Cares of This Life

I have recently gotten caught up in cares of this life and ignored this blog. My inattention to my spiritual life and to eternal life reminds me Luke 21:34:

"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkeness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares."

It's so easy to get caught up in this life. I still spend time with Jesus daily, but it's only five minutes, and that's no where near enough. With relationships, quantity is just as important as quality. And what we should have with God is a relationship. One where we spend as much time with Him as we do with other people in our lives who we love.

It's also about priorities. I think I've stated before that Jesus is all that matters, everything and everyone else is secondary. When I think about the second coming of Christ, about this world and the fact that it is not permanent, then of course everything that I do here that has nothing to do with God's kingdom is meaningless.

People often use the Bible verse from Luke 19:13, "Occupy till I come," to say that we are not to be idle, but we are to be living our lives just as everyone else. But upon further inspection of that verse, I think the occupy has to do with living for God's kingdom - spreading His word and doing our part in saving as many souls as we can for His glory. The parable starts from verse 12, and goes on until verse 27. The master leaves his servants with talents that he expects them to invest and increase on his behalf. When he returns, he wants to see the results of their work. Maybe when Jesus used that parable and said to occupy until He comes, He meant for us to work to increase the harvest of His kingdom - not just for us to live life like everyone else.

Of course I'm not saying that we should all just drop everything and become missionaries. But that we should our daily lives with the main priority being God, and being to lead all the people we come into contact with to Him. Because when you think about it, that's ALL that matters. Nothing else means anything. Not the degrees we work so hard to get, not the jobs we work so hard to keep, not the clothes, shoes, and other material things we cherish - none of it.

It's easy to say, but it's difficult to remember all the time. Because that paper I have that's due in a couple days that I haven't started yet weighs on my mind. And other things just get in my way, and I feel like I put God on hold while I deal with everything else. It shouldn't be that way though. He wants a part in everything that we do, even the most mundane, that's how deep His love goes.

"But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered..." Luke 12:7

IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR HOUSE

IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR HOUSE

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two -
If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do.
Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored Guest,
And all the food you'd serve to Him would be the very best,
And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have him there -
That serving Him in your own home is joy beyond compare.

But when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door
With arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly Visitor?
Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in?
Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they'd been?
Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn't heard?
And wish you hadn't uttered that last, loud, hasty word?

Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about?
And I wonder - if the Savior spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing the things you always do?
Would you go right on saying the things you always say?
Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?

Would your family conversation keep up it's usual pace?
And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?
Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books you read,
And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?
Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you'd planned to go?
Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends?
Or would you hope they'd stay away until His visit ends?
Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know the things that you would do
If Jesus Christ in person came to spend some time with you.

~ Lois Blanchard Eades ~

No Excuses

Recently I came to realize that God requires nothing short of complete surrender from us. I did post about this before, but then, I didn't yet understand the depth of the surrender necessary. Even though in that post I denounced the necessity of 'balance' by saying that our every thought should be about God, I had yet to do this in my own life. This blog is about my struggles as well as the good news of God. And to be honest, I have been finding it very difficult to surrender myself completely to God. I kept telling myself that it's okay for me to watch just ONE episode of this show I really liked, that that's not a bad thing. But every time I came to watch my episode, I would feel seriously guilty.

So, I have been praying and asking God to help me come to dislike the things that are not good for me, and to lead me towards a deeper relationship with Him. If there's one thing I've said, it's that God answers prayers. I'm still tempted, no doubt. Every time I open my laptop, I want to go straight to that particular website and watch the shows I love so much. I even go so far as to open the page to go watch. But then, the Holy Spirit speaks to me and warns me off. And I'll be honest, I've blatantly ignored the Spirit before and just did what I wanted to do. But I came to realize how scary that is. I became afraid of the fact that I was capable of hardening my heart to that extent, to drown out the sound of the Spirit speaking to me.

