Rest

                My freshman year of college, I was on fire and constantly moving. I was so busy that I didn't even have time to eat on some days. I was taking a total of thirty-two units and was involved with twelve different clubs and organizations, while trying to make friends and maintain relationships. I thought that rest was a waste of time. In some senses, I thought that I didn't need to rest. It turns out that rest is important. It is so important, that God wants us to rest! "Come to me, all who labor and are heaven laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

                I was always trying to work for God, do for God, be all about God. I was so focused on furthering the Kingdom that I never realized that rest could be a part of my duties. I thought that I needed to get up early, work and "do" all day and night, and sleep the bare minimum. Psalms 127:2 says, "it is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to His beloved sleep."

                Of course, my thoughts were not this direct. I was too focused on working to realize that this was the pattern that I was showing. Whenever someone needed something, I was the first to volunteer, even if I was too busy. I would make time, which came directly out of my resting time. I wanted to work hard for God. I was grateful, but my actions were only draining me. I needed sleep.

                Mark 2:27 says that the Sabbath was made for man, not man made for the Sabbath. We were not made to work on the Sabbath day, but the Sabbath day was made for our enjoyment. We are to rest.Sometimes we have anxieties about resting. Sometimes, we are afraid that we are supposed to be doing something or that we will not have the time to sleep more or that we do not have the ability or freedom to just sit alone for an hour or do nothing. I know that I had a fear of wasting time, and I still do; but Proverbs 3:24 says, "if you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet."

                We must not run ourselves dry. What is the point of a power tool if the batteries have run out? We must rest and recharge so that we may be of better use to those around us, so that we may do better at whatever we put our hands to, and so that we may better serve God. We must not neglect rest. Just like working out, it is a necessary and important part of our growth.


                                                                                                                                         -D

               

Our Only Hope

                Anyone who takes an honest look at our world can tell that we are broken. We are imperfect and flawed. Every generation tries new things to fix it, but it never works. I've heard songs trying to motivate people to help for the better cause, and charities that are trying to fix this world. That is all fine and good, but our world is imperfect and will stay as such because we are putting our hope into the most unreliable sources. Jesus Christ is our only reliable and true hope.

                I have seen people turn to drugs for comfort and reassurance, even confidence. I have even had someone tell me that they will smoke from the moment they wake up until the moment they pass out. They cannot go through a day being sober for even sixty seconds. We all know that drugs are bad for us. They are toxins and harmful to the body; but if drugs are your only hope, you won't care too much about what is good and bad for you. It will make you feel good and take away the pain. The same goes for drinking and staying as drunk as possible when issues arise. Yes, it may be a momentary relief, but it will never take away your problems. It will only add to your problems and reality will still be waiting when you sober up, and the problem was not put on hold either, so chances are that it got worse which makes you want to repeat this stressful and consuming cycle. Drugs will not bring us hope, only pain and more issues.

                Will money change anything? Can we put our hope in money? Yes, it will change things; and yes, it will bring hope, but false hope. It will enable you to buy more things to toss into the void of emptiness. If you feel empty or broken without money, it will not change with it. The phrase, "money only amplifies who you are" rings true to this day. If you were cruel when you were broke, you will be malicious when you are rich. Yes, you can buy nice things but that will not change the state of your marriage, or the feeling of loss and loneliness. It will only make you have nice things. That changes nothing. Money is not our hope.

                What about politics? Well, we have been trying for years with this one, and it seems to be organized nonsense when it comes to the global scale. The United States forced help upon the Middle East. You cannot force help! It is counter productive! Yet, we are not stimulating our economy enough to keep us afloat. The United States is the only "first world country" that does not have universal health care of some kind. Government could be a powerful tool, but it is being run by imperfect humans, so it will be nothing short of imperfection. It is a wonderful idea that will just never work. It would take a perfect person to make the system work.

                What about human kind holding hands and trying to defeat evil with a sense of total unity. Great idea! Here is the thing though. A man just ate another man's face off. Chris Brown and Drake got into a fist fight. Flow Mayweather just burnt a one hundred dollar bill for the fun of it. Our society's biggest industries are alcohol, pornography, and cigarettes. We are going to war and making rumors of war all around the world. Israel was attacked by missiles during the Olympics. We have an overflow in our prisons but not in our work force. three soldiers were beheaded overseas. What hope does humanity have in bonding together?

                Let me cut to the chase. Anything that is made by humans is imperfect. We cannot trust it. There is only one hope, and that is Christ. Jesus Christ is the only reliable and true hope for humanity, and for each of us.

                Some might say, "how can you have hope in something that doesn't exist." Well, we can't see electrons of radio waves but we know that they exist because we have seen them make an effect in our visible world. I would say the same applies to Christ, but that is not true. Many people have seen Him. To say that He never existed would be as fallible as saying that George Washington never existed or that Abraham Lincoln never existed. You may say to that, "well we know that those two are real;" and to that I will say that Jesus Christ must be real because if you exclude the Bible there is more evidence of Jesus Christ being a real living person that there is of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln put together.

                But, before we get off track, why is Jesus Christ our only hope? He is the only one that can save us from evil. He is better than any super hero because He has the power of salvation. He is our only hope because He saves us from ourselves. He is our only hope because He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5) He is the only one who can fill the void in our lives, and the only one that can bring us joy. Jesus Christ is God, so He is perfect. He does not think like us or fail like us. He is never out of reach or confusing. He is free for all to use and brings peace.

                If you know that nothing else will bring you peace, look for God, the true God, and give Him a try. Do not look for your own God to meet your expectations and do things your way. That is worshiping yourself. Read the Bible and learn about who God truly is. He is not imaginary. He has His own attributes and ways of doing things. Learn about the true God and see if He can give you peace and hope. I guarantee you that if you follow the one true God for who He is, He will bring hope into your life.


                                                                                                                                         -D

Why Do You Love God?

                Why do you love God? Now, we know that God loves us and that His love will never fail. He will never stop loving us or love us less than ever for anything that we say or do. So we know that God loves us; but if you love God, why do you love Him? Let's be honest. Do you even love God? I would rather be honest and have my heart corrected than try to look religious and lie to myself and God. When I say that I love someone, I want it to mean something.

