God is determined to strip us of our strong tendency to be dependent on others, thereby teaching us self - reliace and God - reliance. The struggle truly begins not when men surround us, but rather when they forsake us. It's then that we begin to discover our own identity and self - worth.
~Jasmine
Monday, June 30, 2008
Worry (a silent sin)
In the Bible, we are told several times not to worry. In Matthew 6:34 Jesus told His followers "do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorow will worry about its own things. Each day has its own troubles". Again in Philipipians 4:6 we are told to "be anxious for nothing". Why then, as Christians, do we still stress over the everyday pressures of life?
If you are the type that worries (and we all do) then I suggest you stop now because whether you realize it or not, worry is a sin. It's a sin of lacking faith in God. God says that nothing by any means will ever harm us and there are no situations that are too hard for Him. Through the death of His son, He has already shown us that He loves us so there really is no reason for us to doubt Him.
But yet and still, we do. When you sit and worry about a problem, you are telling God that you don't believe He can or will come through for you. You're basically calling Him a liar. When we worry, we don't give God the full glory, honor, or attention that He deserves. The Lord tells us to meditate on good things (happiness, success, GOD.... for example). Furthermore He has already promised us that our futures are secure in Him.
"For I know the thoughts I have of you,"declares the Lord. "Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)
We as Christians have got to learn to take God at His word. This is called faith. And without faith it is impossible to please Him for he who comes to God must believe (see Hebrews 11:6).
It has been my experience that worrying never ever ever helps a situation. In most cases, it makes things worse. Take the story of Jesus walking on the water. When He approached His disciples Peter challenged Him, saying, "Lord if it is You, tell me to come to You on the water." Peter then gets out of the boat and starts walking toward Jesus on the water. But when he takes his eyes off Jesus and sees the wind and waves, he begins to sink.
The same thing happens to us when we worry. We start looking at the problem, and not the Problem Solver and our problems overcome us. For this same reason, Satan gains footholds in our lives. While your mind is off God, Satan starts to talk to you and tempt you. He starts off by pointing out your needs and picking at the problem that has you worried. Then he starts offering you ways to fix the issue. The only problem is, Satan offers to fix a legitimate need, in an illegitimate way. "Need more money? .... Go ahead and steal," he suggests. "Feeling unloved and lonely ..... have sex with him (just this one time) it won't hurt and besides, you need it." See the problem here? And the scary thing is, you're not looking at Jesus so you listen to him and go along with the devil's tricks. For indeed, had you ben looking at Jesus, you would've saw Him with His hands stretched out, begging you to keep pulling forward and reminding you of His promises. When you keep your focus on God, evrything else seems insignificant.
So I pose this question to you today, is there anything too hard for the Lord? If you said no (and actually believed it) then I challenge you today to stop worrying. Relax... God knows your needs. He has told us that if we take care of His business first, He will certainly take care of ours (see matthew 6:33). God says that when you start feeling stressed, pray and read the Word and His peace will overcome you. Don't make the mistake of sinking because you let God out of your sight.
~Jasmine
If you are the type that worries (and we all do) then I suggest you stop now because whether you realize it or not, worry is a sin. It's a sin of lacking faith in God. God says that nothing by any means will ever harm us and there are no situations that are too hard for Him. Through the death of His son, He has already shown us that He loves us so there really is no reason for us to doubt Him.
But yet and still, we do. When you sit and worry about a problem, you are telling God that you don't believe He can or will come through for you. You're basically calling Him a liar. When we worry, we don't give God the full glory, honor, or attention that He deserves. The Lord tells us to meditate on good things (happiness, success, GOD.... for example). Furthermore He has already promised us that our futures are secure in Him.
"For I know the thoughts I have of you,"declares the Lord. "Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)
We as Christians have got to learn to take God at His word. This is called faith. And without faith it is impossible to please Him for he who comes to God must believe (see Hebrews 11:6).
It has been my experience that worrying never ever ever helps a situation. In most cases, it makes things worse. Take the story of Jesus walking on the water. When He approached His disciples Peter challenged Him, saying, "Lord if it is You, tell me to come to You on the water." Peter then gets out of the boat and starts walking toward Jesus on the water. But when he takes his eyes off Jesus and sees the wind and waves, he begins to sink.