I believe that if my belief in God is true, if I believe truly in His word and His promise of a second coming, then NOTHING else matters. All that really matters is God. The things of this world are all fleeting, if they cannot help me gain salvation, then I should not indulge in them. And sometimes, I make excuses and I say, I can do it tomorrow, just for today I'll indulge and do what I want. But then I also ask myself, 'If God is most important, why would you waste time with other things that have nothing to do with Him? Why not give yourself wholly to Him NOW?' Tomorrow is not guaranteed.

And not just that, but when I think about the love of God, and His sacrifice for me on the cross, it becomes so much easier for me to do His will. When I sit down and really meditate and think about Jesus and what He did, and that He loves me so much no matter what I do, that gives me strength to press on. The least I can do for Him is obey, and try my best to love Him back. The Christian life is truly a daily struggle. Because every day I go through these temptations, and every day there is that possibility of failing. We must ask God for strength every day, and call on Him every time temptation knocks on our door.

"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Hebrews 3:12.13

'There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

The Requirements of God

With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
With ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
And to walk humbly with your God.

Who is a God like you,
Who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?

You do not stay angry forever,
But delight to show mercy.
You will again have compassion on us;
You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God.
Your sins have been your downfall!
Take words with you and return to the Lord.
Say to Him:

"Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously,
That we may offer the fruit of our lips."

"I will heal their waywardness and love them freely,
For my anger has turned away from them."

-Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal #814

Is Hell for Real?

A half truth is more dangerous than a bold-faced lie. Is there a hell? Yes, yes there is. But maybe the better question is; will there be a hell? There is no place right now where people go when they die. They don't go to heaven, nor do they go to hell. They're asleep.

"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Genesis 2:7
 
"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." Ecclesiastes 12:7

The spirit, or the breath of life is returned to God at every man's death. They do not roam the earth as spirits, nor look down on us from heaven as is commonly thought.

"For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing...
Also their love, and their hatred and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in any thing that is done under the sun." Ecclesiastes 9:5,6

Now that we've established that the dead are no more, let's talk about the concept of hell. Like I said before, there is hell. Hell will be at the end of the world, when Jesus comes to pass his judgement upon us all. But make no mistake, Jesus is not looking forward to hell at all, in fact, it hurts Him to think that his creations will perish in hell. Hell was not prepared for human beings, it was prepared for the devil and his angels. However, those humans who choose to disobey God and partake of the vices that are under the devil's government will also have their part in hell. God is a just God, so even as he loves, he must mete out justice.

"Then he shall say unto them on His left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Matthew 25:41

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise... but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

Now, is hell going to last forever? From reading the Bible, one might think so. A lot of the verses that I have read pertaining to hell call it 'everlasting fire.' So I see where the misconception that people will be tormented in hell forever comes from. But I already said, God is love. I cannot imagine the God that I have come to know tormenting people in hell forever for their wrong doings. That is not love, that is cruel. When the Bible speaks of hell being everlasting, it means the consequences of it are everlasting

Sodom and Gomorrha is an example of this.

"Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." Jude 7

Now, the text says that Sodom and Gomorrha suffered eternal fire, but is Sodom and Gomorrha still burning today? No, it's not. So it stands to reason that hell fire will not go on forever as some people believe, just the effects of the fire are everlasting, just as they were everlasting to the people of Sodom and Gomorrha.

Also consider:

"For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be." Psalm 37:10

"And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet..." Malachi 4:3

The wicked will cease to exist, they will be turned to ashes by hell fire. So they will not be burning forever. Now, to be honest, I have my doubts about hell aside from the truths discussed above that I truly believe. Like, one of the questions I still have is; will the people burning in hell be able to feel themselves burning? I haven't yet found a text in the Bible that answers that question. People I've spoken to have different opinions. All I know is, God is in control. He knows what he is doing, and what He plans to do in the future. I have chosen to trust Him.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8,9

A Mighty Fortress

A mighty fortress is our god,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper, He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great;
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right man on our side,
The man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He, Lord Sabaoth is His name,
From age to age the same,
And he must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! His doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him who with us sideth;
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill,
God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

-Martin Luther

I love this hymn. Not only the music that goes with it, but the words are so inspiring. It makes me smile.

