This post is only referencing II Timothy 3:15-16. When I read the Bible for my daily personal message I ask God to show me what I need to see and give me the understanding to interpret His message for me. I opened my Bible and my eyes landed on the page at verse 15.
15 And
that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able
to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
I did go back and read the rest of the chapter but those 2 verses are what my heart pondered on.
Too many times when Christians stand up and say what you or the world is doing is sin. We get words like pious, judgmental, and hypocritical thrown back at us. We are told we should not say this to people because if we are true Christians we would love them, invite them in, and not tell them everything they are doing wrong.
What most people refuse to accept is that we are saying these things out of love and we want them to come to our churches and fellowship with us. You can tell someone they are wrong out of a loving concerning heart but they have to be willing to accept the lesson. These scriptures tell us that we should know the Scripture as God's Word and we should use it as a tool to guide others to Him. As verse says, the Word is not only for instruction and a guideline for our lives, but it should also be CORRECTLY applied as reproof and correction.
I think that correct application is where so many people with the best intentions get tripped up. We also have to accept that we are not perfect and we have to accept when God uses the Word to correct us. I know most of my readings like this I find a message that I can share with others, but that does not happen until I absorb what God is saying to me personally. We have to be able to to accept responsibility for our own sin and shortcomings. Yes I said sin. Every person that has ever lived, with the exception of Christ our Savior, has and will sin. It is called making mistakes and being human. If we are not afraid of admitting our mistakes to God and using our lives as an example others will be more receptive to what we have to say and it will not appear as hypocritical. As Christians, we must continue to learn the scripture and use it correctly as a tool of reproof. We cannot let words such as pious or judgmental deter us from using the Word in the ways God intended. We are not the judge and jury and should never act that way, but we are the instructors and educators to others.
How many times was Christ questioned, challenged, and treated as judgmental? If they would do that to the Son of God why should we expect any less for spreading the message. He died for us and for the message. There are missionaries all over the world who are face death or imprisonment for the message they deliver, so I do not think some harsh words that we face here should deter us in the least.
When I blog I set here and type, none of my words are preplanned so I am reading this for the first time as I write. I see this message applying to me and telling me I need to become more proactive for God. We all need to become more proactive, He was proactive for us.
Just remember condemn the sin, love the sinner.
Living for God and following His word is a life long commitment that requires study, prayer, and devotion. It is not a a change that is completed in an instant. As Christians we should strive each day to become just A Little Closer To God.
Showing posts with label Personal Reflection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Personal Reflection. Show all posts
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Friday, February 8, 2013
Testimony Time
Today I thought I would take some time to tell you a little more about myself and why I do this.
My name is Leslie and I reside in Illinois. I have have an amazing wife and six wonderful children.
God has been part of my life ever since I was small. I have gone to church most of my life. I have been to Baptist, Pentecostal, Non-Denominational, and currently attend a Community of Christ Church. What I have learned is that the name on the outside of the church does not matter in the least, what matters is if you feel God on the inside of the church.
God has always been there for me throughout my entire life. I was never expected to see my first birthday. I was born a little more than a month premature and severely jaundiced. (This was many years ago medicine was not what it is today.) The doctor that delivered me said my death was not a matter of if, but when and they should try to make me as comfortable as possible until it happened. My parents asked if sending me to a bigger hospital with better equipment would help. The doctor basically said it would be a waste of time because I was not going to survive. My family took the chance and moved the bigger hospital, by a family car not an ambulance. When I arrived the doctor's had the same diagnosis, that my survival was without question a no. All the while I have family members and a number of churches praying for my survival. God, being the only One who can truly say whether someone lives or dies intervened and I survived.
I have not always gone to church or been as dedicated as I knew I needed to be. At one point, specifically in my past I was a very dedicated Christian and then I let life come between God and I. Life was a combination of work, stress, and a marriage that eventually ended in divorce. That marriage gave me my three oldest kids who I love with my all heart and worry about daily. I did not turn my back to God, I was just not heeding to His will. (Which is just as bad) I knew better and God frequently put it on my heart to get back in to church and renew my bond with Him. For one reason or another I never really did it. I did occasionally visit a new church, but for one reason or another I was never satisfied so I did not go back. My current wife, the amazing one, mentioned visiting a small church that she went to as a child, so we did. The very first service there I felt the spirit of God more than I had in years and the church members were all caring and friendly. It was a great feeling knowing God's presence was there with some very genuine, spiritually minded people. We have been going to the little church ever since and I have re-dedicated my life to God and been re-baptized.