The same thing happens to us when we worry. We start looking at the problem, and not the Problem Solver and our problems overcome us. For this same reason, Satan gains footholds in our lives. While your mind is off God, Satan starts to talk to you and tempt you. He starts off by pointing out your needs and picking at the problem that has you worried. Then he starts offering you ways to fix the issue. The only problem is, Satan offers to fix a legitimate need, in an illegitimate way. "Need more money? .... Go ahead and steal," he suggests. "Feeling unloved and lonely ..... have sex with him (just this one time) it won't hurt and besides, you need it." See the problem here? And the scary thing is, you're not looking at Jesus so you listen to him and go along with the devil's tricks. For indeed, had you ben looking at Jesus, you would've saw Him with His hands stretched out, begging you to keep pulling forward and reminding you of His promises. When you keep your focus on God, evrything else seems insignificant.
So I pose this question to you today, is there anything too hard for the Lord? If you said no (and actually believed it) then I challenge you today to stop worrying. Relax... God knows your needs. He has told us that if we take care of His business first, He will certainly take care of ours (see matthew 6:33). God says that when you start feeling stressed, pray and read the Word and His peace will overcome you. Don't make the mistake of sinking because you let God out of your sight.
~Jasmine
Sunday, June 29, 2008
SWALLOWING MY PRIDE
I have so much pride it is ridiculous. I don't know how to apologize, and do the right thing when the other person won't. For instance, If someone stops talking to me, and I speak to them, and they don't speak back, I will never speak again. But thats how it should be right? That only makes sense. WRONG! Let me tell you one thing, doing the things the christian way, and the way the bible tells us never makes sense to our flesh, because the spirit and the flesh lusteth against one another so that they cannot do what the other wishes (a synopsis of Galations Ch. 5: v.17). This means that your LOGICAL response to an event is ALWAYS wrong. They don't speak to you when you speak to them, keep on speaking when you see them, they must eveentually come around. Even if they don't, you know that in Gods eyes YOU did the right thing, because you are responsible for your own soul.
Now knowing this is one thing, doing it is a whole 'nother ball park, field, and sport all together. I feel a tad like a hypocrite. Because I'm sharing the right thing with other people, but I rarely, and I mean RARELY do it. But thats just the enemy, I didn't write this just to help others, I wrote it to help myself. That through the word of God that I might be healed as well. So don't let the enemy trick you, and make you think that just because we (me and Jasmine) write a blog we are perfect. All sin as well as fall short of the glory of God (a synopsis of Romans 3:23). We are both on a journey, and we want to share that with you. That means our good times and bad, happy, and sad, flaws and all. COMMENT YOUR HEART OUT WE BOTH WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Email us at:
stepsoffaithblog@yahoo.com
Brandon
Now knowing this is one thing, doing it is a whole 'nother ball park, field, and sport all together. I feel a tad like a hypocrite. Because I'm sharing the right thing with other people, but I rarely, and I mean RARELY do it. But thats just the enemy, I didn't write this just to help others, I wrote it to help myself. That through the word of God that I might be healed as well. So don't let the enemy trick you, and make you think that just because we (me and Jasmine) write a blog we are perfect. All sin as well as fall short of the glory of God (a synopsis of Romans 3:23). We are both on a journey, and we want to share that with you. That means our good times and bad, happy, and sad, flaws and all. COMMENT YOUR HEART OUT WE BOTH WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Email us at:
stepsoffaithblog@yahoo.com
Brandon
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Love And Faithfulness
