During reflection time on my way to work today I was thinking of the entitlement generation not only amongst the secular world but of individuals within the church walls. Not just entitlement from the U.S. government and social programs and companies but in the pews and at the throne of God. When I focus in on my habits down to how I ask God for things or how I treat or talk to people, it really is not different other than God owes you nothing and you owe him everything. No matter how much you "do for God" or "do in his name" nothing can pay you debt, except for your life. With people you loan and expect back, God says different. You expect people to be as honest and "holy" as you, God says different. See if we adjust to God's law (the word of God [bible]) you might see an adjustment in how you think act and respond to situations in your life that would breed self entitlement. God says loan to those in need and expect nothing in return and THEN He will bless you. Putting the expectancy on others to live the way you do breeds the entitlement of you deserving to be treated a different way. But God says I'll be persecuted for his sake and be blessed in that. Meaning not everyone is going to be honest forthcoming and holy as you think you are. AND I hate to burst your bubble but we aren't as holy as some might think. This path of learning in God never ends until the day you start eternity, the moment you think you have the whole "religion" or "relationship" with God/Jesus thing down you set yourself up for failure.
I hear a lot of this Jesus movement and I believe he was our savior, God, mentor, healer, and our rock. You shall not enter in the kingdom of heaven without him in your heart. GOT THAT. But God didn't start nor does he continue his kingdom on the sole principle of Jesus is in your heart and that's ALL you need. Its a mandatory thing to get into heaven but its not the only thing you have to do or partake in as a christian. There are additional commandments ( BTW: there are WAY more than just the 10, just to let you know) to follow, law to adhere to and so on. A lot of talk seems to be about if I have a relationship with Jesus personally I don't need the church. All the church does is take money money money and then tells us how to live and judges us. As I believe there are churches out there that are partaking in this it doesn't give us a free pass to not do our obligations and ignore our commandments from God. See commandments aren't rules to follow, they are standards to uphold. Actively upholding them is the commandment part. The bible tells us for those without sin cast the first stone, we can't cast it. There is structure in the church along with guidelines just as Paul set up in the new testament for people to follow because without the structure the building will fall, even with a firm foundation..... The law is no reproach for the obedient... Meaning if your follow the law the law isn't a problem for you. If you're are an anarchist or rebel or dare I say "I have my own relationship MAAAN" type person then the law will be a big pill, hard to swallow for you. A relationship is individualized based on the experiences you have that others do not, It is not individualized by the God YOU serve or his rules in which you chose to recognize or ignore. As Christians we believe the whole Bible and all its passages not part, not new testament and throw out the old. History is doomed to repeat itself if we don't acknowledge it and in the old testament He set up laws for the people and gave us them and the written words for an example of what not to do and what to do not just a history book for "That was a different time". Just as the kingdoms and established areas fell into curses of God and into rebellion then it still happens today, dare I also say worse. Look at today's political leaders ignoring the "old" constitution...How's that working for your first and second amendments and your taxes?? Not only in the world put now Christians ,or so called, are falling into the same trap but are not keeping it solely in the backyard anymore they are coming into the house and using the same secular ways to push their own agendas right in the house on the couch feet kicked up. That's dangerous..... We need to get back to studying the bible and living what people had the chance to live and messed up. Being obedient to the word of God is so much more than praise and blessings, "Jesus forgives, I'm good" attitude is a trap. Christianity is a lifestyle not just a bypass to heaven, that way of thinking could lead you to hell.
As Christians we need to sacrifice some stuff. No not a ram, lamb or goat, not giving up food or time for others. but the almost hidden "sacrifice" that no one but God really considers a sacrifice....Thanksgiving.. in Psalm 50:23 is states (NLT) "But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God." **This is pre-Jesus talk**! Sacrifice in this text isn't a burnt offering its a praise in the act of thanksgiving. So when someone says obedience is better than sacrifice the context could be taken as, obeying my law is better than thanking me. For without obedience you'll find there isn't much to thank God for. In this verse he stresses how a thanksgiving praise truly honors him, how much then does obeying him honor him? Don't forget those laws, follow them so you have SOMETHING to be thankful for and to keep being thankful for day in and day out and give him the due thanksgiving praise for it and you will truly show that you honor him instead of just saying it. See I believe to honor is to obey and to obey is to honor. Like honor your father and mother?? No kidding... It's not just saying its doing.. That's a true "Relationship" and it's individualized by YOU doing it.
RAMBLIN' RAMBLIN'
In closing let me leave you with a little psalm action from my reading today for some food to chew on.
Psalm 51:5-6NLT "For I was born a sinner-yes, from the moment my mother conceived me but you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there."
Psalm 51:12-13NLT "Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey You. Then I will teach Your ways to the rebels, and they will return to You."
KICKER** Psalm 51:17NLT "The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God."
hope this helps :)
mnixon33
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
something a little more "real"...