Once I had given control back over to God I found the fire that I once had for His word was still in my heart and my wife noticed how charismatic I became when talking about it. She kept teasing me that I should start preaching, which I laughed off because I am a terrible public speaker. But I did want to do more for God and I began to pray about what He would have me to do and I felt that could be the direction He has in my life. I am still praying about that, but I did feel like I need to be spreading the word of God and so this blog came upon my heart. This blog is my way of spreading His word and hopefully it will helping some who are lost to find Christ. I have also discovered that I can tell you multiple points out of each blog written that God is directing at me as a way of improving my walk with him.
I want to thank God for my wife and children. My wife is my best friend and the love of my life. I would be lost without her. Even though she will likely read this blog and shred my grammar. :)
I would also like to say thank you to you, for taking the time to visit and read this blog. I have had hits from the US, Africa, Jamaica, Poland, and several other places around the world. I would most likely still do this if no one was reading, but with your help I feel like I am spreading the word of God to the world and this is something we should try to find ways of doing.
I would like to know about the people who are kind of enough to read my blog and how God has impacted your life. If you are comfortable doing I would ask for readers to comment on this post, on the blog page, with where you are from, a little about yourself, and what God has done for you. You can provide as much or as little information as you like.If you are do not have a personal relationship with God but would like to and I can help please feel free to contact either through a comment or a private message or email.
And in that day you will say, Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name and by means of His name [in solemn entreaty]; declare and make known His deeds among the peoples of the earth, proclaim that His name is exalted! Isaiah 12: 4
I will give to the Lord the thanks due to His rightness and justice, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High. Psalm 7: 17
My name is Leslie and I reside in Illinois. I have have an amazing wife and six wonderful children.
God has been part of my life ever since I was small. I have gone to church most of my life. I have been to Baptist, Pentecostal, Non-Denominational, and currently attend a Community of Christ Church. What I have learned is that the name on the outside of the church does not matter in the least, what matters is if you feel God on the inside of the church.
God has always been there for me throughout my entire life. I was never expected to see my first birthday. I was born a little more than a month premature and severely jaundiced. (This was many years ago medicine was not what it is today.) The doctor that delivered me said my death was not a matter of if, but when and they should try to make me as comfortable as possible until it happened. My parents asked if sending me to a bigger hospital with better equipment would help. The doctor basically said it would be a waste of time because I was not going to survive. My family took the chance and moved the bigger hospital, by a family car not an ambulance. When I arrived the doctor's had the same diagnosis, that my survival was without question a no. All the while I have family members and a number of churches praying for my survival. God, being the only One who can truly say whether someone lives or dies intervened and I survived.
I have not always gone to church or been as dedicated as I knew I needed to be. At one point, specifically in my past I was a very dedicated Christian and then I let life come between God and I. Life was a combination of work, stress, and a marriage that eventually ended in divorce. That marriage gave me my three oldest kids who I love with my all heart and worry about daily. I did not turn my back to God, I was just not heeding to His will. (Which is just as bad) I knew better and God frequently put it on my heart to get back in to church and renew my bond with Him. For one reason or another I never really did it. I did occasionally visit a new church, but for one reason or another I was never satisfied so I did not go back. My current wife, the amazing one, mentioned visiting a small church that she went to as a child, so we did. The very first service there I felt the spirit of God more than I had in years and the church members were all caring and friendly. It was a great feeling knowing God's presence was there with some very genuine, spiritually minded people. We have been going to the little church ever since and I have re-dedicated my life to God and been re-baptized.
Once I had given control back over to God I found the fire that I once had for His word was still in my heart and my wife noticed how charismatic I became when talking about it. She kept teasing me that I should start preaching, which I laughed off because I am a terrible public speaker. But I did want to do more for God and I began to pray about what He would have me to do and I felt that could be the direction He has in my life. I am still praying about that, but I did feel like I need to be spreading the word of God and so this blog came upon my heart. This blog is my way of spreading His word and hopefully it will helping some who are lost to find Christ. I have also discovered that I can tell you multiple points out of each blog written that God is directing at me as a way of improving my walk with him.
