Looking Up

Lord,
Please forgive me. 
I've not been completely thankful or joyful. Prayer I have reserved for others. I feel selfish praying for myself. I know You have a plan for me and I pray that I'm walking the way You want me to. Help me be on fire for You & Your way. I don't want to miss an opportunity to serve You and the needs of Your kingdom. Amen





This scripture is very straight forward. God through Paul for these letters is so powerful. Paul was once a murderer of the Jews. When Paul speaks God's word - - it's meant to be taken seriously.  God wanted people to be changed after hearing of the corrections needed to serve Him.  

In the verses to follow, Paul makes sure to tell us what to continue doing - in order so that we may be found favorable and pleasant in God's service. (vs 4-22)

⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵ You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. ⁸ But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

¹² And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

¹⁴ Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. ¹⁵ See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies. ²¹ Test all things; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil. The message is absolutely the same today.
We are to cling to the teachings of our Absolute Savior. There is NO gray area. He's concrete and very crystal clear on what He wants and what should be important to us. The fact that Paul is the one writing it should tell you - it's serious business. People feared Paul.
 How amazing is it that while Jesus walked on this earth - He actually knew what was to come?! He knew which places to go to in order for the miracles, sermons, and the followers that sought to hear Him would be waiting for Him! !  It was no accident. Every thing He said, did, went, and brought to others is/was/will be for His ultimate purpose.

God makes no mistakes or accidents: absolutely everything serves an opportunity for His service. 

(Personal) Endurance

**Dear Lord, Please help the sharing of my experience be a positive effort for Your Will and be full of Your Truth. I love you Jesus. Thank You. Amen**

Endurance:(noun) the ability to put up with strain, suffering, or hardship

 

Hebrews 10:36(NKJV)

³⁶ For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

I honestly can say-- endurance probably best describes a majority of the past.. oh.. say.. month for me.
I don't know how I'd survive if it was not for the promises of my Savior & His Father.
I'd really hate to see the person I would be if I didn't have the relationship w/ Jesus and accept the changes that He brings.  I'm still studying Revelation, doing a daily Bible app, and feeling really.. well.. different.

I'd like to say that everything has been a happy & Godly experience, but it's not.  Some days, I'm not even sure if I'm feeling myself or if I'm trying too hard to be overly joyous or sensitive, etc.. Living deliberately (practicing self-control) is not easy, but it's where I've been led. There is less expectation and disappointment this way. Not every day has felt successful, but at least I'm still thankful for the chance and pray for a better tomorrow.
I'd be lying if I told you everything was strawberry shortcake w/ ice cream and sprinkles on top. That's going a little too far.. however, it does sound rather tasty. <3

I really strive to hunger/thirst on the Word. Every day God seems to have me placed just where I need to be-at His perfect timing. I'm so grateful for this opportunity. I'm grateful to be alive and able. It's all His. Every piece of it.

John 15:14-20 (NKJV)

¹⁴ You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. ¹⁷ These things I command you, that you love one another.
¹⁸ “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

I've come to rely on Jesus for everything. Not only am I a servant but I feel the deepest, closest relationship/friendship I could ever imagine with Him. There is no one to compare. As such, I know that things will change. His will be done = not mine. I sometimes get a little hung up/feeling confused on what He wants for me. Scripture tells us of the promises and validates our behavior changes of the practice of His example.
I expect persecution. I expect negativity.
The more I love the Lord - the less this world worries me.
I know He's in control--even when it doesn't feel like it.
I pray that everyone find the peace and joy that He gives.AMEN

I haven't written in over a month. I've not been sure what to write. I've been rather engrossed in the study of Revelation and the vision Jesus gifted to John for His message to be heard, recorded, and fulfilled. I'm not even totally sure this piece will even come out right. haha!
I pray God is bringing something forward that will be useful for His will. Amen.
1 John 4:4 (NKJV)

⁴ You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

As recipients of this gift of life on Earth - we must realize how thankful we should be for the opportunity-just to be here to endure what we must in order to learn and push forward & grow.
Accepting Him & His will is even more testing of our endurance, pushing the envelope of our humanity, practicing focus on things beyond our comprehension, and attempting to be fruitful for His sake.

Peace be with you all <3