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 :)
Showing posts with label choices. Show all posts
Showing posts with label choices. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
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
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
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Mandy's Thoughts "King of Anything"
Okay, so I'm not sure if y'all have heard Sarah Bareilles' song "King of anything". I've heard it before, but one day I payed attention to the message it was conveying. I took out my jounal and wrote my thoughts. This is some of my thoughts about, not just the song, but the message...
This song is just another relationship/breakup main-stream song. Which influences this generation to think that it is normal to have boyfriend's/girlfriend's and that it is totally acceptable to go in and out of relationships having messy breakups, leaving pieces of your heart and body in your "lover's" (not enemy's) hand.
As you may probably guess, this is a subject I am very vocal about and against. While these song writers/singers MAY not know any better and are probably just trying to make money, they are a part of the trend of broken hearts, divorces, greed and immaturity in this present generation and even the ones before. This isn't anything new, but it needs to be spoken about.
I personally believe that all issues of infidelity, pride, immaturity, selfishness, and breakups come from the heart, and a failure to protect it as God instructs.
God gives us instructions all throughout His Word about how we are to live, what mindset would benefit us and which wouldn't. He understands human nature better than anyone else and He loves us more than humanly possible :). He warns us because He loves us, He warns us because He KNOWS EVERYTHING (and isn't cocky or prideful!).
Yet we see an endless trend of dissatisfaction and pain in our American culture. Which is the result of disobeying and forgetting God and His Word.
The media preaches (I say preaches because there isn't room for debate, and if you don't think the same you are considered crazy, trust me I know-I'm "crazy") sex, dating, greed, drunkenness, and disrespect-unless of course you like the person. It has become the "norm" to have dating relationship after dating relationship, breakup after breakup, sex before marriage, children before marriage and never obey anyone else but yourself. Forget "the blind leading the blind" now the blind really think they can see!
To seek a "movement" or "protest" against this kind of message and lifestyle would be a waste of time. We know we are in the end times and it will only get worse. But does that mean we, individually, "put up with it"? BY NO MEANS! I'm not going to sit there and write a secular radio station and tell them what they shouldn't play...I know my letter would end up in the trash! But I can however, share how influential the media is and call it out for it's message to teens and my friends. It isn't MY job to change people's minds, or the world for that matter. It is MY JOB to share what the Lord has told me with everyone I know.
Many people have different beliefs and views on choices of music and movies...which is fine. I'm not going to say everyone has to listen to "Christian music"...but I will bring some thoughts to light that some have swept under the rug...
Even without listening to breakup, or dating, or sex songs...Is your lifestyle and choices you make saying that lifestyle is OK? If you REALLY don't listen to secular songs...do you not date? do you not go from breakup to breakup? Do you speak against sex before marriage?
It is not about the music we listen to, but about THE LIFE WE LIVE.
It isn't the music that defines who we are, but the choices we make. BUT, we must KNOW the music we listen and what it says...and make a decision on it's influence in our lives. (It doesn't benefit a person who is refaining from sex to listen to sex songs. But just because someone doesn't listen to sex songs, doesn't mean they aren't having sex)
This song "king of anything" could be applied in many different relationship scenarios. But the jest of the songs message is "you can't tell me what to do". What if a daughter said that to her parents? Or a wife to her husband? Or, as many have, to God?
Here, this song is setting the "independent" mindset of not needing anyone. Which in the end leaves people alone, sad and angry.
Are you focused on music, or your lifestyle?
Are you following the trend, or being obedient to God?
Are you more concerned about the music you listen to, or the choices you make?
Here are the lyrics:
"King Of Anything"
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Keep drinkin' coffee
Stare me down across the table
While I look outside
So many things I'd say if only I were able
But I just keep quiet
And count the cars that pass by
You've got opinions, man
We're all entitled to 'em
But I never asked
So let me thank you for time
And try to not waste any more of mine
Get out of here fast
I hate to break it to you babe
But I'm not drowning
There's no one here to save
Who cares if you disagree
You are not me
Who made you king of anything
So you dare tell me who to be
Who died
And made you king of anything
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
You sound so innocent
All full of good intent
You swear you know best
But you expect me to
Jump up on board with you
Ride off into your dellusional sunset
I'm not the one who's lost
With no direction oh
But you won't ever see
You're so busy makin' maps
With my name on them in all caps
You got the talkin' down just not the listening
And who cares if you disagree
You are not me
Who made you king of anything
So you dare tell me who to be
Who died
And made you king of anything
All my life
I've tried
To make everybody happy while I
Just hurt
And hide
Waitin' for someone to tell me it's my turn
To decide
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Who cares if you disagree
You are not me
Who made you king of anything
So you dare tell me who to be
Who died
And made you king of anything
Who cares if you disagree
You are not me
Who made you king of anything
So you dare tell me who to be
Who died
And made you king of anything
Let me hold your crown, babe
Oh oh
Ah
This song is just another relationship/breakup main-stream song. Which influences this generation to think that it is normal to have boyfriend's/girlfriend's and that it is totally acceptable to go in and out of relationships having messy breakups, leaving pieces of your heart and body in your "lover's" (not enemy's) hand.