I want to thank God for my wife and children. My wife is my best friend and the love of my life. I would be lost without her. Even though she will likely read this blog and shred my grammar. :)
I would also like to say thank you to you, for taking the time to visit and read this blog. I have had hits from the US, Africa, Jamaica, Poland, and several other places around the world. I would most likely still do this if no one was reading, but with your help I feel like I am spreading the word of God to the world and this is something we should try to find ways of doing.
I would like to know about the people who are kind of enough to read my blog and how God has impacted your life. If you are comfortable doing I would ask for readers to comment on this post, on the blog page, with where you are from, a little about yourself, and what God has done for you. You can provide as much or as little information as you like.If you are do not have a personal relationship with God but would like to and I can help please feel free to contact either through a comment or a private message or email.
And in that day you will say, Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name and by means of His name [in solemn entreaty]; declare and make known His deeds among the peoples of the earth, proclaim that His name is exalted! Isaiah 12: 4
I will give to the Lord the thanks due to His rightness and justice, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High. Psalm 7: 17
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Blessings disguised as a curse
People are always questioning why God allows people to become sick or diseased. It is not our place to question, it is our place to put our faith in God and realize that He does have a good reason for anything that we encounter in our lives. This is much easier said than done and the instinctual response is that this statement has to be coming from someone who has never been in that position. This blog is going to be a testimony of how I personally brought in 2013.
It began on Friday Dec 28,2012 with the wife and I discussing health issues, my family history of heart disease and diabetes and how I need to get into shape to make sure that stuff does not befall me. I was praying and talking to God later that evening and went to Him saying that I have terrible will power and I know that is His desire we keep our bodies in shape and fit, but I could not do it alone. If it is His will that I get into better physical shape He needs to reveal that to me and help me with the motivational issues.
The next day we went sledding and while we were there I began to have some chest pains, after we got home I continued to deal with the pain, which morphed into a pressure and strange fluttery feeling. At this point, I felt it was time to go to the Emergency room.
I was eventually transferred to Champaign, Illinois, where I spent the weekend being poked and prodded. Turns out my Troponin, an enzyme used to identify heart attacks, was high and if I had not went to the doctor a heart attack would have most likely occurred. I was also diagnosed with Diabetes and a triglyceride level of 704 (should be 150 or less). .
I know this was not meant as a punishment from God, but it is a way to get me to in gear to begin getting physically fit and healthy. Everything I am facing is easily controlled with just a little effort on my part. Which is exactly what it would have taken before to avoid it all. So although I cannot say diabetes is a blessing it is most definitely not a punishment either.
Diabetes and heart disease are both very prevalent on both sides of my family and until now I have done very little to try and prevent myself from going down that road. Through God this will be the opportunity for me to serve Him to the fullest and ensure many more years with my beautiful wife and family.
Some scriptures on the outlook I want to keep during this time:
1 Thesselonians 5:6-19
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the spirit.
Psalm 41:3
The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.
Phillipians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Isiah 58:11
The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.
It began on Friday Dec 28,2012 with the wife and I discussing health issues, my family history of heart disease and diabetes and how I need to get into shape to make sure that stuff does not befall me. I was praying and talking to God later that evening and went to Him saying that I have terrible will power and I know that is His desire we keep our bodies in shape and fit, but I could not do it alone. If it is His will that I get into better physical shape He needs to reveal that to me and help me with the motivational issues.
The next day we went sledding and while we were there I began to have some chest pains, after we got home I continued to deal with the pain, which morphed into a pressure and strange fluttery feeling. At this point, I felt it was time to go to the Emergency room.
I was eventually transferred to Champaign, Illinois, where I spent the weekend being poked and prodded. Turns out my Troponin, an enzyme used to identify heart attacks, was high and if I had not went to the doctor a heart attack would have most likely occurred. I was also diagnosed with Diabetes and a triglyceride level of 704 (should be 150 or less). .
I know this was not meant as a punishment from God, but it is a way to get me to in gear to begin getting physically fit and healthy. Everything I am facing is easily controlled with just a little effort on my part. Which is exactly what it would have taken before to avoid it all. So although I cannot say diabetes is a blessing it is most definitely not a punishment either.
Diabetes and heart disease are both very prevalent on both sides of my family and until now I have done very little to try and prevent myself from going down that road. Through God this will be the opportunity for me to serve Him to the fullest and ensure many more years with my beautiful wife and family.
Some scriptures on the outlook I want to keep during this time:
1 Thesselonians 5:6-19
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the spirit.
Psalm 41:3
The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.
Phillipians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Isiah 58:11
The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.
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