Philippians 2:13
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
I want to focus on the first part of this statement, that "God is working in you" These past four years have been interesting to say the least. Before I graduated high school I lost my grandmother, a few periods after that I had tried to kill myself and waking up and hoping it would just be over. From here I decided to move and keep trying to figure out what Jesus wanted me to do, I joined a bible study and as my faith changed and grew, my lust grew as well. As I kept pursuing Jesus, my mom got sick my sister got into a abusive relationship. After that dad was not home and I was by myself, and Id like to say I stuck and threw everything at Jesus, but no I just grew deeper into lust. It was Aug first when my mother officially passed and my sister came back home the December before that.
As transferring to different seasons of life and things coming to a close and new things opening up it is time to reflect. I don't know if its PTSD after taking loss after loss and my family becoming unglued. If its me just being sad, and trying to grieve, and to be honest I think its the latter of the two. But here is the thing, I don't know how and really I haven't had a chance to I am not exactly happy, but then I am not exactly sad either. I just don't know and if I am upset, lets at least put it on paper. As far as what my heart is saying, is give up your lust and receive more of Gods grace and truly repent, and seek forgiveness, and when you say grieving its not something I have had the opportunity to do.
But exchanging lust for Christ love, that the real test of being vulnerable. That's not something I really know how to do, but I think this is the first step in taking a chance, and learning to live in Christ.
Monday, April 30, 2018
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Coming clean
Hey Internet
I wanted to talk to you guys, about something I have been struggling with, as well the power of sharing with people the battles and things you are dealing with. (Ecclesiastes :4:12) I want to say that if you looked at my previous post called "internal conflict," I mention lust and being tempted by the enemy. In this post I want to bring out details about my battle with it, and that I am still dealing with lustful issues, such as masturbation as well as pornography. Before you turn away, you may ask why am I doing this, and honestly because Jesus told me to is the simple answer, but I did not do this for you, and frankly I don't care if you stop following me because of it.
I felt on my heart, that I need to get to a place where the only person I need and want to depend on is Jesus. Not the addiction, not the masturbation not lustful pride, anxiety, not this or that, not my boy friend, or girlfriend, my wife or my husband, but to be dependent on Christ and who he is, and better yet to stand firm on who he says that I am. (Ephesians 2:10, Psalms 46:1)
We haven't gotten to the why yet, why am I doing this, why am I saying come clean about things in your life, the struggle that you have been through, the struggle and things you are currently dealing with? Simple answer again, is there is power in your testimony, there is power in your walk. " Death and life are in the power of your tounge, they that love it shall eat the fruit" ( Proverbs 18:21) You as an individual, as you tell people about the things in your life, about the things you are dealing with, about the pride and lust about the problems in your life, it takes power away from the enemy. WHY?
Because, what is the enemies job, to isolate you, to make you feel that you are worthless, to make you feel like you can not fight back, to make you feel that you have to depend on yourself, to make you depressed, to make you think no one love you, to make you think you are damaged, to make you feel you are a slave to the things of your past. (John 10:10) Why? because he is scared of you, he knows you have the holy sprit living inside of you that is more powerful than the things you are facing, you are more powerful then the enemy. It doesn't seem that way, but Satan's only weapon he has is deceit, is the lies he is telling you. So you made it this far, I want to ask you something, Satan's only real power is the power over us we allow him to have. So the fear we feel to step out and be bold, to step out and tell someone your story, to tell someone your past. To share your personal relationship with God. That is the enemy trying to stop you from doing the very thing God called you to do. " heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. " ( Matthew 10:8 )
I did not write this for you guys, I wrote it to break the chains of my own heart, and to step out in faith to do the things that scare me. My prayer is this, that we can step out of our fear and into the faith that can not be broken, that can not be unafraid. ( 2 Timothy 1:7) But to an increased desire with you, and with who you called us and made us to be, because of Christ we are made free, and with him in us, we are called to be conquerors.
(Romans 8: 31-39)
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
I wanted to talk to you guys, about something I have been struggling with, as well the power of sharing with people the battles and things you are dealing with. (Ecclesiastes :4:12) I want to say that if you looked at my previous post called "internal conflict," I mention lust and being tempted by the enemy. In this post I want to bring out details about my battle with it, and that I am still dealing with lustful issues, such as masturbation as well as pornography. Before you turn away, you may ask why am I doing this, and honestly because Jesus told me to is the simple answer, but I did not do this for you, and frankly I don't care if you stop following me because of it.
