How Is Your Growth Going This Year?

It's Time!

We are closing out the end of the first third of year 2012.  It's time to take a spiritual.  Or maybe you did yours after the first quarter of this year.  What is a spiritual?

Just like you go to your doctor to get a physical at certain times, we Christians need to get a "spiritual" at various times throughout the year.  Have a meeting with Father and ask the hard questions about yourself.  After all, we are to compare ourselves to Jesus and how he instructed us to live and not to other Christians.

Why a spiritual? 

You may need to:

• Correct a path in which you have been following that has not been productive
• See why you have tapered off of your bible study and prayer time
• Recognize that things are going great, but for some reason you feel like you do not need the help you use to need from the Father in your walk with the Lord
• Just reinforce what you are doing and continue to encourage yourself to stay the course
• _____________________________________________ (put in your own reason)

We need to ask the Lord if there is anything that we are lacking, anything we need to change, anything we need to add into our daily life, and ask for help to stay focused on where we are as a child of God.

Remember, Jesus Christ our Lord, Saviour, Deliverer, Friend, Help, Peace, Teacher, Strength, Comfort and everything we need is always ready to meet with us and fellowship with us.  We also need to remember that the Lord is not ready to jump all over us with negative comments.  The Love of the Lord is so sweet, and even if he has to correct us it will be in a loving and gentle way to encourage to keep the faith.

There have been times when I knew that I did something wrong, and as I went to Him he met me with his loving chastening and correction.  Once I received his correction, it was so sweet to just be in his presence and to see how he always wants the best for my life.

I recently read in the scriptures where King David took a census of the people and the Lord was angry with him.  In God's love, he gave David three choices of chastisement.  David responded that he would rather be in the hands of the Lord, than in the hands of my enemies. 

Don't wait to get caught up in the hands of the enemy before you come to the Father for his help, instruction, guidance and encouragement.  God will never leave us, nor forsake us, and praise God for his forgiveness through the Blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness. I John 1:9   We have a wonderful Father.

So, in conclusion be sure to take some time this weekend and ask the Lord, "Tell me how I am doing as your ambassador."  Sit back and listen to his voice and really hear him this time, and then get up and give God praise!


We are ambassadors for Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:20

Good Friday

Let's call today "Great Friday!"  Praise to our Lord Jesus Christ who causes us to triumph.

As I reflect today on why we celebrate Great Friday, I can't help but to be humbled at the fact that God loved us so much that he gave Jesus for the purpose of redeeming our lives from destruction.

In order to redeem our lives from destruction, Jesus was subjected to destruction.  In my past posts I added a link to how the Romans would crucify people in Jesus' day, and the reality of what Jesus did for us.

I use to simply be glad for "Good Friday" because at most of the Christian Preschools where I worked we would have this day off work.  I would never even think about what this day truly meant for me as a child of the Most High God.

I am ashamed to even admit this to you, but none-the-less it is true.  I would spend my day doing what "I" wanted to do because this was my day and I deserved if off.  If someone asked me if I were going to attend the "Good Friday" service at church, can you believe that I would pause and try to come up with some kind of excuse?

I am ashamed!  Is there anyone else out there who can relate to my story?  I rarely attended a Good Friday service, and would think, "well I'm going to church on Easter Sunday, so that's good."  As I became more enlightened, I stopped calling it Easter (which is a pagan holiday) and began calling it Resurrection Sunday. (see the history of Easter)

But now, since the Father has revealed to me the completeness and everything that was involved in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified, my attitude has changed.  I woke up this morning thanking God for this day.  If Jesus had not gone to the cross, where would we be?  How wonderful is God and Jesus for this day, and I should give them honor and praise.

God saw us way in the future and prepared Jesus for each one of us for the present.  Do you sometimes think about all the bad, crazy, illegal, insane and ignorant things you did in your life before Christ?  I do, and it's amazing that first of all that I am still alive, and secondly that I am not in some mental institution.  God's Grace is so wonderful, his love is so great towards us.

So, as we enjoy the day off (if you have this day off) or as you are working, take time today and thank God our Father and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for the plan of salvation by Jesus giving his life for all mankind.

I hope that you have not lost your desire and love for God.  If so, just read about and think about Jesus' crucifixion and what he went through for us.  Let this year be different on Good Friday and on Sunday when you attend church to celebrate Resurrection Day.

Then, let's celebrate Resurrection day every day by giving honor to God through Jesus for our salvation.

For we are Ambassadors for Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:20