Changed Life or Just Words

Just some thoughts that have been running through my mind of late... I was thinking about how often we read the word of God and we in our minds believe it... but do we believe it in all truth? Do we believe it in our hearts?

For example read the following verse in the NIV & NASB:

Psalm 138:8, NIV -The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever — do not abandon the works of your hands.

Psalm 138:8, NASB - The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Thy hands.

Do you believe in your heart, your subconscious: that God will fulfill His purpose for you, that He will accomplish all that concerns you in this life? That no matter how many time you stumble and fall you are secure in His love? That He will not forsake you? I ask this because as you may certainly realize what we really believe, deep down - that is what we live out. Our beliefs affect our thoughts, words, actions... So when it comes to crunch time and things are out of control... does your life reflect that you are rooted in your faith, secure in His love and your salvation? I ask this because sometimes I get so frustrated with myself... I believe it, I believe it and yet I say Lord help me with my unbelief!!! I am like Paul when he says he does what he doesn't want to do but what he wants to do he doesn't do... in other words I am not perfect. I have my moments where I am standing/walking in the light and reflecting Christ... and I have my moments where I am not reflecting my beliefs... I have come to realize, at times it is perfectly clear that my faith is so small... and my God is so big! However He is faithful to remind me and encourage me in this ...(See Luke 17:6 & Matt. 17:20) that He can take what is small and do wonders... that His power is made perfect in weakness... For if I will realize it, confess it and let Him ... what I can't do on my own is possible to overcome, to do in His strength! Praise Him!

Believe me I am not saying that we will not have our moments, our failures... I will say that when we do we can confess and have the assurance that we are forgiven. I am not saying that we can use this as an excuse to sin either because we know that is not right (See Romans 6:1-14) ... I am just trying to provoke some thought here, some soul searching... because there are many who may profess to know God but by their deeds they deny Him (Titus 1:16) ... and might I add make nonbelievers think what is the big deal about Christianity - they are no different than me. Well in our flesh we are all sinners but in Christ we are redeemed, saved and empowered to overcome sin... to live righteously! In a nutshell remember it is always about Him not us! And in saying that when we have the Holy Spirit in us we should be different... we should have a changed heart, life... if there is absolutely no change then we might want to question ourselves as to if we are in the faith - or if what we have is a head knowledge but not one that penetrates our heart - faith? As it says in James even the demons believe there is a God and they shudder... while mentioning James I should add to check out James chapter 2 on faith without works... Our changed condition (salvation) should not only propel us, it should absolutely bring about fruit! There should be action ... not just words but deeds born of this love and faith we have. Not because the actions save us but because what saves us propels us to act!

As I said earlier, I am not perfect but praise the Lord I am a changed person! I give no credit to myself for this for it is entirly by the power of the Lord that I live differently. This dying to my fleshly self is hard but it is not impossible - because with Him anything is possible!!! Step by step He is leading me, teaching me, showing me, changing me... I am saved but I am in the process of being sanctified moment by moment, day by day... all to the glory of God. I can never get over how amazing is His love for us... We have an awesome, mighty, loving God! Thank you Jesus ... you are my Savior and the lover of my soul, I rejoice in You!

Let me know your thoughts ...

Lastly a few verses to encourage you in all wisdom - Proverbs 3:5-6; 4:23-26.

Who I am ... In Christ

A few thoughts ...

LORD, who am I that You should love me; that You should care? Who am I that you would save me...? I am Your creation - You knew me before the foundations of the world - You knew me in my mother's womb and brought me forth safely.

You created me with a purpose... I am unique and created in Your image. I am a child of God, bought with a price (the blood of the Lamb of God, my Lord & Savior - Jesus Christ). Through You I am loved, blessed, chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed, forgiven... I am part of Your royal priesthood, made pure, blameless, a bride. I am gifted, filled with Your Spirit - my body is your Temple - a dwelling place of the LORD God Most High!

O LORD great is Your mercy, love and faithfulness! I am not worthy of You, of any of this... Yet You call me Yours, You know my name. You love me! There is no greater love than Yours. There is no greater treasure than You - to know You, to love You, to serve You - my LORD, my God, my King. I rejoice in You, in Your love forever! Amen.

Thank you Jesus!

Thoughts after reading Psalm 77:19-20:

At the Red Sea's parting God's footprints may not have been visible but He was there! He was there leading His people like a Shepherd leads a flock. God was there - He is here now - He surrounds us, protects us, saves us, delivers us, redeems us, leads us in the righteous path... He leads us to our glorious inheritance in Christ Jesus!

