One Day

Psalms 84:10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. ESV #Bible

There is no better place to be than in the presence of God. Knowing that being there, all is right between you and God.
All of our sins have been dealt with by Jesus our Lord. We are forgiven the huge dept caused by our rebellious sins
We can enter in to the presence of God without fear or hesitation and sit at His feet and worship and learn from Him.
Outside is the wickedness of this world and all of those sins that so easily entangle us through the lust of our eyes, and the lust of our flesh.
Outside are all of those distractions and deceptions that when persued simply enslave us and wear us down and discourage us and keep us separated from our Holy Father God.
Even being a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord is majorly better than living in this wickedness and slavery to sin.
But we can enter in with free access into the throne room where our Father God and our Savior Jesus the Christ and our Holy Spirit reside to be worshiped in freedom.
Better one day in the courts of our God than a thousand in wickedness, oh yes.

Living Right

14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy.  (James 3:14-17 HCSB)

So how do we want to live our lives? Do we want to live in envy and jealousy, and ambition fueled by our selfishness?
The one thing in this life that is constant is our choice. We use the act of choice in the minute things, even in the decisions of our lifetimes.
Our ability to choose dictates the order and the happenings of our lives.
If we live in envy and selfish ambition, we are told this wisdom doesn't come from above in God's reality, but is earthly. Simply put it comes from our carnal nature, our flesh.
James goes on to say it is unspiritual and demonic. With it comes disorder and every kind of evil.
I understand to give in to this earthly wisdom is easy and can even feel natural, but when we look at the results of these choices we see only wreckage and bad consequences to our actions.
To consider God's Wisdom from above we see James saying:
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy.
Isn't that how we want to be treated and if so being treated this way, don't we want to pass it on treating others this same way?
When we operate in the Wisdom of God our entire world changes, we find those around us reacting and returning this Godly wisdom back to us and others also.
It all comes down to our choice in how we want to live our lives.
So do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
With the help of Jesus as life goes on we will better perfect this Wisdom from God above delivered and demonstrated by Jesus our Lord for a life living right with God our Father.

Believe in God

Romans 1:20 20 For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. (HCSB #Bible)

What if this is true? Better yet, being true what is one left with? Is it in believing or not believing?
To a believer, for one to say they do not believe is to not exist.
If you don't believe in God there is nothing else for you except to be damned in hell, and an eternity in the lake of fire.
To a nonbeliever, the one who believes is considered a fool believing in folklore fairytales, and fables.
I hope you can see the jump the non-believer has to take to not believe when all around him is the unexplainable evidence of a greater force, a power that only a fool can evade, only a fool can deny when it is obvious.
After turning a blind eye to God's Creation the non-believer even takes on the position of God declaring the believer to be a fool.
I believe this is why God has created a place called the lake of fire, to separate the nonbelievers who innately want to be their own God and control their own destiny.
Satan had the same in mind when he declared he wanted to be like God, because their was and is nothing higher imaginable. 
We are all left with this decision of our lifetimes, that determines the destiny of our personal lives for eternity.
Not only that, but who we will have a eternal relationship with, Satan or the Creator of all things God Himself.
God has sent His Son Jesus our Savior who has redeemed us from our non belief and rebellious sins. Allowing us to be the sons and daughters of God, adopted right into the Family of God. It's your choice.
Believe, and Jesus will help you in your unbelief.

God Sees

1 Peter 3:3-4 Do not let your adorning be external--the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear-- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. ESV #Bible

Do you or have you using the way you dress to make a statement?
In today's society we have the phenomenon of tattoos. It is now permeating through all ages and I'm sure for a multitude of reasons. Christians want to proclaim to everyone that they are God's children. Others tattoo the story of their lives on themselves, and still others want the shock value and the statement of individuality, or to fit in with a group.
Weather tattoos or clothing, or jewelry, all are statements of who we are or what we want others to think of ourselves.
The Apostle Peter here is saying what counts with God is who you are on the inside, the one God looks at.
What I have discovered in my life as I get older is that having been there and done that, there are less times I am surprised with unfamiliarity, and I being one who gets excited quickly, especially with my mouth.
As I age I see this gental and quiet spirit in me, and I really like it. I've known and know wonderful Christians who have this wonderful peace inside and I try to strive for that peace inside also.
As Peter says let our adorning be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable beauty. There is only one way we can get this kind of beauty, and that is through the Love of God. That Love is Jesus the Christ, who paid the price for our sins that we cannot pay, through His death on the cross. Then not only are we free from our sins, Jesus restored our relationship with God, even to be God's sons and daughters in the inheritance.
What we are on the outside? It doesn't  change who we are on the inside. Only Jesus the Christ can do that. Invite Jesus into your inside, into your heart and recieve the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. That's the dress or tattoo God sees.