Which Nature do you Feed?

I was watching a sermon and the speaker gave an analogy to the sinner's struggle that I found to be very relevant to my own life. Inside every human being are two different sides - There is the nature that we inherited from the first Adam. It is sinful and self-serving, there is nothing good in it: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Romans 5:12
But there is also a nature that can be imparted to us by the second Adam, Jesus Christ: "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." Romans 5:19

These natures are constantly at war within us for dominance. One nature has the devil as the master, and the other has Jesus Christ as the Saviour. The analogy that the speaker gave was this: You have two dogs, and they are in your care for two weeks. At the end of the two weeks, they have to fight against each other. You let one dog loose in the yard, so it can run about and exercise; you feed it the best food, and make sure it has plenty of water. The other dog, you tie up and put inside a dog cage. You never let it out, and you don't give it food or water. At the end of the two weeks, when these dogs have to fight, which dog do you think will win? (Never mind the fact that the one in the cage will most likely be dead, it is an analogy after all).

It's the same with our spiritual life. I wonder sometimes at how weak I am when it comes to resisting temptation. And there is my answer. What nature to I feed? Because at the end of the day, the stronger nature will win, and strength is determined by whether that nature is fed. Do I read my Bible more than I watch television? Do I spend more time talking to God, or more time gossiping about my brothers and sisters? When we waiver before temptation, it is because we have not strengthened ourselves to resist. Every temptation is a dog fight, and the stronger dog will always win.

That being said, we can always call upon God when we need Him, and He will always answer.

"But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul." Deuteronomy 4:29

The Outward Adorning

I've never thought of myself as a Feminist, but now I realize that I probably am. God has been teaching me that the way I dress is not up to his standard, and it's been a hard pill to swallow. I posted a video on modesty some time ago, and now I see that what was on that video was not modesty all - at least not God's definition of the word.

Deuteronomy 22:5 says, "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God." Now in this day and age, I have to admit that one can hardly tell the difference between the clothes of men and women anymore. That includes myself - I only own pants, I wear skirts or dresses only for church on sabbath. And part of me wanted to believe that this Bible text is outdated, and I don't have to pay attention  to it. But I know better than that. Whether or not men adopted pants first (and it could just have easily been women that adopted them) the fact is that today, pants are men's clothing. And by wearing pants, women are adopting clothes that pertain to men. And the Bible says that this is an abomination to the Lord.

Women should not wear tight fitting clothes that stick to the body; but the clothes a woman wears should conceal her figure. Pants do the very opposite of concealing. I have learned that women want to attract attention to themselves - after all, men are visual creatures and are attracted to what they see. So women want to make themselves appear more attractive by wearing make-up and dressing in eye-catching clothing. However, modest women of God should as much as possible deny that inclination to attract attention to self.

Now a lot  of the time, in church when the way women dress is discussed, I always hear members saying that the way women dress drives men to have lustful thoughts - almost like women are responsible for when men sin through lust. And that just bothers me. I agree, we should be our brother's keeper and not lead anyone to sin. But I also think it is unfair to put men's sins so squarely on the shoulders of women. Especially when what provokes lust is subjective.

I asked God to open my eyes, and now a part of me wishes I could close them again. But every word in the Bible is relevant even now - not just then. God does not change; so if it was abomination then, it's abomination now. I feel my thoughts on this issue as discussed here are so disjointed and confusing. But that's just because it's still an issue I am learning, and it's a difficult one. The Bible does not set clear parameters on how long one's skirt or dress should be, or how tight one's blouse should be. So any discussion on modesty to me seems like it would depend on our subjective opinions.

But 1 Corinthians 14:33 says, "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace." So to me, there should be no confusion, and in all things, not just the issue of modesty, we should all be of one accord.

