The joy that we receive from God is truly a unique thing. In the book I've been reading it talks about how God's joy isn't just something that we have when things are going perfect in our life. Even when we are having hard times, and going through the lows in our lives, we are still able to receive God's joy. We just need to trust in God, and seek Him, with praise and love.
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord
I will be joyful in the God
Of my salvation (Habakkuk 3:18)
Our joy in God comes from our salvation in Him. For that is the most joyous thing that we as Christians could ever receive. Praise God.
TNT,
Words by Ali
Monday, December 22, 2014
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Hearing God No Matter Where You Are
Today as a Birthday treat I thought I would splurge a little and buy myself a book or two. So, I went around to the books, one of them twice as a matter of fact. On my way home I heard on the radio the new Imagine Dragons single 'I Bet My Life.'
The song was written about on of the relationship one of the band members has with his parents. But as I was sitting in my car listening to this song I couldn't help but think that this was my relationship with God. One of the verse's says:
I've been around the world but never in my wildest dreams
Would I come running home to you
I've told a million lies
But now I tell a single truth
There's you in everything I do
Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me
Remember when I broke you down to tears
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I gave you hell through all the years
Listening to these words I felt God pulling at my heart. He was saying, "This is you. Running away from Me, saying you won't ever come back. But I know you're heart, and here I am when you need me." When the chorus played, "I bet my life on you." I thought to myself the person I bet my life on now and forever is God. I do now, and I will till the day I see Him in Heaven.
Praise God
TNT,
Words by Ali
The song was written about on of the relationship one of the band members has with his parents. But as I was sitting in my car listening to this song I couldn't help but think that this was my relationship with God. One of the verse's says:
I've been around the world but never in my wildest dreams
Would I come running home to you
I've told a million lies
But now I tell a single truth
There's you in everything I do
Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me
Remember when I broke you down to tears
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I gave you hell through all the years
Listening to these words I felt God pulling at my heart. He was saying, "This is you. Running away from Me, saying you won't ever come back. But I know you're heart, and here I am when you need me." When the chorus played, "I bet my life on you." I thought to myself the person I bet my life on now and forever is God. I do now, and I will till the day I see Him in Heaven.
Praise God
TNT,
Words by Ali
Monday, September 22, 2014
Are We Running After God?
If you were asked this question you would probably be saying yes. Or at least that you want to be running after God.
I would say that that's incorrect. For we as sinful human beings are constantly running from God. It is God that is running after us. He chases us even when we don't want him to. All we have to do is stop running and wait for Him.
We aren't running towards but away from. If we don't stop than we will never have the chance to truly get to know God. God chases us, but we have to stop long enough to listen to what He has to say to us.
So, stop running and let God tell us what He wants us to know.
TNT,
Words by Ali
Sunday, September 14, 2014
In What We Do
Not only has it been a while since I've posted anything on my blog, but it's been just as long that I've had anything to really say. I've felt that if I don't have anything real to say then I probably should refrain from saying things that don't really mean much.
But here I am, back. I want what I have to say to mean something. It doesn't necessarily have to mean anything to you the reader, but for me personally. Of course I'm not saying I don't want it to mean anything to you, in fact I hope it does. But I know that not everyone will feel the same way about the same things, because we are all different and unique people.
Last night was the first time I had stayed through the whole message at church in I don't remember how long. The message was about those who heard Jesus' message and found it too hard to follow. They heard something they didn't like and left. Or, they pretended to believe but they didn't really believe.
I found myself listening to the message last night and wondering if I had been one of those who went through the motions, but didn't actually have my heart in it. I may have been that person, but I don't want to be that person.
I want God to make me a better disciple. To make me into what He wants me to be. Do you feel that way too? Unmotivated and lost? Well you're not alone, and that doesn't mean God isn't there. He is, and waiting for us to come back to him.
TNT,
Words by Ali
But here I am, back. I want what I have to say to mean something. It doesn't necessarily have to mean anything to you the reader, but for me personally. Of course I'm not saying I don't want it to mean anything to you, in fact I hope it does. But I know that not everyone will feel the same way about the same things, because we are all different and unique people.
Last night was the first time I had stayed through the whole message at church in I don't remember how long. The message was about those who heard Jesus' message and found it too hard to follow. They heard something they didn't like and left. Or, they pretended to believe but they didn't really believe.
I found myself listening to the message last night and wondering if I had been one of those who went through the motions, but didn't actually have my heart in it. I may have been that person, but I don't want to be that person.
I want God to make me a better disciple. To make me into what He wants me to be. Do you feel that way too? Unmotivated and lost? Well you're not alone, and that doesn't mean God isn't there. He is, and waiting for us to come back to him.
TNT,
Words by Ali
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Jesus Prayed For Us
"I am praying for them. I am not praying for the people in the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours," (John 17:9).