I felt on my heart, that I need to get to a place where the only person I need and want to depend on is Jesus. Not the addiction, not the masturbation not lustful pride, anxiety, not this or that, not my boy friend, or girlfriend, my wife or my husband, but to be dependent on Christ and who he is, and better yet to stand firm on who he says that I am. (Ephesians 2:10, Psalms 46:1)
We haven't gotten to the why yet, why am I doing this, why am I saying come clean about things in your life, the struggle that you have been through, the struggle and things you are currently dealing with? Simple answer again, is there is power in your testimony, there is power in your walk. " Death and life are in the power of your tounge, they that love it shall eat the fruit" ( Proverbs 18:21) You as an individual, as you tell people about the things in your life, about the things you are dealing with, about the pride and lust about the problems in your life, it takes power away from the enemy. WHY?
Because, what is the enemies job, to isolate you, to make you feel that you are worthless, to make you feel like you can not fight back, to make you feel that you have to depend on yourself, to make you depressed, to make you think no one love you, to make you think you are damaged, to make you feel you are a slave to the things of your past. (John 10:10) Why? because he is scared of you, he knows you have the holy sprit living inside of you that is more powerful than the things you are facing, you are more powerful then the enemy. It doesn't seem that way, but Satan's only weapon he has is deceit, is the lies he is telling you. So you made it this far, I want to ask you something, Satan's only real power is the power over us we allow him to have. So the fear we feel to step out and be bold, to step out and tell someone your story, to tell someone your past. To share your personal relationship with God. That is the enemy trying to stop you from doing the very thing God called you to do. " heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. " ( Matthew 10:8 )
I did not write this for you guys, I wrote it to break the chains of my own heart, and to step out in faith to do the things that scare me. My prayer is this, that we can step out of our fear and into the faith that can not be broken, that can not be unafraid. ( 2 Timothy 1:7) But to an increased desire with you, and with who you called us and made us to be, because of Christ we are made free, and with him in us, we are called to be conquerors.
(Romans 8: 31-39)
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Internal conflict
Hey internet,
Well I'm not going to try and tell you guys about a particular topic. I want to actually get deep and tell you guys something that's going on in my life. To start, my mother is possibly on her death bed. My father, as loving as he is suffers from chronic depression, my sister is developmentally delayed, and has both ADD, and ADHD. regardless of what I deal with family wise, I wanted to talk to you about how I felt and why, and what the enemy was doing, regardless. I am doing what I think Jesus has put on my heart.
To start I have been lustful, and my girlfriend as well as myself new it was an issue and felt the best course of action was to not be in a relationship until we worked through these issues. It was the beginning when we broke up, and even why we were together I knew it was something Jesus was working on. I said okay to the break up. Time and time again I would lust and fall, and I kept asking Jesus to take it. He said he will but I was hanging on to it. It said one thing, your mind may want to get rid of something, and know that what you are doing is wrong, its another thing to do it and say it with your heart. I knew that lust of the flesh was keeping my physical self fine, but my heart was being ripped apart, I kept finding myself distancing my relationship from God.
So this lasted for weeks, and I new my relationship between myself and him needed to be repaired. So I went to church and the preacher said lets burry it, get baptized. I was like okay, ( I will do a baptism thing later) So I did, and to make a long story short I lust was broken off my life. Now I told you that to tell you this. Rest in the truth of what he did in your life. Let me explain.
I would sit at home an I would start getting this whisper from Satan, yeah go ahead, lust Robbie It will feel good, you can disobey God you are already forgiven what's one more time going to hurt. You can do it. I then heard this presence and I know it was Jesus and he was talking to Satan. He said why are you trying to tempt my son, you know he and I are one, he is covered in my blood he is righteous, he doesn't need to lust to feel satisfied he knows that I love him, that I died for him and that regardless of the situation he is mine and he is uniquely and wonderfully made that I have a plan and a purpose over his life, and his weakness, this battle is all apart of my plan and that my strength is made perfect in his weakness. So be gone Satan you have no authority over him anymore.