Come Home

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

Have you ever despaired of life itself? There was a point in my life when I was in despair, but for all the wrong reasons. It was when I had reached the end of my life in this world apart from or separating myself from God.
I had exhausted all of my desires, wants, and even lust's for what I thought he world had to offer, receiving only the despair of that life.
But God is always about his business accomplishing His Will. God always has a plan for those who serve Him.
When we come to a similar place as Paul describes here. It is a signal or sign to bring us to God. Whether as for me, to come home to my Father in Heaven, or to seek God for answers and direction, the right thing to do is go to God. It might be answering the call of God to come to Him for the salvation of your soul.
The best action to take is to come to God, seeking God in prayer. Jesus has opened the door for the world to come to Him and find rest for our weary souls and become his born again child through His Son Jesus the Christ, escaping the wrath of God coming to all who reject Jesus. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is no other way to God, but through Jesus the Saviour of all mankind.
Rise from the dead and come home to God before it's too late.

The Elder

1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. ESV #Bible

To an elder, or an elderly man, all those younger are children to him, whether in the church or the family.
For an elder in the church his love for the congregation are his children in the Lord, he watches over them as his own.
The elder naturally loves his flock or congregation. It comes easily to him because he is residing in Christ's Love with the desire to serve the body of believers.
The elder naturally wants to protect his children from evil, or any sort of harm. Helping to raise them up in the fullness of the Gospel and the Love of Jesus the Christ.
Idols are anyone or thing that would distract or block you from direct axcess to God.
It's like the sun, when something comes between you and the sun, you find yourself in the shade or darkness.
Keeping yourselves in the light of God's Love is to stay away from anything that would draw you into a place of darkness, or what would come between you and God.  Causing ignorance of God and the longer you stay the more ignorant you become about God and his Love. Then your hunger for God is replaced with what your human nature desires. Then sin reigns as God over your life. So keep yourselves from idols.

Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9  "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. ESV #Bible

Ah blessed, this word here means to be supremely blessed, and to be very fortunate, and that's not all, but to be happier.
When we understand this, you can't help but want to be a peacemaker.
A peacemaker is one who glues us together, one who is quietly in calmness pursuing unity and love of one another. Peacemakers strive to lift up and encourage those around them always for the unification of the body of Christ Jesus, by this we see why they are called sons of God.
All of us Christians must strive to be peacemakers, always working on being more like Jesus the Christ, studying the Word of God (the Bible) and remaining, and abiding in our God Jesus through prayer. So in that day we will be known to be just like Jesus.

Oh Taste and See

Psalms 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! ESV #Bible

Take the time so far in perceiving God, as to consider even the taste in your mouth. Experience Jehovah our self existent God, in gazing joyfully into who He is.
Our Lord is good, He is perfect in all His ways, everything He does is motivated by His love. Take heed to His presence in every part, every place of your life.
Be happy as you look to Jesus, the expression of God the Father's perfect Love, realizing Jesus is the only shelter, the perfect refuge for our safety, that will carry us to eternal life with our LORD. God is Good all the time

The Christ

Matthew 16:13-16  Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." ESV #Bible

It is a privilege to know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
When you consider how close all of us came to turning our backs on Jesus, or even in those times of temptation slipped away in sin.
We could have missed our salvation because of the lusts of our desire.
Thank God that He didn't give up on us so quickly.
Again we are thankful that we didn't have some worldly idea, or opinion that Jesus was a myth, or just some great man, or even just a prophet of old who isn't realitive today.
Thank God we have met the Son of God, Jesus the one and only unique Son, who is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
The Great Sheppard  who leads us through this life on our way to be with God our Father for eternity.
Jesus who laid down His earthly life for the punishment of our sin, and after three days rose from the dead leading us to the new life in Grace, onward home to our Father God into eternity.
Who do I say that Jesus is? He is my Saviour, my God, my Brother, He is my Lord, He is the Way, the Truth and the only Life worth living.