                So, the first question is, do you love God? Love in human terms is an emotion. It comes and goes. You don't always feel the butterflies, but they can come and go at any time. Love in God's sense is a choice. He choose to love us even if the feelings fade, which they do not for Him. Do you love God, or the things that He does for you? Is it even fare to say that we love God, considering how much He brought you through? Comparing your love to His love, could you even call your emotion love? Do you love God or do you love your image of Him?

                Do you love Him when you're suffering? Do you love Him when you can't feel Him? Do you love Him when He's blessing you, or when He is teaching you, too? Is your love conditional, or unconditional? Is your love for show, or for real? Do you love Him as much when you're alone? Do you love Him as much when you're not at church?

                Let's be honest. Our emotions are fleeting, just like life; but we might as well try to make this one thing a solid yes or no answer. When someone says, "do you love God?" what will your answer be? Will you stutter and try to drag out your answer with big words, or will you be able to give them a one worded response? Will you say, "I love God," or "I love Christianity?" Will you love God or religion?

                In the end, it all comes down to one question. Why do you love God? For me, I love Him for loving me. I love Him for being everything that no one else could be. I love Him for getting me through everything in my life that I could never have done alone. I love Him for breaking me and making me new again. I love Him for setting me free and letting me choose to love Him or not. I love Him for not forcing Himself upon me. I love Him for being glorious and holy. I love Him for being so good to me and for making me better. I love Him for being my refuge in times of need, and for being my healer in times of pain. I love Him for being God and God alone. I love Him for who He is and what He has done for me. He is my God and that is why I love Him.

                Why do you love God?


                                                                                                                                             -D

Proper Lighting

                "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16) We, as Christians, are called to be a light, a shining example. Not of ourselves, but of God. We are not called to bring glory to us, but to bring glory to God. Our light is actually the Holy Spirit moving in us. We are to surrender to Him and allow His light to shine through us so that we may bring glory to the name of our Lord and Savior.

                John 8:12 says, "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" We no longer walk in darkness! We have been given the light of life!

                Whenever I get in front of people and spread the word of God, I get excited. I am glad to share God's truth and His word, but I must keep myself in check. I have to make sure that my gifts are not being glorified, but that God is. I have heard many times before, "you are a great speaker!" Well, God gave me that gift for a reason and I must do well with it. My gift is not to be glorified, but it is to be used so that I may glorify the gift giver!

                When I stopped trying to give myself glory and started following God, I was able to understand better what the call of Christ was about. I could understand why someone would devote their life to giving someone else praise and glory and honor. I could not understand it until Christ came and changed me. When He gave me new life, I could not express the joy inside. It bubbles up to the surface and makes me want to sing and dance, which I do! I am not ashamed of giving God glory at any time in front of anyone.

                When we surrender to Christ and allow His light to shine bright, we follow 2 Corinthians 3:18. "And we all, with unveiled faces, behold the glory of the Lord, and are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord." We get glory by giving glory, not by seeking it. Glory all belongs to God. We are a light. Our duty is to reveal what cannot be seen in the darkness. We are called to shine a light upon God for those who live in darkness. We cannot seek our own glory and bring God glory as well. We must adjust ourselves and give God the proper lighting at all times. Who else truly deserves all glory?

                So remember, let your light shine on Christ, "and whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17)


                                                                                                                                         -D

Check Check

                Jackie Hill once said, "what has happened to us, church? Why do we do what every person that stands behind a mic says without investigating the fruit first?" Whenever I step into a new church, I make sure to sit as close to the front as I can and I observe. I watch everyone who touches the microphone, anyone who speaks to the congregation, and anyone who comes in the name of Christ. I refuse to be swept away in the music and in the moment. As wonderful and fun as it is to let the moment take over, I make sure that the one we call Pastor/Reverend/Bishop/Etc. is someone worth following. We must not follow any voice behind the microphone. This is not out of paranoia, but out of habit of seeking out the truth of God so that I may be of better use to Him.

                I told this to my friend, Juan, yesterday and he said, "so we shouldn't trust our pastor?" I said, "in a way, no. Even you should always double check me." I am not saying that every pastor is a wolf in sheep clothing, or that you should never trust the man behind the mic. What I am saying, though, is check it yourself. Church is time for gathering and learning; but why can we not learn on our own time as well? Why not go back and research what the pastor preached? It will help you remember what the pastor said, it will help you get into a habit of reaching for your Bible when you have questions, and it will get you better associated with the Bible and where things are located within it. Why not check your pastors? Is there something to fear? If you honestly believe that your Pastor will get mad at you for reviewing what He has said, you should double think your Pastor. What man of God would be mad at someone for going into the Bible and seeking truth?

                It does not matter if it is a small quiet church with order. Keep your schedule and go over the verses again to make sure that they were in context. If you go to a loud church where the Pastor takes a deep breath in between every word, make sure you walk out of that church remembering what he was saying and not just how you felt. Just because you felt good and you had a moment doesn't mean the Preacher was always right. It just means that you are a human being, a creature that makes decisions based on emotions and is inclined to believe what feels right.

                I challenge you, for the rest of the year, to check your church speakers. Whoever goes in front of the mic, have a pen and note pad ready to take notes; then go home and one day in the week, either with someone else or by yourself, go over the notes and read the scripture. It is a great way to make sure that what you've learned is solid and will stay in place. In college, I get a lecture for class. I do not just walk out and never think about it again. I will go back and study what I learned. What is there to fear? Check what you have learned so that you can learn it better! Check it so that you can apply it to your life! Check it so that you may have the word of God in your heart.

                2 Peter 3:16 says, "... There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures." No one is perfect, no matter how holy they look. Only Christ is perfect. We do not blindly follow man, but we follow Christ and Him alone. 2 Corinthians 4:2 says, "but we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscious in the sight of God." Let the word speak for itself! There is nothing that needs to be added, for "all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching..." (2 Timothy 3:16)

                If you were to go to church, clear the stage of any and all decorations, pull the plug on the music and lights, and sat alone in front of the one speaking, would you still be getting the word? Would the Teacher's teaching still be as moving? Let's be honest. No, probably not. Without the sound and lights to add to the effects and without seeing other people feel the Spirit, it will probably not be as moving. But, that is what we should strive for. "What did he really give me this morning?" "What did I really experience that day?" Even the Apostle Paul said, in 1 Corinthians 2:1-2, "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."