I wanted to tell you all that tonight, that the enemy or that thing that is in control over your life, it doesn't have to be, and if you want to break free of that thing, and claim victory in Jesus and except him as your lord and savior, just say this prayer.
Dear heavenly father,
I confess with my mouth that you sent your son Jesus to die for me. I pray that you forgive me of my sins ( you can list them) and I desire to be in a relationship with you, and that I can have eternal life with you forever in heaven. I pray this in Jesus name
Amen.
Well I'm not going to try and tell you guys about a particular topic. I want to actually get deep and tell you guys something that's going on in my life. To start, my mother is possibly on her death bed. My father, as loving as he is suffers from chronic depression, my sister is developmentally delayed, and has both ADD, and ADHD. regardless of what I deal with family wise, I wanted to talk to you about how I felt and why, and what the enemy was doing, regardless. I am doing what I think Jesus has put on my heart.
To start I have been lustful, and my girlfriend as well as myself new it was an issue and felt the best course of action was to not be in a relationship until we worked through these issues. It was the beginning when we broke up, and even why we were together I knew it was something Jesus was working on. I said okay to the break up. Time and time again I would lust and fall, and I kept asking Jesus to take it. He said he will but I was hanging on to it. It said one thing, your mind may want to get rid of something, and know that what you are doing is wrong, its another thing to do it and say it with your heart. I knew that lust of the flesh was keeping my physical self fine, but my heart was being ripped apart, I kept finding myself distancing my relationship from God.
So this lasted for weeks, and I new my relationship between myself and him needed to be repaired. So I went to church and the preacher said lets burry it, get baptized. I was like okay, ( I will do a baptism thing later) So I did, and to make a long story short I lust was broken off my life. Now I told you that to tell you this. Rest in the truth of what he did in your life. Let me explain.
I would sit at home an I would start getting this whisper from Satan, yeah go ahead, lust Robbie It will feel good, you can disobey God you are already forgiven what's one more time going to hurt. You can do it. I then heard this presence and I know it was Jesus and he was talking to Satan. He said why are you trying to tempt my son, you know he and I are one, he is covered in my blood he is righteous, he doesn't need to lust to feel satisfied he knows that I love him, that I died for him and that regardless of the situation he is mine and he is uniquely and wonderfully made that I have a plan and a purpose over his life, and his weakness, this battle is all apart of my plan and that my strength is made perfect in his weakness. So be gone Satan you have no authority over him anymore.
I wanted to tell you all that tonight, that the enemy or that thing that is in control over your life, it doesn't have to be, and if you want to break free of that thing, and claim victory in Jesus and except him as your lord and savior, just say this prayer.
Dear heavenly father,
I confess with my mouth that you sent your son Jesus to die for me. I pray that you forgive me of my sins ( you can list them) and I desire to be in a relationship with you, and that I can have eternal life with you forever in heaven. I pray this in Jesus name
Amen.
Friday, June 23, 2017
Emergency
Hey people who follow this blog, or read as they just happen to be going through I felt it on my heart to talk about an issue that was and is very near and dear to me. Also I wanted to say thank-you because if you know me I am not a very loud person and this helps me share my heart, I do apologize, I need to do more of these.
I did cut at one point in my life, almost three years ago, right at the end of high school, I knew I needed help and lied to my counselor saying I did not self harm. About two years later I relapsed and did it one more time. It was my brother and my girlfriend who basically said you do it again I will stab you. I took that to heart, this experience was almost two years ago, so I thank you. Now, don't think that I am going to talk about my experience and really just be a downer.
There was a verse that Jesus showed me, and that I have known to just come to love, its Ephesians 2:10. 10For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. This means that we are designed uniquely and intimately by God, to do what he prepared for us long ago. Which in turn means that you are loved, and you have a purpose.
So with that being said and depression drug usage suicide rates overdoses, things like that on the rise its imperative that those who follow Jesus share the love of Christ within them to those who are experiencing these issues themselves. I feel this on my heart depression that issue is the effect on some type of trauma that that individual is still hanging on to and it has allowed that issue to infect who you are, what you do, because that individual doesn't feel loved or hasn't dealt with that trauma.
