Faith... So what is faith? Faith is standing at the back of a B52 that's circling at 30,000 feet. The rear door opens and the wind and air pressure rushes in like a hurricane. You reach for that parachute pack and His voice says "You won't need that..." And so you stand there... On the edge. Heart racing. Logic says "No" but He says "I've got you". And so you take that first step into freefall. Tumbling like a crumpled piece of paper in the wind. But His voice echoes over the wind "Relax... Let go... Trust me" And so you release your muscles and begin to embrace the decent. Before long you're enjoying what you first feared. In fact... You wish it will never end. But the ground is closing fast. The landscape is magnifying every second you drop through the atmosphere. Then you remember His Words... "Call out to me and I will save you..." Moments before impact you whisper His Name and in a thunderous entry His strong arms catch you. "Got you!" He says. As you gently and effortlessly ascend carried by the Lord of the Storms you ask "Can we go again...?" His reply "Child, You were made for this"
A humble follower of Jesus lifting up His Name
God's asked me to talk about this and I have to say it's not a topic I really enjoy or am very good at. And that's precisely the reason God's asked me to do it. I'm certainly not perfect and never claim to be - as a matter of fact I wouldn't even consider myself a good person. The simple truth is the only thing that's good in me in Jesus. Left alone and to my own devices I have a tendency to corrupt pretty much every thing around me. Jesus is the only reason that there's anything good in my life and I have no problem admitting to that. So... forgiveness hey. Yeah.
The thing is in life stuff is gonna happen. People are going to lie about you, slander you, hurt you and abuse you - it's just a fact. We live in a corrupted world. Thinking you're not going to get hurt is naive. The sad truth is... it's going to happen. So what do you do when someone hurts you? Is finding out dirt on them and trying to destroy their character in public the answer? Is slandering them behind their back with twisted half truths the way to go about it? How about an all out MMA style fist fight? I jest. Obviously we know this sort of thing isn't the answer but so often we start to tread down those paths. The answer is seeking God and doing what He tells us to do.
The English poet Alexander Pope from the 1700's penned it like this... "To err is to be human, but to forgive is divine". What He meant was simply this - Humans fail and hurt each other, but forgiveness is a quality of God himself. We don't of ourselves have the ability to truly forgive in our human nature - it's a choice of ours to align with the paths of God and to let go of an offence. In Greek as the New Testament of the Bible was originally written the word forgive "aphesis" simply means "to pardon, to release, to let go". The example God gave me is an inflated balloon but instead of the end being tied off as it normally is - it's you holding the end closed. But it's you thats the balloon and the pressure is inside of you.
When you choose to "let go" you release yourself of the pressure of the offence and the pain it causes you. Now I will stop here and clarify something - just because you forgive doesn't mean the other party involved will automatically reconcile with you. We all have choices as humans and they have a choice to either accept or reject your forgiveness. Put very simply God wants us to release that person of the crimes and pain they caused you in your heart first and to adopt an attitude of willingness to reconcile should that person choose to. If the offence continues then wisdom would instruct you to do your best to avoid further incidents while making all attempts for peace.
The Bible says it this way in Romans 12:18 "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." Peace is something we should all strive to live in and bring wherever we go. Does that always happen? No. But should it be our goal? Absolutely. So today, if there's something that's hurt you - no matter how bad it is - choose to start down God's path of forgiveness and let it go. God never asks you to pretend the offence never happened but instead He asks you to objectively look at the offence and then take His hands and choose to let it go. Trust Him and that His paths lead to peace and all the poison and pain of what happened will drain away. Because I'm writing this does it mean I have this all sorted, boxed up and am a professional at forgiveness? I wish. I need God's help with this more than ever. But with His help I know I'll do a whole lot better job than trying to do it on my own. I pray this helps you and leads you to a path that brings peace into your life. God loves and values you. Have a great day.
[ Psalm 34:14 - Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.]
Jesus, you are my guide - my light - my peace - my hope and my destination.
Because of you and who you are - I am never in lack. I have you and you have me and when I'm in that place I have all I need.
You lead me Lord into places well watered with plenty for me and enough to share of your goodness with others in need.
