What glory is to come

   Today a particular song  spoke to me, I can only imagine by mercy me. The song is about how glorious and awe inspiring heaven will be... not just a place of perfect bliss and happiness, but a place where our spirit cannot hold in the intense feeling of love and joy that we have for our creator. being able to stand directly in his presence in pure amazement of all that he is. When we worship Him here we get just a taste of that presence.. and sometimes even that can be overwhelming!  But to speak to Him and see Him.. what a glorious sight! And what a thought, that we will be so overjoyed at what we see that we will not want to stop praising and glorifying Him!

   This brought me to another thought throughout the day, how well do we know Jesus? What does it mean to know God? To have a relationship with Him? It was said last night at Salt  ( college ministry in Ames)  that the main purpose of the bible is to know Christ, and it is! But after we realize who He is, then we must learn who He REALLY is. The Bible gives us many stories and instruction on how to live life and what we should do in order to pursue Christ's image. How to reach out to others through our example. However, our true relationship with God comes through the Holy Spirit. That is the personal side of our relationship, because of this we then desire to do all of these other things we are asked to do through the Bible. (Just as in a relationship with someone, when we are loved and cared for, appreciated and encouraged, we want to do great things for that person in order to please them in knowing the sacrifices and great lengths they have gone to show us the same love and adoration!) When we pray and converse with God to grow closer, we must pray in the spirit. Laying down and admitting first, all of what we have done wrong in humble respect and gratitude. Thanking Him with praise, and talking to Him about anything, our worries and cares, our ups and downs. He is not only our Lord but also our friend, one who will sit and listen to us whine about some small thing that is on our mind, listening with patience and compassion. The peace that He gives us and the love that we feel  are then His response. But we need to come to Him in complete humility from our heart. If we combine what we are supposed to be doing according to the bible with a request in complete humility, it is guaranteed to be answered. Even in the smallest of things! He knows all the ins and outs of our lives, so if we honestly need a break from something, if we ask Him with respect and realization of His complete authority, then He is sure to grant our request! Likewise, If we are living in the truth from what we are taught in the Bible we should be pouring out love into others unselfishly. Not only through action, but in prayer as well. He will grant those too! Maybe not quite the way that we had thought.. but always being faithful. We should always place the requests for others before our own needs. What we sow, we will reap. living through unselfishness and love. Love will begin to surround you in everyway, and through this all other things fall in place!  God loves to encourage us and give us gifts, however small, we should always be thankful because they are crucial to growing, and realizing how present and personal He truly is in our lives! And to think, how much greater that relationship will be once we are in His presence! All of these things will be magnified infinitely!

Encouragement in knowing what is right

Ephesians 4:17-32 and 5

  So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.  They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.  Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
 That, however, is not the way of life you learned  when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.  “In your anger do not sin” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,  and do not give the devil a foothold.  Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

 5    Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children  and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.  For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.  Therefore do not be partners with them.
 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.  Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.  It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.  But everything exposed by the light becomes visible and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.  This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

   Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise,  making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,  speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,  always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

An observation of humility

    Tonight I had the great pleasure of participating in Royal Rangers. This is very similar to Boy Scouts but with a little of Awanas thrown in, focusing on giving young boys a solid foundation in Christ. We were teaching the boys what we should be learning from the passages that explain the order of creation. one of the boys when reading through his assigned paragraph, was struggling quite a bit. And another of the boys started to correct every mistake he made during this process. When the boy reading would be corrected, he did not get upset, or even annoyed by this. He would simply look up and smile, then go back to reading. This had really spoken to me because I can tend to be pretty bull-headed at times when it comes to being corrected. I will humble myself realizing my ignorance, but not always with a willing and joyful heart. This young boy however, would brush it off as nothing had happened! Joyfully accepting this correction looking to the us for affirmation and moving on. We need to do the same! I admire his ability to do this, something that is so simple yet difficult for many people. There is a proverb that has been randomly popping up for a few situations I have experienced this past week that goes right along with the above example;

 Proverbs 12:1       
     Anyone who loves learning accepts correction, but a person who hates being corrected is stupid.

   Pretty straight forward right? instead of being prideful even when we know we are wrong, we need to always assume at first that we know less than who we are talking to. Willing to learn and in a constant state of absorption. Using the Holy Spirit and a strict set of guidelines from the Word as a filter for what we are to let pass through. And using what we learn in unison with what knowledge we have already gained to check, cross reference, and re-check. To make sure that what is taught is truth.



  

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.