Have you ever been waiting for something to come to you? A letter or package in the mail, a phone call or a specific date? I am waiting right now for a package. I can track the package and I find out just were it is. I just can't wait for that delivery truck to get here. The package is important to me and I am excited about it. The item inside the package is exactly what I wanted.
I think that sometimes there are certain people God is waiting for. He wants them to come to him. He is waiting for you! God loves you and wants you to be delivered to him. So to speak. The bible says knock and the door will be opened. (Luke 11:9) I can tell you that when the delivery truck gets here I will be waiting to open that door. I might even run out to the truck because this is something I really want.
Think of yourself as being God's package. Inside you there is something God wants. Your heart! He already knows that you are what He is waiting for. He has already ordered you. He paid for you. All that is left to do is show up and have the door be opened to you. God is waiting.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
I Want More!
As I was sitting in church a few weeks ago I couldn't help but ask myself a question. What am I doing here? Ever since I was born I have been going to church. It can become just a routine activity. After the music part of the service was over my pastor began to preach. I kept thinking was that I wanted more! Not more music, not more preaching or more Sunday school time. Just more of Jesus. Going to church is okay but I want to see Jesus on a bigger level. I want to see more people feeling the love of my Savior. I want more people to experience the hope, grace, forgiveness, and peace of Jesus Christ.
I can go to church each Sunday and see all the regular people in the congregation. The people that come every week just as I do. They sit in the same pew as they did the last week and we do the same thing. But that isn't good enough for me. I want to see a new person or family enter the church doors every week. I want to minister to people I have never seen. I want to help the broken. I want to pray with the hurting. I want to show Christ-like love to God's people who don't know Him. I want people to see Christ working in my life!
There are too many people in my own town who don't know God on a personal level. Too many young adults with no hope for tomorrow. Too many families with broken hearts. There is a hurting world out there and I want to do something about it! I want more! I want to show more love to God's people! I want to live my life to the fullest! I want more! There is so much more to have in Christ and I want it!
I can go to church each Sunday and see all the regular people in the congregation. The people that come every week just as I do. They sit in the same pew as they did the last week and we do the same thing. But that isn't good enough for me. I want to see a new person or family enter the church doors every week. I want to minister to people I have never seen. I want to help the broken. I want to pray with the hurting. I want to show Christ-like love to God's people who don't know Him. I want people to see Christ working in my life!
There are too many people in my own town who don't know God on a personal level. Too many young adults with no hope for tomorrow. Too many families with broken hearts. There is a hurting world out there and I want to do something about it! I want more! I want to show more love to God's people! I want to live my life to the fullest! I want more! There is so much more to have in Christ and I want it!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Free for All
Hello there blog readers,
Today I come to you writing what I feel. Because after all, I am pretty sure that's the point. I was sitting in church last night and my Pastor was preaching on Spiritual gifts. This is one of my favorite topics because I like to remember that God, not only gave us His one and only Son. He also blesses us with Spiritual gifts when we accept the free gift of Salvation.
I am a musician. I am not bad but also not the best. Music comes naturally to me. I use my gift as an offering to God when I play on the worship team at church. I love playing and it makes it even better knowing that my biggest fan is God Himself. I know that by using my gift and playing to the best of my ability, I am serving God. Now, because I enjoy playing and I am good at it sometimes is seems fairly easy on my part. The hard part is when you take God out of it and insert yourself into the equation. It doesn't work that way! This might come as a complete shocker, but you and God are not interchangeable. Trust me. Or don't and test it yourself. Let me know how it goes.
The point I am trying to make is that God is God and we simply aren't. God has given us so much and all that we have to do is accept His free gift.
—Ephesians 2:8-9
Okay so here it is. God has shown us grace by sending His Son to die on a cross for our sins and the sins of the world. It is by faith. Simply putting your trust in God. And would you look at that, it's not by our own doing. Not by your works! If you want this free gift of salvation all you have to do is believe that Jesus Christ died for you and paid the price for your salvation while on the cross of Calvary.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gift of salvation. Thank you for the gift of Your Son Jesus Christ, who died on a cross for my sins. I want to put my faith in you. I know I am a sinner and apart from you I am nothing. Please come into my life. Wash me of my sins and cleanse me with Your salvation. Give me the gift of eternal life.
—Romans 6:23
—Romans 3:23
—John 1:12
Today I come to you writing what I feel. Because after all, I am pretty sure that's the point. I was sitting in church last night and my Pastor was preaching on Spiritual gifts. This is one of my favorite topics because I like to remember that God, not only gave us His one and only Son. He also blesses us with Spiritual gifts when we accept the free gift of Salvation.
I am a musician. I am not bad but also not the best. Music comes naturally to me. I use my gift as an offering to God when I play on the worship team at church. I love playing and it makes it even better knowing that my biggest fan is God Himself. I know that by using my gift and playing to the best of my ability, I am serving God. Now, because I enjoy playing and I am good at it sometimes is seems fairly easy on my part. The hard part is when you take God out of it and insert yourself into the equation. It doesn't work that way! This might come as a complete shocker, but you and God are not interchangeable. Trust me. Or don't and test it yourself. Let me know how it goes.
The point I am trying to make is that God is God and we simply aren't. God has given us so much and all that we have to do is accept His free gift.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Okay so here it is. God has shown us grace by sending His Son to die on a cross for our sins and the sins of the world. It is by faith. Simply putting your trust in God. And would you look at that, it's not by our own doing. Not by your works! If you want this free gift of salvation all you have to do is believe that Jesus Christ died for you and paid the price for your salvation while on the cross of Calvary.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gift of salvation. Thank you for the gift of Your Son Jesus Christ, who died on a cross for my sins. I want to put my faith in you. I know I am a sinner and apart from you I am nothing. Please come into my life. Wash me of my sins and cleanse me with Your salvation. Give me the gift of eternal life.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
"For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Misery loves company
As I was working outside today, I started to ponder the question that often enters my train of thought. Why do people sin? I am not by any means saying that I don't sin. However I do try and live a moral life style. Where I try to make good choices.
