Sunday, May 3, 2009
I suck
So it's official, I suck at this blogging game lol. I always think about making another post. But I NEVER do. I want that to change so yet again I am going to try posting again as much as possible, this time I am not going to guarantee anything though. But if God moves me to make a post then there will be a post.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Praising God In The Storms Of Life
Hello everyone!
So I am sitting here after my second year at PRBI, and I am in the one place that I did not want to be. I had so many plans this summer, that in all honesty I made on my own, being self deceptive thinking that God wanted me there. Immediately after school I left with a friend to go and live with him and his family. On the way home we were traveling through a snow storm, and we go into a car accident that we should not have walked away from, but by the grace of God we did. I had plans to get a high paying job, and make lost of money this summer and get all these extra things. But in the car accident I injured my hand, and it still bothers me more than a month later. Even after this I decided to move out, and go to my friends place. I was there for all of a week, there was just a great uneasiness within, me. So I know find myself home, the last place in the world I wanted to be.
But you know what, I thank God for that. I thank Him for this all, because I have learned how much I rely on myself rather than on God. I have learned that I deceive myself, and that I am not always trusting and following God. And you know what God still loves me, He doesn’t love me any less. He is using my idiocy and lack of wisdom to teach me, which to me is amazing.
So to sum up my summer this far, I am living in a storm, and one thing that has really hit me lately, was hearing the song by Casting Crowns “Praise You In This Storm”. The words of this song have been so encouraging to me, and make me want to praise God amidst the storm in my life.
“One day Jesus said to his disciples, “‘Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.’” So they got into the boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying “‘Master, master, we’re going to drown!’” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “‘Where is your faith?’” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.’” (Lk.8:22-25)
This left me with a rhetorical question. Where is my faith? If Jesus my Lord and Saviour has the authority and power to calm the winds and raging waters of a storm, is He not able to help me through the storms in my life. I relized that I have a real lack of trust in God. This was a hard hit because I have always though that I trusted God fully. I now know that I falter, that I so often rely on myself not God. After reading this passage, I had to listen to Casting Crowns again.
Let us look at the verses of this song together:
I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”A
nd as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
After listening to this song again, tears streaming I knew my God, I knew that He can help me through anything life throws at me. Whether it be difficulties with other people, the fiery arrows of Satan, or the storms that we ourselves create for ourselves, God is there, and He is in control. We as believers (including myself) need to realize that God is in complete control, that He is completely Sovereign; and that just as Christ calmed the wind and the waves, He can calm any of the storms and plights in our lives. Know this that God uses the tough times in our lives to teach us and to draw us closer to Himself. I cannot describe how incredibly beautiful it is when you reach that low point, and feel like you can do nothing to better your situation, and are left with no choice but to trust God. It is incredible, tears of joy rise up, and you cannot help but feel the love of God, a love which is perfect and unchanging. My prayer is that we can all trust God in the storms of our lives. May we realize where our help comes from, and may we respond in adoration and praise.
So let this be our realization:
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
And this our response:
I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will life my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
So I am sitting here after my second year at PRBI, and I am in the one place that I did not want to be. I had so many plans this summer, that in all honesty I made on my own, being self deceptive thinking that God wanted me there. Immediately after school I left with a friend to go and live with him and his family. On the way home we were traveling through a snow storm, and we go into a car accident that we should not have walked away from, but by the grace of God we did. I had plans to get a high paying job, and make lost of money this summer and get all these extra things. But in the car accident I injured my hand, and it still bothers me more than a month later. Even after this I decided to move out, and go to my friends place. I was there for all of a week, there was just a great uneasiness within, me. So I know find myself home, the last place in the world I wanted to be.
But you know what, I thank God for that. I thank Him for this all, because I have learned how much I rely on myself rather than on God. I have learned that I deceive myself, and that I am not always trusting and following God. And you know what God still loves me, He doesn’t love me any less. He is using my idiocy and lack of wisdom to teach me, which to me is amazing.
So to sum up my summer this far, I am living in a storm, and one thing that has really hit me lately, was hearing the song by Casting Crowns “Praise You In This Storm”. The words of this song have been so encouraging to me, and make me want to praise God amidst the storm in my life.
