God's Leading

Looking back on my life (I have a lot farther to go), I can see times where God clearly lead me for things. I would pray and pray, wanting so desperately to follow His will for my life. The more I prayed...the more my life flowed without me even knowing. I remember exact times when God answered my prayers.

One day I prayed for God to show me what He wanted me to do. This was shortly after I graduated High School and I knew I wanted to be used, but I also knew my life was going to look different than the life of my friends. So I left it up to God to lead the way. I prayed that even if I didn't hear Him leading me, that He would use my parents to show me the way. My parents have always been diligent in prayer and seeking the Lord through all circumstances...so I knew He would speak to them as well. 

I was sitting at the kitchen table just finishing up dinner with my family. My Dad says he's been thinking...oh boy. He proceeds to tell me he wants me to go to Community College. This was the end of July, so I'd have to get moving to get in that semester. With a "are you serious" face I said "are you serious??" He proceeds to tell me he thinks it would be good for me. Of course, I thought I knew better! I didn't want to go to college. They don't have a college that specializes in being a wife and mother. There is no degree I could get that would pay for itself in the end. I stomped up to my room and prayed in tears. "I can't believe he would say that! Doesn't he know my life isn't going to be like others?" as I brought my face up God told me to look at my prayer journal. Sure enough, I prayed about this. Yup. I'm fighting the very thing I prayed for. God had spoken to my Dad, and I didn't want to hear it. As I gathered myself I decided to follow my Dad's leading (which was actually God's). Going there taught me a lot. Not with the classes I took, but I met people different from me. Christians who weren't as convicted, or life changed as me. It was interesting. I got called "outrageous", "teachers pet", "overachiever" just for doing my best and being myself. I realized through that experience that I was indeed an outcast. I realized that God had a big plan for my life and ministry. I realized that I might have to stand alone in the fight. And I realized that not all Christians are looking to follow God at any cost. 

God taught me a lot through that experience. And the people I met caused a chain reaction for meeting new people that changed my life. Some on a good note, others, not so much. If I had never gone there, things would be different now.

Another time God answered my prayers was not too long ago. I was asking God where my next step was. I felt done at the church I was at. I couldn't minister anymore there and I knew God had a bigger plan for me. I started attending the church I'm at now. I knew I wouldn't be going to there just to be ministered to, but also to serve. And every week He brings a new thing for me to do. And I'm happy and growing! :)

I still have prayers that God said "wait" on...but because of His track record of amazing things...I know He has my good in mind :)

So if you are waiting on the Lord...don't give up! He hears you. And if you keep seeking Him and what His will is...He will answer you and it will be good for you. :) just remember sometimes we have to get rid of our wants in order to see His will.

Romans 8: 18-30

^"18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."

Always keep this in mind too...

2 Peter 3:9

^"9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Love always,

Mandy Scordino

The First Kiss Girl

For my girl friends

"The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit--a wife who married young, only to be rejected,' says your God. 'For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back." Isaiah 54: 6-7

I know that God had me start this blog to be able to encourage people, especially girls, in real life things that maybe they think they are alone in. And I'm here to say...you are not alone. 

This one goes out to my girls. My friends who are struggling with waiting. Waiting for the guys, waiting for God, waiting for love.

"Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you, do not awaken love until it desires" Song of Songs 3: 5

It may not make it in the media, but this is something big going on right now, and I want to talk about it.
You hear married women tell you "if it's meant to happen, it will happen." or "just don't think about it and all of a sudden he will come when you least expect it" and us girls are like PLEASE STOP GIVING US THAT ADVICE. lol.

"Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subjective to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God" Titus 2: 4-5

I am not going to tell you to not think about it. Go ahead, think about it...pay attention to what goes on around you. This is my advice to you (and myself): Trust only God.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones." Proverbs 3:7-8


Sometimes it's hard to trust something you can't see, and something you don't fully understand.
Or...to lay your desires at God's feet...you know...the desire you really don't want to let go of.
It isn't that God isn't good enough...or that you think He doesn't have something better.
But it's a control thing. Letting someone else decide. And the need for you to trust that person and wait.
We all don't like it. We want to know exactly when things are going to happen and we want them to go the way we want.

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

But we are flawed. We are dirty. We are small. God is not.

Yeah sure. That last statement was convicting. But nothing new, right? We all know God is big, God is good, God knows more. Yet, here we are, struggling to trust Him.
Why are we so impatient? Why are we so self centered? Why must we be in control??????...

Oh...sorry...I don't actually have the answer to those questions lol.

"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy  which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." Colossians 2:8

It's a daily fight! It's something we probably will never master. We may struggle for years before God actually does something before our eyes. but, He doesn't withhold from us. He doesn't wait for us to be "right enough" for His blessings. He just literally knows the perfect time. and only Him.

**In your head I know you are saying "God, the perfect time is NOW!" hahahaha I know because that's what I was thinking...

"The Lord is not slow in keeping His promises, as some of you understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

The art isn't in trusting God without any problem...Moses couldn't even do that.
The art is in knowing God is good.

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good His love endures forever" Psalm 136: 1

If you start doubting God's love or promises...you need to get re-focused.

Everything God does, has a purpose. Everything He did in the past had a purpose. Who He was then, is who He still is. He never changes.

When I get depressed about the things I don't have, or the things that have happened to me, or what others think of me. I remind myself...yes, I tell myself...who God is.

I don't trust God because of what He has done for me, or how many of my prayers He answers. I trust Him because of who He is. All throughout His Word He wanted the best for His people and He had to do hard things.

"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged" Deuteronomy 31: 8

We may not understand why He didn't send our husband at age 16. Or why Sally is married with a baby on the way...and she is 4 years younger than us and she never wanted kids. And here we are, we have wanted to married our whole lives and we know how to watch 15 babies all by our self. How much more qualified for the job can we get!?!!!

But God sees beyond what we see. There may be a crisis that we can't be distracted in. There may be families that need our help before we have to worry about our own. Or, God considers us faithful enough to have us wait.

Don't try and figure it out.
Don't change who you are.
Don't try a other woman's recipe for a husband...stick to the spices God gave YOU.

Trust your First Love <3

He knows what you need.

He hears your heart.

He knows you.

better than anyone.

"Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him" Matthew 6: 8

Just LOVE HIM.

Tell Him it's hard.

Cry out to Him

"Come to Me, all who are weary and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Hold your phone up to your ear and talk to Him rather than calling that one guy you know will always answer your call.

