John 2:3-9b When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to Him, "They have no more wine." 4"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come." 5His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. 8Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so 9and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.
OBSERVATION:
-Mary knew the power that Jesus had, and the disciples were trying to figure out this power that Jesus had
-Jesus also knew the power He had but was not ready to show the people
-I think He was looking for the perfect time and a better miracle to show the people of His authority
-When Jesus told his mother "why do you involve me?" Is to show that no matter what generation it is mothers are mothers
-Mary was so proud of her son ans wanted just the best for Him, she wanted Him to fix the problem, even the problem of changing water into wine
-I believe that Jesus would much rather had raised someone from the dead or healed a sick person, which is why He may have gotten annoyed with His mom
-But as a good son, He made the miracle happen, He knew that He could do it, that was something easy compared to what He knew He had to go through in the future
-Jesus wanted to be obedient, Honor his mother, which is why He did this miracle, out of obligation and respect for his mom
-And even though this was a small miracle compared to His others, it was still important because after this his disciples put their faith in Him, they believed after his simply changing water into wine, imagine their faith when He raised people from the dead, made the blind see, healed the sick, etc.
-Jesus did every miracle for a reason, He didn't just heal everyone because He knew He could do it, in every miracle there was a lesson to be learned
-He wanted people to learn from the faith of others, the compassion of others, the love that others had for Him
APPLICATION
-Even today Jesus wants us to learn from His miracles
-We shouldn't do everything because of obligation or respect, but sometimes we do, and Jesus proves here that its okay to do that
-Its OK to do things when the time is not right, but of course it depends what that thing is
-If you are a new follower of Christ and you feel your not ready to preach the Word, but your in a situation where you can...God wants you to
-God puts us in certain situations with certain people to break us out of the norm, He doesn't want us to be comfortable
-Because when we do things that are out of the norm something beautiful can happen
-Someone can get saved and change the world
-Someone can forgive or have compassion or help others
-Its not about ability but about availability - Jesus wasn't ready but He was available
-He knew He could do it, and even if He didn't want to at the time, He did
PRAYER
God,
Make me available to you and your word. Make me available to do your work and your will. I want to hear your voice and know when you are speaking to me. I want to know that it is you and obey you. Lord, I want to do things for you because I love you and because I want to. I don't want to do things out of obligation or respect to you, but because I have that drive and passion to do what you ask. Help me to do what you want me to do and not what the world asks of me. Help me hear your voice.
I love you. Amen
I love God more than anything in this world. I am not perfect and mess up from time to time. Though my heart is true and He knows it.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
Forever Light
Isaiah 60:1-2 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. 2See darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
v.19-20 The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your glory. 20Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.
-Knowing that this specific word was written for the Israelites, God has spoken to me through this
-Isaiah was prophesying to the Israelites telling them that it was there time, that all their afflictions will be substitued for compassion
-Their sins will be covered with grace and mercy
-That no matter how dark this world gets the light will shine not through earthly things but through God
-Gods glory will be the light that shines through them, Its His love that helps guide them
-They will no longer be the people that are known for their sufferings, but they will be now known for the people who have Gods light upon them, His forever light
-God is telling me the same thing...I know that I have had a good life, nothing too bad has happened to me, but that doesn't mean that I don't have problems inside - it doesn't mean i don't struggle
-Everyday is a struggle for me a battle on the inside in my spirit, to do certain things or not to do them
-Many times my flesh wins and my spirit takes a back seat, but God is telling me today that the Spirit is going to win
-That i just have to keep fighting because His light is upon me and I have to keep allowing that light to remain over me
-I will not live by the light of the sun anymore, My life will not be led by the light of the world - but by the light of God - that light He puts over me
-This world is filled with filth, junk, perversion, but God wants to take me out of that and make me different
-He is putting His heavenly light on me and taking out all my pains, hurts, sorrows, and worries in His hand
Father,
I thank you for guiding me. For taking me in your hand and helping me get rid of my worries, pains, sorrows, and hurts. That light that shines through me and on me is you. Only you can make me feel so good and precious. Only you can make me feel worthy of living and being in your family. Only you God can redeem me and give me everlasting salvation. Only you God...Only you. I love you. Amen.
v.19-20 The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your glory. 20Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.
-Knowing that this specific word was written for the Israelites, God has spoken to me through this
-Isaiah was prophesying to the Israelites telling them that it was there time, that all their afflictions will be substitued for compassion
-Their sins will be covered with grace and mercy
-That no matter how dark this world gets the light will shine not through earthly things but through God
-Gods glory will be the light that shines through them, Its His love that helps guide them
-They will no longer be the people that are known for their sufferings, but they will be now known for the people who have Gods light upon them, His forever light
-God is telling me the same thing...I know that I have had a good life, nothing too bad has happened to me, but that doesn't mean that I don't have problems inside - it doesn't mean i don't struggle
-Everyday is a struggle for me a battle on the inside in my spirit, to do certain things or not to do them
-Many times my flesh wins and my spirit takes a back seat, but God is telling me today that the Spirit is going to win
-That i just have to keep fighting because His light is upon me and I have to keep allowing that light to remain over me
-I will not live by the light of the sun anymore, My life will not be led by the light of the world - but by the light of God - that light He puts over me
-This world is filled with filth, junk, perversion, but God wants to take me out of that and make me different
-He is putting His heavenly light on me and taking out all my pains, hurts, sorrows, and worries in His hand
Father,
I thank you for guiding me. For taking me in your hand and helping me get rid of my worries, pains, sorrows, and hurts. That light that shines through me and on me is you. Only you can make me feel so good and precious. Only you can make me feel worthy of living and being in your family. Only you God can redeem me and give me everlasting salvation. Only you God...Only you. I love you. Amen.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Holy Legacy
Isaiah 53:2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him
-Isaiah was talking about Jesus, he was a prophet and was talking about the coming Messiah
-Isaiah wanted the people to know that Jesus was not coming on a white horse with shiny blue eyes, clear light bright skin, with a chiseled body and a Colgate smile
-But sad to say that the people didn't listen to Isaiah when Jesus came, they didn't want to believe that Jesus was the Messiah because He was just like them
-He looked like them, talked like them, even walked like them
-They wanted something more, but forgot this verse, they read and looked over just what they wanted to
v.3 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
-Jesus knew the meaning of hurt, He knew what it was like to lose friends, family, to be betrayed (i don't think Judas was the first to betray him)
-Jesus went through what humans go through
-He knew pain, hurt, hate, He knew what we felt and still feel
-He knows our hearts because He had one just like it, he hears them beating...He remembers the beating, the feelings, emotions that we have
-But we didn't care about that, we still don't care about that...its not our first concern
-He went through it and i go through the days like nothing ever happened
-He was spat on, kicked, bruised and i cry over a paper cut
-I can't change over night, God doesn't expect me to, He doesn't even expect me to cry over my failures...but He expects me to own up to them, not lie about them, go before Him and admit it.