The reason I am telling you this is tonight, a friend of mine recently told me I am going to die tonight and regardless of whether she yelled screamed kicked bit whatever I stayed up and texted her until they promised me that they weren't going to do that and went to sleep. Friends love people now more than ever because sometimes you just don't know what someone is experiencing. Or how much a simple hi may mean to someone.
I did cut at one point in my life, almost three years ago, right at the end of high school, I knew I needed help and lied to my counselor saying I did not self harm. About two years later I relapsed and did it one more time. It was my brother and my girlfriend who basically said you do it again I will stab you. I took that to heart, this experience was almost two years ago, so I thank you. Now, don't think that I am going to talk about my experience and really just be a downer.
There was a verse that Jesus showed me, and that I have known to just come to love, its Ephesians 2:10. 10For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. This means that we are designed uniquely and intimately by God, to do what he prepared for us long ago. Which in turn means that you are loved, and you have a purpose.
So with that being said and depression drug usage suicide rates overdoses, things like that on the rise its imperative that those who follow Jesus share the love of Christ within them to those who are experiencing these issues themselves. I feel this on my heart depression that issue is the effect on some type of trauma that that individual is still hanging on to and it has allowed that issue to infect who you are, what you do, because that individual doesn't feel loved or hasn't dealt with that trauma.
The reason I am telling you this is tonight, a friend of mine recently told me I am going to die tonight and regardless of whether she yelled screamed kicked bit whatever I stayed up and texted her until they promised me that they weren't going to do that and went to sleep. Friends love people now more than ever because sometimes you just don't know what someone is experiencing. Or how much a simple hi may mean to someone.
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Be good
The words "be good," I say on a variety of occasions but when I say it what does it really mean. The words "be good" started when I asked my bus driver why she said "Good morning and have a good evening" when we got on and off the bus everyday coming to and from school. She said the reason she says it, it could be the only encouraging words a child hears throughout a day. I thought that was really cool and I wanted to come up with something that would leave a lasting impression, so thus the words "be good."
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Proverbs 18:21.
What this means is we have the power with our words and with our actions to speak life into someone's situation, to understand what an individual is going through and being able to love them unconditionally, and show Jesus through you. Sometimes I feel like we put ourselves out there and hope that people will be gentle, and sometimes after our hearts get hurt enough we don't put ourselves out there, we do not become as vulnerable or that open, because we are afraid of getting hurt.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7
If we are afraid to move, because we are scared of the uncertainty then we as followers do not go anywhere in the journey. When you put your heart out for someone, out of love, but more importantly out of Jesus's love for them it is scary for you as the individual, but I feel like the reason its scary is because the enemy is seeing that, and he is scared because you are showing love, to that individual, and he is losing control.
I want to end with this. The words "be good" mean to keep going, keep fighting, your in the race, no your situation is not easy if it was everyone would feel that they were in control and that would leave you relying on yourself and not on Jesus in your situation. Be good is not putting someone down, it's recognizing an individuals struggle, and encouraging them to keep going, to love others the way Christ has loved them. It's an encouragement to keep following Jesus wholeheartedly, and just be a follower, because Jesus loves you, and he is perfect. People can hurt you, I want you to know this:
For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10.
You are his handiwork, his masterpiece, a God who creates you and makes no mistakes, loves you and wants you to achieve the plans that he has, the work that he has already made for you and that he wants you to do, the question is this. Are you going to take up your cross, and all of the things you deal with, and put your heart out for people to show them love, because God loved you first, or say no and sit, and stay where you are comfortable, and where you feel like you are in a good position where you feel you know everything you need to know about God, and are just fine being where you are? Well the choice is yours, be good everyone.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Proverbs 18:21.
What this means is we have the power with our words and with our actions to speak life into someone's situation, to understand what an individual is going through and being able to love them unconditionally, and show Jesus through you. Sometimes I feel like we put ourselves out there and hope that people will be gentle, and sometimes after our hearts get hurt enough we don't put ourselves out there, we do not become as vulnerable or that open, because we are afraid of getting hurt.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7
If we are afraid to move, because we are scared of the uncertainty then we as followers do not go anywhere in the journey. When you put your heart out for someone, out of love, but more importantly out of Jesus's love for them it is scary for you as the individual, but I feel like the reason its scary is because the enemy is seeing that, and he is scared because you are showing love, to that individual, and he is losing control.