God is the ONLY one who can fill you.

"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but who drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" John 4:13-14

Don't throw away marriage.

It is still beautiful.

Don't beat yourself up blaming it on your sin.

Everyone sins.

"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3: 22-24

If you are in constant pursuit of God...the pain won't be able to stay...but you won't loose your desire...your desire will be adorned, and a joy.

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

Let go of what the world says about you.

Let go of what the movies say about love.

"Whatever is TRUE..." Philippians 4: 8

Study God's love.

Enjoy the marriages you get to see.

Takes notes.

Talk to your Daddy about boys.

Talk to your Mom about being a help-mate.

Go to school with JESUS. He will teach you.

Give Him your heart.

Not to change, but to care for.

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" Psalm 37:4

Enjoy the brothers in Christ God has given you.

Love people.

Invest in people.

Talk to young girls.

Encourage others.

Be strong. BE COURAGEOUS. 

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1: 9

IT WILL BE OK.

"Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own" Matthew 6:34

You don't have to worry about the future.

It isn't in YOUR control.

Your emotions, your mouth and your attitude IS.

Let God worry about the future.

You just follow Him.

p.s I love you

           ^^^you have to admit that was good ;)

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." Hebrews 10: 35-36

Let nothing move you but GOD

Sometimes God doesn't answer things when we think He should. That only proves that His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).

I have the full capacity to achieve pretty much anything I want. Such as, a guy. LOL.
Yeah we can laugh about it, but this fact really scares me.
That I can possibly walk off God's path for me and create my own.
How did I deserve that right?
Why would it come so easy to me?
God certainly doesn't deserve it from me.
With all that He's done for me, His path should be guided by a barbed wire fence!! But that's just it, His thoughts are higher than mine. I would want to control someone I gave everything to, but God only adds more freedom.

So yeah, I can choose who to marry, I can also have sex tomorrow if I wanted. I am after all a woman, we are crafty. LOL.
Would my choice be the right one? If I chose a man, would we never fight? Who's to say?
I can't see that far into the future. I can't even see the next minute.

What scares me even more than being able to walk off God's path for me, is to be off God's path.
He sees everything. Nothing is hidden from Him (Hebrews 4:13). He created everything I see, everything I touch, every emotion I feel, every breath, every pore, every hair, every tear.
He knows my future (Jeremiah 29:11).
I don't.
To walk away from that, to be alone, nearsighted, blind, with no one to guide me, left to my own self...I know what I'm capable of, I know how quickly I can mess things up, I know the pain I can inflict on myself. Who knows what kind of state I'd be in after just one night left all to myself, my flesh, my desires, my temptations...left to fight them all alone.
I'd be tired, weak, scared, helpless.
Who would want me then?
I can feel a hole in my stomach arising just thinking about it.
But lo and behold...He let's me choose.

The way of God is uncertain in my own eyes. I'd have to follow His steps and stay under His wing while others choose what their whims desire. I'd have to listen to God because He knows the way and I don't.

Then there could be my path...I'd get to choose what to do and where to go. I wouldn't have to follow anyone.
But then, what if there's a sharp curve? There wouldn't be any signs or warnings, I could crash. And what if storms come? Could I build a shelter quick enough? What if the man I choose leaves? Then what?

Would it be so bad to just walk with God and resist temptations? After all, He will always be there to help and guide me.
Is the "me path" really worth the risk if I end up worse than I am now?

Is the "freedom to choose" an invitation to go my own way or is the real freedom in staying on God's path?
Is this life about "me", or where I'm going? God has already told me where His path leads, and I want to go there. So is it really that important to "be my own person" or to "make a name for myself"?
What about after this life? What if I can't choose anymore? What if I'm done for?! What if God's path is the only way to the place I want to go?
How can I be sure I get there?

WAIT, I already answered it!
God's path.
He sees ahead, He will protect me, He'll be my shelter, He'll plan my future, He will guide me to that place. I don't have to be certain. I'm certain He knows! I'm certain He's the only way! I'm certain He knows what is good for me! And I'm certain He knows my heart.

Because He created it.

You may think that God doesn't care about you. You may wonder why you are going through the things you are. Chances are, you may have wonder off His path and made a decision He didn't want you to. But even if that's the case, God is always ready for you to come back. If you trust Him, that He knows what is good for you, then He will bring good to you (Romans 8:28). It may not come the way you think it should, but you have to trust Him. Stay on His path. Let Him worry about the curves and bumps, and you just worry about following Him. He knows the way. You don't have to be unsure anymore. BE SURE who you are following. He won't disappoint you. Because even when storms come, they well bless you, because NOTHING can separate you from God (Romans 8:38-39). If you are tired of fighting and getting no where...maybe you are fighting on the wrong battle field. Maybe it is time to Armor up (Ephesians 6:14-17) and join the fight against the enemy and not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). 
God created you, He has plans for you and they are good. You have to trust that. But the only way for you to experience His good plans, is for you to choose His path.
Will you?

Obedience (Part Two)

If you look up the word "obedience" it brings up Hitler and peer pressure. This however I don't see applies to the obedience God talks about.

God's Word is like a lifetime of discoveries, trials, lessons and realizations, all laid out for us to read and learn about. I don't think there is any degree that could give you the knowledge the Bible does. You not only learn from God's message, but the lives of so many others who have gone before us. It is the most reliable history book out there. But, being a christian, I don't look at it as a history book. It is so much more. It's thousands of "family dinner table talks", it's a whole bunch of parent wisdom, it's one man who fulfills my romantic dreams.

The problem is, we treat the Bible like something we must read lest we be struck down or not wake in the morning. That's ridiculous.

How can we change the way we look at the Bible? How about changing the way we look at obedience to God?
Come on, everyone knows the strike down message I mentioned. If God truly struck down people for their sin, or lack of obedience, none of us would be alive! Besides, He wouldn't have needed to send Jesus to save SINNERS. Right?

I'm here to share my thoughts and study on the subject of obedience.