It's a hard pill to swallow that the way I dress is not up to God's standard. The changes that are needed are going to be so difficult, but I can do all things through Christ.

It's not a Fence; It's a Guardrail

A lot of people have the conception that Christians are a bunch of stick-in-the-muds who are bound by limitless numbers of laws and rules and dos and don'ts. It is a real tragedy that people think that way. It is all a ploy by the devil to get people to turn away from God. But when I really look at it, ALL God's laws serve a purpose - and that purpose is ALWAYS our own good. It's so obvious all around us. Not doing God's will doesn't make anyone happy or free - it just leads to death and destruction - literally.

The most obvious example I can come up with is relationships - the romantic ones. So much heartache and suffering could be avoided if we just listened to what God has to say about this subject, and do what he says. God ALWAYS knows what's best. After all, He is our Creator, how could he not?

But back to relationships. The Bible says, "Thou shalt not commit adultery" Exodous 20:14. This Commandment includes fornication. If you don't believe that, then here's another text for you: "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body" 1 Corinthians 6:18. The Bible is so clear on this. God is not trying to curb our sexual appetites by commanding this; and He is not trying to curb our fun. He made us to have sexual urges and desires. But they were meant to be expressed in the right context - a loving marriage. Instead, we choose to ignore this and what's the result? - Unwanted children, single parenthood, teenage pregnancies, emotional scars and debilitation, STDs, and who knows what else. Now I know unwanted children and single parenthood can happen in marriage or when a spouse dies, but don't get technical with me. My point is, that many of the problems associated with romantic relationships would be nonexistent if we obeyed God's law about fornication and adultery.

There are other examples. What we eat and our lifestyles are two others. If we were to go back to God's original vegetarian diet, with no animals or their by-products, we would be so much healthier. It has been proven by science that eating foods loaded with animal fat leads to health problems like high cholesterol and heart disease. Eating foods high in sugar like sodas and donuts can lead to diabetes. The food God prescribes would cause no debilitating diseases.

My point is, God's laws are there for our protection, and our own good. So why not follow them? It's so hard not to eat that piece of fried chicken when I smell it. But thinking of the damage it can do to my insides - damage that God has foreseen - makes me step away from it. I am trying to be a vegan and it's not easy. I have not eaten any meats for months now, but I'm finding it more difficult to stay away from cheese and yogurt. But I know that these foods are not good for me. My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and I should treat it as such. By God's grace, and through the strength he gives me, I will overcome. We just have to take it day by day and remember to depend on God for strength.

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" 3 John 2.

God Wants Our Everything

I went to a church service last night and the speaker said something that I have been struggling with: He said that God does not want half of us; He doesn't want some of our time and attention or some of our commitment. He wants ALL. I don't think we could ever really know God and be truly transformed unless we give Him our all. I don't believe that He can give us all that He wants to give us either if we aren't prepared to give Him everything we are. The hymn Nothing Between really captured my feelings even as I struggle to give Jesus my all and surrender myself completely to Him:

Nothing between my soul and the Savior,
Naught of this world's delusive dream,
I have renounced all sinful pleasure,
Jesus is mine, there's nothing between.

Nothing between my soul and the Savior,
So that His blessed face may be seen,
Nothing preventing the least of His favor,
Keep the way clear; let nothing between.

Nothing between, like worldly pleasure,
Habits of life, though harmless they seem,
Must not my heart from Him ever sever,
He is my all! There's nothing between.

Nothing between e'en many hard trials,
Though the world against me convene,
Watching with prayer and much self-denial,
Triumph at last! With nothing between!

