The long road home

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,Philippians 2:12

  Salvation has been talked about in many circles of Christianity these days. Some believe you can't lose salvation and yet others believe that you really can walk away from God's grace.

My thoughts on the matter are not doctrine, yet it helps me understand where I stand. 

Salvation is a road that we travel on when we decide to follow Christ. A road that we must walk to be free from our past selves. Every step we take gets us closer to our home at the Fathers feet. 

This road looks different for each of us. For some, it is a rocky and rough path, for others it is like climbing a steep mountainous terrain, and for some it is a path full of many tears. Many have sought ways to find the path, while others make their own saying that it leads to the Father only to find out they haven't moved very far. 

Christ is the one who set the path for he is the path itself. He pursues  us when we wandered off from the flock. He is often what we saw when we turned our head and who we see leading us when we are in Him.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

It is a path that we must walk until our last day and will be continually walked on until the last of us are gone from the earth.

Glowing (Warning: THIS POST MAY BE A LITTLE GRAPHIC!)

Warning: THIS POST MAY BE A LITTLE GRAPHIC!


When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.   -Exodus 34: 29-31


Could you imagine spending so much time with God that your face glowed? This is an amazing thought.
 How about to have communion with God so much that his radiance was reflected by you. 
Moses was unaware of the glory he shone. This is because he reflected it. He even veiled his face so that the radiance would not cause fear in the hearts of the people.


When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face.But whenever he entered the LORD's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded,they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD. -  Exodus 34:33-35






It was believed that to see the face of God meant death.  Which is still true. While we are in His presence, we don't matter. 


This is something to be in awe just in it's self. 


What is even more amazing is that we can enter into His presence with confidence. He wants us there. A major purpose we exist, if not the purpose.... is communion with God. All else dims and fades while we are with Him. Emotions cannot explain  this. It surpasses situation and "feeling." 




To stay in His presence we must accept that EVERY corner of our darkness is exposed and dealt with. Places that shake us to the very core sometimes. All we can do is fall on our face before Him who is our portion to make us in His image.  An illustration I think about when I think of His Exposing and purification of our being:


Cockroaches. Anyone who has ever seen them knows exactly what I'm talking about. They HATE light. If you want to know if you have them, turn your kitchen light at night. The second the light goes on, the scatter. I've never met anyone who likes them and they seem to come if you have food(not always though!). Often you can catch one or two out and can deal with them, if you want to kill them you have to call an exterminator. God wants not only to turn on the light of our "kitchen" but every room in our house. Sometimes even the rooms we have "spotless" are lit. He turns on the light and the infestation is exposed. When we allow Him to do this, He allows a closer relationship. It becomes less like a "sacrificial life" to the life being a response to His love.




Obedience leads us to Friendship...Friendship leads us to inheritance...Deeper still is intimacy with Christ as the Bride. The one who has the heart of the Bridegroom Christ. 




LET US RUN THIS RACE TO WIN!!!!!!!

Cheese and Crackers

 This story is a repeat from my Teen challenge group by the lead Facilitator:

 Once there was an old man, who wanted to go on a cruise before he died. So, he spent 4 years saving up and afterward bought his ticket. Since this man had very little money  he could not afford to buy the fancy dinners on the cruise, so he packed his suitcase full of cheese and crackers. During the cruise, while everyone else sat inside eating luxurious dinners of steak, seafood,and many other delicacies..the old man ate his cheese and crackers. 


On the last night of the cruise, as the old man sat eating his crackers..a man walked out to see him from the dining room. 


The man asked the old man why he would not come eat with the everyone else. He exclaimed "I haven't enough money"


The man then said "The meal was a part of the ticket price..you were supposed to eat with everyone"












How often do we just sit outside being settled with eating our "cheese and crackers" instead of entering into the fullness of Christ? He paid our ransom from sin and we are okay with just floating along. 


Instead let us seek his fullness no matter what it may cost.

Our lives? 


HE IS NO FOOL THAT GIVES WHAT HE CANNOT KEEP TO GAIN WHAT HE CANNOT LOSE
-Jim Elliot 




Our reputation?