Your voice leads me through the fog and emptiness of this world into paths of light for your Kingdom and Glory. In your Majestic Name and for your Kingdom I forge on despite all odds
It's you alone that heals, redeems and completes me. You are the place I bring my broken heart to be mended by the hands of The Master.
Even when I tread the very path of death and it's foul stench surrounds me like a relentless flood - you are there. Even when ten thousand fall beside and all around me - not once does your ever watchful and devoted gaze shift from my frame. Who have I to fear when The Holy One walks this road with me?
You never leave my side and in the darkest shades of night your eternal Word comforts and reinforces your undying love for me.
Because I seek not my own glory but yours and your Kingdom - you lift me up and make of me a spectacle of your immeasurable love, mercy, grace and truth to all those who scorned and betrayed me. You choose to use the foolishness of this world that is me to confound the lofty and proud ones.
My very own brothers and sisters who sank their knives of hate into me while I only served them in love will marvel at the power you hold to redeem the broken. It is you alone that humbles and exalts. You are ever faithful and always pure when you judge. I will not avenge as this world teaches me to. Instead, I rest in your perfect justice Lord.
By the power and authority of your Name, I am sent to speak of your goodness, truth and freedom.
You give me more than my portion and it's your love that flows out from me into all that I come in contact with. I am your willing vessel. Fill me and use me as you see best.
I can never escape the intensity and fervor of your love and mercy no matter how far I run. Your peace surrounds me as a royal cloak and your gifts of goodness from above fill my house. My life is a testament of your faithfulness O God.
And when my time of this mortal plane expires and you at last call me home - I will live and serve in the courts of My King forever and ever.
Thankyou Jesus. It's all because of you. You are the I AM to my I need.
YouTube Video Link > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKiWhqwysLY
(Jeremiah 29:11). If you know of someone else this video may help, please feel free to share it with them. I pray it helps them too. Have an awesome day
****LYRICS****
Mirror's tellin you lies
Don't believe a word it says
Only sees the outside
smallest part of you
Oh, you gotta realise
that you're worth more than all of this
more than shame and regret
priceless in His eyes
Mirror's tell you lies
it's tellin you lies...
Cos' you're worth more
than all this pain
You're worth more
than all the shame
oh You're worth more
Please believe it
You're worth more
Oh just receive it
You're worth more
I wish you could see...
You're worth more
He died to set you free yeah
You're worth more
You're worth more
You're worth more
YouTube video link > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5bKKasXetc
The funny thing about the wilderness is that when God calls you away to it we so often start off kicking and screaming and complaining about the things that have been taken away. The seclusion and the isolation. The soft things of comfort removed. But then after some time and if we choose to let go He leads us and shows us the purpose of the wilderness... Training, refinement, focus, relationship, trust, faith, the exposure of weakness. With all the distractions of life removed and in that unique type of surrender we see ourselves for what we are...
Deficient. A puzzle in need of the lost pieces. It's so often in the wilderness that we truly find God and He does His best work. Work that can't be done in the hectic bustle of life. So whatever your wilderness is... Don't fear it. Because God is there in the wilderness. And when His training is complete you'll come out of the wilderness very different indeed. Trust in Him, He uses the wildernesses in our lives powerfully for His Kingdom if we take His hand and follow His paths.
Hey, God put this on my heart to share with you guys firstly because I genuinely care about each one of you that reads this and your Father in Heaven cares for you so, so much more. This comes from a broken and heavy heart at the state of what is called "The Church" of today. I've been a church goer since I was very young and have seen some good things and also some very, very bad things happen in the church and in done in the Name of God. I'm not here today to sling mud at anyone or to judge - but more to give a warning as a brother who cares for you. We live in dangerous times, far more dangerous than many realise.
Many of the things that Jesus said would happen in the end times are now coming into place. For those whose eyes are not opened it may seem like things are just progressing along as they always were but sadly that's not the case. We live in an age where people who call themselves Christians can justify just about anything from outright adultery and hatred in the Name of God while abusing the concept of God's grace as an excuse to harm others and gain for themselves and their own selfish agendas of fame and riches. I know this probably isn't sounding very positive but stick with me to the end ok? It seems the whole world is looking for another man to follow, someone to lead them like little lost sheep but the truth is we were already given a man to lead us - His Name is JESUS. Jesus is enough.
