Clinging to the One Who Loves You The Most

Welcome to the new year, 2012. I have lived to enter double digits in the 2000s. That itself is a blessing. Many of you may have planned New Years, I did.I was surprised how long my list for this year was. It felt good to think of things that I would like to have done differently than I had last year. Recently the church I attended sent out a monthly newsletter. In it, the speaking pastor talked about pursuing righteousness. On my resolutions I wrote that I wanted to grow more in Christ but I never thought about pursuing it.  For me, lately I've been afraid to pursue anything.

That includes pursuing Christ. For me being the one that always pursued the guys only to get hurt. That idea sends me running in the opposite direction. It scares me to pursue Christ wholeheartedly, I mean the most intimate details about me. To give him that level of control of my heart is a frightening thing. I woke up this morning to James 1:22-25:
 

²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. ²⁴ For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. ²⁵ But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 

This has been a great struggle for me to do this because I have not allowed God to get close to my heart. It's foolish to even think this but yeah, I can't get myself to do this. It only leaves me frustrated and stuck in this rut that I really want to get out of. It's so surprising and weird at the same time to see what sin inside you looks like. It's like seeing The Spirit in you and seeing your flesh and I look away. I forgot to look at the Spirit in me who's working to show what I am in Christ. How beautiful that is to be known as His. It's going to take me some time to accept and believe this. It's not an easy thing when you feel like an orphan in this world. The unbelief that I am alone is truly a lie. I no longer want to be in the shadows of my fears. The greatest blessing I always must remember is that Christ died in my place. What it means to be a true Christian? it's bigger than anything I can wrap my mind around.

She said, "No one,Lord." Part 2

In this present time in this country, many young adults and middle-aged alike have been falsely deceived regarding their sexuality. Globalized-leading economies and greedy moneymakers from various industries have caused many men and women to think that they're sexually free when the devastating truth is that they're in bondage. This sexual revolution breaks down marriage, breaks down families, it breaks down societies. Rapes go up, prostitution go up, sexual infections and diseases go up, children being born out of wedlock.

"20- and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21- And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, (Colossians 1:20-22)."

This is not sexual freedom, it's rebellion from the rules that were put in place to protect you. There are going to be consequences for living in the passions of the flesh. It's desire is to destroy you. Do you get this, sin's goal is to destroy YOU and keep YOU from GOD and YOU are POWERLESS to stop it. Why do you want to die for the temporary fleeting things in this life that you do not own and cannot satisfy. Sleeping around is NOT going to make you complete. It robs you of the deep lasting intimacy that should've been reserved for your husband. You should've been waiting for him and don't blame society because everybody's doing it. I'm preaching to myself as I say this. When you stand before God, He's going to ask YOU what did you do with your life for me?

Every human being is going to have to stand before God. I bought into the lie that sleeping around was sexually freeing. I had multiple partners and I couldn't understand for the life of me why I couldn't keep a man or get a boyfriend. My ex never said this to me but the guy that I fell in love, in some way I believe he broke up with me because of this though he's never said it to my face. How do you deal with the hurt of something like that? What do you do when the world tells you that it's okay to sleep around but right back treats you like a prostitute? One night I finally saw if I kept doing what I was doing, chasing race cars with no car, I knew death would be soon encroaching on me. this was December 2008. I told God I wanted out, this was not how I should be living. He answered my prayer and removed me from it. I've come to know of other girls who have been through the same situation as myself and have not received the same grace and protection that I've been given. I will say it again, sexual freedom as the world defines it is bondage. True sexual freedom is ONLY found in Christ when the lost soul realizes the one that they rejected and scoffed is the One that died to set them free. But it doesn't end there, Christ is risen! He reigns on high! And He's still working! He sees you lost one, He sees you broken and contrite when you think no one else sees you. Don't let it be too late and end up saying, I wish I listened to that person. It's not too late. He forgives, He heals. Confess your sins to Him. He's listening and His arms are wide open to receive you.

If you are not a believer, you are dead in your sins, you're a slave to them. Christ is the only way out from the bondage and slavery of sin. He took the wrath that should've been poured out on you. He loves you and hates your sin, He's not indifferent to your sins. Because God is holy and just, He cannot stand the sight of sin before Him. Sin will be judged.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).


In Christ you are a new creation. He died for every single sin you've committed and will commit. There's two ways to live, for yourself. The result of that is a wasted life that leads to death. If you live for Christ, you will have life and have it abundantly and for all eternity you'll be with Him.

She said, "No one, Lord."

John 7:53-8:11
English Standard Version (ESV)


The Woman Caught in Adultery

53[[They went each to his own house,
John 8
1but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.5Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" 6This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." 8And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said,"Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."]]