First, I'd like to point out that EVERYONE sins. Even Christians. Nothing will be perfect until Heaven. "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the Truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8
I struggle with sin. Mostly, the sin of my pride and trying to do things on my own and not waiting for God. That sin has had it's consequences. I'm being honest about this. I STINK at waiting on the Lord, I get so frustrated that He doesn't do things when I want Him to, lol. Don't I sound like an annoying complainer?! Then I get frustrated at myself that I'm NOT being patient. So, then I get stressed. It is really not good for me. But God is teaching me to rely on Him. Maybe one day I'll get it, I'm still young, I can get it one day...but I'll keep trying :)
I have to say, I FEEL ALONE IN CONFESSING MY SIN. That's sad. We shouldn't be hiding this stuff. We need to EXPOSE it, get embarrassed  and get better! "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" 1 John 1:9 He WILL purify us from unrighteousness, it doesn't say WHEN...just that He will.
Our sin, actually brings GLORY to the message of Jesus. He came to SAVE US from sin...meaning we already had it! "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." John 3:16-17 "Very rarely will someone die for a righteous man, though, for a good man someone might possibly die. But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:7-8 "If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives" 1 John 1:10
So how does this all apply to obedience?...

You may not be able to obey God's Word all the time, but that doesn't mean you don't try.
"If you love Me, obey My commands" John 14:15
Do you love Him?
Does your heart love Him?

"But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean'" Matthew 15:18 
"Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" 1 Samuel 16:7

Why do we think that obedience is by actions? Why are we so convinced that if we DO good, we are "okay"? The first 2 commandments are about our relationship with God. Where He is in our lives. God uses things of the HEART all throughout His word. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal" Matthew 6:19

I, more than anyone I know, believe the husband should be the head of the household, and the wife should help the husband by up keeping the household in what the husband has set. I do not believe the woman should work UNLESS the house is taken care of. It is the woman's role to bring up the children and the man's role to instruct the children.
But if the man's motive to work is just to make money, he will have nothing to show for it. Money is paper, a thing (see second commandment about "idol's"). The same for a woman. If she is forsaking the care of her children to go pursue "paper". Need I say more?

The issue with what I think, is that because of sin, many men are no longer taking up their role, and things get sooo messy. BUT, if a husband has a job, and the household has children, I don't see a need for a woman to work, other than to pursue "stability" outside of God's provision. Yes, I just said it.
God in essence says "I have given your husband a job. check. I have given you children to care for. check." By a woman working, she adds worry to her husband because she ISN'T caring for the home while he's away...or then he has to leave work early or entirely to care for the children which was her job in the first place AND she is not caring for the children God gave her while she is at work.
Again, because of sin, people want BIG homes and need two incomes to stay in their "wants" (not "needs", God provides those according to His Word), or people sleep with each other before marriage and the man doesn't have time to pursue a stable job, or the household does not trust God to provide their needs each day, instead they would feel better knowing there will be money, rather than trusting. This is not to say that they don't trust God at all. But their hearts are so set on feeling better, that they don't let God have His way... especially if that way is HARD.

This may bring you to fully disagree with me, but I have seen God's blessings and provisions come more to the families whose Mom's stay at home, than for those whose Mom's work. Working Mom's are a lot more stressed because they are trying to live two lives....that of the world (money money money) and that of Lord (being at home). Trying to live both was not God's plan. "Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the Word of God." Titus 2:4-5

Somehow, being at home is now considered boring, lazy and selfish. When the women who I have had the pleasure to know and be counseled by are the happiest and most content, and they have never thought to have any other job but motherhood. And those who struggle with being home or working...are bored at home.
When we settle for the ways of this world, it never satisfies. But the ways of the Lord, when embraced and NOT questioned, they are exciting and fulfilling. 

What sort of idol's keep you from obeying the Lord without questioning?
What kind of "wants" have you placed in your life that rob God's plan from your life?
Are there things that you should give up so that you can fully trust the Lord?

I'm going to end with a example:

My father had a heart transplant June 2012. We weren't quite sure how we would pay for things. We weren't really sure what kind of pay he would receive from being out of work. 
I sat at the table with my Mom and she told me she had been playing around with the idea of getting a job to help pay for the hospital bills. I have a 7 year old brother. He was being home schooled but because of the situation we had taken a break from school for the time being. A few days later, my Mom shared with me that she had been praying about whether God wanted her to get a job for the time being. My Mom feels the same that I do about mothers working, but she was thinking it might be needed just for now, ya know, until we "get back on our feet". She told me that God told her "I have given you this child, to care for, to teach and to nurture. I have plans for this child in the future. I have not assigned anyone else to care for this child. I have chosen you. And I am able to provide for your needs, if you will do what I have asked of you". My Mom isn't working. She is focused on the task God has called her to. My Dad, doesn't have to worry about my brother. My Dad, is working part-time. He is ABLE to be focused on work, because my Mom is focused on her job! God has gone above and beyond for my family. We are careful with spending. But we NEVER worry about shelter, food or clothing. God has healed my father from 12 years of congestive heart failure, BECAUSE we trusted Him. Our situation is different than what most people may experience, but the Bible is the same, the God we serve is the same, yesterday and today...the same.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying  can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more cloth you, O you of little faith? So do not worry saying 'what will we eat?' or 'what shall we drink?' or 'what shall we wear?'. For the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own." Matthew 6:25-34

Your job is not to prepare "just in case God doesn't take care of you" your job is to obey God knowing He will take care of you.

What kind of things do you need to trust God more on?
Is money a priority? Or is obedience to God?
Do you trust God will meet your needs, even if it isn't by YOUR DOING?

That IS obedience. This IS faith.

(I know this is a difficult subject these days, but I don't think it needs to be. God is the same. And if you are His child, He will take care of you! SEEK HIM, FIRST!)

Obedience (Part One)

This Sunday I taught the 1-7 year old's about Saul's Conversion. In preparing, God showed me other things in His Word that coincide.

• 1)New Self-Romans 6
• 2)Obedience to God-John 14:15
• 3)Honoring Parents-Exodus 20:12, Colossians 3:20

Acts 9:1-19
Saul hated Jesus' followers. God met him in his travels (he was going to Damascus to take Jesus' followers prisoner) God flashed a great light and asked Saul "why are you persecuting Me?"

Wait...


I've heard something like this before..."Amanda, why are you hurting Me? Why are you disobeying Me?" Hmmm...boy that is enough to put a knife in your gut. God calling out your disobedience, your sin...All Powerful God asking why little 'ol me is hurting Hi?.
Are you beginning to see the picture???
Back to Saul and this question...

Saul must have been freaked out at the voice of Jesus because the guys who were with him "stood there speechless" (v. 7) Here was this guy looking to GET those followers of Jesus and he was on his knees before the voice of that very same Jesus. God told him to "get up...go to the city...you will be told what to do" (v.6). So the guys helped Saul up, but when he opened his eyes He couldn't see! 


