What In Our Lives, Is Really Worth Living For?

All humans love life. God put that in us. We were created to live with God forever, and that is why death is such a horrible interruption. We were not meant to die. It is such a profound shock when it comes close to us. Why? Because you were not created to die. Yet we do die, because of sin. The Bible says that is the reason why we die, is because the world was sold under this terrible curse of sin. Every single one of us will die. At that time of your death, so much of what you live for will not matter. When that moment comes, you will lean back and grab onto something firm, what you grab onto will be the God or gods that carry you into eternity. If that foundation is anything other than Jesus, you will fall down with them, hanging on to them, into a Christ-less eternity. Everyone of us has a foundation and in the end, it will be tested. Is it Jesus or is it the pleasure, or the sex, is it the violence, is it the pride, what is it that you lived for? No matter what we see in our lives today, it will one day come to an end. Is Jesus Christ the very existence of the foundation of your life, both now and forever?

Hebrews 12:2-3 ~ "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Jesus Christ, the Bible says, went to the cross, and as we look into Revelation, chapter 6, we are still looking at the worthiness of Christ, He is the One, and the Only One worthy to open us that scroll that was sealed with seven seals. We have already studied in detail what that seven sealed scroll was all about. We have been looking at the peeling off of those seals. We see again, that Jesus was the only one who could meet the demands and qualifications of this seven sealed scroll. Christ went to the cross. It wasn't enough for Jesus to come to the earth, the Bible says that Christ existed even before time began. He was existing in heaven with His Father. The Bible says that Jesus is the Creator of angels, and the Creator of the universe and the worlds that exist. He came to earth with a specific purpose.

The Bible says that He would come to earth, to live a life in human flesh, to meet all the requirements of the law of God that you read about in the Old Testament. He met all of those demands, living a perfect life, he met all the demands of the law, and not only that but in our place, the place of the sinner, Jesus took upon Himself all of our guilt, all of our shame and all of our wrong doing, the wrong doing of all humanity for all time and eternity, from Adam and Eve to the end, Jesus Christ, went to the cross and paid a price that you and I could never pay. Jesus Christ paid that price freely, and in going to the cross, he cancelled the debt of all those who would put their trust in Him and His work upon the cross. God, in the flesh, in Revelation 1, died for our sins, and rose again from the dead. That is the glorious and awesome good news of the gospel.

Revelation 6:9-11 ~ "When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the Word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed."

You might just want to read Matthew 24 and Mark 13 and Luke 21, the Tribulation period, that 7-year period of time, that God has decreed in the Bible, that will take place after the rapture of the church, at the advent of what is called the Antichrist, and what you have now been profound enough to learn up to this point. It will begin according to the book of Daniel, that will come a certain specific day when the world is going about their normal day to day things, watching CNN, satellite news channels, no one will miss it. This man will rise up this political ruler out of Europe, and he will sign a contract of peace, a peace treaty with the nation of Israel and its surrounding enemies for seven years on a day, and that day will commence the seven year tribulation period. That contract of peace will be for seven years. It is also known in the Old Testament as the time of Jacob's trouble. It is when Israel's troubles begin like at no time in all of history. Who are these who have died for their faith? Who are these who will die for their faith in Christ?

It is no secret that believers in the Almighty God of the Bible have suffered at the hands of persecution throughout history The persecutions of the Egyptians Pharoahs and Babylonian kings, and of the Persian and Assyrian empires down through the ages. The open attacks against the believers by the Roman empire and by the communist Chinese and those atrocities by old soviet union and lets remember that Adolph Hitler not only murdered six million Jews but also over 100,000 Christians who pledge an allegiance to Jesus Christ.

John 15:18-19 ~ "If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."

What in our lives is really worth living for? What is so valuable to us that we would die for what we believe? Do you have something so precious that will last for all time and eternity? You can experience that through faith in Jesus Christ. It will always be something that the world can not offer.

Hebrews 11:32-38 ~ "And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who become powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back from their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goat skins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated - the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground."

Psalm 116:15 ~ "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of the saints."

A life worth dying for is a life that is greater than what this world can offer, recognizing the worthiness of Jesus Christ. This is important because the life Christ offers is worth any life, that this world can offer. We can get so caught up in what this world has to offer, but if you have been around long enough or going through something like a serious illness or a divorce, you begin to see that nothing really matters much any more, except the things that really matter! Like health, love, being together, things that you can't buy. The true things that really matter are the things you can't buy!

Revelation 6:9 ~ "Now - when he opened the fifth seal I saw under the altar the souls of those that have been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held."

The fact that only Jesus Christ was the only one worthy to perform the full act of man's redemption and meet all of its demands. Only Jesus was able to release His Spirit. He had absolute control. He rose from the dead to guarantee that all these eternal promises found in the Bible for those who place their faith in Him.