“One day Jesus said to his disciples, “‘Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.’” So they got into the boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying “‘Master, master, we’re going to drown!’” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “‘Where is your faith?’” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.’” (Lk.8:22-25)
This left me with a rhetorical question. Where is my faith? If Jesus my Lord and Saviour has the authority and power to calm the winds and raging waters of a storm, is He not able to help me through the storms in my life. I relized that I have a real lack of trust in God. This was a hard hit because I have always though that I trusted God fully. I now know that I falter, that I so often rely on myself not God. After reading this passage, I had to listen to Casting Crowns again.
Let us look at the verses of this song together:
I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”A
nd as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
After listening to this song again, tears streaming I knew my God, I knew that He can help me through anything life throws at me. Whether it be difficulties with other people, the fiery arrows of Satan, or the storms that we ourselves create for ourselves, God is there, and He is in control. We as believers (including myself) need to realize that God is in complete control, that He is completely Sovereign; and that just as Christ calmed the wind and the waves, He can calm any of the storms and plights in our lives. Know this that God uses the tough times in our lives to teach us and to draw us closer to Himself. I cannot describe how incredibly beautiful it is when you reach that low point, and feel like you can do nothing to better your situation, and are left with no choice but to trust God. It is incredible, tears of joy rise up, and you cannot help but feel the love of God, a love which is perfect and unchanging. My prayer is that we can all trust God in the storms of our lives. May we realize where our help comes from, and may we respond in adoration and praise.
So let this be our realization:
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
And this our response:
I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will life my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
Monday, September 10, 2007
Standing Firm Through Adversity
Hello to you all once again, I apologize for the lack of post these last few months. I will hopefully be able to post once a week again starting now.
So the last month or so I have really been feeling adversity, not only adversity spiritually, but also on a emotional level. I have been challenged and stressed a lot through the course of the summer, as well as my first week here again at Peace River Bible Institute.
Adversity is not something new for us as human beings let alone as believers, and followers of the lord Jesus Christ. Everyone faces adversity, everyone struggles, but us as believers face far more adversity than your typical everyday average Joe. We face the adversity of Satan, the adversity of sin, the adversity of fellow man, and the adversity of this world, a world fallen and broken by the effects of sin.
I have often struggled with thinking that I am the only one struggling with a certain issue, I have so often thought I was alone in this struggle. When that is most certainly not the case, every believer struggles with, or has struggled with the same things as I have, and am struggling with. Not only that but since the fall all men and women have struggled with the same things as me. Most of all, Christ himself was tempted in every way possible. How encouraging is it to know that others both past and present, have struggled with the same things, and that our lord Jesus was tempted with all things.
One amazing account of adversity in the Bible would have to be the story of Job. I will be focusing on Job chapters 1 and 2 in this post.
In the first section of Job chapter 1 we are shown both Job’s character and his wealth. Let’s take a look at Job’s life as it was at this point in time. “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east.”
Job was very wealthy, he was a blessed man, yet even though he had everything that a man at the time longed for; he still feared God. This shows us that Job was a Godly man, he was a great man of God, he turned from evil. Job was blameless and upright.
We may think to ourselves after reading this that Job did not have any adversity, I mean look at his life thus far; he was rich and had seven sons and three daughters, and all the while he was a blameless, upright, God fearing man. But in order to see the adversity that Job faced we must continue to read.
Job 1:6-12 states:
“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan, ‘From where do you come?’ Then Satan answered the LORD and said, ‘From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.’ The LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.’ Then Satan answered the LORD, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing?’ ‘Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.’ ‘But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.’ Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not put forth you hand on him.’ So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.
This shows that Job was not facing adversity but it also sheds a little light unto the fact that there will be hard times ahead for Job. But there is also one thing to learn form this section of Job chapter 1; take notice that Satan had to receive God’s permission to do anything, this shows that God is in complete control. With this in mind we know that Satan’s powers are limited, limited to what God will allow, and with Christ on our side; we can feel safe and assured that when we place our trust in Him that there is nothing that we will face that God cannot lead us through.