I don't know what direction this blog is going. I can't help but think that I'm a fool. For trusting people, for loving people, and for having faith in people. They almost never show me the saim in return. I smile and say I'm always here for them, but I get nothing in return. But then I remember that I need to be, I HAVE to be dependent on one persons faithfulness alone, one person's love alone. A love and a faithfullness that is far beyond any, love, faithfulness, and explanation of either that I can ever come up with. I am always trying to give that love and faithfullness to others, but I forget that when I need it, I can call on a name that makes evil shutter at the mere thought, and ask for comfort. But how do I become confident in this love and in this faithfullness? READING MY WORD, and I knew it from the beginning, but sometimes I am tired, I am sleepy, and sometimes I just don't want to read, but then I put it all into perspective, AM I GOING TO SPEND MY WHOLE LIFE SEARCHING FOR A LOVE AND FAITHFULLNESS I ALREADY HAVE, OR AM I GOING TO BE OK WITH THE ONE THAT CAN BE FAITHFUL AND LOVE ME LIKE NO OTHER? But to be quite honest with you, I haven't made a complete choice yet. I haven't committed my WHOLE self to diligently seeking God. But I do know that that doesn't come over night, but as I read my word and talk to him, NOT JUST IN BAD TIMES BUT IN THE GOOD, NOT JUST WHEN I'M SAD BUT WHEN I'M HAPPY, AND NOT JUST AFTER I MADE IT THROUGH BUT WHILE I'M STILL GOING THROUGH. I really want someone to relate, because I struggle with it daily. So keep in contact with us at stepsoffaithblog@yahoo.com, and comment as well. I wrote this to vent, and to help people realize that we ALL go through this at one time or another. People won't always, and can't always be what we want them to be, because they are human. But there is someone who will be what he promised. He was today, he was yesterday, he will be tomorrow and forever more. Be Blessed.
Brandon
Brandon
Friday, June 27, 2008
LET THEM GO YOU WON'T REGRET IT
So what. That should be your attitude when someone walks out of your life. So what. But thats not reality. Its hard when you know you have to let someone out of your life, or when someone walks out of your life, especially if you've been so attatched. But we need to let those people, and sometimes things, go.
We hear this alot but those people that want out, for reasons you can't control, LET THEM GO! The bible tells us in 1 John Ch. 2: v.9 (They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.) that if our friends were really for us, they would have stuck it out, been there for the long haul, whether times were good, bad, happy or sad. William MacDonald said in the Believer's Bible Commentary (a book I think we should all have) that true faith has the quality of permanence, that when TRUE belivers get together God will always be in the midst, and thats what God promised in the bible.
That person that walked out of your life, isn't of the believing sort, and thats ok. Because you will be there when they decide to come to God for themselves. You have to be, it says that in 1 John Ch. 3: v.16 (Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.) That means that now we know that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, which is love, we should show the same love for others, NO MATTER WHAT, even if they have shunned us.
EMAIL AND COMMENT US:
stepsoffaithblog@yahoo.com
Brandon
We hear this alot but those people that want out, for reasons you can't control, LET THEM GO! The bible tells us in 1 John Ch. 2: v.9 (They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.) that if our friends were really for us, they would have stuck it out, been there for the long haul, whether times were good, bad, happy or sad. William MacDonald said in the Believer's Bible Commentary (a book I think we should all have) that true faith has the quality of permanence, that when TRUE belivers get together God will always be in the midst, and thats what God promised in the bible.
That person that walked out of your life, isn't of the believing sort, and thats ok. Because you will be there when they decide to come to God for themselves. You have to be, it says that in 1 John Ch. 3: v.16 (Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.) That means that now we know that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, which is love, we should show the same love for others, NO MATTER WHAT, even if they have shunned us.
EMAIL AND COMMENT US:
stepsoffaithblog@yahoo.com
Brandon
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Ok, So I'm Stubborn
I can't speak with the experience of a pastor or that of a seasoned Bible scholar but there are some lessons you learn just by living so I won't quote theologists or experts in the field of Christianity. I am the expert on my own life and besides, personal experiene is more valuable than 10,000 quotes from a book. I think to understand this lesson, you have to know a little about my past.
I was always different, to say the least. As early as fifth grade I started noticing that I didn't act at all like my peers. While other kids lived for play time and hated with a passion anything academic, I was a bookworm. Even though I valued playtime too, I was way more passionate about books and numbers. I remember at the tender age of 8, I tried to master the Bible. I failed, if you could call it failing, because I couldn't really understand it.