We don't need another 30 something year old figurehead leader of religion to lead the masses to God - Jesus already was that. We don't need to be part of some thronging mindless crowed mass singing programmed repetitious songs over and over to get closer to God. Riches and fame are not a measure of the presence of and a relationship with God. Jesus said himself "where two or three are gathered... There I am in the middle". Think about that for a minute. Two or three. Why did Jesus say that I wonder... Was it because often those who truly follow God aren't in the big crowds but are instead somewhere quiet, somewhere small, somewhere humble... Just seeking God and wanting to honour Him and not themselves?
What God's led me to say is this... "test all things". Don't just swallow and believe everything you're fed. Just because there's a crowd there don't think that it's trustworthy. Just because you're friends say its all ok - doesn't mean it is. Just because your family always did it - doesn't mean it is either. Test things. Use your brain and pray and ask God for wisdom because not everything you read, see and experience is what it is on the surface. James 1:5 says "If anyone needs wisdom, ask of God and He will generously give it to you". The greatest deceptions in mankind are the ones that are hidden in plain sight among the crowds of followers. You've heard the saying "A crowd draws a crowd..." Keep that in mind. Why are you doing what you're doing? Do you really know? Are you desperately trying to be part of what's going on but you don't really know what's going on? Be careful. Hype is a very powerful manipulating force.
Some simple wisdom that God gave me is this.. "look for the money trail..." The Bible says that "The love of money is the root of all evil". What that means is that where the love of money is, then there will naturally be money flowing from there. And if its the root of all evil that means that there's going to be a whole lot of really bad stuff that you really don't wanna be a part of there - even if you can't see it yet. My brothers and sisters, look at Jesus and see what He was. People said to Him "We'll follow you anywhere Jesus!" and His reply was "Foxes have holes and birds have nests but I don't even have a house or a bed - will you still follow me?" Keep that picture of Jesus in mind when you see religious leaders standing up in front of you collecting your tithes and offerings and building bigger and bigger temples of ambition and greed justifying it all in God's Name.
Keep in mind Jesus didn't even have a house and the "church" they met in was a borrowed room when you look at the exalted leaders whose lives flow with lavish excess. I'm not here to attack anyone or name names - I just implore you to open your eyes and your ears and see what's really going on. What's happening right now in the world is a precursor for what's to come. Save yourself the pain and seek God instead of mans ways. There will come a world leader soon that will gather a crowd like never before and show signs and wonders never seen here on earth. This leader is most certainly not from God even if He claims to be. Be careful, the crowd is often wrong in who they follow. Jesus said to the woman at the well... "You worship God at this mountain that you call sacred, the Jews worship at the temple in Jerusalem.. but there is coming a time when the Father seeks those who worship Him in Spirit and in Truth".
I'm here today to tell you that time is coming. Don't just buy into everything that's put in front of you. Just because someone has one million views on YouTube doesn't mean they are speaking the truth. Just because someone has authored 30 books, doesn't mean you can trust their every word. Test everything. Hey, don't even take everything I say as gospel. I'm certainly not beyond fault and I'm a human that sins and falls just like you. We have to test things against something that is infallible. Something immovable. Something that's perfect and complete. The great news is we've been given exactly that. It's called the Bible. If you don't read your Bible, now's a great time to start. If reading isn't your thing - give an audio Bible a try (http://www.bible.is). Test what's being said against the character of God, test the teaching by comparing it to Jesus teaching in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Test whether what's being said and done goes contrary to the examples in the Bible.
I've seen truly horrible atrocities done in the Name of God while crowds and crowds of people flocked week after week giving thousands of dollars to aid in it's growth. Why do people do this? Because they are lost sheep. Aimless souls looking for someone to lead them. Someone to guide them by the nose by giving them sweet words and the promise of exactly what they seek... money, fame and fortune. The truth is much worse though... They're actually cattle being milked of all their worth and led through the gates of a meat factory. Wake up and see what's going on my brothers and sisters because you're worth so much more than that. You're not just a face in a crowd. You were created unique with a specific skill set to be used for a deigned purpose by your Creator. You are not a number. You are not a database entry. You are known and loved by God and He has amazing plans for you.
