The Pursuit of Happiness

Is anyone up for a little American History discussion today? I realize that is quite an unusual way to begin a blog post. But I invite you to join me in reflecting upon one of the most wonderful and yet puzzling aspects of the United States' Declaration of Independence; (drafted and mainly written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776). That is, our "inalienable rights"-rights which cannot be taken away-as an introduction to the topic of happiness, and/or its pursuit. (You may not see their connection now, but if you bear with me, you will soon find out how...) So let us begin:

 As one reads the United States Declaration of Independence, one might conclude that Jefferson had three main goals in mind when he was writing it. His first, and most obvious goal, was to write a legally-binding document that would clearly, eloquently, and permanently declare the United States' independence from Great Britain (a.k.a. England.) Secondly, Jefferson wanted to ensure equality among citizens of the United States. And thirdly, he made sure to specify three key rights which "have been bestowed upon us by God Himself," (excerpt from the Declaration of Independence), and therefore, cannot be taken away. Hence the term "inalienable rights."  These are: The right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."  If you ask me, that sounds wonderful! But I've always been intrigued by these three little words in reference to happiness: "the pursuit of..." Notice that Jefferson does not guarantee us happiness. But we have the "inalienable right" to pursuit it.  And I believe it is save to say, that we all pursue it. Each and everyone of us searches for it. Why?  Because EVERYONE WANTS TO BE HAPPY!; it is a human necessity.

But sadly, not everyone truly finds it. Some have searched everywhere; and perhaps even found some temporary joy. Joy resulting from a professional accomplishment, a significant monetary acquisition, a budding relationship with a "special someone," or even a long-awaited marriage. But soon enough, if one does not find the TRUE SOURCE of happiness, what was once cause for joy, may just about lose it's "joyous factor"-so to speak. In other words, if we count solely on external circumstances to achieve happiness, sooner or later, we will come up short on happiness. Please, don't misunderstand me: There's nothing wrong with seeking professional success, doing well financially, dating, and getting married. I'm all for each and everyone of these things. They are all perfectly legitimate. But what I want you-the reader-to understand, is that external circumstances are subject to change. They fluctuate. They do not remain the same. And if the circumstances upon which we base our happiness change, so will our level of happiness; it is that simple, and yet that complex. "So, what is the solution?"-you may ask. "Where do I find a Solid Rock to stand upon in this ever-changing world?" "What or who is the True source of my happiness?" Well, it's funny you should ask. The answer lies in a 5-letter word (drum roll please...): JESUS!

Now, hold on. Don't go jumping into conclusions just yet. You may have heard this before, and you are not quite convinced. Perhaps it seems too easy...or too complicated. Maybe it sounds too good to be true; or it may even sound like a cliche. I can understand the rational behind such logic. I have been there. I was skeptical once. I used to be so worn out and frustrated; emotionally drained. So hopeless. I felt like I had tried everything. I had knocked on every door. But nothing seemed to work. Nothing seemed to fill the void I had inside in my desperate search for happiness.

I too used to believe that happiness would come only as a result of a change in an adverse circumstance. I figured if things were different, I would be happy. But that wasn't the case. I couldn't turn to family members for support. Because in my mind, they wouldn't understand. Even if they tried, they would never fully grasp the depth of my pain. I was blinded by pain and self-absorbed. I figured the only person who truly understood my pain was me. So, that is what I clung to. I engaged in self-pity, and built walls around myself. I felt alone. Alone in my circumstance. But even so, I tried to be strong. Only to find myself physically, mentally, and emotionally drained at the end of the day. My level of faith was below zero. Not only faith in God, but also faith in myself. Faith in my God-given ability to endure and overcome the many afflictions I had been facing for years on end. I was literally done. I was about to give up. (And I would have if it weren't for God's everlasting love, grace, and mercy upon my life.)

But God intervened. I came to find, to my shock and amazement, that I wasn't the only one who understood my pain. He did too! He knew everything! Every single detail. Every wound. He was familiar with the brokenness of my heart. He could relate to it. And He didn't blame for the way I tried (unsuccessfully) to deal with my pain. He didn't point the finger at me or criticize me for not handling it properly. Quite the contrary; He patiently and lovingly waited for me. He waited until I was ready to revisit those wounds, and allow Him to clean them out, one by one. Suddenly, I wasn't alone anymore. (In fact, I never had been. I just didn't realize it.) Someone understood me. Not just someone; The One. He showed me His tender love, mercy, and grace towards me. He picked me up from the ashes and brought me back to my feet again! That, dear my friend, is something I will never forget. As a matter of fact, that is essentially the reason why I have disclosed such personal information with you today; because I want you to know that there is hope. No matter how difficult your circumstance may be, there is hope. There is hope and happiness in Jesus Christ!