                We must not assume that everyone behind a mic who can preach well is anointed or directly from God. Do your work and learn yourself. Check your pastor for safety and for learning. Is there any better subject to be double checking? When you listen to your leaders, remember what Paul said. "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power." (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)


                                                                                                                                         -D

Neglecting to Cry Out

                Yesterday, I was talking to my Uncle William. I needed an idea on something to write, and he gave me true inspiration. This morning, I am focusing on the church. We, as a church body, are supposed to be like "a city upon a hill," (Matthew 5:14) yet how many of us reach out as such? The church is not the building, but the body of Christ. We are the body of Christ! The building is the place where we meet. Now that you know that you are the church, how is your work for God going?

                There are millions of starving men, women, and children all around the world. There are millions suffering from diseases of all kinds. There are millions of people who are in debts of all kinds and are in need of help. There are people who are homeless, divorced, jobless, and in need of help. What are you doing to help them? Saying a prayer?

                Don't get me wrong. Prayer is wonderful, but prayer without action is wishing. Let's put action into our prayers. Let's be active with God's gifts and talents that He gave to us! If we see someone is homeless, don't just pray for the best! Go out and feed them, even clothes them! Is that not what Jesus taught us to do? If we see someone who is in need of someone to listen to, go out and be the open ear and the loving arms that they need. Imagine if Christ ignored you and talked behind your back. There would be no home for humanity.

                You don't need to be a missionary, but if you see one support them and keep them in constant prayer. You don't need to go to the great unknown to spread the good news. You can evangelize right in your neighborhood or at your work place or school! You can help local soup kitchens. Yes, the USA isn't the only place we live; but if you are not called to go out to other nations, you are being called to work right here at home. No matter what, "we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10) So let us not waste the work of God, but instead let us do right and be active.

                As the church, we should be crying out when we see so many devastating falls in humanity and so much suffering in the world. We cannot be a church body that pretends that everything is alright. We must look beyond ourselves and our situations and what we want to supply the needs of others. We must be selfless like Christ if we are to be Him body. Let us put down our complaints and pick up our God given gifts to change this world for the better. We have neglected to cry out for too long.


                                                                                                                                         -D

Humble Beginnings

                The other day I asked one of my "disciples," Juan, why Jesus came in a human body that was so weak and dependent when He could have come on clouds of fire with a sword of lightning as the Jewish community of the time expected. He gave me a few answers and kept taking them back, trying to find the one that fit. The answer is humble beginnings.

                Jesus chose a humble beginning to show love. If He had come down in fire and tornadoes, we would truly understand His power, but His love would be absent. He wanted to show us love and power through birth and Resurrection. His miracles were more miraculous because He was depending on the Father. His teachers were more understandable because He came as a human and not as a force of pure holy power. It is because He chose this humble beginning that we can worship Him and truly praise Him for so much more.

                I have two suite mates that I have not met yet that are moving in. I could bombard them with a ton of positions that I have been in on campus and how "I know the ropes" and so much more, but it would all be my ego talking. It would all be Sophomore talk and no human connection. Instead, I am going to pray to God for humility and that I treat them with love and respect in the same way that Christ would. I cannot properly represent Christ without Christ being in me.

                We must realize that humble beginning open the door for great success. We must put down our pride and look at the greater good. Are we trying to sit at the right hand of the father without taking the cup of wrath? Are we willing to do the work, decrease ourselves, and increase Christ in every area of our lives? We must put aside titles, experiences, medals, and others tools that the world uses to order people as say that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. (Matthew 20:16) We must be willing to humble ourselves and serve others, just as Christ gave us that example. (John 13:18-30) Let us not grow prideful, but fall on our faces and be a humble example of the Lord through prayer and doing.


                                                                                                                                         -D

Break Ups

                When you are in high school, breaking up seems like the end of the world. Not even a sit down talk with mom or dad could fix the pain in your heart. When you are in college, a break up is devastating, but easier to manage. You know how to get up and at least make the appearance of looking fine. As you get older, breaking up never gets easier, but handling it get's smoother. All in all, there is nothing like the heartbreak of being heart broken. How do you handle that pain? How should you move on, or should you even move on?

                Psalms 46:1 says that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Now, some of you might be saying, "so what?" Others might be saying, "what does that have to do with this?" You have to remember that God is a personal God. He cares about everything. I remember I had a long day at work and needed to open a jar for my mom. I was too exhausted to open the new jar, so I asked God to help. Less than five seconds later, it was opened. God cares about everything in our life, including our love life. He cares so much that He has open arms at all times to take you in. He is your refuge. He will protect you from the pain. He is your strength. He will get you on your feet and moving. He is a very present help in trouble! When there is trouble, He is right there next to you ready to help. That is the God that we serve.

                Sometimes, we go through serious break ups from seriously bad relationships. Sometimes we are being abused physically, mentally, spiritually, financially, or emotionally. In Romans 12:19, it says, "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" Do not try to get back at your ex if they try to abuse you. Instead, break up with them and let the Lord handle the work! Take refuge in Christ and know that there is a better person out there for you. Anyone who would hit you once would hit you again. Anyone who would steal from you once would steal from you again. If someone is playing mind games with you, do not let them trap you into a life of depression. If anyone would play with your emotions, they are not mature enough to be with. If anyone would try to step between your relationship with God, do not let them become an idol.

                Sometimes the relationship isn't abusive, but the ending was on a bad note. It could involve cruel words, a slap, a hit, cheating, or even gossiping or spreading rumors, true or false. You may be tempted to return the favor. "Well, she told all of her girlfriends this. I'll go spread a rumor about her." Or maybe even, "You heard him tell you that about me? Well, when we were together he would do THIS." We must not be angry at the end of it all. We cannot allow bitterness to fester in our hearts. Matthew 5:39 says to turn the other cheek. We must let God handle that person. And besides, if they would be so immature as to gossip or spread rumors after having feelings for you, that is someone that you cannot associate yourself with in that moment. You must work on yourself and prosper yourself in Christ. Don't gossip back. Instead, be an example of Christ for them and all who see.

