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And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life would lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God."

n       Luke 9: 23-27 (ESV)

 

How many of us truly deny ourselves in our Christian walks? Do we truly only think of others as Christ did or do we look for glory for ourselves?  Do we desire the "thank you" or the "good job" more than pleasing God? 

Some of these words are for someone in particular that will be reading this but they can all be for everyone. I will not mention any names and will try not to make it obvious to everyone who that someone is I only pray that they can get the message that God has laid on my heart to tell.

 

 

When we live our daily lives how often do we really think of God in our actions?  When we speak do we really think of what we are saying?  Do we think about what others may hear and how they may take it?  Do we think about the non-Christian and what they hear? I don't really think we do BUT we should.

 

 

What we say and do affects our witness greatly.  The Bible gives us instructions on how to live our lives and we totally ignore it.  We like to pick and choose what we want to obey.  But that is not what Jesus intending when he taught the apostles.  He did not tell them – here is a list and you can choose what you want to do in service to me.  He just simply told what we needed to do in order to gain new life in him.

 

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and

whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

Anyone who does not love does not know God,

because God is love.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to

love one another.

1 John 4:7-8,11 (ESV)

This is a very hard thing to do.  We all seem to forget to put ourselves away in this area.  If we give something we tend to want something back in return.  That attitude IS NOT the Christian attitude that we need to be carrying around and showing to others.  There is no US – or shall I say "I" --  in the Christian walk.  We are to crucify our self daily.  That means to get rid of the selfish spirit that Satan wants to be in our lives. When we are selfish in our ways and thinking then we cannot be thinking Christ-like.  What we do should and say should bring glory to God and not ourselves.  We should not be seeking earthly rewards or recognition for what we do.  The goodness we show others is to be from God and not for our glory.  Jesus didn't ask for recognition—remember he usually told the ones he helped to not tell of him.

 

 

So do you tend to have a "WHAT ABOUT ME" attitude?  Do you brag or tell about what all you do for others only to then complain because you are acknowledged in doing them?  If so, you should rethink your Christian attitude a little.

 

 

We watched a movie at church the other night and it brought a lot of things to mind—these things being some of them.  The movie was "Facing the Giants" and it was a great movie with a great meaning. You should watch it if you haven't already.  It mainly showed how we are to sacrifice our life for the greatness of God.  We are to do everything in honor of God and forget ourselves.  When we choose do that in our lives then God has room to bless us beyond our imaginations.  I am ready to try this.  I want the blessings of God to freely flow in my life. I don't care whether I am recognized--just that in some way the way I live my life touches someone else. 

 

God chooses to bless his children on earth but our rewards will be in heaven.  Don't think about rewards and recognition here on earth because they are short lived.   Your heavenly rewards are to be desired because then you know you will hear the words….WELL DONE, MY CHILD!  I long to hear those words from my father someday, don't you?

 

 

All this being said,  I owe some apologies to some people reading this that I will say in private.  But I also ask everyone's forgiveness if I have said or did anything that may have hindered you in your Christian walk.  Or to the unbeliever I am especially asking forgiveness if I have hindered you in anyway from becoming a child of God.  Please don't let me be the reason for that.

 

Darkness all around me,

No light to be seen.

The tunnel that surrounds me,

Seems like an endless dream.

When will the darkness end?

When will I be complete?

The fears rush in,

Doubts cloud my mind.

When will my dreams be fulfilled?

Will I be lonely all my life?

The end of the tunnel is near.

So close I can almost touch it.

What am I afraid of?

Why do I hold back?

So right it feels,

The void no longer there.

As if I'm a puzzle,

Who has found it's missing piece.

So why don't I grab it,

And let happiness be complete?

Am I afraid to be happy?

Am I afraid of love?

No, not afraid of love,

But just that it's not real.

So happy, so much in love,

So complete am I.

It has to be real,

I'm not asleep.

I can't be dreaming.

Fears go away

I'll take over now.

My heart says to me,

"Love Him

Fear no more of it,

I won't let you down.

Trust me and your feelings,

In Him trust also.

Hurt no more,

Rejoice and be happy.

The darkness has lifted,

The tunnel has ended.

Loneliness has fled,

You are one complete soul.

So nurtured, so fed.

Love Him freely,

Be happy, not sad.