The pastor at the church that I attend presented a sermon this past Sunday on this portion of Scripture. As he read, I couldn't stop thinking about the woman's response to Jesus; she called him her Lord. I'm not sure if Jesus elsewhere in the Gospel or book of John has been called Lord yet, I'm going to ask my pastor about this. Already what my pastor taught on this struck the very core of my heart but yet I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that this woman called Jesus her Lord. Simon Peter had called Jesus, The Christ, Son of the Living God (Matt. 16:16). Simon Peter was Jesus's disciple too.

I'm completely fascinated with this woman's faith, because I believe she understood the full scope of the Gospel. She simply could've answered like the Pharisees and called Jesus, Teacher. She could've also called Him her Savior but she calls Him Lord. This woman is exposed in front of everyone; she knows she's guilty as guilty can be. The shame she's dealing with. She could've been on her knees begging for God to have mercy on her, but she doesn't say anything. This kinda seems like a small precursor to Jesus standing before Pilate being falsely accused. This woman was guilty of course.

At the very same time, this very scenario involving this woman I kept thinking that this could be a picture of mankind standing before Christ the Judge for judgment and there is no defense to prove man's innocence. He is guilty as guilty can be and his punishment is death. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23)."

Many people out there claim to be Christians and those of us that are, how often do we really live as if He's the Lord of our lives. That He's given us a free gift that we don't deserve. He told the woman to stop sinning because I've given you this free gift, I've given you better things. Your life is found in me not these things that your making yourself slaves to. In Christ, you're His prisoner now and that's a good thing. Who gives good things to a prisoner. When you're a prisoner of sin you're blind to it, you don't realize it until it's too late. And that's every kind of sin not just sexual sin. So why do we keep playing with these lousy mud pies that can't satisfy. We strive and strive and strive for better things in this life but the best thing that we need. We kick it, beat, stomp, crush the most valuable gift ever given to us. The gift that sets us free and reconciles us to God, Christ. We treat Him less than He is and why does He love us and pursue us when we don't deserve any of it?

Continuing:

Crushing on the Unrepentant - Conviction Pt. 1

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It's so easy to go back to what you know [old sin habits] and not trust what God has in store. Immediately I was convicted by the Holy Spirit with 2 Peter 2:20-21(ESV):

 "For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they have again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would've been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them."


This chapter mainly focuses on false teachers and apostles and I highly recommend reaching the whole book of 2  Peter. These two verses really struck me because I have a very hard time believing that with all the wrongs that I have in my past, God would bring me a godly man that truly loves me. Instead of letting God be the Judge and have the final say over all matters in my life, I take that authority and condemn my own self when already Paul says in Romans 8:1 -

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."


Satan wants to rob me of my new found freedom and enslave me from what Christ has set me free from. I confess that it is a struggle to trust in the saving grace of Christ Jesus. All of this is foreign to my sinful nature, it's not natural. In today's society, it's all about instant gratification and self-hedonism. I try to bargain with God and justify why He should give me what I want. God quickly points out my heart's deception; being that I am His daughter then the Holy Spirit brings me before Jesus who I just realized that I'm running away from the true love of my love, again. My Dad, God Almighty, rich in love and mercy points out why this would be a very bad thing for me to disobey Him.

Pt. 2: Repentance

Beauty

If you had a gorgeous figure that everyone desired or commended you with flattery, how do you really feel?
Walking down the street, I may notice a guy or a girl who's really attractive and then they open their mouths and speak and it feels like I just drank battery acid. The power of words. I've been so blessed that God has put a bit in my mouth when I see a really attractive guy. First acknowledging that the guy is attractive but then when I take it one step further. That's when that bit gets pulled and then I fight with my hormones or what my body counts as attractive and quickly line this person up with God's standards. To do that, I pay careful attention to the words that the person speaks. If those words don't give life and have no weight behind them, it's worthless wasting time devising a way to get this person interested in you. There lies the trap of mankind devising one of the ways to seek their own salvation and justification.  I laugh and I feel bad for that person at the same time, because the only thing that they have to measure their worth is based on their beauty. But Scripture has something different to say about beauty.


Proverbs 31:30
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

1 Peter 3: 3-4
 3. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.

4. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

I'm telling you when you see the great love that Jesus has for you. You realize that there's no mounds of compliments, accolades that the world can give you that will match up to Jesus. And if the world doesn't tell you that you're beautiful, just ask Jesus to show you. But if you don't and would rather run off and seek the temporal pleasures of this world, don't blame anyone else and don't ever blame God. You won't win that argument. But you are loved by a wonderful Creator, based your standards on God's standards not on this world that seeks after the next thing that can gratify itself.