I want to end with this. The words "be good" mean to keep going, keep fighting, your in the race, no your situation is not easy if it was everyone would feel that they were in control and that would leave you relying on yourself and not on Jesus in your situation. Be good is not putting someone down, it's recognizing an individuals struggle, and encouraging them to keep going, to love others the way Christ has loved them. It's an encouragement to keep following Jesus wholeheartedly, and just be a follower, because Jesus loves you, and he is perfect. People can hurt you, I want you to know this:
For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10.
You are his handiwork, his masterpiece, a God who creates you and makes no mistakes, loves you and wants you to achieve the plans that he has, the work that he has already made for you and that he wants you to do, the question is this. Are you going to take up your cross, and all of the things you deal with, and put your heart out for people to show them love, because God loved you first, or say no and sit, and stay where you are comfortable, and where you feel like you are in a good position where you feel you know everything you need to know about God, and are just fine being where you are? Well the choice is yours, be good everyone.
Friday, June 3, 2016
One more step.
Psalms 2:3
“Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Peter saw Jesus walking on water, he saw him moving and Jesus said don't be afraid. Peter asks Jesus to tell him to come. He does.
Sometimes I feel like Jesus is calling for us to walk on the water, to follow him to go where there is nothing keeping us from him. In order to follow him efficiently, and effectively you have to be willing to get out of the boat when he says come. You have to be willing to look through the distractions, and give him the things that are keeping you from him. In Psalms 2:3 lets break these chains, because he designed you to follow him, he desires a relationship, he desires to be in all parts of your life.
This post could also be called getting out of the boat, what this means in order to get to where Jesus wants you to go you have to be willing to step into the unknown. To do things that maybe seem insane, but have a purpose to Gods plan. For example Paul was in prison when he wrote the letter to the churches he helped build, but without God making and touching Paul's heart and saying write, we wouldn't have gotten Ephesians 6: 10-18 (armor of God). We would not have gotten the encouragement to stand firm in faith, and to keep building and expanding and telling people about God. Sometimes its not the circumstances God puts you in that is the issue, sometimes its are lack of faith within the circumstance that is the issue. Look at verses 30-31
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Sometimes Jesus says take a step by faith, and the things Jesus calls you to do seem impossible. He is there to help you, and when you feel like the stress and things are beginning to get to you, and you feel yourself falling, he reaches down and picks you up. The step of faith, you can then grow out of, and its a start. In Luke 17:6 it talks about having faith as small as a mustard seed then with that small amount of faith able to do the impossible with God.
All of this starts with you being able to take the first step, but once you take the first step, will you take another? This means the first step, you see what is at stake and you look at everything else all of the distractions, are your courageous enough to take the next, after you have seen the storm, and have witnessed Jesus not leaving you. Sometimes I feel like we show up give our lives to Jesus, and then go off ignoring the very thing that saved us. That we have faith enough to go and get to heaven, but once we know we're getting to heaven we stop making progress because the storms and the stretching of your faith is to hard. As said in the beginning of this post, "what is the thing you are holding on to and your kneeling to that instead of letting Jesus take it, your being beaten by it." because maybe your afraid to give up the thing that's keeping you from him, maybe your happy knowing that this thing has control on your life. Maybe your afraid to let go?
“Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”
I want to stat with asking this simple question what is holding you back, what is keeping you from experiencing Jesus to the fullest of your ability? I want to ask what are you hanging on to that you are scared to get rid of? What is holding you back? Me, its letting my sister experience a relationship, and being free to do what she wants, even though her decisions got, and get her hurt. Jesus is saying let her go, and it is something I am dealing with, another would be lust. What is the thing you are holding on to and your kneeling to that instead of letting Jesus take it, your being beaten by it.
Matthew 14:22-33
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Peter saw Jesus walking on water, he saw him moving and Jesus said don't be afraid. Peter asks Jesus to tell him to come. He does.
Sometimes I feel like Jesus is calling for us to walk on the water, to follow him to go where there is nothing keeping us from him. In order to follow him efficiently, and effectively you have to be willing to get out of the boat when he says come. You have to be willing to look through the distractions, and give him the things that are keeping you from him. In Psalms 2:3 lets break these chains, because he designed you to follow him, he desires a relationship, he desires to be in all parts of your life.