Revelation 5:1-5 ~ "Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."

Jesus' worthiness was qualified by the fact of (1) "who" Jesus was, (2) "why" Jesus came, and (3) "what" Jesus did.

1 John 2:1 ~ "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the world."

John 10:9 ~ "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture."

Acts 2:21 ~ "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Do you have to be baptized to be saved? No, its a public statement of your relationship of Christ. If you die before that happens and your faith is in Jesus, you still go to heaven. When you are saved, you should strive to become baptized as your statement to the world of your faith in Christ. 

Romans 5:8-9 ~ "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!"

A life worth dying for is a life that is greater than what this world can offer recognizing the integrity of the Bible. Jesus offers grace, unearned favor. The world knows nothing of this. It reminds you of your unworthiness. Church is not for religious reasons, it benefits no one to have legalistic requirements. Jesus' gospel is a free will offering of all those who would respond, that Jesus Christ came as an example of God's love to the world. Find that in the world. You can not. Don't you want the assurance of knowing when you die, you will be in heaven and have eternal life?

Are You Facing Persecution in Your Life? Part 16

Back to our second part studying the seven churches of Revelation and we are deep into Revelation 2:8-11 discussing the church of Smyrna. We already learned from our study yesterday about the historical aspect of the city of Smyrna and what it was like living there during the time when the city was very prosperous. We learned that the church of Smyrna was a persecuted church and that anyone who professed to be a Christian was undergoing the very threat of death in the least and torture, inprisonment and more were normal activities from those who hated them once they were discovered.

Today we learn more about how to deal with things if we, as believers in Jesus Christ, find ourselves enduring persecution just like the church of Smyrna, and know just what advice Jesus gives to those who are through the letter in the church to Smyrna.

Revelation 2:8-11 ~ "Revelation 2:8-11 ~ "To the angel of the church of Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty - yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who are say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of that you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you ill suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has a ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death." (NIV). "

It's always in that moment of difficulty that what you claim to believe becomes reality. Nothing that the world offers is a comfort. When someone is faced with a life changing threat or illness in their life, they aren't crying out for more money, a better position in life, their favorite celebrity to stop by, someone to buy them what they have always wanted. When someone is hurting, they are crying out for peace. We can stand in their presence and simply open the Bible and begin reading it and something happens that transcends the spiritual world to the very physical world and it provides that person with comfort, they could be dying of cancer and racked with pain, and their pain comes down even though it spikes on all the tools the hospital is using.

Whenever we are facing a hostile environment we can be encouraged. (verse 8). "These things says; who was dead." 

This verse is important to you if you find your life about to be threatened. The church of Smyrna lived with the constant threat of being attacked or persecuted for following Jesus Christ. Yet we know that when death comes, it is not the end. Jesus Christ is the Resurrection. You might wonder how will that comfort you, because it's past tense. He has already been through it and has prevailed. He is God! He is alive forever more. If we believe in Jesus, this life isn't the end. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

John 11:25-26 ~ "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? "
John 6:40 ~ "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

Matthew 28:20b ~ "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

This applies to the Christian only! God is with us everywhere!

The Lord, Himself, has promised us that He will never leave us or forsake us. Acts 14:21-22 ~ "They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said."

If we are living in a hostile environment, we can be a confident Christian/church. Verse 8 ~ "These things says;...he who "came to life."

He is Jesus. We too will live again. This is important to you if you are facing death. But what about the death of a family member or a friend?

John 6:51 ~ "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I give for the life of the world."

Confidence in the face of peril!

2 Corinthians 5:7-8 ~ "We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord."

John 14:1-2 ~ "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you."

If He went through all that work, He is coming back for us as promised.

So what kind of church are you, when times of difficulty surround you? (Verse 9).

Revelation 2:9 ~ "I know your afflictions and your poverty - yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who are say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan." 

We don't have to wait for something to happen to us, there is a spiritual battle we face every day. Isn't it nice that when we lay our head down at night, God watches over us. So when times of difficulty come and surround you, you will be able to endure.  (Verse 9).

Revelation 2:9 ~ " I know your afflictions and your poverty - yet you are rich! I know the slander"

Those of you that are Christians, when we go through difficulty we have our Lord to call out to. We will endure, we will make it! There are three things the church of Smyrna had to endure.

1. "I know your works while in tribulation.." the word tribulation or afflictions as some of your Bibles translate it, means a crushing pressure, a heavy anguish, a sorrowful trouble.  Jesus knows that they are enduring this crushing persecution. The word  is used to describe a man who is being crushed to death by a rockslide or someone who is pinned in a mudslide and the mud is rising. Tribulation = suffering.

