Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Spiritual Growth

Unfortunately in life to go through growth we must first go through some difficulty.  If we never go through any difficulty or quit whenever things get tough we remain the same.  This is the same in our faith in God.

If we go through trials but we first run to the internet, a self help book which is not what the Bible is, or friends and family who are not in the faith we are heading the wrong direction!


It is through these trials that our roots grow deep in God.  The Bible says that God tries the heart in Proverbs 17:3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart.  He wants to know what you will do when the tough times come.  Can He trust you?  Will you fall away?  Philippians 4:5-7 Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


We are to glory in our trials (Romans 5:3) We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  In these we develop the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23

New International Version (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

God wants to use you but are you willing to go through the process He has for you to get there?  

Monday, September 24, 2012

More scripture(see last post)

Mark 11:22-26 New International Version (NIV) 22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly[a] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” [26] [b]

 John 15:7 King James Version (KJV) 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 King James Version (KJV) 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 Ephesians 3:13-21 English Standard Version (ESV) 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

 Prayer for Spiritual Strength 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

1 John 5:1-5 New International Version (NIV) Faith in the Incarnate Son of God 5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

 1 John 5:13-15 New International Version (NIV) Concluding Affirmations 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

2 Corinthians 9:8 New International Version (NIV) 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

 Psalm 91 New International Version (NIV) Psalm 91 1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a] 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Philippians 4:5-7 New International Version (NIV) 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Feelings or Faith?

We live in a world where we are supposed to politically correct as to not offend or hurt anyone's feelings. Should we live our lives by feelings?

The Bible says we should live by faith. Faith is not a feeling, an emotion but an action we must put to work daily.

If we live by our feelings we will be tossed to and fro in the sea of life. Our emotions were not meant to rule us. I can get up in the morning and not feel like going to work should I be lead by that thought? What if you wake up tomorrow and want to walk away from a marriage just because you don't feel what you think you should? Is that ok?

To be led by faith requires trust in God, spending time in the scriptures and prayer. It takes a deep seeded dedication to God to grow our faith. It's when we don't feel like praying and trusting Him that we find ourselves living our faith.

A great example is found here in Luke 7:1-10 (New International Version)
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Luke 7:1-10

New International Version (NIV)
The Faith of the Centurion

7 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

So do you live by faith or feeling?

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Do we believe?

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

When we go through rough times do we groan as we read this verse or do we embrace it?

To embrace it is to let go of our emotions or "feelings" and just trust Him. It is a place that some come through during difficulty, pain and in some cases panic. The pain we feel is very real and to be able to put it aside requires a strong faith.

Through our difficulties our faith is either revealed as weak or strong. When we run to people or websites or books to solve these things we may have made the biggest mistake we can make but not first going to the God whom we claim we have faith in. Are we wheat or are we tares? When difficulty comes in life how do we react?

Our reactions should first be to seek God because as the verse says above we know! We know! The faith we have in God should show us what to believe. Books, friends and websites can offer great advice but if that is where are faith is placed do we not see that God created all those things?

In order to grow and mature we must trust God as our first option! He didn't quit working when he created the earth. His plan hasn't come to an end. We must trust Him in all things. He will guide us and be a lamp unto our feet. He works for the good of those who love Him!

So as I wrap this up where is your faith? Who do you trust? Is your faith in the world stronger than your faith in God? If you are still struggling to answer this dig deeper in the Bible, pray longer, seek out people who are strong in their faith, observe them, find out how they reached the point in their faith to seek God first.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Hold Onto Him

When we go through the storms of life there is no where better to be than to clinging to our rock Jesus.

It often takes some pretty rough storms for us to cling to Jesus as we should. It's in these times of need and great suffering that we go running to Him. We should always be in this position because it's by Him that we find grace and mercy, forgiveness and understanding.

Jesus has seen it all. Nothing surprises Him. He was tempted in every way..He had friends die, He wept.

Next time you feel like you are going through the storms of life..being attacked on every side hold tight to Him. Pray, praise, listen and trust.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Victory!

This song is one I've really gone to when things in life are getting really rough!