                Look at Matthew 5:4. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." When you go through a break up, do not be afraid to cry or show your emotions. Cry out to God and He will comfort you! Let Him hear your heart! It is alright to have a moment of sadness or weakness. It is a break up! We are still human! Yes, turn to God, but do not try to suppress the pain. Bring it before God and let Him deal with it so that you may be healed, and understand that it may take some time and that it is alright if it does take time. We are human. We cannot always bounce back.

                Just remember this one thing. Put God first and turn to Him whenever your heart is broken, not to any other person or any vice. God should be the first one you go to, and the last one you find yourself going to. He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6) and He is your refuge and strength (Psalms 46:1) Trust in Him to fix your heart and let Him be first in your life at all times. He will bless you if you serve Him. When you serve Him, everything always works out for the best.


                                                                                                                                         -D

God's Opinion

                Last night, God gave me something to ponder. "Does God have an opinion?" At first I wanted to say no, because He is God, but that wasn't good enough. I needed to have a seriously logical answer. As defined by the Webster dictionary, an opinion is a formal expression of judgment or advice by an expert.

                At first, I was using the word opinion in the modern twisted version, which means something along the lines of the way that someone thinks or feels about something. In my thinking, I had to remember a few things about God. For starters, the modern version of opinion is different. The modern use of opinion is the way someone thinks of feels about something with what knowledge they have at the time! God knows all things. He is omniscient. He is also outside of time, so if He had an opinion, His would never change. So, just as He is holy, His opinion is unlike ours.

                According to the Webster definition, it is a formal expression of judgment or advice by an expert. Well, the last time that I checked God was an expert on knowledge and wisdom and so much more. He obviously qualified to be fit for this definition. God can express things to us. In fact, He expresses advice to us all of the time. Advice, according to the Webster dictionary, is a recommendation regarding a decision or course of conduct. God does not force His ways upon us, but He knows what the best decision and best way for us is and gives us the option. Because He is omniscient, He judges properly and fairly every time.

                According to these definitions, God has an opinion. In fact, the Bible is filled with God's opinions. Here is the difference between God's opinion and ours. Our opinions on things can be wrong. If we say, "in my opinion, Summer is colder than Winter," it is our opinion, but it is wrong. We can have a wrong opinion. God's opinion cannot be wrong! We can change our opinion when we gain new information and as time goes on. God's opinion does not change because change is something that only happens to those effected by time. God is above time and is not touched by it. He is omniscient and knows everything. He has always known everything before the beginning. His opinion never changes.

                God has an opinion, but unlike ours, His opinion is never wrong and never changes. He has the perfect opinion, because He knows all and made all.


                                                                                                                                          -D

Responsibility

                The more we grow up, the more responsibilities are put on us, and that never seems to change. Even when a parent's child goes off to college or the marines or into their own house, the parent goes further and makes sure that their child is fed and clothed and sleeping comfortably. Even when those children have children, the parents feel responsible for their grandchildren. We get responsibilities at work, at home, and in our personal relationships. We are always getting responsibilities.

                This concept is not new. Galatians 6:5 says, "for each will have to bear his own load." Everyone has their own responsibilities. In our work we must put God first. Our responsibility in our work place is to "work heartily, as for the Lord and not for man." (Colossians 3:23) No matter what job we work at or what career we pick up, from sports and singing, to fast food and sales, and everything in between, we must devote ourselves and our job to God.

                At home we are responsible at home to our families. As children, and we are all children, we must "keep our father's commandment and forsake not our mother's teaching." (Proverbs 6:20) "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially members of his household, he has denied his faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (1 Timothy 5:8) We have responsibilities to our families and to our household. We must follow God's word. Why would we not do what He has instructed us to do after He has saved us from our sins? Part of growing up is taking on responsibilities, and we must do so for Christ.

                In our personal relationships, we have responsibilities as well. Galatians 6:8 says, "for the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." We must make sure that our sowing and reaping is in order. 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, "therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us..." We are ambassadors for Christ! We must represent Him well by following the word and being the best Christ to others that we can be. You may know people who have never had someone like you. You may be the only Jesus someone has. You may be the only good girl someone has as hope. You may be the only man in someone's life. You need to be responsible!

                As I am sitting here, I have responsibilities as well. I was up last night until almost two in the morning talking to a friend who is near and dear to me because I had to make sure that he was alright. I am going to be training and working, so I am going to be up and active all day devoting my energy to the things that I gave my word to do. I am going to be the best Christ that I can be to people around me by never going back on my word and handling my responsibilities.

                Imagine a world where Christ was irresponsible. He would have missed the cross or skipped miracles. He is responsible, and we must be as well. If we have duties given to us by Christ, we must follow them. He does not give us gifts unless we must use them, and He does not give us responsibilities unless we need to handle them. We must step up continually for Christ.


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Update on Blog

                Today, I have moved back into my college's dorms and I have been up and going with my mother ever since midnight, and I am only half way done with my day. I will not be able to give my all today, so I will not give you half effort either. Today is a day that I have to submit and say that I cannot be superman and do everything. I will continue to do my blogs every day even though I am in college, but move in and move out days will probably be the two days of the year that I will not be posting. I would like to thank all of you who read and subscribe. I am honored that you take your time out to read and am excited to give you more and more of whatever God puts on my heart!


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Depart From Gossip

                My mentor once said, "the fastest way to kill a church is by gossiping." I feel, now more than ever, he was correct. Webster defines gossip as, "rumor or report of intimate nature." Webster defines rumor as, "talk or opinion widely disseminated with no discernible source." So basically, gossip is an opinion of intimate nature. Such as, "so-and-so is such a looser. She never has any friends because no one likes her," or "so-and-so is not someone that you want to hang around. do you know what he did last weekend?" Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no corrupt talk come out of your mouths, but only for such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear it." Is this how the body of Christ should be acting?

                Have you ever heard of the game telephone? A group of people sit in a circle, and one person whispers something into the ear of the person next to them. Then that person whispers what they hear into the ear of the next person, and so on until the message gets to the last person in the circle. The idea is to keep the message as close to the original one as possible; but I have noticed that the more people that are in the circle, the less like the message it gets. That is exactly like gossip. The more people are involved, the more twisted the rumors get.