As I grew older, the differences became painfully more apparent. I didn't talk like the other kids. I didn't dress like them and I definitely didn't think like them. I was always more "innocent" and much wiser. I didn't see the point or the appeal in half of what my friends did. I wasn't a social outcast though, just different and that prevented me from becoming fully "socially acceptable" in middle school. I was the only one of my peers who carried a Bible around in school (I got saved in grade 7) and of course people thought that was strange. I was too "good". I hated being so different.
After awhile (in highschool) my differences were less poignant. I became more accepted (very accepted actually) as I started to branch out and find other interests. I had more "friends" than ever before and I thought I was absolutely in love with my middle school sweetheart. Needless to say, I started forgetting about God as people began to open up to me and I to them.
God let me do my own thing for awhile and then He decided one day to start whipping me back into shape. And, oh, what a whipping it was!
He started off slowly. Just allowing a little stress and strife to creep up here and there. He was trying to get my attention: I didn't listen. So the issues became a little more pressing. Still, I ignored Him. There came a time when the things God was telling me were practically being screamed at me. I covered my ears and went my way. I felt that I knew what was best for me. I was only 16 but already very foolish and arrogant.
God changed that. In a matter of months He managed to strip me of my finances, my happiness, and worst of all my "beloved" boyfriend of two years. I felt that life was so unfair. I couldn't understand why He was punishing me. I thought I needed those things to make me me. I was wrong.
God showed me that I was way too dependent on other people. I was trying to keep up an image of having it all together and I was so desperate to do it that I was willing to compromise almost everything, even my faith.
He stopped me before I destroyed myself.
It took a long time before we saw any progress though. I was stubborn. I kept trying to go back to my old life but God kept letting me get hurt so that He could get my attention.
A few months ago, I finally decided to listen. Since that time, we've made huge strides. I've learned sooooo much over these last two years and it's funny because I didn' even realize how much I had learned until very recently (like right now). Happy to say that I've finally given God a complete "YES, LORD" and it feels so good.
My advice to anyone who is struggling with letting go and letting God is simple: God gives you a choice. You can choose to let it go or not but with every choice there is a consequence. If you choose to let go, God will come in and start working in your life like He never has before. On the other hand, if you're stubborn, God will come in and break you down first. He'll let you suffer because of the choices you make and eventually you'll get tired enough to let Him take over. No matter what choice you make though, God will have His way. And I could sit here and tell you to go the easy route but the truth is people are hardheaded and most of us are going to be stubborn and try to do it our way regardless. Don't worry, God is patient and He's capable of turning you around one way or another. I'm living proof.
~Jasmine
I was always different, to say the least. As early as fifth grade I started noticing that I didn't act at all like my peers. While other kids lived for play time and hated with a passion anything academic, I was a bookworm. Even though I valued playtime too, I was way more passionate about books and numbers. I remember at the tender age of 8, I tried to master the Bible. I failed, if you could call it failing, because I couldn't really understand it.
As I grew older, the differences became painfully more apparent. I didn't talk like the other kids. I didn't dress like them and I definitely didn't think like them. I was always more "innocent" and much wiser. I didn't see the point or the appeal in half of what my friends did. I wasn't a social outcast though, just different and that prevented me from becoming fully "socially acceptable" in middle school. I was the only one of my peers who carried a Bible around in school (I got saved in grade 7) and of course people thought that was strange. I was too "good". I hated being so different.
After awhile (in highschool) my differences were less poignant. I became more accepted (very accepted actually) as I started to branch out and find other interests. I had more "friends" than ever before and I thought I was absolutely in love with my middle school sweetheart. Needless to say, I started forgetting about God as people began to open up to me and I to them.
God let me do my own thing for awhile and then He decided one day to start whipping me back into shape. And, oh, what a whipping it was!
He started off slowly. Just allowing a little stress and strife to creep up here and there. He was trying to get my attention: I didn't listen. So the issues became a little more pressing. Still, I ignored Him. There came a time when the things God was telling me were practically being screamed at me. I covered my ears and went my way. I felt that I knew what was best for me. I was only 16 but already very foolish and arrogant.