-Admit those things and tell Him with my heart
v.4 Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. 5But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by His wounds we are healed
-We made Jesus suffer
-We brought that pain upon Him
-We kicked Him, bruised Him, tore Him to pieces, we....I
-I did it..I am owning up to it, It was ME!
-I don't know if i would have been like Mary Magdalene at his feet crying not being able to watch, or even that woman who gave Him water on His way to Calvary or if i would be one of those who would just stare with a blank face numb to what was really going on
-I can't imagine what it was like, But i can see today, what i live today and how i would react today if that happened
- i don't want to be naive and stupid
-I don't want to live blindly, I can't....i won't
v.6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all
-God gave Him our rebellion
-My stupid back talk, and dishonoring behavior
-My bad thoughts and mean heart
-My laziness and pridefulness
-My selfishness and cruelty
-God gave it all to Him....
v.7He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8By oppression and judgement he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. 9He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth
-He was quiet
-Taking each step in stride knowing each movement was one closer to His death, to His torture, to what He dreaded doing
-He knew that all those dreams that He may have had would never come true
-He probably saw loving couples that truly loved one another, and maybe dreamed of one day......maybe
-But that was all gone, He would never have an heir, never have a human legacy...But to Jesus does that even matter?
-His legacy is much more powerful b/c its not human, b/c its divine and holy
-He died a human death and lived a human life but left a holy legacy and a divine salvation
God,
Thank you for your son. You brought Him on this earth for a purpose, to save us. He died a thousand deaths in His heart but Lived then and still lives on today. You are my God and I am your people. Use me for your glory power and might. I love you. Amen.
-Isaiah was talking about Jesus, he was a prophet and was talking about the coming Messiah
-Isaiah wanted the people to know that Jesus was not coming on a white horse with shiny blue eyes, clear light bright skin, with a chiseled body and a Colgate smile
-But sad to say that the people didn't listen to Isaiah when Jesus came, they didn't want to believe that Jesus was the Messiah because He was just like them
-He looked like them, talked like them, even walked like them
-They wanted something more, but forgot this verse, they read and looked over just what they wanted to
v.3 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
-Jesus knew the meaning of hurt, He knew what it was like to lose friends, family, to be betrayed (i don't think Judas was the first to betray him)
-Jesus went through what humans go through
-He knew pain, hurt, hate, He knew what we felt and still feel
-He knows our hearts because He had one just like it, he hears them beating...He remembers the beating, the feelings, emotions that we have
-But we didn't care about that, we still don't care about that...its not our first concern
-He went through it and i go through the days like nothing ever happened
-He was spat on, kicked, bruised and i cry over a paper cut
-I can't change over night, God doesn't expect me to, He doesn't even expect me to cry over my failures...but He expects me to own up to them, not lie about them, go before Him and admit it.
-Admit those things and tell Him with my heart
v.4 Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. 5But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by His wounds we are healed
-We made Jesus suffer
-We brought that pain upon Him
-We kicked Him, bruised Him, tore Him to pieces, we....I
-I did it..I am owning up to it, It was ME!
-I don't know if i would have been like Mary Magdalene at his feet crying not being able to watch, or even that woman who gave Him water on His way to Calvary or if i would be one of those who would just stare with a blank face numb to what was really going on
-I can't imagine what it was like, But i can see today, what i live today and how i would react today if that happened
- i don't want to be naive and stupid
-I don't want to live blindly, I can't....i won't
v.6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all
-God gave Him our rebellion
-My stupid back talk, and dishonoring behavior
-My bad thoughts and mean heart
-My laziness and pridefulness
-My selfishness and cruelty
-God gave it all to Him....
v.7He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8By oppression and judgement he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. 9He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth
-He was quiet
-Taking each step in stride knowing each movement was one closer to His death, to His torture, to what He dreaded doing
-He knew that all those dreams that He may have had would never come true
-He probably saw loving couples that truly loved one another, and maybe dreamed of one day......maybe
-But that was all gone, He would never have an heir, never have a human legacy...But to Jesus does that even matter?
-His legacy is much more powerful b/c its not human, b/c its divine and holy
-He died a human death and lived a human life but left a holy legacy and a divine salvation
God,
Thank you for your son. You brought Him on this earth for a purpose, to save us. He died a thousand deaths in His heart but Lived then and still lives on today. You are my God and I am your people. Use me for your glory power and might. I love you. Amen.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Connects to Love
2 Peter 1:5-9 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is near-sighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
-Everything has a virtue connected to...if you do this, make sure this is connected to it
-Because its better to have more virtues than only one
-If you have faith, connect goodness to it...if you want to have faith do good works with that faith "faith w/out deeds is dead"
-if you want goodness connect knowledge to it...Make sure you know why you are doing good things..don't do them just to show a mask or be a hypocrite, do it because you want to because your heart lives that's way....let goodness live in your mind so your mind can be clear of evil thoughts and actions...so goodness can constantly live in your heart
-with knowledge comes self-control, when you know things, you'll know the difference between right and wrong....when you know Gods law and what He commands than you will know that the flesh has to be weaker than the Spirit, when the Spirit is stronger it is easier to control the flesh, therefore making it easier to walk away from temptation and everything the enemy wants to put in front of you
-with self-control comes perseverance....if you have self-control you can move forward to your goal....self-control helps you move away from all your distractions in life and lets you push through the walls, the chains, everything the enemy wants to throw at you...
-with perseverance comes godliness....God did everything for us and He could have given up and thrown in the towel...He could have wiped us out like He did in Noah's time, but He kept His word and persevered with this generation..when we push through and keep going in the will of God, we become like God. God never gives up, He never leaves us, He never stops having faith in us, and that's how we need to be with Him and with ourselves....when we push through those hard times we are showing Godly characteristics
-with godliness comes brotherly kindness...God loves everyone...no matter who they are or what they have done, and when we have godliness we be kind to all people, no matter what...God has forgiveness all over Him and that's the quality we need to take from Him. Forgiveness, to our brothers and sisters, because that's the true meaning of kindness
-with brotherly kindness comes love. When we are kind to one another because we want to be that's when love shows up...love is truly showing it through God...God is love, and when we are kind to strangers they will see a difference in us because that difference is God
-God connects it all together to Him, It all connects to love
Lord,
everything you are and everything you've made connects down to you. Its all about love. Loving you, loving your creations, loving everything in this world. You made it all and loved it all. Thank you for creating it all for us. So we can live in the vastness of your glory. I love you. Amen.
