Committed.

Committed

We commit ourselves to our job, our spouses and family but I am working on committing myself to God.   There is only one God, the God who created the heavens and the earth and all that is in it.  To him do I commit my life.  I have had so many ups and downs, sometimes more down than ups. I have struggled trying to raise 2 daughters by myself, sometimes maintaining 2 jobs while going back to school. It was very hard but I lived through it. I have been evicted more times than I care to remember, But in the words of Maya Angelo " still I rise". 

In good times and bad times I have learned to call on God. I never had friends that I could run to and ask for help. I do know however that if someone decided to help me that it was God who sent them. I remember being in my 20's and I only had one child and without a job. I was home with nothing to eat and wondering what will I feed myself and my child for the next day. I felt I had no one to call and was too proud to ask anyone for help. Well" I went to bed that night  with nothing in my cabinets or refrigerator to eat. The very next day I woke up to someone ringing my doorbell. To my surprise it was a friend who I had not seen nor spoke to in 2 weeks. Out of the blue she decided to send her daughter to my house with a basket of food. I was so surprised because I did not tell her my troubles nor did I call her to ask for anything. I could only ask the question " how on earth or what made her do this for me. My only reasoning is that it was God who gave her the inclination to bring me that basket of food. This shows me that almighty God is very real and he truly cares about me. Not only does he care about me but he cares about his children, ( we are his children) This world belongs to God and he loves and cares about all of his creation. What he does not have a love for is wickedness and sin. Job 38:10 States" by the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straightened. 11, also by watering he wearies the thick cloud: he scatters his bright cloud; 12, and it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commands them upon the face of the world in the earth 13, he causes it to come , whether for correction, or for his land , or for mercy. 41, who provides for the raven his food, when his young ones cry unto God. 39, wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? Or fill the appetite of the young lions. Luke 13:34  states " Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which kills the prophets and stones them that are sent to thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings and ye would not". As I am writing this I am understanding the love that God has for us and the love that we should have for others. I know that when I get angry I tend to be angry at everyone and everything.  Being angry at everyone and everything is very unlike  God. God says for us to love one another just like he loves us.John 13:34 says " a new commandment I give you' that you love one another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciple's if you love one another. When we make it our responsibility to hate we  are showing God that we hate his creation. As if to say that we do not care about his commandments. The bible ask the question" how can we say we love God who we have not seen but hate our fellow man who we see each day. At times I find myself having hateful thoughts but thankfully God is a forgiving God and as I commit myself to him he is teaching me to love my neighbor as myself. It is hard especially when someone is displaying hate towards me but when I think of all the moments when Christ has had my back in situations. The times when he has proven over and over that he loves me, ( undeserving as I am, as we all are) who am I to harbor hate when someone like Jesus Christ from the beginning has only showed me love. Yesterday I was talking to a co- worker and I told her about a company that I heard of that puts God first, family second and business third. Her response was" I'm sorry but family comes first for me, I said to her" what do you mean? It is God who gave you your family. I don't think she grasped what I meant.  The point is that whatever we acquire in life or whoever we are " God gave it all to us. Whether we are African,  European, Asian, Spanish, Arabic, Indian, rich or poor God gives it to us all. None of us can change our DNA and I don't know of anyone who wants to.  

Committing myself to God is not easy, I have to be forgiving just like him and God knows it can be a hard task. I must love others just like he loves us. That's another hard task. I am a work in progress. I write this blog to help myself and hopefully help someone else. Not only do I have the bible as an example of Gods love but my experiences in life also serves as examples of his love towards me. So I have no other alternative but to thank him and try my best to honor and uphold his words because it is he who has kept me this long. It is he who has protected me from harm. There is no one else who came to my rescue but God. 

How Valuable Are You!!!

How valuable are you?

If you acquired all the luxuries and money in this world it would not be as valuable as you. Do you understand how valuable you really are? You are more valuable than silver and gold. The enemy understands this fully well. You were thought about long before you were born. You are no accident, nor are you a mistake.  John 10:10 says" the enemy comes only to steal, kill and destroy but I have come so that you may have life and have it more abundantly.

Nowadays it is very easy for someone to pick up a gun and take the life of another or even themselves. In my opinion we have been brainwashed by television. How many programs or movies can we watch without someone getting shot or murdered. It happens so often that it has become the norm. We must be careful what we allow into our spirit. We are moved by what we read and see. It all has a great affect on us. We can sit back and say " well" I have watched those kind of shows and it does not affect me, but if we take a good look around us we will see that it does have an affect on us. Is it possible to hear the evening news without someone getting shot and killed. It seems as though the poor are most affected. If we do not have an outlet, what will we do or where will we go? If we as a society decided to spend most of our time focusing on God and reading his word instead of being more focused on television, Facebook, texting and the Internet. What kind of society would we be? All these things are distractions that the enemy uses to get us away from our real purpose. We were put here on earth to honor our creator but as we can see the enemy has been disrupting this from the beginning.  Why does it seem so hard to believe that we are all brothers and sisters. We are also sons and daughters of the most high God. How can one persons'  life be more important, or valuable than another. Evidently Jesus did not think so because he died on Calvary for you and me and anyone who believes. If someone died for us shouldn't it be enough for us to understand. I know life can let us down, and sometimes it seems as if we are all alone but believing in the positive things in life and not allowing our negative feelings and situations get the best of us is what we need to work on. God did not say it would be easy but having him to call and depend on is much better than going it alone.

