A Day To Remember...

In five days the world will begin what is known as Christmas. People place lights all around and exchange gifts with each other, it's a day to spend with family and friends. The world has made this holiday very commercialized. How, you may ask, does this have to do with a day to remember? If you will hang in there with me, you will soon find out. =)

Christmas was made a holiday to commemorate the birth of Jesus, since no one knew His exact date of birth, the government selected December 25th as the day the world would commemorate it. Scholars have figured out that Jesus was most likely born sometime in the fall, September to the beginning of October, but most everyone commemorates the birth on December 25th.

The world has changed that holiday by putting a fictitious character called Santa Claus in the mix of everything, who lives in the North Pole and has a workshop and reindeer that fly and elves who help him out. The world has made the holiday to be more geared toward giving gifts to each other, and just plain busyness.

So many people are so busy worried about getting stuff for Christmas and the hustle and bustle that it contains, they don't take time to smell the roses, or if you live in a cold state, feel the snowflakes falling! They don't get to spend time with the ones they love, they just worry about what a big hassle it is.

I believe that this time of year should really be focused on what we could do for others, who could we bring cheer to, is there a family in need that could use something that you have, or why not sing to some shut in elderly. Instead of wasting our time and money buying things that we never use or need, why not buy something for someone else that you know they could use.

You could also make a special thank offering to the One who came down to this Earth long ago. He is the One who we should remember at this time of the year, we should once again thank Him for making such a huge sacrifice to come down to this dark and sinful planet, so that we could be saved.

Yes, this is the day that the world remembers as Christmas, but this year try not to think about the worry or get caught up in the excitement, try and do something for someone in need. After all Jesus came down to this Earth because we did have a need, and that need was a Savior!

I want to remember others and the true meaning of Christmas, don't you?

P.S. Happy Holidays! =D

Feeling The Wind

One of my favorite things to do when it is windy out is to throw out my arms and let the wind blow! Many people ask, how do you know God is real? I like to tell them, it's like the wind, you don't know that it is there, but you can feel it's presence. God is like this, we can't see Him but we know He is there by the things He does in our lives.

 When Jesus was here on this Earth, right before His ascension to heaven, He told His disciples that He would send the Comforter. Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, it is because of the Holy Spirit that we can feel God's presence in our lives.

The Holy Spirit tells us when we are doing things that aren't right, or gives us suggestion we could do to make someone else happy. The Holy Spirit is the third member of the Godhead, they are three different people but they work together as one. 

Like the wind we can't feel His presence but we know that He is working, each one of us could tell stories of how He maybe rescued us from an accident, or worked a different kind of miracle in our life. He is the one who puts peoples lives in our paths so that we can share the truth with them. 

Wind will come and go where it pleases, it works in mysterious ways. The Holy Spirit works like that on a soul, it comes and begins the gentle working of breaking the heart of stone and revealing the heart of flesh that is beneath. 

When we are sad or when we are happy He is their and telling our sorrows and our joys to Jesus. He is like a translator for us. =)  

Sometimes the wind is strong and seems to blow everything apart. The Holy Spirit sometimes has to work with us the same way, we may not like how He is dealing with us and we may resent it, but if we give into His loving ways, He will lead us back to a calmer direction. 

I love to feel the wind, but I also want to feel God's presence in my life, don't you? 

Language of Canaan...

The language of Canaan, doesn’t the very name sound wonderful? I want to learn this language more than any other. This is the language of heaven, the name Canaan, refers to the Promised Land – the one that is to come. Only those who are saved by the blood of the Lamb and have accepted Jesus can talk this pure language. The question is though; can we prepare and start talking it now?

I believe that we can start right now to speak heavenly language. We can do this by watching what we say, but you may ask how do I do this? Good question, hopefully I can answer it for you. =)

When we say things that are mean or cutting down to someone it can hurt that person’s feelings. By watching what we say to others is one way we can speak that language. When we say kind things and kind words and compliment people, it not only makes that person feel good but it makes us feel a lot better as well.

But there is more to it than by just saying kind words. We must not speak vulgar words, or in other words, swear words; but there is also something else we should watch as well. We should be careful and not use slang words as well. We must say what we mean and use words properly. This is heavenly language… now; you may ask what do you mean by slang words? I will do my best at answering that.

Lots of people use words very loosely now-a-days, saying things like ‘yo, dude, cool, totally, so on and so forth.  These words are some of the slang words that are used today. I try and imagine if Jesus or the angels would speak that way to each other. For me personally I can’t imagine the angels saying to each other, “Dude that is so totally cool!” Can you?

By using words properly we are speaking heavenly language, instead of using cool as meaning you like it, you could just say, “I really like that!” Or, “Wow, that is really something else!”

At first it might be really hard, and you will catch yourself saying those words, because it is a habit and you are used to it. I remember when I first learned that those words where slang, it was really hard to stop saying them, but I paid attention and had other people who would tell me, hey you said it, so that I could make sure that I wouldn’t say it anymore. I realized that I wanted to speak heavenly language, and now hearing other people say those words it just seems strange. =)

Read what a well-known author has to say about this.