-Everything has a virtue connected to...if you do this, make sure this is connected to it
-Because its better to have more virtues than only one
-If you have faith, connect goodness to it...if you want to have faith do good works with that faith "faith w/out deeds is dead"
-if you want goodness connect knowledge to it...Make sure you know why you are doing good things..don't do them just to show a mask or be a hypocrite, do it because you want to because your heart lives that's way....let goodness live in your mind so your mind can be clear of evil thoughts and actions...so goodness can constantly live in your heart
-with knowledge comes self-control, when you know things, you'll know the difference between right and wrong....when you know Gods law and what He commands than you will know that the flesh has to be weaker than the Spirit, when the Spirit is stronger it is easier to control the flesh, therefore making it easier to walk away from temptation and everything the enemy wants to put in front of you
-with self-control comes perseverance....if you have self-control you can move forward to your goal....self-control helps you move away from all your distractions in life and lets you push through the walls, the chains, everything the enemy wants to throw at you...
-with perseverance comes godliness....God did everything for us and He could have given up and thrown in the towel...He could have wiped us out like He did in Noah's time, but He kept His word and persevered with this generation..when we push through and keep going in the will of God, we become like God. God never gives up, He never leaves us, He never stops having faith in us, and that's how we need to be with Him and with ourselves....when we push through those hard times we are showing Godly characteristics
-with godliness comes brotherly kindness...God loves everyone...no matter who they are or what they have done, and when we have godliness we be kind to all people, no matter what...God has forgiveness all over Him and that's the quality we need to take from Him. Forgiveness, to our brothers and sisters, because that's the true meaning of kindness
-with brotherly kindness comes love. When we are kind to one another because we want to be that's when love shows up...love is truly showing it through God...God is love, and when we are kind to strangers they will see a difference in us because that difference is God
-God connects it all together to Him, It all connects to love
Lord,
everything you are and everything you've made connects down to you. Its all about love. Loving you, loving your creations, loving everything in this world. You made it all and loved it all. Thank you for creating it all for us. So we can live in the vastness of your glory. I love you. Amen.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Rebels to Gods cause
Isaiah 46:3-4 Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. 4Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you, I have made you and i will carry you; I will sustain you and i will rescue you.
v.8-9 Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. 9Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me
1 Peter 5:8 Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
-God is forever. That is His name. Always and forever
-He has been here and will remain here
-He is God above any god, He is Lord over all Lords, He is king over all kings, He is everything above all else
-Isaiah is talking to all those who believe and continue to believe
-God created us and remains with us, we will birth and perish and when we perish we will live with Him forever
-He will sustain us on earth and in heaven
-But we are humans, we are rebels to Gods cause...we sin, we fall, we fail, we lie, we kill, we steal, we forget, we do it all...everything against God
-we are rebellious beings BUT God wants us only to remember His word, because it is powerful enough to change lives
-God doesn't say "you rebels, go change your lives or I'll kill you one by one and torture you"...no He says "you rebels, Remember this....fix this in your mind..."
-God has ultimate faith...and not only in Himself but in us and in His word...faith that His word will penetrate into our own hearts and change us forever
-Gods command for us is to Remember....Remember that He is God and what He has done in the past...not for us to remember our past sins and failures, but His past accomplishments, His past successes, His past glories
-But if we don't remember than the enemy will use that selfishness in us and make us into his people
-The enemy wants to take Gods word and use it in a negative way, a way where people will get confused and just give up
-He is a lion waiting behind the bush to pounce on us...on me
-I have to remember God and His word...His promises....His everything for me
-God has given me a calling and His will for me to work with and if i forget for one second that lion will come out of hiding to jump on me and suffocate me
-Lions suffocate their prey, make them weak, tear them apart bit by bit
-The devil wants to tear me apart, starting with my mind...because the mind is weak, than going for my heart...if I'm not thinking its easy to get to the central part of a person
-The devil is slick but God is powerful
-The devil is smart but God has authority
-I am human but God is divine and the devil is stupid
-I will be a rebel...but a rebel to the world, a rebel to the devils cause, a rebel to anything against God
-I will be a servant of God and follow Him forever
Father,
I thank you for your word and faith in me. I know that without you believing in me it would be way too hard to do anything in this world. I would be lost without you. i want to reach out to you and seek you more, find you more. God, forgive me for not spending more time with you, you told me you want to speak to me more, and i still remember that day. I don't want to disappoint you, I don't want to fail you or forsake you. I will not take you for granted. Give me some more time. I don't want to let you down. Hear my heart, its beating for you.
I love you. Amen
v.8-9 Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. 9Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me
1 Peter 5:8 Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
-God is forever. That is His name. Always and forever
-He has been here and will remain here
-He is God above any god, He is Lord over all Lords, He is king over all kings, He is everything above all else
-Isaiah is talking to all those who believe and continue to believe
-God created us and remains with us, we will birth and perish and when we perish we will live with Him forever
-He will sustain us on earth and in heaven
-But we are humans, we are rebels to Gods cause...we sin, we fall, we fail, we lie, we kill, we steal, we forget, we do it all...everything against God
-we are rebellious beings BUT God wants us only to remember His word, because it is powerful enough to change lives
-God doesn't say "you rebels, go change your lives or I'll kill you one by one and torture you"...no He says "you rebels, Remember this....fix this in your mind..."
-God has ultimate faith...and not only in Himself but in us and in His word...faith that His word will penetrate into our own hearts and change us forever
-Gods command for us is to Remember....Remember that He is God and what He has done in the past...not for us to remember our past sins and failures, but His past accomplishments, His past successes, His past glories
-But if we don't remember than the enemy will use that selfishness in us and make us into his people
-The enemy wants to take Gods word and use it in a negative way, a way where people will get confused and just give up
-He is a lion waiting behind the bush to pounce on us...on me
-I have to remember God and His word...His promises....His everything for me
-God has given me a calling and His will for me to work with and if i forget for one second that lion will come out of hiding to jump on me and suffocate me
-Lions suffocate their prey, make them weak, tear them apart bit by bit
-The devil wants to tear me apart, starting with my mind...because the mind is weak, than going for my heart...if I'm not thinking its easy to get to the central part of a person
-The devil is slick but God is powerful
-The devil is smart but God has authority
-I am human but God is divine and the devil is stupid
-I will be a rebel...but a rebel to the world, a rebel to the devils cause, a rebel to anything against God
-I will be a servant of God and follow Him forever
Father,
I thank you for your word and faith in me. I know that without you believing in me it would be way too hard to do anything in this world. I would be lost without you. i want to reach out to you and seek you more, find you more. God, forgive me for not spending more time with you, you told me you want to speak to me more, and i still remember that day. I don't want to disappoint you, I don't want to fail you or forsake you. I will not take you for granted. Give me some more time. I don't want to let you down. Hear my heart, its beating for you.
I love you. Amen
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Stop Punishing Myself
Isaiah 43:18-19a-b Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
v.25 I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more
1 Peter 4:3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what the pagans choose to do-living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
v.8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins
Isaiah 43:10-11 You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, and my servant whom i have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that i am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. 11I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior.