I recently, like this weekend and today, have been bombarded with thoughts concerning direct family and relationships. We often let things of other's lives just drift through ours like chaff in the the wind or we dominate every little minute by the drama of our family's problems and the dysfunction of our relationships. Venturing away from letting the things of others lives effect mine directly I noticed I became a little less caring and more callus concerning others problems. In this I found that Jesus gives us the perfect example to go by. In my reading in the book of Mark, really all the gospels, I read of Jesus going from town to town healing and preaching. Not one time do I find in text that Jesus sat down with the Pharisees and said, "I know what you mean this is a drag, you know everyone ALWAYS needing me and stuff." or "How are you doing?" then being ran over by the rundown of all the people's problems and what ales them. No Jesus just simple gave them a wise parable that through the translation of the parable by ones self could come up with the direction in which they should go and where they should put their trust and where to stay away from and what not to put their trust in. Or the wonderful "Be healed", or "be whole" then go tell everyone what the Lord has done for you this day. He didn't have one negative outlook on peoples problems or his own. He knew God's divine plans for him and for the people of God and of this world. He never took part in idle gossip or not willing to help someone out. He was about his Father's business.
That being said I feel us as Christians, or if you're not of faith reading this, which would be a surprise to me but welcome!, we need to take direction from Jesus in the gospels for our own lives, I mean that is what he was sent here for, to show us how to live in this world and be about the business of God. When I took notice of this I strayed from focusing on my own problems, (NOT ACTING LIKE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY) just not making them MY main focus. I made my focus helping others. NOT PUSHING MY BELIEFS OR LIKE I HAD ALL THE ANSWERS. But as they came to me with a negative give them a positive. When they ask where do you find your happiness? I tell them the Love of God gives me peace and that is what breeds my happiness. Showing them by my own life that even though you go through the most pride bashing, ego killing, heart breaking situations in life, you can still SMILE. Some people out there know our situation and some don't but its not my job to go about telling you so you can feel sorry for me or throw your love and caring around, but I don't bottle it up either, I take it to God. God gives me my own REAL LIFE parable, I am the parable. He shows me the knowledge and understanding of my real situation. I take him my malfunctions and he makes them function. I take him my hurts and he heals them. I take him my worries and he gives me peace. He's Jesus, same one that walked the earth, dealing with me and so many others the same ways he did so many years ago. Why? because that's who he is. He walked around knowing the whole time that he was there to fulfill prophecy and to be beaten and die for us. All the while healing and caring and guiding everyone he came in contact with. Making the most of his short life here on earth to make an impact on mankind for generation and generations to come. He didn't focus on his problems that he knew for certain would come to pass anyway, he used it for the advancement of the kingdom spreading the life and joy and word of God.
Our purpose is very simply put in
Luke 1:77 to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins,78 through the tender mercy of our God with which the dayspring from on high has visited us 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of darkness.
Don't allow yourself to be consumed by others problems or your own. You are called as Jesus was to be light to the dark and give knowledge of salvation to all those who you come in contact with. This also let's us know that whatever you have done or are doing isn't all that big and bad and ugly for God to take away from you and forgive. It says remit your sins and he has tender mercy. Don't be ashamed...Be glad knowing that there is more out there for you, and that family or friend that you so much want to help out.
If you rely on others to give you happiness or protection or those drugs to give you comfort and your seclusion for that hiding place, or know someone that does, remember this, God will be your stronghold in trouble, your shield, your faithful and shall bring things to pass IF YOU put all your trust in him and with that comes peace, knowing he is faithful and all powerful with the VERY BEST LOVE&MERCY!
+Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
+Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with ALL people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
*He requires us to pass peace and holiness onto others as he gives it to us. That thing you asked forgiveness for? Forgive someone that has done wrong to you. That mercy he's given to you? Pass it on. That Love he's given you? Pass it on. It's not a choice it's a requirement!
+John 14:22 "Peace I leave you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
AWESOME!!
hope this helps :)
mnixon33
That being said I feel us as Christians, or if you're not of faith reading this, which would be a surprise to me but welcome!, we need to take direction from Jesus in the gospels for our own lives, I mean that is what he was sent here for, to show us how to live in this world and be about the business of God. When I took notice of this I strayed from focusing on my own problems, (NOT ACTING LIKE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY) just not making them MY main focus. I made my focus helping others. NOT PUSHING MY BELIEFS OR LIKE I HAD ALL THE ANSWERS. But as they came to me with a negative give them a positive. When they ask where do you find your happiness? I tell them the Love of God gives me peace and that is what breeds my happiness. Showing them by my own life that even though you go through the most pride bashing, ego killing, heart breaking situations in life, you can still SMILE. Some people out there know our situation and some don't but its not my job to go about telling you so you can feel sorry for me or throw your love and caring around, but I don't bottle it up either, I take it to God. God gives me my own REAL LIFE parable, I am the parable. He shows me the knowledge and understanding of my real situation. I take him my malfunctions and he makes them function. I take him my hurts and he heals them. I take him my worries and he gives me peace. He's Jesus, same one that walked the earth, dealing with me and so many others the same ways he did so many years ago. Why? because that's who he is. He walked around knowing the whole time that he was there to fulfill prophecy and to be beaten and die for us. All the while healing and caring and guiding everyone he came in contact with. Making the most of his short life here on earth to make an impact on mankind for generation and generations to come. He didn't focus on his problems that he knew for certain would come to pass anyway, he used it for the advancement of the kingdom spreading the life and joy and word of God.
