heart and grant you salvation. I pray that the Holy Spirit would fall upon you today, and that He will guide you into all truth. Trust in Jesus today, and you will never again be afraid of death - Jesus conquered death when He rose from the grave.
Be blessed today in the name of Jesus with peace, hope, love and faith!
Held Securely by Him,
Sarah
Monday, December 15, 2008
Renewal and Refreshment
Psalm 91:1 (NASB):
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty."
For those of you who have wondered where I have been lately....this is where I have been. In the shelter of the Most High and the shadow of the Almighty. I have been there since the day (a couple of weeks ago) when I found out that I had suffered a second consecutive miscarriage. The Lord has been sustaining me with His hope, peace and joy, and He has been ministering to me in new, fresh ways that I needed. I have been working through my own sin, I have been receiving healing in God's Presence, and I have been growing in my faith. The Lord spoke to me about this blog and the direction in which He desires for it to go. I desire to follow the Lord's will, and for this blog to be a blessing to others...He is teaching me how this is best accomplished, and I am just listening.
I just wanted to check in with the readers, and tell them that I am alive and well. I will be posting blogs daily again shortly, but they may take a different shape than before....I believe they will be even more of a blessing to others than before! For those of you who have continued to show up and read daily, I thank God for you, and I pray that God is still teaching you through His Word during my hiatus from writing. I love you all, and ask God to bless you with peace, joy, hope, love and His salvation in Jesus' name. Amen.
Resting in God,
Sarah
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty."
For those of you who have wondered where I have been lately....this is where I have been. In the shelter of the Most High and the shadow of the Almighty. I have been there since the day (a couple of weeks ago) when I found out that I had suffered a second consecutive miscarriage. The Lord has been sustaining me with His hope, peace and joy, and He has been ministering to me in new, fresh ways that I needed. I have been working through my own sin, I have been receiving healing in God's Presence, and I have been growing in my faith. The Lord spoke to me about this blog and the direction in which He desires for it to go. I desire to follow the Lord's will, and for this blog to be a blessing to others...He is teaching me how this is best accomplished, and I am just listening.
I just wanted to check in with the readers, and tell them that I am alive and well. I will be posting blogs daily again shortly, but they may take a different shape than before....I believe they will be even more of a blessing to others than before! For those of you who have continued to show up and read daily, I thank God for you, and I pray that God is still teaching you through His Word during my hiatus from writing. I love you all, and ask God to bless you with peace, joy, hope, love and His salvation in Jesus' name. Amen.
Resting in God,
Sarah
Thursday, November 27, 2008
A Reward From God
So, today, I am excited to share some big news for the Cox family. We just found out last week that we are expecting a new BABY on July 4, 2009! Believe it or not, this came as surprise to us. Many people assumed that we were trying to have another baby, but after the miscarriage we suffered a couple months ago....we were playing it "safer." I had not returned to birth control because I did not want to use anything permanent, but we were trying to hold off for at least a few months until my body had time to recover from the miscarriage.
The past few weeks, I had been praying about whether we should continue to try conceiving a baby in the near future. As I was praying, the Lord kept saying to me "You have what you have asked for." I had prayed months ago that God "would increase the size of our family." Time and time again, when I was praying recently....God would let me know that I would indeed have a third child. I spoke this fact to a friend a couple of weeks ago, but told her that I would be patient and wait on God for the timing. I simply wanted to know if we should be "trying" or "not trying." In the meantime, we were "not trying." Well, last month passed by....and I was feeling very tired and emotional, signaling pregnancy. It had been well past the time when I would know whether I was pregnant or not, so I decided to take a test. It showed negative for pregnancy....so I figured I was just catching the cold/flu that has been going around. I stopped thinking that I could be pregnant for this past month. I was still wrestling with the idea of whether we should be trying or not!
Last week, I was helping my daughter participate in a base fashion show at the local BX. After the show, I was trying on clothes and noticed that I looked heavier than usual. I thought to myself "when did I gain all this weight?" I was fastening the buttons on my pants when I realized that my pelvis felt very hard (like a rock). Having been pregnant before, I know that this could only mean one thing! I thought..."I can't be pregnant, I already took a test." But at once, I KNEW I was pregnant. It all made sense. The tiredness, moodiness, and increasing size of my waistline. So I went and took another test, a full two weeks after I should have known I was pregnant and it was positive. I went to the doctor the following Monday, and it was confirmed in their testing. I explained everything that I had been experiencing, and based on that conversation alone....they believe I am probably 8-9 weeks pregnant already!
The interesting thing about all this is the spiritual side. At the time I first tested, God was taking me through learning some deep truths about trusting Him through anything. He had revealed to me through a conversation with a friend that I had become upset with God after having the miscarriage, even if I did not show it outwardly. I had been "offended by God." At that point, I had not learned to trust God's will for my life, and was still wanting things MY WAY. I was struggling to accept God's sovereign choice to change the circumstances of my life, even when He had spoken to me regarding the last pregnancy. One challenge with hearing God's plans is that we often run ahead of God and begin to interpret the rest of the story. We started figuring out HOW God is going to accomplish what He has spoken. This is what happened with the miscarriage. God told me I was going to become pregnant the exact month that I became pregnant. He had told me months before that "Greater loss was on the way, but I will give you a heart to endure all things." Afterward, I realized that He was telling me all along that even though He had told me I would become pregnant, I would not keep that pregnancy. It was a great loss emotionally. But He had also spoken the night I first had the miscarriage that "there would be weeping, but then there will be great JOY." I took this as another pregnancy shortly after the one I lost....which is exactly the way it turned out, although we weren't trying.
I think the most amazing thing about this whole ordeal is that I was probably pregnant the whole time I was learning how to trust God and admit my bitterness toward Him. He could have revealed that I was pregnant during the first test (which would have been normal), but He divinely chose to wait until the second test....after I had dealt spiritually with the issues at hand. It was immediately after I received His forgiveness for my lack of trust that I found out I was pregnant again. It was His divine timing. But now, I am having to put to the test my trust in God's plan....if the dates are correct.....I will be 34 weeks at our DEROS date (the date we leave Guam).
It is at this point where we say "the rubber meets the road." After learning to trust God, He is immediately putting it to the test. This is the epitome of the Christian life...trusting God to make major (and minor) decisons about our lives and following His plan day-by-day. The world around us thinks we are crazy when we don't "plan" our lives according to the ways of the world. One thing just occurred to me as I was writing this blog.....the world causes anxiety over all the "what if" questions in life. God promises to provide for all His children, and equip us for every good work, including raising children. I am not worried that we will not have enough money, or a place to live, or anything else....because God promised to take care of me and my family...and He never goes back on His word.
I can already hear the skeptics saying "I know women who have many children and can't feed them. They are always struggling." There is a key point to this idea. First, is that woman a child of God? Has she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. And secondly, "Is she trusting God to meet all her needs?" I think God lets us suffer at times because we DON'T trust Him to meet all our needs. Bottom line is....I know God told me He wanted me to have three children. I followed His plan, and even when I wasn't following His plan, He took control and gave me a third child. His ways are above our ways, and his thoughts higher than our thoughts. Even if I can't see the whole plan, I know He will take care of us.
As a testimony to the truth of God's provision, I can tell you that in the entire last year....my family has never gone hungry or been without shelter. We have had transportation and adequate medical care. We always have clean water to drink, and clean air to breathe. God has even intervened a couple of times with miraculous provision of money, gifts and healing. He has provided for everything we need. Even if our bank account is not overflowing, our hearts have overflowed with JOY and PEACE, and there is nothing better than that. God has taught us how to manage our money in a way that supports our family....and He will provide for this extra member as well. We have even faithfully tithed and given offering, and still never been without all necessary provisions. I can say in all honesty....I HAVE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER IN MY LIFE! I have truly learned that material possessions, travel and selfish indulgences will never make a person truly happy. It just one quick fix after another....but I have found something in Jesus Christ that lasts day in and day out. Every day, I wake up with a song in my heart and joy to spread around. Sure beats the many days that I woke up stressed out, and with tears in my eyes, wondering how I was going to make it through another day.
For those of you who don't know, I used to be severely depressed and was even suicidal for a time. My children are a great source of that joy...and I am thankful to God that He has chosen to reward me with another child. Praise the Lord, for He is good....all the time!
Psalm 127:3 (NASB):
"Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward."
Deuteronomy 28:1-3 (NASB):
"Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God; Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country."
Deuteronomy 7:12-14 (NASB):
"Then it shall come about, because you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you his covenant and His lovingkindness which He swore to your forefathers. He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb, and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock, in the land which He swore to your forefathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all peoples; there will be no male or female barren among you or among your cattle."
Lord,
Today, I thank you for your divine will and purpose in my life. I thank you God that you allowed me to work through my trust issues with You before you revealed how You had already blessed me. Had you revealed this pregnancy earlier, I do not know that I would have fully grasped the message you were teaching me. I thank you God for waiting until this appointed time to give me this marvelous gift of a child. I pray that you would protect and bless the fruit of my womb, alone with the fruit that you have placed in so many other women's wombs at this time. Thank you for pouring out your gift of life among the women on Andersen, and for blessing my sister-in-law and brother with a son as well. I thank you God for them. I pray that you would protect them and give them wisdom as parents, in the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Thanks be to God,
Sarah
** for those of you who received a previous version of this blog, I apologize. My son Krischan clicked the button to publish before it was ready!**
The past few weeks, I had been praying about whether we should continue to try conceiving a baby in the near future. As I was praying, the Lord kept saying to me "You have what you have asked for." I had prayed months ago that God "would increase the size of our family." Time and time again, when I was praying recently....God would let me know that I would indeed have a third child. I spoke this fact to a friend a couple of weeks ago, but told her that I would be patient and wait on God for the timing. I simply wanted to know if we should be "trying" or "not trying." In the meantime, we were "not trying." Well, last month passed by....and I was feeling very tired and emotional, signaling pregnancy. It had been well past the time when I would know whether I was pregnant or not, so I decided to take a test. It showed negative for pregnancy....so I figured I was just catching the cold/flu that has been going around. I stopped thinking that I could be pregnant for this past month. I was still wrestling with the idea of whether we should be trying or not!
Last week, I was helping my daughter participate in a base fashion show at the local BX. After the show, I was trying on clothes and noticed that I looked heavier than usual. I thought to myself "when did I gain all this weight?" I was fastening the buttons on my pants when I realized that my pelvis felt very hard (like a rock). Having been pregnant before, I know that this could only mean one thing! I thought..."I can't be pregnant, I already took a test." But at once, I KNEW I was pregnant. It all made sense. The tiredness, moodiness, and increasing size of my waistline. So I went and took another test, a full two weeks after I should have known I was pregnant and it was positive. I went to the doctor the following Monday, and it was confirmed in their testing. I explained everything that I had been experiencing, and based on that conversation alone....they believe I am probably 8-9 weeks pregnant already!
The interesting thing about all this is the spiritual side. At the time I first tested, God was taking me through learning some deep truths about trusting Him through anything. He had revealed to me through a conversation with a friend that I had become upset with God after having the miscarriage, even if I did not show it outwardly. I had been "offended by God." At that point, I had not learned to trust God's will for my life, and was still wanting things MY WAY. I was struggling to accept God's sovereign choice to change the circumstances of my life, even when He had spoken to me regarding the last pregnancy. One challenge with hearing God's plans is that we often run ahead of God and begin to interpret the rest of the story. We started figuring out HOW God is going to accomplish what He has spoken. This is what happened with the miscarriage. God told me I was going to become pregnant the exact month that I became pregnant. He had told me months before that "Greater loss was on the way, but I will give you a heart to endure all things." Afterward, I realized that He was telling me all along that even though He had told me I would become pregnant, I would not keep that pregnancy. It was a great loss emotionally. But He had also spoken the night I first had the miscarriage that "there would be weeping, but then there will be great JOY." I took this as another pregnancy shortly after the one I lost....which is exactly the way it turned out, although we weren't trying.
I think the most amazing thing about this whole ordeal is that I was probably pregnant the whole time I was learning how to trust God and admit my bitterness toward Him. He could have revealed that I was pregnant during the first test (which would have been normal), but He divinely chose to wait until the second test....after I had dealt spiritually with the issues at hand. It was immediately after I received His forgiveness for my lack of trust that I found out I was pregnant again. It was His divine timing. But now, I am having to put to the test my trust in God's plan....if the dates are correct.....I will be 34 weeks at our DEROS date (the date we leave Guam).
It is at this point where we say "the rubber meets the road." After learning to trust God, He is immediately putting it to the test. This is the epitome of the Christian life...trusting God to make major (and minor) decisons about our lives and following His plan day-by-day. The world around us thinks we are crazy when we don't "plan" our lives according to the ways of the world. One thing just occurred to me as I was writing this blog.....the world causes anxiety over all the "what if" questions in life. God promises to provide for all His children, and equip us for every good work, including raising children. I am not worried that we will not have enough money, or a place to live, or anything else....because God promised to take care of me and my family...and He never goes back on His word.