- Isaiah and Peter were in sync when they wrote these books. They both knew that God wanted to forget our sins and it was time for us to let those things go
-As human beings and sinners it is hard for us (at least for me) to forget those horrible things i have done
-even if i have done things that's not as bad to other people, to me it is disobeying God and going against His laws and who He is and that's what makes it even more horrible to me
-I remember those nights after doing things i know were bad but felt good at the moment, and driving home i would cry...even cry myself to sleep sometimes, but i could have cried till i was blue in the face, that would not have have shown God that i repentant, because i would go the next weekend and do it all over again
-i didn't love myself therefore i didn't respect myself...but if i would have loved myself than i would have stopped doing those things and saved myself a lot of heart break
-Love covers a multitude of sins - that love would have been sufficient for me and to help keep me from the drunkenness, carousing and such
-I am a witness of God - His child, His servant, just His, and i did not act like that in the past
-But now it is time to let those times go....enough with the "those were the days" and the reminiscing...there is nothing back there that i enjoyed or am proud of
-I enjoyed the fun volleyball days, the adrenaline of the game, the happiness of the win, the annoyance of more practice....but its gone now
-All those things are are memories...that's it. Memories in the past that are gone and now its time for the present
-Time to look at what God wants now, let go of those sins and stop punishing myself
-No one can rewind, no matter how hard we try, we can't be 16 again, and we never will, but i am 26 now and living a dream
- Its time to live this dream as my dream, as the gift that God gave me and use it to minister to others who need that encouragement
-I am a witness of God, a person that God is using and loves and adores and has only mercy and grace
- He is doing a new thing and i have to go with His flow, its time for me to stop trying to make the flow...its Gods flow now
Lord,
Take this flow out of my hands. I am yours forever and always. Guide me and take me by the hand. Take my life and carry it out of this world. This world full of sin and junk, and take me to you. Wherever you are that's where i want to be cause than i can think of you, be with you, and just worship you. Take away all thoughts of the past and put all the present in front of me. I want to be yours and you mine.
I love you. Amen.
v.25 I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more
1 Peter 4:3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what the pagans choose to do-living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
v.8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins
Isaiah 43:10-11 You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, and my servant whom i have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that i am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. 11I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior.
- Isaiah and Peter were in sync when they wrote these books. They both knew that God wanted to forget our sins and it was time for us to let those things go
-As human beings and sinners it is hard for us (at least for me) to forget those horrible things i have done
-even if i have done things that's not as bad to other people, to me it is disobeying God and going against His laws and who He is and that's what makes it even more horrible to me
-I remember those nights after doing things i know were bad but felt good at the moment, and driving home i would cry...even cry myself to sleep sometimes, but i could have cried till i was blue in the face, that would not have have shown God that i repentant, because i would go the next weekend and do it all over again
-i didn't love myself therefore i didn't respect myself...but if i would have loved myself than i would have stopped doing those things and saved myself a lot of heart break
-Love covers a multitude of sins - that love would have been sufficient for me and to help keep me from the drunkenness, carousing and such
-I am a witness of God - His child, His servant, just His, and i did not act like that in the past
-But now it is time to let those times go....enough with the "those were the days" and the reminiscing...there is nothing back there that i enjoyed or am proud of
-I enjoyed the fun volleyball days, the adrenaline of the game, the happiness of the win, the annoyance of more practice....but its gone now
-All those things are are memories...that's it. Memories in the past that are gone and now its time for the present
-Time to look at what God wants now, let go of those sins and stop punishing myself
-No one can rewind, no matter how hard we try, we can't be 16 again, and we never will, but i am 26 now and living a dream
- Its time to live this dream as my dream, as the gift that God gave me and use it to minister to others who need that encouragement
-I am a witness of God, a person that God is using and loves and adores and has only mercy and grace
- He is doing a new thing and i have to go with His flow, its time for me to stop trying to make the flow...its Gods flow now
Lord,
Take this flow out of my hands. I am yours forever and always. Guide me and take me by the hand. Take my life and carry it out of this world. This world full of sin and junk, and take me to you. Wherever you are that's where i want to be cause than i can think of you, be with you, and just worship you. Take away all thoughts of the past and put all the present in front of me. I want to be yours and you mine.
I love you. Amen.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
I Love Being a Woman!
1 Peter 3:3-5 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in Gods sight. 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands
-Peter wanted to make sure that whoever read that book that they would learn from the past
-The only way we can truly learn is to take past mistakes from ourselves and others
-As a single woman it is so easy to want to look good all the time and think that's all i need to do to win over people, esp. men
-But men don't only want a good looking woman, they also need substance
-Substance is the rest that is you - I am not only the outside person that i reflect
-I am not only Mexican American w/ brown eyes,brown hair, and tan skin
-I am someone that loves God with everything that I am, but i also fail at times to show Him that love
-I love to spend time with Him, but sometimes i don't do it
- i love to worship God, with body soul and mind, but there are times when i think things and do things i shouldn't
-Yes, I'm a Pastor but I don't pray everyday and its not always easy just to put all my trust in God when i don't see anything in front of me
-Peter was married and there's never any real mention of his wife, but i can imagine that she was a good woman, and he is describing her here
-It must have been hard when Jesus said to leave everything to follow him, i can imagine she battled with her husband because their lives were not stable, and woman want stability
-They want security in every sense
-But in writing this, i believe that he was describing not only what she did but what he had to do also in v.7 "Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."
-Peter had to become a different man, He had to change his way of thinking and really take into consideration the life he has made with his wife
-Beauty will leave while getting old, but the spirit and heart remains the same - if you are a good person, that will show through you - if not, than people will see right through you
-I don't want to be just another pretty face that can dress up really nice and myself look good
-I don't want to be one of those women that uses their beauty to get ahead
-I don't want people to see me as the girl that looks good - i want them to see me first and foremost as a woman
-And not just a woman but a Pastor - someone with a calling and a purpose - a woman that is fulfilling that call that God has poured over my life
-A woman with power and authority and strength to get through the trials in life
-A woman that can do all things through Christ
-Men are awesome, but i love being a woman, i love being feminine and enjoying those things in life
-I love pink, and crying and being emotional, and being a daughter, a sister, and one day a wife
-I love the fact that i will one day make a man incredibly happy with who I am and what I can give him
-I love knowing that God is my Father and I am His daughter, that i can get on His lap and laugh and cry and just be silly with Him
-I love knowing that i have an earthly Father that loves me and protects me, and helps me in life
-I love knowing that I have guy friends that want to help me and know me and love me for me and not the outside of me
-I love having Pastors that believe in me and are not sexist or think of me as inferior but as an equal
-I love working with a woman who demands respect and knows who she is in God and can care less about the thoughts of others
-I love mentoring young girls that can learn from my past and learning from them the ways of youth in today's generation
-I love having a mother that is just crazy, stubborn, funny, and the most loving person in the world
-I love making new friends that i can relate to and just be myself around
-I just love being a woman!
