This morning as I watched the news as I do every morning, I started to feel so burdened down about the way this world is heading. It seems all we hear about is fighting and anger and chaos. It seems like things have gone so far downhill so fast recently. I can't help but be reminded that God is coming soon. Things are really starting to fall apart in this world as our nation has rejected God and calls it "equal rights for all". A nation that rejects God will surely fall. If we're not careful, we can get so caught up in the news of the turmoil of this world and forget that this is only our "temporary home". We are only on this earth for a season. Yes, I am concerned about the things going on in our nation and across the world, but I believe that if we dwell on these things constantly, we'll only get angry and bitter and forget that God is preparing a better home for us. That's the home we should be more concerned with. As this world deteriorates more and more, we need to look to God more and more. Keep your eyes on Jesus, not on the storm surrounding you. Where is your faith today? Yes, we try to stay informed as all citizens should so we can make wise decisions and we certainly should exercise our rights that we're fortunate to still have in this country and stand for what is right and fight to keep God in America as long as possible. I'm not saying we should isolate ourselves by any means or be ignorant. What I'm saying is the more we see the end time approaching, the more we need to look up-look up to Heaven, look to God. Our God is an awesome God. This world is just a foot stool to Him. He has a plan that's been foretold in scripture and must come to pass, but if we keep our eyes on Him, we can have that hope that we will see Him one day face to face. He loved this world so much that He suffered and gave His life for us before we were even born so that we could have a hope, so that we could have fellowship with Him and really know him personally. He wants to be a friend to everyone of us, but we must believe that He is and humbly ask for forgiveness from our sin and lay our lives at His feet and ask Him to come into our hearts and make us more like Him. He'll take the burden that you carry and give you a new hope, a new life. The Bible says in John 3:16-"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life." And when people truly understand all that Jesus sacrificed for us and how much God loves us, how can they not want to spend the rest of their lives showing Him how much they appreciate all He's done and sacrificed for us. But, if they choose to reject Him...if our nation chooses to reject Him...God does not force Himself on anyone, He's given us a free will to choose for ourselves. He calls and He pleads with us, but it is still our choice to heed His call. If we choose to ignore His voice and say "thanks but not thanks, I want to live the way I want, I don't need you", then we've made our choice to refuse God's love. But if we turn to Him, with our whole hearts, He will keep us in this end day. The time is truly short and God will one day say "it's time" and call his people home to be with Him. So, let's keep our minds and hearts tuned into Jesus. Keep our minds stayed on Him. This world is lost and needs Jesus. Let's redeem the time we have left and reach as many as we can with the gospel of Jesus Christ so they can have that same hope in Jesus that we do. When things get rough and the battles come, and they will certainly still come, whether you're saved or unsaved, look to Jesus all the more...go to the word of God and get encouragement for your soul...sing a song throughout the day at work, keep joy in your heart in the midst of it all and most of all, stay on your knees, don't neglect your prayer time. Keep in tune with God, heed His voice and keep that communication line open and just keep on praising Him. He loves to hear the praises of His people. Whatever you're going through, I encourage you to put your faith and trust in God-He WILL see you through. Let your heart rest in Him and Be Still...
Showing posts with label choice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label choice. Show all posts
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
It Will Be Worth It All
(This went longer than planned, sorry.)
Since the time we were born, I believe we all wanted to be like someone we trusted, someone we looked up to, whether it was a parent, teacher, or someone who became a mentor to us. Something about them made you aspire to be like them. As we grew older, we felt the pull to be like everyone else and felt uncool if we didn't "measure up". We all want to be accepted. I know I certainly felt that way, especially in my junior high years. It was at that time, that I started to feel that being different was a bad thing. People talked behind my back, snickered when I walked by them in the hall, and blatantly made fun of me. Why? Because I was different. I looked different, acted different and for a time, I was mad about it. It didn't seem fair. It was the most difficult period of my life up to that point. I learned during that time, that I had to make my own decision about what I was going to believe. It wasn't enough just to go to church with my parents and follow their rules, I had to choose to serve God for myself, no matter what others did. I could sit in my seat every Sun. and Wed. and have the message go in one ear and out the other or I could listen and apply God's word to my own life. When I did, I decided that having Jesus in my heart was worth all the pain of being laughed at at school. Jesus was more important and He would see me through. His love for me, the sacrifice He made for me was greater than anything I would ever go through here on earth. How could I not accept such love? I found encouragement and strength in christian friends, family and youth leaders who really inspired me to stand and fight. We encouraged and prayed for one another and I am so grateful to God for them to this day. It was during that time, that I really found out who I was. I learned that we all had our own personal battles to fight and choices to make but that Jesus could help us if we just asked Him to. He could bring us through any storm we faced if we would just keep our eyes on Him.
