You are on our Side....Bethany Dillon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5-DjMpuM0M

 

What an amazing, loving, PATIENT Creator we have. What a beautiful world He created. He made everything beautiful, but we have messed it up from the beginning of time and still do to this day by passing the blame. We either blame God and make excuses for our actions, or we blame the other person.

 

Genesis 2: 16-17, From the beginning of time, when sin began, God commanded Adam not to eat from the tree of good and evil. They had every other tree to eat from, but the one they were told not to, they did. Eve is deceived by Satan in Genesis 3 to eat from the very tree that God commanded them not to. Instead of confessing the truth to God when He questioned them, Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed Adam. The devil probably sat back and laughed, just like he is at us today. But one day God will have the last laugh!!

 

God is on our side. Question is, are you on His?

 

God could have left us all right there, in our own immature prideful messes. But He didn’t. He continues to this day to give us a chance at this life. A chance to know Him better and to walk in His ways. A chance to be reconciled to Him. A chance to confess our need for His Son, and to admit that we can’t do this on our own. To discover His love and character and become more like Him. What a world that would be, and one day it will be for those who repent and confess their need for forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ.

 

The scripture that always rips at my heart is Romans 8: 5 “ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” What kind of love would do this? I know what God’s love did for me. What does our life walk show for our love for Him?

The part of the song that gets me is “You could just be silent and leave us here to die. Still you sent your Son for us, You are on our side.”… You know what really gets me…. Even if we put Him on a shelf for a while, He is still on our side. He still showers us with blessings. He never gives up on us.

 

God uses our mistakes for our own good. For us to learn and grow by them. He doesn’t do the easy thing and just forget about us. He became one of us. 2 Corinthians 5: 21 “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” If that isn’t for us, I don’t know what is. He desires for our healing and restoration. Jesus left heaven, His perfect place, to come for the oppressed, wounded, orphaned, runaway sinners like you and me. Again I ask, what kind of love would do this? ONE THAT WAS ON OUR SIDE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING!!

 

Will you one day be among the wounded and poor, the thief and the whore, sharing stories with our Lord? Or will you be one who makes excuses and passes the blame?

 

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Kim

Church Pew or Barstool.. Powerful Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1APw1Ux9w4M


This video speaks volumes....

Lord I'm Ready Now..... Plum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBUQqLp6N24

 

We are into the New Year, are you ready now? Everyone usually makes some kind of resolution. I pray our first priority is for God, and that these words would be said from the depths of our hearts through our mouths… “Lord I’m ready now.”

I don’t care who you are, we are all sinners saved by the grace of God. God’s word tells us in 1 John 1: 8-9, If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.… There is such a beautiful feeling that comes over you when it’s all exposed to God. When all the walls come down and you invite Him in, there is NOTHING that He won’t forgive, NOTHING!

 

John 3: 16-17… “For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” Jesus died for the sins of us all, but it is only for those who believe in Him, confess their sin and need of His forgiveness that shall not perish and have eternal life. God said it, I believe it.

Only the enemy wants you to think you will never be good enough or that your sin is too big. He is a liar and a deceiver.

 

The word of God is so powerful, so precious, it’s everything the bible says it is. It is The Living Word!

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12… All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17….. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says James 1:22 …..Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path Psalms 119:105…. How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. Psalms 119:9 

 

God’s word guides and protects us. He is our loving Father. Just as any parent wants the best for their children, so does God. Just as any parent would punish their disobedient child, so does God. He does it for our own good. Just like any parent wants their son or daughter to come back home, so does God. But some don’t listen and go their own way when they become older youths. What would you do as a parent? Sooner or later it comes to tough love. Live by your rules under your protected roof, or go their way and face the consequences that will come.

 

Romans 8:28, “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper”,…

There is consequences to going our own way with our earthly parents, as there will be with our heavenly Father. So for all of us, young and old, I pray that as you continue in this new year, you will take time to acknowledge the word of God. You’ve got nothing to hide from Him, He loves you unconditionally. You have no reason to continue to live in the lie of the enemy. God is a God of many chances.

 

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Kim

 

Broken Hallelujah.....The Afters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFDAyyFn3WY

 

Wow, 2014 came and went so fast. To tell you the truth, I am glad it’s over. But it also seems strange to say, I wouldn’t have changed any of my (growing pains) experiences for the world. Anyone else feel this way? It’s like you know that you will learn something from it because, if you walk with Jesus, it always draws you closer to Him. If that is all that comes from it, that’s enough for me. At least you can still sing Hallelujah, even if it is a broken one.

 

I’ve been many times this year where the song says, barely able to stand because everything felt like it was crashing down. Yes, I have also seen much joy in the year too, but experiencing your own personal pain, or watching your loved ones experience theirs, is never an easy thing. No one knows what God’s plan is and why we experience these painful dark places. But I do know that He makes beauty even from the darkest situations, especially within yourself.

 

Knowing that God is with me every step of the way, and that anything I go through is no surprise to Him and has a reason and purpose, gives me comfort and hope in all things. I know that there will be joy and pain even in 2015, but to learn and grow and keep the faith, I will always be able to raise my empty hands to God and sing Hallelujah.

 

Remember, when you are lost for words to pray, your tears and bowed head says a lot to Him. Find comfort in Romans 8: 26-28. When we don’t know what to pray, the Spirit Himself intercedes for us. He knows our hearts and mind.

 

Grow stronger, love deeper by……. STAYING WITH JESUS!

