It’s only my second day at ECU and my first day of classes does not start till’ tomorrow, but already I find my faith playing a huge roll in my college experience. Of course the roll it is, is a great one, blessing me in many ways. Blessings do not always come easy, but we should rejoice even in the struggle for it leads us to the joy of His grace. I have been very fortunate that it has been about a ten to one ratio blessing to struggles and I pray if that ratio favors struggles that I will still have the strength and faith to rejoice. My Faith is playing that roll in my experience because I want people to know I have been saved, that I don’t simply wear the cross I try to bear it in every decision I make. I am not going to lie, the cross is a very heavy symbol to bear righteously, but God can help us for His strength is infinite.
I know it’s only my second day so how many tests could I really been put through, well not all to many, but my faith is as strong as ever and I am heading over to a group thing and possible a new church home latter today. So with the support of a good Christian community and the boundless power of the Lord I am above confident that not only will my fire stay lit but it will burn bright. We all have those low points still, where our fire will dwindle some, that’s when it is most important to remember all the times you have been touched by God. There are times in my life when my body can’t even contain the Holy Spirit within me, I am so joyful, yet there are other times I turn my back to the Lord who blesses us all. I am reading 1st Samuel right now and, I was wondering how Saul could could disobey God after all the blessings he received, but then I realized so do I, we let the temporary pleasure temporarily take the focus off the eternal happiness with God. The closer your walk is with Christ determines just how temporarily you are distracted. I don’t know about you but I am also guilty of this next flaw of Saul I am about to point out. [“But I did obey the Lord” Saul insisted. “I…] 1 Samuel 15:20 He thought he was doing God’s plan improving on it even. God’s plan is perfect and there is no improving it. Sometimes He will but it on our heart to do something we can’t see or understand how it would be glorifying Him, but God has a better plan, the best thing you can do is let God flow thru with as little flesh getting in the way of His awe striking power as possible. Be careful, we must make sure it is of Him and not of false teaching masquerading as the Truth. [The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the LORD’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. ] Psalm 33:10-11 Pray for guidance, and trust He will provide it, which He will, He is the Great Provider never missing one cry for help answering them all in the perfect way. May God bless us in our journey towards Him!
This was written yesterday, but my internet wasn’t working well so it took awhile to put up. I went to BCM already it was good and plan to keep coming back and I also plan check out this other thing forgot the name this second but I just got a invite to a young life thing so I am ganna go to that so I will tell you how that goes in my next post.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Sermon: Organize your Priorities, What really Matters
This is my last Wednesday night bible study for awhile, I will still try to make it to church once or twice a month, but I am going to be attending ECU. If I have left you with only one thing I hope it will be this, the band name to official be The Son Day’s…pause for laughter… But really I want you to know God loves you, and that love will change your life when you accept it, no matter who you learned that from I want you to remember it. I do however hope I leave behind within you good memories and encouragement. This is not good bye it’s a new chapter we need to entitle I am saved by God’s grace. I love you all and I wouldn’t be as strong in my faith without your support and for that I thank you, and if any of you need to talk to someone feel free to call me I will do as much as humanly possible to help, but also pray about it because unlike me God Has no limits. [Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ] Philippians 4:6 *Had someone read out that verse*
Most of the rest of my sermon is a post from my blog called "Priorities" on that you can read to see the progress in my walk with God, and as it continues in College.
*see “Priorities” in my February posts*
I picked this post for a few reasons, one of them being that I was getting pretty busy getting ready for college and I just needed a reminder of things He already told me. I also really wanted to incorporate Mark 8:34-36 they are such great verses. Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? This was also the post that struck up an interesting debate between Nick and Andrew, and myself two curious Atheists that comment on this post and several after this one. Most importantly sometimes you just need to humbly yourself before God and have faith that you are close enough to hear His call and enough strength to answer it.
This was just my outline, I added to every couple of sentence just stuff I felt I needed to say, and did not read it verbatim. I humbled myself before God, and did my best to have the Holy Spirit move thru me. Even with the story additions and group participation I still finish with time to spear, which if I would have been acting on my own accord that would have been a bad thing, but God had better plans with that “extra” time and I shared an over view of my testimony so far, even, little things I usually over look but that might help someone else. See my post “Developing the faith-ics (My testimony)” to get some of my testimony and when ever God is willing I will continue the testimony with starting my Faith-ics (My testimony continued). This is only my second sermon I lead and although I started off nervous I felt like I started to get the hang of it. I am not saying I will become a sermon leader (I pray if He calls me to that I will have the strength and willingness to listen) but I already am a Minister, all His saved children are meant to share the Joy that comes with the good news. Your actions not only effect your own walk but also the walks of those around you, If God put it on your heart to share the good news to someone and you don’t how much longer does that person have to wait before he or she is saved? God uses the people around us to answer the prays we have and vice versa.
Most of the rest of my sermon is a post from my blog called "Priorities" on that you can read to see the progress in my walk with God, and as it continues in College.