We can now see the adversity in which Job was faced with unfold. Job 1:12-22 states the following:
“Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, ‘The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking another also came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking another also came and said, ‘Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and behold a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.’ Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell to the ground and worshipped. He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.’ Through all of this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.
This is so powerful, Job lost all of his possessions, all of his servants, and all of his children. I cannot even begin to comprehend the amount of anguish and pain that Job must have felt. Yet through all the fierce adversity that Job faced so far we read that “Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.” And not only that but we also read “The Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and fell to the ground and worshiped.”
That really makes me think, do I worship God when I am faced with adversity, whether it be small or big? Do I often sin or blame God for things that have happened in my life, or things that are happening? You may be asking yourselves the same questions, but I encourage you not to feel downhearted because of this. Take this as a lesson, learn from Job, learn that no matter what adversity we face that it is not something to blame God for, and in our adversity let us not sin, but worship the LORD our God.
As if this was not enough for Job to be faced with, in chapter 2 we read about yet even more adversity that Job was faced with. But again we read that Satan had to receive God’s permission.
Job 2:7-10 states:
“Then Satan went out form the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes. Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!’ But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept the good from God and not accept adversity?’ In all of this Job did not sin with his lips.”
How powerful is that story, a man losing all he had and his children, and yet still worship God. Then his health is struck and he is faced with great pain, and yet he will still not curse God’s name. Job was faced with a lot of adversity and yet he was able to come through, not through his strength but by trusting in the LORD. With God on our side nothing is impossible, there is nothing that God cannot handle, He is in control of everything.
A good question to ask ourselves would be a question Job asked his wife “‘Shall we indeed accept the good from God and not accept adversity?’” We cannot always expect life to be peachy keen, we cannot expect life to be easy. Life is hard, and for us as believers it is even more difficult, the world is against us.
We need to learn from Job’s situation and learn that God is truly in control. We must cast our cares upon Him and trust that He is greater than everything. We can and should learn to praise and worship our God even when facing adversity whatever it could be. So I encourage you be like Job, trust in the LORD for our God is worthy to be praised.
Until Next Time
God bless you all
So the last month or so I have really been feeling adversity, not only adversity spiritually, but also on a emotional level. I have been challenged and stressed a lot through the course of the summer, as well as my first week here again at Peace River Bible Institute.
Adversity is not something new for us as human beings let alone as believers, and followers of the lord Jesus Christ. Everyone faces adversity, everyone struggles, but us as believers face far more adversity than your typical everyday average Joe. We face the adversity of Satan, the adversity of sin, the adversity of fellow man, and the adversity of this world, a world fallen and broken by the effects of sin.
I have often struggled with thinking that I am the only one struggling with a certain issue, I have so often thought I was alone in this struggle. When that is most certainly not the case, every believer struggles with, or has struggled with the same things as I have, and am struggling with. Not only that but since the fall all men and women have struggled with the same things as me. Most of all, Christ himself was tempted in every way possible. How encouraging is it to know that others both past and present, have struggled with the same things, and that our lord Jesus was tempted with all things.
One amazing account of adversity in the Bible would have to be the story of Job. I will be focusing on Job chapters 1 and 2 in this post.
In the first section of Job chapter 1 we are shown both Job’s character and his wealth. Let’s take a look at Job’s life as it was at this point in time. “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east.”
Job was very wealthy, he was a blessed man, yet even though he had everything that a man at the time longed for; he still feared God. This shows us that Job was a Godly man, he was a great man of God, he turned from evil. Job was blameless and upright.
We may think to ourselves after reading this that Job did not have any adversity, I mean look at his life thus far; he was rich and had seven sons and three daughters, and all the while he was a blameless, upright, God fearing man. But in order to see the adversity that Job faced we must continue to read.
Job 1:6-12 states:
“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan, ‘From where do you come?’ Then Satan answered the LORD and said, ‘From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.’ The LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.’ Then Satan answered the LORD, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing?’ ‘Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.’ ‘But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.’ Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not put forth you hand on him.’ So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.