 

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Kim

People get ready (Jesus is coming)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN0cl4RtFhg

 

Please understand before you read this, I have 2 grandsons, and prayerfully more to come if it is God’s will, and I am very concerned for them. It seems to me that more and more today, even Christians are compromising the word of God.

 

It is our business to speak up as Christ’s followers. The world is getting louder than we are. We are to be the light, not join in with what Jesus died for.

 

This is an old song, but I can’t find anything more fitting for this world today. How I pray “People get Ready” because Jesus is coming soon. The signs are all showing. Like my Pastor always tells us, Don’t be surprised at what you see the world coming to. The world does and believes what the world does. He is so right, and when I think that way it keeps my heart where it should stay. Praying for the unsaved people, and even us believers, for not being the light that Jesus asked us to be for Him. We should stand on His word and honor Him, not fearing anyone. God’s word tells us in Samuel 2: 30, “Those who honor me I will honor”…. So don’t be afraid to stand for what is right and moral, even in your own home. The world speaks out loud with no fear. So what is stopping us as His chosen ones?  God is true to His word for those who do.

 

Please understand what I am about to talk about I am not judging anyone, that is God’s job. Mine is to just share His truth. I have many gay friends, and also some family members whom I love dearly and so does God. It hit me really hard, when right in my own home town they passed the law for same sex couples to be married. Understand that I too am a sinner saved by the grace of God and the blood of His Son. Something I surely didn’t deserve. I will never be perfect this side of heaven. I just choose to let God’s word continue to change me. I won’t, and can’t make a right, or see nothing wrong with, what my Jesus died for. He died for the sins of us all. Homosexuality is just one of the many sins. It still is sin, and God wants us to turn from it to Him (Acts 3: 19). God will not take sin lightly, just like we wouldn’t take lightly what we tell our children is wrong. There is no compromise for what can harm us.

 

I am going to use these 2 scriptures of many others in God’s word, but some things you will have to seek for yourself because the truth will set you free. Jesus said to seek Him and you will find Him, so I pray you do. If you don’t have a bible just Google “ Bible verses on Sexual Immorality” and a WHOLE LOT will come up for your easy read.

 

Matthew 19: 4-5, First let’s remember that in the beginning God created them male and female. “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’^[a5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh”

 

I picked these 2  scriptures because, not only did God lead me to them, but because it not only applies to homosexuality which is immoral, but anything else that will keep someone from the kingdom of heaven. It should really open your eyes to a world in such need of Jesus. We can’t do it without Him. We are all weak in the flesh, but strong in the Spirit.

 

HEBREWS 13: 4 “Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the Marriage bed be UNDEFILED, for God WILL JUDGE the sexually immoral and adulterous.”

1 Corinthians 6: 9-10 “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, drunkards…. will inherit the kingdom of God.”

 

I will need Jesus until the day He takes me home because I fall so short when it comes to the flesh, but God knows I am after His heart, and always willing for Him to change me. I pray you see this worlds need for Him too, because it is truly going to hell.

 

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Kim

 

The First Time ..... Mercy Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL1peDCoPGw

 

Do you remember “the first time” you believed? That was when it happened. You were broken. Your eyes were opened wide. You fell completely in love with Jesus. You saw Him face to face, you tasted His grace, you never felt anything like that before. You believed everything about Him and everything He died for. You saw sin for what it was. Your walk and faith was strong…. Then it happened…. You started to get complacent, comfortable just where you are.

 

When this happens, even in our own relationships, things begin to fall apart little by little. You begin not to see eye to eye on the things you once agreed with. You will start to agree with the world, instead of what you once believed from what you were taught in God’s word.

I can’t stress this enough… Either God is right and your wrong, or your right and God’s wrong. If you are a true believer, a true Christian, which one sounds better to you. It’s as simple as that but up to you to make the right choice.  You either follow the wisdom of the world, or the wisdom of God. This is what the bible says about that. 1 Corinthians 1: 18 “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Read on through verse 31 and I pray it opens your eyes.

1 Corinthians 2: 14 “But people who aren’t spiritual CAN’T RECEIVE THESE TRUTHS FROM GOD’S SPIRIT. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for ONLY THOSE WHO ARE SPIRITUAL can understand what the spirit means.” This comes from spending a lot of time with Him personally.

 

Day after day I try to explain God to those who are confused. But really, how can I contain Him in so many words? If they are just going to stand on the shore line with their heads buried in their own thoughts and beliefs, while God is the great big ocean just waiting for them to dive in deeper, they will never be broken of their worldly thoughts and beliefs. This is why God treasures the broken. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

 

It is a choice to go deeper, to dive in and be broken by the power of God, the mighty waves of His love. That’s why I love the lyrics of this song…”I thought I knew Your face, I thought I tasted grace”……. “You are the ocean, and I’m on the shoreline thinking I know You” …… How could you know, or learn anything if you don’t search it.

 

Genesis 1: 27…..You can continue to be you, but God created us to be made into His image. This is a lifelong process where His mercy breaks the dawn of everyday that we have the gift of life here.

 

Are you a true seeker of truth? Then go from the comfortable shoreline into the ocean and be broken until you look more like Jesus. Jeremiah 29: 13, God tells us if we seek Him we will find Him. But it has to be with our whole heart. Eyes wide open to His word and ways. Then the things of this world that you thought were okay, will begin to look much different to you now. The things that break God’s heart will begin to break yours more and more once again.

 

Be led by God, or be led by the world. It’s your choice, but one day you will stand before God and give an answer for your apathy.

 

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Kim

 

❄