Follow Instructions

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." - Romans 12:1

       Why do we have such a hard time following God's instructions? We never have a hard time following the instructions of other hero's, such as firemen. When you're trapped inside a building that is burning to the ground, you won't think twice about what the fireman instructed you to do, you'll just simply do it. Why can't we be that way with God? I mean, isn't He also trying to save you from a fire? Not just the "fires" and the pains throughout your life, but more so - the everlasting pit of flames, misery, doom, disease, pain, and oh - so much more. Yet we can't listen? We can't follow His instructions? How crazy is that? When God gives you instructions don't walk half way to Him on water and then start doubting. Walk the full distance, trusting wholeheartedly! We need to follow all the commandments that God has given us, without questioning. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." - Proverbs 3:5. When your Creator reaches out His hand to pull you out of any "hell" that you're in or may face, don't even think once before grabbing it, and NEVER let go. If you want opportunities in your life then start following in obedience to God's commandments. "Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” - John 14:21.

Changing Seasons

"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven." - Ecclesiastes 3:1

       This world is always changing. Friends move, loved ones pass away, and new family members are born. Time moves faster, weather changes, and even the quick in your step fades away. You and everything in your life may change around you, but Jesus Christ never will. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." - Hebrews 13:8. God will always love you, no matter what you do or have done. He will always be with you even if you move from Maine all the way to California. God's still the same! Your life may have a complete 360° flip, and most of the time, it won't be very easy to adjust to. But with God on your side, you'll be able to adjust, and get through any trials that may be thrown at you. Just as the summer will soon fade to fall, so our lives will also be an ever-changing season. Don't get discouraged, don't lose hope - instead trust in the One who has conquered over every mountain this world has produced. Trust in the One who will always be the same, yesterday, today, and forever - Jesus Christ!

Searching For Happiness?

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit." - Proverbs 15:13

     Searching for happiness? Well you're a step closer if you read this! (Let's point you in the right direction!). You see, if you're looking for happiness in this world you'll never find it, because there is none. Let me explain: Happiness is not of this world, nor is it found in it. We go through life wishing to have this, or be that. We have dreams, aspirations, and goals we set, just so we can reach a new level of happiness. Well, wondering why you can't be happy even if you reach those dreams, or perhaps you have reached them. Are you happy? Some of you might be! Just make sure your happiness isn't from, or of this world. Feeding the flesh will not get you anywhere, and it certainly will not give you a happiness that will last an eternity. True happiness is found in God; it is God! That's where your never ending joy will flow from, not from earthly desires! Don't get me wrong, having nice things is great! (I wouldn't mind a Lamborghini myself, haha!). But if you think that having all that will make you happy, then you're wrong. Like I said, true, everlasting happiness, is found in God! Feed your spirit - not your flesh! "And the world and its desires are fading away, but the person who does God's will remains forever." - 1 John 2:17. So you want true happiness? Well I hope this post will point you in the right direction!

Rooted?

"Sink your roots in him and build on him. Be strengthened by the faith that you were taught, and overflow with thanksgiving." - Colossians 2:7

     In your life have you ever felt as though you're being tossed back and forth like a tree in violent storm? I know I have. There have been points in my life where I've felt that I was going to break, but instead I managed to survive the storm that was, at first, tearing me into pieces. How did I do this you ask? You see, when all the burdens and heartaches of life came raging against me, I simply put my roots in a different soil. - I put my trust in God. Even the largest of trees can be broken by a small windstorm because their roots aren't in strong soil. Every time a storm has come I have always watched in amazement as trees would bend and the tops of them would almost touch the ground. How would those trees not get ripped up and be carried away by these powerful winds? - Because the trees put their roots in solid ground. If we put our faith and trust in God, we will be able to withstand any storm that the devil throws at us. We may bend and get tossed around, but we will never be uprooted - because our roots will be in solid ground. Stop growing in the unstable ground of this world and start growing in the solid ground of God's Kingdom! A soil that will not only keep you protected from the harmful storms in life, but a soil that will make you grow and prosper into things you could have never imagined.

Rough Terrain?

     "I will lead the blind by a road they do not know, by paths they have not known I will guide them, I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, I will not forsake them." - Isaiah 42:16

     Throughout our lifetime we are faced with many challenges, obstacles, and hardships to overcome. Yes, the road is very rough and covered with deep potholes which you think you'll never be able to avoid or overcome, but with Christ in your daily life, (not just every once in a while), you can do all things through Him and conquer any piece of terrain that your life brings at you. It clearly shows this in Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." So many times when we hear this verse we say to ourselves -"Wait a minute...All things?! No, that can't be possible. Surely God meant 'some things'. Yes, that sounds better! Because you see, I can't do all things, it's just not possible." That's exactly right! YOU CAN'T do all things! But Jesus Christ CAN! Through Christ all things are possible! Once you realize just how powerful this verse is and start believing this in your life, mountains will move, goals will be reached, and all that rough terrain will be miles behind you. Stop doubting and start believing in the One who can do all things!

Smooth Sailing

         "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past."  - Isaiah 43:18

     God has so many plans for each and everyone of us, but far too often we let our past mistakes, regrets, and fears, steer our lives. You can never move forward into the things that God has for you if you are holding onto the old things in your life. It's just like a sailor expecting to move forward though his anchor is still in the water - it doesn't work. Just as you cannot sail while being weighted down, you cannot move forward while holding on to the heavy burdens of the past. Pull up your anchor! Lighten the load! "Cast thy burdens upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." - Psalm 55:22. If you cast all of your burdens, (new or old), to the Lord,  He will brighten your life and finally make the rough waves of the sea be at peace. Throw out your old map and compass and start trusting in God to sail you in the right direction.