Before The New Year

                For the past two years, every week before New Years I grab a sheet of paper and a pen and I write down what I desire from the New Year. I do not write New Years' resolutions. Those I can keep to myself, if I ever make them. This paper is my statement of purpose. I write down the things I am concerned about or desire from God and post them on my wall. It is how I began my faith, and as each Item on the check list is marked off, I have another reason to praise the Lord that I can always look back on. This is not for me or for my own reasons; but about God and putting His kingdom first and making it a goal.

                Before New Year's comes, I will write another one of these statements. I challenge each and every one of you to do the same. Take a piece of paper, pray, and write down what you desire from God. This is not a wish list, but a moment to bring your concerns and needs to God from the bottom of your heart and to watch Him answer the prayers that you have brought Him.

                I dare you to grab a piece of paper, a pen, write down your deepest prayers, post it somewhere in your room, and watch what God does with those things within the year of 2013. It may not be what you expected; but I promise you that if you bring your prayers to God with all seriousness, you will see Him move on it. Trust the Lord for the New Year and see what will happen. It is a perfect way to look back on former years and give glory to God. Why not start making praise-worthy memories this year?


                                                                                                                                         -D

A Task

                Matthew 28:19 says, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." Jesus gave us a task and we, as Christians, have a duty to fulfill it. If we truly call Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, this mission would be on our mind.

                If Jesus Christ is our Lord, we would listen to His command and follow it, as one does when their Lord gives a command under His own authority. If Jesus Christ is our Savior, truly, we would want to share this joy and peace with everyone. This command should not be something that we groan at, but something that we are excited to do because our Savior has given us the chance to be a part of someone else's salvation, and our Lord have spoken us to move in His authority. This command should bring us joy, yet too many of us are sitting around, not doing the will of God.

                By sitting around and not helping, by not going out and sharing the good news and making disciples of all who we can reach, we are choosing to bring death upon others. We don't need to corrupt someone to bring death. If we are not bringing the Gospel, life, we are allowing death to step in. We must be on task at all times. We have been giving a mission of the utmost importance from the highest authority throughout all of space and time. What is keeping you from doing this task?


                                                                                                                                         -D

John 14:27

                "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

                When I was going through medical tests and blood work was being done, I could have either relied on the doctor or on Jesus. When the doctor called me back about my blood work, he said, in a tone of pure panic, "I just looked at your blood work and it seems that you are horrifically anemic. I need you to come into the office as soon as possible."

                I said, "Sure, I will come right in," and hung up the phone. The first thing I did was jump up and down in sheer joy and thanked the Lord for the gift that He just gave me. Now, for those of you who do not know; anemia is when your blood does not hold enough oxygen and this can be deadly if you have an severe case. Now, why was I jumping up and down? I honestly could not tell you. All I can say is that I had Jesus in my life; and instead of looking at future bills, pills to take, diets to change, lives to alter, like most people would; I saw an all glory to God opportunity on the horizon. I saw a thorn in my side that God would get glorified from, if He removed it or not.

                This is not the way that the world thinks! We have to realize that when we have Jesus in our lives, we do not think or act like the world anymore. The things that once made us happy suddenly make us feel shame or disgust. The things that once looked boring could end up being fun. Some things change and some things don't; but when you know Jesus, you know a peace that surpasses all understanding. No one can truly explain the peace that we have in knowing that we are saved and secure in Jesus Christ; but we do know that if we have no Jesus, we have no peace; but once we know Jesus, we know peace.

                If there is something in your life that is pure trouble and chaos and stress, invite Jesus into the situation and allow Him to take the lead and watch the type of peace that will set into the atmosphere. Pray, read your Bible, and do the will of God and peace that you cannot understand will overcome you and all you will be able to do is be joyful and be at peace when the rest of the world is not. If you need some peace, you need some Jesus. It's just that simple.


                                                                                                                                         -D

Blog Update

                I will not be blogging tomorrow, on Christmas day. I would only like to say, for today, that we should be focusing on Christmas and what it is all about. Remember that we picked this day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Look at your family and your household. If there was no Christmas tree, no decorations, no lights and string, and no gifts and presents, would you still be celebrating Christmas or would you have nothing to do? Examine yourself, your family, and your household. Christmas has a purpose behind it. Are you celebrating the purpose of Christ, or the purpose of gift giving and decorating for a day, as if we were forbidden to give gifts and be generous any other day of the year. Just examine your heart and bring it to Christ. It is the only gift that He asks of you: your heart. After all, He gave you the gift of salvation and forgiveness.


                                                                                                                                         -D

Road To Recovery

                Sometimes, we come to a point in our lives when we need to choose: do I keep that thing in my life, or do I drop it to have a relationship with God. This "thing" could be a person, an ex, a current relationship, a bad habit, alcohol, violence, an attitude, a mindset, a location, or anything at all that is causing you drama. The major choice comes down to this: will I leave it for God, or will I leave God for it?

                Sometimes we have old "things," that were from before we got saved, or from when we were trying to grow in God, that just refuse to let us go. We struggle, we pray, we run, we hide, but we cannot avoid it. It seems to know when it follows us. That is when we have to trust in God and call upon Him in our times of trouble. Do we really want to be over that thing, or do we just pray and run because that is what we are supposed to do? Do we truly, with all of our heart, want God over that thing?

                If that is the case, pray and remind God that He said that His grace is sufficient for you, even when you have a thorn in your side. (2 Corinthians 12:9) If not, and you want to love God more than that thing, remember Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your path." If you do not want to choose God over that thing, all that I can say is God bless.