Philippians 3:10 ~ "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,"

How many of you would sign up for that? No one would sign up for that. In life's sufferings that we go through, God is not afraid to have us suffer, because He is in control and He is watching over us. God uses difficulty, even Satan, in His infinite wisdom and tailor makes a trial to come about my life, so that whatever I am studying in the Bible, it can now embed itself in my heart and dwell there. It becomes real. God does stuff like that in our lives. Go through it with Jesus Christ and not alone. If God engineers it, then we know with absolute certainty we will get through it. It's father-filtered. Next time you endure some trial in your life, remember those words, "Father-filtered." Nothing happens without God being aware of it. Flat tire? Sickness? No money? All "Father-Filtered!" God's not wringing His hands in heaven. The difficulty that surrounds you and I, we will endure it, because victory is built into it. We need to start looking at difficulty differently. Sometimes churches need to realize that too, that when church members are going through difficulties, it tests their ability to cae for you, to be there for you, to help you when they can. The church in Smyrna was under pressure to worship Caesar, to be pagan, to be like the rest of the world. I can't help but think of our young people those in junior high and high school that have to endure the pressure of drugs, and sex to blend in. Right now each of us is being a sacrifice for something.

Romans 12:1-2 ~ "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's wil is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."

When times of difficulty come, you will be able to prosper. (verse 10). "I know your works....while in poverty(but you are rich)."

When you hear the word "prosper" you automatically think of money, but if I were sick, you'd think the word means health. People don't care about money when they are sick, do you? You just want to feel better. What does prosper mean to you? Fill in the blank! Money? Peace? Family? Health? Do you know what happens then, we forget God in the process. The word here to describe poverty is ptocheia which means to become destitute, to no longer have what is needed, to have one's material wealth, either lost, stolen or handed over. If I were to tell you that Jesus is talking about a man who lives from hand to mouth, from paycheck to paycheck, one who can barely make ends meet, this would not be the man.You will be able to prosper.

Jesus is telling us about a man who has nothing any longer, because of his godly lifestyle and his devotion to Christ - a Christian. Good people, smart people, usable people. Because they named Jesus as Lord, they are now a poverty stricken people. But we will look more about that tomorrow. Don't forget that when we get too comfortable, too prosperous or think they have all they need, they tend to forget God in the process.

Count It All Joy!

How is it Monday morning already?

It seems as if someone hit the fast forward button on the weekend, and it was over before I knew it.

Monday's take a hard assault.

Most people dread Monday; they loathe it; they despise it. I think if it were possible they simply would remove it off the calendar and extend our Sunday into two days instead. (sounds good to me!)

But I think we are forgetting something, a change in how we perceive Monday.

As a child, one of my favorite toys was the Etch-O-Sketch. Probably something children today might find frustrating and difficult to manage because it requires patience and doesn't gratify instantaneously like technology today does.

Turning those knobs brought you up and down or left and right, but you could never simply pick up and start your line over again someplace else. If you made a mistake, you had to shake it up and down and begin again. But the line you began with was continuous, unbroken, and you just never knew what picture you might wind up with.  (The drawing on top was what mine used to look like).

But our lives every morning can be a new beginning. We simply have to see it like that Etch-O-Sketch and realize that whatever mistakes we made yesterday, we get a fresh day to begin again. Today is a first for us.

The first time to live today.

Until today, we only lived yesterdays. All the things that happened yesterday can not be changed by walking into today and carrying it with us. Today is our do-over.

Today we can make different choices than we did yesterday.

Today we can forget the things that hurt us yesterday and accept today as a new day and let those things go.

Nothing we do today, can change the impacts of yesterday. We can only pick up today and start fresh with new choices, new perspectives and new hope.

There is a reason the Word of God has us moving forward and not looking back. We need to readjust our focus and keep pressing on to what lies ahead.

Even runners in a race, know that when they look back to see how fast others are gaining on them, losing their focus. Professional runners never look back. They only focus on what lies ahead.

That is exactly what we need to do today.

Today is a new day, a fresh new piece of paper just waiting to see what you can do with today. Forget tomorrow. Forget yesterday, what can you do with today?

The possibilities are endless if you are but willing to change how you see the day. Perhaps this Monday, might be your best Monday ever. It is the first Monday for you today, how will you choose to spend your day?

James 1:2 "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." (New Living Translation).

God Doesn't Exist, Retard

"God doesn't exist, retard."

Hard to believe that I had accurately predicted that after my latest book review on Saturday, I would be targeted. I was right.

Since I became a blogger back in 2009, I knew the power of the written word. Being a Christian, carried its own set of targets, and when you put the two together, especially when the world doesn't agree with your opinions, persecution would undoubtedly follow.

Just this Saturday I was faced with the dilemma of how to write a book review on a book I requested, but was mislead, that didn't agree with my religious beliefs. In my eyes, I had two choices.

