I still haven't found what I'm looking for...... U2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_ISAntOom0

 

I finally found what I’ve always been looking for in Jesus. He is my Savior, not my religion.

You may be a believer, but to experience the fullness of God, you can’t keep going in 2 different directions. (Selah)

 

Jesus saves and stays, religion sways. I pray you find what you’re looking for and plant your feet on the Solid Rock. Everything else is sinking sand.

 

In a world that is so greatly connected through technology, why is it that we are so disconnected Spiritually? So many always searching to fill what only the “Living Water” can satisfy.

I believe we live in a world that is still greatly connected to religion and rules, verses relationship and grace.

 

John 4: 5-30,The story in the bible of the women at the well with Jesus (only she didn’t know it was He)always speaks to me more and more magnified every time I hear it, or read it again myself.

 

In verse 9 you can see that the Samaritan women was focused on law. She said to Jesus “How can You, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan women for a drink?” Jesus focused on grace. Verse 10 Jesus responded, “If you knew the gift of God and Who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink’ you would have asked Him and He would have given you “Living Water.” In verse 16 we can see that Jesus was more concerned about uncovering truth. Jesus knowing everything, told her, “Go call your husband and come back.” She responded, “I have no husband.” Jesus knowing this, told her He knew she had 5 husbands, and the one she was living with now was not her husband. What do most of us do when sin is exposed in the light, lie, run, change the conversation, say we don’t believe anymore, or own up? She changed the conversation to religion in verse 19. Jesus brings her right back to what it’s all about in verse 24, RELATIONSHIP AND TRUTH! He says “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and truth.” She then said to Jesus that she knew the Messiah was coming. In verse 26 Jesus tells her, “I AM HE” Can you imagine how she felt? I don’t believe she felt ashamed, even though Jesus knew everything about her. She must have finally found what she’s always been looking for. Verse 28, she was so excited she left her water jar and went to town to tell everyone about the “Living Water.”  There is no water jar that can contain what Jesus pours out.

 

John 3:17, Once you realize that Jesus did not come to judge or condemn but to save. It should change your way of looking at Who He is and why He came. Yet so many people don’t want to own up to their mistakes because they really don’t want to change. So if you “still haven’t found what you’re looking for” maybe you haven’t confronted your true self. (Selah)

 

Revelations 3:16, It’s a choice you personally have to make. You can continue to hold the hand of the devil and satisfy only the flesh. Or you can hold the hand of Jesus and be totally satisfied. You can’t have one foot in the world and one in the kingdom. Life just doesn’t work that way. If you have a problem with that, then you should talk to Him about it.

 

Drink of Him, and He will change your everyday life, to everlasting life.

 

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Kim

 

Reason for the World...... Matthew West

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swKPS9q7rMU

 

I felt led to use this song again with all that is going on in this world, and all the questions that we can have at times like… “If there is a God why would He allow… How can He let…..Why doesn’t He”… and so many other questions that may not ever be fully understood, or answered, this side of a GLORIOUS PLACE awaiting those who never give up hope and believe that God is Who He says He is.  Continue believing that God is good no matter what things look like here. Jesus Christ will come again and make all things right and new…....never stop believing that. What other hope do you have? Do you really think this is it? Revelations 21:4, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever! This is what makes me look forward to home. A home where there is never a goodbye to our loved ones. It will be a forever hello, as long as we believe, turn from sin and turn to Jesus.

 

I am so thankful to God for giving me a chance to live, and the time and place in which He placed me on this earth to share the good news, and live my faith.  That He never gave up drawing me to Himself, and it was the very pains of life that did it. I couldn’t imagine living in these countries that are in constant horror, fear, pain, and even death for their faith. I am sure that there are some who live there that wish they were never born. Some there are also VERY QUICK to say that they believe, and that they are Christians because they probably long for home, and just want to get out of the hell they are in.

 

God has a purpose for us all. Some of us fall to our knees in desperation for a Savior. Some choose to walk away and say there is no God. Some of us have Jesus and do nothing with it.

 

I guess it all comes down to what each of us believe our purpose and the “Reason for the world” is.

 

Try to look at this world as a beginning to a new beginning one day soon. Just like a baby in its mother’s womb, is a beginning to a new beginning.

 

We live in a world where Jesus Himself came to seek and save the lost, Matthew 18: 10-12. To bring us one day to an everlasting place, John 14: 2-3. He told us this is not our home, and He is preparing a place for us. The bible tells us that this world belongs to Satan, 1 John 5: 19. This truth of God’s word, and really meditating on it daily, brings my soul to a “peace that passes all understanding” Philippians 4: 7. There will be things that break my heart and your heart daily because we live in a fallen world that all comes from the choices people make. God gave us all free will. I know what non-believers are doing with it, but what are we, God’s children doing with it? We really should be living our faith out loud, unashamed. With hopes of enlightening other people’s lives with what we know to be true. Following the example of those who have gone before us. If you’ve read the bible, you know that all who followed experienced ridicule and opposition, but it didn’t stop them.

 

We as followers of Christ, should have the same passion that Jesus showed while He walked this earth. His walk was no walk in the park, and ours won’t be either. As followers of Christ, we are called to go out into the world and seek those who are lost. It starts right in our own families, neighborhood, workplace, and anywhere else the Spirit of God leads you. Mark 16: 15, Jesus tells us to “Go into the world and preach the gospel.” So what are we as believers doing with the Savior that we know so well? John 3:16 This great news of God providing a way for us to Himself through Jesus Christ His Son, and that “whoever believes in Him shall not die but have everlasting life” should be shouted from the rooftops! That’s great news! That’s the gospel, but it’s your choice to believe it, and then share it. This may make you very uncomfortable, but just remember the pain Jesus went through for us, and the reason why He did it.