Yes, you may be different, we're all different in one way or another. But, don't be ashamed to be different. We all have something special to offer God. We all have something He can use to help others. You know, as I got older, I fell away from serving God and so did some of my friends. I got my eyes on what I wanted and didn't trust God to give it to me in His perfect timing, instead, I tried to get it on my own. I went through a lot before I made my way back home. I felt the world pulling me. Things that I knew were wrong didn't seem so wrong anymore and I started to compromise my beliefs. I began to lose sight of who I was, my friends even noticed the change in me-I almost let go (as the song says) but then I began to feel God drawing me. I would remember lessons taught in Sunday School as a child or something I'd heard over the pulpit, or a song and something started drawing me back. I knew I needed to get my life back on track and really, totally serve God again. Again, I had to make a choice. Life is full of choices, isn't it? You need to decide what you're going to stand for and do it with all your heart, soul and mind. And when trials come and you feel like you're all alone, look to Jesus. There are people all over the world serving the Lord. You are not alone. If all your friends and family backslide and lose their faith, will you still stand for Jesus? Sometimes we need to take a good hard look at ourselves. Do you love God enough to serve Him whatever may come? If you find yourself offended by something, causing doubt to begin to take root, are you going to let that keep you from making Heaven your home? Is that little thing more important than Jesus and all He's done for you? What will you say to Him when you stand before Him face to face and see the love radiating from Him-"They hurt me, they wronged me, so I walked away from you." He'll say, "I'm sorry, I never knew you.". Is it worth it? Do you want that pain and anger more than you want God? Don't let anything come between you and your Savior. Get back to God, start really praying and pour yourself out to Him, get back to the altar. He loves you more than anything in this world and He's calling you to come, come and surrender it all to Him. Let Him take away all your pain and hurt and replace it with hope and peace and a sound mind. I encourage you today to start praying and getting into your Bible, start reading it with a new zeal, with a desire to really know God and to have Him know you. When you have that personal relationship with God, no one will be able to separate you from God. No one! God Bless you.
This song is called, "Far Above All Else, I Must Be Saved"
It's missing the lyrics, but they go like this:
More than eternity, more than success
If I must choose to own one thing, I'll take Jesus over the rest
For if I should attain the goal, to gain this world and all it holds
But then, if I should lose my soul, then I have lost it all.
And even though the souls of those that I love and hold so dear
More than others, I must make my own salvation sure
For if I to others show the way
And then I become just a castaway
But this price I can't afford to pay
My soul is worth it all
Chorus:
Far above all else, I must be saved
Far above all else, I must be saved
Lord, whatever you have to do to me,
Don't let me be lost for eternity
Far above all else, I must be saved
Since the time we were born, I believe we all wanted to be like someone we trusted, someone we looked up to, whether it was a parent, teacher, or someone who became a mentor to us. Something about them made you aspire to be like them. As we grew older, we felt the pull to be like everyone else and felt uncool if we didn't "measure up". We all want to be accepted. I know I certainly felt that way, especially in my junior high years. It was at that time, that I started to feel that being different was a bad thing. People talked behind my back, snickered when I walked by them in the hall, and blatantly made fun of me. Why? Because I was different. I looked different, acted different and for a time, I was mad about it. It didn't seem fair. It was the most difficult period of my life up to that point. I learned during that time, that I had to make my own decision about what I was going to believe. It wasn't enough just to go to church with my parents and follow their rules, I had to choose to serve God for myself, no matter what others did. I could sit in my seat every Sun. and Wed. and have the message go in one ear and out the other or I could listen and apply God's word to my own life. When I did, I decided that having Jesus in my heart was worth all the pain of being laughed at at school. Jesus was more important and He would see me through. His love for me, the sacrifice He made for me was greater than anything I would ever go through here on earth. How could I not accept such love? I found encouragement and strength in christian friends, family and youth leaders who really inspired me to stand and fight. We encouraged and prayed for one another and I am so grateful to God for them to this day. It was during that time, that I really found out who I was. I learned that we all had our own personal battles to fight and choices to make but that Jesus could help us if we just asked Him to. He could bring us through any storm we faced if we would just keep our eyes on Him.
Yes, you may be different, we're all different in one way or another. But, don't be ashamed to be different. We all have something special to offer God. We all have something He can use to help others. You know, as I got older, I fell away from serving God and so did some of my friends. I got my eyes on what I wanted and didn't trust God to give it to me in His perfect timing, instead, I tried to get it on my own. I went through a lot before I made my way back home. I felt the world pulling me. Things that I knew were wrong didn't seem so wrong anymore and I started to compromise my beliefs. I began to lose sight of who I was, my friends even noticed the change in me-I almost let go (as the song says) but then I began to feel God drawing me. I would remember lessons taught in Sunday School as a child or something I'd heard over the pulpit, or a song and something started drawing me back. I knew I needed to get my life back on track and really, totally serve God again. Again, I had to make a choice. Life is full of choices, isn't it? You need to decide what you're going to stand for and do it with all your heart, soul and mind. And when trials come and you feel like you're all alone, look to Jesus. There are people all over the world serving the Lord. You are not alone. If all your friends and family backslide and lose their faith, will you still stand for Jesus? Sometimes we need to take a good hard look at ourselves. Do you love God enough to serve Him whatever may come? If you find yourself offended by something, causing doubt to begin to take root, are you going to let that keep you from making Heaven your home? Is that little thing more important than Jesus and all He's done for you? What will you say to Him when you stand before Him face to face and see the love radiating from Him-"They hurt me, they wronged me, so I walked away from you." He'll say, "I'm sorry, I never knew you.". Is it worth it? Do you want that pain and anger more than you want God? Don't let anything come between you and your Savior. Get back to God, start really praying and pour yourself out to Him, get back to the altar. He loves you more than anything in this world and He's calling you to come, come and surrender it all to Him. Let Him take away all your pain and hurt and replace it with hope and peace and a sound mind. I encourage you today to start praying and getting into your Bible, start reading it with a new zeal, with a desire to really know God and to have Him know you. When you have that personal relationship with God, no one will be able to separate you from God. No one! God Bless you.
It's missing the lyrics, but they go like this:
More than eternity, more than success
If I must choose to own one thing, I'll take Jesus over the rest
For if I should attain the goal, to gain this world and all it holds
But then, if I should lose my soul, then I have lost it all.
And even though the souls of those that I love and hold so dear
More than others, I must make my own salvation sure
For if I to others show the way
And then I become just a castaway
But this price I can't afford to pay
My soul is worth it all
Chorus:
Far above all else, I must be saved
Far above all else, I must be saved
Lord, whatever you have to do to me,
Don't let me be lost for eternity
Far above all else, I must be saved
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