Peace with the world or peace with God?

Matthew 10:32-39  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  33  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.  34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  35  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  36  And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.  37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.  39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Mark 8:36-38  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  37  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?  38  Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

 John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

John 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

-------
As much as I would love to have world peace, I know that this isn't, at this present age, what the gospel is given to us for. It's not to have peace in the world or a trouble free life. It's to have peace with God.

James 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Every Christian will go through some form of tribulation, trouble or trials. Not all things will go smooth sailing, maybe for some of us, we'll have a life full of trouble but if we have peace with God, then He gives us the strength to go through every single one of them.

So if someone preaches to you and tells you God wants you to have your best life now or a purpose driven life or how to have good self-esteem in our faith... that's not what the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches.

It teaches that we may have our worst life now, maybe as you walk with God those around you may believe you have no relevant purpose to society, self-denial.

2 Timothy 3:10-12  But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,  11  Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.  12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Holiness is what it's all about. Giving up on what we want to accomplish for us, and finding out what God wants to accomplish in us.

Some of us have tried so hard to follow God and maybe are discouraged. Maybe we feel like, "God why am I so sinful? Why did you save me? I'm not strong enough to endure... "

And the truth is not that we have gotten weaker, but in a sense we have come to realize just how weak we are without Jesus.
It shows a repentant heart. And from my experience feeling discouraged at times, it's better to have a heart that recognizes sins and weaknesses with a willingness to keep pushing, than to accept it as something we'll never get over and give in to it.

I encourage you, even if you have to fast and pray in the week, just get closer to God. We've all been so preoccupied with so many other things, so lets just run to Him, and unload the burdens we may have been to proud to admit even to ourselves. It may just be that God will have to break some of us to realize just how useless we are without Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:12-16  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  14  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.  15  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.  16  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

Jesus went through hardships, the apostles went through hardships, the first time believers went through it too, so we really shouldn't be surprised when it happens to us.

So in your tough times, make sure you have peace with God. It's not about world peace. The world is passing away one day, you know?

1 John 2:15-17  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Don't be afraid to encourage those around you, they very well may need it more than you know. Just like you may have need to read this. God bless!

Gold Tried By Fire

Hebrews 12:11-17  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.  12  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;  13  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.  14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:  15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;  16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.  17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

-------
Perspective has a lot to do with how we think, and how we face our challenges in walk the of faith. Now, we could go through hard things in life and complain (like the children of Israel going through the wilderness) or we could look at it the way God sees it and declares it in His Word.

In a majority of Hebrew 12 it speaks of God disciplining his children. A good father will discipline His children, because he want's what is best for the child, else the child continues in foolishness.
-------

Proverbs 13:24  He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

-------
It's strange that contrary to the scriptures, it's now passed off that it is wrong to beat our children for the sake of discipline. Now it seems only necessary to "ground" them. But my observation of society tells me that method is not working, as effectively as what God shows here. Any righteous loving parent will do what it takes to set their child on the path of righteousness, even if some tears are shed.

God does the same. Consider all that Job went through. He lost his property, servants, livestock, and children; even his health.
Was it because of sin? No but because God wanted to prove Job.

God will prove us too. He will discipline us so that we cease from evil, learn patience, bare the fruits of righteousness and be more dependent on Him.

Consider the trials you have been through, how, if you waited patiently and endured through it, you became stronger with faith in the power that Jesus Christ has to keep you. However if you didn't learn your lesson, you may have faced another problem quite similar.

If you fail a test you'll have to take it again. It is to test to see if you have learned to endure.
-------

James 5:7-11  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.  8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.  9  Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.  10  Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.  11  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

-------
Jesus came and also went through trials, even to death because our sins put Him on that tree.
I really want others who believe in the health, wealth and prosperity gospel to get this one thing:

Salvation isn't about having your best life now with all that the world can give you. It's about living for Jesus Christ in holiness whether in abundance or in lack. In John 15, before His betrayal, Jesus Christ said this to his disciples:
-------

John 15:7-11  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  8  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.  9  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.  10  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.  11  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Christ said many things of the wickedness of this world and the trial and the temptation, the importance of abiding in Him and the blessings His Father has in store for those that love Him, so that their joy might be full. There is joy in serving Jesus Christ.

Patiently wait on the Lord. Consider what Christ had to go through for us, look at all the prophets of old who suffered for the sake of God and were willing.
-------

James 1:2-4  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;  3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Romans 8:28-39  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.  31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.  34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.  35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Job 13:15  Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

God loves you. He knows what's best.

He is Able

So I had initially found the songs from Michelle Utley Thompson at Sermon Index, I was poking around the Interwebs to see if I could find the lyrics  to one of her songs, "He is Able", I was feeling a bit down today, frustrated with life, I truly felt so burdened today, I actually said to myself, "I give God thanks that this life is not all that I have to look forward to..." and that song I had intended to learn because I needed comfort. The Lyrics go a little something like this:

He is Able

Like peering through a window blurred with rain,
Emotions run together in a flood of doubt and pain.
We pray the best we can,
But we must leave it in His hands.

Yet I know when my eyes fail to see, He is able.
And even though it seems impossible to me, He is able.
But if He chooses not to move
In the way we prayed He would be confident,
He is working it all together for my good.
I will stand behind His word, for He is able.

Questions seem to haunt us night and day:
How could God allow our hearts to be turn this way?
Does He listen when we call?
Or is He even there all?

Yet I know when my eyes fail to see, He is able.
And even though it seems impossible to me, He is able.
But if He chooses not to move
In the way we prayed He would be confident,
He is working it all together for my good.
I will stand behind His word, for He is able
He is able

And as the night is in wait dawning
And if it ever fades away,
I stand to face another day.
I will stand behind His word
For He is able, He is able, He is able

Sometimes we have down times, I know, I've had my fare share, even when I'm smiling, I may be having a frustrating day, but why smile? Because others need to see a smile that day, they need to be comforted and know that regardless of the sinking ships we seem to be in on a daily basis, that God is able to deliver us out of them all. I must give thanks for the friends and family that God has given me, that eases the passage of life... May they make it in,  we can all hang out for eternity. This is the beauty of the gospel, those who accept Christ Jesus, the Son of God shall receive this beautiful promise:

Revelations 21:4

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Don't consider the distance, consider the destination. Don't give the devil a chance...

Will you have your tears wiped away?

The song list has been updated!!

Encouragement

Greetings brethren, I pray you do well in the Lord.
Today, this little patty crumb want to encourage us to live in the right and to overcome.

Revelation 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 

One thing I do say that we should take sin lightly, it is a thing that separates mankind from God though He wants us to draw near to Him. Sin is not to be laughed about... it is a detriment and it is death.

Isaiah 59:1-2: 

Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:  

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 

For those of us who are reading with the hopes of getting closer to God through His Word, I encourage you to continue steadfastly, and even to pray for wisdom where we lack understanding (VERY IMPORTANT).

James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

 Also to note, its great to have a good relationship with the Word, who is Christ, as it has been said, the Bible is the only book that we read, where the author is always present. So be encouraged by that notion.

Trust in God and don't consent to sin regardless of the circumstances. Look at what Job went through.

Job 13:15  Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. 

Proverbs 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  

Don't put your confidence in self nor others, but wholly trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and wait on Him. Got big problems? We have an infinitely bigger God.

"Faith is like a muscle, exercise it!"

_________________

Note: When reading the Bible, it is important to consider the colons (:), which mean continuation or dependency.

The italic in the King James Version were words added to enable us in English to better understand what the original Greek and Hebrew were saying.