The verse about habits that seem harmless especially got me. There are some habits I indulge in and I don't believe they're outright sin - like for instance, I enjoy watching various secular television shows. At first, I didn't think there was anything wrong with that. But the thing is that these shows depict things that are not of God - murder, adultery, fornication, revenge. They also incite negative feelings inside me when I watch them - feelings of intense dislike for certain characters; wanting revenge and retribution. I used to think that it was all just innocent entertainment, that I'm not committing any sin by watching. Honestly, I can't say that it is sin or not, but I know that the Bible says this:

Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think of these things. Philippians 4:8

Anything that is not of God could not possibly fit that description. So when I watch these shows, I feel guilty, and I ask myself, 'what's the reason you're watching this? What can you gain spiritually by watching it?.' I always come up empty, but I still find myself watching the shows. A Christian I know once said that our lives must be balanced between the spiritual and the worldly. This statement couldn't me wrong. Our entire being should be focused and pointed toward the spiritual. The temporal is fleeting, but the spiritual is forever.

Jesus said in a parable, 'occupy till I come (Luke 19:13), but I don't believe he meant occupy time in worldly pleasures that have nothing to do with our salvation and the salvation of others. He wants our everything, all the time. And it's not much to ask of us considering what He has done for us, and what He has promised us despite our disobedience. Thank God for His never ending grace, mercy, and love.

It's going to be difficult, but I need to make Philippians 4:8 my criteria for EVERYTHING that I choose partake in.

Just A Thought...

I read Matthew 8:29 the recently and it made me think. Now, I'm just conjecturing here, but I still thought I would share as food for thought. The text is as follows:

'And, behold, they cried out saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?' Matthew 8:29

What it prompted me to think of was the end of the world. The devil and his angels are going through a lot of trouble to get people to be lost and miss out on eternal life that Jesus has promised. One of the ways he does this is to have people believe that there is no God, or that Jesus does not exist. To me, this text points to the hell that awaits the devil and his angels at the end of the world. Now I would suggest that you read Matthew for the back story, but basically Jesus meets a man on his travels who has been possessed by demons, and it's the demons speaking to Jesus through this possessed man that made this statement.

Anyway, back to my original thought - the demons ask Jesus if he is there to torment them before the time. I think they are talking about hell fire. Because Jesus never tormented demons while on earth, so they can't possibly be talking about any acts during his time. To me this text is evidence that there will be an end, and that there is a hell to come. What else could they mean about Jesus tormenting them before the time? I always believed in the end as the Bible teaches - that hell is real and heaven is real, but I just found it interesting when I found this text and thought I would share.

Jesus IS is real, and he IS coming and there WILL be a judgement for all those who commit evil. I leave you with this other text:

'Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.' James 2:19

Thank God For Things I Can Wrap My Head Around

I often find myself sitting and thinking of the end of the world, and I find myself thinking that it is all just impossible: Jesus, busting through the clouds on a trumpet sound with great glory, surrounded by legions of angels; Jesus calling the righteous dead from their graves to meet him in the air where the righteous living will also join Him; and then everyone going to Heaven with him. It all seems so unrealistic! Especially when I consider that there will be no more pain and death - everything will be perfect, AND we will live forever.

I'm smiling to myself even now as I describe this fantastic scene. Living in this world of logic and reason and science, it's so easy for me not to believe what I have just described. Sometimes I believe it with every fiber of my being and the thought makes me happy and hopeful and anxious (in a good way) for Jesus' second coming. But sometimes, the doubt creeps in and I wonder: 'Is this really possible? Eternal life? No pain or death?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not doubting God in these times, at least that's what I tell myself. But I guess what I am doing is doubting his promises, which I've come to realize is doubting Him. In John 14:1-3, Jesus says, 'Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also.' The promise here is clear - Jesus WILL be returning to take the faithful with him away from sin forever.

I will have doubts and questions sometimes, but really, I thank God for the things that I can wrap my head around. I may find it hard to sometimes believe what the end of this world will be, but God provides me with the faith I need to press on in this journey and to believe. He sends me messages and speaks to me in my life. As I stated in a previous post God Answer's Prayers, Jesus speaks to me directly through his word. This direct communication is something that others may see as small and unimportant, but to me it means the world because these interactions are what my faith is built on. If I didn't have those small moments, it would be so hard for me to believe in the big things like the Second Coming.