This post could also be called getting out of the boat, what this means in order to get to where Jesus wants you to go you have to be willing to step into the unknown. To do things that maybe seem insane, but have a purpose to Gods plan. For example Paul was in prison when he wrote the letter to the churches he helped build, but without God making and touching Paul's heart and saying write, we wouldn't have gotten Ephesians 6: 10-18 (armor of God). We would not have gotten the encouragement to stand firm in faith, and to keep building and expanding and telling people about God. Sometimes its not the circumstances God puts you in that is the issue, sometimes its are lack of faith within the circumstance that is the issue. Look at verses 30-31
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Sometimes Jesus says take a step by faith, and the things Jesus calls you to do seem impossible. He is there to help you, and when you feel like the stress and things are beginning to get to you, and you feel yourself falling, he reaches down and picks you up. The step of faith, you can then grow out of, and its a start. In Luke 17:6 it talks about having faith as small as a mustard seed then with that small amount of faith able to do the impossible with God.
All of this starts with you being able to take the first step, but once you take the first step, will you take another? This means the first step, you see what is at stake and you look at everything else all of the distractions, are your courageous enough to take the next, after you have seen the storm, and have witnessed Jesus not leaving you. Sometimes I feel like we show up give our lives to Jesus, and then go off ignoring the very thing that saved us. That we have faith enough to go and get to heaven, but once we know we're getting to heaven we stop making progress because the storms and the stretching of your faith is to hard. As said in the beginning of this post, "what is the thing you are holding on to and your kneeling to that instead of letting Jesus take it, your being beaten by it." because maybe your afraid to give up the thing that's keeping you from him, maybe your happy knowing that this thing has control on your life. Maybe your afraid to let go?
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Lust vs love
For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 1John 2:16
Lust of the flesh: What your body does naturally meaning when your hungry or thirsty these are things your body does naturally. Which can contribute to why it seems so hard when you try and fast, your going against what your body does naturally.
Lust of the Eyes: Things looking better than what they are. Speaking to guys, when your walking down the street and you see a cute girl and you, smile and start thinking, my bros are going to be so jealous when they find out that's who I am talking to. Ladies your not exempt from this, walking down the street and a guy who is "thick." The point is your liking what you see and not thinking of the implications of you being in contact with this person, or what it will do to your heart.
Pride of life: Something that may make you feel better, that builds you, or you think builds you. What this means is something that could make us feel that we are higher than God. One of the things I had to work with Jesus on was anger, I had this idea in my head that because I worked out and lifted, I felt like I could not be touched I was on a completely different level, having this higher than God persona.
An example of the three types of lust takes place in Genesis 3:6-7
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Lust of the flesh- "Woman Saw that the Fruit of the tree was good for Food" The Woman (Eve) was in the Garden, and could eat anything she wanted, but she was already in the garden and God said she could eat anything, EXCEPT the fruit from this specific tree.
God is putting this on my heart, because its one of the things I personally deal with as well as a majority of guys and girls and this is the battle with lust. Sexual attraction to someone either of the same sex, or the opposite. Guys and girls alike we put hope, and trust into someone and having sex with them to feel complete, and then when we break up with them we feel like were being ripped in half. Why, because when we have sex it is two people becoming one, and its not sex with a person it is sex with a soul. You become part of them, They become part of you and when you break up with them and then they go and sleep with someone they not only take part of their previous partner with them, but then they are splitting themselves with another partner as well. That individual can be so broken up and they keep putting themselves out there hoping to find something they end up finding nothing until they find something that will constantly fulfill you, and that is Jesus.
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 1John 2:15
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”
Pride of life- Matthew 4: 8-10
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.
Jesus was tempted by the enemy, by Satan, just after he spent 40 days fasting in the desert. Which is interesting, because when you fast your not eating, your trying to ignore bodily function and rely on God alone, and trying to grow closer in your relationship with him. Which means as we grow and become more intimate and closer to God we will be able to withstand the temptation of the enemy. This shows us to things 1. that Jesus spent 40 days growing closer to God through fasting. I don't think Jesus was as his weakest, but at his strongest. 2. This shows us that Jesus having dealt with the temptation of the enemy shows us we can as well. I feel like Jesus has given us steps to battle with lust.