Matthew 11:30 states " for my burden is easy and my yoke is light. Jesus has given us many reasons to know that he truly love and care about us. We are not alone in this because someone greater than us took our sins and got on the cross for us. We are precious and very valuable to Jesus Christ, so we cannot let sin, people or the trouble life gives discourage us from believing that we each are truly precious, and valuable in his eyes. If we understand how valuable we are then maybe we will understand how valuable the next person is and then we can allow love to overpower and rule  us instead of hate. 

Heaven or Hell

Heaven or hell

If there is no heaven then there is no God, and if there is no hell then there is no devil.  If there is no God or Devil then why do we have to die? If the earth and everything in it came about from a scientific standpoint then why don't we live forever? Why does plants, organisms, people and animals all die? If we all die then why can't we all live. 

As humans we create things, form structure and make rules. If we just haphazardly came about then why do we have structure, get things organized and have a judicial system with rules, regulations and laws in place. If we just haphazardly came about then every thing we do would be out of order and nothing would make sense. Even the animals have structure. A lot of the things we know we did not acquire this knowledge on our own. Someone higher than us taught us. I believe that that someone is God. I cannot deny this fact no matter how hard I try. As I look around me I see God in everything. I see him in the tallest mountains,  just like I see him in the tallest skyscraper, I see him in the wilderness as well as the forest,  I see him in the tallest tree as well as the tallest house, I see him in every animal, as well as all people, I see him in all plants, as well as the sun, stars, moon and planets. Coincidentally they all have order and a cycle that they follow. I see God in the wind and the rain as well as the tallest vessel sailing the deepest ocean. How can I not see God in all of this and how can I not see him in every human being. No matter how downright wicked and cruel a person may be I still see God. Why? Because we are all created in his image, in the image of God he created us, male and female he created them ( Genesis 1:27). 

So if there is no God then how do we know that to murder someone is wrong. If there is no God then there is no right and no wrong. There is no sin because people would just do what they feel without giving an account to anyone. What kind of world would this be if everyone did what they wanted when they wanted without any acknowledgement to it being right or wrong. No one would have any morals and no conscience to convict or set us free. 

Because there is a great and mighty awesome God we do not get to kill without a cause or commit sin without consequence. Yahweh gave us the commandments and rules to follow centuries ago. We have no excuse and no concrete reason to deny his existence. All evidence proves that their is a higher power, beyond our capabilities. 

Isn't our law books and court system based on the commandments? And if they are not then who told us or taught us right from wrong. We can say our parents but they learned from someone who learned from someone else who also learned from someone. If there is no God and no heaven then there is no spirit and God is a spirit and he is the holy spirit and we all have a spirit as well as a conscience. We all must give an account for our actions, either in a court of law before man or in the judgement before God. If there is no heaven and no God then we and everything in this universe came about of our selves, we were born of our selves we are ruled by each other, there is no higher power, so we are free to do as we see fit. I am certain that there are some people who would like for the majority of people to think this way but I cannot. I know that is was and is still Gods grace that sustains me.  It is God who wakes me up each morning, if I did not believe in God the enemy (that old serpent devil) would have destroyed me long ago. I believe in God, I trust and pray to God who helps me out of difficult situations. 

Since there is a God we have heaven, and since we have heaven we have hell and a devil. Many people say they have seen heaven during near death experiences, others say they have seen hell. I remember being told of a man who was dying and saw flames and hell before he died. Are these figments of ones imagination or does heaven and hell really exist. We are told that God lives in heaven and that the devil Also lived in heaven. Due to sin he was kicked out better yet hurled to the earth. So he is not in hell but lives right here on earth. We don't see him because he is also a spirit but he is that wicked and evil spirit which goes about creating havoc and causing confusion among humans. Heaven once was his home but no longer. Now he gets to go to hell that place prepared for him and the angels who rebelled along with him. Every human who rebells against God also gets to go there. We are told that hell is a place of intense heat, and torment.  There  is no comfort or happiness in hell.  If there is no heaven or hell then when we die, we are just dead, there is no hereafter or afterlife, no soul or spirit, no standing before the judgement, no going to hell no nothing  the end. That within itself sounds worse to me than believing in a God who created all of this and formed man of the dust and is sending his son to come back for us because we are his, he created us and we cannot allow anything or anyone to discourage us from believing in him. Isn't it Galatians 3:1  who says" oh foolish Galatians, who bewitched you into not believing? 