I can already hear the skeptics saying "I know women who have many children and can't feed them. They are always struggling." There is a key point to this idea. First, is that woman a child of God? Has she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. And secondly, "Is she trusting God to meet all her needs?" I think God lets us suffer at times because we DON'T trust Him to meet all our needs. Bottom line is....I know God told me He wanted me to have three children. I followed His plan, and even when I wasn't following His plan, He took control and gave me a third child. His ways are above our ways, and his thoughts higher than our thoughts. Even if I can't see the whole plan, I know He will take care of us.
As a testimony to the truth of God's provision, I can tell you that in the entire last year....my family has never gone hungry or been without shelter. We have had transportation and adequate medical care. We always have clean water to drink, and clean air to breathe. God has even intervened a couple of times with miraculous provision of money, gifts and healing. He has provided for everything we need. Even if our bank account is not overflowing, our hearts have overflowed with JOY and PEACE, and there is nothing better than that. God has taught us how to manage our money in a way that supports our family....and He will provide for this extra member as well. We have even faithfully tithed and given offering, and still never been without all necessary provisions. I can say in all honesty....I HAVE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER IN MY LIFE! I have truly learned that material possessions, travel and selfish indulgences will never make a person truly happy. It just one quick fix after another....but I have found something in Jesus Christ that lasts day in and day out. Every day, I wake up with a song in my heart and joy to spread around. Sure beats the many days that I woke up stressed out, and with tears in my eyes, wondering how I was going to make it through another day.
For those of you who don't know, I used to be severely depressed and was even suicidal for a time. My children are a great source of that joy...and I am thankful to God that He has chosen to reward me with another child. Praise the Lord, for He is good....all the time!
Psalm 127:3 (NASB):
"Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward."
Deuteronomy 28:1-3 (NASB):
"Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God; Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country."
Deuteronomy 7:12-14 (NASB):
"Then it shall come about, because you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you his covenant and His lovingkindness which He swore to your forefathers. He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb, and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock, in the land which He swore to your forefathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all peoples; there will be no male or female barren among you or among your cattle."
Lord,
Today, I thank you for your divine will and purpose in my life. I thank you God that you allowed me to work through my trust issues with You before you revealed how You had already blessed me. Had you revealed this pregnancy earlier, I do not know that I would have fully grasped the message you were teaching me. I thank you God for waiting until this appointed time to give me this marvelous gift of a child. I pray that you would protect and bless the fruit of my womb, alone with the fruit that you have placed in so many other women's wombs at this time. Thank you for pouring out your gift of life among the women on Andersen, and for blessing my sister-in-law and brother with a son as well. I thank you God for them. I pray that you would protect them and give them wisdom as parents, in the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Thanks be to God,
Sarah
** for those of you who received a previous version of this blog, I apologize. My son Krischan clicked the button to publish before it was ready!**
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Are You A Disciple of Christ?
This morning, I woke up thinking about what it really means to be a disciple of Christ. Lately, I have been hearing the Lord say that many call themselves by His name, but are not His disciples. This is a disturbing thought...He knows the name of everyone who is doing this. So...we must ask ourselves, am I really a disciple of Christ? Or....are you just posing as one so the world will think you are righteous? I have heard many people say that we are all at different places in our walks with Christ, and this is undoubtably true. But....God gave us clear descriptions of what makes up a disciple of His.
First, this person must be a child of God, born of God, and not of flesh and blood.
John 1:11-13 (NASB):
"He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born , not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."
If you have not accepted the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the cross for to redeem you from your sinfulness, and give you eternal life....you are not a disciple of Christ. If you have, accepting Him is the FIRST step (but not the only one).
Romans 10:6-11 (NASB):
"But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: 'DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN (that is to bring Christ down), or WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS (that is to bring Christ up from the dead).' But what does it say? 'THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART' -- that is the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, 'WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."
But should following Christ stop with this initial confession of the mouth and belief in the heart of the word of faith God has given us? This is where many Christians seem to get stuck. It is like a sprinter in track/field who never gets out of the starting blocks. Does simply believing and confessing make one a disciple of Christ? I will show scripture that illustrates that being a disciple of Christ takes much more than simply confession and belief in his Word. It requires a great love for Him through obedience to His Word, study of His Word, and constant search for truth in Him. It takes sacrifice, dedication, and a continual desire to go deeper into Him. Believing on Him and confessing that Jesus is Lord is simply the beginning of a long journey of sanctification which leads to perfection in Christ's image.
But don't take my Word for it, let's look at the scriptures together:
Luke 14:26-27 (NASB):
"In anyone comes after Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be My disciple."
This is a pretty heavy scripture, but it is a clear dividing line between His disciples, and those who believe they can go in grace without having to follow Christ's teachings. I am learning how to gently and wisely confront those sisters/brothers in Christ who have not yet chosen to make Jesus their Lord, and not just their Savior. It hurts my heart, and I believe it hurts the heart of God when He sees those children who want His salvation, but are not willing to give up anything to follow Him and demonstrate their love for Him through obedience.
Working through this last scripture....many would get confused right off the bat and say this is a contradiction to other scriptures in the Old Testament and especially against the commandment that we are not to hate our brother. This is not what I believe God is talking about. The point He is making is that He must be the most important person in your life. He must be far more important to you, and you should love Him more than any of your relatives. You should even be willing to give up your own life in His name becuase of your desire to be His disciple. Now, how many of you reading have crossed that bridge of surrendering your family back to God, and surrendering your life, even unto death, to God? How many have spoken with truth in their hearts and told God "There is nothing more important than You, not even my own husband, wife, children, mother, father, brother, sister....I will follow you Christ, even if everyone else abandons me and hates me for your name's sake?" Even furthermore, how many of you can honestly say that you have made an agreement with God that you are willing to die at any moment for His name? Now we are treading in places of the Word where people do not want to go. They want to live in the comforts of their home, family, career, and their life....and are not willing to walk with Christ any longer if He would require them to leave it all for him. It is all a matter of where your heart stands with Christ and His commandments for your life. To be a disciple, you must be willing to incur the cost of following Him.
This is not something to be taken lightly, but it is worth the reward if you choose to follow Him.
Mark 10:28-30 (NASB):
"Peter began to say to Him, 'Behold, we have left everything and followed You.' Jesus said, 'Truly, I say to you, there is none who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life."
So, why would someone choose to follow Christ, despite the obvious reason that it is the way to eternal life. I can tell you why I have chosen to forsake the ways of this world, and to seek with my whole heart after Christ. I do this because of my gratitude for what He has done for me, which has created in me a great love for Him. I obey Him out of love, not fear in the sense of being afraid....but fear in the sense of reverance and awe for what He has done for me....and others around me. I constantly witness Him being good in my life, and the lives of others....and it makes me want to know Him more. I have realized that the way to be closer to God is to follow His commandments and seek Him in prayer, constantly turning away from the world and turning toward Him.
Proverbs 8:17 (NASB):
"I love those who love Me, and those who diligently seek Me will find Me."
Proverbs 8:35-36 (NASB):
"For he who finds Me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord. But he who sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love death."
John 14:20-23 (NASB):
"In that day you will know that I am in the Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, 'Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and my Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him."
There is an intimacy between Christ and his disciple. This intimacy comes from a studying God's Word, hearing His voice in prayer, seeing Him meet our needs daily, and obeying His every command, both written and the daily direction He gives us. We have to put His commands above all else, thus making Him our Lord (Master, Teacher). If a person is going to church once a week, and not picking up a Bible any time in between, or praying three times a year at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas....a person is probably not a disciple of Christ. This is a daily walk with the living God. If you are not a disciple, you cannot expect to receive the blessings and rewards of discipleship. The Bible tells to constantly search the scriptures....this is constant Bible study, not just every once in a while (or God forbid, never at all).
2 Timothy 2:15-16 (NASB):
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid wordly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness..."
Deuteronomy 11:18-19 (NASB):
"You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up."
Finally, God gives us a stern warning against those who call themselves His, and continue to do evil in his sight.
Matthew 7:21-23 (NASB):
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you (emphasis added); DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS."
So today, I encourage you to once again examine yourselves, as I am doing as well.....seek God in determining whether you ARE indeed a disciple of Christ, who will one day be approved and unashamed before God. The other option is falling away from God and putting Christ to open shame.
Hebrews 6:1-8 (NASB):
"Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
So, to call yourself a disciple of Christ, and having done all the things in this scripture....and then to live in sinfulness and fall away is to crucify the Son of God and put him to open shame.
This idea of whether we are disciples of Christ is VERY important. There are too many people in today's world that are claiming to know God, but the question is.... DOES GOD KNOW YOU? AND DOES HE COUNT YOU AMONG HIS DISCIPLES?
This message has been in my heart since I committed my life to Christ last year, and told God he could have everything I was. I gave my whole life to Christ, and I continue to surrender everything I can to Christ and the will of God. However, I STILL must constantly ask myself I if I should be calling myself His disciple. God has a high standard for those who follow Him, but then again....He is worth everything we could ever do to worship Him.
Desiring to be His disciple,
Sarah
First, this person must be a child of God, born of God, and not of flesh and blood.
John 1:11-13 (NASB):
"He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born , not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."
If you have not accepted the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the cross for to redeem you from your sinfulness, and give you eternal life....you are not a disciple of Christ. If you have, accepting Him is the FIRST step (but not the only one).
Romans 10:6-11 (NASB):
"But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: 'DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN (that is to bring Christ down), or WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS (that is to bring Christ up from the dead).' But what does it say? 'THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART' -- that is the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, 'WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."
But should following Christ stop with this initial confession of the mouth and belief in the heart of the word of faith God has given us? This is where many Christians seem to get stuck. It is like a sprinter in track/field who never gets out of the starting blocks. Does simply believing and confessing make one a disciple of Christ? I will show scripture that illustrates that being a disciple of Christ takes much more than simply confession and belief in his Word. It requires a great love for Him through obedience to His Word, study of His Word, and constant search for truth in Him. It takes sacrifice, dedication, and a continual desire to go deeper into Him. Believing on Him and confessing that Jesus is Lord is simply the beginning of a long journey of sanctification which leads to perfection in Christ's image.
But don't take my Word for it, let's look at the scriptures together:
Luke 14:26-27 (NASB):
"In anyone comes after Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be My disciple."
This is a pretty heavy scripture, but it is a clear dividing line between His disciples, and those who believe they can go in grace without having to follow Christ's teachings. I am learning how to gently and wisely confront those sisters/brothers in Christ who have not yet chosen to make Jesus their Lord, and not just their Savior. It hurts my heart, and I believe it hurts the heart of God when He sees those children who want His salvation, but are not willing to give up anything to follow Him and demonstrate their love for Him through obedience.
Working through this last scripture....many would get confused right off the bat and say this is a contradiction to other scriptures in the Old Testament and especially against the commandment that we are not to hate our brother. This is not what I believe God is talking about. The point He is making is that He must be the most important person in your life. He must be far more important to you, and you should love Him more than any of your relatives. You should even be willing to give up your own life in His name becuase of your desire to be His disciple. Now, how many of you reading have crossed that bridge of surrendering your family back to God, and surrendering your life, even unto death, to God? How many have spoken with truth in their hearts and told God "There is nothing more important than You, not even my own husband, wife, children, mother, father, brother, sister....I will follow you Christ, even if everyone else abandons me and hates me for your name's sake?" Even furthermore, how many of you can honestly say that you have made an agreement with God that you are willing to die at any moment for His name? Now we are treading in places of the Word where people do not want to go. They want to live in the comforts of their home, family, career, and their life....and are not willing to walk with Christ any longer if He would require them to leave it all for him. It is all a matter of where your heart stands with Christ and His commandments for your life. To be a disciple, you must be willing to incur the cost of following Him.
This is not something to be taken lightly, but it is worth the reward if you choose to follow Him.
Mark 10:28-30 (NASB):
"Peter began to say to Him, 'Behold, we have left everything and followed You.' Jesus said, 'Truly, I say to you, there is none who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life."
So, why would someone choose to follow Christ, despite the obvious reason that it is the way to eternal life. I can tell you why I have chosen to forsake the ways of this world, and to seek with my whole heart after Christ. I do this because of my gratitude for what He has done for me, which has created in me a great love for Him. I obey Him out of love, not fear in the sense of being afraid....but fear in the sense of reverance and awe for what He has done for me....and others around me. I constantly witness Him being good in my life, and the lives of others....and it makes me want to know Him more. I have realized that the way to be closer to God is to follow His commandments and seek Him in prayer, constantly turning away from the world and turning toward Him.
Proverbs 8:17 (NASB):
"I love those who love Me, and those who diligently seek Me will find Me."
Proverbs 8:35-36 (NASB):
"For he who finds Me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord. But he who sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love death."
John 14:20-23 (NASB):
"In that day you will know that I am in the Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, 'Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and my Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him."
