It Starts With God

I am reading an article on "godliness." I used to think when people spoke of godliness they were comparing themselves to God in the sense that they could become Him. So I was a bit uncomfortable with the term until I got into 2nd Peter. God calls us to be holy and to be godly. I am reading a lengthy article of the subject little by little so I can comprehend and digest it all. The point that it is expands on is godliness is the act of devotion to God. Not your daily Bible study or which ever ministry you're a part of. The article says that in order to practice devotion everything you do and say is for the glory of God. This helped me to understand why I should pray before I do all things whether it is eating, traveling in a car or beginning a meeting. By praying before I start something I realize that I put God first. It is also a reminder to myself that I cannot do it alone. If I pray before doing all things I am putting God's favor over whatever it is.

When We devote ourself to God we begin to serve Him and not the religion. You're not being nice because you have to but because you want to be. God's will becomes your will. People throw in the towel because they're trying to fit into the perfect Christian role instead of serving God. If you serve God then you are the perfect Christian, never the other way around. After you're devoted to God then of course He'll order your steps, you'll be in tune with your Holy Spirit and you'll be able to bounce back from a fall a lot better. We practice godliness to get closer to God. I serve an awesome God!

The Devil's Deception

In Bible Study , Pastor is teaching on the devil's power of deception. That power is also given by God. We all wonder why God would do such a thing. My only reasoning is that God wants the very best. Yes, He can save us all and make accommodations for us in Heavan but that would only breed more souls like satan. Think about it for a moment. As Christians our main objective is to be like Christ. Daily, we are renewing our minds and refreshing our Spirits. We are transforming. We strive to let go of the negative and are learning discipline. This is what supposed to separate us from the world. If there is no separation, whatever is here on earth will be in Heaven. And just from looking at the news channels this world is no where near a paradise. So God allows the devil to tempt us to a certain degree. But the test is only given once God has equipped us.

We are called to put on the whole armor of God. We are to read, study and pray to strengthen our connections with God. If we continually fall into the same trap that means we are weak. But when trouble comes our way and we are able to quote scripture and remind ourselves "it's only a test," we are guaranteed victors. I've experienced it before. I did not think I was good enough. I knew I wasn't serving God in the capacity that I was called to serve in so I believed that I didn't deserve any blessings. I know that God was perfect and I wasn't so why should I even try to make it into Heaven. But my attitude began to change as I sat in church and read more. I had my break through moment when I started to commit myself to His word and not look at myself as being perfect but only striving to be perfect. The second I gave up my fears of not being good enough for God it was like I felt Him sitting next to me commending me and simply telling me to follow Him. I learned that although I am following Him I will step in the cracks but I just have to get up. If I sit there in self pity God will keep moving forward and I will lose track of Him. That's definitely the devil's deception.

Even when I was well passed that point those thoughts try to come back in my mind but I can only laugh at them because I know my God!

I Stand In Faith

Man, oh man have I been going through it! The funny thing is as the moments started to play out I KNEW without a shadow of doubt that it was my turn to be tested. It was like a movie trailer. I got a glimpse of the situation and the future and I came out alright. So that's what I hold on to as I am here, in the wilderness. It is definitely something I will remember for the rest of my life. So as this thing was happening I struggled a bit. But as we all know when trauma happens, the more you struggle the quicker you die. I had to coach myself through and remind myself that everything is going to be OK. I accepted the fact that I was and still am in the wilderness. I even googled things such as how to get out the wilderness, how to get through the wilderness, what to do in the wilderness, what's the purpose of the wilderness, will I ever get out of the wilderness. I didn't know what to do as I entered through that door. I eventually came to read how God brought Israel out of Egypt and the ways in which He came onto the people and how He provided for them their needs and not their wants. That's how I felt. I had to go to God for everything including the small things. I am not an expert but I had to begin to tap into my Holy Spirit for guidance.



So I came to the realization that my wilderness is solidify my faith in God. I was always in, did really well, got comfortable then fell out. Before my wilderness experience I did not need God because all of my needs were met and most of my wants were fulfilled. Now, God is showing me He is the beginning and the end and everything in between. I knew that but didn't have any struggle to make me appreciate Him as much as I do now. When you work hard you appreciate the fruits of your labor more. In this case I simply can't walk out the door because with what I put in and what I went through the only option I have is to come out of the other side. And as I come out I don't want come out stumbling. I want to walk out confidently knowing that God brought me through.


My wilderness is also teaching me to be steadfast. No matter what I or others think or feel about my situation both good and bad I have to always know God is right there. There have been times when I thought I was not a child of God and was forgotten but in the wilderness is when you are vulnerable and the attacks of the enemy are intensified and God stands still. Just knowing that makes the experience even more bearable. God doesn't stand still so we can fail but to see if you learned the lesson. I'll make it because of the God I serve and because He told me so! To God be the glory!

