How many times have you said to someone going through something they think is so horrible; "you just have to have Faith you'll make it through it"! Sometimes they just give you that look "you have no idea where I am and how alone I feel"! You know that same look you gave someone at your life crisis of the moment. Yes, we all will go through some sort of 'Life Crisis Moment'! but it's just a moment in time, this too will pass. We just have to keep our faith strong. Faith, a word that means so much! It's the foundation on our belief that 'God's Got This'! I wasn't always strong in my faith, it took years for me to realize God is in control of it all! From the times I didn't have have a job or enough money for food, the rent or bills. Or even when I found out my husband wasn't faithful with questions of how can I raise my children alone. When I look back now I see God always made sure I had a roof over my head, food in the bellies of my kids and all the bills where paid! You maybe going through a season in your life right now and you're asking "How in the world am I going to make it through"? One day you will reflect back on this moment and see how you made it through when you saw no way - God made a way! Today instead of having a pity party for yourself and letting the enemy attack your thoughts, lean on Jesus! Ask him for guidance and then most important listen to what he has to say! If I've learned one thing about faith it's no matter how alone you may feel in a 'Life Crisis Moment' you are never alone! God is with you always! Just keep your Faith! Just sharing some love as I live another day and remember there is always a way to laugh where it may seem only tears flood your emotions. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, it will pass and you'll be better on the other side! Have a Blessed Day! Dee
I wanted to say thank you for all your recent prayers and add keep them coming!
As my Pastor Jeff says “God is good all the time”!
Last week he started his series on My Best Friend and it was great! He continues this week with more eye opening reason to let Jesus be your best friend!
Many people only look at the fact God sent his son Jesus to earth to die for our sins and never think about how he was on the earth for 33 years before dying on the cross.
Do you know what Jesus’ occupation was? Many already know the answer, he was a carpenter.
There is no way to smoothly transition to this next train of thought but...
Have you ever notice how politicians are like chameleons? Let me explain, when someone is running for office they will always appear to know peoples pain. Say a politician goes to a big benefit for bankers, he will always have a way to connect or tie himself in to ‘understanding the problems’ of those there by referring to being related to someone in his immediate circle who was or is a banker? Then his next stop might be a constructing site, he will change his appearance dawn a hard hat and still share a story which relates to the workers and follows it up with “I know your pain” or “understand how you feel”.
So when you think about it, Jesus being a carpenter really showed us how he dwelled among us a hard worker way before he preformed miracles.
Jesus came as a man to teach us through example in his life before teaching us through his word.
It is written: God is a God of mercy and he is a God of wrath too! Jesus, on our behalf, took our sins to save our souls.
The Bible goes to Great lengths to show us Jesus was just like you and me.
We are all tempted in life, but being tempted is not a sin. It’s what we do after being tempted which is determined through our actions.
In the Bible it teaches us that Jesus was a great man. But before he died on the cross he lived a life like you and I. He was a child that played, went to school, had half brothers and sisters, worked, lived and died. As a man, he went through many things we go through!
What do you think of when you think of the Thrown of God? Many think of Judgment and Fear.
There are 3 things Pastor Jeff pointed out about the Thrown of God today:
1 It is a Thrown of Grace
2 It is a Thrown of Sympathy
3 It is a Thrown of Help!
In the Bible, Jesus never tells us to fear the Thrown of God but he always says come to the Thrown of God. He says to come to the Thrown boldly!
Jesus is not only concerned with the religious part of our lives but for ALL of it! That means not just on Sunday’s!
Every hour of every day of every month of every year… He is concerned about us all the time!
Are you a Sunday Friend of Jesus? Are you living every other day of the week without talking to Jesus about your problems you have?
Jesus knows what we go through because he went through it too!
Jesus understands Relationships:
He knows what it’s like to be single, in a married person’s world!
He knows what it’s like to be married because we are his bride.
He knows what it’s like to have an unfaithful bride.
He knows what it’s like to have family who doesn’t understand where you’re coming from.
He knows what it’s like to have close friends; to be loved and betrayed by them.
Jesus understands work:
Jesus was in the market place way before he was in the ministry.
Remember he was 33 years old before he died on the cross.
Jesus understands pain:
Not only did he endure physical pain he knew what it was like to feel emotional pain too.
Can you imagine the ridicule he went through when his peers heard of his virgin birth?
He knows what it is like to lose a love one in death. His earthly father Joseph died when Jesus was 13 or 14 years old.
The facts are Jesus has gone through everything we have gone through and more! He worked endured pain and love in his relationships with friends and family.
He is our Savior but he should be our Best Friend to share our everyday lives with. He is the answer to any problem big or small we feel we are having.
Are you having trouble in your relationship? Tell him about it!
Are you depressed and feel all alone? Tell him about it!
Are you having problems at work? Tell your best friend Jesus!
We all need to stop keeping Jesus at arm’s length and have a closer walk with him and it will change your life!
If, in this high tech world, you feel you don’t have time to sit down and read your bible, think again!
There is an App for that! I have several Apps on my phone which send me a daily notification of scripture. I have another one which has audio to hear scriptures while I’m driving! (Link to apps)
So when you think you don’t have time… think again! You have time for Facebook, Myspace and games on your phone you have time to get closer to Jesus, who really should be your best friend!
Again thanks to Pastor Jeff for a great sermon today!
Today I decided to share a few of my FaceBook status'and why I felt the need to write them:
"Parents always want what's best for our kids... Even if it hurts a little... in the long run their better adults later in life:)"
*After talking to a parent of a friend, I felt this was their way of letting me know why they do the things they do... and it was their way of letting me know, without making an excuse for them, why they do the things they do. As parents we always want the best for them but there are times when we know they are on the wrong path and it's our job as parents to let them spread their wings and fly... but then there are times when we have to watch them fall so they can learn from their mistakes in life. It makes them a better person in the end!
"I find I'm at another crossroad in my life... And the map I'm looking at isn't the road I'm on... Going to check God's GPS -the Bible now!!!!!!!!" Here are some replies I got from that posting:
God's Positioning System?
Grow, Pray, Study
Got Prayer Support!
*I found myself reflecting about my life and where it is heading... And it just popped into my head about how when we are lost we rely on a GPS to get us where we are going... So I found myself referring back to the Bible!
"God has me here and I'm about his business everyday in every way!:-)"
*When I wrote this one I was sending a text to a friend. It was just another way for me to say: Don't over think things... "When life seems to not be what you expect it to be...refer to God's GPS... The Bible!"
Sometimes in life you just have to remember there is a plan for us all and it's up to us to follow down the path made for us everyday... not just when we feel like it.
God gave his only son to save our souls... the least we can do is be a 'fisher of men' in our life's to save the lost. We can't assume someone else will share the Great news of Jesus! Remember that as you go about your day!
Live, Laugh, Love and Be Blessed!
Dee Stevens