There is an intimacy between Christ and his disciple. This intimacy comes from a studying God's Word, hearing His voice in prayer, seeing Him meet our needs daily, and obeying His every command, both written and the daily direction He gives us. We have to put His commands above all else, thus making Him our Lord (Master, Teacher). If a person is going to church once a week, and not picking up a Bible any time in between, or praying three times a year at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas....a person is probably not a disciple of Christ. This is a daily walk with the living God. If you are not a disciple, you cannot expect to receive the blessings and rewards of discipleship. The Bible tells to constantly search the scriptures....this is constant Bible study, not just every once in a while (or God forbid, never at all).
2 Timothy 2:15-16 (NASB):
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid wordly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness..."
Deuteronomy 11:18-19 (NASB):
"You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up."
Finally, God gives us a stern warning against those who call themselves His, and continue to do evil in his sight.
Matthew 7:21-23 (NASB):
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you (emphasis added); DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS."
So today, I encourage you to once again examine yourselves, as I am doing as well.....seek God in determining whether you ARE indeed a disciple of Christ, who will one day be approved and unashamed before God. The other option is falling away from God and putting Christ to open shame.
Hebrews 6:1-8 (NASB):
"Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
So, to call yourself a disciple of Christ, and having done all the things in this scripture....and then to live in sinfulness and fall away is to crucify the Son of God and put him to open shame.
This idea of whether we are disciples of Christ is VERY important. There are too many people in today's world that are claiming to know God, but the question is.... DOES GOD KNOW YOU? AND DOES HE COUNT YOU AMONG HIS DISCIPLES?
This message has been in my heart since I committed my life to Christ last year, and told God he could have everything I was. I gave my whole life to Christ, and I continue to surrender everything I can to Christ and the will of God. However, I STILL must constantly ask myself I if I should be calling myself His disciple. God has a high standard for those who follow Him, but then again....He is worth everything we could ever do to worship Him.
Desiring to be His disciple,
Sarah
Monday, November 24, 2008
"You Shall Be Holy, For I Am Holy"
1 Peter 1:14-17 (NASB):
"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in your behavior also in all your behavior; because it is written, 'YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.' If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;"
Last night, I had an interesting dream which did not make sense until God gave me a biblical interpretation. It was a little choppy, flashing from one place to another, but I will give account of this dream for my blog post today because God's message in it is clear.
In this dream, I was in a hotel (high) with many floors. It was a very classy hotel with all the amenities of a great spa, fitness gym, and clubs all in one. It was teeming with young twenty-something people, both married and single. Every floor was full of young people with their friends, quickly rushing from one place to another. I was there with my husband and children. We were all together at first, but then suddenly, my childen were gone. My husband and I had some type of disagreement and he left as well to visit his parents in another town and "to think about our relationship and whether we should get divorced." In my dream, things had not been good between Jeff and I for awhile, so he left the kids with me....meanwhile, I was wandering around the hotel when a little child came up to me whose parents were "busy" partying, and stayed right by my side. I had no interest in the drinking and drugs all around me, and I knew some other parents had chosen to participate, leaving their children alone to run free. Some people invited me to come to the pool with them, so I went looking for a modest bathing suit. I got dressed in a tankini and some board shorts with a shirt covering my top...very modest compared to my companions. An old friend of mine suddenly appeared in my room as I was getting ready...and I noticed I was tan with light blonde hair and I looked better (even covered) than I had in years. He and some other young singles were talking about something and the next thing I know, my friend asks me if my cellulite legs are bothering me, and basically starts telling me of all the ways I could "fix" my body to be beautiful. I suddenly realized that I was the only one in the room that was comfortable with who I was. I realized that everyone in this hotel had come there to find happiness in something found in the world....dating, sex, drinking, drugs, cosmetic surgery, partying, etc.
When I realized how much I didn't fit in because my relationship with God fulfilled me, I left immediately to go reconcile with my own husband and get my family back together. I knew he wanted to be with me, but he had been struggling with who I was and my desire to live a holy life. When I saw him at his parents' house, he told me "I want to be with you but I know there are a lot of things about my life that need to change." And I remember bowing my head in prayer and asking God to just help us." Then I woke up.
So may be wondering what this all means....or maybe it is just another dream to you....we have them all the time. But when I awoke God began to explain the dream to me through scripture. He showed me that the hotel represented the world in which we live. There are always busy people (both young and old) who are bustling about, trying to find happiness in things such as dating, careers, drinking, drugs, pursuit of physical perfection, and social networking. There are many, many more things in the world that people believe will bring them joy in life. Pursuing these ungodly, worldly things can cause people to become so busy and caught up in race of life, that they often forget the things that are most important --like family. They become self-centered, and will leave behind things that will bring them true joy to chase after a mirage of happiness in things that will never satisfy the soul. My husband knew that I wanted to be set apart, and different from the world, and that I found satisfaction solely through my relationship with God. In the dream, he was having a hard time being satisfied with God's way of living, but instead of joining the party....he went away to a quiet place to think. This is exactly what God would want you to do if you are Christian but are having a hard time separating from the things of this world. He would want you to go away from it all and just let Him speak to your heart through prayer. While I was in the hotel, I began to end up taking care of a child that was not my own. The parents had chosen to stay "in the world" and had begun to neglect their relationship with their child. Their child, therefore, was lost and wandering through the world with no one to turn to for help. This is the reality of what happens when parents get caught up in pursuing their own happiness and they forget to "train their children up in the way they should go." The result, their kids end up wandering through life with no help, and no purpose. They are alone and scared, and the parents have neglected their God-given duty to care for the child because of their own selfishness. The third part of the dream is when my friend asks me about my "cellulite legs" and offers how I might fix them. When I had previously thought that I was looking fine, and was very satisfied with my body and image, the "world" started trying to tell me that I need something to make me feel beautiful and worthy. The world (my friend) was trying to convince me that I could never be beautiful, worthy and satisfied with myself without the help worldly products. Even though I was modestly dressed, I was still attacked over my appearance.
Finally, I realized who I was in Christ, and I left the world again to find my husband in the quiet place to which he had withdrawn. I rejoined him in the quiet place, where he admitted that God had spoken to his heart and told him that he, too, needed to be set apart from the world. With a bit of anxiousness in his eyes, he told me this (in my dream). He wants to be holy, but being holy as God is holy can be very difficult when the world is constantly trying to convince us that God will never satisfy us. The world offers us pleasure for the time being, but God offers us a peace, joy and abundant life. God offers us an eternity of true pleasure in being with Him. It means that we must sacrifice pleasure in the here and now to gain eternal joy in heaven with God.
As Christians, we have to ask ourselves....are we set apart from the world in which we live? Are we truly foreigners in a strange land....or like those people in the hotel, do we blend in with the world around us? Are we seeking holiness or temporal happiness? Are we trying to please God, or please the men around us? Are we satisified with who we are in Christ, or are we always looking for some way to "fix" ourselves?
John 10:9-10 (NASB):
"I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The theif comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
This dream really got me thinking about all the times I have sold out God for something worldly. God has set me apart from so many things in this world. He has taken away my needs for partying, drinking, most of television, most movies, makeup, fashion, and my need to please my friends. My friends love me for who I am in Christ, and they appreciate my attempts to remain set apart from the world. If they do not love me for who I am, then they are not really my friends. I have an audience of One.....and that is very satisfying because He has given me an entire instruction manual on how to please Him, and achieve lasting peace and joy, here and into eternity. He gave me everything I need in the Word of God (The Bible). Every time I read it, it leaves me feeling stronger and more refreshed. His Word transforms me from inside my heart, and it shows me how to live the abundant life He promised me. The deeper I go, the more satisfied I become with my life on earth....and the less I want to blend in with the world around me.
Romans 12:1-2 (NASB):
"Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
I thank God today for the insight He has given me through this dream. I thank Him that He always finds a new way to speak to me, and show me new truth about how I should be living. He is always blessing me, and encouraging me. I am so thankful that God drew me to Himself, and gave me the faith to believe in Him. I thank God for saving me. I pray today that He would reveal this dream to your heart in a way that is relevant to where you stand with Him. I pray that each of you would evaluate whether you call yourself His own (by His name) and then ask yourself whether you are living a set-apart life that God has called you to. I pray that God would reveal any areas of your life where you are still connected to the world. I pray that God would reveal to your hearts whether you belong to Him, and whether your life is pleasing to Him who created you. I pray that He would continue to reveal this to me as well. I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Desiring to be holy, as He is holy,
Sarah
"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in your behavior also in all your behavior; because it is written, 'YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.' If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;"
Last night, I had an interesting dream which did not make sense until God gave me a biblical interpretation. It was a little choppy, flashing from one place to another, but I will give account of this dream for my blog post today because God's message in it is clear.
In this dream, I was in a hotel (high) with many floors. It was a very classy hotel with all the amenities of a great spa, fitness gym, and clubs all in one. It was teeming with young twenty-something people, both married and single. Every floor was full of young people with their friends, quickly rushing from one place to another. I was there with my husband and children. We were all together at first, but then suddenly, my childen were gone. My husband and I had some type of disagreement and he left as well to visit his parents in another town and "to think about our relationship and whether we should get divorced." In my dream, things had not been good between Jeff and I for awhile, so he left the kids with me....meanwhile, I was wandering around the hotel when a little child came up to me whose parents were "busy" partying, and stayed right by my side. I had no interest in the drinking and drugs all around me, and I knew some other parents had chosen to participate, leaving their children alone to run free. Some people invited me to come to the pool with them, so I went looking for a modest bathing suit. I got dressed in a tankini and some board shorts with a shirt covering my top...very modest compared to my companions. An old friend of mine suddenly appeared in my room as I was getting ready...and I noticed I was tan with light blonde hair and I looked better (even covered) than I had in years. He and some other young singles were talking about something and the next thing I know, my friend asks me if my cellulite legs are bothering me, and basically starts telling me of all the ways I could "fix" my body to be beautiful. I suddenly realized that I was the only one in the room that was comfortable with who I was. I realized that everyone in this hotel had come there to find happiness in something found in the world....dating, sex, drinking, drugs, cosmetic surgery, partying, etc.
When I realized how much I didn't fit in because my relationship with God fulfilled me, I left immediately to go reconcile with my own husband and get my family back together. I knew he wanted to be with me, but he had been struggling with who I was and my desire to live a holy life. When I saw him at his parents' house, he told me "I want to be with you but I know there are a lot of things about my life that need to change." And I remember bowing my head in prayer and asking God to just help us." Then I woke up.
So may be wondering what this all means....or maybe it is just another dream to you....we have them all the time. But when I awoke God began to explain the dream to me through scripture. He showed me that the hotel represented the world in which we live. There are always busy people (both young and old) who are bustling about, trying to find happiness in things such as dating, careers, drinking, drugs, pursuit of physical perfection, and social networking. There are many, many more things in the world that people believe will bring them joy in life. Pursuing these ungodly, worldly things can cause people to become so busy and caught up in race of life, that they often forget the things that are most important --like family. They become self-centered, and will leave behind things that will bring them true joy to chase after a mirage of happiness in things that will never satisfy the soul. My husband knew that I wanted to be set apart, and different from the world, and that I found satisfaction solely through my relationship with God. In the dream, he was having a hard time being satisfied with God's way of living, but instead of joining the party....he went away to a quiet place to think. This is exactly what God would want you to do if you are Christian but are having a hard time separating from the things of this world. He would want you to go away from it all and just let Him speak to your heart through prayer. While I was in the hotel, I began to end up taking care of a child that was not my own. The parents had chosen to stay "in the world" and had begun to neglect their relationship with their child. Their child, therefore, was lost and wandering through the world with no one to turn to for help. This is the reality of what happens when parents get caught up in pursuing their own happiness and they forget to "train their children up in the way they should go." The result, their kids end up wandering through life with no help, and no purpose. They are alone and scared, and the parents have neglected their God-given duty to care for the child because of their own selfishness. The third part of the dream is when my friend asks me about my "cellulite legs" and offers how I might fix them. When I had previously thought that I was looking fine, and was very satisfied with my body and image, the "world" started trying to tell me that I need something to make me feel beautiful and worthy. The world (my friend) was trying to convince me that I could never be beautiful, worthy and satisfied with myself without the help worldly products. Even though I was modestly dressed, I was still attacked over my appearance.
Finally, I realized who I was in Christ, and I left the world again to find my husband in the quiet place to which he had withdrawn. I rejoined him in the quiet place, where he admitted that God had spoken to his heart and told him that he, too, needed to be set apart from the world. With a bit of anxiousness in his eyes, he told me this (in my dream). He wants to be holy, but being holy as God is holy can be very difficult when the world is constantly trying to convince us that God will never satisfy us. The world offers us pleasure for the time being, but God offers us a peace, joy and abundant life. God offers us an eternity of true pleasure in being with Him. It means that we must sacrifice pleasure in the here and now to gain eternal joy in heaven with God.
As Christians, we have to ask ourselves....are we set apart from the world in which we live? Are we truly foreigners in a strange land....or like those people in the hotel, do we blend in with the world around us? Are we seeking holiness or temporal happiness? Are we trying to please God, or please the men around us? Are we satisified with who we are in Christ, or are we always looking for some way to "fix" ourselves?