Can I encourage you lastly with this simple thought... What if there are no "special" people that God speaks to...? What if each one of us are equally special and all have the ability to speak to God and hear from Him? What if that was His plan all along...? What if He doesn't want you to be ruled and influenced by some exalted leader but instead wants to have a powerful, fulfilling, intimate and trustworthy relationship with you. The Bible says "In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh...". No distinction on age, family heritage, qualifications, experience or anything by which we measure ourselves. God is no respecter of persons and as such neither should we be. God looks on the heart and so should we. Test the fruit that comes from people... not just their words or the fact that there's a crowd there. I write this because I care about you. God loves you and you're worth more than being deceived and hurt.
[ Matthew 7:13- "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. ]
Many of the things that Jesus said would happen in the end times are now coming into place. For those whose eyes are not opened it may seem like things are just progressing along as they always were but sadly that's not the case. We live in an age where people who call themselves Christians can justify just about anything from outright adultery and hatred in the Name of God while abusing the concept of God's grace as an excuse to harm others and gain for themselves and their own selfish agendas of fame and riches. I know this probably isn't sounding very positive but stick with me to the end ok? It seems the whole world is looking for another man to follow, someone to lead them like little lost sheep but the truth is we were already given a man to lead us - His Name is JESUS. Jesus is enough.
We don't need another 30 something year old figurehead leader of religion to lead the masses to God - Jesus already was that. We don't need to be part of some thronging mindless crowed mass singing programmed repetitious songs over and over to get closer to God. Riches and fame are not a measure of the presence of and a relationship with God. Jesus said himself "where two or three are gathered... There I am in the middle". Think about that for a minute. Two or three. Why did Jesus say that I wonder... Was it because often those who truly follow God aren't in the big crowds but are instead somewhere quiet, somewhere small, somewhere humble... Just seeking God and wanting to honour Him and not themselves?
What God's led me to say is this... "test all things". Don't just swallow and believe everything you're fed. Just because there's a crowd there don't think that it's trustworthy. Just because you're friends say its all ok - doesn't mean it is. Just because your family always did it - doesn't mean it is either. Test things. Use your brain and pray and ask God for wisdom because not everything you read, see and experience is what it is on the surface. James 1:5 says "If anyone needs wisdom, ask of God and He will generously give it to you". The greatest deceptions in mankind are the ones that are hidden in plain sight among the crowds of followers. You've heard the saying "A crowd draws a crowd..." Keep that in mind. Why are you doing what you're doing? Do you really know? Are you desperately trying to be part of what's going on but you don't really know what's going on? Be careful. Hype is a very powerful manipulating force.
Some simple wisdom that God gave me is this.. "look for the money trail..." The Bible says that "The love of money is the root of all evil". What that means is that where the love of money is, then there will naturally be money flowing from there. And if its the root of all evil that means that there's going to be a whole lot of really bad stuff that you really don't wanna be a part of there - even if you can't see it yet. My brothers and sisters, look at Jesus and see what He was. People said to Him "We'll follow you anywhere Jesus!" and His reply was "Foxes have holes and birds have nests but I don't even have a house or a bed - will you still follow me?" Keep that picture of Jesus in mind when you see religious leaders standing up in front of you collecting your tithes and offerings and building bigger and bigger temples of ambition and greed justifying it all in God's Name.
Keep in mind Jesus didn't even have a house and the "church" they met in was a borrowed room when you look at the exalted leaders whose lives flow with lavish excess. I'm not here to attack anyone or name names - I just implore you to open your eyes and your ears and see what's really going on. What's happening right now in the world is a precursor for what's to come. Save yourself the pain and seek God instead of mans ways. There will come a world leader soon that will gather a crowd like never before and show signs and wonders never seen here on earth. This leader is most certainly not from God even if He claims to be. Be careful, the crowd is often wrong in who they follow. Jesus said to the woman at the well... "You worship God at this mountain that you call sacred, the Jews worship at the temple in Jerusalem.. but there is coming a time when the Father seeks those who worship Him in Spirit and in Truth".
