Change

"To everything there is a season under heaven, a time for every purpose under the heaven."  

                                                                                                                         Ecclesiastes 3:1 

There are four seasons in a year here in America- Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Each season is different. Spring is the time of new growth. Summer is the time for prospering and strengthening. Fall is the time of change. Winter is a time to reflect good times and memories.

The most toughest season in our lives is change. Change can hurt. Change can be sad, yes very sad. But then change can also be a good thing. I believe that God allows us to experience change to show us how fleeting our lives are.  What are we doing with our lives right now?

This (my) generation is so full of social media and selfishness, and everywhere I turn somebody is always on some sort of electronic device. I'm not saying that it is wrong to have Facebook, Gmail, Instagram, Pinterest (boy that can be addicting!), etc. But the only question I have is, can I (or they) be doing something more useful in this life for Christ? You know, its not at all easy trying to get my priorities right and trying to have a real relationship with God because I end up getting sidetracked into checking messages and that endless stream of great things on Pinterest instead of increasing my knowledge of the God's word. Its a constant battle! As posted in my previous blog post, I am posting this verse again in entirety,

"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." Galatians 5:17-18 

Put away fleshly things and focus on what is important, ask God to help you through this. By His strength you will prevail . 


<3 

Christ in the Center

As time goes on I feel the need of more of Christ in my life. To be completely honest with you I feel like I am a hypocrite sometimes, saying one thing and doing the opposite. I always tell myself that I am going to wake up before the sun rises (never happened yet) and have a great prayer life, a consistent bible reading schedule and the list could go on... But yet I feel like something is keeping me from doing it. Like it is said in Galatians 5:17,

"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."  

I need to conquer this, but how do I conquer something when my whole life is inconsistent and full of uncertainties? I know God has us where He wants us to be right now, but how can I make my life worth living for Him? 

As a pastor once said in one of his sermons (paraphrase), "Without Christ in the center of our lives we are nothing. But with Christ in the center we have already had laid all our troubles and trials down and are depending on Him for our salvation, our only hope in this world. "

 I really need to ask God to give me the patience and strength to start doing what I should be doing. 

Something to try....

1. Set your alarm at a reasonable time (reasonable time means that you don't wake up at like three in the morning)
2. Grab a cup of coffee (or tea)
3. Open up to Genesis 1:1 and work at it everyday. Or go through the Morning and Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon (which I'm working through at the moment).

Maybe try downloading an actual reading schedule where you could get a feel what its like to perhaps read through the whole bible in one-two years.  Here is a good link to find downloadable and printable reading schedules: http://www.mcheyne.info/calendar.pdf

If you have anything you want to add to this please let me know in the comments below!

a lamp to my path............

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God, in him will I trust."                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                          Psalm 91:1-2 

It is always a comfort to a believer that they have somewhere to go in a time of distress or difficulty. 

Life without Christ is very much like walking down a dark path not knowing where to place your steps, always scared that the next step would be your last. 

But there is hope to all that believe that Christ died and was risen again on the third day! As believers we have no fear walking down that dark path only if we follow the light trusting it to take us safely through.....

Remember in times of trouble, continue to trust God even though you cannot see into the future, that is after all what faith is about. You may have lost things that you held very dear to your heart like a loved one, but please understand this is God's providence. As hard as providence can be we need to remember that God's will be done. He will make everything right in the end, so be patient dear Christian!