march 1st, 2011

March has begun, and another month has passed in 2011.

How?

How do you get God's word out there? or do you at all? I have seen individuals push Christianity or their religion on another person that doesn't believe the same thing as someone does. Is that right? Is it right, whereas the Bible says to spread the word of God? I have my own opinion and view on this subject, and I ask of you to respect my opinion. I believe it is our job to spread the word of God; however, it is one's decision if they want to worship our Lord. It's our responsibilities as Christians to spread the word, but that's as far as you can go with that. You cannot force an individual to believe; it is their decision whether they want to have faith in God.

I know some people that are not believers in Christ, but do I think of them differently as a person because they don't? The answer to that is yes and no. I'm a human, and I judge. I know it's wrong, and I shouldn't judge. I'm not perfect; therefore, I don't claim to be. I am working on that though; I will admit. It isn't easy to not assume something of one person if they aren't the same as yourself, is it? No. Not at all. We shall not judge. 

"Judge not, that you be not judged." - Matthew 7:1

God loves us all. He even loves the ones that do not love him. He's here. If one asks me why I believe in God I will answer with this, "I have faith, and I cannot give a definite answer or proof other than to read the Bible. You have to have faith and hope." How do you answer questions that the non-believers ask you? Are you prepared to answer any of them? We all should be. We should be strong in our faith of God, and be able to answer those questions to help others out that aren't aware of God's love and grace. We need to strengthen our faith in reading the Bible more to be able to answer these questions. How are you going to strengthen your faith? Are you dedicated to Christ? 

How are you getting God's word out in the world? 

or are you?

I'm going to try, and one step in that direction is this blog for everyone and anyone to read. 

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.

Amen.

february 28th, 2011

Death of a Loved One.


All of us have suffered the loss of a loved one at some point in time. It's not easy, and it's very emotional. I lost my grandfather last March, and it was a tough time on the entire family. He was a special individual and he will never be forgotten. He is missed terribly. I had to come to the realization that yes we are suffering down here without his presence any longer, but he is no longer suffering the pain that he was dealing with. Which is better? Obviously the second one. They are in the presence of the Lord now, and he is safer than ever before. 


"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. Therefore encourage one another with these words." - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14,18


Jesus died on the cross for his friends, and he rose again. God will bring with him the ones who have fallen asleep. Do not fear, but the loved ones you have lost... you will soon be reunited with them when your time comes. Realize and understand that they are with God now, and they are safe. Their spirit still is alive, and never are they forgotten. 


This is a saying that I say on a daily basis, "Treat others with love and not hate, for you do not know when you may lose them and you do not want them to remember of you being hateful but for love is what you want to surround them with." You can lose a loved one at any time, and none of us know what God's plan is for everyone. In the meantime, treat every single person with love and not hate. You don't know what could happen in the future. 


"Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord." - 1 Thessalonians 4:17


I personally believe in heaven and hell. You may disagree, and I still respect your thoughts as I wish for you respect mine. I am not a person that goes around and makes the assumption that I am going to heaven. None of us know whether or not we are going to heaven or hell, so do not boast about such things. The decision is made upon God himself, and we do not have a say. 


I am back to the topic about loss of a loved one now, I apologize for getting off track. I know it is hard to lose a loved one, and it's never easy and I don't expect it to be. My main point is that none of us should treat a person with hate, for it's not what God wants us to do. You want to treat each other with respect and love at all times. Understand that God has everything in his control, and each one of your loved ones are safe in his care. 


In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.

Amen.

february 27th, 2011

Your Sorrow Will Turn Into Joy.


"A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me." - John 16:16


Your sorrow will turn into joy when you ask in God's name. Prayer is not about your wants, my wants, or any of  our selfish desires. It is about God's desires. Until we ask in his name our sorrow will not turn into joy. For some of us have not been asking for the right reasons, and some of us have not been asking in his name. For when we all ask in his name, we will all have joy. 


"So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." - John 16:22-24


What do those verses there tell you? It tells me that if I ask for things in such a way that it is not in God's desires that I will not receive such a thing. I don't believe all of us remember or keep in mind that prayer is for God. We should pray for emotional strength in his name. We should pray for others, and we should ask for his guidance in life to teach us the right thing. I am not a perfect example of a Christian; however, I do try to better myself a child of God. I try to better my relationship with our Creator by prayer, through his word, and through loving others like I should. 


He will fill our hearts with joy, and we will not see sorrow no longer. 


Remember to ask everything in his name, and remember that. Not in your name or for your selfish desires. Prayer is for God's desires, not our own. That is very important, keep that.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.

Amen.

february 26th, 2011

How would you?


How would you explain who God is to a person that's never read the Bible?