Lord,
Thank you so much for making me a woman. I have my issues that i need to deal with but that never makes me want to be a different person. I love being me, because you created me in this way for a purpose and i love fulfilling that person. Make me known as someone with a sweet spirit and a lovable heart, not just a nice face and body. This face and body will leave and wrinkle, but not my interior, because you breathed it yourself and I am yours. Make me more like you everyday. Help me to be a better person and a better woman each day. I thank you my God. I love you. Amen.
-Peter wanted to make sure that whoever read that book that they would learn from the past
-The only way we can truly learn is to take past mistakes from ourselves and others
-As a single woman it is so easy to want to look good all the time and think that's all i need to do to win over people, esp. men
-But men don't only want a good looking woman, they also need substance
-Substance is the rest that is you - I am not only the outside person that i reflect
-I am not only Mexican American w/ brown eyes,brown hair, and tan skin
-I am someone that loves God with everything that I am, but i also fail at times to show Him that love
-I love to spend time with Him, but sometimes i don't do it
- i love to worship God, with body soul and mind, but there are times when i think things and do things i shouldn't
-Yes, I'm a Pastor but I don't pray everyday and its not always easy just to put all my trust in God when i don't see anything in front of me
-Peter was married and there's never any real mention of his wife, but i can imagine that she was a good woman, and he is describing her here
-It must have been hard when Jesus said to leave everything to follow him, i can imagine she battled with her husband because their lives were not stable, and woman want stability
-They want security in every sense
-But in writing this, i believe that he was describing not only what she did but what he had to do also in v.7 "Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."
-Peter had to become a different man, He had to change his way of thinking and really take into consideration the life he has made with his wife
-Beauty will leave while getting old, but the spirit and heart remains the same - if you are a good person, that will show through you - if not, than people will see right through you
-I don't want to be just another pretty face that can dress up really nice and myself look good
-I don't want to be one of those women that uses their beauty to get ahead
-I don't want people to see me as the girl that looks good - i want them to see me first and foremost as a woman
-And not just a woman but a Pastor - someone with a calling and a purpose - a woman that is fulfilling that call that God has poured over my life
-A woman with power and authority and strength to get through the trials in life
-A woman that can do all things through Christ
-Men are awesome, but i love being a woman, i love being feminine and enjoying those things in life
-I love pink, and crying and being emotional, and being a daughter, a sister, and one day a wife
-I love the fact that i will one day make a man incredibly happy with who I am and what I can give him
-I love knowing that God is my Father and I am His daughter, that i can get on His lap and laugh and cry and just be silly with Him
-I love knowing that i have an earthly Father that loves me and protects me, and helps me in life
-I love knowing that I have guy friends that want to help me and know me and love me for me and not the outside of me
-I love having Pastors that believe in me and are not sexist or think of me as inferior but as an equal
-I love working with a woman who demands respect and knows who she is in God and can care less about the thoughts of others
-I love mentoring young girls that can learn from my past and learning from them the ways of youth in today's generation
-I love having a mother that is just crazy, stubborn, funny, and the most loving person in the world
-I love making new friends that i can relate to and just be myself around
-I just love being a woman!
Lord,
Thank you so much for making me a woman. I have my issues that i need to deal with but that never makes me want to be a different person. I love being me, because you created me in this way for a purpose and i love fulfilling that person. Make me known as someone with a sweet spirit and a lovable heart, not just a nice face and body. This face and body will leave and wrinkle, but not my interior, because you breathed it yourself and I am yours. Make me more like you everyday. Help me to be a better person and a better woman each day. I thank you my God. I love you. Amen.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Love ME More
James 4:11-12 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgement on it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you-who are you to judge your neighbor?
-As a Pastor i want to always try to do the right thing, and i don't
-Not until i read this passage did i realize that i have been judging people
-Not on purpose, and in a bad fashion, but by little comments here and there
- Nobody can escape this sin...no matter how holy they are
-This is a hard sin to get away from
-The enemy puts thoughts in our head and we can just normally be talking to our friends, and begin judging others
-James knew what he was talking about...He knew the power of judging others
-James didn't want others to fall into that sin
-We have to know the true power of the Judge
-If i judge i break the law "Love your neighbor as yourself" "Love the Lord your God with all your heart"
-If i judge someone else i am not loving God with all my heart or my neighbor
-I am saying that God is not doing a good job and i am not loving myself
-If i judge others God is being put on the shelf and so is His Word. I am saying that His power and authority have no merit and all that work that God did was for nothing
-If i judge someone I am also not trusting myself. I am not trusting the work that God has done in my life.
-I am giving all the power to the devil and he knows it....and enjoys it...he loves to hear slanderous things
-Its time for me to be real with God and with myself
-If i don't like someone, its ok...i can deal with it
-If i need to talk to someone, i can talk to God
-God needs to be the ears to listen to me, He can hear why there is someone that i don't like, He can take over my pain and hurt
-God wants to hear me more, in every aspect, good or bad
Lord,
Hear my prayer. I need your help. I judge people. Forgive me. Forgive my words, Forgive my actions, Forgive my thoughts. I don't want to take the power away from you in my life. I want you to continue leading me, and guiding me. I want you to be the Lord of my life forever. I want to love you with all my heart, and i want to love all my neighbors as myself. Put more love in me so i can love them more.
I love you Lord. Amen.
-As a Pastor i want to always try to do the right thing, and i don't
-Not until i read this passage did i realize that i have been judging people
-Not on purpose, and in a bad fashion, but by little comments here and there
- Nobody can escape this sin...no matter how holy they are
-This is a hard sin to get away from
-The enemy puts thoughts in our head and we can just normally be talking to our friends, and begin judging others
-James knew what he was talking about...He knew the power of judging others
-James didn't want others to fall into that sin
-We have to know the true power of the Judge
-If i judge i break the law "Love your neighbor as yourself" "Love the Lord your God with all your heart"
-If i judge someone else i am not loving God with all my heart or my neighbor
-I am saying that God is not doing a good job and i am not loving myself
-If i judge others God is being put on the shelf and so is His Word. I am saying that His power and authority have no merit and all that work that God did was for nothing
-If i judge someone I am also not trusting myself. I am not trusting the work that God has done in my life.
-I am giving all the power to the devil and he knows it....and enjoys it...he loves to hear slanderous things
-Its time for me to be real with God and with myself
-If i don't like someone, its ok...i can deal with it
-If i need to talk to someone, i can talk to God
-God needs to be the ears to listen to me, He can hear why there is someone that i don't like, He can take over my pain and hurt
-God wants to hear me more, in every aspect, good or bad
Lord,
Hear my prayer. I need your help. I judge people. Forgive me. Forgive my words, Forgive my actions, Forgive my thoughts. I don't want to take the power away from you in my life. I want you to continue leading me, and guiding me. I want you to be the Lord of my life forever. I want to love you with all my heart, and i want to love all my neighbors as myself. Put more love in me so i can love them more.