This shows that Job was not facing adversity but it also sheds a little light unto the fact that there will be hard times ahead for Job. But there is also one thing to learn form this section of Job chapter 1; take notice that Satan had to receive God’s permission to do anything, this shows that God is in complete control. With this in mind we know that Satan’s powers are limited, limited to what God will allow, and with Christ on our side; we can feel safe and assured that when we place our trust in Him that there is nothing that we will face that God cannot lead us through.
We can now see the adversity in which Job was faced with unfold. Job 1:12-22 states the following:
“Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, ‘The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking another also came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking another also came and said, ‘Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and behold a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.’ Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell to the ground and worshipped. He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.’ Through all of this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.
This is so powerful, Job lost all of his possessions, all of his servants, and all of his children. I cannot even begin to comprehend the amount of anguish and pain that Job must have felt. Yet through all the fierce adversity that Job faced so far we read that “Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.” And not only that but we also read “The Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and fell to the ground and worshiped.”
That really makes me think, do I worship God when I am faced with adversity, whether it be small or big? Do I often sin or blame God for things that have happened in my life, or things that are happening? You may be asking yourselves the same questions, but I encourage you not to feel downhearted because of this. Take this as a lesson, learn from Job, learn that no matter what adversity we face that it is not something to blame God for, and in our adversity let us not sin, but worship the LORD our God.
As if this was not enough for Job to be faced with, in chapter 2 we read about yet even more adversity that Job was faced with. But again we read that Satan had to receive God’s permission.
Job 2:7-10 states:
“Then Satan went out form the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes. Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!’ But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept the good from God and not accept adversity?’ In all of this Job did not sin with his lips.”
How powerful is that story, a man losing all he had and his children, and yet still worship God. Then his health is struck and he is faced with great pain, and yet he will still not curse God’s name. Job was faced with a lot of adversity and yet he was able to come through, not through his strength but by trusting in the LORD. With God on our side nothing is impossible, there is nothing that God cannot handle, He is in control of everything.
A good question to ask ourselves would be a question Job asked his wife “‘Shall we indeed accept the good from God and not accept adversity?’” We cannot always expect life to be peachy keen, we cannot expect life to be easy. Life is hard, and for us as believers it is even more difficult, the world is against us.
We need to learn from Job’s situation and learn that God is truly in control. We must cast our cares upon Him and trust that He is greater than everything. We can and should learn to praise and worship our God even when facing adversity whatever it could be. So I encourage you be like Job, trust in the LORD for our God is worthy to be praised.
Until Next Time
God bless you all
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Hey all
Hey everyone sorry that I have not posted in the last few weeks. It has been a hectic time for me. 2 weeks ago I was visiting a friend in Ponoka, and last week I was helping my family get ready for a family reunion. I am going to be posting like normal again though starting soon. Hopefully I will be able to share something this week. God bless you all.
Friday, July 20, 2007
To Live is Christ! To Die is Gain!
Hi again everyone, hope all of you had a great week. I am reading through Philippians for my devotions now. I read this a few days ago, and God brought me back there this morning. I was contemplating what to write about, and God brought me to a specific section of Philippians chapter 1.
Philippians 1:21-30
This is such an amazing passage, it is such a jewel. I read this passage on Wednesday, and this morning I was in a panic on what to write, I was not sure what would be best. I gave up thinking after a while and decided to read my devotions for today. As I was flipping through Philippians, I came to this passage and the first verse of the passage just jumped out at me. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Wow what a bold statement of faith. I immediately knew what I was going to share with you all today.
Paul wrote this letter to the believers in Philippi; this was a letter of joy. It is amazing to know that this letter of joy, Paul's letter of joy was written while Paul was in prison. When you understand the circumstances that Paul was faced with while writing this letter, you find yourself wondering how Paul could express such joy when faced with such a bleak situation. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." What does this mean how does it apply?
Paul understood what this meant and he reveals it to us. Verse two states: "If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me." To live is Christ; to go on living would mean fruitful labor for Paul. This meant that for Paul living meant developing eternal values, and to share the gospel of Christ to others. For Christ alone can only save them from their sin. How does this apply to us? As believers should it not be the same for us, should we not live for Christ. We should be focusing on the eternal, and on being God's hands and feet. We should be sharing the gospel with those around us. We should be showing them Christ through our lives.