For it is real,

So forever Be Glad!"

Ever felt like this? I wrote this when I was probably about 16 or 17. Did you figure out who He was? It was Jesus Christ.

This was just one of the times that the Holy Spirit was tugging me back home. I had been away from the Lord for awhile and got into a dark place in my mind. That can be a dangerous place to be. Satan uses depression to gain control of you .... and it works. During this time in my life Satan was working overtime. The words I wrote could also be about a lover in my life or a love not found yet. That's  what I originally thought I was writing about.....a guy that I thought I needed to have in my life to be complete. No I had noone in particular in mind... just that I needed one to be complete. Later in life I realized that it was really the Holy Spirit trying to lead me home and that it was Jesus Christ that I needed.

Satan is good at deceiving us when we let our sight stray from the cross. When we lose sight of the prize...we falter and fail. Darkness creeps in and blinds us from the saving LIGHT. We only need to fight in the darkness instead of retreating further into it. Darkness for us is when God can truly shine. He's holding out a lifeline and if only we would reach for it we would be saved. Instead we crouch in the corner and feel sorry for ourselves. We tell ourselves that we are worthless and that noone cares. That God deserted us in our time of need, so why should we care.

Folks, let me tell you... God NEVER deserts His children. WE are the ones that desert Him. We need to be glad that God is not human. We humans are callous and unforgiving. Once we are scorned, we never forget and you could die waiting on us to forgive. But for His grace............

His grace and mercy are so great. Just fall into it and you will find a peace beyond belief. Grab hold in the darkness and let Him wrap His arms around you and comfort you. With His love you will need no other...but He gives it anyway. He lavishes us with gifts beyond our imagination. And promises us an eternal life with Him....forever. There is no greater gift than that.

Love Him folks.......it's worth it all.

We all live in a house, an apartment or something similar but…. Is it really our home?  Is it really important how ‘grand’ it is?  How big?  How much it cost?  What really makes it a “home” to us?  What is the big deal really?  So,  where do you consider you real “home” to be?  Mine…. is not of this earth, but in heaven.

 

That being said… then why should I fear the grave?  Did not Paul say  ... “to die is gain”?  If I am a Christian then should I fear death?  I don’t think so.  I actually can look forward to death….then I will be going home.  Not to say I want to die, I still have things I would like to accomplish for God and loved ones and friends I would like to see saved.  But if God sees fit to call me then I am not going to complain.

 

God tells us that He did not give us the spirit of fear….therefore if I believe God then I should not fear.  That means I should have no fear about anything I should have to face in life.  Whatever I face, He is with me and has already been there ahead of me.  As He went before me He cleared the way of anything that would harm me.  This does not say that He made the way easy with no troubles….just that I would not be harmed.  Sometimes God allows troubles and trials to come our way so that we can search for Him in the darkness and find His peace. 

 

We tend to only see Him in the good things, in the light of day … but He is there in the DARKNESS more than the light.  In the darkness you have to be willingly to search.  God can use a willing vessel….a trusting vessel.  Are you willing and trusting OR do you have to have light first?

 So, back to the grave…it is dark….but will you find Him there?  The grave is but a hole in the ground… a stepping stone to your eternity.  Will it lead to the glorious light of heaven or the burning flames of hell?  Do you fear death or can you embrace it fearlessly?  Will you say “take me home” or “not yet, I’m not ready.”

Have you noticed that during this season of the year that people wish "Peace on Earth"? Have you ever really thought about what that ACTUALLY means? This thought came to me last week and I have been mulling it over and over.

When peace is thought of we think of no more war. Do you ever recall a time in history when some country or other was not at war? I've even looked so far back as in the Bible days. We may have seen some peace for certain countries or areas of the world but never...ALL AT PEACE.

The first time all was peaceful was in the garden of Eden before the fall of mankind. The Bible says the next time will be a FALSE PEACE. That of when the antichrist shows up and tricks the nations into a seven year peace treaty that he will then break half way into it.

So.... here comes the question? Are you really ready for peace? Because the only time I can see that we will have REAL peace is after Christ comes back to reign in the Millennium.

If we truly want our prayer for PEACE ON EARTH to be answered then we better be living a life that we are sure would get us to the Millennial reign of Christ. If not then we are wishing our death in hell to come quickly.