I'm going to focus more on the little things that God does for me and reveals to me. Those are what are most important, and they will pave the way for my faith to grow stronger so that I could believe the big things. Most importantly, I will trust in Jesus, and lean on Him daily, because He is 'the author and finisher of our faith' (Hebrews 12:2). So to whoever reads this, if you don't believe that's okay; if you do believe but have doubts, that's okay too. Just earnestly and sincerely pray to God and ask him to give you faith and to help you believe, he will NEVER deny you that. But remember also that we must diligently seek Him. Relationships are built over time and communication and that's what God requires of us.

The Bible's Promises II

In my study of my Bible this morning, I cam across the story of Jeroboam in 1 Kings. What struck me was the similarity between some of my earlier discussion on Bible promises and Jeroboam's life and story. These texts sum it up:

"Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel, And rent the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes; But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back." 1 Kings 14:7-9

God gave Jeroboam a kingdom, earthly riches and glory, and what did he do? He turned away from God. David had all these things that Jeroboam had, possibly more, and he remained with God. Now, I don't know about you, but to me, this story further convicts me of the truth that earthly riches are given only as our Heavenly Father sees best for each individual. So, next time you ask for a car, or money, and you don't get it, don't think that he does not care, or is not there or not listening. KNOW that he knows better than you do what is best for you. Trust him, and watch his will work in your life for YOUR betterment. I know that it's really not that easy, I'm struggling with it myself, but a relationship is a process that takes time and constant communication. So hopefully, and by God's grace, I will get to the point of blind trust - because really, there's no way I'm more knowledgeable than the all powerful God.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not  unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5,6

The Bible's Promises

As promised in a previous post, I want to explore the theme of the Bible's promises. I had stated that not all of the Bible's promises are for everyone at any time. This is something that I learned from a book 95 Theses on Righteousness by Faith by Morris Venden. In it he states,  

"The spiritual promises - for forgiveness of sins, for the Holy Spirit, for power to do his work - are always available. But the promises for temporal blessings, even for life itself are given on occasion and withheld on occasion, as God's providence sees best." (p. 58)

I had always struggled with the fact that bad things happen to good, God-fearing people. I had always refused to believe that a good God would let bad things happen to his people. I had taken Jeremiah 29:11 to task, 'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.' But when I read that chapter of the book, I came to realize that I was wrong. Even upon examination of the Bible, I realized that my thinking was wrong. Take a look at Job, the most obvious of God's dedicated people and what he went through. Job was rich in earthly belongings, so God had granted him prosperity in that. But Job was also rich in spiritual wealth. He had a strong relationship with God. God had seen through his providence that Job would be faithful if given earthly wealth, but He had also seen that Job would still remain faithful if it would all be taken away - which is what happened. So when his life was being ripped away before his eyes, Job stayed faithful because God was always with him, and he trusted God. I guess that's the real test of faith, whether we stay faithful through good times and through adversity.

Another example would be the Apostles and the end that some of them came to. Not all were able to escape persecution and ultimately death - some of them died for telling the good news of God. The promise of life is not for everyone, but only "as God's providence sees best." The 'expected end' in Jeremiah 29:11 to me refers to eternal life. That alone is God's aim, and he will do whatever it takes to ensure that we get there. THAT is his promise. So it may mean that on earth we may not always get what we want or think we need, but I am slowly learning to be okay with that. I have to trust God because He knows what's best for me.

'For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' 2 Corinthians 4:17

God Answers Prayers

I've been amazed recently at how God has answered my prayers. To me, those answers are small miracles and evidence of his existence and the fact that he loves me and listens to what I have to say. I'm reading a book, 95 Theses on Righteousness by Faith, by Morris Venden, and in it, one of the things he says is that not EVERY promise in the Bible is for you at this specific time in this specific place. I had often struggled with reconciling the promises of the Bible to 'bad things happening to good people,' and his explanation opened my eyes to a new reality. (I will explore God's promises in another post). God's ultimate goal is for everyone to reach heaven. He will do whatever it takes to get you there, even if that means you have to be poor your whole life - if he made you rich, would you still seek and serve him? Why would he give you something knowing that it would lead you to hell? That's why not every promise is for everyone at some point in their lives. I understand that now, and I've accepted it.