                If you want God to be first, and all the other things be go away, even if it hurts, you have to be willing to let go. God won't always take everything with Him. Sometimes, He will tell you to let go of something, for your own good and for it's own good. You have to trust that the Lord's will is best.


                                                                                                                                         -D

Father's Love For You

                We often get tossed around by the waves of life: school, work, friends, family, relationships, economy, health, and so much more. Things may not be going your way, and everything may seem to be turning on you, making you think that you are all alone and that no on is there for you. Life may be beating you down and you may be getting to the point where you are tired and have nowhere else to go.

                God says that there is no more loneliness  There are no more cloudy days where you have to cry in the midnight hour over fears that will just not go away. The sacrifice that Jesus Christ did on the cross for you was not just to forgive sin; it was also to restore relationship between you and God, the God who will never leave you or throw you away (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5) He will never abandon you because of your feelings, your thoughts, your sins, or your circumstance. He took the cross! He loves you and wants you to know that He is right there for you.

                Here is a love letter, from the Bible, from God to you. If you want to experience this love, all that you have to do is ask Jesus Christ into your heart as your personal Lord and Savior who has washed you clean of your sins, and He will step in and begin to work in your life. 


               My Child,

Not only can I hear you, but I know everything about you (Psalm 139:1). I know when you sit down and when you rise up (Psalm 139:2) I am familiar with all your ways (Psalm 139:3). Even the very hairs on your head are numbered (Matt 10:29-31). For you were made in My image (Genesis 1:27). In Me, you live and move and have your being (Acts 17:27-28) For you are My offspring (Acts 17:28). I knew you even before you were conceived (Jer 1:4-5). I chose you, when I planned creation (Eph 1:11-12). You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in My book (Psalm 139:15-16). I determined the exact time of your birth, and where you would live (Acts 17:26). You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). I knit you together in your mother's womb (Psalm 139:13). And brought you forth on the day you were born (Psalm 71:6). I have been misrepresented by those who don't know Me (John 8:41, 42, 44). I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love (1 John 4:16). And it is My desire to lavish My love on you. Simply because you are My child, and I am your Father (1 John 3:1). I offer you more than your earthly father ever could (Matt 7:11). For I am the perfect Father (Matt 5:48). Every good gift that you receive, comes from My hand (James 1:17). For I am your provider, and I meet all your needs (Matt 6:31-33). My plan for your future has always been filled with hope (Jer 29:11). Because I love you with an everlasting love (Jer 31:3). My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore (Psalm 139:17-18). And I rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). I will never stop doing good to you (Jer 32:40). For you are My treasured possession (Exodus 19:5). I desire to establish you with all My heart, and My soul (Jer 32:41). And I want to show you great and marvelous things (Jer 33:3). If you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me (Deut 4:29). Delight in Me, and I will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). For it is I, who gave you those desires (Phil 2:13). I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine (Eph 3:20-21). For I am your greatest encourager (2 Thess 2:16-17). And nothing will ever separate you from My love again (Romans 8:38-39). I have always been your Father, and will always be your Father (Eph 3:14-15).
                Love,
                Your Heavenly Father


                                                                                                                                         -D

Not That Awesome

                Allow me to first say this: God's patience is infinite, and mine is not. I can't measure up to God and I have a short fuse for people who want to attack the glory of God.

                Lately, I have seen so many people go to church or say that they are Christians and not live a single bit of it out. It is one thing to fall short, but it's another thing to not even want to be on the path. I have heard everything from, "God needs to give me what I want," to "God needs to be humble," from multiple people. I am always left in pure rage. I would say speechless, but scripture always comes to mind, such as Proverbs 16:5: "Everyone who is arrogant in his heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished." Or Galatians 6:3, "For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself."

                Before I go on, ask yourself this. What does God owe you? "Well, I go to church every Sunday and Bible Study every Wednesday and Community Group every Monday and I go to all the church events and go to all of the charities and I help as a volunteer, and I'm always in the prayer group, etc. etc. etc." Great for you! That is wonderful! The church owes you a thank you; but what does God owe you? Allow me to tell you: nothing.

                Asking God why He is messing up is like asking an Alaskan how they deal with all that heat. It just doesn't make sense. God breathed life into your body. God formed you in your mother's womb. God gave you elements to put a roof over your head, crops to put food on your table, a source of income to pay bills, and enough left over to have expenses such as internet and cell phones and transportation; and you dare ask God to pay you back?

                You wonder why your marriage won't work, why your job won't pull through, why your car isn't getting fixed, why school isn't getting less stressful, why your friends keep causing you drama, why the pain isn't going away? James 4:6 says, "But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Before you go to God with a list of reminders of all of the "good deeds" that you've done, tell me if any of those add up to this: God sending His only son, who is perfect and blameless in all ways, to be a poor Jewish boy who would be bullied, spit on, kicked, put down, driven out of cities, and tortured through the punishment given to only the scum of the Earth for the wrongs and the mess ups that YOU did. No amount of going to church can measure up to going to the cross; and no amount of charity work or good deeds could match up to living a life without sin and dying for someone else who would come to you and say that you owe them something.

                Does hearing this make you feel bad? Do you not like the guilt trip? No one does; but the truth isn't always warm and fuzzy. Until you can humble yourself enough to realize that Jesus is the King upon the throne who died for you, and you are the sinner who has broken His rules, you cannot go anywhere with God. He opposes the proud! Until you stop trying to be bigger than God, and realize that you have no power or authority in His court you will continue to suffer by the hands of your own arrogance while God waits patiently for you to come with a humble heart. It is not about making you feel bad, it is about always remembering who is greatest and where we stand with Him. Once you come in humility and patience and seek His face, He will reward you for being a faithful servant and be gracious towards you.


                                                                                                                                        -D