To write a honest review.

Or to write the publisher and tell them I couldn't write the review based on my own personal beliefs.

I've even read Christian authors who have targeted book reviewers, even Christian book reviewers to not post reviews on sites like Amazon and Barnes and Noble because those less than favorable reviews have an overall impact on their novels rating.

I can agree to a point.

God does call me to be accountable to what I think, what I say and what I do.

He also stated in His Word, the Bible, that when you go against the world, persecution will follow. If I was mislead by the synopsis I received, couldn't someone else follow suit?  Consider the words found in James 1:2 ~ "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,"


What benefit is there if you don't tell it like it is? Without being too critical and watching your choice of words and what you will say. In fact, I sat for quite awhile and really considered what and how I would write in my review.

I couldn't let someone else make the mistake and pick up a book dealing with the issue of gay marriage and not say something. So I wrote what I felt was a very heartfelt review. I did not say anything hateful and expressed that the reason for my unfavorable rating was based on my Christian beliefs and thus others might have a different review of the book if they don't find the subject matter offensive. I did.

In this country, we are allowed the ability to speak our minds even if our opinions differ. Yet is there any reason to drop to the level of leaving nasty, critical comments and resort to calling names?

I already knew the heat I would take in writing this review. In fact, if you want to read it, please click here. 

I even told my husband, I would be a huge target from people who didn't like what I hate to say, not based on an honest review, but that I didn't agree with gay marriage as a believer in Jesus Christ. Thus the comment I received on my blog yesterday that has become the title of this post.

Rather than chose to debate the merits of this issue and with what I knew would become a blog post filled with hate comments and less likely to deal with the real issue, I chose to delete it.

I knew it was coming and more than likely there will be more to come.

Yet, I hold fast to the truth that God shares with us as believers in Christ, that we will be targeted and persecuted for simply stating the truth. I didn't write the law, God did. If He says gay marriage isn't part of His design for marriage, then I challenge those to take it up with God when you see Him, and we all will some day. I refer to 1 Corinthians 6:9 from the New Living Translation ~ "Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,"


I guess the point of this comment was not targeted to me, per say, but to God. Obviously someone doesn't believe He exists. If we, as believers in the Bible, accept everything that is in it, then this isn't something we should entertain our minds or thoughts on. We can't pick and chose what we like in the Bible and toss out what we don't agree with. It's an all or nothing thing. I chose to accept it all, even the stuff that makes me uncomfortable and squirm, that is just what sin does when called into the light. It makes us uncomfortable but it is still sin and wrong.

I believe that God exists without question, 100% in my mind. 

I believe it with every fiber of my being. I have witnessed the changes in my life through knowing Him, the God of the Bible. And one day, so will everyone else whether you believe in Him or not. Because He does exist.

Does that make me ignorant, bigoted, retarded?

No, it doesn't.

It simply is the truth as I believe it.

I'm not asking you to believe it to, by writing the review I did, nor did I attempt to convert readers to follow Jesus, I simply stated why I felt I couldn't write a more favorable review.

To my fellow Christian bloggers, how do you handle negative comments and feedback? I'd love to hear your opinion. 

For the Audience of One!

Whenever you have to do anything difficult, it is nice to have someone on your side.

To encourage you.

To cheer you on.

To let you know you're not alone.

Even parents know just how important this is. Go to any sporting event or a school performance and you will see parents, friends and others cheering for you. It helps boost our confidence. It provides an ally when facing things that seem overbearing and downright difficult. Parents understand just how important it is to build a good foundation of self esteem in their child because society as a whole can bring it down so quick with a harsh word or even a sneering look.

Even in this life, believers understand that more than anyone. Often times we stand alone. Against the odds. The lone man on the totem pole. Taking a stand.

But what difference can one person make?

For those who have been encouraged and saved by the efforts of just one person, it was more than enough.

Look at the Jewish Holocaust and you can see how one person made a difference.

Hilter made a difference in attempting to eliminate the Jewish people or those that supported them. He was one man, but with the support of many was able to unleash unparalled terror during World War II.

In the same situation, there were countless people who made the difference as well by one person willing to take a risk. Look at the lives of the people who were willing to place their lives on the line, to help smuggle Jewish people to safety. The stories of survivors like Anne Frank and Corrie Ten Bloom convey the actions of just what one person can do.

The actions of any one person can have far reaching impacts than just what they do at that moment. They can either serve to make this world a better place or make it worse. But the choice is up to us.

Look at the ripples the lives of people like Walt Disney, Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, Billy Graham and Albert Einstein have made in the world and how their contributions continue helping people. Imagine what would have happen if they opted to let someone else do something? Oh how different things might be today.