John 10:9-10 (NASB):
"I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The theif comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
This dream really got me thinking about all the times I have sold out God for something worldly. God has set me apart from so many things in this world. He has taken away my needs for partying, drinking, most of television, most movies, makeup, fashion, and my need to please my friends. My friends love me for who I am in Christ, and they appreciate my attempts to remain set apart from the world. If they do not love me for who I am, then they are not really my friends. I have an audience of One.....and that is very satisfying because He has given me an entire instruction manual on how to please Him, and achieve lasting peace and joy, here and into eternity. He gave me everything I need in the Word of God (The Bible). Every time I read it, it leaves me feeling stronger and more refreshed. His Word transforms me from inside my heart, and it shows me how to live the abundant life He promised me. The deeper I go, the more satisfied I become with my life on earth....and the less I want to blend in with the world around me.
Romans 12:1-2 (NASB):
"Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
I thank God today for the insight He has given me through this dream. I thank Him that He always finds a new way to speak to me, and show me new truth about how I should be living. He is always blessing me, and encouraging me. I am so thankful that God drew me to Himself, and gave me the faith to believe in Him. I thank God for saving me. I pray today that He would reveal this dream to your heart in a way that is relevant to where you stand with Him. I pray that each of you would evaluate whether you call yourself His own (by His name) and then ask yourself whether you are living a set-apart life that God has called you to. I pray that God would reveal any areas of your life where you are still connected to the world. I pray that God would reveal to your hearts whether you belong to Him, and whether your life is pleasing to Him who created you. I pray that He would continue to reveal this to me as well. I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Desiring to be holy, as He is holy,
Sarah
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Jesus Hung On The Cross....For YOU!
Lord,
I pray that this work of YOURS is a blessing to many. I pray that you would draw in many more through those you have already brought close to hear your Word spoken. Move in the hearts of these hearers that they might pass along the good thing they have found in You. Lord, I pray that if these words are not in line with your holy scriptures, that you would bring bold brothers/sisters in Christ who will be willing to reject all that is not of you. Lord, cleanse my own heart from all anxiousness, and wickedness, and let me live a life of holiness before all men. Lord, put a guard about my mouth that I would not speak anything that is not pleasing to you. Lord, I pray for wisdom in writing, and in all areas of my life. I pray for patience and perserverance, and even long-suffering. I pray that you might manifest the fruit of the Spirit in me, so others might see You through me. Lord, let me be transparent to all, and give me Your righteousness to wear, so that others may see your goodness in every situation. Lord, bless this blog, and the hearers who faithfully come to read it every day. Bless them richly in the name of Jesus. It is in His name I pray, Amen.
Sarah
I, for one, thank God that He is an encouragement to me through the Holy Spirit. I am thankful that He knows my thoughts, and even the depths of my heart. Without Him, I would be lost and suffering in this world. He knows when I need stern rebuke and discipline, and when I need a soft, kind word from Him. He is the perfect being. I love my husband, I love my family, and I love my children dearly, but none can compare to the Almighty God. He is the lover of my soul, and my friend. I can't imagine at times WHY he would choose to remain my friend after everything I have done to him, and every time I have moved away from him....but the Word tells me that it is because of His great mercy in my life.
I don't know how many of you think of the crucifixion in the light that it was done FOR YOU. Because of the omniscient nature of God, He KNEW about you when He was hanging on that old rugged cross. He knew your name and your life, and He knew he was taking YOUR sin. He did it because of His great love for you and me. He longed to restore fellowship with each of us, and to give us a way to return to His Holy Presence....and to live with him forever. He knew before you were born that you would sin, and which ways you would sin! But He made a way to escape the fires of hell. All we have to do is accept His way! Once we are reborn into the Spirit of God, then we can have day-to-day fellowship with Him. It is not some craziness and a universal lie of all Christians....it is the TRUTH....but one cannot know it until they are "born again." Until we are born of the Spirit, and baptized into Jesus' death (allowing Him to pay for our sin once and for all)...a relationship with God seems like complete foolishness. Trust me, it was to me before I learned the truth.
Many people would argue that Christians can't be the only ones who know God, or that talk to God. What about Muslims? They know Allah, right? I would venture to say (based on scripture) that Muslims do not have a personal relationship with Allah. They pray, they seek to please him, but their salvation is based on works....like every other religion except Christianity. For Christians, salvation comes from God alone....as a free gift of His mercy and grace. We cannot earn salvation through our works. There is absolutely NOTHING we can do to earn our way into God's Presence (heaven). It just isn't possible. But God made the way to Him very easy. He said all you have to do is confess that Jesus is Lord and Savior, that He rose from the dead, and that you believe that salvation comes only through Him. Then Christ pays the penalty for your sin once and for all....just like He knew He would while He hung on the cross. He knew exactly why he was doing that....and it was worth it to Him.
I don't know about you, but I have struggled in the past with the idea that God of the Universe would die for ME, personally. Die for the wickedness, iniquity and sin of the world....MAYBE. But ME....poor, weak, crazy old me? It is so easy for us to feel distant from God, and believe that He just did a universal act of kindness when He died for us....but how many times have you really thought about how personally God knows you? When He died, it was for ALL, but it was for YOU personally. He wants to spend an eternity with YOU....and He was willing to do anything to make that happen. There is just one catch. Like a person that you fall in love with, who may or may not love you back.....you must wait for them to decide to return your love....or even accept it. There are people in the world who are in one-sided relationships simply because they are still hoping that other person will change their mind and love them back! That is how God is before you accept Him. He is the stalking (but loving) person who wants your full love, heart and devotion, and will give up at nothing to get it. He will not give up on you accepting Him until you die, when He simply has to accept that you did not love him back. He waits patiently for your heart to turn to Him, and utter those words....accepting Him for who He is, what He has done, and what He wants to be to you in the future....and asking for His forgiveness for turning your back on Him in sin. Then He forgives you, gives you His Holy Spirit to teach you and guide you, and carries you through to eternity. What could possibly be holding you back?
You say..."I just don't believe that Jesus was God." There is nothing I can do to change your mind. I can tell you all day long that Jesus was the Son of God, that He died for my sins and yours, and that He will take me into heaven to be with Him, but it takes faith and His revelation to your heart of how much you need Him. Then, I CAN promise you that your life will NEVER be the same.
There are a couple scriptures which tell us this truth:
1 Peter 3:18 (NASB):
"For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit."
Romans 5:8 (NASB):
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
John 3:16 (NIV):
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Christ died on the cross for YOU. Will you accept His act of love today? Maybe you even want to return to Him by giving Him your life.....and receiving His eternal salvation? Think about it!
Loving my Savior Jesus,
Sarah
I pray that this work of YOURS is a blessing to many. I pray that you would draw in many more through those you have already brought close to hear your Word spoken. Move in the hearts of these hearers that they might pass along the good thing they have found in You. Lord, I pray that if these words are not in line with your holy scriptures, that you would bring bold brothers/sisters in Christ who will be willing to reject all that is not of you. Lord, cleanse my own heart from all anxiousness, and wickedness, and let me live a life of holiness before all men. Lord, put a guard about my mouth that I would not speak anything that is not pleasing to you. Lord, I pray for wisdom in writing, and in all areas of my life. I pray for patience and perserverance, and even long-suffering. I pray that you might manifest the fruit of the Spirit in me, so others might see You through me. Lord, let me be transparent to all, and give me Your righteousness to wear, so that others may see your goodness in every situation. Lord, bless this blog, and the hearers who faithfully come to read it every day. Bless them richly in the name of Jesus. It is in His name I pray, Amen.
Sarah
I, for one, thank God that He is an encouragement to me through the Holy Spirit. I am thankful that He knows my thoughts, and even the depths of my heart. Without Him, I would be lost and suffering in this world. He knows when I need stern rebuke and discipline, and when I need a soft, kind word from Him. He is the perfect being. I love my husband, I love my family, and I love my children dearly, but none can compare to the Almighty God. He is the lover of my soul, and my friend. I can't imagine at times WHY he would choose to remain my friend after everything I have done to him, and every time I have moved away from him....but the Word tells me that it is because of His great mercy in my life.
I don't know how many of you think of the crucifixion in the light that it was done FOR YOU. Because of the omniscient nature of God, He KNEW about you when He was hanging on that old rugged cross. He knew your name and your life, and He knew he was taking YOUR sin. He did it because of His great love for you and me. He longed to restore fellowship with each of us, and to give us a way to return to His Holy Presence....and to live with him forever. He knew before you were born that you would sin, and which ways you would sin! But He made a way to escape the fires of hell. All we have to do is accept His way! Once we are reborn into the Spirit of God, then we can have day-to-day fellowship with Him. It is not some craziness and a universal lie of all Christians....it is the TRUTH....but one cannot know it until they are "born again." Until we are born of the Spirit, and baptized into Jesus' death (allowing Him to pay for our sin once and for all)...a relationship with God seems like complete foolishness. Trust me, it was to me before I learned the truth.
Many people would argue that Christians can't be the only ones who know God, or that talk to God. What about Muslims? They know Allah, right? I would venture to say (based on scripture) that Muslims do not have a personal relationship with Allah. They pray, they seek to please him, but their salvation is based on works....like every other religion except Christianity. For Christians, salvation comes from God alone....as a free gift of His mercy and grace. We cannot earn salvation through our works. There is absolutely NOTHING we can do to earn our way into God's Presence (heaven). It just isn't possible. But God made the way to Him very easy. He said all you have to do is confess that Jesus is Lord and Savior, that He rose from the dead, and that you believe that salvation comes only through Him. Then Christ pays the penalty for your sin once and for all....just like He knew He would while He hung on the cross. He knew exactly why he was doing that....and it was worth it to Him.
I don't know about you, but I have struggled in the past with the idea that God of the Universe would die for ME, personally. Die for the wickedness, iniquity and sin of the world....MAYBE. But ME....poor, weak, crazy old me? It is so easy for us to feel distant from God, and believe that He just did a universal act of kindness when He died for us....but how many times have you really thought about how personally God knows you? When He died, it was for ALL, but it was for YOU personally. He wants to spend an eternity with YOU....and He was willing to do anything to make that happen. There is just one catch. Like a person that you fall in love with, who may or may not love you back.....you must wait for them to decide to return your love....or even accept it. There are people in the world who are in one-sided relationships simply because they are still hoping that other person will change their mind and love them back! That is how God is before you accept Him. He is the stalking (but loving) person who wants your full love, heart and devotion, and will give up at nothing to get it. He will not give up on you accepting Him until you die, when He simply has to accept that you did not love him back. He waits patiently for your heart to turn to Him, and utter those words....accepting Him for who He is, what He has done, and what He wants to be to you in the future....and asking for His forgiveness for turning your back on Him in sin. Then He forgives you, gives you His Holy Spirit to teach you and guide you, and carries you through to eternity. What could possibly be holding you back?
You say..."I just don't believe that Jesus was God." There is nothing I can do to change your mind. I can tell you all day long that Jesus was the Son of God, that He died for my sins and yours, and that He will take me into heaven to be with Him, but it takes faith and His revelation to your heart of how much you need Him. Then, I CAN promise you that your life will NEVER be the same.
There are a couple scriptures which tell us this truth:
1 Peter 3:18 (NASB):
"For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit."
Romans 5:8 (NASB):
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
John 3:16 (NIV):
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Christ died on the cross for YOU. Will you accept His act of love today? Maybe you even want to return to Him by giving Him your life.....and receiving His eternal salvation? Think about it!
Loving my Savior Jesus,
Sarah
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The Potter and Me
I took a short nap today...because I have been feeling very sleepy the last couple of days. Sometimes, God will speak to me through dreams or when I am asleep. Today, I heard Him loud and clear. He kept saying to me over and over throughout a dream which I do not remember...."The clay does not ask the potter - What are you making?" Those of you who are unfamilar with scripture might not have any idea where this would come from....but the Bible speaks of the relationship between a potter and the clay that He is molding. He is creative and is forming a masterpiece out of something that formerly had no shape or recognition as anything.
Isaiah 45:8-10 (NASB):
"Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it. I, the Lord, have created it. Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker--An earthenware vessel among the vessels of the earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say 'He has no hands'? Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?' Or to a woman, 'To what are you giving birth?'
This season I have been going through has probably been the hardest one ever since meeting and accepting Christ in my life. God has had to wade through old emotional scars, my lack of trust for others, my stubborness, my laziness, and my pride (and probably a lot more!) God is revealing parts of my heart that are dark and ugly....and causing my sinfulness to become visible. He is bringing it out as part of the potter/clay molding process. In order for him to create his intended masterpiece, He has to continually work with the clay (ME) which can be stubborn and often fall apart.