I have a brother that is just a year older than I am. We have been close throughout the years and have always gotten along. My brother moved out as soon as he turned 18 saying it was for "bigger and better things" ( I cried) needless to say that didn't work out all too well. We are human. We are going to make mistakes. I think that the way you deal with those mistakes can make or break you. I am not going to tell all that is going on in his life. I will say that life brings many challenges and temptations and in every circumstance you have a choice! Will you live the way the world says is right? Or, will you let God lead you to the path He has planned for you?
There is a Christmas song called O Come O come Emmanuel and the verse reads:
Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Most of us are familiar with the saying misery loves company. If you make the choice to let God direct your path, the path to misery is closed. It's no longer a choice. Some people have a hard time letting someone else make their plans. I wish they could just feel all the burdens being lifted when you make the decision to follow Christ. His plan is perfect. =)
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Do you have a plan for your future? It may even be a great plan. I want you to try and comprehend that God has an even better one for you!
Jill Emily
I have a brother that is just a year older than I am. We have been close throughout the years and have always gotten along. My brother moved out as soon as he turned 18 saying it was for "bigger and better things" ( I cried) needless to say that didn't work out all too well. We are human. We are going to make mistakes. I think that the way you deal with those mistakes can make or break you. I am not going to tell all that is going on in his life. I will say that life brings many challenges and temptations and in every circumstance you have a choice! Will you live the way the world says is right? Or, will you let God lead you to the path He has planned for you?
There is a Christmas song called O Come O come Emmanuel and the verse reads:
Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Most of us are familiar with the saying misery loves company. If you make the choice to let God direct your path, the path to misery is closed. It's no longer a choice. Some people have a hard time letting someone else make their plans. I wish they could just feel all the burdens being lifted when you make the decision to follow Christ. His plan is perfect. =)
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Do you have a plan for your future? It may even be a great plan. I want you to try and comprehend that God has an even better one for you!
Jill Emily
Monday, January 3, 2011
iRenew
Have you ever felt like you just weren't physically able to make it through the day? I know I have.
Today, being the first week day of the new year; I thought I would get some things done around the house. I put on my iRenew bracelet and got to work.
I filed tons of paper work and paid all the bills that were due. Then here is where it went down hill. I had a great idea. I decided to rearrange the furniture in the apartment. I moved two couches, nine chairs, a table, and refrigerator. I was so exhausted and I think I may have pulled a few muscles. Do I think the bracelet helps? Absolutely not! =) But when you have something close that reminds you that you can do it. So to speak. You really can. Wearing the bracelet probably wasn't helping me physically but more mentally.
I know for sure that if I had to live life without all the help I receive from my family there is no way I could do it. Now, if I had to live life without the voice of my Heavenly Father that is even more scary. There is no amount of iRenew bracelets for that job. The truth is there is so much more to life than me. I know that today and everyday my Father in Heaven is watching over me and giving me all that I need to live. Who are you living for?
Today, being the first week day of the new year; I thought I would get some things done around the house. I put on my iRenew bracelet and got to work.
I filed tons of paper work and paid all the bills that were due. Then here is where it went down hill. I had a great idea. I decided to rearrange the furniture in the apartment. I moved two couches, nine chairs, a table, and refrigerator. I was so exhausted and I think I may have pulled a few muscles. Do I think the bracelet helps? Absolutely not! =) But when you have something close that reminds you that you can do it. So to speak. You really can. Wearing the bracelet probably wasn't helping me physically but more mentally.
I know for sure that if I had to live life without all the help I receive from my family there is no way I could do it. Now, if I had to live life without the voice of my Heavenly Father that is even more scary. There is no amount of iRenew bracelets for that job. The truth is there is so much more to life than me. I know that today and everyday my Father in Heaven is watching over me and giving me all that I need to live. Who are you living for?
My New Year!
Wow! 2011 It's a little hard to believe. On December 31st I made a mental list of all the things I would like to accomplish during this new year (I do this every year like most people). This year I feel more ready then ever to really put my all into my "list."Awhile ago I calculated how my much money I was spending. I won't give you the number but I will say it was too much and I needed to start saving. So, this year that is one of my goals. 2011 is my year. I'm working on day three and I have not spent a penny. Don't laugh it's not funny. =)
My list consist of 16 goals you might be bored if I share them all so I'll only give you the top five. There is a song by Jeremy Camp called My Desire. This is my inspiration for 2011. The song is about being used by God and I am ready to live a life for more than just me. I want God to lead, teach and live in and through me.
During 2011 I want to make new friends and have fun while being filled with God's love. I want people to want what I have in Christ. I don't think that's a bad thing.
Also, I think that everyone should be healthy and care for the body God gave them. There is so much sickness and hurt and pain we can cure if we live a healthy life style. So, I am biking 5 miles a day and eating more apples then ever! Baby steps people! =)
And the last on my short list of five. I am going to be a better person. I can only do this with a lot of God's help. Let's say all of God's help. He can do it though, I've seen it done. What I mean by better person is, to reach out to all people. Yes all people.
As you see I need a lot of God's help and I need less of me. So, as my year continues I would hope that anyone who reads this would keep me accountable to the things I have written. Happy New Year!
I think I am going to start a blog. That's not vain right?
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