So, I read this verse and I thought if Jesus would pray for us than we should be praying for each other. We should be doing the things that Jesus did, because we should be striving to be like Jesus. He was perfect in every way, and even though we can't be perfect we should try to be more like Jesus.
That clearly includes praying not just for ourselves, but for those around us. And that includes both the unbeliever as well as the believer. Jesus prayed for the believer because we belong to God, so we should also be praying for those who believe in God as well.
I'm not the best at pray. I know that, I procrastinate and put it off to do other things. I know that it is an important part of my relationship with God, and I know that I want to become better at my pray life. I think if I start slowly it will become more natural.
TNT,
Words by Ali
So, I read this verse and I thought if Jesus would pray for us than we should be praying for each other. We should be doing the things that Jesus did, because we should be striving to be like Jesus. He was perfect in every way, and even though we can't be perfect we should try to be more like Jesus.
That clearly includes praying not just for ourselves, but for those around us. And that includes both the unbeliever as well as the believer. Jesus prayed for the believer because we belong to God, so we should also be praying for those who believe in God as well.
I'm not the best at pray. I know that, I procrastinate and put it off to do other things. I know that it is an important part of my relationship with God, and I know that I want to become better at my pray life. I think if I start slowly it will become more natural.
TNT,
Words by Ali
Monday, April 21, 2014
What Prayer Is and Isn't
"And when you pray, don't be like those people who don't know God. They continue saying things that mean nothing, thinking that God will hear them because of their many words." (Matthew 6:7).
When you really stop to think about what prayer is it's a conversation with God. If you wish to grow a relationship with anyone an essential part of that is honest and open connversation. Without that the relationship is doomed to fail. So, why should it be any different in our relationships with God. Is He any less important then our best friends? Our family? Or other relationships? The answer to these questions is no. In fact our relationship with God is even more important. So, than we need to come to God with our prayers to further that relationship.
Also, prayer is much more than just asking God for things. About praise and thanksgiving for all the things that God has blessed us with in our lives. It's about adoration and worship for who God is. It's about council and wisdom for the events and problems in our lives. Of course a part of prayer is still about petition, and asking for things. But it is only one portion of prayer and not the whole thing.
Prayer can be a solitary act between just you and God, or it can be communal with the fellowship of other believers. What the above passage is saying is that prayer should come from the heart. Even if all you can find to say is a few sentence of prayer than you should leave it at that, and not continue to ramble just to fill the silence or to appear to be more prayerful. It's not about how much you say, but the content and quantity of the prayer.
TNT,
Words by Ali
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
When you really stop to think about what prayer is it's a conversation with God. If you wish to grow a relationship with anyone an essential part of that is honest and open connversation. Without that the relationship is doomed to fail. So, why should it be any different in our relationships with God. Is He any less important then our best friends? Our family? Or other relationships? The answer to these questions is no. In fact our relationship with God is even more important. So, than we need to come to God with our prayers to further that relationship.
Also, prayer is much more than just asking God for things. About praise and thanksgiving for all the things that God has blessed us with in our lives. It's about adoration and worship for who God is. It's about council and wisdom for the events and problems in our lives. Of course a part of prayer is still about petition, and asking for things. But it is only one portion of prayer and not the whole thing.
Prayer can be a solitary act between just you and God, or it can be communal with the fellowship of other believers. What the above passage is saying is that prayer should come from the heart. Even if all you can find to say is a few sentence of prayer than you should leave it at that, and not continue to ramble just to fill the silence or to appear to be more prayerful. It's not about how much you say, but the content and quantity of the prayer.
TNT,
Words by Ali
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Temptation
"Then the devil came to Jesus to tempt him," (Matthew 4:3a).
In this passage as wells as the rest of the chapter that follows we see that Jesus not only did Jesus not sin, but he was actually tempted to. Even though Satan tempted Jesus in everyway, He said sinless. He said no to the urgings of Satan and continued to follow God, even though it would have been easier to give in.
This needs to be our example. We need to turn to God in our temptations, for He is the only one who can resist 100%. We as human beings will of course stumble, and fall. But, it is what we do when we stumble that matters most.
God doesn't expect us to be absolutely perfect every moment of every day. But he does expect us to come to Him repentantly when we do. For with the help of God we will be able to resist temptation, as long as we have God at our side everything becomes possible.
And when you are tempted don't forget that God was tempted too, in the form of the Son Jesus. And where he triumphed he can help us, his children, to succeed too.
TNT,
Words by Ali
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
In this passage as wells as the rest of the chapter that follows we see that Jesus not only did Jesus not sin, but he was actually tempted to. Even though Satan tempted Jesus in everyway, He said sinless. He said no to the urgings of Satan and continued to follow God, even though it would have been easier to give in.
This needs to be our example. We need to turn to God in our temptations, for He is the only one who can resist 100%. We as human beings will of course stumble, and fall. But, it is what we do when we stumble that matters most.
God doesn't expect us to be absolutely perfect every moment of every day. But he does expect us to come to Him repentantly when we do. For with the help of God we will be able to resist temptation, as long as we have God at our side everything becomes possible.