It is a wonder in itself that He ever took on the project to begin with....but even worse, He has the clay always asking Him "What are you doing? Why is this happening this way? Why aren't you doing it this other way? Why does your touch often hurt? The scripture He gave me in my dream clearly states "Woe...." to people like me. He is warning me against my continual doubt of His perfect nature, and His strength and ability to complete the work He has begun in me. What I need to do instead is start trusting God and stop asking so many questions. Is asking questions a bad thing? No, in prayer, God can give guidance....and He should be asked for direction in our lives in everything we do. What I should NOT be doing is questioning His judgment and His direction for my life. It is a totally different thing. I have been hypocritical lately in that I have judged others for doing the exact same thing I am doing.....and for any of you that recognize this in me, I am sorry. That is my sinful nature coming through....
The Bible says:
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NASB):
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
So, my encouragement to you from the deepest parts of my heart is that next time something does not go the way you hoped or expected, and you have put your faith in God as the potter of your shapeless life (clay)....remember, that it is HIS work that will be completed, not YOURS. When we surrender our lives to Christ, we hand our lives to Him and ask Him to help us. We ask Him to guide and save us. We DIE to ourselves, and our own wants and desires. Sometimes, this means that the life God intends for you will not be everything that you had imagined....and sometimes, He will give you the desires of you heart in the most amazing way possible. What I have learned in the past couple of months is to not get offended by God when He takes my life down a different road that I expect.
Matthew 11:6 (NKJV):
"And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."
Phillipians 1:3-6 (NKJV):
"I thank God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ..."
James 1:2-5 (NKJV):
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
Everything we are going through as Christians is for our OWN GOOD, and the glory of God. Even when things seem to be completely wrong and going in the opposite direction of what is expected, we still need to keep our hope and faith in Jesus Christ. He is working something in us that is beyond our comprehension. I need to stop doubting God's plans for my life, and just "get with the program."
Lord,
I thank you today for your vast mercy and patience with me, your child. I thank you that you put up with my doubt and my complaints, and my foul mouth which be perverse to your ways at times. I thank you for the work you have begun and will complete in my life. I thank you that you will never leave me nor forsake me, even though I do not deserve in the slightest bit to have you by my side. I ask today that you would speak a fresh word from your lips into the hearts of the people reading this blog, and bless them richly in the name of Jesus. I pray that you would continually guide them into truth and knowledge of salvation that comes only through You. Thank you God! Please help me, God, to cast away all doubt in my mind and to follow you without needing explanation of your plan. Please help me to grow in You, and to do Your will on earth as it is in heaven. Bless your name, O God! In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Clay in the Potter's Hand,
Sarah
Isaiah 45:8-10 (NASB):
"Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it. I, the Lord, have created it. Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker--An earthenware vessel among the vessels of the earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say 'He has no hands'? Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?' Or to a woman, 'To what are you giving birth?'
This season I have been going through has probably been the hardest one ever since meeting and accepting Christ in my life. God has had to wade through old emotional scars, my lack of trust for others, my stubborness, my laziness, and my pride (and probably a lot more!) God is revealing parts of my heart that are dark and ugly....and causing my sinfulness to become visible. He is bringing it out as part of the potter/clay molding process. In order for him to create his intended masterpiece, He has to continually work with the clay (ME) which can be stubborn and often fall apart.
It is a wonder in itself that He ever took on the project to begin with....but even worse, He has the clay always asking Him "What are you doing? Why is this happening this way? Why aren't you doing it this other way? Why does your touch often hurt? The scripture He gave me in my dream clearly states "Woe...." to people like me. He is warning me against my continual doubt of His perfect nature, and His strength and ability to complete the work He has begun in me. What I need to do instead is start trusting God and stop asking so many questions. Is asking questions a bad thing? No, in prayer, God can give guidance....and He should be asked for direction in our lives in everything we do. What I should NOT be doing is questioning His judgment and His direction for my life. It is a totally different thing. I have been hypocritical lately in that I have judged others for doing the exact same thing I am doing.....and for any of you that recognize this in me, I am sorry. That is my sinful nature coming through....
The Bible says:
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NASB):
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
So, my encouragement to you from the deepest parts of my heart is that next time something does not go the way you hoped or expected, and you have put your faith in God as the potter of your shapeless life (clay)....remember, that it is HIS work that will be completed, not YOURS. When we surrender our lives to Christ, we hand our lives to Him and ask Him to help us. We ask Him to guide and save us. We DIE to ourselves, and our own wants and desires. Sometimes, this means that the life God intends for you will not be everything that you had imagined....and sometimes, He will give you the desires of you heart in the most amazing way possible. What I have learned in the past couple of months is to not get offended by God when He takes my life down a different road that I expect.
Matthew 11:6 (NKJV):
"And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."
Phillipians 1:3-6 (NKJV):
"I thank God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ..."
James 1:2-5 (NKJV):
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
Everything we are going through as Christians is for our OWN GOOD, and the glory of God. Even when things seem to be completely wrong and going in the opposite direction of what is expected, we still need to keep our hope and faith in Jesus Christ. He is working something in us that is beyond our comprehension. I need to stop doubting God's plans for my life, and just "get with the program."
Lord,
I thank you today for your vast mercy and patience with me, your child. I thank you that you put up with my doubt and my complaints, and my foul mouth which be perverse to your ways at times. I thank you for the work you have begun and will complete in my life. I thank you that you will never leave me nor forsake me, even though I do not deserve in the slightest bit to have you by my side. I ask today that you would speak a fresh word from your lips into the hearts of the people reading this blog, and bless them richly in the name of Jesus. I pray that you would continually guide them into truth and knowledge of salvation that comes only through You. Thank you God! Please help me, God, to cast away all doubt in my mind and to follow you without needing explanation of your plan. Please help me to grow in You, and to do Your will on earth as it is in heaven. Bless your name, O God! In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Clay in the Potter's Hand,
Sarah
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
I'm Not Who I Was...
I was listening to a song in my car today called "I'm Not Who I Was." I got to seriously thinking about the lyrics of the song which talks about how God was always with me, even when I was doing everything wrong. He still loved me, and He saw all the mistakes I made in life. I remember feeling many times as though no one ever really loved me because I thought I was too horrible to love. I had done so many things wrong, hurt so many people, and been angry and depressed most of my life. I remember life being a daily struggle, and it never seemed to get any easier. I remember having conversations with people about how life will never get better, this is "just the way it is going to be." I am sorry for all the people who suffered from my cynical nature, and my pessimism toward life. All I really ever wanted was to love, be loved, and be happy! I wanted peace in my life, and for every day to be a joy rather than a curse. I remember waking up each morning without much hope of that day being better than the previous one. Sure, there were happy moments in life. The birth of my daughter, and my son, and the day I got married were all wonderful DAYS. But, I was a single mother when I exited the hospital the first time....twenty years old with no wisdom. My parents helped me, but I needed more help than they could ever give. Marrying my husband was a wonderful day, but shortly after, I found out that marriage was very hard for me as well because I lacked a solid knowledge of how to love my husband. Oh, I could be nice to him sometimes, but most of the time I was with him...I was not happy. I always felt stressed about everything, and we often took our stress out on each other. Neither of us was happy in our marriage. The birth of my son was absolutely amazing, but the stress of having two children, and a struggling marriage left me with little satisfaction. I felt, at times, as though I was all alone. Sometimes, I would just cry and wonder if I would ever be TRULY happy and have PEACE in my life.
These days, if I have the slightest interruption to my day, I begin to get restless and think "what is wrong." I realize that this is because life is good every day, even on the "bad" days. The only thing I worry about anymore is my relationship with Christ and whether I am moving forward in being closer to Him. When I feel distant from Him, I get anxious. These past couple days, I really got to thinking about how GREAT life is for me after I met and accepted Jesus Christ. I kept thinking to myself...."people can think whatever they want about Christianity, or the gospel message, or think I am crazy....but no one can EVER convince me that God did not change my life dramatically." No no can ever take away my testimony, or even really come against it. The fact is -- I AM NOT WHO I WAS. This pattern of thought really sunk in last Thursday in my bible study where we memorize God's Word. In the study, we do cross-referencing on a specific scripture. God started to give me a revelation about who I really was in Him and the totality of what He had done for me on the cross. These are the scriptures He gave me along with the revelation He gave me about them:
Galatians 2:20 (NASB):
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me an gave Himself up for me."
Romans 6:23 (NASB):
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Hebrews 9:27 (NASB):
"And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment."
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB):
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come."
Isaiah 53:6 (NASB):
"All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him."
Romans 5:8 (NASB):
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB):
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
and finally.....
Romans 6:2-4 (NKJV):
"Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life."
So.....how do these all go along with the point of this blog. Here is what happened to me. I was living in sin (falling short of God's standard of holiness)....and He used many hardships in life to bring to the place of being aware of my own sin....and asking Him for forgiveness. When I finally surrendered my life and heart to Jesus Christ, He gave me a new life in Him. When I confessed with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believed in my heart that God raised Him from the dead....I was saved. I have heard many other theologies that talk about "losing your salvation." This is an issue that I have wrestled with since the day I GOT SAVED. I had been fearful of losing my salvation....and believing I was saved by faith but had to work to continue onto my "true salvation in Christ" when He returns and takes His people to be with Him forever. I know there are scriptures that talk about the race we are running, and that we must hold onto our faith until the end, and this is all true. But God showed me something amazing through His holy scripture....when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, and are baptized into His death, and resurrected into new life.....we are a NEW creature. We are no longer what/who we were before. God makes us something completely new. Then He continues to show and prove through scripture that once this regeneration occurs, our salvation rests in His loving and capable hands. We need to devote our lives to Him, continue to seek out and grow in a relationship with Him, but the ultimate responsibility for our salvation is taken out of our own hands. We no longer carry the burden of having to save ourselves from certain death and eternal torment....He promises to continue on the work that He starts in us, and He will complete it unto salvation. I have heard many other Christians talking about the fear of losing their salvation, or never having been saved in the first place. There is much talk of sanctification, which I believe is real and necessary in the life of a Christian....but does it determine salvation? That is something for each person to discover in scripture....but in my heart, I have concluded through study of scripture that when a person accepts Christ, that person is saved.
What I know from experience is that I was given new hope, new life, and new purpose. All things became new and the old passed away.
The revelation that God gave me was that when I accepted Christ, I died to myself. I asked Him to take over my life and live through me. Then I was baptized into His death (once again, I am dead....and He lives in me) and I was raised to new life in Him. I became a new creature, and the ONE time I was appointed to "die," will no longer be a spiritual death....I have already died. I am a spiritual being living in a physical body (which will die)....but Paul said to "absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." I believe that when I die, I will immediately be in the Presence of the Almighty God and my Savior. I will not experience the sting of physical or spiritual death because I have already died, and been resurrected spiritually with Christ. The scripture says so. When God was finished giving me this revelation, I felt myself to be lighter than ever, and without worry in the world! I trust God even more than before because I know that He will complete the work He started in me--for His glory and His name's sake. Not for mine. I am already dead. It is all about Him now. But....as I live, He showers His grace upon my life and His blessings. Even in my death (to my dreams and desires of the flesh)....He is giving me everything I ever dreamed of!!!
If you are afraid today that surrendering your life to Christ, and dying to yourself forever....is going to be PAINFUL or that you are going to lose something.....that is a LIE. There is nothing to lose, just everything to gain. Yes, God will rule and reign in your life....but trust me, He does a way better job than you ever could. Will it turn you into some spiritual crazy person who is always preaching about Jesus? Possibly....but in the end, you will be rewarded eternally for that as well! And in the midst of this wicked and crazy life, you will have PEACE. You will have an open line of communication with the God of the Universe in which you ask, you believe, and you receive. You will know a depth to love that you never imagined before, and you will be assured in the deepest parts of your soul of the riches and glory yet to come in Heaven. You will know a relationship with a spiritual divine Creator that seems impossible to the human mind....but is absolutely real through your re-birth into Christ.
I can tell you until I am blue in the face about what you might be missing.....and you may still reject it....but I am going to keep telling the world until somebody listens! I have found treasure, and I am not about to hide it from those I love most. I have to share it, so that everyone I love may join me in the wonderful life I have here, and will be assured of their final resting place in Heaven as well.
The scripture says in Phillipians 3:17-21 (NASB):
"Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, who end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of power that He has even to subject all things to Himself."
I know now that I am citizen of heaven....I am stranger here on earth, but I feel a deep need to tell as many as possible about this great thing of salvation I have found in Jesus Christ. I pray that you would ask God to show you how real He is. Ask Him to bring you to knowledge of whether you need to saved, and the truth found in His Word. As I said before.....not one person might accept Christ because of these words in this life.....but no one can take away from me the eternal life promised to me by Christ, and the testimony of what He has done in my life. May God bless you with this knowledge and wisdom as well, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Waiting for His Return,
Sarah
These days, if I have the slightest interruption to my day, I begin to get restless and think "what is wrong." I realize that this is because life is good every day, even on the "bad" days. The only thing I worry about anymore is my relationship with Christ and whether I am moving forward in being closer to Him. When I feel distant from Him, I get anxious. These past couple days, I really got to thinking about how GREAT life is for me after I met and accepted Jesus Christ. I kept thinking to myself...."people can think whatever they want about Christianity, or the gospel message, or think I am crazy....but no one can EVER convince me that God did not change my life dramatically." No no can ever take away my testimony, or even really come against it. The fact is -- I AM NOT WHO I WAS. This pattern of thought really sunk in last Thursday in my bible study where we memorize God's Word. In the study, we do cross-referencing on a specific scripture. God started to give me a revelation about who I really was in Him and the totality of what He had done for me on the cross. These are the scriptures He gave me along with the revelation He gave me about them:
Galatians 2:20 (NASB):
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me an gave Himself up for me."
