Living in Faith pushes us out of our personal little worlds.

     So much of the time, I like to be quiet. Yet, if I'm quiet in my own little world, how will others be encouraged? It is so easy for me to stay in my own little world yet, what is accomplished? Am I being selfish? Staying in my own little world do not seem to be following the "Great Commission" does it? Conviction does hit when I miss out on speaking up, writing, or just acting in doing something I know I need to be doing. 

     Staying in my own little world seems safe, but is it? Staying in my own little personal world does not include fellowship with others which encourages me depending on the fellowship I seek. Do I seek God in my personal time or just watch TV, read, or computer? Are the people I seek negative or positive about things? When we are alone, we can also be easier in ways to attack by others for whatever reason even if we were no where at the location of it all. Nobody else can give us an alibi as we were alone.

     Recently, I came under conviction to right a letter for another to stand up for them. No, I don't know all the details of the situation. Yet, I could not stand by silently, just praying. As I prayed, the need to write the letter became greater. Yes, it is a risk to disagree with a group of people with higher authority than yourself, but at times it is worth the risk. Yet, for those times when we are felt led to do something, we must as we are in the place or time for it to be effective in a way we can't see with our human eyes to the much larger picture God sees.

     Too many times, I have seen quiet sincere people be attacked while other sincere people just stay in their own personal world thinking they are safer there. We are blind to see, as long as we isolate ourselves in thinking we are safer doing it, then we are more easily destroyed. We can let the loud mouth pride destructive force reign as we cower in fear hoping it will not notice us next. How much of this can repeatedly be done in churches?  Sometimes, a secular workplace can be safer than a church at times. No place is perfect here on earth.

     I don't know what will become of the situation with the letter but I continue to pray for this situation. I must be faithful in something if I'm suppose to do it as I continue in faith. Faith requires action and patience, too. James shares about works and our faith.  Faith requires us to come out of personal little world we like to stay in away from others at times for whatever reasons. 

        "Evil succeeds when good men do nothing.", is something I heard repeatedly as a child from my Grandmother.  When good men don't stand up for things, who does it leave next to stand?

Living in Faith vs. Complaining

     I have been told most of my life that God is in control. I tell others that God is in control. Yet, depsite others telling me or me telling others, how do we live it at times?

     Sometimes, I complain about what is going on. Is that faith in action? Or, better yet, I get in a group of people complaining which is not following Psalms 1. If I hang out with those that complain, does it help my attitude/outlook/spiritual/encouraging others? No! Do I want to encourage others to complain if I stand in the group?

     Complaining is not an application of faith in Jesus Christ being in control of my life or the world. I do stop complaining but it is after I actually open my ears/heart to the conviction of it.

      How much better would I be if I would keep my mouth shut about complaining and praise Jesus Christ for what is going on? Praying to Jesus instead of complaining to or with other humans would be far more productive.

      Will stop all of my complaining? No, I will mess up but I pray that I get convicted of it sooner verses later so I don't waste the time I have on this earth with fruitless activities.

       To live life like God is in control is to not to complain. It is far easier to talk about than actually applying it to life all the time.

Thank You Jesus!

     Thank You for Jesus for loving me and others that have and will come into this world. Thank You for giving us a choice to follow You as we in turn in love do it because we want too. Yet, our love for You can be so shallow at times compared to Your love for us as You have so much patience with us to chose You with our life showing by our actions.  Thank You for the forgiveness You have for us when we come to You with humble and repenting hearts wanting to turn away from the evil we do which is sin and offends You. You are an example to us in the example of forgiveness. Yet, there is a point You draw the line till when we reject You till our last breath that You allow us to humble ourselves to chose You.

     Thank You for answering our prayers in getting to know You more as it comes in ways we don't expect even as You turn things for Your Glory despite what our human eyes can see or mind that can assume at the time when we may not have it focussed on You. Thank  You for answering prayers of needs in my life as You know what I need before I even knew I need them like Your Gift of Eternal Life for all eternity even before I was born.  Thank You for sending those who were faithful to You to share of You throughout my life even if it does not agree with the world's view in ways it can even creep into churches as human pride grows. I pray we seek Your approval over the approval of the world no matter where in our lives.

      Thank You for more than I can ever write. I thank You for another year of  life to share with others and worshiping You in many ways. Thank You for not being blind to my enemies no matter where they are in my life and helping me recognizing them and learning to deal with them as You lead. I pray they chose to turn or even return to You sincerely for You to be truly Lord of their life. Thank You for teaching me and continuing to teach me while walking in faith of You despite my shortcomings and Your forgiveness of them as I seek YOU! Thank You for loving me and others as You gave Your life on Calvery and rose from the grave! Thank You for eternal life!!!!