As people we tend to think highly of ourselves, we love who we are regardless of skin color, we tend to love and accept the family we are born into regardless of wealth or poverty. We each love and celebrate the culture and life we have been given. Why not thank the one who gave it to us. Since we were created by someone with great love, skill and wisdom why deny him. If there really is a heaven and a hell why not make the right choice now instead of waiting to find out in the end where there is no turning back, where the worms and maggots do not die, where the fire is not quenched. 

Pick and choose,  in heaven the streets are made of Gold, heavens gate is made of precious stones, and the light of God shines eternally.  In hell it is hot, the worms don't die. Also  if the worms do not die, will we be given a new body, the kind that can withstand worms eating you continuously, hellfire burning continuously.  Worms only eat decayed rotted flesh so how pleasant can hell be. Who can imagine. In heaven we will be given new bodies and new names. So just to be on the safe side, try life, the everlasting life with God in heaven and not the devil in hell.

To give or not to give.

To give or not to give

Now that I take a new route each day, I see the same 3 men 2 blocks away from each other. Each of these men holds up a sign which says " hungry will work for food" .  I find myself wondering do they know each other, and where do they live. I also ask myself do they have families. I also wonder how can we see our loved ones homeless and not be willing to give a helping hand.  Whether we know them personally or not they are our brothers in Christ, because we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. There are times when I have reached into my pocket and gave what ever change I have but I personally know someone who will give $5, $10, or even $20 if she has it.  

Just the other day I met a customer who was bewildered with giving. Not that she did not mind giving but the person who is asking for help is well dressed and always at the same location. He does not appear to be homeless, nor does he look like he has missed any meals and he is a young able bodied man. Jesus tells us that if anyone ask for help that we should not turn our backs on them but we should help.  I understand that jobs are getting harder and harder to find and many businesses are closing. So should we try to define who needs help or should we just listen to Gods word and give to those who ask. 

How do we know if someone is trying to take advantage of a situation. I only ask for help if I need it so trying to decide whether someone actually needs the help or not would mean that I am prejudging their situation.  I know that the Christ within me would and should give without question.

Proverbs 4

Here is a little wisdom from Proverbs 4:

Proverbs 4 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

4 1 Wisdom and her fruits ought to be searched. 14 The way of the wicked must be refused. 20 By the word of God the heart, eyes, and course of life must be guided.

1 Hear, O ye children, the instruction of a [a]father, and give ear to learn understanding.

2 For I do give you a good doctrine: therefore forsake ye not my law.

3 For I was my father’s son, tender and dear in the sight of my mother,

4 When he [b]taught me, and said unto me, Let thine heart hold fast my words: keep my commandments, and thou shalt live.

5 Get wisdom: get understanding: forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth.

6 Forsake her not, and she shall keep thee: love her and she shall preserve thee.

7 [c]Wisdom is the beginning: get wisdom therefore: and above all thy possession get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she shall exalt thee: she shall bring thee to honor, if thou embrace her.

9 She shall give a comely ornament unto thine head, yea, she shall give thee a crown of glory.

10 ¶ Hear, my son: and receive my words, and the years of thy life shall be many.

11 I have [d]taught thee in the way of wisdom, and led thee in the paths of righteousness.

12 When thou goest, thy gait shall not be [e]strait, and when thou runnest, thou shalt not fall.

13 Take hold of instruction, and leave not: keep her, for she is thy life.

14 ¶ Enter not into the way of the wicked, and walk not in the way of evil men.

15 Avoid it, and go not by it: turn from it, and pass by.

16 For they cannot [f]sleep, except they have done evil, and their sleep departeth except they cause some to fall.

17 For they eat the bread of [g]wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

18 But the way of the righteous shineth as the light, that [h]shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

19 The way of the wicked is as the darkness: they know not wherein they shall fall.

20 ¶ My son, hearken unto my words, incline thine ear unto my sayings.

21 Let them not depart from thine eyes, but keep them in the midst of thine heart.

22 For they are life unto those that find them: and health unto all their [i]flesh.

23 Keep thine heart with all diligence: for thereout cometh [j]life.

24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and put wicked lips far from thee.

25 Let thine eyes behold the right, and let thine eyelids direct thy way before thee.

26 [k]Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be ordered aright.

27 Turn not to the right hand, nor to the left, but remove thy foot from evil.

Footnotes:

Proverbs 4:1 He speaketh this in the person of a Preacher and Minister, which is as a father unto the people, read Prov. 2:8.

Proverbs 4:4 Meaning, David his father.