God Knows

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. ESV #Bible

God knows. Jesus our Lord is the Great Sheppard, Jesus purveys the paths of life and directs His bride in the way we need to go.
Jesus doesn't leave it up to us to decide which path we should choose, He directs us.
What is required of us is to go in submission and prayer asking our Lord Jesus to direct our steps in the direction He wants us to go.
It is amazing and supernatural when we step out in faith and do what God desires of us. Whether we travel a new path, or simply do what He wants us to do.
God has a future all planned out for us. It is a future of His blessings and companionship with us. There is no evil that we should fear, but a future of hope.
Do we hope for evil things? Of course not, our hope is also in the Love of God displayed through His Son Jesus the Christ, who has paid in full the price of our sins, and delivered us into the very family of God Himself, whom we now call Abba Father.

Do Good

1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. ESV #Bible

Repay evil for evil done to us, now that is really going to get us somewhere.
Think about it, if someone does evil to us and we allow it to have an effect on us. We will spend our day or week doing evil, paying them back by doing evil to those we come in contact with, just because we have been hurt or effected by the one who has done evil to us.
There are a lot of people out there who act this way, and it just gets worse.
This is not the way to live our lives. Storing up all the evil people have done to us, that is a lot of luggage to be carring around.
When we do good to those who do evil to us, we end the chain reaction, or pattern that has been set into motion.
Doing good instead of evil is to bless those who do evil, it even is like pouring hot coals of conviction upon their heads. Which causes them to rethink their actions, maybe even
repent, maybe even to ask you for forgiveness.
Doing good to others is to love them. It brings the best out of a person. It also makes us quite attractive to others and may just cause them to want to know what makes you so different. That's when we can show them it is the Love of Jesus the Christ within our healed hearts that empowers us to do good in the face of evil.
To the wicked evil person, when we do good, we stand as a shining light, a beacon of hope, and direction to Jesus our Saviour. Who stands with open arms inviting them into the Father's Love, all by doing good to others.
We see a whole lot more going on here than just our hurt feelings. Boy, how we need Jesus.

The Rock

Matthew 7:24-27 () "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." ESV #Bible

What an awesome description of our lives. We can build our house literally on rock, and it will stand through whatever nature throws at it.
The same is true when we hear the counsel of Jesus the Christ and belive and do what He says.
Jesus being our Rock or the Foundation of our lives proves to be strong, withstanding the storms of this life.
No matter what the world might throw at us, our foundation - Jesus is stronger, and we survive. It doesn't mean in this life only, but even to eternity with Jesus.
For those who reject the good news of the counsel of Jesus the Christ. Who build their lives on what they desire, and even lust after. Believing it will bring satisfaction and safety, without considering their need for a solid foundation.  Will in time be found toppled by the destructiveness of this life and it's temptations. 
As always Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus holds the keys to life, and true life is found no where else but in Jesus the Christ. That's why Jesus is called our Saviour.

Eternal Fruit

Luke 6:43-45 "For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. ESV #Bible

You've heard the expression "you are what you eat", the same is true with what you think, or purpose in your heart.
We human beings are very selfish by nature and we need to be aware of that fact. We can't expect to go through this life ignoring or justifying our selfishness.
As Christians we must travel the higher path of considering others more important than ourselves.
Humility is an admirable trait, but difficult to master in sincerity. If we want to please God than this is the best path traveled.
Our Saviour Jesus the Christ  lived his life in Humility, and even at His death asking the Father God to "forgive them for they don't know what they are doing". Which is the best fruit we can produce from Humility, to be caring about others.

Father God

Isaiah 40:28-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. ESV #Bible

This is so true, people who haven't  investigated to see if God is real, generally think they know.
Truth of the matter is, they are completely ignorant about God.
Once you find out about God, you begin the adventure of getting to know about Him. Your eyes open like its the first time, and you can actually see clearly, because their are no obstacles in your way distracting you.
This is when you proclaim or express as Isaiah did.
God is the fountain of youth, He is the source of all existence, He is everything, and God has provided all we need here and now. Why would we reject the One who truly excepts us just as we are, through Jesus the Christ His Son. Thank You Father God.