1. Staying rooted in Jesus
John 15:1-8
I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
The closer you are to Jesus, the better able he will be able to make you fruitful, and when he prunes you, cuts the bad, and cuts the temptation out of your life, it allows you to grow more in Christ, and embrace him, similar to when your in a relationship you try to spend your time with that individual to learn and know more about them to learn about him.
2. Bringing it to light
Ephesians 5: 12-13
It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.
Bringing things to light and telling people about the problems, and the issues you are dealing with give the enemy less things he can use to tempt you. Which allows you to take the steps to overcome the issue. Bringing things to light allow you to look at the issue and see the temptations and issues clearly for what they are.
3.Asking for help
Hebrews 10: 24-25
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Sometimes what were dealing with can not be dealt with by ourselves and we need someone, an outside perspective a community to really sit and pray with us. To help not only come up and increase the steps we make with God but to walk along with us and to help us look at where we can grow in the journey with Jesus and to also keep us walking with him.
4. Asking why you are hanging on to this.
Idols in your life. things that you bow before, things that are keeping you from being, or coming into your relationship with God, this could be anything from Work, to your spouse or partner, to money. Sometimes we get caught up in the gifts God gives us, we forget that God gave them to us. For example God can bless us with a new job, and the money pays well, but you lean on yourself saying I got to where I am, instead of saying God gave me this, and allows me to do this. We could also realize that their is this idol (this thing keeping you from God) and we are still are doing the day to day following God, and say you give him control of say the things you watch but you don't relinquish that addiction to pornography, or alcohol to him.
This is where you need to ask yourself why do I still fall to this? if you do not know, ask God whatever it is he is big enough to handle it.
1John 2:15
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
4.1 Giving it to Jesus
Letting Jesus into your life, and letting Jesus have it.
Whenever you realize that this thing is interrupting your life and hurting you more than it is helping you, and it becomes painful and you can no longer carry it, and you think you give it to God yet your still falling to it, the problem lies with you not giving it to him, instead your thinking he isn't accepting it,
Difference between you saying it, and meaning it in your heart. Here what I mean, you know where you are at on your walk with Jesus, where your at in the moment and the struggle that you are dealing with. You can tell people you that you are doing the right things but you know in your heart where you are. You can ask him to take the things in your life away, but he doesn't look at the struggle he looks at where he can stretch you because of the things you are going through.
5. Then letting Jesus into that part of your life.
Lust of the flesh: What your body does naturally meaning when your hungry or thirsty these are things your body does naturally. Which can contribute to why it seems so hard when you try and fast, your going against what your body does naturally.
Lust of the Eyes: Things looking better than what they are. Speaking to guys, when your walking down the street and you see a cute girl and you, smile and start thinking, my bros are going to be so jealous when they find out that's who I am talking to. Ladies your not exempt from this, walking down the street and a guy who is "thick." The point is your liking what you see and not thinking of the implications of you being in contact with this person, or what it will do to your heart.
Pride of life: Something that may make you feel better, that builds you, or you think builds you. What this means is something that could make us feel that we are higher than God. One of the things I had to work with Jesus on was anger, I had this idea in my head that because I worked out and lifted, I felt like I could not be touched I was on a completely different level, having this higher than God persona.
An example of the three types of lust takes place in Genesis 3:6-7
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Lust of the flesh- "Woman Saw that the Fruit of the tree was good for Food" The Woman (Eve) was in the Garden, and could eat anything she wanted, but she was already in the garden and God said she could eat anything, EXCEPT the fruit from this specific tree.
Lust of the eyes- "Pleasing to the eye" What looks good, she was in the garden a place that God said they could eat anything. Because something is pleasing, or looks good we act upon it. We do this more than we realize when we have money and look for stuff, such as; clothes, shoes, drugs, sex and much more. Looking to find comfort but we leave feeling empty, trying to find peace but we keep trying to find the replacement and to feel comfort for the things of the world.