*see “Priorities” in my February posts*
I picked this post for a few reasons, one of them being that I was getting pretty busy getting ready for college and I just needed a reminder of things He already told me. I also really wanted to incorporate Mark 8:34-36 they are such great verses. Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? This was also the post that struck up an interesting debate between Nick and Andrew, and myself two curious Atheists that comment on this post and several after this one. Most importantly sometimes you just need to humbly yourself before God and have faith that you are close enough to hear His call and enough strength to answer it.
This was just my outline, I added to every couple of sentence just stuff I felt I needed to say, and did not read it verbatim. I humbled myself before God, and did my best to have the Holy Spirit move thru me. Even with the story additions and group participation I still finish with time to spear, which if I would have been acting on my own accord that would have been a bad thing, but God had better plans with that “extra” time and I shared an over view of my testimony so far, even, little things I usually over look but that might help someone else. See my post “Developing the faith-ics (My testimony)” to get some of my testimony and when ever God is willing I will continue the testimony with starting my Faith-ics (My testimony continued). This is only my second sermon I lead and although I started off nervous I felt like I started to get the hang of it. I am not saying I will become a sermon leader (I pray if He calls me to that I will have the strength and willingness to listen) but I already am a Minister, all His saved children are meant to share the Joy that comes with the good news. Your actions not only effect your own walk but also the walks of those around you, If God put it on your heart to share the good news to someone and you don’t how much longer does that person have to wait before he or she is saved? God uses the people around us to answer the prays we have and vice versa.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Concerning knowledge
Glad you are doing well it's always good to hear of good things. I am doing extremely well, my walk is growing and my fire is burning so life is great, thanks for asking. Before I give my views on anything more let me remind you, that they are just that my views. There are only a few things I know for certain, God is real and He loves us. Most everything else is just my thought on an issue, and when dealing with the unfathomable knowledge of spiritual matter there is bound to be different views. My intentions of our communication is to bring you knowledge of the Almighty God, to the best of my ability, so that a seed may be planted. Now I know I cannot save you or even talk you in to being saved, that's a job only God can do. All I can do and am trying to do is to show you His glory and pray that the seed of wisdom grows. [ Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal. It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold] job 28:17 I don't think you will argue that even if you argue the source (SF).
You can't test love, it's a unconditional bond of affection. So test is not the word I would use, it's more of a period of time you have to build a relationship with you own personal Father and Savior.
I had trouble grasping the ideal of such a saving transformation when I was first growing closer to Him, in truth I still don't truly grasp it completely. His Grace and forgiveness is out of this world, Christ forgave the ones torturing Him, as it was happening. I don't know about you but I find it hard to forgive someone as they are wronging me, even a small wrong, like yelling at me or something stupid like that. Now I do try to follow The Model and forgive them and love the Christ in them, the smaller the wrong the less time it takes me to forgive (I am working forgiving faster and faster). [But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!] Matthew 5:44 But God is perfect and needs no time to forgive, so as we are spitting in His face He loves us. He loves all of us the same no matter what we do He loves us as much yesterday as He will tomorrow. He loves a killer as much as a protector, He loves you as much as He loves His own son who He sent to die for you, even if you were the only one ever to walk this earth Jesus would have died for your sins. See He wants all of His blessed children to go to heaven that's why He keeps pulling us towards Him.
To clarify my answer when that wretch of a man does humbly Himself before the Son, and truly let God change His life, than He will be welcome in to Heaven. To full heartily accept Jesus as your savior, you are making a covenant with God Himself that not only will you repent of your sins, but you are going under new management, the management of God rather than earthly things. And that transformation is a powerful and holy one, a truly undesirable life changing experience, and no one can judge someone's heart but Him. I do know however that you are never too far away from God for Him to be able to save you. A person is never without hope of salvation, take Saul for example a persecutor and killer of Christian became Paul the apostle. I think that testifies beautifully How much God can change someone. (For more on Saul/Paul change check your local bible or go to www.Biblegateway.com than search For Acts chapter 9.
You can't test love, it's a unconditional bond of affection. So test is not the word I would use, it's more of a period of time you have to build a relationship with you own personal Father and Savior.
I had trouble grasping the ideal of such a saving transformation when I was first growing closer to Him, in truth I still don't truly grasp it completely. His Grace and forgiveness is out of this world, Christ forgave the ones torturing Him, as it was happening. I don't know about you but I find it hard to forgive someone as they are wronging me, even a small wrong, like yelling at me or something stupid like that. Now I do try to follow The Model and forgive them and love the Christ in them, the smaller the wrong the less time it takes me to forgive (I am working forgiving faster and faster). [But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!] Matthew 5:44 But God is perfect and needs no time to forgive, so as we are spitting in His face He loves us. He loves all of us the same no matter what we do He loves us as much yesterday as He will tomorrow. He loves a killer as much as a protector, He loves you as much as He loves His own son who He sent to die for you, even if you were the only one ever to walk this earth Jesus would have died for your sins. See He wants all of His blessed children to go to heaven that's why He keeps pulling us towards Him.