Our purpose is very simply put in
Luke 1:77 to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins,78 through the tender mercy of our God with which the dayspring from on high has visited us 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of darkness.
Don't allow yourself to be consumed by others problems or your own. You are called as Jesus was to be light to the dark and give knowledge of salvation to all those who you come in contact with. This also let's us know that whatever you have done or are doing isn't all that big and bad and ugly for God to take away from you and forgive. It says remit your sins and he has tender mercy. Don't be ashamed...Be glad knowing that there is more out there for you, and that family or friend that you so much want to help out.
If you rely on others to give you happiness or protection or those drugs to give you comfort and your seclusion for that hiding place, or know someone that does, remember this, God will be your stronghold in trouble, your shield, your faithful and shall bring things to pass IF YOU put all your trust in him and with that comes peace, knowing he is faithful and all powerful with the VERY BEST LOVE&MERCY!
+Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
+Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with ALL people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
*He requires us to pass peace and holiness onto others as he gives it to us. That thing you asked forgiveness for? Forgive someone that has done wrong to you. That mercy he's given to you? Pass it on. That Love he's given you? Pass it on. It's not a choice it's a requirement!
+John 14:22 "Peace I leave you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
AWESOME!!
hope this helps :)
mnixon33
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Spiritman...
So.... I was driving down the road listening to my radio and this song comes on very frequently on the station I listen to, XM64. In its chorus it says, "you're not a natural being having a spiritual experience, You are a spiritual being living a natural experience." I put that as my status on facebook because a lot of revelation or way I'm feeling or going through at the time what I say or write has a profound outcome on how I handle that certain situation.
My Pastor preached on this very thing and it's one of my beliefs. That God had created us in his image. I don't believe that means we look like God, although some people out there believe they do. I think what this is saying is that our spirit is made for him we are made for him in his image for us...confusing...His perception of how he would like us to be, his image of us, God's intended purpose and use for us is how he made us. You don't take a snowmobile to the lake to jet ski....
Pastor said that you were made to be a spiritman first that possesses a soul and lives in a body. A lot of people, in fact I believe most people, believe they are a person with a soul and they are either spiritual or not. In that I believe we "listen to our bodies" instead of what God tells us he's already given us and what the word says we are capable of doing. This has been a struggle for me, realizing that what I "see" with my natural eyes isn't what God had intended for me or what he has for me. Well what DOES God want for me? what does he have for me? The bible is full of those answers. His want for you is to prosper and be in good health, for example, is something stated in the bible that He wants for us. But I've come down with a sickness or disease....I'm feel like I'm always struggling to make bills or find time to do stuff....I'm finding out that that is a direct result of living UPSIDE down. I mean the total opposite way of how God intends on us handling situations and looking at our positions in the now. We get a back pain and we don't look at it and say "I'm healed in Jesus name!" because the word tells me "by his stripes we WERE healed..". but we rush to go to the doctors to get a synthetic drug to numb the pain instead of reading carefully the words WERE healed (not just the pain gone, the problem too!), meaning when Jesus died and rose again through that power he healed us, it's already done it's just waiting on you to claim it like you do a tax return. Its like a written check just waiting to be cashed, from the bank of God signed in the healing blood of Jesus Christ.... I just said something.....
This way of thinking comes from feeding the Spiritman. Feed the spirit man and it feeds the soul and your body has to line up with it automatically. HAS TO, God said it has to, God gave you that spirit that soul and that body, He who created all RULES all. Feeding your spiritman takes discipline, reading your bible studying it, praying in the holy spirit, geez praying period, the rest will come. Speaking the positives in your life and calling out things that aren't as though they are. Don't build your spiritman up and your problems and circumstances will overtake you, build up your spiritman and blessing will overtake you. By putting your spiritman first and building him up it determines who you are going to be and not what your body or situations say you are. Your body has to listen to your spiritman and your mind has to as well. Spiritman first. Think of a flow chart. What's at the top of that flow chart for you? What's most important to you and what foundation is it built on? For me it has shifted from my financial worries and my problems and my emotions controlling how I live and how I react and what I do next, to the total opposite. God I'm not moving on a decision until I hear from you. I pray about stuff, I read what God said about my stuff in the word, How I'm suppose to react. I control my words to the best of my ability, speaking no negatives or unemployed words that would prevent my body and mind lining up under my spiritman. Because my spiritman knows what the outcome should be my spiritman knows where to go for the answer. My spiritman knows what God expects me to do and if I speak out something that is anti-productive and against the will of God for my life I have stunted and delayed my growth and my blessing.
Put God's will at the top of your flow chart. Put your spiritman up there because all in all that's God's will. Look into the word study what God has for you. How to handle how to speak and how to pray. Take ALL things to God in prayer! nothing too big or too small. Nothing comes easy. It takes practice, it takes a consistent drive towards your goal to see the results and the fruit of your labor. If the only thing you get from doing that is joy consider yourself blessed. If the only thing you get from doing that is knowledge, consider yourself blessed. But I guarantee you it won't be in vain. Allow yourself to think that if you are a spiritman first that your experience is just earthly and natural of this world. God rules all because he created it, so everything has to go according to how he says when he is called upon (favor to your spiritman). If your a natural being living a spiritual experience then all the natural or earthly things that happen to you are so because you are putting your natural first before God and before your spiritman. That results in struggle and chasing blessings.