To die is gain, what did this mean for Paul. For Paul death would have been much better than living. Why we ask? Because in death we are removed from all worldly troubles, and we see Christ face-to-face. What a glorious day that will be! Death is gain, no more pain, temptation, disappointment. Our death is a cause for celebration. This is why death is gain, not only for Paul but for every believer.
Paul's whole purpose in life was to speak out boldly for Christ and to become more like Him. If as believers we are not ready to die, are we ready to live? We must make certain of our eternal destiny; for when we do we will be free to serve. To fully serve, devoting our lives to what really matters; without fear of death. For to die is gain.
Matthew Henry in his commentary stated this:
"1. It is the undoubted character of every good Christian that to him to live is Christ. The glory of Christ ought to be the end of our life, the grace of Christ the principle of our life, and the word of Christ the rule of it. The Christian life is derived from Christ, and directed to him. He is the principle, rule, and end of it.
2. All those to whom to live is Christ to them to die will be gain: it is great gain, a present gain, everlasting gain. Death is a great loss to a carnal worldly man; for he loses all his comforts and all his hopes: but to a good Christian it is gain, for it is the end of all his weakness and misery and the perfection of his comforts and accomplishment of his hopes; it delivers him from all the evils of life, and brings him to the possession of the chief good. Or, To me to die is gain."`
Paul was torn he struggled with what to do. "Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body." Paul wanted so much to leave this world, to be with our Lord. But yet he knew that he was needed. What a great view of humility, Paul lays aside his own desire, a desire that should be burning in the hearts of all believers. The desire to be with Jesus. He laid that aside, to remain in this world, to remain in all the worlds trouble's for the sake of others. That is a true showing of humility.
"Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." What was Paul talking about? Paul knew in confidence that he was supposed to remain with the believers, to help them progress in faith. To help them know Christ more, and to experience a greater joy in Him.
Matthew Henry states:
"1. What a great confidence Paul had in the divine Providence, that it would order all for the best to him.
2. Whatsoever is best for the church, we may be sure God will do. If we know what is needful for building up the body of Christ, we may certainly know what will be; for he will take care of its interests, and do what is best, all things considered, in every condition it is in.
4. What promotes our faith and joy of faith is very much for our furtherance in the way to heaven. The more faith the more joy, and the more faith and joy the more we are furthered in our Christian course."
"Whatever happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you to only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel." Paul is encouraging us as believers to stand firm, to be unified. It takes a courageous body of believers to resist fighting and struggling, and to all maintain the common purpose of serving Christ. As believers Paul is encouraging us to stand firm, and to stand unified, as one man contending for the faith of the gospel.
"without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved-and that by God. For is has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him." Paul considered it a privelege to suffer for Christ. We by nature do not consider suffering a privilege. Yet when we suffer, if we faithfully serve Christ, our message and example affects us and others for good (Acts 5:41). Suffering takes our eyes off of earthly comforts; it helps weed out superficial believers. It strengthens the faith of those who endure. It serves as an example to those who follow us. When we suffer in our faith it does not mean that we are doing something wrong. More often it verifies that we are being faithful. Suffering is a great means of building in us the character of Christ.
"since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear I still have." Paul is encouraging believers, as he throughout his life had suffered for the sake of Christ. We are in a conflict with all those who would discredit the saving message of Christ. All true believers are in this together. We should stand united against the enemy, fighting for a common cause. Paul is not encouraging us to seek suffering. But we should not forget those who suffer. We do not have to seek suffering; it will come our way at times. Just as the world was against Christ, so will those of the world be against us.
So in order to have the true attitude and virtue of Christ that Paul had. We must follow what Paul has shown us. We must live, seeking eternal values, and proclaiming the gospel of Christ. We must not fear death, for to us death should be gain. We should be united, striving forward together for a common purpose; for the spread of the gospel. We should encourage others to remain united as well. We need to understand that suffering in the name of Christ is a privilege, and that many before us have suffered as we do. And many to come will suffer as we have, and that we should help one another in our sufferings. We need to stand firm rooted in the gospel, fighting together against the enemy.