And when you are tempted don't forget that God was tempted too, in the form of the Son Jesus. And where he triumphed he can help us, his children, to succeed too.
TNT,
Words by Ali
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Always God's
"God has destined us for acquiring salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us, that all of us, whether awake or asleep, together might live with him," (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, NAB).
Once we give ourselves to God, we will always belong to Him. We can never be separated from God, not even by death. We see that in this passage from 1 Thessalonians. In our salvation we will always belong to God.
"Whether awake or asleep" we our God's creation, God's children. Asleep meaning dead. If we still belong to God when we die then we should not worry what will happen to us. For we our God's and we will always be with him.
While awake it will be in our spiritual relationships that keep us with God. When asleep we will be with God in person in Heaven. That's an amazing thing to look forward to when the time comes.
TNT,
Words by Ali
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Once we give ourselves to God, we will always belong to Him. We can never be separated from God, not even by death. We see that in this passage from 1 Thessalonians. In our salvation we will always belong to God.
"Whether awake or asleep" we our God's creation, God's children. Asleep meaning dead. If we still belong to God when we die then we should not worry what will happen to us. For we our God's and we will always be with him.
While awake it will be in our spiritual relationships that keep us with God. When asleep we will be with God in person in Heaven. That's an amazing thing to look forward to when the time comes.
TNT,
Words by Ali
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sunday, March 2, 2014
God's Judgement
"Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done," (2 Timothy 4:14, NIV).
In this verse we see that we are not the ones who should be seeking revenge for wrong done to us. If someone has done you wrong than God will be the one to repay them for their wrong.
If we go around exacting revenge for the wrongs done to us than all we are doing is asking for trouble. God might then look at us as doing wrong, if we seek revenge.
We should leave the revenge, paying back, to God. We as Christian's need to love more, not hate. I know I need to work on that myself.
TNT,
Words by Ali
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
In this verse we see that we are not the ones who should be seeking revenge for wrong done to us. If someone has done you wrong than God will be the one to repay them for their wrong.
If we go around exacting revenge for the wrongs done to us than all we are doing is asking for trouble. God might then look at us as doing wrong, if we seek revenge.
We should leave the revenge, paying back, to God. We as Christian's need to love more, not hate. I know I need to work on that myself.
TNT,
Words by Ali
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Fellowship With the Church
"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching," (Hebrews 10:25, NIV)
Fellowship is vitally important in our journeys with God. Our Christian lives aren't something that we can live on our own. This I know. When I try to do it on my own: without friends, without church, etc...I invariably fail miserably.
I know that I need my Christian family to help me stay strong, and to continue to follow God. They help me to realize the importance of who God is, and what He means to my life. Without my church family and don't think I would still be following God as I do today.
Of course I still stumble, but they are always there to help me up and keep on going. Fellowship in the Christian faith is essential and no Christian can afford to forget that.
TNT,
Words by Ali
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Fellowship is vitally important in our journeys with God. Our Christian lives aren't something that we can live on our own. This I know. When I try to do it on my own: without friends, without church, etc...I invariably fail miserably.
I know that I need my Christian family to help me stay strong, and to continue to follow God. They help me to realize the importance of who God is, and what He means to my life. Without my church family and don't think I would still be following God as I do today.
Of course I still stumble, but they are always there to help me up and keep on going. Fellowship in the Christian faith is essential and no Christian can afford to forget that.
TNT,
Words by Ali
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, February 14, 2014
Listening & Immediate Action
"So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt," (Matthew 2:14, NIV).
When God speaks to us we need to respond. That response should be a firm and decisive yes. We see all throughout the Bible the righteous men and women following God obediently and immediately. Just like we see in this passage from Matthew about Mary's husband Joseph.
When God told Joseph to take Jesus and Mary and go to Egypt he didn't wait. He didn't even wait until morning. The passage says, "During the night." Joseph got up as soon as he had the dream from God and did as God was asking of him.
How often do we follow God's will for us so immediately? Or do we drag our heels, and fight it because it may no be exactly what we had planned for our lives. God is the most important aspect of our lives, and He needs to be the one we listen to. Even when we have to stop listening to ourselves.
TNT,
Words by Ali
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
When God speaks to us we need to respond. That response should be a firm and decisive yes. We see all throughout the Bible the righteous men and women following God obediently and immediately. Just like we see in this passage from Matthew about Mary's husband Joseph.
When God told Joseph to take Jesus and Mary and go to Egypt he didn't wait. He didn't even wait until morning. The passage says, "During the night." Joseph got up as soon as he had the dream from God and did as God was asking of him.
How often do we follow God's will for us so immediately? Or do we drag our heels, and fight it because it may no be exactly what we had planned for our lives. God is the most important aspect of our lives, and He needs to be the one we listen to. Even when we have to stop listening to ourselves.
TNT,
Words by Ali
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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