The pride of life- Gaining wisdom, they both gained wisdom however they did not take into account the consequences of them taking and eating the fruit. Their disobedience brought sin into the world, and separated us from God. Which means that a sacrifice, the spilling of blood was the only thing being able to cover us from sins... (more on this in a later blog post)
The pride of life- Gaining wisdom, they both gained wisdom however they did not take into account the consequences of them taking and eating the fruit. Their disobedience brought sin into the world, and separated us from God. Which means that a sacrifice, the spilling of blood was the only thing being able to cover us from sins... (more on this in a later blog post)
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 1John 2:15
Jesus being tempted, Jesus fighting temptation Matthew 4 when Jesus was being tempted by Satan.
Lust of the flesh- Matthew 4:3-4
The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of
God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It
is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes
from the mouth of God.
Lust of the eyes- Matthew 4:5-7
Then the devil took him to the holy
city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If
you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”
Pride of life- Matthew 4: 8-10
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.
Jesus was tempted by the enemy, by Satan, just after he spent 40 days fasting in the desert. Which is interesting, because when you fast your not eating, your trying to ignore bodily function and rely on God alone, and trying to grow closer in your relationship with him. Which means as we grow and become more intimate and closer to God we will be able to withstand the temptation of the enemy. This shows us to things 1. that Jesus spent 40 days growing closer to God through fasting. I don't think Jesus was as his weakest, but at his strongest. 2. This shows us that Jesus having dealt with the temptation of the enemy shows us we can as well. I feel like Jesus has given us steps to battle with lust.
1. Staying rooted in Jesus
John 15:1-8
I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
The closer you are to Jesus, the better able he will be able to make you fruitful, and when he prunes you, cuts the bad, and cuts the temptation out of your life, it allows you to grow more in Christ, and embrace him, similar to when your in a relationship you try to spend your time with that individual to learn and know more about them to learn about him.
2. Bringing it to light
Ephesians 5: 12-13
It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.
Bringing things to light and telling people about the problems, and the issues you are dealing with give the enemy less things he can use to tempt you. Which allows you to take the steps to overcome the issue. Bringing things to light allow you to look at the issue and see the temptations and issues clearly for what they are.
3.Asking for help
Hebrews 10: 24-25
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Sometimes what were dealing with can not be dealt with by ourselves and we need someone, an outside perspective a community to really sit and pray with us. To help not only come up and increase the steps we make with God but to walk along with us and to help us look at where we can grow in the journey with Jesus and to also keep us walking with him.
4. Asking why you are hanging on to this.
Idols in your life. things that you bow before, things that are keeping you from being, or coming into your relationship with God, this could be anything from Work, to your spouse or partner, to money. Sometimes we get caught up in the gifts God gives us, we forget that God gave them to us. For example God can bless us with a new job, and the money pays well, but you lean on yourself saying I got to where I am, instead of saying God gave me this, and allows me to do this. We could also realize that their is this idol (this thing keeping you from God) and we are still are doing the day to day following God, and say you give him control of say the things you watch but you don't relinquish that addiction to pornography, or alcohol to him.
This is where you need to ask yourself why do I still fall to this? if you do not know, ask God whatever it is he is big enough to handle it.
1John 2:15
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
4.1 Giving it to Jesus
Letting Jesus into your life, and letting Jesus have it.
Whenever you realize that this thing is interrupting your life and hurting you more than it is helping you, and it becomes painful and you can no longer carry it, and you think you give it to God yet your still falling to it, the problem lies with you not giving it to him, instead your thinking he isn't accepting it,
Difference between you saying it, and meaning it in your heart. Here what I mean, you know where you are at on your walk with Jesus, where your at in the moment and the struggle that you are dealing with. You can tell people you that you are doing the right things but you know in your heart where you are. You can ask him to take the things in your life away, but he doesn't look at the struggle he looks at where he can stretch you because of the things you are going through.
5. Then letting Jesus into that part of your life.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
Jesus is said to live in your heart, sometimes our heart is preoccupied with the things we think we can control, but it has control over you. When you make the decision to stop doing whatever it is, we can then ask Jesus to come into that part of our life. The reason we have to ask, he is not going to come in and take over, we have to allow him to take over and to truly submit to what he has for us.
Jesus is said to live in your heart, sometimes our heart is preoccupied with the things we think we can control, but it has control over you. When you make the decision to stop doing whatever it is, we can then ask Jesus to come into that part of our life. The reason we have to ask, he is not going to come in and take over, we have to allow him to take over and to truly submit to what he has for us.
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