I love you Lord. Amen.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Be Good
James 2: 17-19 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead. 18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and i will show you my faith by what i do. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder.
-Though it seems that James is going against what Paul has taught, they are actually supporting one another.
-James is telling the people that faith is done by actions
-Someone can't tell if you have faith if you don't show it
-People cannot see your faith sitting in your heart and spirit because its invisible
-Paul wanted us to receive salvation by faith alone but he also wrote to Titus about how important good deeds are
-if you have faith yet are a bad person obviously, as James says, your faith is dead
- James and Paul wanted the people to share their faith to others
-People can only tell the faith we have by our deeds
-Billy Graham is a man of integrity and high moral values. He hasn't been in any immoral positions, and has been loved by people who don't even believe in Christ
-He is a great role model and through his life, demeanor, and deeds He truly is a man of faith
-Other people who have been in the ministry have done some things that are questionable and their faith has been tested....and some, because of the way they handles things their faith has died
-It is my turn to become a person where others can see my faith shine through
-A person that helps others, the gives to others, and just loves others
-I want to be that person that God is proud of and when He looks at me He smiles
-I know i'm not perfect and God doesn't smile All the time, but i want to do good deeds and share them
-I have always been a person to share, i enjoy giving to others that just don't have what i have
-I want others to know that it is possible to get those things even when everything seems too difficult
-I want to be a role model for young girls to grow up, not to be like me, but to be way better!
-I want to show them what to do and not to do...i've done plenty of not's
Lord,
thank you for allowing me to live my life the way i did. i know if i didn't i wouldn't be sitting here talking to you. You allow many things in life and all i can do is learn from it. You are my Father and my God and from this day forward i want people to see that i am your child and how much i love you. I love you. Amen.
-Though it seems that James is going against what Paul has taught, they are actually supporting one another.
-James is telling the people that faith is done by actions
-Someone can't tell if you have faith if you don't show it
-People cannot see your faith sitting in your heart and spirit because its invisible
-Paul wanted us to receive salvation by faith alone but he also wrote to Titus about how important good deeds are
-if you have faith yet are a bad person obviously, as James says, your faith is dead
- James and Paul wanted the people to share their faith to others
-People can only tell the faith we have by our deeds
-Billy Graham is a man of integrity and high moral values. He hasn't been in any immoral positions, and has been loved by people who don't even believe in Christ
-He is a great role model and through his life, demeanor, and deeds He truly is a man of faith
-Other people who have been in the ministry have done some things that are questionable and their faith has been tested....and some, because of the way they handles things their faith has died
-It is my turn to become a person where others can see my faith shine through
-A person that helps others, the gives to others, and just loves others
-I want to be that person that God is proud of and when He looks at me He smiles
-I know i'm not perfect and God doesn't smile All the time, but i want to do good deeds and share them
-I have always been a person to share, i enjoy giving to others that just don't have what i have
-I want others to know that it is possible to get those things even when everything seems too difficult
-I want to be a role model for young girls to grow up, not to be like me, but to be way better!
-I want to show them what to do and not to do...i've done plenty of not's
Lord,
thank you for allowing me to live my life the way i did. i know if i didn't i wouldn't be sitting here talking to you. You allow many things in life and all i can do is learn from it. You are my Father and my God and from this day forward i want people to see that i am your child and how much i love you. I love you. Amen.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Place of Love
James 1:22-24 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listen to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like
-The word of God is full of instruction, this is the human instruction manual
-The way we should live is in the word of God
-God took thousands of years to get the human race to a place where they know what to do and is giving us a chance to take that instruction
-The 10 commandments still pertain to us today, and some other things in the OT, even if Jesus came to change the law
-Before anything Jesus wants us to Love God with all our heart, mind and soul....then our neighbors...then ourselves
-I believe if we love how Jesus wants us to than everything will be easy not to do...if i love my neighbor i won't steal from him, kill him, covet him etc.
-Jesus knew where to start in our hearts and Love is the beginning of all
-God created us all out of Love
-God had Jesus die out of Love
-Love is the beginning and end....God is love
-The word is true in all aspects because it is God-breathed and the men who wrote it were spirit filled
-So James is saying put action to what you listen to because thats where God will bless you
-You can't eat a lot of food and not have it pass through your body and remain healthy that way
-When i hear a word that affects my life i need to put it into practice
-James, Jesus' brother even denied Christ at one time...He didn't know the true word (Jesus is the word)
-We all go through a time of denial of Christ and forget His glory but God always brings us back to the place where we started...the place of Love
-i know that i have to start remembering what i read in the word because that is where i will be able to defend the word of God
-Many people want to come against Christians but its time that we stop being scared and start being smart
-Smart about who we are in Christ and who He has called us to be
Father,
I have many issues i need to deal with , especially the one on remembering your word. I need help memorizing what your word says. I need more wisdom and strength to keep trying until i finally get it. I know that only you can help me, and only you can give me the answers when i need them the most. Your word says that you are the most High God and I believe that to be true. I believe that you are Everything...Everything to me, everything to this earth, to the people, to my heart. You represent all i want to be and all i want to be near. You are my God and my Father, my Savior, and my King. I love you so much. Thank You. AMen.
-The word of God is full of instruction, this is the human instruction manual
-The way we should live is in the word of God
-God took thousands of years to get the human race to a place where they know what to do and is giving us a chance to take that instruction
-The 10 commandments still pertain to us today, and some other things in the OT, even if Jesus came to change the law
-Before anything Jesus wants us to Love God with all our heart, mind and soul....then our neighbors...then ourselves
-I believe if we love how Jesus wants us to than everything will be easy not to do...if i love my neighbor i won't steal from him, kill him, covet him etc.
-Jesus knew where to start in our hearts and Love is the beginning of all
-God created us all out of Love
-God had Jesus die out of Love
-Love is the beginning and end....God is love
-The word is true in all aspects because it is God-breathed and the men who wrote it were spirit filled
-So James is saying put action to what you listen to because thats where God will bless you
-You can't eat a lot of food and not have it pass through your body and remain healthy that way
-When i hear a word that affects my life i need to put it into practice
-James, Jesus' brother even denied Christ at one time...He didn't know the true word (Jesus is the word)
-We all go through a time of denial of Christ and forget His glory but God always brings us back to the place where we started...the place of Love
-i know that i have to start remembering what i read in the word because that is where i will be able to defend the word of God
-Many people want to come against Christians but its time that we stop being scared and start being smart
-Smart about who we are in Christ and who He has called us to be
Father,
I have many issues i need to deal with , especially the one on remembering your word. I need help memorizing what your word says. I need more wisdom and strength to keep trying until i finally get it. I know that only you can help me, and only you can give me the answers when i need them the most. Your word says that you are the most High God and I believe that to be true. I believe that you are Everything...Everything to me, everything to this earth, to the people, to my heart. You represent all i want to be and all i want to be near. You are my God and my Father, my Savior, and my King. I love you so much. Thank You. AMen.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Submit
Hebrews 13: 7-8, 17: Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 17Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy; not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
- We go through so much in life that at times we forget those people that we affect.
