Jesus Lord and Savior

Some days  I forget what Jesus did for me on the cross but then I remember the importance of it.  I don't think I can grasp the pain and suffering that Jesus went through all so that I could be saved.  It's just so great to think about the fact that he loved me and everyone else to go through that.  Some times it almost doesn't seem real.  I surprises me sometimes when I realize that I have taken it for granted.

Grace

I am amazed at how many people still think that good works can get you into heaven.  The Bible does not teach that so there is no way that they are reading it.  The Bible says that God's grace is the only thing that can get a person to heaven.  It is by that you have been saved and through faith you will receive that grace.  All you have to do is believe that a gracious and loving God would send his son to die on the cross so that sin can be defeated and the cup of wrath poured upon Jesus.  Why is that so hard for people to do?  It seems like the best option for everyone.

"Fate"

Today I was reminded that God really does have everything under control.  I have a few friends that I am pretty close to that need some good guidance.  I did not have to be this good of friends with them but I really think that at the beginning of the year God had influence over me so that I could guide them and try and bring them back to Him.  And that is just such an encouragement.

Cup of Wrath

I recently realized what Christ was truly saving me from, other than my sin.  The wrath of God was so intense that Christ sweated blood while praying that it be passed on to someone else.  God hated sin and Jesus took on the whole sin of the world.  The Cup of Wrath is what Jesus drank in order to save to us from it.  The is what he meant when he said that "it is finished".  He meant that he drank the wrath that was intended for all of us.

The perfect example

Jesus Christ was the perfect example of love.  He humbled himself by becoming man and then willingly died a sinners death so that we can be saved.  His example is perfect.  1 John 3:16 says that through his example we should lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  That is how to follow Jesus's example and live out our lives for Christ.

Help

I have a friend who has become interested in helping those caught in human trafficking.  She has this book that follows the story of one girl in particular that she gave me to read and I feel so bad for these people.  Bad isn't even the right word.  I can't describe to you how I feel about this situation.  I was thinking about it last night and I caught myself wishing that the pimps and the people in control over these poor victims would not even hear about the Gospel because they don't deserve to be saved.  The main focus help organizations is to save those who are the victims but if we, in addition to saving the needy, we sought to witness to the traffickers and pimps then maybe the problem might go away.  They keep saying that for every pimp caught there is another that arises but if we gathered the courage found in Christ we might be able to slow the problem down with the power of the Gospel.

Trials of Life

James 1:12 says "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."  Nobody likes going through difficult times but they are inevitable in a world where there is evil.  As Christians we are suppose persevere with God's help.  We cannot do it on our own; only with the power of God.  I am just so glad that even if we have trials that a) God is on our side and he will help us through and b) that he will reward those who stay strong and stand firm for him through those trials.

Joseph

When I was little kid and I heard the story of Joseph I never quite understood how it would help me in my walk of faith.  Gradually over the years it has become more and more apparent but today in church I think I finally understand what I am suppose to see about it.  Through all the trials and hardships Joseph went through and all the people he should have hated Joseph acted with hope, faith, forgiveness, and optimism.  He prayed a prayer a blessing to those who wronged him and always did the best with what he got.

Prayer

Romans 15:13 is a great prayer for someone.  I don't know what that context of the verse is but out of context I would love for someone to pray it for me and my life.  Some times it's hard to have peace in joy in this world especially if you are in God's will because of persecution and Satan trying everything to bring you down.  I would love to be overflowing with hope in my trials and tribulations.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
 Romans 15:13

God's Plan

Romans 8:28 says that God works for the good of those who love him.  All we have to do is love him.  How hard can it be right?  He loved us so much that he sent his son to take our sin punishment.  When I look at it through this verse, it is almost like this unselfish act of loving him would in a way be selfish because God's plan for me is better than anything I could ever come up with and carry out.

Joshua 1:9

God has commanded me to be strong and courageous in him.  One of the most difficult things to in my life is talk to my friends, especially my close friends, about their faith and mine.  I'm scared to.  They all know how I feel about the things they do and every time I try to talk to them I think they tune me out.  But because God wants me to I will try harder and harder everyday to reach them and bring them back to him.

Love

In the book of Romans Paul tells us the Love is the fulfillment of the Law.  And it truly is.  I cannot cause any harm or pain to someone I truly love.  So therefore if I love my enemies like I love my friends I should be able to forgive them and treat them the same way.  For me, I need to try harder at loving my ALL my neighbors and not just the ones I call my friends. 

