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
Thursday, November 13, 2008
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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