Standing on the Truth...

Why pray for something that has already been given to us? If God's word is living and active, true, and a promise... why do we ask for what has already been promised us in His word?
We need only claim it - in faith, and stand on the promise that He will do as He has said. Remember, Stand Firm (Ephesians 6:10-17).
Thank you, Lord, for the promises You have given us. I pray that our eyes would be open to the truth of Your word, and learn to claim that which has already been freely given. That we need only open our eyes to the Truth, to see that it has been right in front of us the entire time. Thank you, Jesus.

Picking up the Cross - Food for Thought

Something I realized...
Picking up the cross, yes, is about forgiveness and getting back up and continuing on. However, it's not just that.

Picking up your cross is also to work towards your life's purpose (what God made you for) with all the determination and faith that Jesus did toward Calvary.

Pain and Sorrow...

This pain this hurt is all I feel;
Gnashing jaws of sword and steel.
Clawing at my bones and skin,
Look how much trouble that I'm in.

Unable to heal
From this pain inside.
No matter what I try
Always seems to make me cry.

Burning so terribly hot inside.
I cannot hide from thee.

Darkness of the moon, and fire of the day...
Will it ever go away?

This pain I feel inside,
...hurts me where I cannot hide.
Hitting arteries deep inside me,
Must I flee from that which is me?

How much longer shall I dread,
This pain that's deep inside my head?

Hurting,
Oh, it hurts so badly
Knowing that something may go,
Yet, Wishing so strongly
That it were not so.

Never wanting anything more;
Never thought I'd be at the door.
Wondering... If there was more...

Another chance is all I seek.
Hoping for it in the week.

Living far from that I seek,
Shall it call me out to meet?

Shall I go, or shall I stay?
Only the Lord knows which way.
Please Lord, please don't say,
“You are old, and go away. Come again another day.”

For at that moment, will I cry?
Will I be able to look up at the sky?
See the Heaven's way up high?

Pain, and regrets are all I see.
All of this in front of me.

Nothing can I do,
Nothing can I say,
That will make this nightmare go away.

Please Lord,
Send your grace, send your mercy
Shine your holy light upon me.
I need this, all the above
to free me from the hurts of love.

Please, make it go away,
This pain to never come and stay
Not even for one more day.
This, I solemnly pray.

Life is like a puzzle....

Life is like a puzzle; one million pieces scattered as far as the stars are to each other.
We may see parts of it, but God knew the picture before it was formed. Having so, He also knows how to put it together.
We have, as living puzzles, the choice to let the creator form us into what he designed us to be; perfect and whole.
We also have the choice to try to put these pieces together on our own, though it will always end up broken, missing pieces, or any number of other things.

It falls to us, the creation, to let the creator move our lives in the way it was designed to be moved. In doing so we may become exactly what God has called us to be; pieces of life coming together, finally making us understand things about ourselves we could never have known otherwise.
It is hard, yes, but it is necessary. Have you ever known a person to put together a puzzle that consisted of one million pieces? Those pieces being shapes complex as the edges of a chip; brittle to the touch, never having a consistent flow, yet still solid and shaped enough to be picked up and moved.

This is our life. When we defy the make of the puzzle, it breaks into many more pieces. Coming back together with painstaking time from the one piecing the puzzle together... as well as with effort from the puzzle itself. Only then can the puzzle be completely whole again.

To Obey is to Listen

A word I received from God:

If you listen to God, your eyes will be open to where He is; in turn, allowing you to obey.
But, fail to listen and you will remain blind, keeping you from knowing where He is; and so, from being able to obey.

The entrance to the path of obedience is guarded by the door of the 'ear'. The key to that door is a quiet heart and mind.

Which Kingdom are YOU Living in???

Those who live in the world, with the world, and part of the world are of the world.
Those who live with God - seeking Him above all else - are of His Kingdom.

Everything of the world will burn, nothing will be left of this world - that includes those who have embraced the world.
Everything that is of God is eternal. Seek God, live for him. Die to self, live in Him. Lose your worldly life for that which is of Him, and live forever with Him.

The Ties that bind, and the Key to Unlocking them

A changed Heart is the key to unlocking the chains of spiritual imprisonment and entering freedom. So long as the heart remains the same, the chains will hold fast - no matter the strength of will, nor how sorry the person may be.

If an attempt to break the chains is made, solely by their strength-of-will, the prisoner's will shall be slowly damaged until no strength remains. If following the emotional track, the prisoner will eventually be torn in two by the weight of their condemnation, shame and guilt. Put together, these two methods of breaking free point to one source - pride.

Only one thing can loosen the shackles that bind - a changed heart. To undergo such a change, one must be transformed. This transformation changes the person in such a way that the shackles may no longer hold them down - such is True Salvation.

About Revelation... To those who want to continue living normally...

Honestly, if God wanted us to live our lives the same way we are living it now, and have since Jesus left, there would have been no need to write an entire book on Jesus' return.

When God says a sentence more than once, even if it is only repeated 1 time... We automatically know that it is important to God. However, God used an entire book to tell us of His Son's return and all that would occur before it... Not only that, there are Numerous prophecies referring to His return.

Doesn't that make it Clear it is Important to God that we at least READ that book?

There are Way too many Christian's who are afraid to even talk about it. If we are afraid to even talk about the most important day in Christianity - equally as important to Jesus' crusifiction (if not more), how can we say that we are looking forward to His return?

Yes, this book may possibly be one of the most controversial things in the faith, but to set it aside because of that is like setting aside your armor in the midst of battle.

God gave us this treasure trove of information for a reason. So we could be prepared for His coming. Not just for His coming, but also for what is to happen when He does.

...Something to at least think about

I found a link that describes what I am trying to say very well...: http://joelarmy.com/2011/01/jesus-warning-to-leaders-in-the-end-times/

Unity and the Frailty of Man

See this church, it's a beautiful thing.
Now look closer, you'll see it rotting.

See these bricks? they're made of sand...
small resistance against the frailty of man.

Still there are others made from gold,
but they still separate from the old.

Strong they be, but not solely...
They'll fall off, then turn to sand..

...such is the frailty of man.

Now look over here, see it's shine?
This fine church is divine.

These strong bricks aren't made of clay
Nor will they break on any day.

Bricks upon bricks, all fastened together...
Will they separate? Never.

Long as they keep their eyes on the maker
These strong bricks will last forever.

Such is the strength of true unity.

The Age Old Delimma of the Lost Love

Humans have such a desire for love, and look for it in so many different ways because they are hurting and lonely. There is a void in our hearts that is only filled by God's love.
The sad thing is, the closest we can get to filling this hole without having Him... is sex. It's no wonder that's what drives our culture, if not the world... Everywhere you go you'll find it; sexual immorality (of some kind)

The person who spends time with God will find... not only that the hole in their heart will slowly disappear, but that as they do they will be restored, rebuilt, and then equipped to go out and share the love they have found in Him.