Today you have a choice. to do something. To smile at any person you meet today. To step out of your comfort zone and make an effort to make someday's day better. To stop pretending you don't see that homeless person holding that sign asking for help. To chose to volunteer at your church instead of keeping that pew warm on Sunday morning and letting someone else do it. To help out where you can, and stop believing that YOUR actions won't make a difference because it does.

As believers in Jesus Christ, it is our duty to do SOMETHING! We can not sit back and think our actions won't make a difference. We are to run for the audience of One; we are to run for Jesus.

Hebrews 11: 1-3 ~"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that YOU will NOT grow weary and lose heart." (NIV)

He not only waits for us to finish our race in this life at the heavenly finish line, but He is with us every step of the way. Imagine what you could accomplish if you simply believed you could do ANYTHING! You will never know until you are willing to take that first step.

Who will you run for today?

It's Never Supposed To Be About You!

Some days you wake up and wonder if everyday is a Monday. Certainly it feels like the weeks contain more weekdays with Monday's in them than what really happens. We could all use more weekdays and definitely a whole lot more Fridays in our weeks.

Yet I was watching the way certain people seem to handle every day stress much more easily than others. When the storms of life wash over us like a rogue wave out of no where, why do some handle it better than others. Why is it there are certainly more occassions  for us to repeat our mistakes than learn from them and move on.

Why is it that bad things continue to happen despite all our efforts to make sure they don't follow? Why does it seem like God is simply busy when we call upon His name?

First of all, there is a difference in how people hand adversity and stress as believers in Jesus and those that don't. I can't imagine all the circumstances I've had to deal with in 50 years on this earth without my faith in God. I'm not talking about those times, when all else fails and I pray. That is not the kind of relationship I have as a Christian. I have a relationship not just some belief in Jesus. I know in spite of some of the most challenging times, God is right beside me every single step of the way.

When my husband and I talk about the differences between how believers handle things like death versus the unbeliever, it is clear. Sure we have similarities when dealing with the initial loss. I can't imagine how hard it is for parents to lose a child, or loved ones to lose a family member. Despite often times, faithful prayers and the right relationship with Jesus, loss still comes. But for the believer, we never have to say goodbye to another believer. We KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt, we WILL see them again and when that time comes we will never again be separated from them.

So why does bad things happen even for believers? I believe it isn't about us, it's about God. We are told numerous times in the Bible we are the salt and the light as believers. Often times, I believe like Gideon in Judges 6 - Judges 8, from the Bible who faced an army greater than he could possibly defeat, that God was waiting to show Gideon that it wasn't about what he could do, but about knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that God would bring them through their storm.

Too often I think we keep praying to God about what we want to see happen. Restoration for lost souls, healing for our loved ones trapped in the bonds of illness or death's doorstep, even help just to hold on when it is so much easier to simply let go. But through it all, God does a mighty work. Just like Jesus told his disciples that he would meet them on the other side of the Sea they were crossing, they seem to have forgotten it when the waves and wind became too great. They forget He said He would meet them on the other side. They simply had to believe and keep moving forward. Jesus needed this situation to happen to show them it wasn't about what they could do, but about what He could do.

We need to stop focusing on our wants and needs in a situation, but instead asking God to do His will in it. Like Gideon who has 32,000 men ready to go into battle with him even though he was seriously outnumbered by the Midianites, God told him to ask all the men who were afraid to leave before the battle happenened. He didn't want weakness in the midst of what was to come. 22,000 of those men left, leaving Gideon with only 10,000. Imagine that 2/3rd of his men left because they were afraid. How many times do we flee when we are afrraid of our circumstances.

But God wasn't done yet.

He asked Gideon to take the men to a watering hole and to observe those that lapped the water like dogs  versus those who drank it cupped from their hands. Those that cupped the water were 300 while the other 9700 drank like dogs on their knees. God told Gideon to let th 9700 men go and he would use the 300 men to fight the impossible army and win. And God did just that because he wanted Gideon to understand that to win this battle wasn't about Gideon or what his men would do, but without a doubt they would know what God could do.

Perhaps what you are going through is wearing you down more than you ever thought possible. That God must believe you are incredibly strong to weather this time in your life. But I believe God simply wants you to understand it isn't about You, it's about HIM. He wants you to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He will be bringing you through this time. It isn't suppose to be about YOU, it's to be all about HIM!

Let us never forget that. He may just be asking you to eliminate those distractions from your life, that are taking you away from His greater purpose in your life. For you to simply stand back and watch with unbelieving eyes that He can do the impossible if only you'd have faith.

That is the difference between believers and the world. We serve a God for who NOTHING is impossible! He will be there in all of our storms, in our trials and sufferings. Think He doesn't care? He watched the world condemn, mock and murder his only son, because He loved you enough to restore the broken relationship that happened when sin entered the world through Adam and Eve. It is why bad things continue to happen but it won't always be that way. One day God will come to judge us all and those that have a belief in Jesus Christ alone will enter into a perfect heaven and earth with Him along with all the other believers and we will never have to watch the effects of sin rob us of what was supposed to be.