Proverbs 4:7 He showeth that we must first begin at God’s word, if so be we will that other things prosper with us, contrary to the judgment of the world, which make it their last study, or else care not for it at all.

Proverbs 4:11 Solomon declareth what care his father had to bring him up in the true fear of God: for this was David’s protestation.

Proverbs 4:12 Thou shalt walk at liberty without offence.

Proverbs 4:16 Meaning, that to do evil is more proper and natural to the wicked than to sleep, eat or drink.

Proverbs 4:17 Gotten by wicked means and cruel oppression.

Proverbs 4:18 Signifying, that the godly increase daily in knowledge and perfection, till they come to full perfection, which is when they shall be joined to their head in the heavens.

Proverbs 4:22 That is, they shall have health of body: under the which all other blessings promised in the law are contained.

Proverbs 4:23 For as the heart is either pure or corrupt, so is the whole course of man’s life.

Proverbs 4:26 Keep a measure in all thy doings.

To a question posted on Facebook, why does God only have 1 son?

Almighty God has many children, for those who believe, we are his children, he did create us. Yes he had one son who was sacrificed for the sins of the world. No need for 2 or 3 sacrificial lambs. Since God is omnipotent he does what he wants because he is God. We can question his decisions but make sure it is to learn more about him and not to discredit his existence. As sure as there is evil and wickedness in this world then know for certain that there is a God also. Some people have never picked up a bible and read it, but reading the word is one way of truly finding out who he really is. Satan has children and his seed are very evil and wicked.  Try God, test God, learn is God real or just a figment of poor peoples imagination( I was told in college poor people need something to believe in) yet God said we will always have the poor among us. Not because he is unable to do anything about it but mankind is selfish and concerned about themselves. Overalll GOD DOES WHAT HE WANTS BECAUSE HE IS GOD

Jeremiah 18:1-8

The word which came to Jeremiah  from the lord saying, arise, and go down to the potters house,  and there shall I show thee my words. Then I went down to the potters house, and behold,  he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay, was broken in the hand of the potter,  so he returned and made it another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, oh house of israel, cannot I do to you as this potter saith the Lord?  Behold, as the clay is in the potters hand,  so are you in my hand,  oh, house of Israel.

I suppose as people we get confused and ask ? Why does God allow bad things to happen, God is not the ruler of this world but satan is, since he was thrown out of heaven. Jesus did say " I saw satan fall like lightening to the earth. We need to realize that God is the maker and ruler of us all but he does not put a knife to our throat or a gun to our head to make us change. As surely as there  is light there is darkness, we have the son of God and we have the man of perdition, we have wealth and poverty, we have life and death, we have the young and we have the old, we have good and we have evil. I could go on but I guess what I am saying is" as surely as we have God we have Satan. I do not know how else to get a person to believe in God if they have never taken the time to know him. I cannot read the bible and then decide that I will only believe some parts and not all, or I will only believe the New Testament and not the old. Since I read the bible then I must believe all of it or none of it. It is the same as serving 2 masters, we cannot serve two masters because that means having one foot in the fire  or walking a tightrope. Life is too short to take chances with our eternity. Good things happen to good people as well as the bad ( the bible does say, none of us are good, no not one) and in proverbs it states that chance happens to all. Believing in the word may not seem so easy to do but as I look around this beautiful world I know that this did not just happen by chance. God loves us so much that his word says that 1 day is as a thousand years to him, meaning he is slow to anger. So many people are dying in the streets due to hunger or murders or accidents, none of this is his doing. It is however the work of the enemy, but we want to blame him instead of honoring and believing in him. We sit gripe and complain about things yet we seem to honor the devil in so many ways, we lie, steal, kill, cheat, gamble, debauchery, fornicate. We do all the things God tells us not do do and then question his existence. We want his blessings but cant handle his wrath or curses it's  as if we are saying"  I should be able to do what I want to do without any consequence. God is the creator of us all, the one who loves us and cares for us the most. Imagine if sin never entered the world how peaceful and serene things would be. Some non believers claim that we were not allowed to think or have knowledge but, didn't Adam have the knowledge to name all the animals including Eve. Sin opened the gateway to everything that is wrong and almighty God is the answer to everything that is right.   God has one son named Jesus and a host of heavenly angels and what he chooses  to do " who am I to question. 

One simple test!!!

To every non believer out there. The bible states that Adam named all the animals. If there is no God and the bible is not true there is one simple test I would like for you to perform, please get yourself  pen and paper and write down all the names of the animals that you know of. Now on another piece of paper I would like for you to rename all the animals without using any of the names that they have already been given. And if that is not enough then look around you and decide what is missing from this earth since there is no God and everything happened by chance or evolution!!! Can the brain create something non existent if it has not been told about it? Looks like only the one who creates all things is capable (God).