My circumstances haven't changed. I'm still faced with the same challenges every day. But I find hope in God's promises. I find strength in His fellowship. And I find happiness in serving Him, and blessing others for the glory of His Holy Name.

I encourage you from the bottom of my heart now, to take a leap of faith. To stop trying to handle adversity your way. Lay your burdens at His feet. Open your heart to Him. Let it all out. And rest assured that He loves you, He cares for you, and He understands you. All you have to do, is let Him in. Let Him into your heart. Let him into your life. Let Him into your circumstance. And be prepared never to be the same again!

If you would like to do so, say this prayer in your heart:

"Dear Jesus,

I'm tired of fighting these battles on my own.

I want you to take control. I give you my life. I lay it at your feet.

I want to find hope in you. I want to find the True Source of happiness in you.

Please come into my heart. I realize that I'm a sinner in need of a Redeemer. And I find that in You!

Please forgive my sins, and wash me clean! I repent from them with all my heart.

Please come and make me new! I receive the gift of salvation! I accept you as my Lord and Savior!

I give my life to you. 

It is in Jesus' name that I pray,

Amen."

All glory, honor and praise be to God!

Both now, and forever!

Amen & Amen.

The Greatest Love Story Ever Written! (Part II)

Well, here we are again; ready to continue on with the narration and discussion of the greatest love story ever written! So, shall we?

As you might recall, when Adam and Eve sinned against the Lord by disobeying His command and eating from the forbidden fruit, their eyes were opened and they saw their nakedness. As a result, they became ashamed of it, and tried to cover it up with fig leaves. But soon enough, the Lord came to visit them as He did everyday in the late afternoon. But this time, because of their disobedience to the Lord's command, Adam and Eve hid from The Lord's presence among the trees. Eventually, Adam and Eve admitted to the Lord that they had eaten from the forbidden fruit tree. Mind you, they blamed one another for it; thus, trying to rid themselves of guilt. Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent (the devil) for deceiving her. (Side Note: Has anyone ever played the "Who's to blame" game before? Because I certainly have.)

As a result of their sin, the Lord professed righteous judgment towards them. Let's take a look at what the Bible says in Genesis 3: 11-19; (extracted from the New Living Translation of the Bible): 

"Who told you that you were naked? the Lord asked "Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?"

 "The man replied: It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it." 

"Then the Lord asked the woman, "What have you done?" 

"The serpent deceived me," she replied. "That's why I ate it."

"Then the Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all the animals, domestic and wild. You will craw on your belly, grovelling in dust as long as you live. And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel."

 "Then the Lord said to the woman, 'I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you." 

 "And to the man he said, 'Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree I commanded you  not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow you will have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3: 11-19)

I have to admit that while reading that particular portion of Scripture, for a moment, I definitely felt the weight of sin on my shoulders. (Is anyone else with me on this?). To those of you who can relate to such a feeling, here's a word of encouragement: Don't fret. Don't despair. There IS hope. Though we were hopeless for a moment, though the future of mankind seemed dim and dark, the Lord our God had already drafted the perfect plan of redemption. The perfect plan for the atonement of our sins, and for the restoration of our fellowship with The Lord God.  And as I've said in the previous blog post, that's where JESUS comes in!

You see, the Lord loved us-All of us- so much, that He sent us a Redeemer, a Savior, His only begotten Son, to come to Earth, rid Himself of all of His Majestic Glory, and live here on Earth as a man who knew no sin, and die for our redemption. And His wonderful and powerful name is: Jesus! 