Put God first and line up your spiritman with him and it will seem that all natural things fade away and die off on your list of importance and blessings will seem like an EVERYDAY experience. My goal right now is to keep thinking of my spiritman and what he looks like to determine why things are going the way they are. If he's shriveled up and I'm going through some stuff, ding ding found the problem. Satan will attack you as you build your spiritman up because he knows you're one bad mamma jamma when your spiritman looks like a roided out body builder. He'll try to stop that with some junk along the way, that's the name of the game, that's why he's there, to thort God's plans for our lives. Don't support his plans by passing on God's. Don't put off what God has for your one more day, start working that spiritman out! Get him big! Forget the distractions of life. Look to God and mind&body have to line up... God made you in his image, he blueprinted your being, he knows how it works the best and what it was made for. Make sure you're not shoveling snow with a yard rake.
+Proverbs 18:14 The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?
+Job 32:4 But there is a spirit in a man, and the breath of the Almighty give him[spirit] understanding
+John3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
- Insert: Your natural experience or problem is born of your natural based mind and actions, but those born of the Spirit[Holy] result in spirit things[God's will for you, blessing] <---Only way they come people!
+1Corinthians 2:11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God
+Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits
+Proverbs 17:27 He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit
+Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things you wish.
-Insert: Natural and Spirit are opposing wills and direction of life so that you can't just do whatever you feel is right. If your spiritman is upheld the thing of the flesh will seem of no value but if you feed the natural or flesh things of the spirit will seem of no value. ew spiritual gifts and blessing and God's will not of value?!?! whoa, DIE FLESH!
+Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit
+1Corinthians 2:13 These things we also speak, not in words which mans wisdom teaches us but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
-Insert: Build the Spiritman up by praying in the Holy Spirit!! God's wisdom not yours or the worlds
+James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also
+Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me
-Insert: PRAYER
....one last one......
+Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
WOW doesn't get much better than that promise right there people. The word said it not me!
I hope these are helping people. Like I said in the beginning I'm trying this out in hope that it will help someone and I'm not jabbering to myself, although doing these even helps me tremendously and sometimes find myself ministering to myself lol, whatever it takes God!
hope this helps :)
mnixon33
My Pastor preached on this very thing and it's one of my beliefs. That God had created us in his image. I don't believe that means we look like God, although some people out there believe they do. I think what this is saying is that our spirit is made for him we are made for him in his image for us...confusing...His perception of how he would like us to be, his image of us, God's intended purpose and use for us is how he made us. You don't take a snowmobile to the lake to jet ski....
Pastor said that you were made to be a spiritman first that possesses a soul and lives in a body. A lot of people, in fact I believe most people, believe they are a person with a soul and they are either spiritual or not. In that I believe we "listen to our bodies" instead of what God tells us he's already given us and what the word says we are capable of doing. This has been a struggle for me, realizing that what I "see" with my natural eyes isn't what God had intended for me or what he has for me. Well what DOES God want for me? what does he have for me? The bible is full of those answers. His want for you is to prosper and be in good health, for example, is something stated in the bible that He wants for us. But I've come down with a sickness or disease....I'm feel like I'm always struggling to make bills or find time to do stuff....I'm finding out that that is a direct result of living UPSIDE down. I mean the total opposite way of how God intends on us handling situations and looking at our positions in the now. We get a back pain and we don't look at it and say "I'm healed in Jesus name!" because the word tells me "by his stripes we WERE healed..". but we rush to go to the doctors to get a synthetic drug to numb the pain instead of reading carefully the words WERE healed (not just the pain gone, the problem too!), meaning when Jesus died and rose again through that power he healed us, it's already done it's just waiting on you to claim it like you do a tax return. Its like a written check just waiting to be cashed, from the bank of God signed in the healing blood of Jesus Christ.... I just said something.....
This way of thinking comes from feeding the Spiritman. Feed the spirit man and it feeds the soul and your body has to line up with it automatically. HAS TO, God said it has to, God gave you that spirit that soul and that body, He who created all RULES all. Feeding your spiritman takes discipline, reading your bible studying it, praying in the holy spirit, geez praying period, the rest will come. Speaking the positives in your life and calling out things that aren't as though they are. Don't build your spiritman up and your problems and circumstances will overtake you, build up your spiritman and blessing will overtake you. By putting your spiritman first and building him up it determines who you are going to be and not what your body or situations say you are. Your body has to listen to your spiritman and your mind has to as well. Spiritman first. Think of a flow chart. What's at the top of that flow chart for you? What's most important to you and what foundation is it built on? For me it has shifted from my financial worries and my problems and my emotions controlling how I live and how I react and what I do next, to the total opposite. God I'm not moving on a decision until I hear from you. I pray about stuff, I read what God said about my stuff in the word, How I'm suppose to react. I control my words to the best of my ability, speaking no negatives or unemployed words that would prevent my body and mind lining up under my spiritman. Because my spiritman knows what the outcome should be my spiritman knows where to go for the answer. My spiritman knows what God expects me to do and if I speak out something that is anti-productive and against the will of God for my life I have stunted and delayed my growth and my blessing.