Encouragement for women in Heaven

     Men in churches can treat women as beneath them. With many, women are suppose to serve men and not allowed to do much else even if they are more skilled than men. Some women can become frustrated to say the least especially when she has men around her that may lack in how to get things done. Yet, many generations of women have learned how to encourage men in ways that allow them to think it is the man's idea to get the job down as she continues to serve the men as the work is done.  Humble women can encourage men around them to excel even if men lack at times. Who truly can these women be serving greater than men?

    It takes a strong women in many areas to remain humble in such frustrating situations with men when they are clueless. At times, around some of these type of men if the women does open appear smarter she can be very much resented by them as they can trumph up many words against her. Yet, some through the generations women must realize something deep within themselves a peace that only God can give them as they remain humble and serve quietly.  These women have learned about the value of serving and how even Jesus Christ repeatedly in the Gospels talk about serving others including as He gave examples of it himself to the disciples as He washed their feet in John 13.

John 13: 13-17 (KJV)

¹³Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. ¹⁴If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. ¹⁵For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. ¹⁷If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

     Repeatedly in the Gospels it repeats, "first shall be last, and the last first".   If men who let their pride and the desire for power rule them as they walk over other men and women, what dangers are ahead for them?  If a man mistreats women his whole life especially as he believes it is his God given right to do so, what could that mean for eternity for them? Let's say if he makes it into heaven yet on earth he wanted to be and was treated like a king, where is his place in heaven? Who is above him? Those on earth who served others have a different value in heaven than on earth for all eternity.

     Our Lord is not blind and knows the motives of our hearts. Humble men who lead with a servant's heart are wonderful to be around as they are blessed by God in many ways as they live. When men value who women are and work together with can be a beautiful team. It is a joy to serve these kind of men and others on this team. Women with the humbleness and strength of faith of a personal relationship with Jesus are blessed for all eternity even if life on earth is challenging. Our lifetime on earth is but a breath compared to all eternity.

Encouragement from another

     Looking at the last post date reveals to me point blank how time flies despite what we can plan to do. How many plans do we have to help or encourage others that we don't get done for whatever reason that gets in the way.  Yet, this can be good too, at times. How many things do I do just trying to please men that takes time away from pleasing God with my time. No matter how good we can try to be in life, we will offend somebody as repeatedly reminded we can not please men as it is futile attempt in the long run. Yet, if my time is used under God's direction then there is eternal investments and able to encourage men who God puts on my path to encourage verses going down dead end roads of frustration of man's thinking. We are told in the Gospels and given examples throughout the Bible that following God's path is not going to be a path that pleases men of this world.  I'm finally coming to realize, those that are offended may be showing me something I have not realized or refused to realize before in life. Many claim Christianity, yet what is faith in it to them?

     Please forgive me in not giving more details in the example I'm about to give which is encouraging me greatly as an example of living faith despite what is going around him. I'm not able to give more details for reasons at this time. However, there are many throughout time that can relate to in life what this young man is going through. There is a young man in this world that God protected him as a child from death which few around him know about. Yet, God sent a group of men that found him and put him in a safe place to grow up. He is now in his 20's on a path as God protects him as he lives it, too. Recently, he was injured which turned out placing him in a location to preach unexpectedly which really touched/changed some lives that heard him. They noticed he was different when he spoke before the crowd despite him being a shy young man for the most part. The Christian leader over the location was upset with the response of this. Another situation became available for him to speak at as he was requested to do so. Yet, the Christian leader demanded him to speak in such a way that would go against his belief. He had some time to pray about what he was to say at the time. Yet, he realized if he was to please this "liberal" male leader that he would be going against his faith and what he believed God wanted him to do at this opportunity. Did this young man listen to man or God? He did as he felt lead by God to do and chose to deal with the threats of consquences of making his life miserable which this "Christian" leader has done since. Unfortunately, this young man is in a situation where this "Christian" leader can do it to him yet God is still working through it as others look on in ways as this young man stands firm in his faith despite what he is being put through.

       This is an ongoing process at this time. My prayer request is that others witness the sincerity of his faith despite what he is going through which will strengthen others faith around him and others that know of this situation. God is working in this as He has been in his life as before he was even born through the life of his own family and others that found him afterwards. God is working in so many people's lives in this world and through the ages even if it feels like God has forgotten us at times!!!!

        Sometimes, we can get discouraged thinking God may have forgotten us when life gets really interesting  yet, it is at these times, God can be working in ways of such a witness to others if we remain true and sincere in our faith not giving up as our actions can show to others.  The events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was horrible yet the results of this allows us the opportunity of forgiveness through the grace of God. It affects those since and those to come yet with the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.  When trials of faith hit our life, those times can be the times others watch to see sincerity of our faith in Jesus Christ. Oh, how sad if we ourselves give up our faith in Jesus or just go through empty motions that others can see but not speak of out loud. Jesus Christ knew of the huge picture of what the crucifixion meant to the world. Jesus Christ also see the bigger picture of our lives than we do. Knowing of this young man has encouraged me in my own faith and seeking God no matter what the situation.