I'm here today to tell you that time is coming. Don't just buy into everything that's put in front of you. Just because someone has one million views on YouTube doesn't mean they are speaking the truth. Just because someone has authored 30 books, doesn't mean you can trust their every word. Test everything. Hey, don't even take everything I say as gospel. I'm certainly not beyond fault and I'm a human that sins and falls just like you. We have to test things against something that is infallible. Something immovable. Something that's perfect and complete. The great news is we've been given exactly that. It's called the Bible. If you don't read your Bible, now's a great time to start. If reading isn't your thing - give an audio Bible a try (http://www.bible.is). Test what's being said against the character of God, test the teaching by comparing it to Jesus teaching in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Test whether what's being said and done goes contrary to the examples in the Bible.
I've seen truly horrible atrocities done in the Name of God while crowds and crowds of people flocked week after week giving thousands of dollars to aid in it's growth. Why do people do this? Because they are lost sheep. Aimless souls looking for someone to lead them. Someone to guide them by the nose by giving them sweet words and the promise of exactly what they seek... money, fame and fortune. The truth is much worse though... They're actually cattle being milked of all their worth and led through the gates of a meat factory. Wake up and see what's going on my brothers and sisters because you're worth so much more than that. You're not just a face in a crowd. You were created unique with a specific skill set to be used for a deigned purpose by your Creator. You are not a number. You are not a database entry. You are known and loved by God and He has amazing plans for you.
Can I encourage you lastly with this simple thought... What if there are no "special" people that God speaks to...? What if each one of us are equally special and all have the ability to speak to God and hear from Him? What if that was His plan all along...? What if He doesn't want you to be ruled and influenced by some exalted leader but instead wants to have a powerful, fulfilling, intimate and trustworthy relationship with you. The Bible says "In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh...". No distinction on age, family heritage, qualifications, experience or anything by which we measure ourselves. God is no respecter of persons and as such neither should we be. God looks on the heart and so should we. Test the fruit that comes from people... not just their words or the fact that there's a crowd there. I write this because I care about you. God loves you and you're worth more than being deceived and hurt.
[ Matthew 7:13- "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. ]
Thankyou Father for my family. Thankyou for my job. Thankyou for my health. Thankyou for the sunshine. Thankyou for my freedom because of you. Thankyou for the food you provide. Thankyou for skateboarding. Thankyou for loving me. Thankyou that you always listen and care. Thankyou Jesus for dying and rising again to save me. Thankyou for finding me - a poor lost and broken little boy - for waking me up and showing me your path for me. Thankyou for my home in Heaven. Thankyou for all the awesome things you do but even more than that - Thankyou God for just how awesome you really are. Without you I truly can't do anything... But with you I can do all things. Thankyou for the gift called life. You are the Life Explosion in me.
I don't normally answer the taunts of my enemy but today I do... The last time you tried to kill my My King and you and your vile horde paraded and danced around His cross chanting your evil misguided cries of so called victory - the very sky created by Him went black in disgust, the earth itself cried out in pain and writhed at the sheer madness of its origin being unjustly murdered before it. Then... In such fury and power My King decended to the darkness in an indescribable blaze of light and plundered the very bowels of Hell itself, depositing my sins there and snatching back the keys to Death and Hades from you. His love and power then led a train of your prisoners out of the gloomy mist now under His rightful command. You were defeated once - yet you keep coming back for more. You afflict, steal, kill and destroy but I've read of your end. It all happens so suddenly. He speaks in thunderous unmatched authority and you and all your mighty armies of evil cease. The armies of light triumph under the strong arm of the one whose eyes burn like twin suns and on His thigh the Name "King of Kings and Lord of Lords". My King wins. His Name is JESUS!
Hey you, you're so much more than how you feel right now. Don't let your feelings dictate your identity today. It doesn't mean what you feel isn't real and doesn't hurt - but what's more important and far more powerful than your feelings is The Truth. Here's how powerful the Truth is... Even if you don't feel it or believe it....The Truth remains the Truth. It's immovable, immutable and invincible. And the Truth is this - You are loved by God. You are worth far more than you know. Far more than what's happening around you and far more than how you feel. You have such immense untapped potential far more than you could possibly ever dream or imagine. Rise above how you feel and take hold of the Truth with both hands. God loves you.
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