God changed that. In a matter of months He managed to strip me of my finances, my happiness, and worst of all my "beloved" boyfriend of two years. I felt that life was so unfair. I couldn't understand why He was punishing me. I thought I needed those things to make me me. I was wrong.
God showed me that I was way too dependent on other people. I was trying to keep up an image of having it all together and I was so desperate to do it that I was willing to compromise almost everything, even my faith.
He stopped me before I destroyed myself.
It took a long time before we saw any progress though. I was stubborn. I kept trying to go back to my old life but God kept letting me get hurt so that He could get my attention.
A few months ago, I finally decided to listen. Since that time, we've made huge strides. I've learned sooooo much over these last two years and it's funny because I didn' even realize how much I had learned until very recently (like right now). Happy to say that I've finally given God a complete "YES, LORD" and it feels so good.
My advice to anyone who is struggling with letting go and letting God is simple: God gives you a choice. You can choose to let it go or not but with every choice there is a consequence. If you choose to let go, God will come in and start working in your life like He never has before. On the other hand, if you're stubborn, God will come in and break you down first. He'll let you suffer because of the choices you make and eventually you'll get tired enough to let Him take over. No matter what choice you make though, God will have His way. And I could sit here and tell you to go the easy route but the truth is people are hardheaded and most of us are going to be stubborn and try to do it our way regardless. Don't worry, God is patient and He's capable of turning you around one way or another. I'm living proof.
~Jasmine
LET IT GO
There are people who can walk from you. And hear me when I tell you this!
When people can walk away from you: let them walk.
I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached to you.
I mean hang up the phone.
When people can walk away from you let them walk.
Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left.
The Bible said that,"They came out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not for us. For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us." [1 John 2:19]
People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay.
Let them go.
And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person, it just means that their part in the story is over. And you've got to know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead. You've got to know when it's dead. You've got to know when it's over.
Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of good - bye. It's the tenth spiritual, gift, I believe in good - bye. It's not that I'm hateful; it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have, He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it. Stop begging people to stay.
Let them go!!
If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to . . . LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to past hurts and pains . . . LET IT GO!!!
If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth . . .LET IT GO!!!
If someone has angered you . . . LET IT GO!!!
If you are hanging on to some thoughts of evil and revenge . . . LET IT GO!!!
If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction . . . LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents . . . LET IT GO!!!
If you have a bad attitude. . . LET IT GO!!!
If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better . . . LET IT GO!!!
If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him. . . LET IT GO!!!
If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship. . . LET IT GO!!!
If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves. . . LET IT GO!!!
If you're feeling depressed and stressed. . . LET IT GO!!!
If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying, "Take your hands off of it," then you need to . . . LET IT GO!!!
Let the past be the past.Forget the former things.God is doing a new thing for 2008!!
LET IT GO!!!
~By the honorable Bishop T.D. Jakes
~Jasmine
When people can walk away from you: let them walk.
I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached to you.
I mean hang up the phone.
When people can walk away from you let them walk.
Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left.
The Bible said that,"They came out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not for us. For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us." [1 John 2:19]
People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay.
Let them go.
And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person, it just means that their part in the story is over. And you've got to know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead. You've got to know when it's dead. You've got to know when it's over.
Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of good - bye. It's the tenth spiritual, gift, I believe in good - bye. It's not that I'm hateful; it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have, He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it. Stop begging people to stay.
Let them go!!
If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to . . . LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to past hurts and pains . . . LET IT GO!!!
If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth . . .LET IT GO!!!
If someone has angered you . . . LET IT GO!!!
If you are hanging on to some thoughts of evil and revenge . . . LET IT GO!!!
If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction . . . LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents . . . LET IT GO!!!
If you have a bad attitude. . . LET IT GO!!!
If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better . . . LET IT GO!!!
If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him. . . LET IT GO!!!
If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship. . . LET IT GO!!!
If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves. . . LET IT GO!!!
If you're feeling depressed and stressed. . . LET IT GO!!!
If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying, "Take your hands off of it," then you need to . . . LET IT GO!!!
Let the past be the past.Forget the former things.God is doing a new thing for 2008!!
LET IT GO!!!