Father God

Isaiah 40:28-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. ESV #Bible

This is so true, people who haven't  investigated to see if God is real, generally think they know.
Truth of the matter is, they are completely ignorant about God.
Once you find out about God, you begin the adventure of getting to know about Him. Your eyes open like its the first time, and you can actually see clearly, because their are no obstacles in your way distracting you.
This is when you proclaim or express as Isaiah did.
God is the fountain of youth, He is the source of all existence, He is everything, and God has provided all we need here and now. Why would we reject the One who truly excepts us just as we are, through Jesus the Christ His Son. Thank You Father God.

Dishonest Man

Proverbs 16:28  A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. ESV

A dishonest man, one who only cares about himself, one who does what he wants to satisfy his own personal gains. One who will use any means he feels will accomplish his goals such as spreading strife. Contention that goes so far as to  find his victims standing before a judge.
A whisperer is that person who in the shadows or even in the bright light of day spreads dissention and conflict between the closest of friends for nothing more than his wanton pride.
As Christians we have been born again. We have left these kind of practices behind in death. We have chosen a life of peace, which is the opposite to these wicked characteristics. We strive to benefit, Bless, and Love those we come in contact with. Wether stranger or friend we consider all to be deserving of God's Love passing through us to them.
Our interaction with everyone is to leave them better off than before we encounter them, even realizing the Love of Jesus the Christ which is inside of each Christian.

Faith

Hebrews 11:1-3 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. ESV #Bible

This supernatural gift we have been given by God Himself, is given to every human being. This measure of faith to believe in God as well as faith in Jesus for our being saved from the wrath to come on all unbelievers.
Faith is the very proof of what God has in store for us Christians. It is commingled with God's Love for all mankind. An expression of God's intentions and Love, He being the first to Love each person on this planet.
There is no need to look any further than Faith to know that God exists. But God goes further and expresses Himself in all His creation, the more tangible proof of God's existence.
This is why there is wrath coming for all unbelievers. It isn't that you have to choose to believe, in reality one has to choose not to believe in God.
God still goes further to express His Love in sending His Son Jesus who became a man and lived some 33 years just as we do in every way, yet not sining.
Then Jesus began proclaiming the good news to the world that God was restoring His relationship with all mankind through Jesus.
Jesus then endured the worst punishment man could give. Then suffered the punishment of God by not only dieing, but even separation from God. Which every human deserves because of our sin.
God then raised Jesus from the dead, and declared that all who believe in Jesus the Saviour of all mankind, with that previously given Faith would not perish in death, but would enter the family of God and have everlasting life with God. Thank You Father God, and Jesus our Lord.

Humble Yourselves

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ESV #Bible

When we exalt ourselves, it brings nothing but judgement, and the opposite reaction we were desiring. Those we seek acceptance or promotion from separate and move away, rather than joining in our exhalation.
One most important thing we need to remember, is that God is mighty, and even His hand is much more mighty than we could be.
If we were to see the mighty Hand of God, we would shrivel up like a grape dried in the sun. Whether we wanted to or not, we would be humbled, and for different reasons.
The Holy Spirit is telling us to just simply humble ourselves and get out of the way, so God can exalt us at the proper time.
Even if God never exalts us, the path or journey of humility is the more noble way to go, and we get to keep those who we desire acceptance from, much closer.
God always has the superior plan or path in life for us to follow. Choosing our own way or path only leads us away from God.
Our reward in humility is finding the real way, and the real truth, and the Joyous Life found only in Jesus the Christ.

Gods Light

1 John 1:5-7 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ESV #Bible

Where am I? Am I in the light, or am I living in darkness?
God's light has no darkness, and the darkness has no light.
If I'm living in darkness I can't see what's around me. I have no idea what's coming my way.  My only option is to group around feeling, rather than seeing where I am going. I am left in dark ignorance wandering in darkness.
Being with God, in His light, is to have the ability to see far off. To observe anything coming my way, walking with a sure step, not prone to stumbling. I am informed by God, I know what is real, I'm not left to the fear of my imagination in darkness.
I am able to see who my friends are, and know I am not alone, having fellowship with light walkers.
We know God and we understand His Truth, His Word iluminates our understanding, rather than existing in the ignorance of darkness void of God's influence. And our Saviour Jesus the Christ cleanses our sins through the blood of His sacrifice on our behalf, which is discovered in God's Light. We are grateful for God's Light, and we understand.

