Jesus Saves

Inside Out - Hillsong

1 Timothy 2:5-6 NLT

For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.

That verse really sums up a lot. He is our connection point with God now. He made it so that we could talk to God directly. The veil was torn. How awesome is it that any one of us can just talk right with God by ourselves. Before (well a really really long time ago) people had to go confess to a priest and tell the priest what they wanted to tell God. When God sent Jesus into the world, that gave us the ability to grow a closer more personal relationship with God. We are so lucky to be able to do that. 

He loves us so much. And the obstacle of sin was separating us from Him, which was painful to Him and deprived us. That is when He reached out. He sent His Son for us. He reached His loving hand out to us so that we could be friends. Building up our ability to have a relationship with Him. When you find Jesus, you have found Him, and you understand the blessing that He brings.

God Cleanses

Glory to God - Steve Fee

Hebrews 1:3 NLT

The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

Being clean. Tough thing to do in this world. I sure know that for a fact. How are we to ever climb out of the deep dark pit of sin? How are we to cleanse ourselves from our past? We maybe a new person, but what about before? What happens to all those things?

Well, out with the old, in with the new. When you become a new person, you drop all of that. You leave behind your old habits and sinful ways of the world. When you become a new person, God cleanses you. He forgives and forgets. You are free from sin. That is one reason why God is so amazing. There is no other escape from your past mistakes and sin in this world or any realm. That is why we are to go to God with these things. You let go of them yourself. You must not only ask Him for forgiveness, but you must also forgive yourself. He can forgive you every time you ask, but if you do not let go of it and forgive yourself, it will eat you up. You cannot hold onto the past mistakes in that way. Its over and done. You cannot change it or take it away, but God can forgive you. And you can forgive yourself. We are so blessed to be able to have that option; God is so merciful.

Final Thought: You don't have to live with the past pulling you down, God can make you clean and new. Be refreshed by His Glory.

A Journey Thus Far Jan 7th

Hey Guys! I've totally missed blogging the past few days! I got my wisdom teeth out and was dealing with that; and wow that is definitely a miserable experience. 

The devotion I read this morning out of "Abundant Life" was so awesome! It is a great message if you've never experienced what is being talked about, and it reminds you if you have experienced what its talking about. Okay so I'm going to just type this one out for all of you to read, and then I'll talk about it.

"Walking in My Ways Brings Real Blessing

Be careful to obey all these commands I am giving you.           
Show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him. Deuteronomy 11:22

To know me, walk with me, and share life with me -- this is the essence of real blessing. And the truth is, it is the hard things in your life that cause you to want to know me more intimately, walk with me more closely, and share life with me more fully. That is why, in the losses of life, you can find yourself blessed beyond your imagination or expectation. Because you have found more of me in these hard places. 

When you look up from your hardship with a smile, you know you've moved from just hearing my Word to living it -- putting it to the test. You're finding that giving is better than receiving, neediness is better than self-sufficiency, trust is better than worry. You've discovered that my Word is true, my joy is our strength, my promises are your hope, my presence is your comfort. This is the life of blessing you always longed for but didn't expect to find in this way.

What a blessing to walk with you and hold tightly to you both when the sun is shining and when there is only darkness. Lord, you are the real blessing in my life…"

(Guthrie 7).

These words just spoke so powerfully to me. I remembered the time when I started to get it. When God started hitting me in the face with these things and I started to hold onto it.

Think about a rough time in your life. When you lost a loved one, or you were struggling with something personal. You may have asked God why a million and one times, and in some cases people draw away from God because they are upset, but asking God why…doesn't that mean you are wanting to know more about Him? Doesn't that mean you're trying to grow closer with Him? 

I recall that time. I was just sort of bumbling along. I wasn't entirely on the right track you could say. I was praying in a selfish way when I did. I wasn't praying for what I knew God wanted me to have, I was praying for exactly what I wanted, which was far from what I needed. Then my grandmother passed away. I tried my hardest to think as positively about the situation as I could. I kept reminding my family that "She is in a better place now. She is happy. She is smiling down upon us." But inside I was so torn. I did not know what to do with myself. I prayed to God to just please help me, please please help me.

There was a youth event that I wasn't signed up for or really even participating in. But there was a worship service that was part of the event. I was on edge whether or not to go. I ended up deciding to go. Just sort of going to go. But it was one of the most amazing worship experiences I've ever been a part of. It was dealing with confessing. And oh boy did I need to do some serious confessing. I came to a lot of realizations. That worship service also helped me to be more open to God and what He wanted to do. At this worship service I met a new friend. Someone who was strangely going through the same loss I was dealing with at the time. God put that person in my path. And God continued to build a support system between us. And through that God blessed me so immensely more than I ever imagined He would. I never dreamed of the places God took me next in my life. From that point on, I found the difficult things to be less difficult. I "looked up from my hardship with a smile" knowing that it was going to be okay. From that, I learned to give things over to God instead of worrying about them. I learned to trust. God taught me all these things, it became a time and a journey of discovery. And I've never been more thankful for the work God has done in my life.