Weed out Every Careless Word—Remember that by your words you shall be justified, and by your words condemned. The tongue needs bridling. The words you speak are seeds sown, which produce fruit either good or evil. Now is your sowing time.

The good man, from the good treasure of the heart, bringeth forth good things. Why? Because Christ is an abiding presence in the soul. The sanctifying truth is a treasure-house of wisdom to all who practice the truth. As a living spring it is springing up unto everlasting life. The one who has not Christ abiding in his heart will indulge in cheap talk, exaggerated statements, that make mischief. The tongue that utters perverse things, common things, slang phrases, that tongue needs to be treated with the hot coals of juniper.—MS 17, 1895.

At times the follower of Christ may by circumstances be compelled to witness scenes of unholy pleasure, but it is with a sorrowful heart. The language is not the language of Canaan, and the child of God will never choose such associations. When he is necessarily brought into society that he does not choose, let him lean upon God, and the Lord will preserve him. But he is not to sacrifice his principles in any case, whatever the temptation. {2SM 127.1}

The Language of Canaan—We are to be witnesses for Christ; and this we shall be when we grow up daily into the full stature of men and women in Christ. It is our privilege to grow more and more like Him every day. Then we shall acquire the power to express our love for Him in higher, purer speech, and our ideas will enlarge and deepen, and our judgment become more sound and trustworthy, while our testimony will have more of life and assurance. We are not to cultivate the language of the earthy, and be so familiar with the conversation of men, that the language of Canaan will be new and unfamiliar to us.—Sons and Daughters of God, 72

Your words are to be an expression of His sympathy. You are to speak the language of Canaan. You are no more of the world. You have come out from the world, and you are to be separate from its methods and practices. In word and action you are to reveal God’s purposes of love. {TDG 270.3}

Students, educate yourselves to speak in the language of Canaan, the language spoken in the heavenly school by the members of the royal family. Sternly determine to put away all foolish talking and jesting, all selfish amusements. By faith grasp God’s promises, and determine that you will be Christians here below, while preparing for translation. {RH August 27, 1903, par. 21}

I want to learn more and more each day to speak in that heavenly language, don’t you?

Let Go and Let God...

Sometimes the struggle is so hard and the temptation is so great. How do you let this sin that you love go and let God rule your heart? Why does it seem to be so difficult? Sometimes it is easier said than done, and the thing that has captured you, you don't seem to want to let it go.

Believe me, I know from experience that it isn't always an easy to let go of that sin that you cherish. After all you like doing it, it seems to be fun and okay to do. And yet deep down inside you know that it is wrong to be doing "it."

How then can we let go of that sin that we hold and let God fill it with something else? Like I said before it is easier said than done. The devil wants you to keep on thinking that whatever you are doing is okay and there is nothing wrong with it. He wants you to feel so comfortable with whatever it is that you are doing so that you silence the voice of the Holy Spirit.

I believe that the very best thing that we can do is to pray and keep on praying. If you feel the urge or temptation to do that "secret sin" you have to pray immediately for God to remove it from your heart. Then you need to remind the devil that you are dead to that sin and you are now walking in the right way. He will try to remind you how fun it was and how much you enjoyed it, but go to Jesus and ask Him to send the devil away and He will!

Sometimes though we can be stubborn and want our own way, and the devil is successful at leading us back into that sin, when we realize what we have done (which is sometimes in the process of doing whatever it may be) we must go to Jesus and tell Him how sorry we are and to ask for forgiveness and ask Him to help us to overcome in all points of weakness. The Bible tells many different promises of how Jesus will come to help us no matter what.

Jesus said He would send every angel in heaven if it meant that we would be saved and not fall into temptation! Every angel! Sometimes I can't fathom the love of God and understand how He can put up with such a weak and erring child like I am, like we all are. But God does love us more than we can ever know, it will take us all eternity to discover how much He really does love us, and even then we won't know everything.

Yes, we do need to let go and let God run our lives, no matter how hard it may be and no matter what difficulties we may overcome. God will help us in all of our weaknesses and He will keep us from falling like He has promised He would in His Word.

Another thing to keep in mind is, while we may think that we are doing this sin when no one else is looking, all of heaven is watching us, watching to see what choices we make. We can think of Jesus and how He died so that we could be totally free from sin. We can think of how Jesus cries when He sees us doing those things that displease Him. Also that the angels and the other unfallen worlds would be disappointed in us.

If we can keep these things before our minds, we would be less likely to fall/stumble. We can also remember that if we are faithful unto the end, Jesus will give us the crown of life and we can be with Him forever. Jesus himself said, "What is it if a man gains the whole world but loses his soul" (paraphrase).

When we think about it, or at least when I think about it; I realize that it isn't worth it to lose all of eternity for just a moment of pleasure. For me what matters most is that in the end my Savior says, "Well done good and faithful servant!" I want to do everything in my power to have Him say that, even if it means giving up on what I may consider pleasure. After all I'm giving it up for Him!