Put God's will at the top of your flow chart. Put your spiritman up there because all in all that's God's will. Look into the word study what God has for you. How to handle how to speak and how to pray. Take ALL things to God in prayer! nothing too big or too small. Nothing comes easy. It takes practice, it takes a consistent drive towards your goal to see the results and the fruit of your labor. If the only thing you get from doing that is joy consider yourself blessed. If the only thing you get from doing that is knowledge, consider yourself blessed. But I guarantee you it won't be in vain. Allow yourself to think that if you are a spiritman first that your experience is just earthly and natural of this world. God rules all because he created it, so everything has to go according to how he says when he is called upon (favor to your spiritman). If your a natural being living a spiritual experience then all the natural or earthly things that happen to you are so because you are putting your natural first before God and before your spiritman. That results in struggle and chasing blessings.
Put God first and line up your spiritman with him and it will seem that all natural things fade away and die off on your list of importance and blessings will seem like an EVERYDAY experience. My goal right now is to keep thinking of my spiritman and what he looks like to determine why things are going the way they are. If he's shriveled up and I'm going through some stuff, ding ding found the problem. Satan will attack you as you build your spiritman up because he knows you're one bad mamma jamma when your spiritman looks like a roided out body builder. He'll try to stop that with some junk along the way, that's the name of the game, that's why he's there, to thort God's plans for our lives. Don't support his plans by passing on God's. Don't put off what God has for your one more day, start working that spiritman out! Get him big! Forget the distractions of life. Look to God and mind&body have to line up... God made you in his image, he blueprinted your being, he knows how it works the best and what it was made for. Make sure you're not shoveling snow with a yard rake.
+Proverbs 18:14 The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?
+Job 32:4 But there is a spirit in a man, and the breath of the Almighty give him[spirit] understanding
+John3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
- Insert: Your natural experience or problem is born of your natural based mind and actions, but those born of the Spirit[Holy] result in spirit things[God's will for you, blessing] <---Only way they come people!
+1Corinthians 2:11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God
+Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits
+Proverbs 17:27 He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit
+Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things you wish.
-Insert: Natural and Spirit are opposing wills and direction of life so that you can't just do whatever you feel is right. If your spiritman is upheld the thing of the flesh will seem of no value but if you feed the natural or flesh things of the spirit will seem of no value. ew spiritual gifts and blessing and God's will not of value?!?! whoa, DIE FLESH!
+Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit
+1Corinthians 2:13 These things we also speak, not in words which mans wisdom teaches us but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
-Insert: Build the Spiritman up by praying in the Holy Spirit!! God's wisdom not yours or the worlds
+James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also
+Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me
-Insert: PRAYER
....one last one......
+Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
WOW doesn't get much better than that promise right there people. The word said it not me!
I hope these are helping people. Like I said in the beginning I'm trying this out in hope that it will help someone and I'm not jabbering to myself, although doing these even helps me tremendously and sometimes find myself ministering to myself lol, whatever it takes God!
hope this helps :)
mnixon33
Friday, February 10, 2012
The Christian experiment...
Over the last few months I've been able to sit back and be involved in some heavy dicussions of just what exactly it means to be a christian but more importantly how christians are supposed to act, believe, conduct themselves...Here's my thought, there is a blueprint mapped out in the bible in which all those things are dealt with for the "foundation" in which we are to do those things. BUT God who made us individuals, unique in our own way, one that blesses us with different abilities, capabilities, different humor, looks, different EVERYTHING. If we were to shove everybody into what we personally believe christians are supposed to be it would just be a individual tyrannical CULT. See the beautiful thing about being a believer is that along with the structure and foundation of the word of God we each live it in a different way. We all have different problems, different family, different starting positions, and most of all God gave each individual "free will". When you take that all into consideration I believe there isn't ONE way to live as a christian and that being said we as believers can't snuff another believer or judge them for how they handle a situation or how they respond to action against them. We as believers are to lift up our brother/sisters in christ. If you see them stumble pick them up. Don't by any means put them down. Don't force them in to being accountable to your interpretations of your beliefs of how christians should act. If we all acted like Marty and how Marty believed christians should act we wouldn't have christians we would have a Marty CULT. In this comes knowing that each of us has a personal responsibility to get into the word of God see how it tells us to live, how to conduct ourselves, and what we believe. Then that personal responsibility transfers over to actually living it! That's the hard part and that's what Jesus Christ died on the cross for. You messing up.
God gives us our own revelations of himself and about us each unique and individually so that we can take that revelation and share it, or put it to use in our lives. If you aren't receiving revelation in your life from God I encourage you to start praying before you read your bible that God gives you understanding and advanced knowledge of what your are about to read. He'll show you the way as you allow (free will) him to. Experience something that no one else has......share what God does for you, it might just help someone. You are unique and your revelations and your Godly experiences will be too, so share it with someone it might just turn their situation around. As you live the best way you know how through the word of God and you get deeper, my pastor says "People will hate you, christians will attack you". Why is this??? As you start living the word of God it changes you. You become who God intended on you being. Becoming holy and righteous takes a lot of work and I can't really say we will reach it in entirety while we are on this earth but I know one thing He is able. People recognize this and in their human nature lash out at people that "think they're better than everyone else" but thats not it God's just working... As you try he smiles. So keep trying and if you feel like judging someone stop, think, what they might be going through, what you've been through, show LOVE pure and nonjudgemental. Not everyone is bad not all christians are hypocritical, maybe they are going through something that they just need prayer for. Don't fit them into your beliefs, if they lack knowledge and understanding and you can provide it don't withhold it. Pick your brother or sister up. You once needed picked up. You once needed guidance. You struggled.