Hm...another Hold Up!!!


Boy oh boy does this sound familiar. After not obeying God, getting "called out" by Him and now you can't see. Has this ever happened to you? Being called out by Jesus on some sin or disobedience, on your knees in tears crying "I'm sorry Lord" and when you get up....there is no amazing revelation, there is no fireworks display of all the plans God has...there is nothing...not only is there nothing but you don't know anything that will happen...you feel blind...not knowing what the next step holds...not knowing where God will lead you next...feeling so helpless in your own abilities.
I have a incling why He does that...Hebrews 11:1. Sometimes God takes things away so that we rely on HIM instead of on ourselves. And I think that's what was happening with Saul...in order for him to receive Jesus...God had to break down Saul's pride so that He could reach his heart.
Back to the story...


Saul was blind for 3 days and he didn't eat or drink (v.9), he was so humbled that he could not stop praying to the Lord. A disciple (go figure) named Ananias was told by God to go to Saul because Saul had been praying (v.10-12). Ananias heard about Saul and what he wanted to do to God's people...so I'm sure he really thought God was crazy (v.13-14). But God told Ananias something in v.15 "This man is My chosen instrument..." v. 16 "I will show him how much he must suffer for My name"


Hang on...


Sometimes God doesn't tell us things directly. Here He is telling Ananias what His plans are for Saul...but He isn't directly telling Saul. God uses the body of Christ to guide us according to His Word. And sometimes when we get up from that "I'm sorry Lord" state...we aren't ready to hear God's plans for us...sometimes we need a few days to be "blind". 
Lets see what happens...


Ananias went to where Saul was and he told him that God had sent him (v.17) and he placed his hands on Saul's eyes and Scales fell off


Picture here...


Scales fell off his eyes!!! Oh, dear friend...how many times do we have to remove scales from our eyes...how many times do we need to get rid of something in our lives in order to fully see Jesus...we can go through life so blinded and thinking we have rosy glasses...but God wants more for us...sometimes...something needs to "fall off" in order for us to see...
Lets look at the last thing...


Saul could see! (v.18) He didn't sit there...he got up! He went to follow the Lord in Baptism and he regained his strength right away. He knew he was weak from all that...he knew he needed to strengthen up.

How does this play into the other verses from above??
Well.


God showed me that we also need to "convert". Instead of being in our old self all the time...we need to put on our new self and ACT like it! Romans 6


And instead of trying to find what things we CAN obey in God's Word we just need to OBEY....because that is what people who love Jesus should want to do, OBEY HIM no matter what! So stop thinking you only need to obey half of the Word. Just take those scales off right now!!!! John 14:15


The REASON God tells us to obey our parents and honor them, isn't because they are just our parents and it isn't because our parents know more than we do, and it isn't because God wants us to be enslaved (SCALES)...it is because if we obey our parents...it is easier to obey God!
If we honor our parents, we in turn honor God. 


One of the biggest things that makes me sick to my stomach is children, no matter what age, who dishonor their parents. The sad thing is...most of the people I know are Christians...adult Christians choosing to dishonor their parents. Yes, honor is different than obedience...but not because it ISN'T obedience...rather because it is so much MORE. I know many people who are willing to go to far off countries to spread God's Word, but they have fled from their parents. I also know people who have unsaved parents and they speak ill of them all the time. This cannot be honoring in God's eyes. I can't imagine that He is pleased with this.


I am a daughter. I am not a parent yet...so I can't write about what parents should do. But I know from experience that obedience NEVER is a bad idea!!! (I hope I don't have to point out the obvious things like..."as long as your parents don't tell you to kill anyone"...Come on people...use logic...God wants you to obey your parents as long as it doesn't go against His Word...I should not have to point that one out.)


Obedience is what God's children are called to do. Do you obey?

My walk with God and my road of PURITY

Hey there! This is a little bit of my walk with God through my road of Purity so far.

When I was 12 I was going to youth group every Wednesday and to Teen Praise Choir every Sunday night. I was around high school people a lot, and it seemed everyone was either dating, or hanging out a lot. I guess I was sort of an "outcast" because I wasn't dating, I was the youngest in the group plus I was home schooled. But despite those things, I knew at least half the people and I hung out with some really cool ones in the group. Through my learning experience with what was around me, I couldn't help but notice the toll break-ups had in my friends lives. They were so sad after, and some friendships got ruined in the process. In my own mind I thought "why would I want to go through that? All I would get is a few months with one person, a painful breakup and repeat it again in a matter of weeks?" It seemed totally ridiculous to me. So I made up my mind, and made a commitment to God and to myself to not "date" (that's what everyone was calling it..so the title was suiting)

I was a part of a girls group that I had the blessing of sharing with some of my friends who were a few years older. It was a study on Purity. I had not heard the word before but I wanted to know more. The first meeting we had I was totally excited, I knew that it was exactly where I needed to be. Half way into it I realised I knew about purity all my life. God had been teaching me the whole time about waiting and being patient and not giving into something just because I wanted it. Some things that give us pleasure give twice as much pain in the end.

I was totally set. I wanted to preach it on a mountain. But I knew no one who was around my age wanted to hear anything about it. To them, dating was harmless because they chose to forget the pain. I hadn't even taken part in the trend and I remembered their pain.

So I grew older and learned more about the relationship world, and had some guys come in my life that I talked to. But I still held to my commitment, we were just friends getting to know each other. At 17 the reality of my decision hit home. I was in a relationship that tempted me to go farther than I wanted to. The result.....I stayed the course! Because of my hearts desire for purity, my ego didn't get in the way of God moving to my rescue me. He gave me strength to say "no" with quick confidence. You can probably guess that relationship didn't go far...and neither did the rest in years to come. I learned that guys don't like the word "no" when they are so used to the word "yes". I was like an alien. The funny thing was, they all read the same Bible I did and talked to the same God. But somehow I was the weird one! Go figure.

I'm 22 now. Which may seem young or old to you. I don't know everything. I still have more growing to do. But the best part about me is that the same 12 year old commitment from years ago...still stands in my life. It wasn't a weird commitment, it was logical, and I had every intention not to give into temptation. The temptations grow stronger by what seems like day by day...but I always remember WHY I made that commitment in the first place. I remind myself of the pain I saw in my friends lives, and I remember the excitement I had when God's voice and Word came together for me. There is absolutely no reason why it shouldn't effect me the same today. I'm still me. And there are still plenty of people around me to remind me that some things that give us pleasure give us twice as much pain in the end.