Slow

Proverbs 16:32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. ESV #Bible

We all know that when we loose our temper, and our veins are popping out of our heads, or our face wrinkles, and our nose is blowing air or snorting like a bull, we have lost it.
Being slow to anger is to infuse our wisdom into our anger, using caution, and clear thinking to guide our anger into motivating us to a good action.
Naturally this characteristic of being slow to anger, does rank us with, or even better than the mighty person who by his great strength accomplishes great feats.
We don't have to accomplish out task with bruit strength, but with wisdom, and intelligence, and God's Grace, which is far superior to bruit strength.
God has told us from the book of Genesis onward, that we can master and rule our own spirit's. So as we are slow to anger we have embarked on ruling our own spirit, mastering it in all facets of our lives. This is as important as capturing a city, we capture our own spirit's.
I believe this is only possible with God's help and guidance. As we have in the past so in the future, we would fail greatly without Jesus the Christ our Great Sheppard leading us. Praise the Lord.

Suffering

Philippians 1:29  For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, ESV #Bible

It's evident from the beginning of our salvation that we Christians experience persecution in one form or another. To a seasoned Christian we understand persecution runs hand in hand with our salvation, like its a package deal.
Here we see the Apostle Paul revealing the fact that just as we have been granted for the sake of Jesus our Messiah, our salvation, so our suffering for Him also.
Experience tells me that in my suffering for Christ, it brings a sensitivity to the greatness of the gift of my salvation, and its evidence and reality of being true.
This suffering, as salvation, has been granted to us. It has been given to us from someone greater than ourselves, meaning from God Himself.
For those who cause our sufferings it is the proof for them and ourselves that perdition awaits them.

Love

1 Corinthians 13:2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ESV #Bible

If we could see the future, or like Sherlock Holmes decipher all mysteries, even master all knowledge, and possess all faith so as to accomplish any feat, even to remove any mountain and throw it into the sea. It would mean nothing, or be worth anything.
Without love those capabilities would be worthless, they would only bring despair, and leave you wanting for more.
In the beginning, when God created all things we find in this reality, human beings recognized God's influence, His presence in what He created. They knew that a greater being than themselves existed, and that it was wise to fear and honor Him and worship Him for who he is.
There were those human beings who chose to disbelieve and rebelled, dishonoring God and His creation and even themselves, rejecting God's soul purpose, His Love.
God's Love was the motivation for His act of creation, His Love is the driving force behind everything He does.
God's Love is Jesus, the Lamb of God who God sent to this planet to save us from our rebellious sins.
Any power, any ability, knowledge, or anything else on this planet comes to nothing, if it is not empowered and motivated by a God like Love. All will end up as a wasteland of effort. To look at God's Love which is dripping like honey from all He has created, it is only viewable with honesty and acceptance. We must first realize God's Love for each one of us saint or sinner, before we can do anything that will last beyond our time, even to eternity.

Prudent

Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. ESV #Bible

What an ability it is to master the tongue. It seems the mouth never runs out of words.
Interestingly the more words used to communicate a point only creates more confusion and misunderstanding.
Then there is the assumption that the one you are talking to knows what you mean rather than what you are saying.
Just in these points made, I can remember times when the communication or discussion turns into an argument and some times an out right fight. That's where transgressions happen.
Restraining our lips for me is to take time to think, not only about what I want to say, but how it will be received. That in it's self is a difficult task, and I have been working on this pretty much my entire life.
The best suggestion I know is those wonderful words "Lord Jesus help me". With God's help we can accomplish many things we think are impossible, and that's prudent.