Because of Jesus

For the last few months I had been hoping to write blogs geared towards relationships and how to strive for sexual purity. I haven't given any how-to tips or demonstrations. A lot of what I've written has come from the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. But over and over again as I am growing in my faith and walk with the Lord, I'm blown away and saddened when I don't see God glorified in relationships. These guys are missing out on the joys and blessings that come from pursuing Him in their relationships.

Just the other day I asked myself this question: How can two people claim they love each other but when they're facing a divorce, they inflict so much damage to each other? Sometimes I think human beings are much destructive than an atom bomb. Why God loves me especially when I'm 100% capable of tremendous evil?  Jesus opened my eyes, and for all of eternity I will be thanking Him for giving me a new life and a new spirit.

It's laughable that some people jump into marriage just for marriage. A friend of mine once mentioned to me that marriage is for true Christians. It's a bold statement right, but one that may have some merit if closely examined and where the root is found. Two unsaved people and two saved people have different motives when they're married. The unsaved is all about me, the saved it's all about Christ and their dependence on Him.

When you belong to Jesus everything is much more special especially when He gets you to the place where you can truly say that He's your treasure. I get excited about marriage being a Christian because I don't have to do anything except follow the Lord. But I mean, I don't have to read books about how to get a man, what clothes to wear that will draw his eye to me, altering my body to be more attractive, or using my beauty for all the other wrong and selfish destructive reasons. The fact that 75% of the guys that I would normally go far, God's already weeded them out. So in that 25% is the guy that God has specificially chosen for me. That is the coolest thing ever because God is one at work. Just thinking about this I'm so excited because that's what being in the Lord's care does for you. He protects you and wraps you in His love. And He does give the best gifts. Oh yeah, I'm so happy I belong to Jesus and no matter how much I struggle with this sin nature, I'm still His. One day soon sin will exist no more and I and the saints will exist with Christ for all eternity. Jesus that I belong to, created the world, created me, gives me food and shelter, gave me new life in Him. He does this for all of His beloved.

I can't decide whether I'm going to do backflips on the day He returns or fall down at His feet in tears. Whatever is capable of me giving Him praise on that day, so be it. But if you don't know Jesus, that Day is going to the worse day of your life. Jesus the King is going to execute His righteous judgment on the wicked. He is going to fight for His beloved children and the best part is that He's won. That's what I can make my boast in Jesus, in Jesus alone.

Jealousy of Those in Relationships

Over the last few weeks a number of my Christian friends have either started new relationships, gotten engaged or have gotten married. I'm excited for all of this happening in the lives of my friends but I confess my sinful flesh has brought up twinges of jealousy. Especially if you're on the single end of the spectrum, thoughts like : "What about me? Don't I deserve happiness too?" Satan begins to feed lies of jealousy, apathy, pride, anything that he can use to get us to not trust in God.

When I feel my own heart starting to go astray, by the power of the Holy Spirit I am stopped dead in my tracks. Only by His will because my heart really wants to go astray. I'm reminded of Jeremiah 17:9NIV - the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? It is only then I realize that my heart is look not looking to please God. I have told Him in my heart that what He has ordained for me right now is not sufficient.

Realizing the error of my ways and the ultimate nature of sin is to lead me to death, the fear of the Lord leads me in the correct wisdom and I see in the midst of my sin that the Lord is always with me and catches me before I stumble. Verses in Scripture that encouraging for such a situation like this when Satan has cornered you is:

Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Peter 1:3
[ Make Your Calling and Election Sure ] His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to lifegodliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, and

When I think of all that Jesus has done for us, I have to submit to the will of God because again I understand that my desires wants to lead me to death but God's greater plan  lead me to life and for all those who have been called by Him. How has Christ helped you in this situation? I sign off with this verse of encouragement:

1. I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2.with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3. eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4: 1-3(ESV)

Why Pursue Sexual Purity?

"Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."  2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV)


What God has done for us through His Son Jesus Christ, we strive for holiness out of reverence for Him. This is not an easy feat because we are imperfect beings and Christ is perfect. We cannot purify ourselves from everything that contaminates our body and spirit as every human being is born with a sinful nature. 


God demands holiness but He knows that we are not holy. The ones that have been born again by Jesus Christ are granted the Holy Spirit. He is the One that battles against our self-pleasing desires.


Teenagers and young adults, you were created by a Wonderful Creator to glorify Him in every fascet of your being. We were born into this world with nothing and we're going to leave taking nothing out of it. God owns everything including you. His desires in your relationships are required, they're not an option. 


Today, as time was spent with a significant other; what thoughts came to mind? Why or why wouldn't want to pursue sexual purity?