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Until next time
God bless you all
Philippians 1:21-30
This is such an amazing passage, it is such a jewel. I read this passage on Wednesday, and this morning I was in a panic on what to write, I was not sure what would be best. I gave up thinking after a while and decided to read my devotions for today. As I was flipping through Philippians, I came to this passage and the first verse of the passage just jumped out at me. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Wow what a bold statement of faith. I immediately knew what I was going to share with you all today.
Paul wrote this letter to the believers in Philippi; this was a letter of joy. It is amazing to know that this letter of joy, Paul's letter of joy was written while Paul was in prison. When you understand the circumstances that Paul was faced with while writing this letter, you find yourself wondering how Paul could express such joy when faced with such a bleak situation. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." What does this mean how does it apply?
Paul understood what this meant and he reveals it to us. Verse two states: "If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me." To live is Christ; to go on living would mean fruitful labor for Paul. This meant that for Paul living meant developing eternal values, and to share the gospel of Christ to others. For Christ alone can only save them from their sin. How does this apply to us? As believers should it not be the same for us, should we not live for Christ. We should be focusing on the eternal, and on being God's hands and feet. We should be sharing the gospel with those around us. We should be showing them Christ through our lives.
To die is gain, what did this mean for Paul. For Paul death would have been much better than living. Why we ask? Because in death we are removed from all worldly troubles, and we see Christ face-to-face. What a glorious day that will be! Death is gain, no more pain, temptation, disappointment. Our death is a cause for celebration. This is why death is gain, not only for Paul but for every believer.
Paul's whole purpose in life was to speak out boldly for Christ and to become more like Him. If as believers we are not ready to die, are we ready to live? We must make certain of our eternal destiny; for when we do we will be free to serve. To fully serve, devoting our lives to what really matters; without fear of death. For to die is gain.
Matthew Henry in his commentary stated this:
"1. It is the undoubted character of every good Christian that to him to live is Christ. The glory of Christ ought to be the end of our life, the grace of Christ the principle of our life, and the word of Christ the rule of it. The Christian life is derived from Christ, and directed to him. He is the principle, rule, and end of it.
2. All those to whom to live is Christ to them to die will be gain: it is great gain, a present gain, everlasting gain. Death is a great loss to a carnal worldly man; for he loses all his comforts and all his hopes: but to a good Christian it is gain, for it is the end of all his weakness and misery and the perfection of his comforts and accomplishment of his hopes; it delivers him from all the evils of life, and brings him to the possession of the chief good. Or, To me to die is gain."`
Paul was torn he struggled with what to do. "Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body." Paul wanted so much to leave this world, to be with our Lord. But yet he knew that he was needed. What a great view of humility, Paul lays aside his own desire, a desire that should be burning in the hearts of all believers. The desire to be with Jesus. He laid that aside, to remain in this world, to remain in all the worlds trouble's for the sake of others. That is a true showing of humility.
"Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." What was Paul talking about? Paul knew in confidence that he was supposed to remain with the believers, to help them progress in faith. To help them know Christ more, and to experience a greater joy in Him.
Matthew Henry states:
"1. What a great confidence Paul had in the divine Providence, that it would order all for the best to him.
2. Whatsoever is best for the church, we may be sure God will do. If we know what is needful for building up the body of Christ, we may certainly know what will be; for he will take care of its interests, and do what is best, all things considered, in every condition it is in.
4. What promotes our faith and joy of faith is very much for our furtherance in the way to heaven. The more faith the more joy, and the more faith and joy the more we are furthered in our Christian course."
"Whatever happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you to only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel." Paul is encouraging us as believers to stand firm, to be unified. It takes a courageous body of believers to resist fighting and struggling, and to all maintain the common purpose of serving Christ. As believers Paul is encouraging us to stand firm, and to stand unified, as one man contending for the faith of the gospel.