He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.


ISAIAH 53:3 








Family?


If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple.


Luke 14:26






When we follow Him and enter into His fullness, he adds to us: His Life, His reputation, and His family which are all eternal. 


Lets not be satified with even the place we are now with God, but go FURTHER UP AND FURTHER IN!

Finding God: Part 1

  "All things in His hands"

This past week I took a trip down with my family to Destin, Florida to spend some time on the beach. But got more than I bargained for...well sorta.

I learned this week that God really is everywhere. Not only is he in the faces of fellow brothers and sisters (and all created things) but he is in all that goes on.

 "Good" and "bad."

I don't mean that he is evil, but only that we could possibly be mistaken on what is "bad."

God promised in scriptures that he would care for us.


Almost every Christian can quote  (or at least knows) the following:

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11


Have you ever meditated on this verse?  Many know this verse is true. Others just quote it. 

How about this one?

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Luke 11:11


This past week..or more likely this past month. I've been thinking about this thought. 


We ask God to make us like his son, to cleanse us from sin, and  to enter our lives. Do we really know the cost though?  


To me it has meant leaving the things I see as "right" or "wrong" behind. I don't mean those things I know God called me  out of..like sins.  Only that  I start realizing that he placed me in the place He saw as the best to change who I am. 


Many non-believers ask when things like 9-11, Katrina, and Columbine happen: If God is so loving, why does he allow these things to happen? 


God knows what to do. He does not have to explain himself to anyone.


It is for HIS glory that the whole earth shakes. I believe the verse that He does have plans for us. 


I believe maybe one day we may get to see it. When we do we can marvel at the glory of the Creator who holds the whole world in His Mighty hands.

In need of Him

  Have you ever realized that God is most closest to you when you really are in need?

The times when you are aware of your failure, inadequacy, and  lack? That he covers you when you repent of your sin?

I've been becoming more aware of this fact lately.

Even throughout the  Old Testament , he shows his devotion through his people.

Judges 3:1-6


Judges 4:1-23

Judges 3:12-30



Many times the children of Israel turned to the Baals and Ashroths, so  God delivered them into the hands of their enemies.

When they cried out to Him for deliverance from the oppression, He would deliver them.


Over and over...God shows love!


How often do you get into sin , you repent, and God forgives you?

He has done this for me many times. What is more, he shows us that there is no way... apart from HIM stepping in...can we be purified each day by him.


Think of sin as a person. No matter what you do, you cannot get away from it. No praying, fasting, or ANYTHING you do..apart from calling on him, He stands in-between you and Sin. Each time you repent.. to truly turn away from Sin and ask to be freed, he steps in.

That is love!     Never give up my friend!

Committed?

 I want to ask you an honest question. Are you committed to Christ?
There is no right or wrong answer...but it is between you and Him.  Please be honest. I'm not asking for an answer, just that you think on it, meditate on what it really means, and ask Him to show you what it is. Please have the courage to ask.

A small confession of myself

I know for me, even being "single,"  I am owned. I belong to someone.  Christ has committed Himself so that no matter how much I fall or how much I want to give up (and have!) He will never : give up or let up.

Without Christ, I am nothing. I realize that I'm only 25, but he has shown me a little of me. He has revealed that on my own: I am a blasphemous, wicked, cowardly, lustful,and SELF-RIGHTEOUS  thing .



 But he also promised never to leave.

How can I say more?

"Compliments" by Francois Fenelon

Don't let compliments you receive from worthy people go to your head. On the other hand,do not let false humility keep you from accepting God's comfort when He sends it through others.

God wants you to take what comes and not run after what doesn't come. Simply accept what is given to you. Look only to God. Learn to live without things God sees fit to take away  from you. There are certain things that God wants you to be detached from. Do you see that God allows people to respond to you in many different ways in order to mold you?

Trust God without fear. Learn to accept your weakness as you allow God to change you. There is no use being impatient or depressed about your faults. Make a habit of inwardly bringing yourself before God as often as you can during the day. Doing this can calm you down.