Deuteronomy 33:27

“The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, 'Destroy!'”

Remember who your refuge is. The world has nothing to offer you. When you are down, remember that the ETERNAL GOD is waiting for you with open arms. He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). You will be safe in His arms. Rejoice in that.

 

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” – Ephesians 3:20-21

“The greatest of these is love…”

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13

Faith. Hope. Love. Do you have these? Do you abide in them? Abide: verb: to remain; continue; stay (dictionary.com). Remain, continue, stay in faith, hope,  and love.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16). Let your love be what people see when they look at you. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). Love is a huge aspect of our faith, and also our witness.

Remember to show love to those around you, even those who are hard to love. People notice that. Would you rather someone notice that you are strangely kind or incredibly rude? I would much rather someone remember me as kind. If someone notices that, they may ask about the joy that is in you. What an incredible opportunity to witness about God’s unfailing love!

Be like Jesus! Think about what He would do when you aren’t sure what you should do.

 

“Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” – 1 Peter 2:17

Rejoicing in Jesus

“This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24

It is so easy to rejoice and be glad when God gives us great days. On those days when the weather is beautiful and everything is going our way.

But what about the days when things aren’t going our way? I know that I can be grumpy when I am having a bad day, but it is something I struggle against. We should still rejoice! Jesus didn’t ask us to take up our cross and follow Him when we feel like it or when we have a good day; He wants us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. He will help us, but we have to take the first step.

Going through Job at church has been a blessing. Through all his circumstances, Job still said “Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Let us be like that. Don’t allow your circumstances define who God is.

I love that when we are having a bad day, we can still approach God. He wants us to. He wants us to tell Him how we feel. Sometimes, I pray that He will help me to put a smile on my face and have a better attitude. The greatest part is that He is always faithful! :)

So until we get home and every day is an amazing day, let us shine for Jesus here on Earth! :)

2/23/2011

Job 29:1-30:19

• God has a history of allowing His servants to suffer. But God’s people have a history of staying with Him even when He allows them to suffer.
• It is the love of God that allows His people to suffer. The people’s love of God keeps them going.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:7 – God' is restraining evil from taking over until He removes His church.
• Preach the word two times a year: in season and out of season!
• When God returns, will He find faith? Make sure He can find it in you.
• "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
  - Joshua 24:15
• Emotions are good to have on the ship, but don’t let them be the captain.
• If God pulled back all the blessings in your life, would you still love Him?
• Be clothed in righteousness all the time. It is not just for a costume party.
• You can’t “moonlight” as a Christian.
• When someone is hurting you, you still have to turn the other cheek. Don’t let yourself do what comes “naturally” – that’s what we are trying to avoid!
• No warning in Scripture is gender-specific; they are all for sinners.
• A wife should side with her husband; a husband should protect his wife.

2/20/2011

2 Corinthians 5:9-16

• Self-centeredness (rather than Christ-centeredness) leads to becoming a problematic Christian who is difficult to get along with. Focus on Jesus and the rest will fall into place.
• Don’t allow your circumstances affect who you are for Jesus. Showing yourself pity for what’s happening to you makes you less effective.
• If we are conscious of our salvation and its splendor and wonder, we are a threat to the enemy. That’s a good thing!
• Are you a threat to Satan and his agenda? If you aren’t, that’s a problem. Examine yourself.
• When you walk into a room, do you bring the joy of Christ or gloom?
• Our aim is to please God: here or there, dead or alive.
• Psalm 106:3: “Blessed are those who keep justice, And he who does righteousness at all times!”
• Make your first aim to please God. Everything else will fall into place.
• Be satisfied with the simplicity of your faith. We don’t need the world’s fads or help. All we need is God’s word, solid teaching, and fellowship. We don’t need other doctrine.
• Love is a critical component of our faith.
• In the Bible, where you read “the blood of Jesus Christ,” you can think “the love of Jesus Christ.” He died because of His love. Only LOVE held Him on the cross, not the nails. He could have called a legion of angels in, but He loves us.
• “I don’t have a value system I have a LORD – Jesus Christ. And I have value in what He says.” – Pastor Rick
• Be the person who, when you get out of bed, the devil thinks “Oh no, they’re up!”

Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King! Hallelujah, hallelujah, we’re going to see the King!!!

Focusing on Jesus

Make your life right with Jesus, and the rest will fall into place.
No really, I think we so often get caught up in doing what we think is best for us that we forget to look to Jesus!
In all aspects of our lives, I truly believe that if we would just focus on Him, and Him alone, and not worry about everything else, it will all fall into place. I mean, think about it. If we focus on Jesus, we will be where He wants us. We will be reflecting Him and His glory, and people will see that. We will speak His truth, and things that are glorifying to Him. We will seek His will before we make any decision and He will guide us.
I know this is easier said than done, but it is something I am aiming for. Make Jesus first! :)

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11

To Each His Own…

Such a cliché: To each his own.

I don’t think I mean it in the way it is often meant.

Romans 14:14.

If I consider something to be wrong for myself, it is wrong for me. If I think that God is leading me to do something, it is wrong for me not to do it.

So often, I feel that so many of us try to force our convictions on others. While I am attending college, I don’t tell anyone that they need to go to school to be successful, and I certainly try not to make people feel inferior for choosing not to go to school. For what I want to do, there isn’t much option. For many others, college is unnecessary. There is nothing in the Bible that says to go to school or not to.

This is just one example. It is on my mind because I feel like some people have said that they do not intend on going to school in a way that makes me feel bad for going. It is a difficult situation for me.

So here I am, in college, until I graduate or God tells me to get out. When and if He does, I will go. That is the key. Follow what God tells you.

I just pray that I am not judgmental about those things that God has put on my heart but not everyone else’s. Be loving! :)

God bless you all.

Notes from this week’s sermon(s) will be up soon, I promise! :)

Catastrophic

Topical – 1/2/2011

Revelation 13:8

• Man is a fiasco in motion. He is not what God intended him to be.
• Catastrophe: to die and realize that you are forever separated from God.
• Unfortunately, men are far more impressed with the works of Satan than with the works of God. They tend to treat Satan’s works as if they are God’s. That doesn’t mean they are.
• If you vote against Christ, you vote for antichrist. There is no other option. This is very real. Reject God and perish. (“He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.” – Luke 11:23)
• Hear and preach! (“If anyone has an ear, let him hear.” – Revelation 13:9)
• Now is not the time to build a bunch of fancy houses (unless you feel so led?). Now is the time to do God’s work!
• How do people get themselves left out of a loving God’s Book of Life? They reject Him.
• Unbelief is the spirit of rejecting God.
• Unbelievers have reject that they have been rejected by God in their fallen state. Therefore they reject the solution (because they don’t believe that they are fallen).
• Be more mindful of what is special to God. Make it special to you.
• We are to share the Gospel. Angels aren’t going to do it for us. Jesus said to go and make disciples, not to wait for someone else to do it…
• Come just as you are. God will fix you; you don’t have to do it yourself first.
• “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” – Romans 5:10

12/29/2010

Job 3-5

• Just in case anybody was wondering: there are 310 questions asked in the book of Job.
• There is a time for everything. When time is up, get on with your life.
• Job made a distinction between his circumstances and who God is. Don’t let that line blur when you are hurting. Just because you are in pain doesn’t mean God wants to see you like that. He brings fruit through this time.
• God allows us to go through rough times. He will never ever allow us to go through something we can’t handle. But we won’t be able to handle it without Him. Run to Jesus!!!
• There is a difference between contending for the faith and being contentious for the faith. Be a contender!!!
• Job shows us how we can suffer in the presence of God.
• Note that in the book of Job, Job is not considering suicide. He is deploring that he was born. But he realizes that he can’t change it, so he moves on.
• This is a bitter life. There is a better life. Look forward to being with Jesus forever! :)
• Be a witness – share God’s love wherever you go!
• Even if you biggest nightmare has become a reality, KEEP MOVING in the faith.