This is what the Word of the Lord says in John 3:16-17 (New Living Translation of the Bible):   

"For God loved the world so much that He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him." (John 3:16-17)    

Jesus led a completely blameless life, so that through His perfection, our sins would be atoned for. He knew no guilt. But He was unjustly accused and crucified. But all of that happened, because He willingly and selflessly gave Himself as a Most Holy Sacrifice, to atone for our sins, and to save the souls of many. For that was the will of God the Father. And so that the Scriptures would be fulfilled. But also as the Scriptures had predicted, Jesus was resurrected-by the power of the Holy Spirit-three days after His crucifixion. He now sits at the right hand of God. In a place of highest honor. But even so, His deepest desire is that "none should perish" and that ALL PEOPLE might believe that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, who was sent as a Redeemer, a blameless Lamb to serve as the Most Holy and Ultimate sacrifice, in order to erase the guilt and shame of sin, and to tore the veil that once obstructed the fellowship between God and mankind. 

I frankly can't find the words to express the intensity of God's love for His creation. I'm still astounded. baffled. Literally speechless. But what I can do however, is quote the Word of God; which is full of life-giving truth. So, here it goes:

"God showed how much He loved us by sending His One and Only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him.This is real love-not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." (I John 4:9-10).

Isn't that the Greatest Love Story Ever Written? And it wasn't just written; it didn't just stay on paper. It was fulfilled! It came true! It is an abundantly gracious offer of salvation to me and to you. And all we have to do, is believe by faith, that the Word of God is true! And so is its message of salvation, healing, (physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual), and redemption. All of which, was accomplished through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; the Son of God. The Holy Lamb. The Great "I AM".    

Let me close by saying this: We all search for love in one form or another. For a love that is genuine and true. For a love that is selfless. For a love that is not oppressive or hurtful. For a love that is "patient and kind." For a love that is "everlasting;" because that is the definition of true love. But could it be that we've been looking for it in the wrong places? In the wrong people? 

What if the expression of true love has been shared throughout the world, but still some, unknowingly reject the very thing they so desperately search for? What if true love exists, and is available to you? In fact, what if it's calling out to you? What if all you have to do is reach out and receive it by faith? What will you do?

Please allow me to say this: The purest, truest, most genuine form of love, is the one displayed by God for His creation, when He gave His Only His son in sacrifice, for the atonement of our sins and the salvation of our souls; thus, restoring our relationship with the Lord God. 

True love can only be found in, with, and through Jesus Christ. The question is: Will you accept Him or reject Him?

It's up to you...

All glory, honor and praise be to God!
Both now, and forever!

Amen & Amen!

The Greatest Love Story Ever Written! (Part I)

If I were to ask you what was the greatest love story ever written, what would your answer be? What would you say to me? Could it be "Gone with the Wind"?, "Romeo & Juliet"?, "Titanic"? Well, the truth is, you are free to take your pick. But if you were to ask me the same question, my answer would be: None of the above. That is the case, because to me, the greatest love story ever written, was not based on fiction; but rather on reality and truth. This particular story is full of wonder, love and grace. And it took place over 2,000 years ago; in a little town called Bethlehem. But before I tell you more about this amazing love story, allow me to give you a little background information in order to help you understand the reason why this story came to be. Please bear with me.

You see, a long, long time ago, even before the world began, The Greatest author of all already had it all planned out. He had already written everything. The History of the world in which we live, and the History of mankind. Nothing escaped Him. He never neglected one little detail about what He was set out to do. "And was that?"-you ask. Well, He made the heavens, the Earth, and the entire Universe! He made the solar system and all of its planets, He made all of the wondrous galaxies, (many of which, we humans, are not even aware of), within an incredibly vast space which we know of as the Universe. And everything He made was made with the utmost attention to detail; reflecting His perfect nature, and unprecedented, unlimited, creative ability. But here's the most impressive part of all: Everything in the Earth-that is, everything we see around us-light, darkness, the sky, the land, vegetation, the sun, the moon the stars, fish, sea creatures, birds, and every other kind of animal there is-came to be at the sound of the Creator's voice. At the sound of God's spoken word! Are you impressed yet? (Because I sure am!) But wait, there's more! This is the part where you and me come to be...So, shall we?

On the sixth day of this creation process, God created human beings. He created both male and female. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Let's take our time to better understand the process involved in the creation of human beings. First, God created/made man from the dust of the land. Then, He breathed the breath of life into his nostrils; thus creating the man in His image by giving the man a spirit, and subsequently, life. In other words, the breath of life is the spirit. What gives us life is the spirit existent within each and everyone of us. And we were made in God's image when we were given a spirit. For God is the Breath of Life.   