In my experience right now with the love of God I feel weird.....It's not how I would normally react to situations. It's not like the old me that would throw faults of others up to mask my own insecurities and short-comings. Looking FEAR in the face and saying FAITH! this isn't me....Looking at my situation and saying "ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO THEM THAT BELIEVE"! but I rather lay in my sorrow and pillow my head on depression's shoulder...."YET in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us"Romans 8:37 yeah but that giant is BIG..... All these things I knew and didn't use. Some God gave me revelation through my experience and getting into my word. Real situations have Real problems and God has real LOVE. Having the love of God in your heart and using towards others is the best gift you can give someone and the best gift you can give yourself. Focus on loving others and God will love on you.
I know this post is probably scatter brained jumble but I just feel someone sometime today or in the future really needs to hear (read) these things.
+ 2 Thessalonians 3:5- Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
+1 John 3:17- But whoever has the worlds goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
+John 15:9- As the Father loved me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
+1 John 2:10- He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him
one last one...
+Job 4:4- Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, And you have strengthened the feeble knees.
Read through these versus a couple times. Strengthen yourself with the word of God. Let him change you from the inside out, you'll be glad you did. I know that I haven't truly been this happy in my life, no lie! I also have been through the roughest two years of my life, and all the while his grace held me, his mercy followed me. How can you say that you are going through the roughest time in your life but you are the happiest you've ever been? Because I just want God to love on me. I want to make him happy not myself. I want his desires not my own. The reason I went through the roughest journey was because I was signing off on things in my life that were supposed to be God's. I was "forging checks" from God's bank account. NOW I'm letting him sign them, I'm letting him guide me, I'm lining my desires for me up with his desires for me. Happiest and most blessed I've ever been and It's only going to get better as He gives me guidance and wisdom in dealing things of this world I do not understand.
Take a moment today and hand something over to God. Something you've been holding on to for a long time. Your life, your finances, your children, your job, your struggles, your burdens, your strongholds, hand them over, try God. Stop signing your name to stuff that doesn't belong to you, you are not your own, give it to him let him put his signature on your life. He does it PERFECTLY!
Hope this helps :)
mnixon33
God gives us our own revelations of himself and about us each unique and individually so that we can take that revelation and share it, or put it to use in our lives. If you aren't receiving revelation in your life from God I encourage you to start praying before you read your bible that God gives you understanding and advanced knowledge of what your are about to read. He'll show you the way as you allow (free will) him to. Experience something that no one else has......share what God does for you, it might just help someone. You are unique and your revelations and your Godly experiences will be too, so share it with someone it might just turn their situation around. As you live the best way you know how through the word of God and you get deeper, my pastor says "People will hate you, christians will attack you". Why is this??? As you start living the word of God it changes you. You become who God intended on you being. Becoming holy and righteous takes a lot of work and I can't really say we will reach it in entirety while we are on this earth but I know one thing He is able. People recognize this and in their human nature lash out at people that "think they're better than everyone else" but thats not it God's just working... As you try he smiles. So keep trying and if you feel like judging someone stop, think, what they might be going through, what you've been through, show LOVE pure and nonjudgemental. Not everyone is bad not all christians are hypocritical, maybe they are going through something that they just need prayer for. Don't fit them into your beliefs, if they lack knowledge and understanding and you can provide it don't withhold it. Pick your brother or sister up. You once needed picked up. You once needed guidance. You struggled.
In my experience right now with the love of God I feel weird.....It's not how I would normally react to situations. It's not like the old me that would throw faults of others up to mask my own insecurities and short-comings. Looking FEAR in the face and saying FAITH! this isn't me....Looking at my situation and saying "ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO THEM THAT BELIEVE"! but I rather lay in my sorrow and pillow my head on depression's shoulder...."YET in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us"Romans 8:37 yeah but that giant is BIG..... All these things I knew and didn't use. Some God gave me revelation through my experience and getting into my word. Real situations have Real problems and God has real LOVE. Having the love of God in your heart and using towards others is the best gift you can give someone and the best gift you can give yourself. Focus on loving others and God will love on you.
I know this post is probably scatter brained jumble but I just feel someone sometime today or in the future really needs to hear (read) these things.
+ 2 Thessalonians 3:5- Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
+1 John 3:17- But whoever has the worlds goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
+John 15:9- As the Father loved me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
+1 John 2:10- He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him
one last one...
+Job 4:4- Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, And you have strengthened the feeble knees.
Read through these versus a couple times. Strengthen yourself with the word of God. Let him change you from the inside out, you'll be glad you did. I know that I haven't truly been this happy in my life, no lie! I also have been through the roughest two years of my life, and all the while his grace held me, his mercy followed me. How can you say that you are going through the roughest time in your life but you are the happiest you've ever been? Because I just want God to love on me. I want to make him happy not myself. I want his desires not my own. The reason I went through the roughest journey was because I was signing off on things in my life that were supposed to be God's. I was "forging checks" from God's bank account. NOW I'm letting him sign them, I'm letting him guide me, I'm lining my desires for me up with his desires for me. Happiest and most blessed I've ever been and It's only going to get better as He gives me guidance and wisdom in dealing things of this world I do not understand.