To clarify my answer when that wretch of a man does humbly Himself before the Son, and truly let God change His life, than He will be welcome in to Heaven. To full heartily accept Jesus as your savior, you are making a covenant with God Himself that not only will you repent of your sins, but you are going under new management, the management of God rather than earthly things. And that transformation is a powerful and holy one, a truly undesirable life changing experience, and no one can judge someone's heart but Him. I do know however that you are never too far away from God for Him to be able to save you. A person is never without hope of salvation, take Saul for example a persecutor and killer of Christian became Paul the apostle. I think that testifies beautifully How much God can change someone. (For more on Saul/Paul change check your local bible or go to www.Biblegateway.com than search For Acts chapter 9.
Monday, August 3, 2009
It's a concerning post!
For those who are unaware posts with titles including the word concern are responses to nonbelievers. I find it is important to understand what you do not believe because the unknown can be a breeding ground for doubt deception and darkness, moreover [Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.] James 1:2-3. So whether you believe in the saving grace of God or not, do not think of someone who opposes your view as your enemy without any insight to gain. In truth, for us who are saved, we should try to lead the lost to salvation with love and patients, not closed ears and stubborn tongues. [Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.] James 1:19 [Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.] Galatians 6:1.
"Mus" funny you should ask that I was actually thinking about that sentence today, even mentioned it to Lane. I was thinking about changing the sentence around, because I didn't know if I liked the wording, but now I am glad I did not. You have a point the way it's worded is misleading, the main reason for that is it's a difficult statement. Why did the perfect God make imperfect subjects? If it wasn't the God, who has power over all things, than how did imperfectness start, more importantly how is it now unavoidable for His creations to sin? Two very difficult questions if I do say so myself, before I put my two cents on that consider these things: only He is perfect not even angles are perfect so if we were perfect than we would be God or Godlike. Also if life was perfect than we would not go through struggles, which are important to grow in Christ, also we would have no need for heaven for earth would be like heaven, perfect. Now, [God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them] Genesis1:27 The main word to look at in this scripture is image, He did not created us to be His duplicate but to be made in His image or likeness. The image descried is not physical it's our innermost working, how we know right from wrong, He implanted His moral and values, so we may know how to live. He also gave us free will, which Adam and Eve decided to use to bring sin in to the world, and to ask why didn't God make them not to sin is to Get in to a question as circular as, can God make a Mountain so big that even He couldn't move it. My thought, God could control us but if He did than we wouldn't have a relationship with Him He would have ownership of us, and we would just be items.
In short to answer your question, God didn't make us imperfect, but He did give us the free will to be imperfect, resulting in imperfectness being our nature. It is because of that nature that He came to earth in human form to die for our sins. So now to enter the perfect gates of heaven all we have to do is believe that Christ died for us and then rose three days later. He was the perfect sacrifice for even when He bounded Himself in human skin He did not sin for He choose to be perfect no matter what the temptation. That is why Jesus Christ is the model and the truth and the way to salvation. I hope I shined some light on your question. By the way I am glad to hear from you again it has been awhile, and I hope you are doing well as well (SF).
"Mus" funny you should ask that I was actually thinking about that sentence today, even mentioned it to Lane. I was thinking about changing the sentence around, because I didn't know if I liked the wording, but now I am glad I did not. You have a point the way it's worded is misleading, the main reason for that is it's a difficult statement. Why did the perfect God make imperfect subjects? If it wasn't the God, who has power over all things, than how did imperfectness start, more importantly how is it now unavoidable for His creations to sin? Two very difficult questions if I do say so myself, before I put my two cents on that consider these things: only He is perfect not even angles are perfect so if we were perfect than we would be God or Godlike. Also if life was perfect than we would not go through struggles, which are important to grow in Christ, also we would have no need for heaven for earth would be like heaven, perfect. Now, [God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them] Genesis1:27 The main word to look at in this scripture is image, He did not created us to be His duplicate but to be made in His image or likeness. The image descried is not physical it's our innermost working, how we know right from wrong, He implanted His moral and values, so we may know how to live. He also gave us free will, which Adam and Eve decided to use to bring sin in to the world, and to ask why didn't God make them not to sin is to Get in to a question as circular as, can God make a Mountain so big that even He couldn't move it. My thought, God could control us but if He did than we wouldn't have a relationship with Him He would have ownership of us, and we would just be items.
In short to answer your question, God didn't make us imperfect, but He did give us the free will to be imperfect, resulting in imperfectness being our nature. It is because of that nature that He came to earth in human form to die for our sins. So now to enter the perfect gates of heaven all we have to do is believe that Christ died for us and then rose three days later. He was the perfect sacrifice for even when He bounded Himself in human skin He did not sin for He choose to be perfect no matter what the temptation. That is why Jesus Christ is the model and the truth and the way to salvation. I hope I shined some light on your question. By the way I am glad to hear from you again it has been awhile, and I hope you are doing well as well (SF).
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