- The leaders that he is talking about, are not only the leaders at church but also the leaders at home, school, work, life, etc.
- As disciples of Christ, He has put leaders in our path to obey them and take counsel from them, and even imitate them
- Jesus wants us to be better people, a better generation, He wants us to accomplish more than what He did and more than what are leaders are doing
-Not in vain or prideful, but in a way where we can keep the work of the Lord going
- Our leaders are to make sure we get from God all that we can, and they are to teach us those things
-And we in turn are supposed to accept it and obey it and submit to their authority
-At times i may not think that my leaders are correct, but i know that God has put them over me for a reason and to submit is a difficult thing
-But i know that i will receive more blessings if i submit than if i rebel
-God wants to see my heart and see how willing i am to follow Him and those He put right above me
- Gods word will never change...Jesus is the word and He is the same forever, so no matter if its 50 years from now God still wants me to obey my authorities
Father,
i thank you for the people you have put in my life. Each of them has a special place in my heart and a special place in line in my life. Each of them has something to give me that i want to take and obey them as much as possible. If there is ever a time that i rebel or go against them Lord, convict me and make me right. Give me the right heart to serve because thats the only thing you see. I love you. Amen.
- We go through so much in life that at times we forget those people that we affect.
- The leaders that he is talking about, are not only the leaders at church but also the leaders at home, school, work, life, etc.
- As disciples of Christ, He has put leaders in our path to obey them and take counsel from them, and even imitate them
- Jesus wants us to be better people, a better generation, He wants us to accomplish more than what He did and more than what are leaders are doing
-Not in vain or prideful, but in a way where we can keep the work of the Lord going
- Our leaders are to make sure we get from God all that we can, and they are to teach us those things
-And we in turn are supposed to accept it and obey it and submit to their authority
-At times i may not think that my leaders are correct, but i know that God has put them over me for a reason and to submit is a difficult thing
-But i know that i will receive more blessings if i submit than if i rebel
-God wants to see my heart and see how willing i am to follow Him and those He put right above me
- Gods word will never change...Jesus is the word and He is the same forever, so no matter if its 50 years from now God still wants me to obey my authorities
Father,
i thank you for the people you have put in my life. Each of them has a special place in my heart and a special place in line in my life. Each of them has something to give me that i want to take and obey them as much as possible. If there is ever a time that i rebel or go against them Lord, convict me and make me right. Give me the right heart to serve because thats the only thing you see. I love you. Amen.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Persevere to Receive
Hebrews 10:35-39: So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. 37 For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased by him." 39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
- No matter what generation it is the people of God need and needed a pick me up
- We go through so many things that at times its hard just to take an hour with God
- We also have weaknesses that have not been made into strengths and still overpower that area
- It is so hard for me to wake up early in the morning and pray
- I know that God wants me to do it because He has told me through numerous people and that is my weakness
-We all have a weakness that we have to overpower
-I love to worship and pray but to do it on my own is a discipline i have to master
- I believe that was the problem since the very beginning
-There were men like Daniel, David, Job, Abraham, Moses that just left it all to spend quality time with God, and i try to compare myself with them
-But i can't, i am not them, i am different
-When i don't pray and don't go before God the enemy tries to make me feel guilty for many things and rubs it in my face and it is so easy to believe him and when i do my confidence is set back
-But with God by my side and in my heart I can just like those men in the OT persevere b/c I have received that gift of salvation
-I am doing the will of God and i do have faith
- I am not one to go back to the world and live its lies
- The author of Hebrews knew that this generation was not a weak one
-So many youth are deciding to fight back, the world will no longer win, and we will battle for the Lord b/c Jesus battled for us!
Lord,
Thank you for winning this war for us. You give me the strength everyday to keep on going even when at times i forget you. I can never understand your mercy or grace upon my life b/c i fail you so many times. Father, i don't want to fail you, give me the strength to do your will everyday. I want to worship you wih everything i have. not just with my words and hands but with my whole body everywhere....i want to worship you at work, with my friends, in the car, i want my life to be worthy of you. I will not shrink back and allow the world to win. I will keep pressing through because you gave me the ability to want more out of this life. you gave me the dreams to keep going and i will follow those.
I love you. Amen.
- No matter what generation it is the people of God need and needed a pick me up
- We go through so many things that at times its hard just to take an hour with God
- We also have weaknesses that have not been made into strengths and still overpower that area
- It is so hard for me to wake up early in the morning and pray
- I know that God wants me to do it because He has told me through numerous people and that is my weakness
-We all have a weakness that we have to overpower
-I love to worship and pray but to do it on my own is a discipline i have to master
- I believe that was the problem since the very beginning
-There were men like Daniel, David, Job, Abraham, Moses that just left it all to spend quality time with God, and i try to compare myself with them
-But i can't, i am not them, i am different
-When i don't pray and don't go before God the enemy tries to make me feel guilty for many things and rubs it in my face and it is so easy to believe him and when i do my confidence is set back
-But with God by my side and in my heart I can just like those men in the OT persevere b/c I have received that gift of salvation
-I am doing the will of God and i do have faith
- I am not one to go back to the world and live its lies
- The author of Hebrews knew that this generation was not a weak one
-So many youth are deciding to fight back, the world will no longer win, and we will battle for the Lord b/c Jesus battled for us!
Lord,
Thank you for winning this war for us. You give me the strength everyday to keep on going even when at times i forget you. I can never understand your mercy or grace upon my life b/c i fail you so many times. Father, i don't want to fail you, give me the strength to do your will everyday. I want to worship you wih everything i have. not just with my words and hands but with my whole body everywhere....i want to worship you at work, with my friends, in the car, i want my life to be worthy of you. I will not shrink back and allow the world to win. I will keep pressing through because you gave me the ability to want more out of this life. you gave me the dreams to keep going and i will follow those.
I love you. Amen.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
The Real Death
Hebrews 9:27-28: Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement, 28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Observation:
-Death, real death, only comes once
-Many people have died and than resucutated back
-Others have died and God told them it wasn't their time
-So i don't think that its truly death....almost death but the real death.