                Just recently, I had heard of some gossip. Let's say that Bob was telling Bill something about Will and how he thought that Will was annoying. Bob told Bill that he spoke to Ben about it and Ben agreed. Once I heard of this from Bill, I told Bill not to continue the subject before it became gossip. I confronted Ben to see if he was agreeing, and he told me that it was not true. It is easy to start a rumor, and easy to continue the rumor; but stopping a rumor is hard work. I thank God that said rumor was not out of manageable standards.

                As Christians, it is our duty to keep gossip from our lips, and from the lips of our brothers. As Christians, we are not supposed to lie. Even stretching the truth is a lie, and Proverbs 16:28 says, "a dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends." We are supposed to be a united force, not a wave of destruction and separation. We are suppose to bring truth, not rumors. Exodus 23:1 says it best. "You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness."

                If you wonder why there is so much drama and fighting in your life, examine your conversations and see if you are gossiping and starting these things. What you sow you reap; so if you sow slander, you will reap it's fruits. Proverbs 26:20 says, "for lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling stops."

                We must look at ourselves and see if we are gossiping. Not by our standards, but by God's. How can we show the love of Christ if we are talking about people behind their backs? It does not matter if everyone else talks behind people's backs. We are not supposed to be conformed to this world. (Romans 12:2) We are supposed to be an example of good. We must stop the gossip at the root. If we want Christ to dwell in us, we must watch out tongues and what we speak about. If gossip is your sin, have someone watch you at all times and call you out when you begin to gossip.

                James 1:26 says, "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless." In other words, if you say that you are a Christian but you gossip and cannot control your words, no one will respect your religion. If you want to give glory to God, control your tongue and what goes out of it. God does not play around with His glory. Gossiping must end now.


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Our Three Callings

                When Jesus called to His disciples, they were normal people called to do extraordinary things. As we are not Christians, we are called to do something new, too. When it comes down to it all, there are three things that we are called to do for Christ. Everything in the Bible, when it comes to our duties as followers of Christ, comes down to these three things.

                First, we are called to spread the kingdom of God. We are called to share the calling. It is our duty to share the love of Christ to everyone, from our families and neighbors, to people on the other side of the globe. In other words, we are called to evangelize. "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15) "To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some." (1 Corinthians 9:22) It is important to Christ to spread this message, so it is important to us.

                Second, we are called to strengthen each other's faith. We are called to take these new believers, or believers who desire growth, and help them become stronger in their faith. In other words, we are called to disciple. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)

                Third, we are called to help those who are in need. We are called to give the clothes off of our back, to help anyone who needs it, and to be a light in this dark world. In other words, we are called to demonstrate God's love. "Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:16) "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2) "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12)

                We are called to do three things in Christ: evangelize, disciple, and demonstrate. We evangelize so that we may disciples so that we may demonstrate God's love and bring someone into relationship with Him. Our goal is to bring the whole world into a loving and true relationship with Christ. We do this by spreading the word, teaching others to do the same, and acting out God's love. We are called to evangelize, disciple, and demonstrate. Everyone has been equipped to do each of these differently, but we are all called to do these three things. Are you fulfilling your purpose in Christ?


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Bitterness

                Sometimes we just have those moments in life when we want to cry out like Job. He had lost everything, from his house to his children and the clothes on his back; and his friends who came to cheer him up were condemning him, telling him that he deserved the pain and that he must have done something in order to receive that punishment from God. Sometimes, we just want to snap like Job in Job 7:11 and just let everyone know, "I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul." Sometimes we just want to tell life, "I'm bitter, I'm angry, and I'm not gonna shut up about it!"

                It is alright to be angry when things happen to us. It is alright to be upset with pain and trials come! Even Jesus said, "my God why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34) Yes we can be angry and sad, but we cannot let our emotions stop there; because when sadness or anger sits for too long it becomes bitterness. Jesus on the cross might have said "Why have you forsaken me!" but He also said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34) Jesus did not allow anger or sadness sit. He brought forgiveness to the table to end it all.

                If we hold onto things, we allow it to run us. If you hold onto the bad things that have happened to you, you will never move forward. If you are bitter towards someone, you are showing the signs of bitterness. Ephesians 4:31-32 says, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." We must put aside our bitterness and get rid of it so that we may show good attributes of Christ; because if we do not forgive others God will not forgive us. (Matthew 6:14-15)

                Are we truly showing the love of Christ if we are angry and bitter all of the time? Sometimes, we get bitter at God. Whenever I do, I remind myself of whatever the situation is. Just the other night, my friend was telling me that he was angry at God. I asked why and what had happened. He had prayed to God with all of his heart to have the girl of his dreams, and the girl showed up exactly as he asked for! He thought it was God's best work. it turns out that he left God out of the relationship from day one and he was heartbroken, so he turned his bitterness towards God. As much as I wanted to preach to him and chastise him, I remember that I should not be like Job's friends. I reminded him that He prayed for this and then left God out, so he cannot get mad at God. Every decision that he made was his own, so there was no one to get mad at but himself and her.

                Sometimes we need to ask ourselves, "who should I really be mad at?" and go seek out help from others. When we are bitter, we want to point the finger in every direction but us, or we want to blame ourselves and not look at other people's hands in this. Almost always, in bitterness, we get mad at the wrong person. We must step up and get rid of this cancer that destroys the host.

                "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." (Hebrews 12:14-15)


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Names of God: Closer

                The God of Christianity goes by many names. We have only just looked at some of the names. There are so many more titles that He goes by! He is our teacher, our ruler, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is our kinsman redeemer, the word, our brother, the way, the truth, and the life. God has many names, and there is always more room for us to learn about them.

                God is more than just loving, and more than just powerful. He is more than just our minds can comprehend. He is the Alpha and the Omega; He has first and last say on everything. He is our deliverer and our savior. He is the light because He casts out darkness.

                These names are great to know, but it takes true meditation on them to understand the gravity of them. What God decided to decorate the night sky with stars, making even the darkness beautiful? What God decided to become closer to us then a friend when He is far holier than we are and requires nothing of us? What God cares enough to have the first say of our lives and the final say? What God cares enough to be human kinds' only way to life, much life life abundant? It is by understanding the gravity of these titles that we begin to understand who God is.

