Romans 15:13

Confidence. I have struggled with confidence for so long. I will be honest and say I am struggling with it today as I sit here and write this. Fingers were pointed, degrading remarks made, life seemingly made difficult because of a lack of communication... and now confidence. All of this done because of fleshly desires... because of the dark areas in man. And Satan uses it against me... a struggle I have faced so long... the battle of a lifetime. My confidence in me is a bit low... but that is because my heart is focused on me. Refocusing on Christ and confidence can soar. Peace and joy abound through the gift of grace and love. Focus on Him who loves me, the One who holds me and never lets go. Confidence once again begins to be restored through the one who loves me.
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"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."

~*Romans 15:13 (NLT)*~

1 Peter 4:8

One of my favorite songs at this point in time, other than "Can't Get Over You", is "Hold Us Together" by Matt Maher. Love will hold us together. It brings peace and healing. Love gives life. In my own life love saved me, not just spiritually but it literally saved my life. Friends, sisters, brothers... a love for Jesus... looking past my failures, filth, and their own feelings and desires, they loved me. That love led me to Christ and saved my life in more ways than I could ever have imagined. Christ's love covered all of my sin. My friends' love looked past that sin to the desires of Christ. Not only does the love poured out on the cross cover my sin, but the love for the One on the cross gives life, not just to the loving but to the loved. Love holds us together.
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"Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins."

~*1 Peter 4:8 (NLT)*~

Romans 10:14-15

I love to reflect. I love to think. Sometimes it happens maybe a little much but that may not always be a bad thing. This weekend was one of those times. Not only was it the first weekend I have had to just sit back and reflect but it also held an abundance of thoughts and meaningful conversations. There was the long overdue two hour hangout/conversation with my best friend and then listening to a friend talk about a trip he is taking in the very near future to teach the English language in a foreign land. Tomorrow there will be a meeting with yet another friend planning to travel to a foreign country, a friend's email about an opportunity to go overseas, and the multiple conversations about my hopes for a future (hopefully soon) trip to Haiti as well as my heart for returning to Africa some day. And God has amazed me with the generation I am a part of. This generation that is seemingly ruled by those who think with a deserving mentality and who seem to live with some sense of entitlement and selfishness. In the midst of this generation, from a selfish world, God has shown me hearts set apart for Him. He has taken hearts from a selfish generation and made them into hearts that want to make a difference, not just on earth. He has created these hearts to make a difference for His Kingdom.
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"But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!""

~*Romans 10:14-15 (NLT)*~

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Temptation beats up everyone. Even Jesus faced the trials of temptation. Different situations may be tempting to different people. Each faces their own but all face something. The good news is that God always gives us a way out. He never gives us more than we can handle and when we stick close to Him we can endure anything. We can conquer every situation because nothing is impossible for God. Temptations come in so many forms... we face them everyday around every corner whether it be food, sexual sin, anger, words, actions, thoughts, money, etc. Temptation comes in many shapes and forms. God gives us the ability to recognize and run, to choose the right from wrong, and to pray. He lights the way... gives us the opportunity to follow... gives us the option to endure. The choice is yours!
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"If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure."

~*1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NLT)*~

James 4:17

Today I had to stop and think... and it kind of caught me off guard. Most of the time I get myself into trouble by reacting, not for the lack of action. Most of the time I catch myself in sin because of my reaction to something as opposed to not acting on a push by the Spirit. I have felt the conviction before of not having done something that I maybe should have done. I have felt the pain in choosing to do one thing even though I knew something else was a better decision... even though I knew the other decision was the right choice, I chose not to follow up on it. The conviction and pain was sin. I have never thought of it as so, but that is what it is; a lack of compliance to God's plan or what He is telling me to do. It is sin I feel when I ignore the Holy Spirit's call towards one choice or another... either I do not do it or I choose to do something else. It is sin to ignore God's call... to choose to not do whatever it is God has, is, or will call me to do.
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"Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it."

~*James 4:17 (NLT)*~

Matthew 7:7-8

I have always been told that patience is a virtue... it is an amazing gift, not just to those around me but to myself as well. I know prayer changes things... nothing is impossible to God and He listens to those who love Him. So when you put the two together you have a persistent relationship with the one who knows all and can do all. He answers every prayer, just in His own time. We may not see the answer... but we may not be looking in the right places. A prayer is answered in an unexpected way... it is a yes, just maybe not the yes we want it to be. Persistence in a pursuit of God... patience in waiting... open eyes to see His blessing... open ears to hear His yes.
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"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."

~*Matthew 7:7-8 (NLT)*~

Colossians 1:13-14

Growing up, little kids always want a hero or to be the hero. Sometimes I wanted both, but most of the time I wanted to be rescued. There may still be some of that in my life today when I take a look at the movies and TV shows I like (the movies Taken and Unstoppable as well as the TV shows Chuck and CSI:Miami to name a few). What about real life?

I have a rescuer, redeemer, and a hero. He has rescued me from evil, saved me, and brought me into a safe place to restore and heal me. I have my hero in Christ Jesus who sacrificed more for more than any TV or movie star could imagine doing on the big screen. As hard as they may try, they will never portray that sacrifice and heroism as it truly is. Done out of love and not obligation to be a hero, Jesus became the best of all. He became a payment for freedom for all mankind.
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"For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins."

~*Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT)*~