If you want that assurance of an eternal future, remember there is NO other way except through a belief in Jesus Christ. Are you ready to take that step? Your life will NEVER be the same again!

Simply say this prayer:

Lord Jesus,

I believe you are the Son of God! That you were sent here by God as a man to die for my sins on the cross. I believe you rose from the dead and that by believing in YOU, I can have eternal life. I ask for you to forgive my sins, to come into my life and restore all my broken places and give me hope and life again. I ask these things in your name Jesus ~ AMEN!

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life. ~ John 3:16

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes iin me will never die. ~ John 11:25

I am The Way, The Truth and The Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ~ John 14:6

True North

Lately I've been debating just which quilt pattern I want to attempt next, but have always been drawn towards the Mariner's Compass. It's such a beautiful but complex pattern to attempt to quilt but I think there is a reason I've been drawn to the sea my entire life.

There is something amazing about the sea. It's endless, meaning it has no end and no beginning, It just is. Surely all the oceans are linked and they all stay within the borders of not overflowing onto the land masses on earth but it's more than that. People have long admired the sea. Not knowing what lies beneath the deep dark blue waters, or just how far it goes. One can simply set out on a destination and ride the wind blown waves to another shore given enough provisions and patience.

The sea calls.

The waves seem to beckon us to draw near and come in.

There is a lull to be immersed into the waters when we can be rocked by the waves.

I often wondered at the salt content in the water. Why God chose salt as the basis for water's unique taste.

The Bible says God carefully keeps every single one of our tears in a bottle and often times, I wonder if those aren't poured out into the oceans kept preserved until the end of the world.

Psalm 56:8 ~ "You keep track of all my sorrows, You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." 

If God cares enough about each of our sorrows, each of our tears, you can surely believe He cares about whatever you're going through right this minute. 

But is also danger found in the ocean. When rogue waves come at us unexpectedly. When turbulent hurricane blow with unparrelled power threatening everything in its path.

Even an experienced captain has often found himself at the mercy of a storm and his only prayer is for God to save him.

And sometimes God saves and sometimes He doesn't.

There is a saying that a skilled mariner does not gain his experience and skill in calm waters, but in turbulent storms and I believe that is true. 

But throughout it all a captain would never venture into the ocean without his navigation equipment or his compass. Because despite what things look like around him, the compass will always point to true north. Once you know where true north is, you can find your bearings.

God is like that, being our True North. He is our ultimate destination. When storms of life threaten to overcome us, we can find comfort when we realize where True North is. We can use our compass, or Bible because it will always point to the truth. No matter what we find ourselves in the midst of, the Bible will always provide us with God's truth to endure and overcome our storms. It will never mislead us. If we are only willing to use it wisely.

We would never look at a compass and say, well I want this to point me to where I need to go, I'm not sure that's north or not, why doesn't it simply tell me where to go. No, we simply are given the choice to follow where it points and make the decision to use our skills to gain the insight to find our home port. Where safety resides.

I would encourage you if you are feeling lost, alone and out to sea without hope, that you'll find a Bible and search for the answers. I can promise you, you will not be disappointed in what you find inside. Your True North awaits.

What Does Your Testimony Point To?

If we have lived in this life long enough, most of us have dealt with storms that have threatened to overwhelm us. We've all heard the saying, "God doesn't give you more than you can handle," or "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger." We often question as believers where was God when our world came crashing down. Perhaps it was the loss of a job that has now placed you in precarious financial difficulty not knowing how you will make it from one month to another while the bills keep pouring in and unexpected situations come up when you need them the least. Maybe you have lost someone you love, a spouse, a child, a family member of some sort or a close friend. Now you wonder where God was when He could have healed them or prevented them from dying? Maybe you are watching your marriage disintegrate right before your eyes, taking that future love and hope with it, destroying your family and children in the process. Or perhaps its something you have done, that you are now dealing with the regrets of that decision, wishing you could go back and do it differently?

Why?

Why does God permit these situations to occur when clearly He can do something to prevent them from happening?

Someone once quoted, that God surely thinks I am one strong person, because He keeps giving me things I didn't think I could deal with.

But I believe that are to help others not only in their walk of faith, but to point others to God in the process.

Think about all the storms you have endured...you survived every single one. You made it through the other side.

Sure you may have been battered and bruised and barely breathing when you emerged, but you survived.

All the things we go through are meant to help us move from one stage of life to another and to help others move along as well. We show people that we might be barely hanging on getting through it minute by minute, but we are moving through it.