I held to my commitment from 10 years ago. It isn't too late to make yours. Look around you...oh my goodness, just turn on the TV and you'll see the cycle of dating and pain, and then dating and pain, over and over. So decide what kind of conditions you want your heart to be in.

I decided I wanted my husband to be the only one to call me his. The only one to hold my hand and the only one to kiss my lips. You may think it is necessary to have those things in a relationship, but let me be your example. I never kissed a guy and everyone of them didn't stay in my life. It isn't about kissing. It's about the person. If someone was missing their hand, and their lips, but was the same person you love...would you stay with them...or say that you wanted their hands and lips more than you wanted them? You might need a straight jacket in my opinion if that's really what you want!

The point is...God has a plan for you...a good plan. But you can't have His plan and your own...unless they are on the same road. And it will be harder and harder to change roads the farther you get. So if you have not made a commitment to yourself to not do whatever you are convinced will not be good for you...what is stopping you? Because if you wait long enough, there may not be much of you left to give to the person you'll really love.

I have a vision of my future marriage like Christmas. I don't need to give my husband anything but my heart...but when he sees all those shiny, pure, never touched before presents...he is totally going to be excited! And it will be my joy to make him feel special by being careful and wise in my choices. And because I kept those things safe, God will be able to carefully wrap them in His glory as they are presented.

This is no fairy tale. This is no joke. This is real life. As real as it can get. There is no illusions of it being perfect when it really is not. There is no sugar coating so that you can swallow it better. This is pure, natural truth. And it can be backed up if you open your eyes to look around.

My story is mine, no one else has it. But just like mine, yours can be amazing too!

(comment, ask me questions, share it...whatever you want to do)

Hope this was digested as sincere and not as "judging" (the world is so quick to accuse someone of "judging" these days). This is me. This is my life and road of purity so far. Not everyone has to like it.

One of my written commitments:

"September 24th 2004

My Commitment:
I know the man that I'm meant to be with is out there. He might even be one of my friends. So I may not know him yet but I love him. God will bring us together when we are ready. That's why I decide:
Not to date around just to have fun
To only be "with" one man, the man I will marry
To have my first passionate kiss at the alter
Not have sex until my wedding night with my new husband

Satan has so many ways to get to us. Dating and relationships is one of them. The world goes out, makes out, possibly has sex, breaks up and does it all over again. That will not be me. My life revolves around  because He is reliable, not like a relationship status that changes every month. God is the stronghold of my life!"

I've had one "boyfriend" and he did not hold my hand or kiss me. And I've had one guy when I was 17 that held my hand. Now, I am not going to give in to a relationship and let a guy become my boyfriend until God says otherwise, and I am not giving into holding a guys hand until God shows us both we are meant to be together. I'm still learning. And by God's grace and strength, that I fully trust in, I am going to be a virgin and not kiss until my wedding day. If you think I can't do it...

Just watch me! :)

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

I used to think nothing bad would happen to people who truly followed the Lord. In my own life, I've seen this isn't the case.
"God will never give you more than you can handle" but what we can handle is different for each person. Also, each person has their own struggles, temptations and "weak areas". Look at 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, mainly verses 7-10 "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of satan to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness". Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong". Paul looked beyond what was happening to him, and saw what could happen through those circumstances. We each have our own things we are dealing with, but we need to look beyond them...to see if it is "working for the good of those who love the Lord and have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).

We all also have our own decisions we have made and our own consequences that follow.
The thing about God not giving us anything we can't handle is that sometimes the things that are hard, aren't from Him. What we may think is from God might be what we want, and we put a "from God" sticker on it. Then we avoid discussions about using God's Word to test what we think He says. We get easily offended when we are questioned by others. And we pull away from people God would use to correct us. We don't want to give it up. We become comfortable in our decision. And after avoiding God's Word, avoiding people and walking on egg-shells, we silence the Holy Spirit and get comfortable in our ways.

I know about thinking something is from God, when really it was just me assuming it was.
I met someone and let myself get carried away into a relationship because I thought (told myself) it was God's plan. In the end, the thorn in my flesh was a broken heart by my own choice. God let it happen. But He didn't break my heart...and He didn't force me to stop what I was doing. I chose. And after my consequences, He was there to catch me. He didn't remove my thorn, or the memory of what had happened, but He gave me strength to make it through. He strengthened me to move forward. He helped me learn from it. To get something good out of it. He gave beauty to my mess.

I questioned God in my pain. I didn't understand why He let me get hurt, until I realized He may have brought the person in my life, but I let me impatience lead me. I assumed it was from the Lord without testing it to His Word and waiting for an answer. I told myself "it must be right" and went on praying "God have your way", when I wanted my own way.

I can tell you about being selfish, impatient and about waiting. But I'm not done with it yet. I'm not married and I don't know who my husband is yet. But I do know that rushing seems to have a track record of not working out well. We get stronger through our pain, but that doesn't mean we should walk into the fire. We should use God's Word before we make choices. We should seek His strength before we are in need of it. Paul talks about grace increasing where sin increases...but because of our sinful nature, some people may think it means you can do whatever you want. "What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" (Romans 6:1-2) Learn your lesson...and turn away from things that will harm you. If your friend rushed into a relationship and got her heart broken, don't rush into a relationship. If your Dad says boys only have "one thing" on their mind, don't be with them alone. "Preserve sound judgement and discernment" (Proverbs 3:21) "Better a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to use discernment" (Ecclesiastes 4:13) "lean not on your own understanding; but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil." (Proverbs 3:5-7)

God will be clear about things. He won't tell us anything without giving us a way to test what He says with The Word. This is why He is so reliable. If you don't have scripture, pray for it and wait until He provides it. Don't assume what God wants and don't assume what you hear is God until He gives you a way to test what He says. He knows humans, He knows saying "he said this" without anything to back it up or defend it, isn't going to hold in conversation. So pray for Him to show you. Get in His Word.

"When [satan] lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44). Study God's Word, become fluent in truth so that you may know what is not from God. And when God speaks to you, if you know His Word more, you will know it is Him sooner :) and be able to tel the devil to shut up when He tries to act like God.

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). We go through temptation...but God will give us a way out...we just have to take it. Don't wait until it's too late to wait for the Lord.