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Pleasing God ♥

Quote from my last post: “Why declare there is a God, that you believe in Him, but live a life with NO CARE about displeasing Him? Why!?”

[Based on my obvious frustration with the world on this topic (if you saw my notes, you would understand), I felt like this deserves a post of its own.]

Since I have gotten to college, I have met several people who claim Jesus as Lord, but continue to live their lives in ways that I do not see as pleasing to the Lord. I know that each person is convicted differently, but when you are blatantly breaking the law and living in sin, a line must be drawn. When you say that you think that you can do whatever you want because God will forgive you, you are acknowledging that you are wrong, but not doing anything about it.

I do not understand how people can live their lives in this way. God’s word says it clearly:

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” – Romans 6:15

How can someone reject that? How can someone say Jesus is Lord, that He is God, that they are born again, but reject His word.

This honestly angers me so much. I have to guard myself when I speak with these kind of people, that I don’t take my anger out on them (“Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.” – Psalm 37:8). It makes me want to cry. How can someone use God like that? All they want is their salvation but they do not want to change their lives for Him. That is like spitting in His face, but so much worse. I don’t even know how to express my frustration. If my heart breaks like this, how much more does it hurt my Jesus?

Jesus gave Himself for us and to us, paying a holy and precious price on the cross. After giving His all, is it too much for Him to ask us to do the same thing?
-Streams in the Desert, December 14

I feel like I could ramble about this all night, but I need sleep and you need a break from me , so I’ll end with this: Let us all live our lives for Jesus, our Redeemer. May we all shine for Him and let Him be Lord over our lives. Always and forever.

Not Everybody’s King

This is a bit delayed, but in my defense, this blog was not started when this sermon was given.

December 24, 2010 – Christmas Eve Service

• Satan will lie to you. He doesn’t care how old or young you are. Don’t give in to his shenanigans.
• Sin: missing what God has said. We all do it, we are all sinners.
• There is no salvation for someone who refuses to fix their sin with God’s help.
• Just because sin is “natural” doesn’t mean that it won’t harm you. Why would God send His perfect Son, Jesus, to die to fix something that isn’t a problem? He wouldn’t. Sin is a problem.
• Worship belongs exclusively to God. Worshipping anything or anyone else is idolatry. Which is sin.
• “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” – Colossians 1:16
• There will be no end to God. He is forever.
• Everyone who is of the truth hears His voice!
• Without Jesus, there is no happy ending. Life isn’t a fairy tale.
• Why declare there is a God, that you believe in Him, but live a life with NO CARE about displeasing Him? Why!?

 

To listen to the full sermon, go to http://ccmech.org/sermons/topical and click to download “Dec 24 10,” Not Everybody’s King – Mt 2:2”

2/16/2011

I forgot to take my church Bible and notebook to school with me this Wednesday, and since I go straight from school, I had to improvise, which consisted of using the Bible that I carry at school and taking notes on an offering envelope. Well, it got the job done, so here are my notes to you! :)

Job 25-27

• The world can always find you a reason to turn away from God. Don’t listen!
• Feed upon the good news of God or perish forever.
• Man is a created, sinful being. But God still loves us. He wants us to come to Him as we are. But He doesn’t want us to bring the “sticks” from our old life to Him. They poke and hurt. We are to become a new creation.
• Be sure of what you believe and let that shine! If you are unsure, others will be apprehensive about your witness.
• We are too weak to keep the law.
• “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ” – Romans 8:1-4
• Avoid unholy alliances! (See this post for more on this)

 

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.” – Jude 24-25

Maranatha! ><>

2/2/2011

Job 18-21

• If the devil hits you, hit him back with Jesus!
• Don’t run from Jesus, run to Him!
• Every key, every graveyard, every hospital, every doctor, every policeman reminds us that we live in a fallen world.
• We take up our cross daily and follow Jesus, knowing that we suffer for a reason.
• God’s purposes far exceed our predicaments. He controls it all!
• There are wicked men in high places. That doesn’t make them right.
• You can like someone’s politics without following their theology too.
• Know who you are and what you believe.
• The Bible is your Constitution.
• Very little comes very easily.
• Just because you are successful in a dishonest business does not mean God approves. In fact, if it’s dishonest, He does not!