I pray that you can hold on to God in the tough situations. I pray that you will realize what He is trying to show you through the rough times. I know a lot of things in life really really suck, but you have got to remember to hold on to God. Hold on to His promises. He will not ever let you go! Pray more selflessly than selfishly. Breathe Him in and trust Him. It's all about the trust. He will show you the way in His time, not yours. 

Jan 3rd

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT)

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

God gave us a true gift, His son, Jesus. In doing so, He is fulfilling every promise He ever has made and will make. He says 'yes' to everything you need. He gives you everything you need. You have nothing to fear when walking with the Lord, because He will carry you when you're weak, cheer you up when you're sad, turn mad into happy, and struggles into easy. Though all these things are part of the journey, if you hold onto Him through it, you're sure to make it. Jesus is our everything: love, joy, peace, faithfulness, and the list goes on. You just have to come to the realization that He is your everything and you need Him to live. Don't ever think God is not giving you something, or made something bad happen, because He gives you all that you need always.

Final Thought: Since God gives you all that you need to get through things, why not try to answer to His calling you to what He wants you to do for HIm.

Mike Huckabee - Where Was God? (Connecticut Shooting)

A short 3 minute clip that I encourage you to watch, it is amazing to hear people speak up like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq4DU5KE5eI

Jan 2nd, 2012 AbundantLife

John 1:16 (NLT)

From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 

Think about that verse. I'm sure its true for you whether you realize it or not. Many of us overlook the blessing God gives us each and every day. We sometimes get wrapped up in the ways of the world that we forget to stop and look. When you ask God to bless you, He isn't just going to make it better, He is going to jump right smack in the middle of everything. It's what you asked for, isn't it? You wanted Him to make it better, didn't you? Well there He is! You just opened the door wide and He hopped right in. He loves when we ask Him for blessings and help. That doesn't mean though that you won't still have struggles or rough spots or sad times. Those things all happen for a reason, because of something He has planned for you. Something He wants to teach you, or the direction He wants you to go. Being blessed means that through all of that you will see Him looking upon your face and telling you how it is going to be completely alright. You will feel the comfort of Him in your life. 

Final Thought: Think about the blessings everyday in your life. Keep your eyes open to what God is doing in your life. God is full of surprises and blessings.

January 1st…Another New Year.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (NLT)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new. And all of this is a gift from God!

So Happy New Year to you all! 

I'm starting a new devotion this year called "Abundant Life Day Book: 365 Blessings to Begin Your Day" by Nancy Guthrie. I previewed a bunch of different devotions online and in the stores trying to figure out what would be just right for me. The "Jesus Calling" devotion more so just came into my life, given to me by a great friend. And this year I had to pick a new one based on what I liked about "Jesus Calling" and what I wanted/needed to hear from God this year. I had to pray about it too before I chose. It was quite a process for me. It was all about the question: "Where to next?"

I have been so anticipating this first day of reading it. I've just been so excited, like could not wait for this day to be able to open up this devotion and soak in all the God has waiting for me!

Today I read about how God is making us into a new person. God is always blessing us. "To be blessed is to have life--abundant overflowing life" (Guthrie vii). We need to realize that the fact that we are living, standing, breathing here today is a blessing from God. Each new day He gives you is a blessing. I am so excited to see what God is going to do in my life this year, but I have to remember to be thankful for each new day and breath that He gives me. I can't just go along living carelessly, taking advantage of the things He gives me.

There is more to a blessing, than God just giving you something for free. I know we all love free stuff, but we can't just walk off with it now in our possession like we do with a free t-shirt. We have to take it in, breathe in every bit of it, and thank God for it.

We all have the opportunity to be a new person this year, to become some one new and better. God will help you do that. Out with the old life and habits, in with the new. Give up the things that you did in your old life, the worldly pleasures and thoughts and habits. Get rid of them. You cannot possibly live two different lives and be happy. You cannot live a life of God with those old ways still on the side. It just doesn't work that way. It is about making sacrifices for God. I mean think about all the sacrifices He has made for you. Don't you think you can stand to give up a few little things in your old life for Him, so that you can become a new person? 

Be thankful that God gives you a fresh start. He gave you the new you as a gift, you didn't even have to work or do anything for it. He just gave it to you. How awesome is that? 

Final Thought: The best free stuff comes from God, be thankful for it; live for Him. What are you going to do with this New Year?