But the other part of this is that there are certain promises that are for EVERYONE at ANYTIME, as long as we ask earnestly He will always hear us. One such promise is the imparting of the Holy Spirit. God will never deny the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks earnestly. Basically any requests having to do with your spiritual life will never be denied you by God. The key is that we have to be earnest when we seek answers.

Recently I committed a sin that I have always struggled with.  Personally I see it as somewhat of a failure that I commit the same sin over and over. I always wonder, 'does this mean that I was insincere when I repented of it the last time I did it?' Sometimes I even feel like just giving up because I feel I'm not worth it if I keep doing the same thing over and over. It's very discouraging. But one night I was talking with God and I wondered, 'What if I promised God that I will never do it again? Would that deter me?' I did promise that I would never do it again, but I also asked God for guidance. The next morning, while reading my Bible, God lead me to this text:

'When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it: for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.' Ecclesiastes 5:4,5

I was amazed, but there it was - my prayer was answered (Honestly, I felt scolded, but I also felt happy because I got the guidance I had asked for). Another time, I had concerns about my attitude towards people. Particularly about doing house work. I sometimes felt that I was the only one doing most of the work and I resented that. Especially when I later got told that it was 'my turn' to clean and I know that I do it so much already and we have no real 'turns.' I hated the negative attitude and thoughts I had towards the people I live with because of what I saw as injustice. I asked God to help me. I didn't even know where to start, or how to not feel the way I was feeling, I just knew that it was wrong. Again, during my morning devotion I was reading Messages to Young People by Ellen White, and I came across this passage:

"Closely examine your own heart, and the state of your affections towards God. Inquire, have I devoted the precious moments of today in seeking to please myself, seeking for my own amusements? Or have I made others happy? Have I helped those connected with me to greater devotion to God and to appreciate eternal things? Have I brought my religion into my home and there revealed the grace of Christ in my words and in my deportment? By respectful obedience, have I honored my parents, and thus kept the fifth commandment? Have I cheerfully taken up my little, everyday duties, performing them with fidelity, doing what I could to lighten the burden of others?" (p. 123).

The entire paragraph made me take a closer look at myself, but God spoke directly to me through the very last sentence. My prayer, again, was answered. I should seek to help people, as Jesus would have done, without complaint. I know that my attitude won't be changed instantaneously, but like my relationship with God, it will take time and commitment on my part. But thanks to God for his help, I don't have to do it alone, and neither do you.

Jesus is there to help us, whatever way we ask of him. All we have to do is call his name, and he will answer. When it comes to helping us change ourselves for the better; when it comes to matters of the spirit and of eternal life, we can be sure that God will ALWAYS answer.

'For the Lord is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.' Psalm 84:11

With Every Act of Love

A song that reminds me that we are called by God to show others his love for us. We are truly the doors that he has put on this earth for his love to work through. If those who claim to be Christians (followers of Christ) do not show his love, then who will? It's so much easier to just close our eyes and act like nothing's wrong. Or to just say that 'there's nothing I can do' and forget about it. But I know I do not want to appear before God and hear him say "Depart from me... For I was an hungered and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger and ye took me not in: naked and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not." Matthew 25:41-43

I'm an extremely shy and introverted individual, so I was baffled as to how I could and would go about showing God's love to strangers, and being the kind of person he wants and needs me to be. But as with so much else in my Christian walk, I realized that if I just allowed God to lead me through the power of his Holy Spirit, then I would do just want he wants from me. The Holy Spirit can never lead you wrong. And God is so wiling to impart the Holy Spirit to us. All we have to do is sincerely seek him and ask.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can truly be doors through which the love of God can walk.

