25 King David said this about him: ‘I see that the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
26 No wonder my heart is glad,
and my tongue shouts his praises!
My body rests in hope.
27 For you will not leave my soul among the dead
or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.
28 You have shown me the way of life,
and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’
(Acts 2:25-28)
Being a Christian and loving God isn't about feeling guilty. It's about being set free from your guilt and shame. God is full of so much love and joy. David definitely recognized this. He had his fair share of lament, but there's so much in the Bible where He describes his joy in the Lord's presence.
He will never leave you. He won't let your soul just "rot in the grave." Nothing can separate you from Him.
Notice in the last verse David says, "You will fill me with the joy of your presence." God doesn't want us to be miserable! Being with God no matter what your circumstances can bring you ultimate joy.
However, I must say one thing: Happiness and Joy are two different things. They can occur separately or simultaneously, but the two are different. Happiness is a temporary emotion that makes you feel good for a short time. Joy is an overall quality. Even when you have no reason to be happy, you have every reason to have that inner joy inside you. People will notice the difference on how y0u handle life's storms when you have the joy of the Lord.
He is always with you.
You will not be shaken.
Holly.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Arrogance=Failure
"A man on his face will never fall from that position." -Larry Stockstill
Arrogance is setting yourself up for falling.
It's so easy to fall when you've got your head up in the clouds. Arrogance is to think that you are above and beyond the rest. In a Christian sense, it means that you feel like you are better than your fellow Christians because of your service, avoidance of sin, or your position/favor within the church.
When you put yourself on a pedestal convinced that you are about as good as Jesus, you start to fall. Why? Because you don't realize where your true faith is going. We're called to be humble. Being humble means to realize that you aren't perfect, no matter how much you try. We are only perfect in Christ. If you're so caught up in yourself, you're nowhere near perfect because you're nowhere near Christ!
Realize you aren't the most awesome person ever, even if you break your back doing things for your church. God loves you more than you can comprehend, and He thinks we're all awesome, but never EVER put yourself above others. We're all equal.
Stop boasting.
Be humble.
Love on others.
Holly
Arrogance is setting yourself up for falling.
It's so easy to fall when you've got your head up in the clouds. Arrogance is to think that you are above and beyond the rest. In a Christian sense, it means that you feel like you are better than your fellow Christians because of your service, avoidance of sin, or your position/favor within the church.
When you put yourself on a pedestal convinced that you are about as good as Jesus, you start to fall. Why? Because you don't realize where your true faith is going. We're called to be humble. Being humble means to realize that you aren't perfect, no matter how much you try. We are only perfect in Christ. If you're so caught up in yourself, you're nowhere near perfect because you're nowhere near Christ!
Realize you aren't the most awesome person ever, even if you break your back doing things for your church. God loves you more than you can comprehend, and He thinks we're all awesome, but never EVER put yourself above others. We're all equal.
Stop boasting.
Be humble.
Love on others.
Holly
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Hypocrites........
We have all heard the following statement: "I'm not a Christian because they're all hypocrites!"
Do you take offense to this statement? When people say it do you fire back with, "No they are not!!!!!"
The truth is that all Christians are hypocrites. No Christian has ever been sinless after salvation. We all screw up daily. You know it's wrong, yet you do it anyway. That is hypocrisy.
That being said, there are two ways to handle it.
1) Admit that you're wrong. Admit you screwed up. Admit you aren't a know-it-all perfect person. Don't boast about how great you are. And when others screw up, don't judge them. This is a perfect opportunity to love on them! Be HUMBLE.
2) Give excuses to why you sinned. Make it look like it really wasn't your fault because of circumstances. Don't show mercy to those who have strayed. Believe that you are right, all the time.
If you want people to quit calling Christians hypocrites, go with option number one. Jesus was the only perfect person in the history of the world.
Do you take offense to this statement? When people say it do you fire back with, "No they are not!!!!!"
The truth is that all Christians are hypocrites. No Christian has ever been sinless after salvation. We all screw up daily. You know it's wrong, yet you do it anyway. That is hypocrisy.
That being said, there are two ways to handle it.
1) Admit that you're wrong. Admit you screwed up. Admit you aren't a know-it-all perfect person. Don't boast about how great you are. And when others screw up, don't judge them. This is a perfect opportunity to love on them! Be HUMBLE.
