I don’t know what to think of my life at any given moment. I’ve tried to keep your statutes and provide for my fiancee. She means everything to me and I know you gave her to me. Help me provide for her. Help me not lose sight of you, your ways and your will for my life. I have stepped into the drivers seat at times, please forgive me. God, please love me, love her, love my family.. provide watch over and protect us. You are the author of life.. I submit my pen to you.. write my life into your book.

Thank you Jesus for saving me. Help me to tell others about you and not be afraid to speak your name. There is no one like you and never will be. you are God in the flesh, my savior.

They will walk and not become weary.

[some debate about why I should read the book of mormon...]

Me: Nothing in your power is going to change me, you can have the best arguments in the world for me to read that book. lock me up and talk to me day after day 360 days a year, but it will take God himself to come down from heaven in some fashion in order for me to read the book or mormon or any other book as the word of God.  whether it be in a still small voice or a earthquake, it will take him speaking to my heart persistently.  He will honor that I test the spirits.

mormon: “what you’re describing is conversion. And you’re absolutely right. It’s not done by convincing, or arguments, or forcing
It’s by the spirit
only God’s spirit can enter and make that change
for that, the heart has to be open”

me: That comes down to, which spirit is converting people to accepting the book of mormon as the word of God - is it God’s spirit?  or the man’s own heart

mormon: is what?

me: the spirit which is causing people to accept the book of mormon as truth and follow its statutes
there is a spirit (many spirits) behind people accepting that they can be empowered with psycic powers
it all comes down to testing the spirits
see that they glorify Jesus Christ and not man or anything else that crawls upon the earth.
and see that the spirit is of Christ and not to glorify man in the name of Christ

[end of conversation]

That is what it comes down to.  Is, “the spirit” … the spirit of God?  You must test all things against the word of God to make sure that they are of the spirit of God. Many can claim to be of, “the spirit”… but it was only the voice of their own heart and desire that they sought out that spirit and now they are trapped.

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them….” – Matthew 7:15-16

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.” – 2 Peter 2:1

Why is it that we allow some guy on Sunday or some guy on a radio station tell us what we believe?  Why is it that there are Christians who have been saved for many years and yet have trouble explaining the trinity to someone else? (I’m guilty of this one)  Why do we still struggle to remember what’s written and where? (yup, guilty of this one too)

We are instructed in a few different places in the New Testament that there will be a time when false teachers are among us and how are we going to identify these false teachers if we do not know what is written?  It says in Ephesians 6:17 and Hebrews 4:12 that the word of God is a sword and not only that is it’s the sharpest sword.  We need to learn how to wield this weapon better so that we can fight against lies, false doctrine, and heresy; so that we may know that what we teach and believe is correct.  How well do you know this weapon that has been given to you?  You don’t become a better soccer player by leaving your ball on the shelf!

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1:1*

By getting into our bibles and truly studying it, asking questions, digging deeper we are furthering our understanding of our creator, connecting with Him.  The main character of the bible IS God and as we dig in the word comes alive.  This is not just some random old book; this is the word of God, passed down so that we may know Him better.  Roll up those sleeves, dive in and do some heavy lifting!

Some hard questions:

Do you know where it teaches that we are saved by faith in Jesus?

Where does it say that we are sinful and need salvation?

Using scripture can you show me that Jesus was fully God and fully human?

How many passages have you got committed to memory?  Oh, think it’s hard?  How many songs do you have memorized?

Can you show me where it says there is only one God?

Using scripture can you show me why I should go to church? Be baptized? Take communion?  Tithe?

I know I can’t do some of this and I’ve been a Christian for 7 years!!  Geez….get cracking Koz!

* Thank you Alicia Siffring for the thought and verse reference

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
-Matthew 5:8

Fellow men, how much do you desire to be blessed and to see God? How often do you allow yourself that second look at a beautiful woman walking down the street? How often do you allow yourself to watch a particular scene in a movie? How often do you not change the channel when that ad for Victoria’s Secret or Sports Illustrated comes up?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”
-Matthew 5:27-30

Understand that Jesus does not teach this in a literal sense. Otherwise I would have been blind, without speech, lobotomized, handless and footless before the age of 10! He is stressing the utter importance of keeping free from sin and walking in purity. He is explaining just how serious God takes sin. Paul even writes in 1 Corinthians 6:18 to FLEE sexual immorality. Don’t even go near it! So the question remains Men, to what lengths will you go to see God? Will you stand up, fight the world’s standard and respect and honor your lady friends around you?

“I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,”
-1 Timothy 2:9

Ladies you have your part in this whole thing as well. Men need your help too. Paul expressess the first step to this. Be fully aware of how you dress and aid your brothers in Christ to live full lives.

Lets take this a step further ladies, if you are dressing less than modest, what kind of attention are you attracting? What kind of man are you attracting? Do you really want that type of attention? You are meant for so much more!

Lust is a matter of life or death. That second look will cost you. How badly do you want to truly live?

Lord thank you thank you.

Lord open up my heart and pour in your fire. Raging fire to burn away evil in the hearts of men and captivate those who are desiring truth.

Fill my heart to overflowing that they may see your glory and be drawn to your heart.

Help me to not use your gifts to harm or control others.

Help me to use your gifts to manifest your fire and love in lives.

Make me clean and without blemish.

Lord you hold the power over sin and death.

Lord I believe in your strngth and love.

Lord protect me with your angels and break down the walls of pride.

Bring your strength to uphold my heart against the enemy.

Help me to resist evil and bless others.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I was going to give tons of references to the Lord’s sabbath, and I realized that this scripture is way more important to me right now.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus gives us REST! When there is so much to do he says to come unto him and take up his burden which is light. Lord I needed that scripture so bad tonight, thank you…

Are you worried? Seek Jesus’ love.

Are you bitter? Seek Jesus’ love.

When Jesus’ love is filling us, evil evades and leaves our bodies. The most soothing and healing medicine to our bodies is the love of Jesus. “10 minutes a day on this tread climber will give you toned abs”, says the TV. But 10 minutes a day soaking in the Lord’s love will give you peace, joy, fulfillment, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, etc. Need I say more?

“Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.” 1 Corinthians 13:8

What is the best investment you can make in life? Learn how to love and what real love is. Let Jesus teach you how to love. The word says that everything else fails or ceases. My question to you is, what is your #1 priority in seeking the kingdom of God? If you have the love of Jesus in you, you will never feel cold inside. You will lift others up instead of worrying about yourself and in time God will lift you up. When you have true love, you are humble, patient and strong. No one can strip the love of Jesus from your heart when you seek his love every day. Passionate prayers become commonplace when love reigns in your heart. The dryness is stripped and you are filled with the abundant life that Jesus promised. His love will get you through the hardest and darkest of times. In understanding his love, you will realize that when you fail, your God will love you and put you back on your feet stronger than ever. Praise God for his perfect love that casts out all evil!