The heart choice of PURITY (Part Two)

I hope that this blog reaches both guys and girls, men and women. I think that everything God says can always speak to other people, sometimes in a different way, but still.

In my last post, I kind of gave the Gospel Message, so I hope that this post finds you as a child of God, maybe new, maybe old. Still my fellow believer. :) Totally exciting!!!!

Being a believer in Jesus Christ seems like no big deal..."everyone is doing it". But I don't really care how many people are following the Lord. I'd rather know 3 true followers of Jesus, than to know 50 people who are only "stamped" on the outside, but not one bit changed on the inside.

So...before I get started, I have to ask...are YOU changed? Are you totally, consumed and excited about following the Lord no matter what the cost? Think about it. What parts of your life scream "I AM A CHILD OF GOD" so loud that people sometimes cover their ears?

I want to help you...I want you to be touched by what God speaks to me...but even more, I want you to be as in-love and smitten with the Lord as I am. Otherwise, what I have to say won't matter much.

I pray that you repeat this in you heart night and day...
"May those who fear You rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in Your Word" Psalm 119:74
"Let them know that it is Your hand, that You, O Lord, have done it" Psalm 109:27

****************

What does it mean to pursue PURITY? To walk towards it? To live for the Lord?

God has given us so much to study, research, and pick up quick. We can apply scripture on the go, we can study it for hours, we can live it and it can live inside us!
To live it...we have to know it. That's a given.

Remember the Ten Commandments?

1-you shall have no other gods before Me
2-you shall not make yourself an idol
3-you shall not take the Lord's name in vein
4-remember the sabbath day and keep it holy
5-Honor your father and your mother
6-you shall not murder
7-you shall not commit adultery
8-you shall not steal
9-you shall not lie
10-you shall not covet your neighbors things

These are very simple things to follow, and everyone knows they exist. Some people even know them and try to follow them, even if their hearts don't belong to God.

In giving your heart and life to the Lord, His Holy Spirit came to dwell in you. It doesn't make you do things, but when you open yourself up to it, it will guide you through anything. In receiving the Holy Spirit, you have the ability to follow the Lord better than before. The law is no longer above you (weighing on you), but it becomes the foundation/ground on which you walk.

So, the walk is obedience. Not to just the law, but to God Himself. "Now that the Spirit has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the Law" Galatians 3:25

Many people have arguments over this subject of Law and Spirit. This could very well be an example of why God did not "entrust Himself to men" (John 2:24). It is a part of our nature to try to be "right" about things and call people out and, honestly, to created divisions! The Law and Spirit work together. God's Law is no longer what we are judged by. Remember Matthew 15:18-20??
We are judged by our motives, our heart and our devotion.
So what does the Law have to do with this??

Think about laws of a country, or state, or even county. You know...the dreadful speed limit, or that new law about cell phones! Yeah...I think everyone breaks those laws! But aren't we supposed to follow them?? Why?? Because we belong to that country, state, county. Well, it is the same with God's Law. We are a part of His body, His family. And just like with Family rules...elbows off the table!!!!...they make things easier for us, and nicer for visitors :)

So rid yourself of the devils scheme (and infectious lies) to create a division with the Spirit and Law and just think about how guilty you feel when you get a speeding ticket...and ask yourself if you feel the same about God's Law?
Jesus took your punishment, He went to jail for you for disobeying the Law. That doesn't mean you shouldn't follow it.

Don't complicate the Word of God.

Try to obey His "speed limit"...don't "text and drive"...don't "drink and drive".

*****************

So what does it mean to walk in PURITY? Obedience. Obedience to His Word, His Spirit and trying to obey His law. I'm sure He'd appreciate the effort. Remember, you might not be able to follow it, but He sees your heart, your motives and your walk.

"Flee the evil desire of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with [people] who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" 2 Timothy 2:22 (check out verse 23 too!)

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a follower of Christ" Galatians 1:10

"Just as you used to offer parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness" Romans 6:19

"If you love Me, you will obey what I command" John 14:15

Pray with me...

God,
Help me to better know your Word and to obey it.
I'm sorry I have not been making an effort to fully follow You even when it is hard.
Help me make the right decisions from now on.
Remind me of Your Word and how You want me to be.
Please give me more opportunities to read Your Word so that it can walk with me to matter where I am.
Make Your Holy Spirit louder than my thoughts and help listen to it.
Guide me in my life so that others may see You in me by how I live.
And give me courage to tell other about You.
Today, I pray that You would be glorified through every step I take.
Consume me God.
In the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior forever. Amen.

(Part Three I'll share how God has taught me to walk in PURITY. And what my walk with the Lord is like. :)

The heart choice of PURITY (Part One)

"But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean'. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean'." Matthew 15:18-20

This verse holds meaning for every aspect and choice in life. But for today I want to apply it to the subject of purity, and take captive the false perception that purity means never having or had sex. I'd also like to talk more on the walk from my earlier posts.

Everything we do is a choice we make in our heart, then our heart tells our brain and our brain tells the rest of our body. Those who make mistakes and really don't know what they were doing is a sign of a weak heart. Those who have brain damage, usually have an amazing heart, but the message gets messed up in transit. Those who have damaged hearts sometimes act like they have no brain. Those who have strong hearts, can control themselves easier than others.

Just as your literal heart pumps your blood to keep you alive, so does your figurative heart pump things through you to make you who you are. This is why those who do not know Jesus, whose hearts do not belong to God yet, are okay with doing stupid things.

What makes a man 'unclean'?

By what Jesus said, it is our hearts, not what we do. But our actions reflect our hearts.
I believe this verse is very important right now because I have met many people who think they can't be "pure" because they have done something in the past.

I would like to take hold of this lie.

No matter how many times you wash your hands, you aren't going to be 'clean' unless your heart is clean. The enemy will try to tell you that you have missed out on your chance to follow God when you made out with that guy, or had sex with that girl, or killed that person (extreme, I know, but it counts too). This is a LIE. Do not believe it. No where in God's Word does He say "I want perfect people, who have never sinned". This would go against and contradict Jesus' WHOLE reason for coming to the world! Without sinners...there is no need for a Savior! "But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8

You need Jesus in your heart to be able to walk in pursuit of purity. Without your heart wanting to be pure...you never will be. This also means that those who have sinned in the past, have a chance to be pure...just as much as someone who hasn't fooled around.
When we all die and come before God's judgement, we will be judged based on our motives for what we did, not our actions themselves. There is no way around this. If someone thought that they could "get away" with sin because God said He doesn't judge our works...his heart is not in the right place. That is what God will judge first.