-Real death comes when you are before God and He is judging you and your fleshy body is deteriorating, because death comes in many parts
-Death includes, the spirit, soul, and body
-The spirit dies on the earth because it goes and lives in heaven, the soul is mourned by the people on earth and that also dies on earth, and the body is dead to all
-Jesus had to die the real death...death in all parts of himself
-The soul died the instant He was turned away from God...His emotions were crushed and He became like a little boy at that point, He felt rejected, just like many of us do...But because He was a man He knew what He had to do
-His body died when they crucified Him and whipped Him and pierced His side
-His spirit died on earth and went to Heaven to be with God
-But Jesus' death was different because with His death, our sins were lost and we were able to live
-Through His death came life, and no one else can claim that, ever!
Application:
-We all die for a reason, we don't always know that reason but God knows it, and we have to trust Him
-But whether we die or live to be 100 Jesus is coming again to get us
-He will not die a second death but live again and bring us life again
-People are dying out there and some of us dont know what to do
-But the truth is that Jesus is coming back and we have to be ready, not to die, but to live again!
Prayer:
Father,
I thank you for your second coming. You are everything that i live for and that i want to keep living for. You gave your life so that i can live again. I want this first life to be filled with your love and just You. I pray that those people that don't know you now know you later and find you in this world. Please God I ask that those who are looking for something different find it in you and they don't look at false gods or vanity. You are the true God that died for me and I want to give my life over to you.
I love you.
AMen
Observation:
-Death, real death, only comes once
-Many people have died and than resucutated back
-Others have died and God told them it wasn't their time
-So i don't think that its truly death....almost death but the real death.
-Real death comes when you are before God and He is judging you and your fleshy body is deteriorating, because death comes in many parts
-Death includes, the spirit, soul, and body
-The spirit dies on the earth because it goes and lives in heaven, the soul is mourned by the people on earth and that also dies on earth, and the body is dead to all
-Jesus had to die the real death...death in all parts of himself
-The soul died the instant He was turned away from God...His emotions were crushed and He became like a little boy at that point, He felt rejected, just like many of us do...But because He was a man He knew what He had to do
-His body died when they crucified Him and whipped Him and pierced His side
-His spirit died on earth and went to Heaven to be with God
-But Jesus' death was different because with His death, our sins were lost and we were able to live
-Through His death came life, and no one else can claim that, ever!
Application:
-We all die for a reason, we don't always know that reason but God knows it, and we have to trust Him
-But whether we die or live to be 100 Jesus is coming again to get us
-He will not die a second death but live again and bring us life again
-People are dying out there and some of us dont know what to do
-But the truth is that Jesus is coming back and we have to be ready, not to die, but to live again!
Prayer:
Father,
I thank you for your second coming. You are everything that i live for and that i want to keep living for. You gave your life so that i can live again. I want this first life to be filled with your love and just You. I pray that those people that don't know you now know you later and find you in this world. Please God I ask that those who are looking for something different find it in you and they don't look at false gods or vanity. You are the true God that died for me and I want to give my life over to you.
I love you.
AMen
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Love, Mercy, Compassion
Hebrews 8:8-13: 8But God found fault with the people and said: "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when i will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 9It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when i took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and i turned away from them, declares the Lord. 10This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least to the greatest. 12For i will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." 13By calling this covenant "new", he has made thr first one obsolete; and what is osolete and aging will soon disappear.
OBSERVATION:
- The author here is trying to make a point....Gods Word is true and refreshed
-Refreshed in the sense that everything God has said, whether in the OT or NT has power and authority
-What God said in the OT still has power today, but if you read the NT and there is something that overrules it, than follow the new
-In the OT there were stories of people killing others with Gods permission...eye for an eye, but in the NT Jesus talks about love, mercy, and compassion for your neighbor
-Gods word is not wrong in the OT it is just different now. There was a specific way of living and surviving in the OT that if it wasnt that way, than all those people would not have lived as long as they did
-God was testing the waters in the OT, He wanted to make a good world, with good people but that failed, not because God failed, but because humans failed
-human nature is stronger if we allow it to be....God is stronger in our lives if we allow HIm to be
-God made a covenant with the people of Israel and they failed and trashed it
-God made a new covenant with us which overules the other one, so we are to live by the new one with the law in our minds and hearts...God will be our God and we will be His people!
Application:
-Sometimes going through the Bible its hard to know what to live by
- But having the NT in hand is definately a God send because i can only imagine those people that were living through the NT times without having those stories in hand
-I know that the NT doesn't discredit the OT but it just changes the way of living...a better way of living a loving way of living
-Gods covenant in my life is about love, mercy, and compassion
-He has written that in my mind and heart and has called that "new"
-I am to be a "new" person, with a new covenant and a new life
-God made me new because in v.12 says "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more" - God sent Jesus to wash all my sins...i don't have to sacrifice an animal anymore, because Jesus did that for me!
Prayer:
Father,
I thank you for making me new. You changed my life and made me into a different person. My life will be based on love, mercy, and compassion because you planted that in me, and decided that i will live in this generation. My generation needs to change, forgive them for they do not know they are living like the Israelites. Give them a new heart and allow me to be used for your glory and honor. Lord, I ask that you keep molding me as a better person because i cannot go on without you.
I love you. Amen.
OBSERVATION:
- The author here is trying to make a point....Gods Word is true and refreshed
-Refreshed in the sense that everything God has said, whether in the OT or NT has power and authority
-What God said in the OT still has power today, but if you read the NT and there is something that overrules it, than follow the new
-In the OT there were stories of people killing others with Gods permission...eye for an eye, but in the NT Jesus talks about love, mercy, and compassion for your neighbor
-Gods word is not wrong in the OT it is just different now. There was a specific way of living and surviving in the OT that if it wasnt that way, than all those people would not have lived as long as they did
-God was testing the waters in the OT, He wanted to make a good world, with good people but that failed, not because God failed, but because humans failed
-human nature is stronger if we allow it to be....God is stronger in our lives if we allow HIm to be
-God made a covenant with the people of Israel and they failed and trashed it
-God made a new covenant with us which overules the other one, so we are to live by the new one with the law in our minds and hearts...God will be our God and we will be His people!
Application:
-Sometimes going through the Bible its hard to know what to live by
- But having the NT in hand is definately a God send because i can only imagine those people that were living through the NT times without having those stories in hand
-I know that the NT doesn't discredit the OT but it just changes the way of living...a better way of living a loving way of living
-Gods covenant in my life is about love, mercy, and compassion
-He has written that in my mind and heart and has called that "new"
-I am to be a "new" person, with a new covenant and a new life
-God made me new because in v.12 says "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more" - God sent Jesus to wash all my sins...i don't have to sacrifice an animal anymore, because Jesus did that for me!
Prayer:
Father,
I thank you for making me new. You changed my life and made me into a different person. My life will be based on love, mercy, and compassion because you planted that in me, and decided that i will live in this generation. My generation needs to change, forgive them for they do not know they are living like the Israelites. Give them a new heart and allow me to be used for your glory and honor. Lord, I ask that you keep molding me as a better person because i cannot go on without you.
I love you. Amen.
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