Believe

John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. ESV #Bible

To believe in Jesus is to consider, to trust in, to rely on, to depend on, be assured of and have faith in Jesus to be the one and only unique Son of God, the Messiah.
It's understandable in the beginning that being moved by a desirous hunger in our  hearts, we believe by our God given faith in Jesus.
As time goes on in our relationship with Jesus through His Holy Spirit we gain experience with and a knowledge of Jesus. As we study the Word of God we learn more about our wonderful Saviour, and our belief grows stronger.
If one chooses through examination, or opinion to not believe, as they live, they are condemned all ready. There is no need for them to die or stand before God pleading, because their disbelief is the witness and proof of their condemnation.
God has left the decision entirely up to us, we make the choice to believe or disbelieve. So there is no blame that can be held against Jesus, or God, we hold the entire responsibility to live forever, or die, meaning separated forever from Jesus.
If you feel inside that God is real, than the only way to God is through Jesus.
Believe and be saved from the deadly separation that awaits those who disbelieve.

Gracious Power

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ESV #Bible

He, meaning Jesus said to the Apostle Paul. Grace, meaning mercy, joy, loving kindness, good will, and favor for a few examples.
God's Grace covers all possibilities or experiences in this life. Grace is sufficient to handle anything and everything that comes our way, like raising a hedge or barrier about us to protect and preserve us. God's Grace is always more than enough.
The Miraculous Power of Jesus the Christ poured out through His Grace to us is a force, an invincible strength that is completed, and perfected in our weakness, our failures, our frailties.
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in its power goes beyond even the limits of our reality on into Heaven even to eternity. Yet it is perfectly completed in our weakness.
For us I believe it becomes visible, or tangible in our weakness.
Paul's reaction is to boast about his weaknesses in order to have the power of Christ to rest upon him.
We Christians need to understand that just as Paul the Apostle has discovered, so we to need to discover the limitless boundaries of Gods Love found in His amazing Grace and enjoy the adventure towards Heaven and eternity. We Christians are well kept by our Savior Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Faithful

Hebrews 3:1-6 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses--as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. ESV #Bible

Holy brothers and sisters, as Moses we are in the house of God, and Jesus our High Priest is Lord over us the house of God.
We are Holy because Jesus has made us Holy and set us apart from the world to be faithful to His confession of the Truth, the Good News which we are commissioned and commanded to proclaim to the ends of the earth.
Let us be faithful, and confident, and don't hold back our boasting about Jesus our Messiah and Savior of our souls. Proclaim the Love of God found in Jesus the Christ by sharing the Good News to this dying world.
Be faithful to share with your friends, neighbors, coworkers, whoever we meet, God has restored the path to Him through Jesus His Son, and so much more.

Power

Acts 1:8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." ESV #Bible

How many times have I read this verse and not taken it seriously? I know I received the Holy Spirit. So then why haven't I considered the power our Holy Spirit possesses, being God, and what he offers to me a believer?
Maybe a lack of faith, or I'm not worthy, or possibly afraid of that level of commitment or responsibility. Then what kind of power, or how much.
One thing I do know, is that our Father in Heaven knows what we can and can not handle, and he won't give us any more or less that what he has created us for.
I believe as Christians we need to remain aware of what God is doing in our lives. We need to always be on the lookout for the Holy Spirit's leading, because where he guides us He provides all of our needs.
God is a Gentleman, he doesn't drive His servants like cattle, He leads us like lambs.
So whatever power you receive, use your God given faith to accomplish the mission that Jesus commanded us to do. Using the power we discover through prayer and petitioning Our God, and the study of His Word, the Bible.
I know that when we are obedient, giving our ear and full attention to our Lord Jesus, we can even move mountains. So have faith, don't be afraid, just watch what God accomplishes through you.

Strength

Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. ESV #Bible

I imagine Paul in his lifestyle before Jesus didn't go without too many things because of his position in society. Which speaks of his sacrifice, or adjustment to a life in Christ.
Paul found that when you have Jesus, the need for things was inferior to the glory he relished in, being found a believer in the Messiah Jesus far out weighed anything to be found in this world. Why would he worship a fabrication instead of the fabricator God Himself?
We don't always see or experience God's strengthening until we are brought low, or we suffer hardships like hunger or poverty.
Paul learned that in facing hunger or plenty, with Jesus all situations work out with the strengthening of our Lord Jesus, who moves us on to the next segment or adventure Jesus leads us into, finding ourselves able to do all things through Jesus who strengthens us.
In this world time goes on, and we can't stop it, as we continue to the end of this age or our lives, whichever comes first, our God Jesus cares for us, and He strengthens us and moves us on. In this we need to remember it ain't over until God our Father says its over.