Take a moment today and hand something over to God. Something you've been holding on to for a long time. Your life, your finances, your children, your job, your struggles, your burdens, your strongholds, hand them over, try God. Stop signing your name to stuff that doesn't belong to you, you are not your own, give it to him let him put his signature on your life. He does it PERFECTLY!
Hope this helps :)
mnixon33
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
He gave you His best...
Today during my reading I was reminded of a sermon (more of a offering teaching) made by my Pastor. It was to say "What do we give God?". But it wasn't just about money as a lot of non-believers and a lot of believers think church offering and tithes are. No this time it was dealing with our expectancy of God and how we take problems and requests to him but what do we GIVE him.
I'm challenging you to think of this one thing the rest of this week, HE GAVE HIS BEST. He gave you his son (John 3:16). The famous verse that you see all over even at sporting events, that you heard in vacation bible school when you were a kid. But what does it really mean? If you're a parent, in which any day I'll be welcoming my third into this world, then you know how much a child means to their parents. The love and innocence that pours from them like a fountain, trusting in every move you make. A parents love for their child that "if anyone harms this kid I tell you what...". Protection, guidance, and love are all the things we think about providing for them. We never "really" think of giving them away, even though some times I tell ya..lol.. Why on earth would I give my child away??? To a less fortunate family?!? But what if they mistreat him/her? What if they don't know how to handle him/her? They don't know their dislikes and likes. They can't support my child the way I support him/her. They don't know what my child means to me! It's hard as I think of those questions and couple it with HE GAVE HIS BEST how he was treated, not only that but how we treat God post crucifix/resurrection.... Chew on that for a minute, it's hard to swallow, but let it digest... He gave his best and in return "What do we give God?"..
We often don't want to go to church because "we're tired". We don't give tithes because "we can't afford it". We don't want to witness because "well God didn't call me to be an evangelist". We don't read our bible because "I really don't have the time". We find excuses of why we can't give God ANYTHING. Here it comes, BUT we are the first to call his name in vain when something doesn't go our way or the exact way we thought it should of. We are the first to say "I will do anything God you just take this burden from me!". "I will never do this again if you save me this one time!". And when it doesn't go your way God is the first to blame...you have free will right? God gave it to you to choose. You choose what you give God.
It's not all gloom and doom he also gives us mercy. Mercy for things we do, forgiveness for things we've done. He gives us his word for the guidance so we don't have to over use those things as well, or use them AS much. We will fall, gauranteed, it's getting back up that's the problem. But in turn he gives us a way to get back up (the answers are in his word{bible}, promise). See he gave us EVERYTHING. But there is only one way to be able to receive those things.....by accepting that HE GAVE HIS BEST. Now the full version of what we've seen and heard our whole lives.
John 3:16NKJV (RED LETTERS[Jesus said])- For God so Loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.
See he came to save you, he was given over to the world for you. God gave him to us, but for what purpose. to be crucified and pay the ultimate price for what we toy around with when things don't go our way?? See he was beaten, mistreated, downcast, excommunicated, plotted against, betrayed, starved, stabbed, and hung on a cross... That's not the way I would ever want my child to be treated if I gave them as a gift to someone...But he did it to save you, he did it all for you. Because God gave you Jesus and he fulfilled prophecy you are now able to call on God in the name of Jesus Christ and be forgiven.
That being said let's all do a better job of giving God our best. Our best "Thank you"s when we open our eyes in the morning, that he gave us another day. Our best offerings above our required tithes. Our best attitude towards other and our attitude toward our own situations. Let's give God the best of our time, may it be in prayer or worship or getting into the word of God. Let's step our game up this year in giving to God instead of taking. God will reward us for giving not only to others but to him. He is faithful and I guarantee if you take these step towards him and being the person he's called you to be, he"ll prove himself true to you.
It may seem hard at times but remember at these time that GOD GAVE HIS BEST.
Isaiah 53:5- But He was wounded for transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Hope this helps :)
mnixon33
I'm challenging you to think of this one thing the rest of this week, HE GAVE HIS BEST. He gave you his son (John 3:16). The famous verse that you see all over even at sporting events, that you heard in vacation bible school when you were a kid. But what does it really mean? If you're a parent, in which any day I'll be welcoming my third into this world, then you know how much a child means to their parents. The love and innocence that pours from them like a fountain, trusting in every move you make. A parents love for their child that "if anyone harms this kid I tell you what...". Protection, guidance, and love are all the things we think about providing for them. We never "really" think of giving them away, even though some times I tell ya..lol.. Why on earth would I give my child away??? To a less fortunate family?!? But what if they mistreat him/her? What if they don't know how to handle him/her? They don't know their dislikes and likes. They can't support my child the way I support him/her. They don't know what my child means to me! It's hard as I think of those questions and couple it with HE GAVE HIS BEST how he was treated, not only that but how we treat God post crucifix/resurrection.... Chew on that for a minute, it's hard to swallow, but let it digest... He gave his best and in return "What do we give God?"..