~By the honorable Bishop T.D. Jakes
~Jasmine
The Glory Of Suffering
My God, I have never thanked You for my thorn. I have thanked You a million times for my roses but not once for my thorn. I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my cross; but I have never thought of my cross as itself a present glory. Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my thorn. Show me that I have climbed to You by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbows.
(Courtesy of "The Power of Prayer" by Charlie Jones and Bob Kelly)
~Jasmine
(Courtesy of "The Power of Prayer" by Charlie Jones and Bob Kelly)
~Jasmine
FORGET LAST WEEK, YESTERDAY, AND FIVE MINUTES AGO!!!!
First I want to congratulate you on being saved if you weren't already (if you are reading this and still aren't, check out the "Being Saved Is The First Step" Post). That is really the first step, and I promise you, heaven is rejoicing right now! Thats what heaven does when a soul has been won.
The first thing you should do is write down the date and time you got saved. This is an important milestone in your life, the best is yet to come. Not to say that there won't be struggles, but all things do work together for the good of them that love the Lord.
Next, go get yourself a good study bible. These are a little steep in price, but COMPLETELY worth it. If you already have a bible, study or not, START BIBLE STUDY!!! The bible gives us plenty of examples about how the WORD healed them. Faith doesn't come by seeing, but hearing the word of God. So when you are alone, read out loud. You won't understand the bible and its terminology at first, but KEEP READING, God said that he rewards those that diligently seek him, and he also says that he will give us something called revalation knowledge, which means that he will not only give us understanding of the text, but understanding BEYOND the text that will bless you and others.
Now that you have your bible study, KEEP A JOOURNAL. That is so important. We should write to God, write prayers (prayer is just talking to God no matter what format), write down our favorite scriptures with their explanations and other things that we see fit (pertaining to God and his word and our lives in Christ only).
I REALLY hope this helped someone on their journey to becoming a 'them". God always rewards his "them" (a little bit of revalation knowledge, read your bible and see if you know what I mean). Leave us comments, and email us at stepsoffaith@yahoo.com. Thats VERY VERY important to us, your feedback. We also want you to contact us if you need help with scriptures or your general walk with God, or ANYTHING Christian we can help you with. Be Blessed.
Brandon
It's Ok To Mess Up
Not that I have attained or am already perfected; but I press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
~Philippians 3:12 -14
The one thing that many people often forget and that definitely intimidates unbelievers is the idea that Christians are supposed to be perfect. This isn't true. Yes, we are supposed to strive to live sinless lives and in a perfect society, we would but we all know that this world is far from perfect. God knows this too. The apostle Paul wrote the above verse for that very reason. He knew that there was no way he would ever be perfected in this life.
God isn't asking you to do the impossible. Sure, He wants you to sin as little as possible but the fact of the matter is, we are human. It is in our nature to sin. The Bible tells us that we are born into sin and shaped in iniquity. So if God isn't looking for perfection, what does it mean to be Christian?
Being Christian centers around one thing: CHRIST. Jesus died for our sins even before we had the chance to commit any. He knew that we would mess up (over and over again) so He died and came back. The death was the atonement for our sins. The resurrection happened because He knew that we would still need Him. Because of Him, we don't gain righteousness through actions but through Faith in God.
God has given each of us a purpose to fulfill. Sin is just Satan's way of throwing us off track but what we need to remember when we mess up (and we WILL mess up from time to time) is that God is more concerned with our hearts than our actions. Take King David for example. He was said to be a "man after God's own heart" despite the fact that he was a murderer, adulterer, and fornicator. By our standards David was an evil man but to God he was a shining example of human weakness and dependency on God.
What I have learned in my looonngg 18 years of living, is that God allows us to stumble so that we can learn. Instead of beating yourself up about your shortcomings learn to use them to bring you closer to God. Remember, God says when you ask for forgiveness He will forgive and remember your sins no more. So do like Paul did and you forget them as well. Everything God has for you is in your future there's no reason for you to be stuck in the past.