2) Give excuses to why you sinned. Make it look like it really wasn't your fault because of circumstances. Don't show mercy to those who have strayed. Believe that you are right, all the time.
If you want people to quit calling Christians hypocrites, go with option number one. Jesus was the only perfect person in the history of the world.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Shhhh..........
Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God."
This is actually one of my most favorite verses. It may sound weird to you that this is a favorite of mine, but when I'm really having some major anxiety, God always uses this verse to calm me down.
Everyone has problems, and everyone gets nervous now and then. Everyone has a battle to fight. But did you know that if you've accepted Jesus in your heart that you have absolutely nothing to worry about? Whatever life throws at you, God is always there. Even if you're to the point where you're unsure if you'll have a place to sleep the next night, God is going to take care of you.
So when your thoughts are swirling and you're feeling hopeless, remember this verse. Just chill out, be still. Know that God...is God. He loves you. He will never ever leave you.
In times of stress and anxiety, do what I do and repeat this verse over and over. Concentrate on what it says. You will feel His peace.
Love
Holly
This is actually one of my most favorite verses. It may sound weird to you that this is a favorite of mine, but when I'm really having some major anxiety, God always uses this verse to calm me down.
Everyone has problems, and everyone gets nervous now and then. Everyone has a battle to fight. But did you know that if you've accepted Jesus in your heart that you have absolutely nothing to worry about? Whatever life throws at you, God is always there. Even if you're to the point where you're unsure if you'll have a place to sleep the next night, God is going to take care of you.
So when your thoughts are swirling and you're feeling hopeless, remember this verse. Just chill out, be still. Know that God...is God. He loves you. He will never ever leave you.
In times of stress and anxiety, do what I do and repeat this verse over and over. Concentrate on what it says. You will feel His peace.
Love
Holly
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Perfect Love
"Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love." 1 John 4:18
This verse is very self explanatory, however, there may be a few things you haven't quite noticed. Many actually only quote the first sentence of this verse, which is unfortunate, because the rest of it better explains it.
When you sin, and you realize it is a sin, how do you feel? Guilty? Afraid? ....Forgiven? We should never be afraid of God's punishment after our slip ups. God's perfect love saves you from the eternal punishment. Should you be afraid of the earthly consequences? Maybe. But you should be more concerned about making things right and continuing on what God wants for your life.
The point is, if you have fully experienced God's love and presence, you have no reason to fear anything. If you've accepted Jesus as your savior, then nothing can touch your soul.
This verse isn't talking about earthly relationships. There will always be some sort of fear in those. But in God's true love, there is no fear. It's perfect. There's no reason to have anxiety attacks when you sin. Ask for God's forgiveness and let Him work through you. He's so amazing.
Love
Holly
p.s. thank you for the comments a few posts back! I still don't know who left them, but if you'd like to identify yourself then go ahead! :) Comments are strongly accepted! Disagree with me? Have something to add? Leave me a comment!
This verse is very self explanatory, however, there may be a few things you haven't quite noticed. Many actually only quote the first sentence of this verse, which is unfortunate, because the rest of it better explains it.
When you sin, and you realize it is a sin, how do you feel? Guilty? Afraid? ....Forgiven? We should never be afraid of God's punishment after our slip ups. God's perfect love saves you from the eternal punishment. Should you be afraid of the earthly consequences? Maybe. But you should be more concerned about making things right and continuing on what God wants for your life.
The point is, if you have fully experienced God's love and presence, you have no reason to fear anything. If you've accepted Jesus as your savior, then nothing can touch your soul.
This verse isn't talking about earthly relationships. There will always be some sort of fear in those. But in God's true love, there is no fear. It's perfect. There's no reason to have anxiety attacks when you sin. Ask for God's forgiveness and let Him work through you. He's so amazing.
Love
Holly
p.s. thank you for the comments a few posts back! I still don't know who left them, but if you'd like to identify yourself then go ahead! :) Comments are strongly accepted! Disagree with me? Have something to add? Leave me a comment!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Are you shining your light?
One of my main prayers lately is that I can be a light for God; that I can radiate his love through me. I want people to look at me and know that I have something different. I want them to want what I have. I want them to feel God's love through me.
