Earning the Trust of Others

One of the hardest things to obtain is the trust that you once had from someone. As difficult as it is to earn some one's trust when you first meet them, it will take a lifetime for that same trust to be restored after you have lost it. It's a challenge some people can never overcome, because the pain that caused you to loose that person's trust is always lurking deep within those hidden feelings. For a Christian its really a battle that you have to remember you have no control over, and despite whatever your try to do to regain that trust there are two elements working, Good and Evil, and depending on which one you listen to will decide how the journey is. Another factor is the mind of the person that you are trying to get to trust you again. Is there forgiveness in their heart? Are they willing to move on and go forward with life or are they going to let that pain hold them back from receiving the blessings that Jesus has for them. In Ephesians 4:31,32, Paul tells us "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you". This is where Christians have to draw the line, despite how abusive the attacks from the past are, you still have to look ahead to the victory and trust Jesus to deliver that what you can't see. So easy is it for us to get into a slinging match, throwing just as much mud from the past as our mates, reacting out of the pain of not being forgiven, but also unveiling the unforgiving nature that is hidden deep within ourselves. It was only after the Holy Spirit pointed it out to me, that I was able to see that I was just as much a contributor to the pain of unforgiving as others. And by being lead to the above scripture its clear to me that I'm being told to refrain from the arguing and being a part of the malice, and to em brass those who yet can see ,because Jesus hasn't revealed to them yet the progress of their forgiveness. He has it all in His control and I'm to surrender the trust issue to Jesus Just as Abraham surrendered Issac to God. God Bless You and may this help you in some way!

A Book By It's Cover

As Jesus said unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not Afraid,Only Believe. I say to those who have experienced a love one's conversion. Many people have awoke to the command "Pick up the Mantle and Lead", In 2kings 2:13 Elisha is told to pick up Elijah's mantle and lead and so many other's are told to do the same. Usually the first person's we witness to are our family and it is there that we meet our greatest resistance to our conversion. Armed with all the weapons of our pass to be used against, it's a trying period ,especially when faith is weak from new birth as a baby's legs are when coming out of the womb. There is fear coming from both sides, beside your fear, there is the fear of those who want to believe their prayer's have been answered, but are to weak in faith and only can see what you were like. Those who have forgotten that, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen"(Hebrew 11:1). They can't see beyond the past because of the hurt they are holding on to, and so they do ult! But this is the time for you to remember the Apostle Paul, and how he felt when Jesus sent him to the leaders of the church who were still in hiding from him because he used to be the persecutor of the church. Think about what fears of rejection he might have had, and how in his fleshly mind he was being told that you must be a fool, going before the same people who you were hunting down to kill,Do you really believe that they will listen to you? The Bible tells us that he obeyed and they accepted and today that same Bible is telling us to obey and they will accept if only WE believe in what we are being told! Do you believe? And if so stand strong and let you faith be known, first to those who know you and then to those who don't! The Bible tells us in Isaiah 43:9-11,that we are His witnesses and they are ours, and its these love one who can tell of former things and can proclaim that only because of Jesus could these new things have taken place so be strong and Take Up Your Mantle and Lead and He shall guide your steps. Amen....Thank you!

"The Honor of Serving"

Seeing the power of the Lord working through you and making a difference in the life of someone in need is a .....,Having the confidence in yourself that Jesus has for you is a ....., When the storms come in and instaed of looking at the storm, having the faith to look beyond the storm and see all the Lord has done for you is a ....., Sitting back and looking at where you are in your journey, and realizing that you are not where you were yesterday and you still haven't got to where you have to go, but your closer now than when you started out is a ....., Going to battle is like going on a picnic, you fill your basket with all kinds of goodies that you know for sure are good and will serve the purpose, goodies that through various trails and temptations have withstood the test and have regestered the victory, the same victory you imagine when you are preparing for the battle at hand,or do you prepare or do you just respond thinking you know what to do or do you say "I got it", only to forget under presure. What ever! Its still a ..... just to be able to do that, and its all part of "The Honor of Serving" a MERCIFUL and LOVING GOD!