"For I know the plans I have for you"

How comforting is it to know that God has a plan for our lives?  It makes me wonder why I worry about anything at all.  He is in control of everything and all I have to do to is seek after him with all my heart.  The Bible tells me that as long as I do that I will find him.  And in him there is peace, wisdom, and joy.  That is so encouraging for me to know.  Plus what could be better than the plans that He has for me?  Nothing I could ever think of.

Men of God

Monday's Chapel was an amazing one.  Not just because the guys got yelled at for acting like boys but because I learned a lot about what I should be looking for in my future husband.  I had some idea of what I should expect but now I know for sure what to look for.  I also learned that I have some amazing examples in my life for what a good husband would be.  My daddy, granddads, and uncle are all great examples of what a man of God looks like and I feel blessed to have them in my life to compare to.

Fear

Why are we so afraid to share the Gospel? God is on our side. He is gives us everything we need to share.  He makes us competent and gives us the words to say.  I don't understand what is wrong with me and why I can't just do it.

Warnings

In the book of Hebrews there are warnings that are given to us.  They are linked with one another.  The first is do not drift away because it leads to the second one.  Which is a warning against disbelief.  This disbelief leads us to get out of God's rest.  Basically we have faith in God and that leads to joy and peace in all situations.  Not just the good.

Pray

I know that the message today in Chapel was not about this but God speaks to different people in many different ways.  One of my friends has recently been experiencing some hard times and I am trying to be there for her as much as possible.  She told that she will be living away from home this summer and something clicked in me.  This morning I was reminded that the only way to know the right answers to all life's question is to pray for wisdom in the situation.  So that's what I'm going to do; pray about it.

Cup of Wrath

In Bible study last night the main focus of discussion was how we in America have made the Gospel into a fluffy story that only tells half the story.  We all know that Jesus died for our sins and was beaten to take the punishment for our sins but we never talk about what that punishment is.  Well that punishment is the wrath of God.  This wrath is was so intense that Jesus was so scared by it he sweat blood praying about it.  He doesn't say in the Garden of Gethsemane "I don't want to die" instead he is scared about the Cup of Wrath that God his father will pour on him instead of us.

New Church, New Outlook

This morning I attended a new church with a teammate and the preacher talked about the exodus out of the Egypt.  The point he really wanted us to grasp was how God hardened the heart of Pharaoh.  Now that seems odd because the whole point was to free his people from Egypt.  But he did it to show and to prove that he is the one and only, all powerful God and that no other God can compare to him.  I never knew this.  God knew Pharaoh wouldn't let his people go because he would make it so.  He wanted there to be no doubt in anybody's mind that he was the one and only God.  He also wanted his people to never forget it.  It would become something for them to remember that would keep them on track.

Hidden Treasure

Last night in Bible Study our leaders brought up the parable about the hidden treasure; where the man finds a treasure and reburies it in a field and then purchases the field.  I was really encouraged because I had just read this parable the night before and didn't really understand it.  God has a great way of doing that.  I never thought that it meant when I got saved I found a treasure but it I don't receive it until judgment day.  And the greatness of the treasure is dependent on how committed I am to God and what I am willing to give up in my earthly life.  I was astounding by the meaning behind this parable and so amazed how God put it in my leaders hearts to share and discuss.

Genesis 41:41-57

Joseph has interpreted Pharaoh's about the 7 years of good harvest and the 7 years of famine to follow.  Because Joseph is wise through God, Pharaoh puts him in charge of all Egypt and no one will be greater than him except Pharaoh.  Joseph stores up enough grain in the 7 good years of harvest to feed Egypt and the surrounding land during the famine.  You know, when you are in God's will I believe that there is nothing that you cannot do with hos help.  I was thinking today about how the Bible says we could move mountains with enough faith yet you don't see that ever happen.  Well it then dawned on me that it is not God's will to do that even if I did have enough faith.  So I encourage you, and myself, to live each day for the will of God.  For if you do, you will achieve great things.

A verse a day...

They say that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Well I believe that a verse a day keeps the trouble away.  This blog is about the daily verses I read.  People used to tell me that if I were to spend more time in the Word of God then I would find peace and I would grow in my faith.  Recently I started reading portions of the Bible every day. I understand what all those spiritual leaders meant when they said that it would help with the hard times and with my walk with God.  Twice a week I plan to tell you about my daily reading and how it encouraged me that day and maybe that might encourage you.