What do you radiate? Is it the love of God? Or is it something else? Sometimes we wear our emotions right on our faces, or sometimes we don't, and we can look completely numb to the world. Can people feel your love when you see them? Or do they see a broken person?
To demonstrate how God has impacted you is one of the best ways to minister to the lost. When you're walking down the street, what do you see in the faces of other people? In most places, people avert their eyes, stare at the ground, and have blank expressions in order to guard their innermost thoughts.
Why hide the amazing gift God has given you? Let everyone you come into contact with see your light. People will want what you have: joy and peace.
I know we all have issues going on in our lives. It's so hard to radiate joy when you're in pain. But delight in the Lord constantly, remembering how HE DIED so YOU can LIVE! There's so much more to life than your everyday problems, and He can heal any wound.
Shine the light He's given to you, and let others see it.
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16
Blindin'!
Holly
What do you radiate? Is it the love of God? Or is it something else? Sometimes we wear our emotions right on our faces, or sometimes we don't, and we can look completely numb to the world. Can people feel your love when you see them? Or do they see a broken person?
To demonstrate how God has impacted you is one of the best ways to minister to the lost. When you're walking down the street, what do you see in the faces of other people? In most places, people avert their eyes, stare at the ground, and have blank expressions in order to guard their innermost thoughts.
Why hide the amazing gift God has given you? Let everyone you come into contact with see your light. People will want what you have: joy and peace.
I know we all have issues going on in our lives. It's so hard to radiate joy when you're in pain. But delight in the Lord constantly, remembering how HE DIED so YOU can LIVE! There's so much more to life than your everyday problems, and He can heal any wound.
Shine the light He's given to you, and let others see it.
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16
Blindin'!
Holly
Monday, August 16, 2010
OH my goodnes.....revelation!!
Have you ever had that burning desire of love for someone? When you're not with them do you yearn for them to contact you, for them to love you back? To see them? To hear what they have to say?
Have you ever realized..........that this is how God feels about you?
Really take a moment and think. Most of us have been in love at least once. When you're apart from your lover, or not on good terms, or not speaking.....it can be devastating. All you want is for them to call, take back what they (or you) said, for things to be good.
One thing I've learned from the books "Captivating" and "Wild at Heart" is that we were made in God's image. Yes, everyone has heard that before, but it's more of a personality thing than physical. God put His qualities in each man and woman. Men crave adventure and heroism (what the Bible is crammed with) and women crave relationships-to know that they are wanted.
You can actually find these qualities in both genders, but some are just more prevalent in each.
When you're craving attention and time with the person you love.......realize that that's how God feel about you!! He designed you to be that way!! Only He craves your love and attention so much more than we can imagine. He's so much in love with you.
If you have trouble understanding God's love, look in your own heart. When you desire something so so so badly, stop and realize there's One who desires YOU so much more. When you get to the point of deep desire to just be in the presence of someone you love, remember: God has that same craving feeling, only amplified.
I think sometimes He lets us go through some pain in relationships to try and teach us this. He can teach you so much about love and your own heart. Just open up and listen.
Wow,
Holly
Have you ever realized..........that this is how God feels about you?
Really take a moment and think. Most of us have been in love at least once. When you're apart from your lover, or not on good terms, or not speaking.....it can be devastating. All you want is for them to call, take back what they (or you) said, for things to be good.
One thing I've learned from the books "Captivating" and "Wild at Heart" is that we were made in God's image. Yes, everyone has heard that before, but it's more of a personality thing than physical. God put His qualities in each man and woman. Men crave adventure and heroism (what the Bible is crammed with) and women crave relationships-to know that they are wanted.
You can actually find these qualities in both genders, but some are just more prevalent in each.
When you're craving attention and time with the person you love.......realize that that's how God feel about you!! He designed you to be that way!! Only He craves your love and attention so much more than we can imagine. He's so much in love with you.
If you have trouble understanding God's love, look in your own heart. When you desire something so so so badly, stop and realize there's One who desires YOU so much more. When you get to the point of deep desire to just be in the presence of someone you love, remember: God has that same craving feeling, only amplified.
I think sometimes He lets us go through some pain in relationships to try and teach us this. He can teach you so much about love and your own heart. Just open up and listen.
Wow,
Holly
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