These all become part of our testimony. Our way of being able to share with people what it's like to have gone through it all and made it out the other side.

It is encouraging for people to see we can make it.

I know looking back on every single situation, often times decades later, every time I went through a storm, big or small God has EVERY SINGLE time, used it for good, for His glory and for me to be able to shine the light on Him.

From enduring an abortion at 17 and living with the bitterness and pain for 30 years later, God would give me a way to share that story to an adopted son who was questioning his own birth mother giving him up for adoption and thus struggling with forgiveness for her.

For realizing that despite a tough divorce and custody battle that created such heart break, I never thought I would survive by a man who was a Christian, who ultimately moved my only child at the time 3000 miles away keeping me from seeing her unless I wanted to pay to see her or wait for summer visits. I can now share with other parents and wives going through the same thing, you can survive. God will restore things to you if you remain faithful. Possibly not with the same person, but with someone you didn't even see coming that would bless your life in countless ways.

For enduring not only one job loss, but multiple ones, back to back that left us with the struggle of making our house payments and keeping our electricity on. We watched as God's accounting worked miracles that even looking back by staying diligent with our tithes to the church and believing God will work it out, we never lost anything, not even our home during the process.

When a bad loan threatened to take the home we worked so hard to keep during the financial downturn in 2008 and my husbands loss of a job within a week of that, God not only found us a better home, cheaper payments and restored a job to my husband that literally was twice as good as the one he left behind.

In all of it, our faith has wavered at times, but we never gave up believing in the midst of what we couldn't see, God did see and would bring us through it time and time again. It is so we can continually remind others, encourage others that God is always there. He will use it ALL for his good and His glory and without a doubt, you will come through it all if you are willing to hold on and keep your faith.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." ~ Philippians 4:13

I would love to know your testimony and how you made it through your storm if you would love to share it with me in the comment box below. If you are going through a storm right now, let me know how I can pray for you. I'd be most honored!

How to Get Through A Bad Day!

Just as you were headed to work today, you step outside to another cold, dreary and gray day. Rain is coming down in sheets and as you walk out to your car, you notice a flat tire. You shake your head wishing you would have taken the time to get your spare fixed so this wouldn't be an issue today and you could simply change the tire. As you step back inside the house to call for an emergency call to have someone help you, your phone rings. It's your boss telling you that you've been laid off due to the recent economic down turn in the company and hopefully in a few months they might be able to hire you back. How will you deal with things? Why does it always seem just when bad things happen, they come at your like a tidal wave? Where do you go from here?

Sometimes we wonder just why bad things happen to good people. Why, as believers in Jesus Christ, are we living a blessed life without all the tribulation and trials that should fall on the people who are walking around, shaking their fist at God, and moving ahead in the company with yet another undeserved promotion.

"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." ~ 2 Timothy 3:12

The Bible makes it quite clear that we aren't out of the woods just because we are believers in Christ. Just the other day, I was talking to my brother and telling him I know God will be working on me til the very end of my life to control my words and thoughts. It's a struggle to not unleash on those that deserve my words especially when I feel wronged. It's hard to turn the other cheek at times, especially when other people seem oblivious to what they say that impacts us, hurts us, wounds us deeply.

So how can we move on? How can we simply put all that stuff that is happening on the back burner and not let it hinder our walk of faith?

First of all I believe we need to understand as humans living in a sin-filled world we are in a daily battle. It will never let up until we reach our heavenly home. Emotions are funny things and too often we let them rule us instead of taking back the control we let them have on our situation. You might need to take a few moments or longer to process what is going on. It's easier to do when the situation isn't happening to you personally but to someone else who is simply sharing their struggle. We can see things differently because we aren't in the heat of the moment like they are, filled with all the emotions and feelings running around like caffeinated children in a china store unrestrained.

But we can take those thoughts captive. We can control them. Think you can't? Just imagine this situation happening and then someone showing up at your door unexpectedly whom you wanted to impress. The one you hope will NEVER see you sweat. Your pastor, your parents, someone you are hoping to impress with your calm, cool manner. Let me tell you, you'd be able to put that on the back burner in a second, paste on a happy face and get through your moment. That's how I can tell we can control our emotions and feelings.

Now we just need to put that into action. The enemy loves to torment us and replay the situation over and over again in our mind, on a never-ending loop. I believe the first thing we need to do is drop to our knees and pray. Ask God to help you deal with what's happening. To help you control your emotions, feelings, thoughts, words and actions and help them fall in line with His word. Ask God to show you what to do and to help you see things through His eyes and not your own.

Then I recommend, putting on some praise and worship music and thank God for what is happening. The Bible says we are to thank God in ALL things, not just the ones we'd love to thank Him for. We might not know what good is coming from where we are at in this moment, but God does. Will He share that with you, perhaps, but we shouldn't expect it. God knows when the timing will be right. We need to praise Him in our storm. Oh, it really upsets the enemy when we won't fall apart, wail and throw a fit. Nope, not going to give him the pleasure, going to go to God who can deal with it better than we can.