As you may probably guess, this is a subject I am very vocal about and against. While these song writers/singers MAY not know any better and are probably just trying to make money, they are a part of the trend of broken hearts, divorces, greed and immaturity in this present generation and even the ones before. This isn't anything new, but it needs to be spoken about.
I personally believe that all issues of infidelity, pride, immaturity, selfishness, and breakups come from the heart, and a failure to protect it as God instructs.
God gives us instructions all throughout His Word about how we are to live, what mindset would benefit us and which wouldn't. He understands human nature better than anyone else and He loves us more than humanly possible :). He warns us because He loves us, He warns us because He KNOWS EVERYTHING (and isn't cocky or prideful!).
Yet we see an endless trend of dissatisfaction and pain in our American culture. Which is the result of disobeying and forgetting God and His Word.
The media preaches (I say preaches because there isn't room for debate, and if you don't think the same you are considered crazy, trust me I know-I'm "crazy") sex, dating, greed, drunkenness, and disrespect-unless of course you like the person. It has become the "norm" to have dating relationship after dating relationship, breakup after breakup, sex before marriage, children before marriage and never obey anyone else but yourself. Forget "the blind leading the blind" now the blind really think they can see!
To seek a "movement" or "protest" against this kind of message and lifestyle would be a waste of time. We know we are in the end times and it will only get worse. But does that mean we, individually, "put up with it"? BY NO MEANS! I'm not going to sit there and write a secular radio station and tell them what they shouldn't play...I know my letter would end up in the trash! But I can however, share how influential the media is and call it out for it's message to teens and my friends. It isn't MY job to change people's minds, or the world for that matter. It is MY JOB to share what the Lord has told me with everyone I know.
Many people have different beliefs and views on choices of music and movies...which is fine. I'm not going to say everyone has to listen to "Christian music"...but I will bring some thoughts to light that some have swept under the rug...
Even without listening to breakup, or dating, or sex songs...Is your lifestyle and choices you make saying that lifestyle is OK? If you REALLY don't listen to secular songs...do you not date? do you not go from breakup to breakup? Do you speak against sex before marriage?
It is not about the music we listen to, but about THE LIFE WE LIVE.
It isn't the music that defines who we are, but the choices we make. BUT, we must KNOW the music we listen and what it says...and make a decision on it's influence in our lives. (It doesn't benefit a person who is refaining from sex to listen to sex songs. But just because someone doesn't listen to sex songs, doesn't mean they aren't having sex)
This song "king of anything" could be applied in many different relationship scenarios. But the jest of the songs message is "you can't tell me what to do". What if a daughter said that to her parents? Or a wife to her husband? Or, as many have, to God?
Here, this song is setting the "independent" mindset of not needing anyone. Which in the end leaves people alone, sad and angry.
Are you focused on music, or your lifestyle?
Are you following the trend, or being obedient to God?
Are you more concerned about the music you listen to, or the choices you make?
Here are the lyrics:
"King Of Anything"
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Keep drinkin' coffee
Stare me down across the table
While I look outside
So many things I'd say if only I were able
But I just keep quiet
And count the cars that pass by
You've got opinions, man
We're all entitled to 'em
But I never asked
So let me thank you for time
And try to not waste any more of mine
Get out of here fast
I hate to break it to you babe
But I'm not drowning
There's no one here to save
Who cares if you disagree
You are not me
Who made you king of anything
So you dare tell me who to be
Who died
And made you king of anything
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
You sound so innocent
All full of good intent
You swear you know best
But you expect me to
Jump up on board with you
Ride off into your dellusional sunset
I'm not the one who's lost
With no direction oh
But you won't ever see
You're so busy makin' maps
With my name on them in all caps
You got the talkin' down just not the listening
And who cares if you disagree
You are not me
Who made you king of anything
So you dare tell me who to be
Who died
And made you king of anything
All my life
I've tried
To make everybody happy while I
Just hurt
And hide
Waitin' for someone to tell me it's my turn
To decide
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Who cares if you disagree
You are not me
Who made you king of anything
So you dare tell me who to be
Who died
And made you king of anything
Who cares if you disagree
You are not me
Who made you king of anything
So you dare tell me who to be
Who died
And made you king of anything
Let me hold your crown, babe
Oh oh
Ah
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