Blessed, blessed are we to be called His! Praise Him!

Couple Ordered to Stop Holding Bible Study at Home Without Permit

This is so unbelievable (see story link at bottom of post)... to see where our country & our freedom is headed... The Bible tells us we will be hated, we will be persecuted because we are followers of Christ. Can we really expect any less? Even though we live in the U.S.A... It doesn't mean what it use to mean to live here... we now have a President who tells the world we are not a Christian nation, who is quoting from the Quran, who is anti-family (pushing gay marriage and more), anti-pro-life, and more... Our country is being led by anything but the Word. It is sad, it is grieving but it is the fallen world we live in. Let us not forget what the Word tells us:

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matt. 5:11-12

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matt. 5:43-48

Check out this news story below:

Couple Ordered to Stop Holding Bible Study at Home Without Permit - Local News News Articles National News US News - FOXNews.com

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Greater Love

I have been trying to figure out how to put in to words all that has been going on ... I am going to try to say it as simply and concisely as I can but knowing me it may not come out that way. I know I have told you before that I have felt the LORD refining me... it has been a journey of walking through the valley and seeing my own sinfulness... not fun but necessary.

For the last few days I have felt as if I am truly being emptied out, hollowed out if you will... and I am in a numb state at the moment... caught between the grief of my sin and the joy of my salvation. I wish I had better words to explain it in than in these terms... even to my own ears they sound pitiful at best in capturing what I wish to express.

I am the LORD's... I was bought with a price, not one I paid but one that was paid for me on the cross. And who am I but dust, flesh, sin... yet I am called, chosen and loved! The Maker of all that exist called my name, loves me and desires for me to know & love Him intimately. I have chills just thinking about it.

I have a few things I want to say here - one being I am sinful - I am prideful & I hate pride, even more God hates it! Too often I cling more to my own comfort, life if you will in this world instead of living for what counts - instead of living for the eternal purpose for which God created me. It grieves me... & I do not want to live this way. I want so badly to love God with all my heart and to live fully for Him... to walk in His ways & bring glory to His name... after all, all of "this" is all about HIM! It is all about God - if there is anything you take away from this post let it be that this life we are living is all about God, it is about a love greater than we can comprehend ... A God who loves us beyond measure and wants a relationship with us. I mean grasp this - the God who created us and doesn't need us wants us... and we the created thing who need God, most of the time think we can live and love without Him. I have been reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan... and in it he made a point about this... along with some other really great points... mostly about self examination and our love relationship with God. If you haven't read it yet you should... I have been convicted and again back to where this post started ... letting God empty me out... cleaning house so to speak.

I want to be rid of my fleshly/sinfulness and to be filled to over flowing with the Spirit - with love. I want less of me and more of God. I want God to come in and reign in my heart & mind - in every area of my life ... I want Him to take all of me, break me, make me and help me to live free... To love Him as He desires - absolutely, completely in awe, love and submission to Him... desiring Him above all else. And by doing so enabling me to love others. As Chan pointed out if I have trouble loving a perfect God, how can I possibly love sinful man... I need God's love in me to love others as I should.

I don't need more "positive" thinking, I don't need more "help" books, I don't need more head knowledge, I don't need all the things the world tells me I need... when all I need is God. I need to just sit at His feet and listen, I need to dwell upon His truth, I need to pray & pray & pray (and when I say this I do not mean a litany of prayer request but intimate prayer with God - loving Him, listening to Him..... again it is all about Him & not me). I need God's love, I need His mercy & grace... I need God. Not the blessings of God but God - the One & Only... He is life to me. He is God and there is no other. He is love. He is my Savior.

I am not sure what else to say - Except that I hope you come away from this with a desire & intent to get alone with God. To open up your heart and life fully to Him - to His love.

Do so and be blessed.

New Gallup Poll is out...

Hello friends ~I wanted to let you know about a new Gallup poll - More Americans "Pro-Life" than "Pro-Choice" for First Time. (Just click on the title and it should take you to the article). For those of you who have been following the Life/Choice posts & the Changing One Heart for Many this is a very interesting poll. With a President who is so obviously Pro-Choice, it looks as if many Americans may be waking up to the realization of what that really means. And maybe for the first time are deciding to make a choice - a choice for life. A choice to get involved, to pray, to not sit on the sidelines any more... I hope. Our God is a mighty God, a righteous God, a Holy God & He is at work!