Pride will only tear us down.

Proverbs 16:18-19 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.


    We need always to be wary of where our pride is and what we are prideful in. This is definitely something that I have struggled with throughout my life. Though I am young, I have been through a lot of hardship. One way I had started to deal with this was almost a false sense of pride. Creating within myself a thought that "If I think highly of myself nothing can hurt me or touch me". What tends to happen here is that we become bitter and hard hearted toward many different types of love, which not only hurts our relationship with Christ but the possibility of someone seeing Him through us. Skipping right past the part where I should have turned to Him and relying fully on myself. But realizing after being beaten by my own ego and pride that every time I have relied on myself for anything, I had destroyed any ladder within myself leading to Him. It still to this day, have to take a reality check every once in a while, to look back at my life and realize that without His guidance and His love, I would be nowhere. Absolutely desperate for anything. And yet through His unbounded love, even though I have tripped, stumbled, and fumbled through these times of testing and perseverance,  He has blessed me with more than I deserve. Bringing me back to a realization that He is my only pride, the only source of strength and wisdom that I need seek after. So be prideful not only in what He is, or how great He is. but also in what He has taught you. (Proverbs 15:31;33 He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise. The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.) Though God is not the creator of hardship, because we are our own masters of that through our sinful nature. He does however allow us to suffer the consequences of our actions. So If you experience strife in any way, do not ask "why have you done this God" instead ask yourself  "what choices have I made to lead me down this path"

     We cannot let what we see blind us to what He sees. His thoughts are not our thoughts, and his ways are not our ways. We must meditate on Him and allow ourselves to be consumed by His spirit  in wisdom, learning, and compassion. Through His spirit is the only way that we may become strong enough to conquer not only ourselves, but Satan as well. because that is who will use our worldly minds and bodies against us. I have said this many times before, but our relationship with God is the most romantic and passionate one that there has ever been. His Love reaches over every mistake we make, forgiving us time and again, already telling us what we will have to endure. Letting us know in Love that He does not want us to suffer this, but that he will allow us to choose our own fate, and if we would listen to Him, He will be our leaning post.  The image that He creates for how a father is to love His children, or a husband his wife constantly amazes me... I am baffled by how perfect his Love truly is. Prideful only in Love, and in teaching. So take pride in love and every aspect you are able to incorporate it into your lives. I can promise, it will not go unnoticed.
 

Communication within the body

   This is probably one of the biggest things that the church has issues with today. I have been to churches where everyone talks to each other on Sunday but talk to no one within the body during the week. I have been to churches where it is quite literally a family and they talk to each other, help each other, support each other with difficulties and through strife. financially, emotionally, spiritually and physically. One thing that I have noticed is that the body as a whole in the last church mentioned is much happier! they are not segregated into groups when they break out to talk to people. They don't judge one another when someone is depressed and struggling. They stand up as they should.. and lift that person up with them! As a body we NEED communication. if we are the body, then we are also the tendons, the molecules and down to the very atoms that are the structure of the church. If we lack this crucial need, then Satan has successfully severed the limbs of Christ's body. Why is it that the church is so divided? why are we so separated amongst each other? It simply comes down to the fact that we do not check up on each other. It may be because we just feel lazy.. or the people we are trying to be a support to,  are too prideful to listen, or even accept that you are acting in unison with what God intended his church to look like. What did the Apostles do? They went so far as to send letters to different churches! Informing them not only on what they themselves were going through.. but what they had learned through it. Asking for prayer and guidance during their struggle! do not be afraid to ask for prayer, or to speak out with what you are going through. Through the grace of God in pulling you through your struggles when we ask for additional help, He will be glorified even more because his works will be seen through you. A vessel for the display of greatness.

  Below are some verses speaking on what the body should look like.


1 Corinthians 12:12-26
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.




 Acts 20:28 (#1 of 10 Bible Verses about the Church, the Body of Christ)
28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.


Colossians 3:14-16
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.


1 Corinthians 10:31-33
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God- 33 even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Courage in the midst of judgement

  We are called to be a courageous follower, as any soldier knows, they must move up in the ranks of his comrades. Leadership is not given to those with a faint heart! It seems that these days even Christians are scared to step out and teach from what they learn on their own, constantly stuck in what they are being taught, but never applying their own lives into a teaching aspect. I have seen countless "leaders" that lead small groups, or bible studies that simply teach what was taught the previous sunday. This is good, but we need to learn to speak from the spirit in what our heavenly father has been teaching US! Christ said.. let your life be an example! Unless we speak out in confidence there is a lack of the expansion of wisdom that we have access to. It is good that we can learn from a preacher, from a sermon, but then how else are we teaching?  Taking what we learn then saying "This is how I have applied it to my life and this is what I have learned in addition, as an affect of my actions". Our God does not only teach us through a church or through a bible study, we are meant to meditate on Him and praise Him with every breath. the more we give this attention to Him the more HE will teach us. If we can grasp that connection between what we learn and how He is teaching us personally, then we are given through a recognition of His spirit, the ability to teach others. Given all of this, we need to step out and use what tools we have been given ( the list of which in this day and age is quite extensive ) . We don't need to fear the judgments of others if what we are saying is in line with the word. And we will never grow unless we step out in a faith based confidence, if it is uncomfortable then good. See it as a challenge! Can you do it? Are you a Man or a boy...? We all see how guys are saying  " I did this because I am a MAN!"  when the actions they have taken are that of a boy.  Stand strong in the midst of a confused and lost people. Your strength will show and you will become a pillar to everyone around you. They will see you and want to know you, what you stand for and why.

After a very long absence.

Hello! I am going to get the ball rolling again with this blog and would like to start it off with something that God has been putting on my heart quite heavily as of late.

Unselfishness and Love first, before a relationship,

    If we are to be in a committed and honorable relationship according to God, we are first to rid ourselves of selfishness, Love is the opposite of this. But first we must KNOW love. To be loved and to live in love. How is it that we are to live in love? We need to firstly acknowledge on a daily basis that we are not only incomplete, but what pieces we do have are prone to do what is less than good, easily succumbing to sin and temptation. Only through Christ and His sacrifice which He has done through the ultimate form of love, c Embodying everything that love is. His sacrifice was willing, unselfish, compassionate, merciful, understanding and forgiving. To be Like Christ, which is what we as Christians have been told many times throughout thee Bible to do. we must learn to live in love. To Completely and utterly set ourselves to the side for what Christ would have done.  To love those around us more than our own life, by seizing every opportunity that we possibly can, in the most genuine and caring way that we can. Many people think that Christians are just "do gooders" or what have you. But when you act from your heart and not from your mind, with a love from a spirit fed by God Himself, you do not get this reaction. It is seen as genuine and looked upon in a positive way. Now back to the "relationship" part. We have not been placed here to find a soulmate, rather to be a blessing first. If we cannot first show His ultimate love in actions or words to anyone around us, then how can we expect to be able to have a Godly relationship with our spouse, girlfriend, or whatever. To seek a relationship before TRUE love can be shown would be selfish. Because to seek for ourselves before His Love is shown through our lives would be like dipping a bucket surrounded in holes into a well... you will fill the bucket, but as you pull it up the water pours out of the holes and you are only left with as much water as the lowest hole. We can try to pull up as much water, or (love) as we can, but our ability to supply love for what love really is would be incomplete, therefore leaving us with only a piece of what is intended. God has promised us anything and everything we could ask for according to His will. His will is for us to be taken care of. not to be in pain or to be stressed. But we must act out in this unselfish love which is the basis of everything that Jesus died for. If we desire this Godly man/woman then we must act accordingly.