Christ wants us to be ready. He tells us to wait upon His return. But we are also supposed to still be doing His work. That means that we are still to teach and spread the Word...bringing others into the family of God. Are you doing this? Are you truly living a Christian life with the attitude of Christ or are you only looking out for #1? If you fall in the latter category then you better be changing fast because time is running out.

One day soon, as soon as enough of His children are earnestly in prayer, God is going to choose to answer the prayers for WORLD PEACE. Then it will be too late. Don't let that happen to you. Get ready for the time is short and NOONE knows the time.

 

You know as humans we tend to think we can't be happy or content unless everything is just perfect. Everything is just like WE want it, all going OUR WAY. If we don't get away from this mentality we will NEVER be happy. Perfection is not for this world. We will only get perfection when we go to be with our Lord. Heaven is the only place perfection will ever be. So what do we do? We learn that happiness is when we follow God and let HIM determine what we need and when. If we would all just focus our passions -whatever they may be - on HIM then we would get what we need to make us content with our lives and as happy as this-side-of heaven can be for us. God wants our passion just like HE gave us HIS passion on the cross. Don't you think he deserves that much from us? He's not asking us to go as far as He did - giving our life. He just wants our passion, our companionship, our worship. I think that is very little to ask of us considering what he gave for us. What do you think? Can we learn to be content in Him? To let our happiness start with Him? If I want to be satisfied in life - not in my life with Him, that won't be until I die - but in my human life, then I need to trust in Him. TRUST therefore equals CONTENTMENT and HAPPINESS. I think I can do that what about you?

Col. 3:13 NLT You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the lord forgave you,so you must forgive others. Forgiveness, for some Christians, is a big problem. We tend to forget that to be a Christian means to strive to be Christ-like. Without Christ we would have no forgiveness because it comes from His BLOOD. So why do we have such a problem? We forget we have to put aside our sinful nature. This sinful nature comes from Satan. Satan is none other than Lucifer, who thought himself to be greater than God. So we get a self-centered nature instead of a Christ-centered nature. But who are we to say that we are better than Christ and that forgiveness is beneath us? When we refuse to forgive aren't we in essence saying that very thing? Granted it is hard, but we are told in His Word that if we don't forgive then he can't forgive us. In Mark 11:25-26 KJV we are told: And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Now, to me, that means that if I'm holding something against someone, or feel someone has done something to me and I don't forgive them then I might as well not ask God for anything, least of all forgiveness, because I won't get it. Sometimes we try holding folks accountable for wrongs felt but not realized. We are told to confront those we feel have wronged us and to forgive them and overcome. Feelings get hurt whether intentional or unintentional, either way we are to forgive the hurt if we claim to have Christ in us. We must bind the spirit of "Self" which is of Satan and put Christ first. If we don't forgive we are not only hurting ourselves BUT are re-crucifying Christ. God can't use an unwilling vessel. He has a purpose for us all, some form of ministry or an anointing to be spread (Jer 29:11). We put a halt to that with our disobedience. If we aren't careful our talent or purpose can be taken away and given to a willing vessel. I pray we all learn to forgive and become willing vessels.

I was reading something the other day and it got me to thinking….. We as Christians seem to have problems when it comes to dealing with our shame and humiliation stemming from our pasts. God tells us that His grace should be sufficient for us. So are we telling Him that He is a liar? Have we forgotten the shame and humiliation that He carried in His short years of ministry for us? What about what He felt on the cross? He carried all of that shame and humiliation out of His love for us -- and we throw it away. Are we so high-and-mighty that His love and mercy is not enough for us? We hold on to our shame and use it as an excuse for not getting close to God. - "Look what I've done, I'm so ashamed, how can He love me now?" - That is why He did what He did - so we wouldn't have to carry that burden. He tells us to 'cast our burdens on Him'. When we do that we are to accept His forgiveness, hold our heads up high and move on - IN HIM. God pricks our conscious when we are doing wrong so we will put it at His feet. But shame and humiliation are Satan's tools. They are Satan's way of keeping us from growing closer to our Savior. We fall into that trap instead of following God's instructions and accepting His grace and mercy. Once forgiven there should be no more shame if we accept Him and His Word as Truth. Get behind us Satan and take your shame with you - the Word is Truth and sets me FREE!!!!!