Material or Spiritual

Life is a precious thing that can be taken in a blink of an eye. A lot of times though we take life for granted. We try to make the most of our lives doing what ever we want to do. We can strive to make all the money we want, so we can buy that brand new sports car or that $150,000 house. Those things are material things though we tends to focus on the material things instead of focusing on things that truly matter.

We are so material minded, in fact that we spend all, or most, of our time using material things (phones, computers, vehicles, money, and the list goes on). What happened to the time where families were dependent upon each other and so focused on God that material things were the farthest things from our mind. What happened to bring spiritually minded instead of material minded?

My life was drastically changed here recently and I been thinking about how fragile life actually is. I was pulling out of the work parking lot when the lug nuts for my tire snapped in half and my tire ended up on the other side of the road. I was nearly hit by a passing semi. I could have lost my life but instead, had a wake up call and realized life is fragile and precious and that it can easily be taken from you before you know what's happening. It was then I realized material things don't matter as much as my relationship with God and family. Cherish what you have. God is the most important "thing" you can have" and family is the second. Instead of being material minded, let's become more spiritually minded and see that the most important thing is right in front of us.

Discovering True Value

Before you can discover your true value, you have to know what value is. Once you know what value is, then, and only then, can you discover your true value. You will also discover that your hardships are just a part of making you into the priceless gem God made you to be.

What is the meaning of true value? The definition of true value is, the amount that a buyer is willing to pay for an item; or in this case, an individual. We had a buyer who paid the price we couldn't pay in a thousand lifetimes. He paid the price for sin. You may ask "What IS the price of sin?" Well, the Bible clearly states that "the price for sin is death" (Romans 6:23). But, the Bible also tells us in John 3:16 that there was a God who loved us so much that He manifest himself in flesh as Jesus Christ to pay the price for our sins but it wasn't just for certain people. It was for the entire world. God, manifest in Christ, forever paid the price of death when He was willing to take the sins of man to the cross and die in our place.

The Bible talks about your true value in Matthew chapter 10 "are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father. But the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Verses: 29-31). If God knows the very number of hairs that are on your head, do you think you have value in His eyes? And more important, if He values you far more than the sparrows enough to die in your place, are you not valued? The world's value on you is a grain if sand compared to God's value on you. Who's matters most? You are a priceless gem and not one has the kind of love to value you the way that God values you. He knew you before you were born. (Jeremiah 1:5) The truth is, is the devil wants you to believe you have no value but God values you above anyone in this world can. You have value, potential, purpose and meaning. Most of it you will never understand and most of it you have yet to even discover.

Now you are probably asking, "how can a God who supposedly loves and values me that much allow me to be in the situation I'm in (you fill in the blank)? Truth is, the situation you are in, is just part if the process to making you in to the priceless gem. Think about it this way.. When a diamond is made, it starts off as nothing but then goes through pressure after pressure to becoming something beautiful. Just like the diamond, you go through the same process. Without Christ, we are nothing. He sends us through the pressures of life to make us into something beautiful. A diamond of priceless value. In order to be able to get through those pressures, you have to depend on Christ. In Christ, you understand your true value and how much you are worth. The pressures of life aren't because you are not lo ed or valued but, on the contrary, it's because you're lo ed and valued so highly that you go through those pressures of life. You may see only the negative side but God sees your future and the positive outcome it will have. Just trust him and depend on Him. He will see you through. Remember a diamond starts off as dust but becomes beautiful after the pressure and fire. You are a valued, priceless diamond!!

Words

Anger is one emotion that is the most dangerous emotion known to man. Anger has many powers. But what does anger bring? Does anger have any success with anything?

Anger brings many feelings and therefore has many powers. Anger brings feelings of resentment, hatred, loneliness, sadness, and so mad negative feelings. Anger has the power to destroy and once destroyed, you can't put it back together any time soon. It takes a very long time to build trust and friendship back.

Anger succeeds in destroying relationships, friendships, and families. Anger succeeds in bringing one to hatred for other people and even towards God in certain circumstances. Anger succeeds in bring pleasure to the devil. Anger causes one to speak before thinking about the permanent damage it can bring to one's heart. The Bible is clear about anger. We are to be slow to anger and quick to listen. We are not to let the sun to go down on our anger.

Be careful about what you say. Words can be used to destroy or to build. Words can stab one in the heart. Think before you speak or you may lose someone you love or do something you will deeply regret later and for the rest of your life.

As A Child

What does an adult worry about? Being able to provide for his/her family, losing their job, having enough money, when they will die, how they will die ,who they will marry, and many more things. But that's the key word... things. Things r temporary. God talked about worry. What exactly does the bible say about worry, and how can we live our lives in peace?

