Joy comes in the morning

"Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning." Psalms 30:5

This just reminds us that everything has a beginning and an end. Whatever you are going through, it may be the worst possible pain you may be experiencing but know that it too will not last forever. It has to end in Jesus' name and when it does, a new season will emerge where you are joyous.

The pain will only last for a time when darkness may be all you see but when morning comes, when the light of a new day shines upon you, joy will surely follow.

His favor is for life

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Psalms 30:5

David's life was in jeopardy when as he describes at the beginning of this Psalms. He says that he cried to the Lord and the Lord heard him, brought his soul out of the grave, and saved him that's why he gives thanks.

Sometimes we may be in the pit of death and still walk among the living. We may be so low that the only person who can truly save us in our Almighty Father. No matter how much we may anger Him know that when we start to walk in accordance to His word, His favor is for life. He is able to save us even from death. God's favor is what we should all desire, not his wrath.

God will fight our battles

"With Him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. 2 Chronicles 32:8

King Hezekiah told the people this after Sennacherib king of Assyria invaded and destroyed their city. The people were discouraged after this but Hezekiah reminded them what their God was able to do.
In life, we may forget that our God is here to help us and to fight our battles for us. 

Do not be dismayed by your troubles or how big they may seem. God is here to help his faithful servants and those who call on Him. In the continuation of the chapter, you will see where Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah prayed to God after the king of Assyria sent a message of how He would destroy them and also insult God. After praying, God sent an angel and it killed all of his top officials and army and they were put to shame.

We have to know our God can do any and everything. Don't let anything scare you, nothing life can throw at you can compare to what God can do to deliver you.

The Lord is My Rock and My Fortress

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. - Psalms 18:2

Throughout the Psalms this is a repeated theme all because of one of the greatest realizations: Let the Lord be your all. When you cannot fight, when you are hurt, when you are angry, when you are depressed - whatever may befall you in life, Let the Lord be your fortress and the one who will deliver you out of any and everything. Let Him be your strength when you are weak and always put your trust in Him. He is our shield the horn of our salvation and our stronghold.

Don't worry about things because when you do, you are telling God that you don't think He can take care of it. Put things in God's hands and let Him work it out and rest assured that He will.

God bless you!

New Christians

Congratulations!
You have taken the first step to eternal life.

I am so proud of you and remember that all the angels in heaven are celebrating and rejoicing for you right now. "Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” - Luke 15:10

Let me tell you that this is not an easy road but in essence, it is easy because as you live it and apply it, it gets easier and easier. It is the most rewarding lifestyle there is. Be encouraged!

These are some steps that will hopefully help you stay on the right path and walk the path God has laid out for you.

 

1. Pray every day

2. Study your bible

3. Develop a relationship with God - Get to know who He is

4. Get to know who you are in Christ

5. Join a church that teaches the

word of the Almighty, one true God

6. Have a support team of Christians

7. Be willing and ready to leave the past behind and move forward to your new life in Christ. That may mean friends and other persons who may be stifling your Christian growth.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” - John 3:3

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old." - Isaiah 43:18


Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. - John 11:25

As far as the East is from the West, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. -Psalm 103:12

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask, we are here for each other.

May God bless you and keep you!

Love Your Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor[g] and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,[h] 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren[i] only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors[j] do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48

Oh how easy it is to love those who love you and hate those who hate you. It just seems logical don't it? But Jesus didn't come to preach what was logical or the "in" thing to do. In fact he made reference to what we have been conditioned to think and refuted the thought and gave us another way of living. There is often a struggle between what we have been conditioned to think (those things that we see as being right) and what

Go the second mile...

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’[f] 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away."

What would compel someone to do the exact opposite of what is expected of them? Can you imagine even doing something like what Jesus is asking us to do? It seems outrageous, doesn’t it? Well, it's not outrageous, it’s Christ-like.

Jesus looks at what the past culture was, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Then He says to go beyond our vengeful nature and tap into our loving nature. If we are truly in the realm of love, everything we do would be out of love. Love would be dripping from our very pores. We would not even consider repaying someone who wronged us.

If you ever had a dog and missed and stepped on its tail, their natural instinct is to retaliate, turn around and bite you. I have never seen a dog that has not tried to bite or bark at the person who stepped on their tail, whether it was an accident or intentional, that dog will retaliate. 

So, are we not above dogs? I know that sounds harsh but isn't our intelligence higher than that of animals? If we are the more intelligent beings, why do we tap into an animalistic nature and refuse to follow our spiritual nature?

Our vengeful nature is to retaliate when someone hurts us. “Tit for tat." We keep score of what people do to us and we wait to get them back, some people do not wait, it is automatic, almost instinctual. But when the love of Jesus fills our hearts, when we remember what people have done to us, the thought of getting revenge is fleeting or nonexistent. It does not mean that we are not hurt by their actions or words, it merely signifies that we operate from a higher place of understanding. 

The love of Jesus compels us to go the extra mile. Do not act based on what we have been taught or conditioned to think, constantly feeding the flesh. However, act out of our Christ-like nature which says to turn the other cheek when someone slaps us. The scripture further states, let the person who is suing you for the tunic have the cloak as well, go another mile with the one who is asking you to go one mile with them.

These are not acts of the flesh. These are acts of humans who are Christ-filled, and who understand that living Christ-like is the best way to feed our spirit. Doing what Jesus tells us to do is the best way to feed our spirit (our Christ-like nature) and not walk after the flesh (our carnal way of thinking).

I would like to compare us to the diamond that starts off as coal and is under pressure because a precious diamond. Brothers and sisters, it’s not easy especially if we have been conditioned to think and act a certain way. However, I do not believe that Jesus is asking of us anything that we cannot do. Jesus believes that we can do it. He even goes further in believing that we too can strive for perfection just like our Heavenly Father - Matthew 5:48. Now if Jesus says it, it can be attained. No matter how many times you fall, get back up and keep on trucking. Keep doing what Jesus is calling us to do.

God loves you. Be blessed!