Pretty cool to see how God shows Himself down to the core of our being in case we didn't already know how amazing and awe inspiring He is.
- Andrew
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Suffering
Hebrews is packed with encouraging verses in regards to life's trials & tribulations. We all have experienced them, and will continue to do so. I can honesty say in my journey with Jesus that my greatest, most difficult moments have brought me closer to Him. Not for a quick fix but to actually look inside myself and reflect. My prayers increase, I seek out wisdom from brothers, and the result is an indescribable amount of peace when things around me seem out of control. But more times than not I mess that up, and I try to take over. Because I think my life should go the way I want it.... Sound familiar?
You will see and hear the gospel proclaimed in many shapes and forms these days. The most popular is that God wants you to be healthy, happy, and successful. It becomes about YOU and not Jesus. It sells books, gets downloads, and feels good! But how come when I pick up my Bible I read a different message?
"Although he was his son, he learned obedience through what he suffered." Heb 5:8
"...for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world." Heb 9:26
"So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood." Heb 13:12
These are just out of the book of Hebrews. My aim with this post is not to discourage but encourage! Brothers, sisters, be encouraged! God sent His son to die on the cross for YOU! The greatest gift that you can ever receive. The gift of salvation. But why are we walking around with our heads down!? We won! Christ paid it, stamped it, walked it off. Yes, life is a challenge, but count it all joy when some adversity comes your way. He prescribes it. He knows what you can handle, and when to push you. Change your mind set and look to Him for rest. Cast your burdens on Him. He's good for that, He promises that.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."-Matthew 11:28
Lets live out lives that demonstrate that belief. Because that life is appealing to others. They want that, heck I want that! That's life with Jesus. Knowing with all your heart, no matter what you bring me Lord, I know I'm gonna make it through. Because I have You, what else do I need!?
"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Heb 12:11
For the moment it seems painful, but later it yields peaceful fruit.
If God is molding my messed up self to be more like Jesus through adversity, I guess I should submit to that. Because last time I checked, Jesus was a pretty cool dude. Be encouraged!
Blake Hawksworth
You will see and hear the gospel proclaimed in many shapes and forms these days. The most popular is that God wants you to be healthy, happy, and successful. It becomes about YOU and not Jesus. It sells books, gets downloads, and feels good! But how come when I pick up my Bible I read a different message?
"Although he was his son, he learned obedience through what he suffered." Heb 5:8
"...for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world." Heb 9:26
"So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood." Heb 13:12
These are just out of the book of Hebrews. My aim with this post is not to discourage but encourage! Brothers, sisters, be encouraged! God sent His son to die on the cross for YOU! The greatest gift that you can ever receive. The gift of salvation. But why are we walking around with our heads down!? We won! Christ paid it, stamped it, walked it off. Yes, life is a challenge, but count it all joy when some adversity comes your way. He prescribes it. He knows what you can handle, and when to push you. Change your mind set and look to Him for rest. Cast your burdens on Him. He's good for that, He promises that.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."-Matthew 11:28
Lets live out lives that demonstrate that belief. Because that life is appealing to others. They want that, heck I want that! That's life with Jesus. Knowing with all your heart, no matter what you bring me Lord, I know I'm gonna make it through. Because I have You, what else do I need!?
"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Heb 12:11
For the moment it seems painful, but later it yields peaceful fruit.
If God is molding my messed up self to be more like Jesus through adversity, I guess I should submit to that. Because last time I checked, Jesus was a pretty cool dude. Be encouraged!
Blake Hawksworth
Thursday, November 1, 2012
In Chirst
My pastor is in the middle of a series entitled Free. Basically the main point is that we were "in Adam" when he sinned, and we were "in Christ" when He died for our sins. So in Adam we were dead to sin and in Christ we were freed of the power of sin. Sometimes it is easier for me to believe that I was born a sinner than to believe that I was set free from sin when I became a Christian. This sermon has really opened my eyes to the fact that the power of the cross is exponentially more powerful than the sin of one mortal man. Sin is not my master and just speaking this truth over my life all throughout the day reminds me of that.
Romans 5:15
"But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did Gods grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
Romans 5:15
"But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did Gods grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
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