 

Are you thankful for your life? Than live a life of thanks to the ONE who gave it to you.

 

 

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Kim

 

Bring the rain.... Mercy Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kseRKxkq5iY

 

I find myself sometimes being in agreement with others and not understanding God, or wonder why He doesn’t perform the way I think He should. You would think that He would just stop all the evil that continues. But I do believe from the beginning of time we were created by God, to become children of God. We are all given free will, but at least God gave us an instruction manual to follow(the Bible). Question is do we follow it? Do we even believe it? Just like raising and teaching our own children, when they get older they will make their own choices. Some of which are very wrong. One thing I know for sure, one day your choice of believing and following Jesus, will come to a beautiful, or drastic end.

 

I know God is big enough to understand all my questions and anger over the things that happen to innocent people. But really think about it, there was, and never will be, anyone as innocent as Jesus. Gods own Son, innocent, sent here to die for our ugly sins. Our heavenly Father performed exactly how He had to. With hopes that His creation would choose to believe why He sent His Son, rather than choosing disbelief.

 

War, destruction, hate ,evil, divorce, death, murder, there are just things in this life that are inevitable. Horrible things have happened from the beginning of time. We live in an imperfect world. If you are a believer, the only comfort is knowing we are not home yet. We are here for a purpose. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then you are a part of building His kingdom right here while you are given time on earth.

 

Evil comes down to the choices people make, free will. Take comfort in knowing our Sovereign God knows and loves us. Nothing will ever come into our life that He does not allow. That’s why I find John 19: 10-12 so fascinating. Jesus said this to Pilate. Look how Pilate wanted to respond, and then look how the crowd responded. No matter what we face in life, take comfort that God is Sovereign. All these things that are allowed to come into our life are instruments to show the power of God in a follower of Jesus Christ. We should love God in good and bad times. Just like we love our parents, or as a parent, you love your children. It’s o.k. to have a lot of whys, but if you are not seeking knowledge you will NEVER get understanding, Hosea 4: 6. One day all our whys will be answered.

 

Like the lyrics of this song says, “I can count a million times, people asking me why I can praise You with all that I’ve been through. The question just amazes me, can circumstances possibly change who I forever am in You?” God in all His Sovereignty, knew just how much to give me little by little, and little by little I grew in my faith. He has been my shelter through each and every storm. My choice was not to turn my back on Him, but to grow closer to Him through them. He proved His word to me over and over. Scripture like, Romans 8: 28, that all things work out for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Psalm 46, He is my present help in times of trouble. He is not a faraway God. He is right there in the mix of everything we go through. 2 Corinthians 12: 10, He takes our weakness and PROVES HIMSELF STRONG! Colossians 1: 16, He holds ALL THINGS together, both in heaven and earth.

 

Little faith will bring our souls to heaven when we leave this world, but great faith will bring heaven to our souls. Did you get that? Bring heaven to our souls while we are here in this crazy world. That is the faith I want. As I grow in my faith, instead of saying “God get me out of this.” I’ve learned to say with much faith, “God, I know You’re going to get me through this.” Faith is more than just belief in Jesus. It’s how we respond to life circumstances.

 

He is Who He says He is! It is a growing process to get this view of God. Keep seeking, and remember, we are not home!

 

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Kim

 

 

Something in the Water ... Carie Underwood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ2kdx4zZUY

 

Amazing song!!!! Goes along with Amazing Grace!

 

Don’t you just love vacation? I sure do, but there is something very special about a cruise. Could it be the water? Something about the water that is so tranquil, so peaceful. Unless there is a storm, then it’s not so peaceful. The seas can get very rough and cause much destruction.

 

It’s the same way with our lives. What we choose to believe, or even try to understand, can cause peace or destruction.

 

If things have to make sense to us to believe or understand, than we are putting our own understanding in the place of Gods. This can cause MUCH damage within ourselves, and to others!

 

Some of us don’t trust in “Someone” Who is much bigger than us and our understanding of things. We are just wasting the life that the good Lord gave us. Open your eyes and heart and listen to the truth. If we are leaning on our own understanding, than we are doing the very opposite of God’s word. Proverbs 3: 5-6 “Trust in the Lord with ALL YOUR HEART and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  So, is your path becoming a path of destruction? Than you must still be your same old self, with your same old thinking. You must not have tried the “Living Water!” If your path is a path without God, than you are on that path of destruction. You are hand in hand with the enemy of lies and confusion, sinking in the water, rather than walking on it.

 

Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction” Proud people are easily tripped up by Satan. They seldom realize that pride is their problem, although everyone else around them is aware of it and tells them. Self-satisfaction will blind you!

 

John 4: 14, “But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst again.” This is a great story and promise of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Just one of the many stories and promises that are told in the LIVING WORD of GOD.

 

Do you want to stop sinking in the rough waters in your life? Than stop leaning on your own understanding of things, swallow your pride and drink of the “Living Water.” There truly is “Something in the Water.”

 

Do you want to see God run? Than tell Him you want to know Him more. Make the effort to…… SEEK HIM!

 

 

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Kim