So strip away all the confusion that you may have because of religion, or what other people have said, and listen to what God has to say. He has a plan for you. Break away from your mistakes, let God into your heart so that you can pursue what you were always meant to pursue, purity.

It isn't easy...but it is what you were made for. Go back to His Word, give Him your sins, your past, your regrets...and make the decision in your heart to seek Him. It is YOUR choice, you have to be the one to make it.

Here is a sample prayer. Pray from your heart remembering that God has loved you all your life and He knows everything about you. Don't complicate it, just pray.

Dear God,
I know You know what I have done in the past
I know You saw the motives of my heart and there was no where I could hide from You
So today, I am asking Your forgiveness for the things I have done
I'm sorry I forgot You and disobeyed You.
Please, forgive me.
I want to walk in Your ways and not my own.
I tried it on my own and I failed and made things worse.
I want what You have for me.
Teach me to pursue purity.
Search my heart so that it can be fully committed to You
Teach me how to let go of my past
and strengthen me to say "no" to things I shouldn't do.
Put people around me to keep me accountable.
Thank You for always being there, even when I didn't see You.
Thank You for creating me.
Thank You for loving me.
In the name of Jesus Christ my Savior,
Amen

Those with "unclean hands" can glorify God with their now clean heart :)

(Part Two : I'll talk about the lifestyle of a heart that pursues purity and "the walk")

Focus on the Walk (Part Three)

Each of us has been through different things in life...we all have learned different lessons and we aren't all living the same.

As believers we are held to a high-standard, called The Word of God. Beyond the Word of God, the Holy Spirit leads us in our decision making, if we listen to Him. If your desire is to live the way you want to, and pray for God to keep you safe and bless you while you trot on your own pathway...you don't listen to the Holy Spirit. If you only want God's blessings and not His callings, but won't get anything.

So many people my age (and others) want nothing to do with God. They feel that God has forgotten about them and He wants them to suffer. In reality, they wanted nothing to do with Him, and they chose their own way rather than His. If you keep telling God off, He might actually leave one day.

"The worst thing God can do to you...is to leave you alone"

Is that what you want?
Is your life saying "God I don't want your way, I know what I am doing"?

If this is your attitude...let me remind you of something...

"In the beginning GOD" not you "created the heavens and the earth" including you. (Genesis 1:1)

Without God you wouldn't exist.
He didn't just create you as a science project...He had a purpose the whole time...
"He chose us in Him before the creation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight" (Ephesians 1:4)
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart" (Jeremiah 1:5)
He created you because He wanted YOU. When He was pointing His finger making the galaxy's He thought to Himself in the year 1989 I am going to make Amanda, and she will be beautiful and she will walk in my ways and I will love her forever (ha ha isn't that awesome??). :)

God never makes mistakes, you were not a mistake or something that evolved over time or suddenly appeared, you were created. He loves us...and He made us just the way He wanted (even if sometimes sin masks that over)
"The King in enthralled by your beauty; honor Him for He is your Lord" (Psalm 45:11)
"But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him to formed it, 'why did you make me like this?' Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?" (Romans 9:20-21)

You see, you aren't just a person. To God, you are His perfect love. And He wants you. But He loves you SO much that He doesn't want you to get hurt or to stumble...so He gave you something to follow so that you wouldn't have to go through heartache. He gave you the Word, His Word.

When in the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had direct communication with God, but they stepped off His path when deceived by the devil. God's heart broke that day. Even though He knew it would happen, I'm sure He didn't want it to. Sure He had the plans all set for sending Jesus...but He made the perfect place FOR US and we let ourselves think that He was withholding from us. We left Him, when He offered us everything good, we chose our own path, we chose sin.
I say "we" because we are all born into that same sin since the Garden. God still wants to give us everything good. We can't have the Garden of Eden right now because of how much sin is in this world...but we will have it in the next one.
But for now, will you break the chain? Will you choose God instead of your own way? Instead of sin?

"I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I may present you as a pure virgin to Him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpents cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere  and pure devotion to Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:2-3)
God didn't leave us to be enslaved to our sins...He provided a way to freedom...a way back to Him...a way back to obedience. Someone sinless had to physically die and take our payment...God decided He would come to earth in the form of a man to go through that...FOR US. We were the ones that messed up in the first place...but He decided to still save us.

Are you beginning to see it, the love of God?

"But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)

Is this the God you want nothing to do with?
Is this the God you don't want to follow?

"I know the plans I have for you...they are plans to prosper you not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11)
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him" (Romans 8:28)

Will you come back to Him?
Will you follow His loving Word that He wrote for you?
Will you choose Him instead of sin?

This is an everyday commitment. Believers or not we still have to choose God's ways and not our own.

You are created to be loved by God...will you let Him love you? Come back on the path of things good.

Will you walk in the garden...or walk in deception?
I'm sure Adam and Eve were kicking themselves when they bit that fruit and they realised all they had given up. The crazy thing is...you can have it back! Please don't wait another minute...

All my blog posts are lead by God...I get into His Word and He decides to lead me to write...so don't consider this by me...but written by God...to you.

TRUST and OBEY

p.s please leave comments, feedback or post on my facebook :)

Focus on the walk (Part Two)

What is "the walk"?

This could be different for some Christians, in that we all have different gifts.
I'd like to focus more on the walk that God calls all His children to.
A walk of faith.

Once you realise that you aren't perfect and you open up your heart to share your struggles and ask for prayer, you also open up your heart to God's plan for you and for Him to be able to work. We have all come to a place where we realised we were dying spiritually, and that we needed a Savior. We all said the prayer in some way, Admitting we were sinners and repented...Believed in Jesus as our Lord and Savior...then Told everyone about it :)

So what now?

How has your life really changed since that moment?

Are you still as excited and humbled as you were when you first met Him?

Do the decisions you make now, and what takes up your time, reflect that commitment you made years ago?