I want to let go and let God, don't you?

Only He Understands...

Sold! Sold into slavery by your very family! How could have this happened? What did he do that would make them sell their own brother? The tears begin to flow as he remembers his father and little brother back at home, his home, or what was his home. Now he was walking on what seemed to be an endless journey across sand. Way would the Lord allow this to happen?

Our story is one many may know, but there may be some things in this story you may never have heard of, the story of Joseph...

Joseph was born into a big family, his father had four wives, one of his wives Rachel was the one his father really loved. Jacob, Joseph's father, prayed that Rachel would be able to have children, God heard and answered his prayer and Rachel gave birth to a son whom they called Joseph. Rachel went on to have one other son, Benjamin, but shortly after the birth of her second son Rachel died.

Joseph had 10 older brothers, which came from Jacob's other wives. Now Jacob favored Joseph, because he was Rachel's eldest son, this caused Joseph's older brothers to become jealous. Jacob didn't let Joseph go into the fields with his brother, he took special care in training Joseph at home. As the years went on and Joseph became older he started having dreams. He made the mistake and told his brothers the dreams, the dreams made it sound as if Joseph was going to rule over them someday. This made the brothers even more angry.

The brothers decided to sell Joseph as a slave, and on the way to Egypt (that being the place to which Joseph would go for slavery), Joseph decided to lean upon God and let Him lead his life. After all, the Lord was the only One whom he could lean on, and the only One who understood why this had happened to him.

Joseph was sold to Potiphar, a captain in the Pharaoh's army. Joseph was eventually put in charge of Potiphar's whole house, but someone else who was also watching Joseph. Potiphar's wife watched Joseph and liked how he looked, he being a sturdy, handsome young man, Potiphar's wife wanted Joseph to do something in which the commandments forbade. Joseph was true to God in this trying test, and because of it Potiphar's wife turned it all around, and as a result, Joseph was sent to prison.

Once again Joseph relied on God, for only God understood why he would be treated this way. When he was in prison he meet 2 people; the butler and the baker of the Pharaoh. These two both had dreams, Joseph was able to interpret these dreams (with God's help) and was able to tell these two men the meaning of their dreams. The butler was set free in 3 days, and the baker was hanged, just like Joseph interpreted.

(If you would like to read the full account of Joseph's life, go to the Bible, you can find it in the first book of Genesis starting with chapter 37.)

Joseph asked the butler before he was released to remember him when he went in before Pharaoh but the butler forgot about Joseph in the prison, and he spent another 2 years there. Until, the Pharaoh had a strange dream, then the butler remembered how Joseph interpreted his dream in prison, he quickly told the Pharaoh about Joseph, and the Pharaoh quickly sent for Joseph. Joseph, once again, with God's help, interpreted the dream for Pharaoh, telling him that there would be 7 years of plenty, and 7 years of famine. Pharaoh realized that Joseph was a man of God and put Joseph in charge of all of Egypt.

Not only was Joseph able to save Egypt from famine but he was able save his family from it as well. His brothers had come to Egypt to see if they could buy grain, Joseph immediately recognized his brothers, but his brothers did not recognize Joseph. Joseph looked different from what they would remember, when he was sold into slavery he was only 17 years old, but now he was 30 years old, and not only that he was governor of all of Egypt. They bowed down before Joseph, just like Joseph dreamed about when he was still at home. Joseph had long since forgiven his brothers for the wrong that they had committed to him, but he wanted to be sure that they had changed before he would reveal who he really was. Joseph accused them of being spies and sent one of the brothers to prison, the other brothers had to bring back Benjamin to prove that they were not spies.

The brothers, when they had sold Joseph into slavery had told their father that Joseph was killed by a wild animal, so the father thought that Joseph was dead. Because Joseph was "dead" the father favored Benjamin. The brothers quickly told their father about there visit to Egypt, but Jacob did not want Benjamin to go to Egypt with his brothers. The point finally came when they ran out of grain, so Jacob let Benjamin go to Egypt. Well when they got back to Egypt Joseph put them to the test to see how they would treat Benjamin, they quickly showed that their heart was changed, they had long been sorry for the wrong that they had done to Joseph. When Joseph realized this, he quickly revealed to them who he really was.

The brothers were immediately reunited and quickly went back to Egypt to get there aged father, and it was a sweet reunion between father and son.

There are many similarities in the story of Joseph and that of the life of Jesus. Joseph was sold for 30 pieces of silver, so was Jesus. Joseph showed amazing meekness and humility in all the things he went through, these are the characteristics of Jesus when He was faced with the cross. The list goes on and on.

Through this story we can learn a lot of things. One of thmain ones that I want to point out is this, only God understands the plans He has for our lives. Only He can tell how it will all end. Sometimes we might question God about why He would allow us to go through this or that, but when we stop and think about it, and remember the story of Joseph, you will be able to remember how He led in his life. You may never know why God is putting you through this experience. After all, only He understands.

I want to trust God with my life don't you?