Forgiven

When God speaks to us about our sin it is to convict us, when the devil speaks about our sin it is to condemn us. The word sin means to ‘miss the mark.’ Its origin lies in archery. If you shot an arrow and missed the target, it was called ‘sin!’ By how far you missed was not the issue. An inch or a mile, it’s still sin.

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". Romans 3:23 

We are by nature sinners; we are not what we were created to be. Both God and the devil speak to us about sin – but they speak very differently. God convicts us of sin, whereas Satan condemns us. The devil is called, ‘the accuser of our brothers and sisters’ (Revelation 12:10). Condemnation sits on us like a wet blanket, with no way out. When God speaks to us about our sin, He convicts. Conviction not only makes us aware of our sin, but also points to a way out – through the cross of Christ. He convicts us not to humiliate us, embarrass us or condemn us, but to liberate us and set us free.

Paul is able to confidently write, ‘There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.’ (Romans 8:1). To know that is true is wonderfully liberating.
Has a past sin left you feeling paralyzed? See where that condemnation is coming from, because that voice is not God’s. Thank Him for the forgiveness available in Christ and move forward in peace. 

Shahlohm..

As Planned

Not everything always goes exactly as I have planned, and so I must turn them over to God’s loving hand. I have totally messed up more than a time or two, 

in the things that I have attempted to do.

No matter the thought, the prayer, or planning I apply, the fact that I mess up cannot be denied. But that’s alright I’m only a human being you see, and I have a Heavenly Father watching over me.

A Heavenly Father who knew every mistake I’d ever make, before the very first breath He allowed me to take. He knew and He created me just the same, and offers forgiveness in Jesus’ name.

Not only is He forgiving but He lovingly guides and directs too, once I learned to surrender through and through. Every day He’s changing me from within bit by bit, and then lovingly making me aware of it.

Letting me see the accomplishments He’s made in me, as He prepares me to be all He wants me to be. I can’t take any credit I could never have changed on my own, I can only strive to share the love he’s so kindly sown.

So I reach out to those hurting and feeling despised, hoping to help you open your eyes. Hoping to share what’s being offered from God above, the most absolute and perfect love.

Won’t you call on Him or search in His Holy Word today, asking Him to help you understand all He has to say? Won’t you ask Him to take you by the hand, guiding you to salvation as planned.

Relationship With GOD

When you fall in love with someone, it's a magical, heady feeling. You do your very best to cultivate the relationship, especially after the initial honeymoon period has passed.

But what's very important, and what we tend not to realize,

 is that, above all human romantic relationships, we should nurture our relationship with God. God, our Creator, our Father and our Savior, should be our first love. And it's not very hard to fall in love with Him.

God is amazing. He's the Creator of the whole Universe, down to every last detail. He's also a protector, a fighter, a power unlike any we've ever known. He's a peacemaker, a lover and gentle with His people. He is filled with mercy, grace and forgiveness. We can go on and on about all of the great things about God, but it's clear that it's pretty much impossible not to fall in love with Him.

And just like our own romantic entanglements, we should make sure to work on our relationship with God. Some of the most important factors in keeping a relationship alive include:

(1) Communication - In any relationship, it's important to make sure that you're on the same wavelength by talks and discussion. Prayer is definitely the best way of communication with God on an individual level. You not only use prayer to make your requests known, but to say thank you, ask forgiveness and generally just let God know how you're doing with your life. I like to think of prayer as a dialogue - you and God having a conversation.

(2) Commitment - A relationship is always a choice on the part of both parties. Now, there's no doubt in the world that God chooses to have a relationship with each and every one of His believers. It is only a question of whether or not you choose to have a relationship with Him. It's never easy to make a commitment but as you choose to do so, God will grace you with strength.

(3) Trust & Faith - According to the Oxford English Dictionary, trust means "firm belief in the reliability, truth ability or strength of someone or something". Trusting someone means believing in them and their capabilities. In God's case, it's a little more difficult sometimes because we can't see or know all that He is capable of.

This is where faith really kicks in. Hebrews 11: 1 tells us "...faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see". As we hear in the Gospel, "Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29). God asks for us to put our faith and trust in Him always.

(4) Love - Above everything else, we should always remember to love. For without love, there is no meaning to our relationship with the Lord (or with anyone else for that matter). 1 Corinthians 13 is the perfect set of passages to illustrate this concept. As it says in verse 13, "...but the greatest of these is love."

Falling in love with God is easy; working on a relationship with Him is slightly more difficult. But it is a commitment that is necessary as part of any believer's spiritual journey.

How do you take care of your relationship with God? Are there any other essential qualities that are important in maintaining relationships?

Shalom..