Once the man was given life, God called him to name all of the animals that God had made. So that is what the man did. But he could not find a partner or a helper that was suitable for him. So God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and made a woman from one of the man's ribs. The man was very pleased with the companion God had made for him; for he saw that what God had made was flesh of his (the man's) flesh, and bone of his (the man's) bone. After that, God placed both man and woman in the Garden of Eden; an exquisitely beautiful garden, which contained an endless variety of fruit-bearing trees from which the man and the woman were allowed to eat. However, there was one particular tree in the the Garden of Eden, from which both man and woman were specifically told not to eat. This tree, was the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  In fact, God warned them saying:  

"You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden-except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die." 

(Genesis 2:16b-17).

Unfortunately, one day as the woman was walking around the Garden, a serpent (the devil) deceived her, and convinced her to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil; the tree from which God had forbidden them to eat. As she took a bite of its fruit, she found it to be very appetizing; and offered some of it to her husband; who in turn, ate from the forbidden fruit. As soon as he did, both the man's eyes and his wife's eyes were opened. They soon realized that they were naked, and became ashamed of it. So much so, that they gathered fig leaves to cover up their nakedness.

In the late afternoon, as the "cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord among the trees."  

(Genesis 3:8). 

Note, when the man and his wife sinned against the Lord by disobeying His command and eating the forbidden fruit, they were ashamed and hid from His presence. They were ashamed not only of their nakedness, but of their disobedience of God's command as well. So you see, their sin separated them from God. It prevented them from the privilege of  having fellowship with the Lord as they did before. They were now corrupted by sin, and ashamed of their deed. 

Since Adam and Eve sinned against the Lord, their seed or their offspring (a.k.a. the entire human race) were conceived in sin, and inherited a sinful nature. As a result of this inherited sinful nature, we sin every day. For our flesh is sinful and weak. Therefore, we have all fallen short of the glory of God, and a veil was drawn between God and mankind. For God is Holy, and cannot behold or tolerate sin. Thankfully, the All-Knowing God, had already drafted a plan of redemption for mankind, in order to restore their fellowship with the Lord their God and vice-versa. And that's where Jesus comes in! But we'll have to wait until next time, as we continue the narration and discussion of the greatest love story ever written! A story that changed the course of History! A story of selfless love, grace, and redemption!

Until next time...

May the Lord bless you!

All glory, honor, and praise to be to God!

Both now and forever!

Amen!       

Me, Myself & I

Anyone feeling slightly egocentric today? Well, we may not realize it, but nearly 95% of our daily activities-that is, the things we do, the things we say, and even our "plans" for the future-are based on one thing and one thing only: Personal interest; (to put it mildly). But if we were to find another synonym for it, the only word that comes to mind would be (brace yourselves): Selfishness. Yes, I know it sounds heavy and harsh; but the truth is, we ALL have some level of selfishness in us. No one escapes. No human being can claim with 100% of certainty, that he/she is completely selfless. So, in essence, we're all in the same boat. Therefore, we have no right to play the "Who's more selfish" game, by pointing the finger at one another. (And that is not my intention by the way.) However, that does not automatically give us the right to keep acting selfishly. I have heard the following sentence many times before, and I think it applies perfectly to the topic at hand; (but you are free to draw your own conclusion): "But everyone else does it!" You see, when we, as individuals, resort to such a phrase as a defense mechanism to justify our wrongful actions, we indirectly prove our selfish nature even further. "How so?"-you may ask; allow me to explain:

The fact of the matter is, we're so desperately seeking to have things done our way, pursuing our own interests, that we would do just about anything to rationalize our behavior; even if it means resorting to such a tired expression as the one mentioned above. In other words, according to the "Law of Rationalized Selfishness," (that is an actual law; it is just being used for the illustration, and explanation of a concept) for as long as one manages to rationalize his/her behavior, it is perfectly acceptable to act selfishly. Now, you tell me: Is this "Law of Rationalized Selfishness"-which we all have resorted to at some point in our lives-even rational at all....? Sadly, that is the law by which the world lives.

