“GOD HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME…” – ECCLESIASTES 3:11

Waiting on God is hard.
Not waiting on God and wishing you had is harder.

God has a plan for you.  Satan has a plan for you.

How do you know who is in charge of your current reality?

It’s so important for Christians to use wisdom and discernment, know God’s truth, and understand that Satan is a counterfeit who looks JUST LIKE THE TRUTH.  He comes as light and everything you wanted, but steals your joy and peace.

Christianity is insane.  People who do not have God cannot fathom the flesh vs spirit battle.

“You’re just over reacting.”
or
“You don’t need to be a martyr.  You’re choosing to make things hard.”

I’ve been called unteachable, stubborn, hard headed, closed minded, arrogant, amongst other things.  This is all true according to the world.  But, I guess it’s good because I’m standing up for something. 😀

Waiting on God is hard.

Satan doesn’t go after the ungodly.  He already has them.  He doesn’t need to mess with them.  He goes after God’s children.  Satan waits for a vulnerable moment so he can sneak in and toy with your emotions.  He knows exactly what to do to get inside your head and make you question God.

That’s what we always do first, right?  Blame God?

How long you let that happens is entirely up to you.

Being a child of God is so beautiful and special because we are adopted and loved and He knows how to discipline us.

“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.” – HEBREWS 12:11

Not everything we walk into and learn from is from Him, but He can turn anything into a teachable moment because that is how much He loves us.

“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.” – ROMANS 8:28

He takes care of His children.

I spoke to an unbeliever a few days ago and they said “If there is a god he should love his children without conditions.”

My response?

He does love His children.  The world and false teachers tell of a loving God of grace and mercy and everyone goes to Heaven.

Somehow, the experts on the bible are the ones who have never read it.

They do not teach of a Jesus who flipped tables and cleansed the temple that was full of gamblers and thieves.  They omit the part where there are Children of God and children of darkness.  Not everyone is a Child of God.  Not everyone is a sheep.  Not everyone hears His voice.  But, His sheep do.

There would certainly be conditions.  He is the Almighty God.  Are we going to tell the Creator of the world what to do or how our lives should go?

We are either enjoying God’s plan or fighting God’s plan.  Either way His plan is going to happen.

We get to spend eternity with Him just because He wants us.  Do we really need anything else?

He sent His only innocent and sinless Son (who was God who came to earth as a servant FOR US) to die a brutal, horrific death that WE deserved.  Do you think He would turn around and say, “Just kidding.  You’re all welcome.”

No.  Whoever believes on Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).  Everyone is given a chance.  Not everyone makes the choice of following Him.  They take the path of destruction.

“FOR THE INVISIBLE THINGS OF HIM FROM THE CREATION OF THE WORLD ARE CLEARLY SEEN, BEING UNDERSTOOD BY THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE, EVEN HIS ETERNAL POWER AND GODHEAD; SO THAT THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE…”
-ROMANS 1:20

Every single one of us is given a measure of faith and free will.

“AND EVEN AS THEY DID NOT LIKE TO RETAIN GOD IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE, GOD GAVE THEM OVER TO A REPROBATE MIND, TO DO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT CONVENIENT; BEING FILLED WITH ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, FORNICATION, WICKEDNESS, COVETOUSNESS, MALICIOUSNESS; FULL OF ENVY, MURDER, DEBATE, DECEIT, MALIGNITY; WHISPERERS, BACKBITERS, HATERS OF GOD, DESPITEFUL, PROUD, BOASTERS, INVENTORS OF EVIL THINGS, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING, COVENANTBREAKERS, WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, IMPLACABLE, UNMERCIFUL: WHO KNOWING THE JUDGMENT OF GOD, THAT THEY WHICH COMMIT SUCH THINGS ARE WORTHY OF DEATH, NOT ONLY DO THE SAME, BUT HAVE PLEASURE IN THEM THAT DO THEM.” – ROMANS 1:28-32

If you reject God long enough He will let you go and do as you please.  That is a terrible place to be.  The gravity of that situation is unimaginable as a Christian.  He will stop fighting for you.  His child can NEVER be plucked from His hand and since they want to know Him He will fight to keep them.  But, the ones who continuously reject Him He has no part in their lives.