We often don't want to go to church because "we're tired". We don't give tithes because "we can't afford it". We don't want to witness because "well God didn't call me to be an evangelist". We don't read our bible because "I really don't have the time". We find excuses of why we can't give God ANYTHING. Here it comes, BUT we are the first to call his name in vain when something doesn't go our way or the exact way we thought it should of. We are the first to say "I will do anything God you just take this burden from me!". "I will never do this again if you save me this one time!". And when it doesn't go your way God is the first to blame...you have free will right? God gave it to you to choose. You choose what you give God.
It's not all gloom and doom he also gives us mercy. Mercy for things we do, forgiveness for things we've done. He gives us his word for the guidance so we don't have to over use those things as well, or use them AS much. We will fall, gauranteed, it's getting back up that's the problem. But in turn he gives us a way to get back up (the answers are in his word{bible}, promise). See he gave us EVERYTHING. But there is only one way to be able to receive those things.....by accepting that HE GAVE HIS BEST. Now the full version of what we've seen and heard our whole lives.
John 3:16NKJV (RED LETTERS[Jesus said])- For God so Loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.
See he came to save you, he was given over to the world for you. God gave him to us, but for what purpose. to be crucified and pay the ultimate price for what we toy around with when things don't go our way?? See he was beaten, mistreated, downcast, excommunicated, plotted against, betrayed, starved, stabbed, and hung on a cross... That's not the way I would ever want my child to be treated if I gave them as a gift to someone...But he did it to save you, he did it all for you. Because God gave you Jesus and he fulfilled prophecy you are now able to call on God in the name of Jesus Christ and be forgiven.
That being said let's all do a better job of giving God our best. Our best "Thank you"s when we open our eyes in the morning, that he gave us another day. Our best offerings above our required tithes. Our best attitude towards other and our attitude toward our own situations. Let's give God the best of our time, may it be in prayer or worship or getting into the word of God. Let's step our game up this year in giving to God instead of taking. God will reward us for giving not only to others but to him. He is faithful and I guarantee if you take these step towards him and being the person he's called you to be, he"ll prove himself true to you.
It may seem hard at times but remember at these time that GOD GAVE HIS BEST.
Isaiah 53:5- But He was wounded for transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Hope this helps :)
mnixon33
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
All things new...
2011 dealt some serious blows to us all and it wouldn't be hard to imagine if it had put you in the biggest funk of your life. That being said I don't believe I could of...wait... I KNOW I wouldn't of made it without knowing there was something, somewhere out there watching over me. I grew up in a christian family and it has always been God the father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit that was out there doing the impossible of watching over me. As I went astray from what I believed and knew was true to my heart not just because of what I was taught but because of my close spiritual incounters with God and the Holy spirit in my teenage years. This blog is reaction to a friend telling me "You should do a daily devotional blog, I'd subscribe". It's new to me because I'm a private person really, but I figure if my intentions of this blog are to inspire and give some food for thought on a semi-daily schedule and use my experiences and my growth and revelation God gives me straight from his word to help others...well.... why not. It's a take it or leave it type of thing. It's not here to push my beliefs on anyone or really to even debate what I say, just a "hey this is what works for me and this is what I believe and this is what I'm thinking.
So moving forward I'm going to try this thing out and if I see it's helping anyone or if I'm typing into the black abiss.lol.
First one for today is a simple verse I taught my daughter to memorize for ice cream...
*Phillipians 4:13- I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me."
I believe this is essential to not only having faith but to BELIEVING that he gives us everything we ask for in accordance to his will and his desires for our lives (his will). Nothing is impossible because as you exercise your faith it strengthens you. "All things" doesn't mean anything you want but I believe that in this context it hits home that when your down and out and all hell is against you, you sometimes feel like "What's the use, forget it, I quit!" In these times we often give up on our goals on our daily responsibilities and our faith. This verse is simple telling us reach to God with your faith not the things of this world. In doing that God will give you the peace needed and the strength needed to acheive what ever it is you have set your mind to. So remember when thing get tight, when things get hectic, when you feel like giving up GO TO GOD! He'll give you the strength to get it done!
#1 Hope it helps :)
MNixon33
So moving forward I'm going to try this thing out and if I see it's helping anyone or if I'm typing into the black abiss.lol.
First one for today is a simple verse I taught my daughter to memorize for ice cream...
*Phillipians 4:13- I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me."
I believe this is essential to not only having faith but to BELIEVING that he gives us everything we ask for in accordance to his will and his desires for our lives (his will). Nothing is impossible because as you exercise your faith it strengthens you. "All things" doesn't mean anything you want but I believe that in this context it hits home that when your down and out and all hell is against you, you sometimes feel like "What's the use, forget it, I quit!" In these times we often give up on our goals on our daily responsibilities and our faith. This verse is simple telling us reach to God with your faith not the things of this world. In doing that God will give you the peace needed and the strength needed to acheive what ever it is you have set your mind to. So remember when thing get tight, when things get hectic, when you feel like giving up GO TO GOD! He'll give you the strength to get it done!
#1 Hope it helps :)
MNixon33
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