Romans 6:23 (NASB):
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Hebrews 9:27 (NASB):
"And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment."
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB):
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come."
Isaiah 53:6 (NASB):
"All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him."
Romans 5:8 (NASB):
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB):
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
and finally.....
Romans 6:2-4 (NKJV):
"Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life."
So.....how do these all go along with the point of this blog. Here is what happened to me. I was living in sin (falling short of God's standard of holiness)....and He used many hardships in life to bring to the place of being aware of my own sin....and asking Him for forgiveness. When I finally surrendered my life and heart to Jesus Christ, He gave me a new life in Him. When I confessed with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believed in my heart that God raised Him from the dead....I was saved. I have heard many other theologies that talk about "losing your salvation." This is an issue that I have wrestled with since the day I GOT SAVED. I had been fearful of losing my salvation....and believing I was saved by faith but had to work to continue onto my "true salvation in Christ" when He returns and takes His people to be with Him forever. I know there are scriptures that talk about the race we are running, and that we must hold onto our faith until the end, and this is all true. But God showed me something amazing through His holy scripture....when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, and are baptized into His death, and resurrected into new life.....we are a NEW creature. We are no longer what/who we were before. God makes us something completely new. Then He continues to show and prove through scripture that once this regeneration occurs, our salvation rests in His loving and capable hands. We need to devote our lives to Him, continue to seek out and grow in a relationship with Him, but the ultimate responsibility for our salvation is taken out of our own hands. We no longer carry the burden of having to save ourselves from certain death and eternal torment....He promises to continue on the work that He starts in us, and He will complete it unto salvation. I have heard many other Christians talking about the fear of losing their salvation, or never having been saved in the first place. There is much talk of sanctification, which I believe is real and necessary in the life of a Christian....but does it determine salvation? That is something for each person to discover in scripture....but in my heart, I have concluded through study of scripture that when a person accepts Christ, that person is saved.
What I know from experience is that I was given new hope, new life, and new purpose. All things became new and the old passed away.
The revelation that God gave me was that when I accepted Christ, I died to myself. I asked Him to take over my life and live through me. Then I was baptized into His death (once again, I am dead....and He lives in me) and I was raised to new life in Him. I became a new creature, and the ONE time I was appointed to "die," will no longer be a spiritual death....I have already died. I am a spiritual being living in a physical body (which will die)....but Paul said to "absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." I believe that when I die, I will immediately be in the Presence of the Almighty God and my Savior. I will not experience the sting of physical or spiritual death because I have already died, and been resurrected spiritually with Christ. The scripture says so. When God was finished giving me this revelation, I felt myself to be lighter than ever, and without worry in the world! I trust God even more than before because I know that He will complete the work He started in me--for His glory and His name's sake. Not for mine. I am already dead. It is all about Him now. But....as I live, He showers His grace upon my life and His blessings. Even in my death (to my dreams and desires of the flesh)....He is giving me everything I ever dreamed of!!!
If you are afraid today that surrendering your life to Christ, and dying to yourself forever....is going to be PAINFUL or that you are going to lose something.....that is a LIE. There is nothing to lose, just everything to gain. Yes, God will rule and reign in your life....but trust me, He does a way better job than you ever could. Will it turn you into some spiritual crazy person who is always preaching about Jesus? Possibly....but in the end, you will be rewarded eternally for that as well! And in the midst of this wicked and crazy life, you will have PEACE. You will have an open line of communication with the God of the Universe in which you ask, you believe, and you receive. You will know a depth to love that you never imagined before, and you will be assured in the deepest parts of your soul of the riches and glory yet to come in Heaven. You will know a relationship with a spiritual divine Creator that seems impossible to the human mind....but is absolutely real through your re-birth into Christ.
I can tell you until I am blue in the face about what you might be missing.....and you may still reject it....but I am going to keep telling the world until somebody listens! I have found treasure, and I am not about to hide it from those I love most. I have to share it, so that everyone I love may join me in the wonderful life I have here, and will be assured of their final resting place in Heaven as well.
The scripture says in Phillipians 3:17-21 (NASB):
"Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, who end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of power that He has even to subject all things to Himself."
I know now that I am citizen of heaven....I am stranger here on earth, but I feel a deep need to tell as many as possible about this great thing of salvation I have found in Jesus Christ. I pray that you would ask God to show you how real He is. Ask Him to bring you to knowledge of whether you need to saved, and the truth found in His Word. As I said before.....not one person might accept Christ because of these words in this life.....but no one can take away from me the eternal life promised to me by Christ, and the testimony of what He has done in my life. May God bless you with this knowledge and wisdom as well, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Waiting for His Return,
Sarah
Thursday, November 13, 2008
A Life Without Purpose - Psalm 40
Here is one more scripture that must be included:
Psalm 40 (NKJV):
"I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He has also brought me up out the horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth--Praise be to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord."
This is exactly what the Lord has done for me. He will do it for you also! God shows no favoritism among His children. Any promise in the Bible is for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ. All we have to do is have faith and trust God! God has not done one single thing for me that He will not do for you as well. My relationship with Him is not special, simply scriptural.
Be blessed with peace in the name of Jesus.
Sarah
Psalm 40 (NKJV):
"I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He has also brought me up out the horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth--Praise be to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord."
This is exactly what the Lord has done for me. He will do it for you also! God shows no favoritism among His children. Any promise in the Bible is for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ. All we have to do is have faith and trust God! God has not done one single thing for me that He will not do for you as well. My relationship with Him is not special, simply scriptural.
Be blessed with peace in the name of Jesus.
Sarah
A Life Without Purpose....
I can remember the days when I would think to myself, "What will I do with my life?" I went to a good college, got a bachelor's degree, and ended up working jobs that never satisfied me. They were not fulfilling a dream, they were simply providing income. I went to work day after day, just getting by from paycheck to paycheck to pay the bills and feed my family (me and Mariah). To be quite honest, I never really could even manage that without help from my parents, or someone else. I met up with a lot of merciful and compassionate people along the way who helped me in times of need, but none could compare to the generosity and mercy I have found in the Lord. I believe that the Lord brought my husband and I together, even if we did not know it at the time. When I met my husband, my life was in shambles. It is a work of God in itself that he stayed with me beyond the first date! The point of what I am saying is that life was not going so well until I met Jesus Christ.
Although not everyone shares my troubles in life, I venture to say that many are dissatisfied with some part of their life. It could be their marriage, their finances, their children, their career, or just a general lack of hope for the future. Many live day to day without real purpose in their lives. Every day is just a means to an end leading up to the day we die....and then it is all over (in their minds). These people live by mottos such as "He who dies with the most toys...wins" or "Life's short, play hard" or "Another day, another dollar..." YOU get the point. They do things they regret thinking that it will bring them happiness and lasting joy in their lives...but it never quite meets their expectations. Life seems to be a constant roller coaster, and it can be very wearying to the soul at times. I remember all of these thoughts and feelings about my own life. I had friends who did not even believe in any kind of afterlife....therefore, they just went a hundred miles per hour each and every day until they burned out. I lived and partied with a group of girls in college who were this way. In the middle of the fast paced life I was living, I got pregnant with my daughter by a man who I was not even dating. I called the following week to get support from my "friends" and all but one never returned my call. I believe they did not want to face the fact that it could have been any one of them in my situation, so it was easier for them to ignore the cold-hard truth about life. They were scared and ignorant...and I don't blame them because I was that way too. But God had other plans for my life. I checked in them a couple of years later and many of them had gotten mixed up in drugs, and had sexually transmitted diseases, and others had become pregnant like me. Some may have even gotten pregnant and had abortions. This "fun" life they were living didn't seem so exciting anymore. Although I continued to mess up my own life for another year past that point, I did come to the realization when I met my husband that it was not for me. I just didn't know where to turn TO. My husband has never been social, and never really was a drinker or partier. After we got married, he never wanted to go to parties or clubs, and was an excellent influence on my dsyfunctional lifestyle. But HE alone could not save me from myself. God simply used his straightforward ways to help me get right with Him.
I know I have told this story before, but I want to share again the thought I had when I came to Christ. As I was weeping, and confessing all the things I had done wrong to God, I said to Him:
"God, I have really messed up my life. Please forgive me. I give my whole life to you. I don't know HOW you are possibly going to fix all the things that I have screwed up....but I trust you. I know you will somehow."
That DAY....everything began to change for me. I can't explain how except that now I know God's Word promises everything that REALLY happened in my life. It was not of my own doing because I did not know HOW to live right after living wrong for so long. That is why I gave up and surrendered to God. I felt I had no other options left to try. My life was completely without purpose and hope. So, I figured I would trust God and give Him a shot at doing something amazing through me. But at that point, I was not yet thinking amazing, I was just thinking survival.
God went so far beyond all my wildest dreams, and it has only been one year! God has healed my marriage, made me a stable and loving parent, given me financial wisdom, and given me more encouraging. wonderful friends than any person could want or deserve. God has showered his blessings and favor upon my life, and He has taught me how to live in such as a way that EVERY day is fulfilling, even in hard times. He has taken a person that was lost and suffering, and truly made me believe I am a princess in His eyes. I am worth so much to Him. It makes everything else seem worthless and dismal. He continues to give me peace every day, and slowly is changing who I AM from inside my own heart, through study of His Word and prayer. Many can try to argue with my theological ideas, and my "radical" thoughts toward Christianity, but no one can argue with the dramatic changes that have occurred in my life. My own family can vouch for how messed up I was, and how different I am now. It truly is like night and day. People CAN change overnight, but not on their own. God can do it through you today!
God shows us in scripture how each of our lives fit into the overall scope of eternity. David spoke in the Psalms about life in this way:
Psalm 39:4-6 (NKJV):
"Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, you have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is nothing before You; Certainly, every man at his best state is but a vapor. Selah. Surely, every man walks about like a shadow; Surely, they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them."
This is a scripture the Lord brought to me about a month ago (to show me my worth to Him):
Psalm 45:11 (NKJV):
"Then the King will desire your beauty. Because He is your Lord, bow down to Him."
God created me with a purpose for my life in mind. I believe with all my heart, soul and strength that my life is but a vapor here. My eternal home is in heaven with Christ, and anything I DO on this earth by the power of the Holy Spirit is simply reaping eternal rewards that will last for eternity. I am not even interested any longer in working to lay up riches on earth because I am convinced by the Word of God that I will be rich in eternity, being a c0-heir of riches and glory in Christ Jesus. But even if this was not a promise of God, just being with my Savior and the one who turned my life around would be enough for me. There is none like the Lord, and He truly is worthy of all honor, glory and praise! I no longer have to worry about my life without purpose, because I have a purpose and hope in Christ....to love, serve and worship my Lord. Anything else He does with my life on earth is just extra!
He has given me this blog, so I might share my excitement about Him and His Word...each and every day with 35-50 people. That...in itself, is a dream come true for me. I always wanted to be a writer, and here I am living my dream. Am I getting rich? NO. But who cares! Life is wonderful when I am following Christ, and He is laying out the path before me. I no longer have to lay in bed at night wondering what I will do with the rest of my life. I don't have to worry about the menial details because God just works them out for me. THIS IS LIFE!!!!
Lord,
I thank you today for reaching into the pit of life without hope and purpose, and placing me high upon the Rock of Jesus! Thank you for giving me a whole new life with purpose! Thank you for giving me my dreams and fulfilling each and every desire in You. Thank you for being with me each and every day, and for enabling me to trust You. Thank You for Your great love for me, and for the people of this world. Please save as many as you can before the coming Day of the Lord. Show them the hope they can have in You, and the lives that you have for them! Bless them richly with knowledge, humility and wisdom in the name of Jesus! Amen.