"without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved-and that by God. For is has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him." Paul considered it a privelege to suffer for Christ. We by nature do not consider suffering a privilege. Yet when we suffer, if we faithfully serve Christ, our message and example affects us and others for good (Acts 5:41). Suffering takes our eyes off of earthly comforts; it helps weed out superficial believers. It strengthens the faith of those who endure. It serves as an example to those who follow us. When we suffer in our faith it does not mean that we are doing something wrong. More often it verifies that we are being faithful. Suffering is a great means of building in us the character of Christ.
"since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear I still have." Paul is encouraging believers, as he throughout his life had suffered for the sake of Christ. We are in a conflict with all those who would discredit the saving message of Christ. All true believers are in this together. We should stand united against the enemy, fighting for a common cause. Paul is not encouraging us to seek suffering. But we should not forget those who suffer. We do not have to seek suffering; it will come our way at times. Just as the world was against Christ, so will those of the world be against us.
So in order to have the true attitude and virtue of Christ that Paul had. We must follow what Paul has shown us. We must live, seeking eternal values, and proclaiming the gospel of Christ. We must not fear death, for to us death should be gain. We should be united, striving forward together for a common purpose; for the spread of the gospel. We should encourage others to remain united as well. We need to understand that suffering in the name of Christ is a privilege, and that many before us have suffered as we do. And many to come will suffer as we have, and that we should help one another in our sufferings. We need to stand firm rooted in the gospel, fighting together against the enemy.
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Until next time
God bless you all
Thursday, July 12, 2007
The Mountain Path
Ok so there is this guy who I know. I met him in school this past year. He is a great guy, I love him so much as my brother in Christ. He has been so supportive of me in everything I do. He supports me in writing my blog. He also has a blog himself. His name is Joshua Winters, he is an amazing friend. His heart is so set on God, he really encourages me. I seriously recommend checking out his blog as well.
http://themountainpath.blogspot.com
That is the link to his blog.
Seriously check it out!
http://themountainpath.blogspot.com
That is the link to his blog.
Seriously check it out!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Fathers Heart
As I was going through my devotions today, I felt God pulling me to really understand more about Him. I felt that God wanted me to more fully understand His own heart. I have been reading through Romans lately, but today I read from the Psalms. Psalm 139 showed me a great deal of the Fathers heart.
When reading this a definite theme comes across, this theme is that God knows us very well, and that His greatest gift is to allow us to know Him.
God knows us!
Psalm 139 1-4 (NIV):
"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my laying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord."
God knows each and everyone of us this well. Whether you are a believer or not, God knows you this well. God knows everything about us; He knows our deepest darkest secrets. In verse 13 it says "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." If God knew us even when we were in our mothers womb what can shelter us from Him.
God longs for us to have a personal relationship with Him. Psalm 139 reveals to us God's heart. God is everywhere; verses 7-12 show that we cannot escape His presence. "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I glee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me; your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become darkness around me,' even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like day, for darkness is as light to you."
There is nowhere that we could possibly go to escape God. We often don't let people get to know us because we are afraid that they will discover something about us that they will not like. God already knows everything about us, and even though He knows our deepest darkest secrets; things that we fear others knowing. God still accepts us and loves us. He knows and loves us completely.
God is omnipresent; there is nowhere that we can go that will separate us from His love. He will never forsake those who know Him and love Him. Those who are believers this is good news to you; as believers we can never be far away from God's comforting presence and love.
From verse 13-16 of Psalm 139 we see God's hand in every single human beings existence. "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in that secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
"God was personally involved in our existence. From the time we were conceived He knew our every action, our every day. God knows everything we will do in our lifetime; He knows everyday of our life. He knows everything about us because He created us. We are His children, He is our father.
God thinks about us so much, He thinks about every man, woman, and child more than we could ever hope to think of anything in one day. Verses 17-18 "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Where I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you." God is constantly thinking about each and every one of us we are never not on His mind.
So you might be thinking now how does any of this apply to what I stated before, about understanding God's heart. How does all of this help us to know who He is? Psalm 139 shows how much God loves us, how we cannot ever stray to far from His presence.
If God loves each one of us so much, what does that say about Him? God is a loving God, He thinks about us so much each day. He Himself even had His hand in our existence. He knit us together in our mother's wombs. How more personal can anything get than that? God wants us to know Him personally.