Faith

As children bring their broken toys,
With tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God,
Because he was my friend.

But then, instead of leaving Him
In peace to work alone,
I stayed around and tried to help
Through ways that were my own.

At last, I snatched them back and cried,
"How can you be so slow?"
"My child," He said, "What could I do?
You never did let go.*

From 95 These on Righteousness by Faith, Morris Venden.

Faith = Trust

I'm reading a book called 95 Theses on Righteousness by Faith by Morris Venden. And although I find myself not agreeing completely with everything he says in the book, there is a lot of glaring truth in there that has made me wake up and question the way I live my life and my relationship with God. One of the things he talks about is faith, and that faith is really trust in God.

Do we really trust God as we should? Obviously the only way we can trust Him is if we know Him, and we know Him the same way we get to know our friends and acquaintances - we build  relationships by spending quality time with people; talking with them, communicating. That's how it is with God. And just like it takes time to trust people, the more we know, the more we are able to trust.

Something I've learned though: A relationship with God is not instant. It takes time and it takes honest work and commitment on our parts. Revelation 3:20 says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Jesus is always there, always knocking. It is up to us to open for him. But we have to keep him inside once we've opened that door. We need to spend time with him daily; by praying and by reading his word - the Bible.

Jesus himself was the example of this when he was on earth. He spent time daily with his father in prayer. He is our perfect example, following him, we cannot go wrong.

I must admit that I find it difficult to follow this advice. I get distracted by worldly things all the time, and I always think, "what's one day not reading my Bible?" Well, it's a lot. Ellen White says in Messages to Young People that just one time is all it takes to make the second, third and fourth time easier. So spending one day without communing with God makes it easier to go another day, and another, until you're completely disconnected from him.

It goes both ways though - the more time you spend with Him, the more time you want to spend with Him. Because Jesus is truly wonderful.

Lord, I need You

This song to me is a theme song of my Christian life. Every word speaks to me. We really do need the Lord every hour. Temptations come every hour and only by his strength can we resist them.

1 Corinthians 10:13 says,

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Sometimes, when I face temptation or doubt, this song comes to my head, and I sing it like a prayer directly to God. Music has become an important part of my Christian walk. Sometimes the songs can covey exactly how I feel to God, and I use them to communicate with him, as he uses them to communicate his words to me.

What's Wrong With Being Modest?

This is a video I watched recently that has some interesting information. I'll be honest, as a woman, when I heard 'modesty,' I thought 'repressive.' It seems that a lot of pressure is put on women about what they should and should not do, and modesty in my mind was just another tool to that repressive end. But as I go along my christian journey, I have come to realize that modesty is not that at all. Modesty is beautiful. 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 says;

"What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God and ye are not your own?

For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

If my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, why would I dishonor Him by exposing my body unnecessarily? I would not. There is nothing wrong with modesty at all. Since I am aiming to please God, not man, I will choose to dress modestly to honor him.

Sabbath Truth

Here is an interesting video series that explains and explores the Sabbath from the beginning to our day. Each video is about one hour long, and it contains some interesting facts and history. I hope you enjoy it!

Sabbath Truth

Young Christians face particular challenges to their faith these days. I would know, I am one. There are so many influences out there that distract us and keep us from God. I have started this blog to share my experiences and hopefully learn from others out there about their experiences and challenges. I'll start with one of my favorite songs - the lyrics really hit me every time I read them:

Jesus Calls Us

Jesus calls us; o'er the tumult of our life's wild, restless sea,
Day by day his sweet voice soundeth, saying, "Christian, follow me."

Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world's golden store,
From each idol that would keep us, saying, "Christian, love me more."

In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil, and hours of ease,
Still he calls, in cares and pleasures, "Christian love me more than these."

Jesus calls us! By thy mercies, Savior, may we hear thy call,
Give our hearts to thy obedience, serve and love thee best of all.


(Mrs. Cecil Frances Alexander)