I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation has come. ~ Romans 11:11
~Jasmine
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
~Philippians 3:12 -14
The one thing that many people often forget and that definitely intimidates unbelievers is the idea that Christians are supposed to be perfect. This isn't true. Yes, we are supposed to strive to live sinless lives and in a perfect society, we would but we all know that this world is far from perfect. God knows this too. The apostle Paul wrote the above verse for that very reason. He knew that there was no way he would ever be perfected in this life.
God isn't asking you to do the impossible. Sure, He wants you to sin as little as possible but the fact of the matter is, we are human. It is in our nature to sin. The Bible tells us that we are born into sin and shaped in iniquity. So if God isn't looking for perfection, what does it mean to be Christian?
Being Christian centers around one thing: CHRIST. Jesus died for our sins even before we had the chance to commit any. He knew that we would mess up (over and over again) so He died and came back. The death was the atonement for our sins. The resurrection happened because He knew that we would still need Him. Because of Him, we don't gain righteousness through actions but through Faith in God.
God has given each of us a purpose to fulfill. Sin is just Satan's way of throwing us off track but what we need to remember when we mess up (and we WILL mess up from time to time) is that God is more concerned with our hearts than our actions. Take King David for example. He was said to be a "man after God's own heart" despite the fact that he was a murderer, adulterer, and fornicator. By our standards David was an evil man but to God he was a shining example of human weakness and dependency on God.
What I have learned in my looonngg 18 years of living, is that God allows us to stumble so that we can learn. Instead of beating yourself up about your shortcomings learn to use them to bring you closer to God. Remember, God says when you ask for forgiveness He will forgive and remember your sins no more. So do like Paul did and you forget them as well. Everything God has for you is in your future there's no reason for you to be stuck in the past.
I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation has come. ~ Romans 11:11
~Jasmine
Being Saved Is The First Step
GET SAVED!!!
First I would like to thank you for reading our blogs, we are very excited to share our journey with you, as we grow, we want you to grow too. We hope you laugh, cry, sing, and praise right along with us.
Now we must get down to business. Being saved is important. It says so in Romans Ch.10: v.9(That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved). In John Ch.3: v.16 (For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life), we see the main Christian belief, if we really believe this in our hearts, and confess Romas Ch. 10: v.9 with our mouths, then we are saved. The very first step into Christianity, also known as Greatness.
In essence, anything from this blog on out means nothing without being saved and having God in our hearts. That is something EVERY Christian, being young or old, should have in common. Me and Jasmine BOTH have this in common. You and all of your Christian friends should have it in common as well. So before you continue this journey I want YOU, yes you, to get out of your computer seats and repeat the following:
Father in the name of Jesus,
Help me to forgive those who have sinned against me, so You can forgive me for sinning against You.
Lord I'm sorry for all the wrong I've done, and want to accept You as my Lord and Savior
Lord please forgive me for all my sins, those known AND unknown
Lord thank You for sending Your son Jesus Christ so that I might have ABUNDANT life, and forgiveness
Lord I believe that You sent Your only son to die on the cross just for me, and i believe that he rose from the dead on the 3rd day.
Thank You for saving me!
GO PRAISE, REJOICE! THOSE DAYS OF OLD HAVE BEEN PUT BEHIND YOU! YOU ARE NOW SAVED AND A CHRISTIAN!
WELCOME!
Brandon
Welcome
Welcome to Steps Of Faith. This blog was made in order to help other people - young and old - along their journey with God. At Steps Of Faith we understand that walking with God can be hard, confusing, and lonely at times. Sometimes, as a Christian, you feel so out of place in the world. We came to let you know that this is normal. God says that the world will never really love or understand you because it never could love and understand Him (See 1 John 3:1). So relax, they hated Jesus way before they hated us! lol. But on a serious note, we aren't super perfect. We have struggles just like everyone else but we feel that our shortcomings and struggles can help others. God says that when you learn something, you should share it with others so that's what we've decided to do. Granted, we don't know EVERYTHING because we're still young (17 and 18) but we are still able to be used by God. Whenever possible we will provide you all with outside resources and scriptures just so you know we're not making things up. With that being said, enjoy the experience!
Jasmine & Brandon
Jasmine & Brandon
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