Notes and Ideas from this Sunday's sermon

The deceitfulness of deceit is that the one being deceived has no idea that they are being deceived. Deceit isn't something you see. In fact, it's what you don't see that messes you up! That is why deceit is so terrible. If you don't know what you don't know, then how will you ever know it?

Deceit can make people believe things that are not true. Since they do not know the truth, they will believe anything that "seems" true, or whatever they just happen to like or think sounds good. But God isn't interested in what "seems" true, what you think you like or what "sounds" good. Taking a month off of work to go to Miami Beach sounds good. Forget work, leave the kids at home, don't worry about the bills and the pets. A month at the beach sounds good! But when you get back the truth is that your house will be a wreck, your kids and pets will be gone and starving and you probably will not have a job to return to (if you work for any type of corporation) and your bills will be twice as much with all your late fees attached.
We can't just live life on the fly. You can't just do things without thinking and more importantly praying about what you're doing and why you're doing it. Even if you know "why" you're doing something do you really know the inner motivation and purposes behind it? The deep reasons and goals?

1Peter 1:6-11
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

...Note verse 9...

In the Holy Bible the father Israel's original name was Jacob, and he earned his new name in God - because God caught him in his craftiness, yet because of his intelligence and faith God showed favor on him, and He blessed him. God turns things that are bad into good- all the time. He makes all things new. I recently read somewhere that when God makes you a new creature- it doesn't mean the He makes a better version of the old you- It means He miraculously creates a new person out of the old, and I can testify to that because I am nothing like what I used to be. I am completely new, and He is still transforming me. In the article where I read this, the author also said that the butterfly is a representation of this miraculous transformation that happens in a born again believer's life. When a caterpillar goes into it's cocoon, it literally dies and becomes mush- and then a transformation takes place, and at the right and appropriate time, a beautiful new creature emerges, a butterfly! Butterflies are true reminders that our God is a miracle working God.

2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

This is Great News!!! :)
This is post script, I just want to acknowledge that this message began and ended on two totally different topics, but since it starts with deceit and ends with a new creation, and a miracle and butterflies, I'm going to say it's all good and I pray my readers get the message and are blessed :) Praise the LORD!
Much Love and Respect to the church and my friends in the faith and love of our Lord Jesus Christ.


~

The Key of David

THe Key of David is this, God looks at the heart, not at the outward appearance of man (and woman). Samuel thought David was too little, but God said anoint him, and he became the greatest king there ever was. God sees what we cannot see. We look back, we look around, we forget to look up (to Him), and also, we forget to look ahead. A year from now, five years from now, 15, 25, 40 years from now... make plans people. Live. But don't forget about God, and don't forget to love each other. Do you know how happy God is when "brothers dwell in unity"? And not just brothers, but us all. Why did Jesus tell us to love our enemies? Why did He tell us? TO embarrass us? To make us small and imbecilic? No, He told us to do this because He did it and because he knows that nothing can conquer love. It is the ultimate answer to all of life's questions. Just Love

You Are Who You Are

Today at church, the pastor was talking about God sending people to do His work, His Will, to carry out His command.
At one point in the sermon, Pastor Paul was preaching about how when God changes us, transforming us from our old self to our new self- he doesn't change "us". See, what He changes is our behaviours, our attitudes, our concepts, our beliefs.
Yes, that's a lot of change that takes place in a short amount of time. But I really want to focus on the fact that God doesn't want to change "us", meaning our personalities. We are who we are, and that is the reason God loves us. The Bible says that when God made man, He made man in His own image. That means, God is our Father, it's like, we all have the same Dad, and we all look like Him, just in different ways. So when He saves us from our "old self", it isn't our "self" he is trying to save us from, it's not out personality or character traits that he doesn't approve of, it's sinful behavior that He doesn't like. But that brings me to the next point, we as human beings, all have "natural" instincts. That some of us have problems with and this is where it gets dirty, this is where the testing begins, this is where God desires to do His great works in our lives. And everyone of us is different. We all have our own blend of personal habits, desires, likes, dislikes, and we all have the same life necessites to deal with also.
God desires to take us as we are, and show us that #1, He loves you for exactly who you are. Your smile, your hair, how tall or short you are, the color of your eyes, the sound of your voice, he loves every part of you. #2 He doesn't like to see you suffer. And, dear friends, no matter what capacity or what pleasure you might derive out of any type of sin in your life- it will never be God's best for your life.
Sin is not God's will for any one of us. It never was and it never will be. We have to have a clear understanding of what sin is, and what is natural and how to apply God's righteousness to our selves and lives to produce fruitfulness and to do His will. Just because we have natural instincts does not make those things in and of themselves "sinful". It is how we act on those things that makes them - and us, sinful, or righteous. Anger, sexuality, money, honesty... these are the top subjects that come to my mind. Everyone of these can be dealt with sinfully, or righteously. And our personality doesn't deal with these things, our personality is our display of how we deal with things. Whether we choose right or wrong- that comes from within. And if we really are serving God, we will want what is right... even if it hurts, even if it's not fair, even if we don't like it. Because we know deep down inside, that God wants what is best for our lives. And if He wants what is best for us, He will not lie to us. He tells us what to do: Love. When ever I do what He tells me to do,He proves Himself right to me- Every time. The more I obey what He tells me, the more He proves Himself true, the more He proves Himself true, the more I obey.
Its a win-win-win :) He is God Eternal.

Think about This

Humility is not shame. Shame and humility are two very different things. And, there is no shame in being humble. Yet, shame has to do with sin, and oftentimes pride. And there is no humility in pride.

I haven't had any commenters in a really long time... I would love some feedback on this. What do you think pride is? what about shame? What about humility, and humbleness? I will respond back to each reply... Thanks!! iAngel

Teach Me

I learn from myself. I think any wise person does. I'm not trying to boast, so I will rephrase my statement here, and say, I learn from the Holy Spirit- as He shows me my own self, as I grow in God. I grow and grow, I learn and I share.
My original idea tonight was to write about ministry, and how we strive to reach out to minister to people, but sometimes the ministry needs to begin inside our selves. Ministry to the self. Better yet, minister to God.
I am not saying at all not to reach out to people in need, please do. But seek the Lord for what He would truly have you do. We often do things, but sometimes, we wind up doing too much, and not listening to the LORD enough. I'm not saying HE can't use your works, or your charity, or your ministry, but let us not forget that God needs ministry, and so do we ourselves. We need one on one time with Him, where we can let Him into our heart and mind, because, the more we spend time with Him and open our hearts to Him, and talk to and listen to Him, the closer we get to Him, closer we are to Him. And when we are close to someone, we begin to resemble them, in actions, thoughts and ways.
When we spend time one on one with the Lord, in worship and when we take the time to listen to Him open-hearted, honest and humble, that ministers to His Heart. He loves spending time with us.
And His Word says when we draw close to Him, He draws close to us.