                There are so many more names and they can all be found in the Bible. Two resources that I used were:

                http://www.smilegodlovesyou.org/names.html

                and

                http://bible.org/article/names-god

                Both of these sites will help your expansion of God and who He is, but nothing is a more solid foundation than the Bible. If you want to truly understand the context of God being the kinsman redeemer, go read it and find out the whole story and why.

                God has presented to us His names so that we may grow a closer relationship with Him in understanding who He is. If we never knew that He was Jehovah Rapha, we would not be relying on Him to heal us. If we did not know that He was El Olam, we would not understand the gravity of His eternity. It is not by knowing these names alone, but by meditating on them and allowing them to sink into our hearts that we begin to see God for who He truly is.

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Names of God: Yahweh

                This is the final of the three part series that I am doing. The name Yahweh (YHWH) (Genesis 4:3, Exodus 6:3) comes from a verb which means "to be, or to exist." The name Yahweh means "I am." When God said His name, He was declaring that He was, is, and is to come all at once. He was saying that He exists in Himself. His existence is certain.

                In Exodus 6:3, God and Moses are having a conversation about what Moses shall do. Moses is worried that no one will believe that He is talking to God, so He asks God to help him become more believable. God gave Moses His name as proof. "I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name Yahweh, I was not known to them."

                In the Bible, Yahweh has been commonly replaced with the word Lord, because it is such a powerful name and Lord represents such a powerful concept.

                Because God is Yahweh, He does not need us. Because God is Yahweh, he is self-existent. He does not exist on our thoughts or on our needs and hopes and dreams. Yahweh exists on His own and always has existed. He was not born or created, God is. He was not transformed into a god or given power, God is. Yahweh (I am) is God's statement of being the independent and self-existent God of revelation and redemption. He is who He is, regardless of the circumstances that we face. God is God alone.

                We must remember that these names show us more about God and who He is, from our provider and our Healer, to our shepherd and our victory. He is God alone and deserves all of the honor and praise for who He is. If it were not for God being all of these things and more, we would never be redeemed and made free in Christ. We need Him. He is worthy to be praised.


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Names of God: Jehovah

                Jehovah has so many variations of the name because, from my experience, it is the one with the most titles. Jehovah means God in a sense of lordship, and adding on an attribute afterwards, such as Jehovah Yahweh (Genesis 2:4), changes it from just God to a reference of God's divine salvation. Some of you may have heard of some of these names before, but they all come in handy when needed. Again, these names are not made to spice up your prayer life. Yes, use them in prayer, but this is about learning who God is through His titles.

                Jehovah Maccaddeshem (Exodus 31:13). He is, "the Lord God of my sanctification." He is the God who sanctifies us. To sanctify something means to concentration it, set it apart and make it holy. He is the God who makes us holy. In all of His holiness and glory He is able to take a sinner and declare them holy. Just as He took Sunday, a day as ordinary as any other, and sanctified it. He can make anything holy. That is something that only He can do because only He is fully holy. He is the one that pulls you out of your sinful life and makes you holy by His blood.

                Jehovah Rohi (Psalms 23:1). He is, ":the Lord my shepherd." He is the God that looks over us, tends to us, and protects us. Thanks to Him, we shall not want. A shepherd feeds and waters his flock, and protects it from hard. We are the sheep, and He is the shepherd. Sheep have no self-protective abilities. Sheep will follow anything that is moving, even right off of a cliff. It cannot distinguish sound or danger well at all. Sheep just wonder. It is the shepherd's job to protect them; just as us sinners wonder, not knowing the danger that we are in or how defenseless we truly are, God steps in and protects us. He is our shepherd who guides us and helps defend and care for us.

                Jehovah Shammah (Ezekiel 48:38). He is, "the Lord who is present." He is always with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and He is always with us until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). He dwells inside of us (Ephesians 3:17, 1 Corinthians 3:16) God is always with us! He will never step away, especially when we need Him most. Sometimes we do not feel Him, but that does not mean that He is not there. He is always right beside you, even when you do not see Him or feel Him. He is with you every step of the way. He will not step away from you.

                Jehovah Rapha (Exodus 15:26). He is "the Lord our healer." He is our healer! Physically (Deuteronomy 7:15, Mark 6:56), mentally (Galatians 3:13-14), spiritually (Matthew 8:16-17), and emotionally (Isaiah 53:7) He heals us of our wounds and sicknesses. He heals us of anything that bothers us because He wants the best for us. He wants us healthy and well, but we must listen to His will before He will heal us.

                Jehovah Tsidkenu (Jeremiah 23:6). He is "the Lord our righteousness." He is the one who stands before others and declares us righteous. We are evil and sinful without Him. He is the one who makes us righteous and pure. He is the one who helps us conquer our sins and our fears. He is the one who changes us from the inside out to become something new. It is all His handwork, nothing of ours.

                Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:13-14). He is "the Lord will provide." He is the God of our provision. He will always meet our needs! If there is every something that you need, He already sees it and has already created a way to make your need met. He knows us personally and knows our needs, from food to money to pain and healing. He knows our needs and provides for us, because He owns everything and loves us.

                Jehovah Nissi (Exodus 17:15). He is "the Lord our banner." He goes into battle with us and He is our symbol. He is our victory in battle. Whether it is spiritual or mental, He steps into the battle field and exercises His authority and victory over our enemy. He is the one who gives us victory in combat. He is the name that we call upon and the name that we fight under. He is our leader, our power and our symbol.

                Jehovah Shalom (Judges 6:24). He is "the Lord is peace." When He spoke, "peace, be still" to the raging waters (Matthew 8:23-27) He was showing that He is the peace. He created peace and wherever He is, peace follows. He gives us peace that is not like the world's peace (John 14:27). His peace can calm and storms and withstand the raging seas of life. He is where we find our everlasting peace.

                Jehovah Sabboth (Isaiah 6:1-3). He is "the Lord of hosts." He is the one who sits upon the throne and fills Heaven with His presence. He is the one that fills us and gives us the will to do right. He is the one that fills the temples with His presence. He is the one who's presence dwelling in a place brings joy and jubilee unlike any other. His presence is longed after.

                Jehovah Gmolah (Jeremiah 51:6). He is "the God of recompense." He is the one who pays back our enemies, He is the one who brings vengeance. "Vehemence is mine," says the Lord (Romans 12:19) He is the one who will repay evil for evil, and He is the one who will curse those who curse us. He is also the one who will repay good for good, and bless those who bless us. He is the one who knows what is just to be given, and He is the only one fit for it.

