Romans 12:9-21
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it it is written: "It is mine to avenge, I will repay", says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head". Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Shattered Heart
First let me start by saying, there is one person that this blog is based upon, you know who you are. I just want you to know that I'm not saying I'm mad, angry, or upset with you and I still greatly care about you but the best way for me to get everything off my chest is to write about it. So here it goes, I thought I was in love and that I had found the girl I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I know that is a lot to say for only being in this relationship for 11 months but I was so happy during the first 8 months of it, it felt like I was on top of the world. I had found a girl who was passionate about the same things that I was and I was in the first relationship where I felt like I didn't have change the other person. On a scale of 1-10, my happiness level was a 11.5. Everybody would always say, they make such a cute couple and everytime I heard that, I felt like God definitely wanted me to be in this relationship. Maybe he still does but for now, he wants me to give my heart fully to him. The last few days have not been easy for me at all and I know it's going to take a while for my heart to fully heal because when I look back on this relationship, it hurts to know that we were so close and now I don't even know what we are. I spent almost a year getting to know you, trying to be your best friend, and to be that friend that you could talk to about anything, and now, after the last few months, I feel like I'm not even an acquaintance. I don't know why this happened or how it happened but what I do know is that my heart is now left in a million pieces. I also know that somehow, somewhere, God is going to use this in some way and that I will eventually be the person I once was, but right now, all I can think about is how I don't want to lose you as a friend because you mean so much to me. This is not the first time my heart has been broken and it probably won't be the last but I'm tired of feeling like I'm always giving myself completely to any relationship that I enter and all I get in return is a broken heart and an ache the size of Texas in my stomach. I know that God created me to have a huge heart because everyone close to me says how big it is, but I can't help but think that it was my heart that deceived me and led tohere I am right now. I spent so much time putting all of me into this relationship in hopes that you would do the same, which on some level you did, but obviously, we were not on the same page like we had been for a while and that hurts so much. I would never wish any ill will on you but I do hope that you do take some time to reflect back on the last year and do some real soul searching. I know I'm a different person and stronger because of it, I hope and pray that you are too and that you realize your worth in this world. Also never forget that you don't have to do anything alone, you have a choice and you have the support to make that choice not by yourself, but with those who love you.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Forgiveness
Let me tell you a story about Sally and Johnny. When Johnny was just a boy at age five, he received his first slingshot. Johnny loved this slingshot and he took it with him everywhere. His sister, Sally, and himself lived with their grandma. One day, Johnny came home excited to use his slingshot and there it was, his grandma's pet duck. Johnny took his slingshot, aimed, and shot the duck. Johnny was freakinng out because he killed his grandma's pet duck and didn't know how she would react. So Johnny took the duck and buried it in the backyard. As he turns around, he sees his sister standing right there who saw the whole thing. So later that night at dinner, grandma asks Sally to do the dishes but sally says, oh no, Johnny and I figured it all out so he is going to do the dishes. Johnny tries to speak out but Sally says, remember the duck so he is forced to do the dishes. The next day, Grandpa says he needs Sally help fishing, but once again, sally forces Johnny to go with grandpa. The next day, grandma tells Sally she needs to do her chores. Needless to say, she once again forces Johnny to do all her chores. Johnny, so filled with grief and guilt, finally confesses to his grandma that he shot her duck with his slingshot. Grandma looks at him and says, "I know, I saw the whole thing, I was just curious how long you were going to be a slave to your sister"
Wow, what a story!! In this story, Grandma represents Jesus and Sally represents Johnny's grief and guilt. Grandma didn't care that he shot her duck, she cared that Johnny was allowing his guilt and grief to consume him. Why do you think God throws a party when you realize his forgiveness and accept it?There's not one thing we do that is ever going to surprise God. He is forgiveness that lasts a lifetime and he will never cease giving it out. It goes on and on and all he wants for us is to realize our sins, confess them, and accept his forgiveness. It's right there waiting for us, all we do is have to accept it!!
Wow, what a story!! In this story, Grandma represents Jesus and Sally represents Johnny's grief and guilt. Grandma didn't care that he shot her duck, she cared that Johnny was allowing his guilt and grief to consume him. Why do you think God throws a party when you realize his forgiveness and accept it?There's not one thing we do that is ever going to surprise God. He is forgiveness that lasts a lifetime and he will never cease giving it out. It goes on and on and all he wants for us is to realize our sins, confess them, and accept his forgiveness. It's right there waiting for us, all we do is have to accept it!!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Words of wisdom
Matthew 5:16: In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.
Matthew 5: 18-19: I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commandments will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 5: 25: Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Matthew 5: 29-30: If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown in hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose on part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Matthew 5: 34-37: Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' by 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Matthew 5: 39-42: Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Matthew 5:43-45: You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy". But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may by sons of your Father in Heaven. He causes his son to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Matthew 6: 1-4: Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6: 9-14: This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we have also forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' " For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive you.
Matthew 6: 17-18: But when you fast, put oil onn our head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6: 19-21: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6: 25, 33-34: Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 7: 1-5: " Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Matthew 7: 7-8: Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks find, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7: 13-14: Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7: 15-20: Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit. A good true canno bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Matthew 7: 24-29: Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet id did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell down with a great crash. When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Matthew 5: 18-19: I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commandments will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 5: 25: Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Matthew 5: 29-30: If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown in hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose on part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Matthew 5: 34-37: Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' by 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Matthew 5: 39-42: Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Matthew 5:43-45: You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy". But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may by sons of your Father in Heaven. He causes his son to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Matthew 6: 1-4: Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6: 9-14: This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we have also forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' " For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive you.
Matthew 6: 17-18: But when you fast, put oil onn our head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6: 19-21: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6: 25, 33-34: Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 7: 1-5: " Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Matthew 7: 7-8: Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks find, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7: 13-14: Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7: 15-20: Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit. A good true canno bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Matthew 7: 24-29: Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet id did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell down with a great crash. When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Outcast
Judged
Forgotten
Pushed away
Scorned
Each day I slowly waste away inside
God's love is a mystery to me
From all my friends, I hide
Because of my choice, I pay the fee
To all my friends, I am the outcast
To my family, I am a disappointment
How much longer will this last?
I am desperately searching for my divine appointment
Jesus, now I understand how you felt
when you were brutally punished for my sin
Now into your hands and heart, I melt
In your family, I am forever in
No longer an outsider
Forever I will speak of your love
My burden, now a lot lighter
I soar to the heavens like a dove
Forever I will rest in your arms and comfort
Never to forget how your love came into my life and rescued me!!
Forgotten
Pushed away
Scorned
Each day I slowly waste away inside
God's love is a mystery to me
From all my friends, I hide
Because of my choice, I pay the fee
To all my friends, I am the outcast
To my family, I am a disappointment
How much longer will this last?
I am desperately searching for my divine appointment
Jesus, now I understand how you felt
when you were brutally punished for my sin
Now into your hands and heart, I melt
In your family, I am forever in
No longer an outsider
Forever I will speak of your love
My burden, now a lot lighter
I soar to the heavens like a dove
Forever I will rest in your arms and comfort
Never to forget how your love came into my life and rescued me!!
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