Thankful for Life in Christ,
Sarah
Although not everyone shares my troubles in life, I venture to say that many are dissatisfied with some part of their life. It could be their marriage, their finances, their children, their career, or just a general lack of hope for the future. Many live day to day without real purpose in their lives. Every day is just a means to an end leading up to the day we die....and then it is all over (in their minds). These people live by mottos such as "He who dies with the most toys...wins" or "Life's short, play hard" or "Another day, another dollar..." YOU get the point. They do things they regret thinking that it will bring them happiness and lasting joy in their lives...but it never quite meets their expectations. Life seems to be a constant roller coaster, and it can be very wearying to the soul at times. I remember all of these thoughts and feelings about my own life. I had friends who did not even believe in any kind of afterlife....therefore, they just went a hundred miles per hour each and every day until they burned out. I lived and partied with a group of girls in college who were this way. In the middle of the fast paced life I was living, I got pregnant with my daughter by a man who I was not even dating. I called the following week to get support from my "friends" and all but one never returned my call. I believe they did not want to face the fact that it could have been any one of them in my situation, so it was easier for them to ignore the cold-hard truth about life. They were scared and ignorant...and I don't blame them because I was that way too. But God had other plans for my life. I checked in them a couple of years later and many of them had gotten mixed up in drugs, and had sexually transmitted diseases, and others had become pregnant like me. Some may have even gotten pregnant and had abortions. This "fun" life they were living didn't seem so exciting anymore. Although I continued to mess up my own life for another year past that point, I did come to the realization when I met my husband that it was not for me. I just didn't know where to turn TO. My husband has never been social, and never really was a drinker or partier. After we got married, he never wanted to go to parties or clubs, and was an excellent influence on my dsyfunctional lifestyle. But HE alone could not save me from myself. God simply used his straightforward ways to help me get right with Him.
I know I have told this story before, but I want to share again the thought I had when I came to Christ. As I was weeping, and confessing all the things I had done wrong to God, I said to Him:
"God, I have really messed up my life. Please forgive me. I give my whole life to you. I don't know HOW you are possibly going to fix all the things that I have screwed up....but I trust you. I know you will somehow."
That DAY....everything began to change for me. I can't explain how except that now I know God's Word promises everything that REALLY happened in my life. It was not of my own doing because I did not know HOW to live right after living wrong for so long. That is why I gave up and surrendered to God. I felt I had no other options left to try. My life was completely without purpose and hope. So, I figured I would trust God and give Him a shot at doing something amazing through me. But at that point, I was not yet thinking amazing, I was just thinking survival.
God went so far beyond all my wildest dreams, and it has only been one year! God has healed my marriage, made me a stable and loving parent, given me financial wisdom, and given me more encouraging. wonderful friends than any person could want or deserve. God has showered his blessings and favor upon my life, and He has taught me how to live in such as a way that EVERY day is fulfilling, even in hard times. He has taken a person that was lost and suffering, and truly made me believe I am a princess in His eyes. I am worth so much to Him. It makes everything else seem worthless and dismal. He continues to give me peace every day, and slowly is changing who I AM from inside my own heart, through study of His Word and prayer. Many can try to argue with my theological ideas, and my "radical" thoughts toward Christianity, but no one can argue with the dramatic changes that have occurred in my life. My own family can vouch for how messed up I was, and how different I am now. It truly is like night and day. People CAN change overnight, but not on their own. God can do it through you today!
God shows us in scripture how each of our lives fit into the overall scope of eternity. David spoke in the Psalms about life in this way:
Psalm 39:4-6 (NKJV):
"Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, you have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is nothing before You; Certainly, every man at his best state is but a vapor. Selah. Surely, every man walks about like a shadow; Surely, they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them."
This is a scripture the Lord brought to me about a month ago (to show me my worth to Him):
Psalm 45:11 (NKJV):
"Then the King will desire your beauty. Because He is your Lord, bow down to Him."
God created me with a purpose for my life in mind. I believe with all my heart, soul and strength that my life is but a vapor here. My eternal home is in heaven with Christ, and anything I DO on this earth by the power of the Holy Spirit is simply reaping eternal rewards that will last for eternity. I am not even interested any longer in working to lay up riches on earth because I am convinced by the Word of God that I will be rich in eternity, being a c0-heir of riches and glory in Christ Jesus. But even if this was not a promise of God, just being with my Savior and the one who turned my life around would be enough for me. There is none like the Lord, and He truly is worthy of all honor, glory and praise! I no longer have to worry about my life without purpose, because I have a purpose and hope in Christ....to love, serve and worship my Lord. Anything else He does with my life on earth is just extra!
He has given me this blog, so I might share my excitement about Him and His Word...each and every day with 35-50 people. That...in itself, is a dream come true for me. I always wanted to be a writer, and here I am living my dream. Am I getting rich? NO. But who cares! Life is wonderful when I am following Christ, and He is laying out the path before me. I no longer have to lay in bed at night wondering what I will do with the rest of my life. I don't have to worry about the menial details because God just works them out for me. THIS IS LIFE!!!!
Lord,
I thank you today for reaching into the pit of life without hope and purpose, and placing me high upon the Rock of Jesus! Thank you for giving me a whole new life with purpose! Thank you for giving me my dreams and fulfilling each and every desire in You. Thank you for being with me each and every day, and for enabling me to trust You. Thank You for Your great love for me, and for the people of this world. Please save as many as you can before the coming Day of the Lord. Show them the hope they can have in You, and the lives that you have for them! Bless them richly with knowledge, humility and wisdom in the name of Jesus! Amen.
Thankful for Life in Christ,
Sarah
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Surrender Your Dreams to God...
Today, I was in bible study with some of the most beautiful women of God anyone could ever meet. They are beautiful in their submission to their own husbands, in their reverance of our Most Holy God, and in their quiet and patient manner in speaking to one another. There is great hope, endurance, and strength collectively displayed in a group of just eleven women. I am thankful to God that He has allowed me to take part in learning about Him in the company of so many other great women, much greater than myself! They have struggled with marital unfaithfulness, abusive husbands, abusive fathers, unloving husbands, financial troubles, infertility, loss of children, etc. and still they remain in God's perfect peace and can laugh at the troublesome times in their lives. I had never really thought about how this is exactly like the God that we serve until I was reading my morning devotional. This morning, I read:
Psalm 37:12-20 (NKJV):
"The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs (emphasis added), For He sees that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword, And have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and the needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct. Their sword shall enter their own heart, And their bows shall be broken, But the Lord upholds the righteous. The Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of the famine they shall be satisfied. But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the Lord, Like the splendor of the meadows shall vanish. Into smoke, they shall vanish away."
As women of God (or men) we have come up against the unjust nature of the wicked world in which we live. Without the moral compass of God's Word and divine commandments, one would not know the measure of wickedness which surrounds us. There is malice, deceit, sexual immorality, drunkeness, lying, adultery, false idol worship, murder, slander, and much more! The scripture says that the wicked will plot against the just. Anyone who believes becoming a Christian the going to keep them from all future troubles of the outside world is gravely mistaken. The Christian simply has a hope and a future in Jesus Christ. The believer in Christ has an advocate with the Father, a deliverer in time of trouble, and a divine inheritance of peace, joy and glory in heaven. The most devout Christian IS going to have tribulations and temptations in this life. There is simply no getting around it, unless we make the truth of God a secret and serve a different gospel of Christ than the one preached in the Bible. In this case, one might be a "Christian" and have no further problems or troubles in life. Why would the enemy want to plot against someone who poses no threat to his worldly kingdom. No, the enemy I am familiar with is going to come after Christians who are not afraid to fully obey God's Word, and spread the gospel to the world like wildfire. Those are the ones that intimidate the enemy's plans to keep naive and ignorant souls from the truth of God.
So, my dearly beloved readers....if you believe in Christ today, and you are experiencing hard times, or tribulations -- take courage, the Lord is by your side. He will deliver you out of every trouble, even if it means taking you to your heavenly home to be with him. I have recently experienced miscarriage, even after being led by God into getting pregnant again (which took a great leap of faith and trust in Him). Things did not work out according to Sarah's plan, but God is glorified in completing His work in my life....not the things which I desire to happen! I often speak with other Christians who have a mindset about what it is they want from life. They want a certain child, or a certain job, or a certain place to live. They want joy, peace, and security in their living all at the same time. They are taking the benefits of God without giving up very much in return. God tells us in the Bible:
Luke 9:23 (NKJV):
"And He was saying to them all, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he just deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
To me, this means surrendering those things in our lives that we have held onto so dearly. Does that mean the Lord is never going to give us those dreams? NO. It simply means that God is asking us to trust His divine will for our lives. There will be times when God will just say "No" to a dream or desire we have. But, as I am learning in a deeper level, many of those dreams and desires are actually GOD-GIVEN. He just wants us to take those dreams and hand them back to Him, and give Him complete control over our lives, instead of holding back areas of our lives that we want to control ourselves. I know women who want to have more children, but want to have a certain child (boy or girl) and will not give God the control over their bodies because they are afraid of having the wrong sex of baby. As if there was a wrong sex! I know other people who won't give God control over their finances because they are afraid there will not be enough to meet their needs. These all go against God's Word and promises for our lives.
My desire that I have to surrender to God is SLEEP. That is why I have been struggling these past months with waking up early to meet with God. I spent most of my life being sickly, and fatigued. I am no longer this way....I am incredibly healthy -- PRAISE GOD -- but I am still holding onto a fear that if I don't sleep enough, I will get sick again. It may sound silly to one person, but it is reality in my life. I should trust God that I will get enough sleep, and OBEY Him, but I have been fighting it for a couple months now! I have even had other people around me getting sick, and I have stayed healthy....something that never happened to me before! God is showing me that He is in control of my health, and He can keep me healthy if I trust Him.
Today, I encourage each of you to pray and ask God if there is anything in your life that you have not yet surrendered to Him. Ask Him to reveal areas of your life where He would like to work through you, and to give you the strength to trust Him for the results of your life! Hand your dreams to Him, and let Him be the One to give them back to you, as He sees fitting!
God knows that this is a process of sanctification, and that it is difficult for us to surrender to Him. He is loving and gracious, and He is patient with us when it takes time for us to grow. Most importantly, we need to stay in His Word, and pray, and seek His will. He will bring us along in His timing. Do not be discouraged if you are still hanging onto a pesky thought or area of your life. Simply ask God to help you SURRENDER!
Lord,
Thank you so much that we can cast our cares upon You, and You will carry the weight of all our burdens! Thank you for your patience with us when we refuse to surrender parts of our lives to you, and your continual process of sanctification. Thank you for leading us gently to hand over thsoe parts of our lives that You need to have control over, for our own good. Please continue to help me and others to give those parts of our lives to You in full surrender. Work mightily in our lives, and give us peace, knowing that when we ask something in Your name, we can expect to receive if we do not doubt. Help me to surrender all to You, my Lord! Please bless these readers with peace, joy, knowledge and wisdom in Jesus' name. Amen.
Wanting to Surrender to Him,
Sarah
Psalm 37:12-20 (NKJV):
"The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs (emphasis added), For He sees that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword, And have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and the needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct. Their sword shall enter their own heart, And their bows shall be broken, But the Lord upholds the righteous. The Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of the famine they shall be satisfied. But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the Lord, Like the splendor of the meadows shall vanish. Into smoke, they shall vanish away."
As women of God (or men) we have come up against the unjust nature of the wicked world in which we live. Without the moral compass of God's Word and divine commandments, one would not know the measure of wickedness which surrounds us. There is malice, deceit, sexual immorality, drunkeness, lying, adultery, false idol worship, murder, slander, and much more! The scripture says that the wicked will plot against the just. Anyone who believes becoming a Christian the going to keep them from all future troubles of the outside world is gravely mistaken. The Christian simply has a hope and a future in Jesus Christ. The believer in Christ has an advocate with the Father, a deliverer in time of trouble, and a divine inheritance of peace, joy and glory in heaven. The most devout Christian IS going to have tribulations and temptations in this life. There is simply no getting around it, unless we make the truth of God a secret and serve a different gospel of Christ than the one preached in the Bible. In this case, one might be a "Christian" and have no further problems or troubles in life. Why would the enemy want to plot against someone who poses no threat to his worldly kingdom. No, the enemy I am familiar with is going to come after Christians who are not afraid to fully obey God's Word, and spread the gospel to the world like wildfire. Those are the ones that intimidate the enemy's plans to keep naive and ignorant souls from the truth of God.
So, my dearly beloved readers....if you believe in Christ today, and you are experiencing hard times, or tribulations -- take courage, the Lord is by your side. He will deliver you out of every trouble, even if it means taking you to your heavenly home to be with him. I have recently experienced miscarriage, even after being led by God into getting pregnant again (which took a great leap of faith and trust in Him). Things did not work out according to Sarah's plan, but God is glorified in completing His work in my life....not the things which I desire to happen! I often speak with other Christians who have a mindset about what it is they want from life. They want a certain child, or a certain job, or a certain place to live. They want joy, peace, and security in their living all at the same time. They are taking the benefits of God without giving up very much in return. God tells us in the Bible:
Luke 9:23 (NKJV):
"And He was saying to them all, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he just deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
To me, this means surrendering those things in our lives that we have held onto so dearly. Does that mean the Lord is never going to give us those dreams? NO. It simply means that God is asking us to trust His divine will for our lives. There will be times when God will just say "No" to a dream or desire we have. But, as I am learning in a deeper level, many of those dreams and desires are actually GOD-GIVEN. He just wants us to take those dreams and hand them back to Him, and give Him complete control over our lives, instead of holding back areas of our lives that we want to control ourselves. I know women who want to have more children, but want to have a certain child (boy or girl) and will not give God the control over their bodies because they are afraid of having the wrong sex of baby. As if there was a wrong sex! I know other people who won't give God control over their finances because they are afraid there will not be enough to meet their needs. These all go against God's Word and promises for our lives.