We can see signs of selfishness all around us. Everywhere we go. We see it in promotional campaign ads, magazines, etc. Here are some examples: "Say hello to the new YOU! buy such and such product," "Pamper YOURSELF, buy this and that," "When you come to our store, it is all about YOU," We are here to tend to YOUR NEEDS" or "IT IS YOUR DAY! Don't let ANYTHING get in the way!," and so on and so forth. The fact is, the media that surrounds us, has picked up on the fact, that we have selfish tendencies; and they feed on such tendencies, for their our selfish purposes. That is, for us-consumers-to buy THEIR products, so that THEY can become as wealthy as possible. You see the vicious cycle going on here?

Now, with that in mind, let's talk about the subject of selfishness as it applies to the church of Jesus Christ. Please bear with me and pay close attention to what is about to be said. I say it with love in Christ Jesus for my brothers and sisters, and fear and trembling before the Lord my God. May your ears be open to hear, and your hearts be open to receive it, and act upon it. We too have fallen into the trap of selfishness. Unfortunately, a great number of people within the church today, have forgotten what it is like to love and serve one another in gladness. We have become way too busy dealing with our own personal day-to-day lives, to stretch out a hand to someone in need. To intercede for someone in prayer without expecting anything in return. To encourage someone who is dismayed with loving tenderness and uplifting words. To strengthen our brothers and sisters in their faith. To mentor and guide those who have been recently saved by Jesus Christ. To stop competing against each other, and start cooperating with one another. In short, many of us have forgotten to apply the meaning of the word SELFLESSNESS (Self-Less-Ness) in our lives and in our Christian walk.

Remember this: If the church of Jesus Christ doesn't stop fighting, competing, and bickering within itself, it will never be able to stand firm, and light the darkness of the world with the light of Jesus Christ.

Since I'm no better than any of you, (in fact, I'm the worst of sinners), let me be the first to say this: Forgive me Lord for the times I've acted selfishly towards my brothers and sisters-be that through thought, spoken words, deed(s), or the lack thereof. Father God, please help me and teach me to serve You and my brothers and sisters selflessly and in gladness of the heart. Let us be one in Christ Jesus, united for His glory. Let us love one another as we love ourselves, and let us do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Let us put the needs of others before our very own; thus, glorifying the name of the Lord our God, and displaying true and genuine love for one another in Jesus Christ.

It is also my prayer that my brothers and sisters would would join me in agreement with such a request in truth; from the very bottom of their hearts. So that we may be indeed, united as one in Jesus Christ.

It is in Jesus' Holy Name that I pray,

Amen & Amen!

Allow me to leave you with some food for thought extracted from the Scriptures (New Living Translation of the Bible):

"Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12)

"Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too." (Philippians 1: 3-4)

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If you want to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16:24)

All glory be to Jesus!

Both now, and forever!

Amen! 

  

An Offering of Praise!

Let those who love the Lord rejoice in His presence.

Let those who trust in Him take refuge in Him.

Let those who wait upon Him, have their strength renewed!

For the Lord is the Maker of the heavens and Earth;

The Maker of the Universe.

He is the All-Powerful God;

The One and Only God!

He's The God who cares for His little ones, and rescues them in their affliction.

He's The God who comforts the broken, and strengthens the meek.

He's the God who showers His children with everlasting love and grace.

He forgives our iniquities, and washes us clean by the Holy blood of Jesus! (Hallelujah!)

He guides and protects His children in the path of Light!

He equips them to fight in the battles against the enemy.

He instructs them in wisdom and truth!

Let His holy children rejoice in His Name; in the awesome power of His very Name!

Let us rejoice in Jesus Christ!

For He has made us, and chosen us to be His treasured possession! (Hallelujah)

He fights our battles and shields us from evil.

He delights in those who seek Him wholeheartedly, and strive to do what is right and just in His sight!

He runs to rescue those who have fallen;

In His everlasting mercy, He restores them once again, and brings them back to His tender-loving care.

But we must repent and turn to Him again!

Only then, will we experience the fullness of His love;

The full measure of His grace, and His glorious compassion! (Amen!)

Oh, children of Israel! Let us rejoice in the Lord our God!

Let us give Him praise; for He is God for all days!

Let us work for the Lord in fear and trembling of His awesomeness.

In humility and surrender, let us give our lives away; (to the Lord of Heavens Armies). Amen!

Let us lay our burdens at His feet and have our strength renewed!