I will tell you my explanation. 
I would say to them, "You're here aren't you? You're alive aren't you? How do you think you got here?" My other answer to this is, I have faith. I have a strong faith in God, I know it can be stronger and I am working daily on that. I believe in God through his word, and I would advise anyone to just open the Bible and to start reading anywhere. The purpose of the bible is to...


"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciple, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." - John 20:30-31


We shouldn't have doubts in our Father, but if some of us may fall into that situation... You should read. Read out of his book, and learn his word. You will all soon be strong in your faith because you know his commands. Everything else will fall into place soon after knowing God's word. 


Ask God for his guidance in showing you his way and path of life. Ask in his name. Ask for the strength, and you will receive. 


Another verse in the Bible that tells me so.. 


"then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature." - Genesis 2:7


What does that tell you? God is powerful. He is our Creator. 


Ask yourself the question if you have any doubts in the Lord above, "Where did I come from?"


I know where I'm from, do you?

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.

Amen.

february 25th, 2011

Abiding in God.


How do you live a Christian life? Is it by doing good deeds, or doing the right thing all the time? What is living a good Christian life? Do any of us know the answer?


Spending time with our Father, the Lord above.


There are three ways; learning God's word, constant prayer, and loving one another.


God's word is very important; however, you cannot do God's word without knowing the word. Don't you think that's right? I know it's right. 


"If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love." - John 15:10


If you want to have a strong relationship with our God you need to know God's word and his commands. Follow his word, and believe in it. 


Prayer. Do you pray as much as you should? What do you pray about? Yourself? I've talked about prayer before in previous posts, and you may go back and look at my view on prayer if you'd wish to do so. If you aren't getting your prayers answered you probably aren't asking for the right thing. We shouldn't pray for a big house, or lots of money, should we? We all probably ask for something like that at some point in our lives. This subject was preached about at church previously, and it was a wonderful sermon. 


"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." - John 15:7


Loving one another is the third way of abiding in the Lord Almighty. Do we all love every single person surrounding us? I don't believe we do like God wants us to. Are we like Jesus Christ and have the love that he did for all of us to lay down his life for his friends? Not at all. Abide in God. Love each other as you want to be loved. 


"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends." - John 15:13


Remember these three ways. Do you know God's word? Do you have the constant prayer that you know you should? Do you love every one of your brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ and treat them with love and not hate? 


Ask yourself those three questions regularly. 


If you do know God's word, pray like you should, and love everyone... everything else will fall into place. 

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.

Amen.

february 24th, 2011

Trust in the Lord with all your Heart


"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." - Proverbs 3:5


We should all trust in the Lord will all of our hearts, and not lean on ourselves and our own selfish desires. We should not be stubborn, and we should not try to do everything on our own without God's help. I came to the realization that if I give my life over to the Lord and let him be in control that I will be in much better hands than if I was in control of my life. Trust in him. Trust that he has your life in his safe and loving hands. 


"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil." - Proverbs 3:6-7


He will lead you down his path, and it's your choice if you steer away from it. If you trust in him he will lead you down a straight path, and that's if you give your life over to him. Trust him. He is our Father, and he is our Creator. 


Let our hearts keep his commandments and live in his name. Live your life in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 


"My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add you." - Proverbs 3:1-2


Do you trust in the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul?


I know that I need to, and I do. I cannot have doubts, for I will continue to strengthen my faith. 


Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart.


All of it. 
We all can work on that. 

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.

Amen.

february 23rd, 2011

This is in Honor of my Uncle Rick Witherington

This is my Uncle Ricky. He recently discovered that he had a brain tumor; he had it removed not too long ago. He is battling brain cancer, and I will ask from you God to please help this strong man. I know you have heard my constant prayers lately, and I will not give up. I ask for you to please give him the strength and the courage to get through this process. I know it's just beginning, and we don't know how long this process will go on. 

This is my mother's oldest brother and only brother for that fact. He reminds me of my grandfather each and every time I look at him. They both mean to me more than they will ever know, and I know that I didn't spend enough time with my grandfather that I know should have. I want to spend more time with my Uncle, and I want to tell him how much he means to me even though I don't tell him like I should. I love you Uncle Ricky, and this is for you. 

You are a strong person, and I know that. You have to be to grow up with three little sisters like my mom, Ann, and Ginny. I love those three sisters, and I love each and every one of their personalities. I love my family, and I will continue to have constant prayer during this process of cancer. Family is everything, and I will never forget that. 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

I will go back to saying that every time I look at my Uncle Ricky I think of my Granddaddy. It warms my heart, and it makes me feel like he is still here. I love you both, and you both are very important in my life. 

I love you Uncle Ricky, and I will never stop praying for you to have the strength to get through this. You can do it. You can overcome it, and never forget who has your life in the palm of his hands. 

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.

Amen.