My desire that I have to surrender to God is SLEEP. That is why I have been struggling these past months with waking up early to meet with God. I spent most of my life being sickly, and fatigued. I am no longer this way....I am incredibly healthy -- PRAISE GOD -- but I am still holding onto a fear that if I don't sleep enough, I will get sick again. It may sound silly to one person, but it is reality in my life. I should trust God that I will get enough sleep, and OBEY Him, but I have been fighting it for a couple months now! I have even had other people around me getting sick, and I have stayed healthy....something that never happened to me before! God is showing me that He is in control of my health, and He can keep me healthy if I trust Him.
Today, I encourage each of you to pray and ask God if there is anything in your life that you have not yet surrendered to Him. Ask Him to reveal areas of your life where He would like to work through you, and to give you the strength to trust Him for the results of your life! Hand your dreams to Him, and let Him be the One to give them back to you, as He sees fitting!
God knows that this is a process of sanctification, and that it is difficult for us to surrender to Him. He is loving and gracious, and He is patient with us when it takes time for us to grow. Most importantly, we need to stay in His Word, and pray, and seek His will. He will bring us along in His timing. Do not be discouraged if you are still hanging onto a pesky thought or area of your life. Simply ask God to help you SURRENDER!
Lord,
Thank you so much that we can cast our cares upon You, and You will carry the weight of all our burdens! Thank you for your patience with us when we refuse to surrender parts of our lives to you, and your continual process of sanctification. Thank you for leading us gently to hand over thsoe parts of our lives that You need to have control over, for our own good. Please continue to help me and others to give those parts of our lives to You in full surrender. Work mightily in our lives, and give us peace, knowing that when we ask something in Your name, we can expect to receive if we do not doubt. Help me to surrender all to You, my Lord! Please bless these readers with peace, joy, knowledge and wisdom in Jesus' name. Amen.
Wanting to Surrender to Him,
Sarah
Monday, November 10, 2008
President for Change ~OR~ Christ for Truth?
I have spent a part of this morning watching CNN Headline News. I have not been watching news in general as often as I used to. I have watched the election coverage, but much of the news these days is actually glorifying the works of Satan. If you turn on the television in any given day, you will see stories regarding corrupt faith, politics, murders, kidnappings, disasters, lies, and a general lack of peace in the world today. I am not sheltering myself from the world, as I can turn on the TV any day and find out how wicked the world has become. I choose not to subject myself to a constant battering of the enemy which tends to destroy hope, and lead us into discouragement because we want to change the world, but day after day....it remains the same.
Psalm 141:8-10 (NASB):
"For my eyes are toward You, O God, the Lord; In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless. Keep me from the jaws of the trap which they have set for me, And from the snares of those who do iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I pass by in safety."
Psalm 34:12-14 (NASB):
"Who is the man who desires life And loves length of days that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."
Over the past week, I have talked with many of my sisters in Christ regarding the election of Barack Obama (which most of them voted for), and the current state of the world. I am a strong supporter of hope and change, but I believe that Christ is the center of all hope and change in this world. When Israel was crying out for an earthly king, God gave them one! He was not perfect like Christ, he was simply a sinful, flawed MAN. I believe that, like the Israelites, our nation has come to rely on MEN to give us change and hope. We should be relying on God alone for his perfect peace that surpasses all understanding. When we stop putting our full trust in God alone, and in His commandments, we begin to be deceived by the enemy of our souls. Satan would love for us to believe that a man can make a difference in the state of the world. I have some really bad news for those of you who are hoping for peace and change in this world. The course of history and eternity has already been SET by God. There is nothing we can do to change God's plans for this world and to bring peace to it. I will admit, it was definitely momentus in our history for a half black/half white person to be elected President. You see, I have been hearing a lot about the black/white issue with Obama in the past week, and it just occurred to me today...Obama is 50% black and 50% white. So, if I voted against him because of his race, why would I do that? He is white like me!
Here is the scripture regarding Israel crying out for a king:
1 Samuel 8:4-9 (NASB):
"Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; and they said to him, 'Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations. But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said 'Give us a king to judge us.' And Samuel prayed to the Lord. The Lord said to Samuel 'Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.' Like all the deeds they have done since the day I brought them up from Egypt even to this day--in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods--so they are doing to you also. Now listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them."
You all can find a Bible or www.biblegateway.com, and read the whole chapters of 1 Samuel 7-8 to find out what happened to Israel when they received the king they asked for. They had even been warned of all he would do, and they chose him anyway. Our situation today is not all that unsimilar to theirs. We want CHANGE, so we will take whoever promises this to be our leader, instead of looking to Christ for hope.
As I have reflected over the prayers that I placed before the throne of the Ancient of Days, I realized that although God did not answer my prayers for McCain and Palin to lead this country into repentance, He has reminded me of His answer to my prayer in a different way. He gave me a righteous leader who can lead the hearts of Americans back to repentance and God's favor. His name is Jesus! He is my righteous King!! I cannot wait for the righteous kingdom that He will establish on earth for 1000 years of perfect change and peace, and then an eternity with Him in heaven. But first, everything that rejects His kingdom and righteousness, and position as Lord, Savior and King must be destroyed (Book of Revelation).
Am I a prophet of doom? Some probably see it that way. BUT...this is the unadulterated Word of God. The end of the world is coming...it is inevitable and unstoppable. We can sign as many peace treaties as we want and save as many animals and trees as God allows, but the world is still going to be destroyed. We should be spending our days and efforts trying to save the eternal souls of men, leading them to eternal life in Christ Jesus! The earth will pass away, along with the people in it, but the Word of God remains forever...it cannot be destroyed!
If you are truly looking for change and peace in your life, turn to God...repent, and accept Him as your Savior and Lord! You may not see the change you seek in the world, or lasting peace around you, but your heart will be kept in perfect peace, joy and righteousness in the Holy Spirit. The whole world can crumble around you, you can be treated unfairly, or even cruelly by others...and you will still have PEACE. But before you can have peace, you have to accept TRUTH that comes only from God. There ARE NOT many paths to eternal life....there is only one way...through Jesus Christ! Beware of those in the world who promise change and peace that they alone cannot deliver. This is Satan's platform when he becomes leader of the world, and leads it into final destruction and his own eternal damnation. Use discernment through the Word of God, and put your faith and trust in God alone!
God is my Savior, In You O God, I will put my trust! Thank you Jesus for saving my soul! Lord, I thank you for your great mercies, which are new every morning. I thank you God that although I am weak and lacking, You are whole and my strength! I thank you for your promise that when I am weak, then You are strong! Lord, I continue to pray over my country that you would bring righteousness and truth to the forefront, bringing down all strongholds of deceit and hypocrisy. Lord, have Your way with this country, and work all things together for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose! I pray for wisdom over the remaining governmental authority, and the one to come shortly. I pray that you would shower your wisdom upon Barack Obama, bless his family richly with patience and hope in the name of Jesus. Show them Your truth, and empower them to live righteously from the White House. Lord God, strengthen your people for the coming day of evil, and help us to know Your power within us as a body. Unite those you have chosen to stand for Truth and righteousness, and let us prevail in our communities, our jobs, our families, our schools, our nation and throughout the world! Give is opportunities to share your gospel with all nations, and to lift up the name of Jesus, so that all may see He has come to give us eternal life and salvation! I pray for each reader to have an open heart and open ears to hear Your Word, and to receive it with all hope and joy! Please continue to work in the hearts of those who have not yet accepted you. Please remove any deception from the eyes of those who have called upon your name, but refuse to walk in your commandments. Have mercy upon their souls, and bring them to repentance once again! Let the power of Your Holy Spirit fall upon America, and transform lives of the people therein! I pray and ask these things in Jesus' name, Amen.
Seeking Truth in Jesus Christ,
Sarah
Psalm 141:8-10 (NASB):
"For my eyes are toward You, O God, the Lord; In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless. Keep me from the jaws of the trap which they have set for me, And from the snares of those who do iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I pass by in safety."
Psalm 34:12-14 (NASB):
"Who is the man who desires life And loves length of days that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."
Over the past week, I have talked with many of my sisters in Christ regarding the election of Barack Obama (which most of them voted for), and the current state of the world. I am a strong supporter of hope and change, but I believe that Christ is the center of all hope and change in this world. When Israel was crying out for an earthly king, God gave them one! He was not perfect like Christ, he was simply a sinful, flawed MAN. I believe that, like the Israelites, our nation has come to rely on MEN to give us change and hope. We should be relying on God alone for his perfect peace that surpasses all understanding. When we stop putting our full trust in God alone, and in His commandments, we begin to be deceived by the enemy of our souls. Satan would love for us to believe that a man can make a difference in the state of the world. I have some really bad news for those of you who are hoping for peace and change in this world. The course of history and eternity has already been SET by God. There is nothing we can do to change God's plans for this world and to bring peace to it. I will admit, it was definitely momentus in our history for a half black/half white person to be elected President. You see, I have been hearing a lot about the black/white issue with Obama in the past week, and it just occurred to me today...Obama is 50% black and 50% white. So, if I voted against him because of his race, why would I do that? He is white like me!
Here is the scripture regarding Israel crying out for a king:
1 Samuel 8:4-9 (NASB):
"Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; and they said to him, 'Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations. But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said 'Give us a king to judge us.' And Samuel prayed to the Lord. The Lord said to Samuel 'Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.' Like all the deeds they have done since the day I brought them up from Egypt even to this day--in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods--so they are doing to you also. Now listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them."
You all can find a Bible or www.biblegateway.com, and read the whole chapters of 1 Samuel 7-8 to find out what happened to Israel when they received the king they asked for. They had even been warned of all he would do, and they chose him anyway. Our situation today is not all that unsimilar to theirs. We want CHANGE, so we will take whoever promises this to be our leader, instead of looking to Christ for hope.
As I have reflected over the prayers that I placed before the throne of the Ancient of Days, I realized that although God did not answer my prayers for McCain and Palin to lead this country into repentance, He has reminded me of His answer to my prayer in a different way. He gave me a righteous leader who can lead the hearts of Americans back to repentance and God's favor. His name is Jesus! He is my righteous King!! I cannot wait for the righteous kingdom that He will establish on earth for 1000 years of perfect change and peace, and then an eternity with Him in heaven. But first, everything that rejects His kingdom and righteousness, and position as Lord, Savior and King must be destroyed (Book of Revelation).
Am I a prophet of doom? Some probably see it that way. BUT...this is the unadulterated Word of God. The end of the world is coming...it is inevitable and unstoppable. We can sign as many peace treaties as we want and save as many animals and trees as God allows, but the world is still going to be destroyed. We should be spending our days and efforts trying to save the eternal souls of men, leading them to eternal life in Christ Jesus! The earth will pass away, along with the people in it, but the Word of God remains forever...it cannot be destroyed!
If you are truly looking for change and peace in your life, turn to God...repent, and accept Him as your Savior and Lord! You may not see the change you seek in the world, or lasting peace around you, but your heart will be kept in perfect peace, joy and righteousness in the Holy Spirit. The whole world can crumble around you, you can be treated unfairly, or even cruelly by others...and you will still have PEACE. But before you can have peace, you have to accept TRUTH that comes only from God. There ARE NOT many paths to eternal life....there is only one way...through Jesus Christ! Beware of those in the world who promise change and peace that they alone cannot deliver. This is Satan's platform when he becomes leader of the world, and leads it into final destruction and his own eternal damnation. Use discernment through the Word of God, and put your faith and trust in God alone!
God is my Savior, In You O God, I will put my trust! Thank you Jesus for saving my soul! Lord, I thank you for your great mercies, which are new every morning. I thank you God that although I am weak and lacking, You are whole and my strength! I thank you for your promise that when I am weak, then You are strong! Lord, I continue to pray over my country that you would bring righteousness and truth to the forefront, bringing down all strongholds of deceit and hypocrisy. Lord, have Your way with this country, and work all things together for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose! I pray for wisdom over the remaining governmental authority, and the one to come shortly. I pray that you would shower your wisdom upon Barack Obama, bless his family richly with patience and hope in the name of Jesus. Show them Your truth, and empower them to live righteously from the White House. Lord God, strengthen your people for the coming day of evil, and help us to know Your power within us as a body. Unite those you have chosen to stand for Truth and righteousness, and let us prevail in our communities, our jobs, our families, our schools, our nation and throughout the world! Give is opportunities to share your gospel with all nations, and to lift up the name of Jesus, so that all may see He has come to give us eternal life and salvation! I pray for each reader to have an open heart and open ears to hear Your Word, and to receive it with all hope and joy! Please continue to work in the hearts of those who have not yet accepted you. Please remove any deception from the eyes of those who have called upon your name, but refuse to walk in your commandments. Have mercy upon their souls, and bring them to repentance once again! Let the power of Your Holy Spirit fall upon America, and transform lives of the people therein! I pray and ask these things in Jesus' name, Amen.
Seeking Truth in Jesus Christ,
Sarah
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