The bible tells us that not one of us can lengthen or shorten our days. Not one of us can change the future. The bible says to b anxious for nothing and to trust that God has everything under control. There is no reason why we need to worry about what we can't control. We aren't God. But how do we live our lives in peace?

The bible also talks about how we can live our lives. He refers to children in this matter. He stated that unless we become like a little child we cannot see the kingdom. A child worries about nothing but instead, lives his/her life one day at a time with no fear for their future. Unless we become as a child nd have the faith as a child, we will not b able to live our lives in peace but only in worry.

Today, I challenge you to become as a child. Have the faith of a child. Do not worry about tomorrow but have faith and trust that God has your life in control. He knows the beginning from the end.

Life of Job

In some ways my life is like Job. Here is a little background on Job:

        Job was a righteous man who was tested in a way no one was tested. Job was a wealthy man. He had a wife, seven sons, three daughters, seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses (Job 1:2-3).

Satan presented himself before the Lord. The Lord asked him, "Satan, where do you come from?" Satan responded, "From going to and fro in the earth." "Have u considered my servant Job," The Lord questioned, "for there is no one like him on the earth?" Satan answered, "Is it for nothing that Job is a god-fearing man? Have you not n put a wall around him and his house and all he has on every side, blessing the work of his hands, and increasing the cattle on his hand? Put your hand against him and all he has, and he will curse you to your face."

God replied, "I give all he has to you. Do what you want but do not lay a finger on him." So Satan took all Job had. He took his children, sheep, camels, oxen, asses, and his house was burned to the ground. But through the trial, even though he didn't understand why it happened and even though he was hurting, he praised God.

Satan didn't like that, so he approached God again. He asked God to take his health and in that day Job would surely curse Him. God said, "Very well. Just do not take his life." So Satan took Job's health and made him extremely sick. His wife and friends tried to convince him to curse God and die.

Job began to wander why God would allow all of this to happen to him. He began to question God. But God answered, "Who are you to question me? Get your strength together like a man of war, I will question you and you will answer me. Where were you when I put the earth in motion? By whom were its measures fixed? On what were its pillars based, or who put down its angle-stone, when the morning stars made songs together, and all the sons of the gods gave cries of joy? Where we're you when I made the sea?...."

Job repented, "Truly, I am of no value; what answer may I give you? I will put my hand on my mouth. I have said once, and even twice, what was in my mind, but I won't do it again.

God answered, "Get your strength together, I will question you and you will answer me." After realizing Job was truly repentant and praised Him even through the toughest times, God eventually healed Job. Several years later, God blessed Job and doubled his riches.

In a way, my life has been like Job. When I was younger, I had many friends. My life was happy, peaceful, no stress or anxiety. As I grew into my teen years, however, things began to change.  I began to find who my friends really were. I "lost" everything I had. My happiness and peace came to a screeching hault. I lost those I thought were my true friends. Stress and anxiety became a major part in my life. My trust in people became slim to none.  I distanced myself from everyone (including God). My life was in pieces.

For several years, I lost my focus on what truly mattered. I began doing things that I knew was wrong. But I really didn't care. At the age of 18, I finally realized I needed to get my life back together. I was watching a video clip on YouTube called" God's chisel" by Rhett and Link. It was God talking to one of his children about all the bad things in their life. The person on that video clip God was talking to, was me. I immediately fell to my knees in the back bedroom of my house and wept and asked God to forgive me and help me get my life back to where it needed to be.

My life finally began to change. I became happy again. Peace entered my life once more. However, my trust in people was still in ruins but at least I could smile again. My life was finally coming back together. 

A little over a year ago, a new family started coming to church. I started becoming close to that family and a year ago at the end of March, I began to talk to a member of that family more and we eventually became best friends. Finally, someone I could trust and talk to about anything. As time went on, we continued building our friendship; but, unfortunately, problems started. Things were said and we were hurt. A year later, things haven't gotten any better. In fact, it is much worse. Everyone is now telling me to let go of my best friend completely and give up on them and our friendship. I decided to try, but something deep down inside kept telling me not to give up. My friend needs me. This is a critical point in their life and mine. We need each other. However,  now we aren't even allowed to talk to each other. But I will not give up!

Through this, I have lost focus again, I started going back to my old ways. But one Sunday night's service (March 1, 2015) really spoke to me. Bro. Tom spoke about Veils of Secrecy. Bro. Andy spoke about the catch phrase "Does it really matter".