God's heart is geared towards us, He loves us unconditionally. He yearns to have a relationship; a personal relationship with every single one of us. God's heart breaks for those who do not know Him. This reveals so much about God's character to me. It shows how truly selfless God is. It reveals to us how much He loves us, how much He loves both the believer and the non-believer.
If God's heart is so set upon having a relationship should we not spend time getting to know more about Him? There is so much more to the character and heart of God than what this passage has revealed. I know that I need to get to know God more personally. This verse has challenged me to do so.
God's heart is not only that of great love; God's heart yearns for a relationship with us. This shows that God is relational; He wants us to love Him. He loves us like a father loves his child. This has revealed to me so much about the fathers heart,; but even in light of this there is so much more about God, and His heart that I yearn to learn.
I hope that though this post I have challenged you to get to know God on a more personal level. I also hope that I have been able to help you to understand a little bit more about the Father's heart. It is so important to understand how much He thinks of us. And how much he loves us.
Until Next Time
God bless you all
When reading this a definite theme comes across, this theme is that God knows us very well, and that His greatest gift is to allow us to know Him.
God knows us!
Psalm 139 1-4 (NIV):
"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my laying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord."
God knows each and everyone of us this well. Whether you are a believer or not, God knows you this well. God knows everything about us; He knows our deepest darkest secrets. In verse 13 it says "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." If God knew us even when we were in our mothers womb what can shelter us from Him.
God longs for us to have a personal relationship with Him. Psalm 139 reveals to us God's heart. God is everywhere; verses 7-12 show that we cannot escape His presence. "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I glee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me; your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become darkness around me,' even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like day, for darkness is as light to you."
There is nowhere that we could possibly go to escape God. We often don't let people get to know us because we are afraid that they will discover something about us that they will not like. God already knows everything about us, and even though He knows our deepest darkest secrets; things that we fear others knowing. God still accepts us and loves us. He knows and loves us completely.
God is omnipresent; there is nowhere that we can go that will separate us from His love. He will never forsake those who know Him and love Him. Those who are believers this is good news to you; as believers we can never be far away from God's comforting presence and love.
From verse 13-16 of Psalm 139 we see God's hand in every single human beings existence. "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in that secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
"God was personally involved in our existence. From the time we were conceived He knew our every action, our every day. God knows everything we will do in our lifetime; He knows everyday of our life. He knows everything about us because He created us. We are His children, He is our father.
God thinks about us so much, He thinks about every man, woman, and child more than we could ever hope to think of anything in one day. Verses 17-18 "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Where I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you." God is constantly thinking about each and every one of us we are never not on His mind.
So you might be thinking now how does any of this apply to what I stated before, about understanding God's heart. How does all of this help us to know who He is? Psalm 139 shows how much God loves us, how we cannot ever stray to far from His presence.
If God loves each one of us so much, what does that say about Him? God is a loving God, He thinks about us so much each day. He Himself even had His hand in our existence. He knit us together in our mother's wombs. How more personal can anything get than that? God wants us to know Him personally.
God's heart is geared towards us, He loves us unconditionally. He yearns to have a relationship; a personal relationship with every single one of us. God's heart breaks for those who do not know Him. This reveals so much about God's character to me. It shows how truly selfless God is. It reveals to us how much He loves us, how much He loves both the believer and the non-believer.
If God's heart is so set upon having a relationship should we not spend time getting to know more about Him? There is so much more to the character and heart of God than what this passage has revealed. I know that I need to get to know God more personally. This verse has challenged me to do so.
God's heart is not only that of great love; God's heart yearns for a relationship with us. This shows that God is relational; He wants us to love Him. He loves us like a father loves his child. This has revealed to me so much about the fathers heart,; but even in light of this there is so much more about God, and His heart that I yearn to learn.
I hope that though this post I have challenged you to get to know God on a more personal level. I also hope that I have been able to help you to understand a little bit more about the Father's heart. It is so important to understand how much He thinks of us. And how much he loves us.
Until Next Time
God bless you all
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)