Let Me Reintroduce Myself

Five years later! A lot has happened in five years and even more has happened in the past year. But God is so amazing! Although it's been five long years I haven't entirely stopped thinking about this blog. My favorite part of writing this blog are the responses I would receive. Although I seem like an out there kind of person, I consider myself an introvert. I like to be with myself, in my thoughts and trying to figure it out. But I know that I can't stay in my thoughts alone hence this blog! This blog was created to get my thoughts out and to hear what others think so I can get a fresh perspective. And as I pick up five years later, the objective hasn't entirely changed. I want this to be a place where I can tell of God's grace toward me as well as His mercy. A place where I can lay the pieces until I (with your help) can figure it out. A place where I can contradict myself and not be judged for it. I am still trying to figure it out! In the mean time I am going to see what I was thinking five years ago! Thank you guys so much for subscribing!

Nothing Can Separate Me..From Your Love

Have you ever had one of those moments where your Spirit jumps for joy and you feel like you've just came to a new epiphany that has been waiting there for you to discover. Then once you stumble upon it you have that "ah hahh" moment. Well I just had that moment hence me writing this blog. I was lying in bed reading my Bible. I am reading from Romans.I try to read at least when I wake up and go to sleep and through out the day if can squeeze it in (I know that's bad but I am working on it). After all I have no excuse since I sleep with my phone which has the Bible on it. But back to the story. I was lying in bed reading Romans, picking up from chapter 5. In that chapter, it talked about the difference between Adam and Jesus. Adam brought death through his sin and disobedience but Jesus gave us grace and the ability to grasp righteousness which gives us LIFE.

In chapter 6 which is the infamous piece when people are baptized as they come into the Kingdom of God. Honestly, I never realized the strength of these words. I hear them every time a person is baptized but there have been no real meaning to the scriptures until I just read them today. That chapter asks questions pertaining to Adam and Jesus. It's so much to write and I can probably go on for days but read it for yourself! From chapter 6 leading up to chapter 8, these chapters let us know that even though we are born into sin and we have sinful nature, we do not have to abide by it. It lets us know that even though we are trapped in these bodies momentarily we don't have to live as this body wants us to live because as we were baptized we were dying to the old ways. It not only signifies that but it also synonymous to the death of Christ. Before Christ, every one was a sinner, but after He died on the cross and rose again three days later our sins were forgiven. And that is the truth behind baptism.

In chapter 7, Paul (the writer of the book) makes the distinction between our mind and our flesh. The mind serves God while the flesh serve sin. He talks about how sin overcomes us and how it is so enticing. The law by which the mind abides by and the law by which the flesh abide by are contrary to each other, so which law are we to follow are the main arguments Paul is trying to make.

And that is the transition into chapter 8. Between these two chapters is where I jumped out of bed and behind the computer because at the end of chapter 7 Paul makes it seem that we should serve both the flesh and the mind by saying "25..I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. so then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." But remember from chapter 5 to 8 he makes clear of our death to sin once we were baptized. He doesn't say it as plainly but he does. So with that being said, the law of the mind and of God supersedes that of the law of the flesh and sinful ways. Finally he ends chapter 8 with "38-39..For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, not angels, nor principalities, nor powers, not things present nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Nothing, not even the law of sin can keep us away from God. Nothing!

Perception, Understanding, Decisions

Understanding is key in relationships. Often times friends, partners and even relationships with God don't work out because the relationship lacks understanding. When you can't see eye to eye on a topic, it is because you are not understanding with the other person's understanding. Take the "love languages" as an example. You cannot love someone how you want to be loved but how they want to be loved even if it isn't appealing to you. It is the same concept. We also studied this in my Theories of International Relations class. It is all about each person's own perception. A person's perception encompasses their unique experience, their character, their way of thinking etc, and after you get passed all of that comes their final decision. But in real life, the process is much quicker and sometimes irrational choices are made.

With God, my perception is ever changing because my experience with Him is becoming greater. I am coming to new realizations every single day. It's overwhelming but I am taking it. When you look to the future and the end result, the pain is not that bad. With a change in experience comes a change in my character.I may not have been as forgiving as I should have but as He shows me forgiveness and all the above, my character molds to fit that.

I never really gave this decision making theory much thought until studying it in class. But it is very much true in our interactions with one another. Decisions to do or not to do something make up our lives just as there are atoms that make up other beings and so forth until you reach a solid product.

Perception shapes our understanding which then shapes our decisions that affect our daily lives.

God's Law is Supreme

Think about the economy and how countries measure whether or not their dollar is strong. Before the 30s and the Great Depression they used the Gold Standard. After the Depression they used the American dollar to measure dollar worth and that is still how they measure the strength of currency. This definitely correlates with our understanding of anything. The reason they use one base in measuring the strength of dollars is so no one is confused or lost and that they get their full worth when trading. In Proverbs it says to trust the Lord and not to lean on your own understanding. Previous to that verse they spoke on understand and how to obtain it and all. The truth is God’s word and in order to speak truth we have to gain knowledge from the Bible and live by it, even in our relationships. Again, we were created in His image. Also notice that man’s understanding is faulty because in light of the Great Depression they had to switch it up. But with God, in any and every situation, the base never changes. God’s law is supreme.