Let us put our trust in the Lord our God;

Let us trust Him, and Him alone!

For blessed are those who put their trust in the Lord!

For they shall not be dismayed; 

They shall not be forgotten or ashamed! (Hallelujah!)

Glory to God!

Glory to the Lord of Heavens Armies!

Blessed be His Holy Name!

Let the angels of heaven sing Him praises everlasting!

And let all creation testify of His goodness!

Let His children sing Him praises!

Let their hearts and souls thirst for His presence;

Let their spirits stir in gladness as they seek for the Lord their God! (Amen! Hallelujah!)

Let their ears long to hear His sweet and tender voice!

Let their minds reflect in His Word of Truth day and night;

Let His Holy Name be glorified! (Amen! Hallelujah!)

Let us thank the Lord with grateful hearts for all that He has done!

For He gave His only begotten Son, for the ransom of many! (Hallelujah!)

Let us rejoice in the Truth;

For what He has done for me and for you!

Amen!

All glory, honor and praise be to God!; who teaches His children to praise His Holy Name!

May it be so, both now and forever!

Amen & Amen!

Jesus to the Rescue!

What to do when haunting memories of the past try to take away your peace? When the very things you wish to forget, suddenly resurface? They try to take over your thoughts, and make their way into your heart again. Well, I don't know about you, but I have stopped trying to battled it alone; because I have come to find, I am not strong enough to do this own my own. And the good news is, I don't have to be. Jesus is there for me, (and for you too.) So, what do I do? I cry out to Jesus! I cling to Him as tightly as I possibly can, and rebuke these unpleasant memories in His name! And you know what? It works! (not that I wasn't expecting to). But what still amazes me, is how fast it works: INSTANTLY! I'm not just saying this for dramatic effect. It REALLY DOES WORK, INSTANTLY! The power in the name of JESUS is beyond what anyone can possibly imagine; it is indescribable, and unlimited. Nothing is impossible, as far as Jesus is concerned. Nothing is too complicated for Him to solve. No pain is too deep for Him to heal. No circumstance is too dire for Him to intervene in. All you and I have to do here, is BELIEVE!

Now let me pause here for a second, and say that my intention is not to "down-play" anyone's pain or suffering; because I can certainly relate to such feelings. But my purpose in writing this particular blog post, is tell you-the reader-that there is indeed, hope in JESUS CHRIST. In fact, not only is there hope, but there's power in His name; there's refuge in His presence. And you will find strength and rest in His Word.

Chances are you have probably heard some of this before at some point in your life. But you never really took it to heart. You never truly believed that this could actually be applied in your life; in your situation; in your circumstance. Well, guess what? It can! These aren't just empty words...they come from the heart of someone who's well acquainted with pain, suffering, and adverse circumstances-me. However, I don't consider these words to be my own. As a matter of fact, they are not. I believe they are inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, to minister words of encouragement to those who have no hope left. To those who are broken and ashamed. To those who are weak. To those who are weary. To those who have given up. Believe me, I was there once. Not long ago. But I will never forget, the day that Jesus came to my rescue, and changed my life forever! The change(s) did not happen all at once. It (they) was (were) gradual; but real!

I know you may be skeptical at first; (like I was). But once you take that leap of faith into the arms of Jesus, you will never be the same again! And you will never want to take refuge in anyone else but Him; for He knows you better than you know yourself. He knows your pain. He understands your suffering. He's not oblivious or indifferent to it. He cares about you! He loves you! He wants to take care of you, and heal your wounds. He wants to give you hope anew. He wants to give you a future! A promising future! No wound is too small, or too great for Him to heal. Nobody's  life is beyond repair for Jesus.  No "black hole" is too deep for Him to reach into. All you have to do, is grab a hold of His stretched out hand, and let Him take over from that point on. I can assure you, you will not regret it. And your life will be changed forever!

Allow me to conclude by saying this: I don't claim to be an expert in any subject matter; (let alone this one!). I don't have a theology degree, and I am not a pastor. I have an infinite amount of ground to cover as far as God's Word is concerned, and I am not a religious person. I am however, a person who's been truly transformed by the love and grace of God. Someone who's eager to share with others the same message of love, hope, and salvation that she has heard, and by God's grace, and for His glory, has applied to her own life. A message that is not simply another message among messages. It is THE MESSAGE-the One and Only TRUE MESSAGE. The LIVING MESSAGE. The LIFE-CHANGING MESSAGE. THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. But remember: It goes beyond just hearing the Gospel and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that is just the beginning. (Don't get me wrong, it's a wonderful beginning!). But only as you become acquainted with God's word, and begin applying it into your own life, will you experience its life-changing content. 