The veils we choose to hide behind really do matter. We may say "It's just one time" or "It's something small, it won't matter." Don't tell yourself that lie. It will only take you down a road you don't want to go down. I told myself that lie more than once and after hearing those messages, I learned the hard way. Before telling yourself, "It's only one time" or "It's something small, its no big deal, it don't matter", think about the choice you are making. Don't go down the path I went down. I am still trying to get back to where I need to be. The path I was on made me stress so much, I was having panic attacks and caused a lot of anxiety in my life. It got so bad it put me in the hospital  twice. Don't go down the road I went on.

Through all of this, though, I have learned something. I learned to be like Job. Even though we face tests and trials and the storms of life seem overwhelming,  we need to look up and through it all, praise God. There is always a reason for a test or storm in our life. God is either trying to close a door He don't want you to go through or He is opening a door to something greater or it could even be both. God could be closing a door you are fighting to go through so He can open a much better door.

Another thing I am learning is to trust in God. He knows what we face and why we go through things. Sometimes it is a test. But remember, God is always there even when you don't feel He is. Remember, "A teacher is always quiet during a test." He will never give us more than we can handle. Sometimes He pushes us to our limit and if He thinks we are strong enough He will bump our limit. But He will only give you what you can handle... never more!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not onto your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.                                                         Proverbs 3:5-6

Also read:

James chapter 1 And the book of Job

A Testimony of Keeping our Focus on God

I have recently been going through some tough times. I see myself as Peter when he walked on the water to try to reach Jesus. At first his focus was on God but when he looked at what was around him, he feared and lost his trust that God was there - his focus was off. At first I had my focus completely on God, but when i started worrying about trials and situations that arose in my life, I lost my focus on God and feared I wasn't going to make it through, and I lost my trust that God was there and that He knew what He was doing.

Several years ago, I had a calling to take up and lead a gloves/drama ministry for a long time. I shoved that calling off to the side to do what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it. Didn't think anymore about my calling, however, after shoving that calling to the side, I had a heavy heart. I wasn't able to get out of my "comfort zone" without fear. A few weeks ago, God laid the calling on my heart again. I decided I was not going to refuse the calling this time. Once I decided to take up the calling, I felt so much better. The heaviness of my heart was lifted and I was able to get out of my "comfort zone" and worship God with everything I had. It felt so good to get out of my "comfort zone" at church and worship with boldness, not fear.

I recently heard an Adventure in Odyssey that talked about "count it all joy". In it, it talked about how God had a purpose for everything we went through, and that He cares about His children. It is to teach us to trust that He knows what He is doing and that He is going to take care of me. I realized I may go through trials and storms but God has a purpose for it all. All He wants me to do it trust that He is there and He knows what He is doing. I just have to let him lead me where he wants me to go. I just have to stay in His will, not mine.

Sometimes, we go through trials to test our faith, sometimes it is to draw us closer to God, sometimes, it is to teach us to trust in God. Don't look at the waves around you because you may sink in worry, fear, and hardship. Stay away from that road!! It is a road you don't want to walk down. Keep your focus on God!! The results are much better. Trust that He knows what He is doing. He created you for a purpose.

Here is food for though: What is too unimportant to pray about and too big for God to handle?

He created the universe, He can take care of the storms of life. NOTHING is too big for God to handle.

My bretheren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:2-8

Trust

Sometimes trials are there for a reason. We may not understand why we have to go through them, but there is always a reason we do. We may feel alone and no one cares or loves us, but, in truth, we are NEVER alone and there is always someone who cares and loves us. That someone is God. God is always there when we feel alone, He is always there when we feel like no one cares or loves us, He is there when we feel like we can't go on anymore. I recently found this out when I started going through many trials and storms, all at once, in my life. I felt like I was all alone. I have been fervently praying about these trials that God would give me strength to get through them. Sometimes God wants us to go through the storm instead of taking us out of the storm. Perhaps He is trying to make you stronger and trust in Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 states: "Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart; and lean not on your OWN understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." God knows whats best. Just trust that He does. 

An old, well known poem came to mind that is helping me through this (and of course with the help of God):

One night I had a dream - I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene that flashed, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to me, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before us, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life. This really bothered  me, and I questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, You would walk with me all the way; but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why in times when I needed you most, you would leave me." The  Lord replied, "My precious, precious child. I love you, and I would never, never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you. 

It reminded me that no matter what, God loves me and when I feel like I am alone and I only see "one set of footprints in the sand", God will carry me through whatever it is I am going through.

Friend, you may be thinking you can't go on anymore that you don't have a friend in the world that cares or loves you; but God will always be there to love you and He will carry you through your storm. God will NEVER send you through something you can't handle.