Become the Person You Love

You are powerful when you believe in yourself, when you know that you are capable of anything you put your mind to.  You are beautiful when your strength and determination shines as you follow your own path, when you are not disheveled by the obstacles along the way.  You are unstoppable when you let your mistakes educate you, as your confidence builds from experiences, when you know you can fall down, pick yourself up, and move forward.

Here are 6 ways to become the person you love.

1. Stop judging, and appreciate the beauty within you. – Judging yourself is not the same as being honest with yourself.  When it comes to living as a compassionate, non-judgmental human being, the only challenge greater than learning to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, is learning to walk a lifetime comfortably in your own.  In every smile there is beauty.  In every heart there is love.  In every mind there is wisdom.  In every human being there is a soul, there is life, there is worth, and there is the ability to see all these things in everyone, including one’s self.  
2. Treat yourself the way you want others to treat you. – Accept yourself!  Insecurity is what’s ugly, not you.  Be you, just the way you are, in the beautiful way only you know how.  The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.  You must love who you are or no one else will either.  And when you are truly comfortable in your own skin, not everyone will like you, but you won’t care about it one bit.
3. Care less about who you are to others. – Don’t lose YOU in your search for acceptance by others.  Be aware that you will always appear to be a little less than some people prefer you to be, but that most people are unaware that you are so much more then what they see.  You are good enough just the way you are.  You have nothing to prove to anyone else.  Care less about who you are to others and more about who you are to yourself.
4. Know your worth. – We often accept the love we think we deserve.  It makes no sense to be second in someone’s life, when you know you’re good enough to be first in someone else’s.
5. Don’t rush intimate relationships. – Love is not about sex, going on fancy dates, or showing off.  It’s about being with a person who makes you happy in a way nobody else can.  You don’t need a perfect one, you just need someone who you can trust, who shows you that you’re the only one. If you haven’t found true love yet, don’t settle. There is someone out there who will love you unconditionally, even if it’s not the person you were initially hoping for.
6. Let go of those who are not really there. – There are certain people who are not meant to fit into your life no matter how much you want them to.  And the only ones truly worthy of your love are the ones who stand with you through the hard times and laugh with you after the hard times pass.  Maybe a happy ending doesn’t include anyone else right now.  Maybe it’s just you, on your own, picking up the pieces and starting over, freeing yourself for something better in the future.  Maybe the happy ending is simple letting go.

Shahlohm! 

Only Good Night

Helpful Words

We've all met people who seem to enjoy correcting others and telling them what is wrong with them. Sometimes it's done with an arrogant attitude - the kind that says "I'm better than you, and I know what's wrong with you." Sometimes it's done with an attitude of false humility: "I humbly hope I can help you become a better person."

Most of us, probably don't care much for people

 like this, and (rightly or wrongly ) probably don't listen to their advice. There is a sense that their real motive is pride, and their main goal is to impress us with how wise and perfect they are.

This is the opposite of what the Bible says about the way we should speak to others. Instead of pride, our motive should be love. Instead of criticism, our goal should be to encourage and uplift. Instead of impressing others with ourselves, we want them to be impressed with Christ. We must learn to avoid hurtful and useless words in our relationships, marriages, and lives.

Biblical Reference:
Ephesians 4:29

Shahlohm..

Me and Gabriel

Spiritual Cleansing

Just as the human body requires to be fed, cleaned and rested, so the human spirit requires those things. However not the physical, but the spiritual aspects of the same.

1) Spiritual food - The Word of God

2) Spiritual Cleansing - Renewing of our minds and constant cleansing by the blood of Jesus from the sin that so easily entangles

3) Rest - Casting our worries on Jesus and letting our minds be at peace

Now I'm not saying that the "spiritual cleansing" is what takes us to heaven. The finished work of the cross, that is, once and for all forgiveness of sins is what ultimately seals our salvation. That can be considered as oxygen. As long as God's sacrifice is alive in our hearts, we'll be alive in our spirits. Take that away and feeding, resting and cleaning will not be necessary because the spirit is dead. But once your spirit is alive in Christ, you need to take care of it just as you do your human body. Have you been looking after your spirit well? If you haven't, start today! Don't let your spirit die because of neglect and starvation. Amen?

3

Allowing Myself To Be Sad

As someone who spends her life keeping on the sunny side and working every single day to inspire others to always look at the positive side of every situation, I am finding myself in uncharted territory when I broke up with my boyfriend whom I loved for 6 months. 

I am having to learn to allow myself to be sad. There are some situations you just can't "positive think" your way out of, and it doesn't make you bad, or wrong, or negative, it makes you HUMAN. 

Sometimes you just have to step back from everyday life and allow yourself to feel, and to cry, and to GRIEVE. 

I am learning to give myself the grace to do just that.

So help me, O LORD..