When you have calmed down, and feel God's peace come upon you, then I recommend, you go to His Word and see if you can gain insight or perspective in what is happening. Let's look at the situation above from a different perspective.

The rainy day in itself isn't so bad, it prevents you from having to turn on the water and water your plants. It's vital for life to grow in your yard and the sound alone if we simply stop at listen is soothing. It is washing away the dirt and pollutants in the air. That flat tire you got this morning, was meant to prevent you from heading into work because you were facing a lay off anyway. You wouldn't have dealt with it well if you had been in the office. Not only that, the flat tire prevented you from being in a huge accident that would have totaled your car and set you back even more financially. The job you just got laid off, was taking time away from your family and your commitment to your marriage. You were working so many hours just to make ends meet and you hated going in every single day. Now you can find something that works along the lines of what God has in store for you. That job is waiting for you to simply apply for it and it will bring you much more joy and happiness.

Changes how we view things right?

Why is it when tend to dwell on what isn't going right instead of what God has in mind instead?

You might try it next time trials, storms and life happens. God has something better just around the corner. I know you can't see it, but He can. Trust me, it's worth it! Are you willing to change your perspective, trust Him, surrender your situation to Him, and thank Him while you are waiting?

Would love to know how you handle difficult days and storms when they happen?

God is Able ~ Review and Giveaway

"No matter who you are, however old or young, there's always at least one thing. That thing in your life you can't seem to - you know, escape or fix or solve. It's just...it's ...(Sigh.)

It's always there. Just when you think you've maybe figured out a little piece of it - how you might be able to handle it better, manage it, work around it, or get out ahead of it - it always seems to end up beating you, or at least keeping you awake in the wee hours of the night.

You've tried. (Oh, Lord, how you've tried.) You've prayed. You've asked. You've begged. You've fretted. You've calculated. You've eaten better. You've exercised more.

You've tried being gentler, then firmer. Louder, then more quieter. More assertive, then more submissive. You've admitted where you went wrong and refused to gloat when you were right. You feel like you've done everything you can think of. And honestly, you're starting to seriously wonder now if God can do this, if He can do...It.

You'd still like to think He can. And if you were to spout all your churchy rhetoric, it'd sure sound like you believe He can. But deep down - down where you soul pulses with doubt and uneasiness - you wonder about that circumstance, that life issue, that dilemma you're facing. God may be able to keep the stars in the sky, the earth tilted on its axis, and the heavens hung in glorious array. But can He do this?  It?"(pg 1-3)

In her latest book, God Is Able, Priscilla Shirer takes the reader into a look at what God is capable of through a personal look at her own doubts and unbeliefs when she was struggling. That no one has it all together no matter how famous or close to God they appear to be. She shows us that no matter how difficult our situations may be or how caught off guard they may have found you, they can carve out a deep foothold where doubt could settle in. But if you and I don't turn to face these things, we'd never come face to face with Him. And our God's not having any of that. She write is such a way you feel as if you're having a one on one conversation with a close personal friend, something I love when reading non fiction books.

I received God is Able by Priscilla Shirer compliments of B and H Publishers and Icon Media Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are my own. This is such an exciting book because as believers, we all find ourselves struggling to keep our head above the storm waters that threaten to consume us. Yet even in the heart of the storm, Priscilla showcases how God is Able to do the Impossible through her own personal experiences and using the scripture reference of "Now to him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all we ask or think according the power that works within us to Him be the glory" found in Ephesians 3:20-21. She pulls apart those verses to encourage readers to see what God can do in their lives, in their situations to not only answer their prayers if it His will but more importantly to see God in what is happening. This is such a great resource for anyone who has ever struggled and wondered where God was in their life. For that reason I give this a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and this is one I plan on referring to quite a bit whenever doubt tends to creep back into my life about what God is able to do!

You can find out more information about God is Able, Priscilla Shirer, or where to pick up a copy of this book today, by clicking on the links below:

God is Able by Priscilla Shirer

You can find Priscilla Shirer on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

Thanks to the generous folks at B and H Publishers and Icon Media Group, they are providing a copy of this book to one lucky follower of my blog Reviews From The Heart. Here are your guidelines to enter:

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. 

2. "Like" my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart. If you have already "Liked" it, simply leave me a comment telling me you stopped by as part of this giveaway.

3. Be a resident of the US or have a US Shipping address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

4. Leave me a comment below telling me why you would LOVE to win a copy of this book. Don't forget to include your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner by email when the giveaway ends on December 27th, so be sure to include your email address with your comment.