                With so many titles and names, you can see why God's names can help you understand the vast amount of people that He is. With these names, we begin to understand who He is. He is God alone, and He alone does so much for us.


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Names of God: Elohim

                Elohim was the first name of God used in the Bible. It was first used in Genesis 1:1, and later used in Psalms 19:1. Elohim is a reference to God's power and might, giving credit to His role as creator and judge.

                Elohim is used to reference His sovereignty, creative work and mighty work. Isaiah 40:1 uses the name Elohim. "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God." In this scripture, the word Elohim has been translated to God to be better understood in the English language. Now, in the original context it would say, "comfort, comfort my people, says Elohim." Says Elohim, the God who created all and judges all. Comfort, says the sovereign God of all. He is not just whispering comfort into the ears of His crying children; He is commanding there to be comfort with all of His sovereign power. The use of the name Elohim creates a different feel then the use of the word God.

                "I am the Lord, the God of all humankind. There is, indeed, nothing too difficult for me." (Jeremiah 32:27) In this verse, the word Elohim has been translated again. In this we see that God is the God that all humankind belongs to and worships. With Elohim at the name being used, it shows that Elohim is the God that created all humankind, judges all human kind, and is sovereign over all humankind.

                There are many other places where Elohim has been used (Genesis Genesis 6:18; Genesis 9:15; Genesis 14:18-20, 22; Genesis 17:7; Genesis 50:24; Deuteronomy 5:23; Deuteronomy 8:15; 1 Kings 8:23; Psalms 68:7; Isaiah 45:18; Isaiah 54:5; Jeremiah 31:3) These are all giving praise and glory to God for being who He is.

                Elohim was the name given to God in Genesis 1:1 so there was not a time when God said to humanity, "this is my name." It is a part of Him that was always with Him and that we always recognized. Many names have been given to God created from this name.

                El Shaddai, "God Almighty" (Genesis 17:1; Genesis 28:3; Genesis 35:11; Exodus 6:1; Psalms 91:1-2)

                El Elyon, "The Most High God" (Genesis 14:19; Psalms 9:2; Daniel 7:18; Daniel 22:25)

                El Olam, "The Everlasting God" (Genesis 16:3)

                El Roi, "The Strong One Who Sees" (Genesis 16:13)

                These names are all derived from the same source as Elohim and are all a testament to glorify God and place Him correctly. El Shaddai is a testament to God's strength, referring to Him standing on the mountain, which is a position of supreme power.  El Elyon is emphasizing God's supremacy, His sovereignty and power. El Olam is expressing the fact that God's strength never runs out of energy and His reign will never end.

                When you begin to see the different titles of God, you begin to see the intensity of who He truly is. Is he above us and deserves respect. He created us, reigns over us, and is all powerful. He is not a God to be played with. He is personal, though, and loving. We must remember that no matter how powerful, how sovereign, how magnificent; God still loves us and wants a personal relationship with us; so all of His power and sovereignty is used to benefit is. In his sovereign power and love, He makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him back. (Romans 8:28)


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Names of God: Opener

                God of Christianity goes by many names. He is given many names in scripture and it is important to know these names; not to spice up our prayer lives, but to understand who God is.

                When you realize that God calls Himself our brother, you can realize how loves we are. When you realize that He calls Himself our rock (1 Corinthians 10:4), you realize how dependable He is and How willing to support us He is. When you realize that God calls Himself the light, you see that He is the light and not just any light in the world, but the only one worth following.

                When you realize that He is the Author of Salvation (Hebrews 5:9) then you realize that salvation was a creation of His out of love to redeem us, not something that we stumbled upon. He wrote salvation just because He loved us enough to give us what we did not righteously deserve! We see His love, His authority over the laws of nature and spiritual nature, and we see His brilliance and holiness.

                By studying His holiness, we begin to understand who He is in Himself, and who He is to us. Learning about God is good, but it is nothing if we do not use it to strengthen our relationship with Him. If we know that He is love (1 John 4:8) that is great! If we know that He is love, and that He loves us, that is beyond words.

                I am not going to be writing about these names just to give you new words to throw around in your prayer life. Of course, do not be afraid to do so. I do this. If I want to remind God that He never goes back on His word, I address Him as such. If I am in the military and eating at a local diner, if someone calls me by my name, I will respond. If someone calls me by my military title, I will get up and respond differently. I do this with God, calling Him in His specific titles according to specific needs. Yes, this is a helpful tool to use; but knowing these names should strengthen our relationship with Him, not just the length of our prayer life.

                We know His name so that we may become closer to Him. We know who He is in order to learn more about Him and begin to comprehend how deeply He loves us. His names are not toys, they are gifts of love and affection. God is personal and wants to share Himself with us. Let us take Him seriously.


                                                                                                                                         -D

Genesis 1:1

                Lately, I have been hearing that a lot of Christians are not reading the word. It is important that we do, because it is God's greatest physical gift to us that has survived through the ages. It is His word! If we sit down and read it just to say that we have read, we will miss so much! In fact, in one Bible verse alone there is so much knowledge and wisdom! I love to use Genesis 1:1 as an example for this for two reasons: 1) everyone seems to know it but never understands deeper than the phrase, and 2) because it is at the head of the Bible and shows how deep the rest of the book goes.

                If you have ever sat down and read the Bible just for the sake of saying that you have read it, you are not doing anything special. Sit down and read it with a purpose! To learn, to gain wisdom and understanding, to hear from God! Sit down with a purpose and listen to what God says. I will use Genesis 1:1 and only Genesis 1:1 to reveal many things about God.

                Genesis 1:1. "In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth." In the origional Hebrew form, it was, "Bereshith bara Elohim eth hashshamayim veeth haareths" (God in the beginning created the Heavens and the Earth).

                Now, bereshith in Hebrew means "at the head," which is another way of saying "in the beginning." The word "bara" in the Hebrew language is a very that can only be described by God's using. Only God can bara. The rest of the phrase after Elohim means "the Heavens and the Earth" which is a Hebrew phrase to mean "everything." Now, looking at it this way, "Elohim (one of God's names) created everything at the beginning."