The Wonder of it All

Life is so wonderful and full of rewards for those who have choosen to follow Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse them and fill them with the compassion of Jesus who was merciful, forgiving and believed in all. Despite the journeys our love one's go on we are to continue to show them love and continue to support them even if they are searching in the dark. We may be the "Light" that they see and it's up to use to continue to shine bright for them, leading them to the greater light that will deliver them from all darkness that has engulfed thier way of thinking and the life they are living. We as Christians are to be examples of overcomers, despite our own personel pain, we are to remember that we don't represent ourselves but Jesus, For as the scriptures say, we are His Ambassadors, and when we are looked upon, its not us that is seen its Jesus! I encourage all to be of good cheer becuase you dont know who is watching, but for sure you are always being watched! The life we live is so full of rewards and there is more to come. Remember despite what you go through DON"T let anyone or anything STEAL YOUR JOY! That JOY is one of the hardest fought battles you fought, and it took alot of pain to obtain it so dont surrender it so easy, Stand Fast and despite the pain, remember that He did it once and He will do it Again if only you belive!

The Difference Time makes

As I look back at my life and see all the changes that have taken place since the earliest I can remember, I,m amazed. As a child I remember being raised in the idea's of those who raised me,their views, their faith and even their likes and dislikes, I leaned more and more on their guidance as a way of shaping the way I wanted to be. Today being exposed to many of the pains and tragedies of this culture we live in today, I'm faced with re-evaluating my whole structure of life and questioning if is it sound or shabby! As I'm drawn closer to Christ my eyes are opened to views that when I was in the darkness of life(without Jesus),I assumed acceptable becuase I was living a good life according to society's rules and standards,honest,hard working and abideing by the laws of the land. To me I was a "Good Person", but in reality how good was I? As anyone reading this is faced with the question,"How good are you", think about what you can do to be better. Not better for yourself, but better for the homeless guy you crossed paths with on you way to work. Or better for that co-worker that you know has a drug or chemical problem and you can see the results it has on them, even when they can't or dont want to look. Are you willing to say something or are you the one who says "It's none of my buisness", when in reality it's you who has to do the extra load of work without any extra pay! Or maybe your just the one who don't like what "Betty" did and you could'nt wait to tell everyone about it, regardless as to why "Betty" did it. Oh, you did'nt take the time to try to find out why, did you? Just a few examples of areas where we can be better,for others if only we take the time to ask the question "Why"

"His Grace"

Ephesians 2:1-5 says,1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air,the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.3 All of us also lived among them at one time,gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgression-is by grace you have been saved. Upon reading this I was amazed, because I was always taught that God don't and won't look upon a person that is living in sin. But these verses are totally opposite to what has and is being taught about Gods grace. So while I sat amazed at what I read I was lead to write a poem expressing my feelings. Titled"His Grace" I thought He could not see my face, because of the life I was in, A twisted world distorted by drugs, pain on one side and misery on the other, lying, stealing and cheating as well, grief was always ringing the bell. I thought He could not see my face, because of the life I was in, My body crying out for deliverance, in a fiery den, gashing teeth, thirsty, a hell within,death all around no sign of hope, sick and tired of all the dope. I thought He could not see my face, because of the life I was in, He saw my face before the beginning of time, way before my very first crime, in the womb where inequity dwelled, were I inherited the steps to hell. I thought He could not see my face, because of the life I was in, Back long ago when the journey was complete, a sacrifice offered for the debt to be paid, it lead to man being saved, when the lamb rose again from the grave. I thought He could not see my face, because of the life I was in, But then again, the whole journey lead to this place, where I would tell the story about His Amazing Grace!

थे रियल गिफ्ट ऑफ़ थे फमिली वी Have

As I returned home from the holiday,I pondered on my family and just what they meant to me. There was two ways to view them, one being the way the world looks at them and concentrateing on all the faults, the problems, all the imperfections that we have accoumalated. The pains( how so and so let me down, or how dissappointed I am with you) and then there are all the lies, the drugs ,the trouble with the law. There was the early births to unwed mothers and then there was the deaths and those still alive that I cant stand. On the other side there was those that I'm so prould of, those that I love and my favorites, and then there is those that no one understands. Looking at all this I was so prould of my family, becuase even though we have all this in it we still are a family, and there is alot of love in it. We all might not say I love you the same way as the other, but we do say it in our own way. Looking at them from the eyes of JESUS CHRIST are even more precious becuase HE died for each and everyone of them, so dispite what it seem LOVE your Family becuase Jesus loves you!