The Bible says that those who don't have the Holy Spirit won't be able to fully understand it. But I wonder how many Christians read it as much as they preach it. When we become Believers we still need Jesus everyday. He isn't like a defibrillator, where we would only need Him when we are dying and then never need Him again. He is more like a vitamin, we have to take Him everyday to keep ourselves healthy. Sure if you don't take Him, you won't die...but you would be able to live a whole lot better if you took Him everyday. :)

God isn't a glamorous God. He doesn't require yelling, and He doesn't always want "live-changing experiences". He's an intimate God. He wants your heart, because from your heart everything flows. I could scream in worship, sing a beautiful song, even give an amazing talk or pray the "perfect prayer" (no such thing)...but if my heart doesn't say the same thing...it means nothing to God. He doesn't require us to do big things, or go where no man has gone before...He only requires that we follow Him...and walk as He sets the path for us. He called some people to go to Hungry to witness, and called some people to go to South Dakota...but He is also calling people to reach their neighbors...to work in the church nursery. It isn't about the glamour. If you want all the attention, and the glamorous trips...I'm sorry...that was your old life...when you were gratifying your desires for more. Being a follower in Jesus Christ is not about that...it is about serving God, even when you get none of the credit. When being in ministry wears you out and He gives you just enough strength for the day.

God doesn't call everyone to the hard stuff, He doesn't call everyone to the easy things.
But when you accepted Christ, wasn't it about Him? Where He wanted you? What He wanted to do through you? Do you love Him, or your riches and glory?

How many people have sung the song "I will follow"...."where You go, I'll go, where You stay, I'll stay..."? Yet, when some people turn 18, they follow their anger to leave their parents house, and wouldn't even try to go through the hard stuff to stay. Or, someone who doesn't want to loose their boyfriend or girlfriend, so instead of leaving to go home, they stay and sleep over.

If God lead you to something you didn't want to do...something that was hard and didn't look like you would get any firework display for doing it...would you do it?

The Christian walk is not about being without sin. It is about follow Jesus Christ, into deep waters, into dark canyons or even out of a relationship. It may hurt, you may be scared. But will you still follow?

We made a choice to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. We gave our lives to Him. Are you still making that choice? Are you choosing God with every decision? Are you choosing God's way rather than sleeping with your boyfriend or girlfriend? Are you choosing God's way rather than your anger? Are you choosing God's way rather than what would bring you more money? Are you choosing God's way rather than what is easy?

We live in a sinful world, most of the time choosing God's way will be hard. Not because He wants it to be hard, but just the fact of what we are surrounded by. Sin is in the world...and because God is righteous...He isn't going to do all the work for us. Many people ask why God lets certain things happen. Well, He doesn't...it is a result of man's choice. Man's choice not to choose God. And it gets passed down generation to generation.

But even through all the chaos, He will still work. He may not make things go away...but He will lead you through it.

The glass has always been half full...you were just focusing on what was missing and not on what you had. Sin isn't the focus...Jesus is.

God has a plan for you...choose it.

Scripture: Psalm 32:8-11, Psalm 139, Proverbs 3:3-10, Proverbs 4:11-13,25-27, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Galatians 1:10, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; 11:2-3, James 1:2-18, 1 Peter 3:15-16, John 14:15,23, John 4:13-14, Matthew 15:18-19, Matthew 7:13-14

Focus on the walk (Part One)

We all have things we deal with. Things that are hard. Sin we are trying to weed out.
We aren't perfect. Through Jesus we have the strength to become more like Him, to seek perfection.

I have said in my other posts how I feel people need to be honest with each other about their struggles. There seems to be this lie going around in the Christian community that Christians are "perfect" that they don't struggle and if you have sin, you can't be a Christian. This is a lie and I would like to expose it today.

If Christians are perfect and have no sin...I am not a Christian and no one I know is either. Being a Christian is not about being perfect, it isn't even about getting rid of sin. It is about walking with the Lord. Seeking Christ day in and day out. Reading His Word, letting Him change and move you even beyond your own plans or agenda.

As I was brushing my teeth last night God spoke to me. He said "when you focus on your sin, your guard is down and it allows for more to come in. You need to stop focusing on you sin, and focus on your walk". Here I am weeding out the trash at a complete stop telling God that I need to get this right before I can move forward. He convicted me that standing still was going to take a lot longer and that it would hurt more to get rid of it. See, if we all stopped to weed through the trash, no one would be moving. We focus so much on being "perfect" and not having problems that we never move. Christians are followers of Christ, meaning they are moving, walking in His light...even with their sin and struggles. We think we can achieve this perfect picture of a Christian...but that "perfect Christian" doesn't exist. It is a lie. And the enemy uses your desire to please God, to KEEP YOU FROM MOVING.
The devil wants you to stop, and analyze the trash, to stay focused on your sin...because you aren't a threat to him if you are at a stand still. And his goal is to kill us, and the longer we stay at a stand still the further we get from the Lord (who is always moving).

Jesus came for sinners. Not for perfect Christians. So I think that the more honest we are about our sin 1) the devil can't use it against us because it is out in the open 2)God has an opportunity to grow you as you walk 3)more people will feel comfortable trusting God because they won't feel alone in their struggle.

Sin MUST be confessed, it must be brought into the light...but once it is...you can't just put everything else on hold while you "fix your problem" because what happens if in a month a new problem comes...will you stop for that too?
Being a Christian means we walk by faith...trusting in God's Word that He would never leave us and that when we repent...that HE FORGIVES us. Sure when the sin is forgiven the scars or consequences might still be there...but you can't let them hold you down, you can't let them stop you from seeking the Lord and following Him.

I know there are people who maybe have had to put things on hold or stop being in Church ministry because of sin...but God doesn't require us to sit at home doing nothing until it is all done with...we still have to move with the Lord and seek Him. If you are waiting for forgiveness...when you say "God, forgive me for..." you are forgiven. God doesn't want us wallowing in self pity or staying as slaves to sin after we are forgiven...that isn't what Jesus came for.
Jesus broke your chains...now, will you get up and walk?

God also doesn't leave us to figure things out on our own. If you ask Him for it, He will give it. If you don't know what to pray, ask Him to teach you how to pray. If you don't think you have the strength to get up and go to work, pray for it. If you can't fall asleep at night, pray for Him to give you peace and to give you the rest you need in how ever many hours your eyes are closed.

Remember WHO God is. Remeber WHY Jesus came. And remember WHAT it means to be a Christian.

Don't focus on your sin, focus on your walk, and the sin won't be able to stay.

Active Christians threaten satan, not sinful people. Everyone is a sinner...but sin doesn't define everyone. Without sin, we wouldn't need a Savior. Let Him help you flee from it.

Scriptures: 1 John 1:8-10, James 5:13-16, 1 Peter 4: 8, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Romans 3:23, 2 Timothy 2:22

(Next part will be on the walk)