2/6/2011–Someone to Care for Me

(Sorry I haven’t posted in a while.)

So, this past Sunday, my pastor did a topical entitled “Someone to Care for Me.” The main text was Job 19:25-27:

For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

• Redeemer: Goel (Hebrew), the one who cares, “Kinsman Redeemer”
• When God makes a promise, He keeps it. He is not like the untrustworthy people you meet in the world.
• Name is nature. All of God’s names describe who He is: Lord of lords, King of kings, Redeemer, Savior, Messiah, Emmanuel, Adonai, Jehovah, Yahweh, Mighty God, Holy One, etc.
• You are always free to preach Christ, but sometimes you might be persecuted for it. He is with you.
• The unbeliever is not on the outside because anyone put him there. He chooses to be there.
• The truth makes unbelievers uncomfortable. Don’t let that stop you from preaching it.
• It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance.
• If you think you have to get “good enough” to meet God, you are never going to meet Him. He wants us to come AS WE ARE.
• Ezekiel 11 – turn from your wicked ways!
• Those who are estranged from God in this life will be estranged from God for all eternity!
• There are many in Christ who are confused about one thing or another, but at least they are in Christ.
• Don’t try to make sense out of sin.
• What do you think about Jesus. If you think He is anything less than your Redeemer (goel), you do not think highly enough of Him.
• “56 million years ago evolution was not possible. It still isn’t.”
• You cannot know Jesus unless He shows Himself to you – through divine reason, His word, His followers, however He chooses.
• There must be an advocate for man. Jesus is that advocate. We are too messed up to take care of ourselves.

This was one of the best sermons I have heard. Find it online at http://ccmech.org/sermons (look for Feb 06 under Sundays or Topicals).

1 Timothy 4:12

Oh how I love and miss camp! I’ve been going through my notes and here’s something else I found. We spend a whole session looking at 1 Timothy 4:12:

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Our behavior should be an example to believers, and non-believers, in spite of our age. Don’t behave in a way that will cause others to stumble.

Be an example in your:

1. Words: speak the truth, and only edifying things. Don’t talk about stuff that isn’t pleasing to God. “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”  - 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
2. Conduct: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."” – Hebrews 13:5
3. Love: love the loveable and the unlovable. Don’t allow your flesh get in the way.
4. Spirit: The Holy Spirit is inside of us. Shine!
5. Faith: Trust in God. Make sure your faith isn’t in yourself.
6. Purity: be pure in heart and mind.

The root of faith

I’ve been looking through my notebook from Summer Camp (2010) and I found a neat note (with all sorts of stars around it, of course…):

Build yourself up in faith and truth… Be concerned with the root of your faith, and wait patiently for the fruit. We live in a “now, now, now” culture but our faith should not be affected by that. The fruit will be great when the roots are strong.

I remember that the pastor who was speaking made a lot of analogies to plants. He works on an herb farm, and he said that often, people come in to the farm at the beginning of the season and want herbs for their cooking or other things. He said that they want them so bad that they don’t care that the “fruit” is much, much better later in the season. If they would wait until the end of the season, they would be so much happier. The plant needs time to take root, to build up its roots and then it will have the best yield.

Our faith is the same way. Often, we want to bear fruit – by witnessing or serving – but we don’t want to wait until our roots are firm. We want to go forward, but we aren’t ready. We often move forward in our own strength and then the fruit we wanted so badly is small and not ripe.

“Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord!” – Psalm 27:14

Jesus should be the root of our faith! Don’t get caught up in emotions and drama and what you think is right. Jesus is the only way! Don’t worry about what other people think! HE is all that matters!