                The name Elohim in Hebrew is hard to translate and can mean many things many ways, but it is agreed upon all that it is the title of God and gives Him importance. In the traditional Jewish view, Elohim is the name of God as the creator and judge of everything. Looking at it this way, God is the creator, and the judge, and was first recognized in the Bible as such. He exercised His role as creator by creating.

                Now I well step away from History and move more into modern translations of the Bible. We must see that creating something and making something are two different things. To create something means to make something exist that had no previous existence. When you create something, you bring something new into existence that never existed before. Making something is to form something new out of already existing objects. Let's use a cake for instance. If we make a cake, we are using ingredients, no matter what. If God creates a cake, it appears in the over out of no where. Objects do not get up and form the cake for Him. It simply appears as He intended it to. That is the difference between creating and making.

                Now, looking at it with this understanding, God created everything. He literally created everything from nothing. This shows His omnipotence and His sovereign authority. He is omnipotent because it takes power to create, and He created everything in a display of His omnipotence. This also shows His sovereign authority because nothing was made without Him. Everything was made by Him, so He is the rightful ruler over all. If something is made by you, you are rightful to rule over it. God created us and everything around us, so He has the right to rule over us.

                This also shows God's omniscience and omnipresence. He is smart enough to create everything on His own. He knows every mystery of the universe and every secret of life that we do not. He made the universe exist, gave the universe its laws to live by, and made everything perfectly able to exist with one another. He is brilliant! God has to be omnipresent, because He cannot create where He is not at. This shows us that He was at all places even at the beginning when He formed everything perfectly with His limitless power.

                Let us look at the first five words alone. "In the beginning God created." So, He created time. He was the one who dictated when time was allowed to flow by the mark of His creation. Aside from this, He also was outside of time. The Bible verse does not go, "in the beginning God was born and created all things." No. God was already present before time was even relevant. He was already omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent before there was time. He was already perfectly God before time started. He was already Elohim (creator and judge) before anything existed.

                Wait, how can He be creator and judge before anything was created? Simple, God has attributes that we do not understand yet. Angels do not praise Him for His ability to redeem. His redemption does not save them, only humanity. So what do they praise Him for? His holiness, His righteousness, and so much more. It would not be surprising that God would have attributes that we do not understand yet because we have not seen them in action in time. It is possible for God to have attributes that He did not yet use but then used. He was the creator before He created; and He was the judge before we were judged. Genesis 1;1 does not argue against God's attributes being limited to time or what we can conceive.

                In fact, Genesis 1:1 proves that God is holy! He was not touched by time. Everything that has ever existed, aside from God, is effected by time. Holy means to be set apart or wholly different. God is different from anything that has ever existed. Genesis 1:1 shows us that He is the creator and we are the creation. He is outside of time and we are inside of it. He is the giver and we are the taker. Nothing is like Him. He is holy.

                I would love to continue, but I feel that this is enough. Everyone knows Genesis 1:1. "In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth," but how many of you got all of that from that single verse? We should be sitting down to read and understand. Genesis 1:1 alone is packed with so much. It shows us that God is, was, and always will be creator and judge, it shows us that He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, it shows us why he is sovereign over all, it shows us that He is not limited to our understanding or time, it shows us that He existed before time ever began, and that He in fact began time. All of this and more is plain to see in Genesis 1:1 alone. If I were to add other verses to compliment this one, imagine how much more could be revealed to us? This is all possible because God wants us to learn and understand. We must take the Bible seriously and take reading it with paramount reverence.

                When you pick up the Bible to read it next, are you going to read to read the Bible, or are you going to sit down and read it with a purpose?


                                                                                                                                         -D

Stepping Up Alone

                When we make a choice to follow God with all of our hearts, all of our minds, and all of our strengths, not everyone around us will be happy about it. Not everyone who sees you get saved will like it. You may have friends who will disagree with your beliefs and try to get you to step away from following Christ. You may have people who you once called friends call you names to your face or behind your back, or they may say some hurtful things such as "you've seriously changed dude. I thought I knew you."

                The first response to that should be, "yes, I have changed, for the better. Thank you for noticing." If someone is upset over you finding true joy and peace in life, are they your friend? If someone wants to ruin your personal relationship with God, is that a good friend? Much less, does the relationship even involve them? Would a true friend abandon you because you have a different interest than them?

                Sometimes, God allows people to drift out of your life, and that is alright. Sometimes certain people need to drift away. Not everyone can stay in your life forever. Sometimes people come in for a season to help get you where you need to go; and sometimes some people should not have even been allowed into your life. You have to examine your friendship. Stop thinking about how long you have been friends for, because time means nothing in the end. Figure out if they are actually your friends or if they are just sticking around hurting you.

                I am not saying drop any friend that is not a Christian. In fact, I have many friends that are not Christians and we get along fine. If I respect them and they respect me, there is no issue; but that is the key. I have had friends that are Christians that are not in my life anymore as well as non-believing friends that are not in my life either. Not everyone who is a Christian must stay. Look at who they are to you and why. You say that they are your best friend. Why? Is it because of what they have done or who they will become? If you are friends with someone because you owe them, that is not a solid friendship. That is a relationship standing on a debt. If you are friends with someone because of who or what they will become some day, that is a shallow relationship that is not worth up keeping. It all comes down to why you are keeping this person in your life and if they are worth keeping around.

                You should be friends with someone because of who they are to you. You should be friends with someone because they are your friend; not because you feel like you owe them, or because of who or what they will become, or because you feel that you owe them, or because you have known them for a long period of time. None of those things matter.

                Jesus calls us His friend (John15:15) and we have nothing to offer Him that He does not already own. He is friends with us because He wants to be; not because He owes us or because we owe Him, or because He wants to be a part of the big famous star that we will become. He loves us for us, and there are no strings attached. His love is so much greater because it is unconditional. It will not fade away or diminish. He will love us no matter what.

                Some people will try to leave you because you are a Christian. It will hurt, but remember Proverbs 18:24. "One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother." No matter how people hurt you, remember than Christ will never abandon you or hurt you. He loves you and will always be with you. So if your friends begin to walk away, remember that you have Christ on your side. Stay strong, for you have a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

                                                                                                                                         -D