If you are a believer and going through trials and hardships…rejoice.  If you are being persecuted… be thankful.  If you are struggling with your flesh… be glad God is fighting for you.

When you give into those temptations and no longer have anguish or guilt is when you should worry.

God loves His children.  He disciplines them just as any loving parent would.

The world sees Christians as hateful… at least Christians who follow the God of the bible and not just the who go to church for an hour on Sunday and just call themselves one.

Someone who loves you will tell you the truth knowing it’s not popular.

Someone who “hates” or looks for selfish gain tickles your ear and tells you what you want hear.  They care about power and status.

A true friend should tell you the truth even though it may hurt.  They want what’s best for you.

God’s love DOES come with conditions.

If anyone teaches ‘anything goes’ they are a liar.  God deals with these hypocrites.

“NOT EVERY ONE THAT SAITH UNTO ME, LORD, LORD, SHALL ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN. MANY WILL SAY TO ME IN THAT DAY, LORD, LORD, HAVE WE NOT PROPHESIED IN THY NAME? AND IN THY NAME HAVE CAST OUT DEVILS? AND IN THY NAME DONE MANY WONDERFUL WORKS? AND THEN WILL I PROFESS UNTO THEM, I NEVER KNEW YOU: DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY.” – MATTHEW 7:21-23

Satan knows how to make you torn inside.  But, he has been defeated by the Cross and as believers we can overcome his schemes in the name of Jesus.  Darkness runs from the light.

You have the right to get rid of anything in your life that steals your peace.  Cut off anything that infiltrates your mind to distract you from the things of God and robs your joy.  Jesus is the prince of peace so if you are struggling to have peace you need to see the fruits of your life and ask God to purge them.

Surrender.  Stop trying to change things that are out of your hands.  I speak from experience.  This is one of the main things I struggle with.

This morning I was ready to give up.  I was going to give into my flesh.  I was frustrated because God wasn’t moving in my life (at least, how I wanted Him to).  But, I also knew I didn’t want what I want and that it was my flesh acting out.  I want what HE wants for me.  I do not what my plans for my life…

On my drive to work I was praying and crying about letting things go. God has brought me too far to give up now.

God brought someone in my life and spoke through her and what they said was my prayer in the car.  They were thankful they had waited in a certain season and while it was hard God is faithful.

Obviously, I just stared at them wide eyed knowing God was speaking to me.

God has a plan. Satan has a plan.  You have the power to choose which one you follow.

Sit back and watch the miracles unfold.  God wants what is best for you and He is always best.

Natalie Grant – I will not be moved

…My brokenness helped me to see it’s Grace I’m standing on..”

“BUT WHAT THINGS WERE GAIN TO ME, THOSE I COUNTED LOSS FOR CHRIST.

YEA DOUBTLESS, AND I COUNT ALL THINGS BUT LOSS FOR THE EXCELLENCY OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST JESUS MY LORD: FOR WHOM I HAVE SUFFERED THE LOSS OF ALL THINGS, AND DO COUNT THEM BUT DUNG, THAT I MAY WIN CHRIST,

AND BE FOUND IN HIM, NOT HAVING MINE OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH IS OF THE LAW, BUT THAT WHICH IS THROUGH THE FAITH OF CHRIST, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF GOD BY FAITH:

THAT I MAY KNOW HIM, AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION, AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS, BEING MADE CONFORMABLE UNTO HIS DEATH;

IF BY ANY MEANS I MIGHT ATTAIN UNTO THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.

NOT AS THOUGH I HAD ALREADY ATTAINED, EITHER WERE ALREADY PERFECT: BUT I FOLLOW AFTER, IF THAT I MAY APPREHEND THAT FOR WHICH ALSO I AM APPREHENDED OF CHRIST JESUS.” – PHILIPPIANS 3:7-12