Recall: The Word  is the key to life, and life abundantly! But only if you put its content into practice.

Here's another analogy for you:

The troubleshooting tips within a manual, are only effective, if you carefully follow its instructions; thus, putting them into practice.    

Think about it, act upon it!  

All glory, honor, and praise be to God! 

Forever & Always!

Amen!

Whatsoever Is a Child to Do?...

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, came into this world, to serve and not to be served. He came to live a blameless life; a life of righteousness. A life which was perfect in every way. And, through His perfection and Holiness, He conquered this world, and became the perfect sacrifice in exchange for our ransom. But Jesus' testimony here on earth-through His very life-was meant for more...

Allow me to elaborate:

You see, the life led by Jesus, was an example for His children, His redeemed people, to follow. In other words, those of us who have accepted the gift of God's grace, and have been washed clean by the blood of the Holy Lamb, (a.k.a. Jesus), are called to live Christ-like lives. And as you read this blog post, you may be asking yourself: "What exactly does that mean anyway?" Well, it means we must to strive to live a life that mirrors, the character, and the actions of Jesus Christ during His 33 years-(prior to His crucifixion), and 40 days, (after His resurrection), of life here on earth. In practical terms, that means we are called to do the following:

(NOTE: The bible verses quoted below, were taken from the New Living Translation of the Bible)

1- Love God the Father, with all of our hearts, all of our souls and all of our minds.

"Jesus replied: You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment."

(Matthew 22:37-38).

2- Love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

"A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:39)

3- Be humble.

"Therefore I [Paul], as a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle." (Ephesians 4:1-2a)

4- Be merciful and kind, patient, and compassionate towards others.

"Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, and patience."

(Colossians 3:12)

5- Genuinely forgive those who have offended and/or sinned against us, so that we might be forgiven by our Heavenly Father.

"If you forgive those who sin against you, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6: 14)

6- Be tolerant and patient towards our brothers and sisters in Christ, and others. So that we might testify of Christ's work in us, through both our actions, and our reactions to the adverse circumstances around us.

"Be patient with each other, making allowance for each others' faults because of your love."

(Ephesians 4:1-2b)

7- To serve each other with gladness and wholeheartedness. Thus, serving the Lord Himself.

"Then the King will say to those on His right: 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me..." "And the King will say: 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!" (Matthew 25:34-36, 40)

8-To worship the Lord our God, in spirit and in truth. For He is Good! His love and mercy endure forever! We must worship the Lord our God for who He is-first and foremost-as well as, for what He has done, is doing, and will do for us! Amen!

"Shout to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before Him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are His. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues from generation to generation." (Psalms 100: 1-5)

It is imperative to note, and to emphasize the fact, that we must carry out the content of this admittedly incomplete guideline to leading a Christ-like life, placing equal importance, in each and every one of its commands. In other words, the order in which they are written here, should not be taken as a sign of orderly importance; for when it comes to obeying the Word of the Lord, each command, is just as important as the next.

It is my sincere and heartfelt prayer to God the Father, that every child of God, may flourish and grow in Christ, as they strive to live Christ-like lives, with the guidance, strength, and wisdom of God's Holy Spirit. So that those who do not yet know the truth, may come to find it, thorough the church of Christ Jesus. May we effectively fulfill our roles as ambassadors of Christ Jesus, for the glory of His Holy name. (Amen!).

May those who are not yet saved, see the difference that Christ has made in our lives, and seek the Fountain of Life and Truth for themselves as well. For it is our job to spread the word; but it is also our job to practice what we preach, so that the world may see its credibility in our lives. So that we, may not be called hypocrites, and thus, become direct contributors to unbelief and skepticism! May the Lord Himself guide, assist, and strengthen us in this everlasting endeavor!

It is in the Holy Name of Jesus-who is worthy of all praise, glory, and honor-that I pray,

Amen & Amen!

All glory, honor, and praise be to God! Both now, and forever!

Amen & Amen!