Forever

You hear it on the news.  The 'Apocalypse', or 'The Rapture'.  Everyone knows what it is.  Jesus' return.

August 1st, 2011. 12:10am.

I saw an orb, firey, yet completely see-through rushing towards me like an asteroid falling from the sky, except... it was so bright it was like the sun coming straight towards me from the distant horizon.  The earth was not damaged by it, no trail of debris or fire.  I knew what was happening.  I've never seen anything like it before, but I knew it was happening.  I looked over at my brother who was with me looking at the same thing, and I tried to say "I love you".  But there was no time.  I knew what was happening.  There was no doubt in my mind.  He disappeared into the orb almost as instantly as I did.  It's like we both burst into the same particles that made up the orb as it engulfed me and then it lifted me up so high above the earth that I could see hundreds of orbs doing the same thing all over the world.  It has happened, and in this moment, I realize something very important.  What did I do with my life while I had it?  Why did I waste so much time striving for the things of this world that don't matter?  Why didn't I just spend that time with the ones I love so much and care about so much?  It was too late.  It happened and it is entirely too late now.  It's too late to apologize, it's too late to hug the ones I love.  I can't go tell them about Jesus so they can join me in eternity, and if I didn't make it to eternity and they did, I'd be forever separated from them...  I never wanted it to end that way.  But I made my choices already.

Do vs. Done

Acts 16:31
'...Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household."

I know it's been a while since my last post- and for that I apologize.  I haven't had a lot of time lately, and I also don't like to post something unless I feel it on my heart to share with you.

Easter has just passed, and while I was at my church last Sunday for the celebration of Jesus' resurrection, my pastor stated something that really stood out to me.  He said "Religion says 'Do', but the Cross says 'Done'".

What does that mean? 

I've been raised all my life in church, and honestly I've battled with the need to be "doing" all my life.  Here's the thing... the bible says according to Acts 16:31-- BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved...   It doesn't say to work your butt off to be a "perfect christian" and you'll be granted salvation.  It does go over many guidelines for Christians to follow, and it specifically lists what God defines as sin.  But, if you sin, does that mean your not saved anymore?

Romans 10:9-10
'If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.'

Jesus paid the price for our sin once and for all by CHOOSING to give His life for us.  He lived a perfect and sinless life-- because He knew that we couldn't be perfect.

So why does religion tell us to constantly do this and do that?  I know I can't be perfect- it is virtually impossible.  If I had the ability to be perfect, then Jesus wouldn't have to have died on the cross.  Maybe it's a gimmick of a guilt-trip to get you to come back to church, or maybe it's just that the leaders are trying to lead the way but they themselves don't understand the scriptures... Or maybe nobody is perfect and we can't get it across the way we intended it to.

So, if you believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, then you really ARE saved.  However, the next step of faith and being a christian is GROWTH.  That's where I believe "doing" comes in.  I don't  think you lose your salvation if you mess up, because everyone sins- and just because we become a christian doesn't mean that we're never going to sin again.  It just means that we're forgiven.

I believe the next steps are building a relationship with Jesus.  I think if you really believe with your heart, then you believe the Bible as well because it is from God.  I think you will want to know more about God and the plans that He has for you, and this requires study, and obedience to His commands that has been clearly written in the Bible.

So for all you perfectionists out there-- don't stress so much over trying to be perfect- just keep working at it, keep seeking God through prayer and reading your Bible...  Following Him will never lead you in the wrong direction.

Good Vs. Evil

Call me crazy, but I believe there is a war going on in this world.  (God vs. Satan; Heaven vs. Hell; etc.)

Don't believe me?  That's fine- you're entitled to your opinion as I am mine. 

It worries me a lot to see so many wars going on and so many things happening in the world that we consider "an act of God" or "something evil" etc....  It's all in how you look at things.

For example: Mike Sanderson (shown above) http://blog.al.com/breaking/2010/08/the_miracle_of_huntsville_truc.html
It's hard to believe that someone who has been literally decapitated can survive, live, and regain 100% mobility.  Mike Sanderson believed that something greater was at work.
Science tells us that it's just impossible.
Remember this: Luke 1:37- For NOTHING is impossible with God.



Another example:
Alex Malarkey
http://www.onntv.com/live/content/onnnews/stories/2011/01/13/story-boy-back-from-heaven.html
Suffered an internal decapitation, and he came out of it talking about how he spent time in Heaven with Jesus.  He's seen angels and demons and satan as well.  I've read his story, and it definitely changed my feelings about Heaven and God.


Recently- Japan Tsunami
http://www.thejournal.ie/survivors-pulled-from-wreckage-of-japans-earthquake-and-tsunami-2011-03/
I take a look at my almost six month old little boy and I know how crazy he is about eating.  He always has been like that... but I can't imagine him going more than 1 day without eating or being cared for.  This poor baby was found in the rubble days after the tsunami hit!

I can't prove to you that God and angels exist, but I believe the signs are everywhere...  don't you?

Why do I post this?  To inspire you to look around you... it's not about what is tangible... 

I believe God does things to bring glory to himself-- even though there are so many terrible things going on in the world... I believe that God places good things amidst the bad to let us know there is hope, He is there... and He wants us to look to Him.

I believe all evil comes from Satan and that God allows things to happen to people to show us His glory and that He has power over death, and sin.  I believe we all have a choice to believe in God and obey him, or defy God and do whatever we want to do.  I believe there are consequences for our actions, and God allows sufferring possibly because we need it to understand how much we really do NEED Him.  I believe that if we followed Gods will for our lives from the beginning, that we probably wouldn't have as many problems as we do.

Anyways, I could go on and on... but I'll stop there.

The Heart of my Thoughts

The heart of my thoughts.  What does that even mean?
I'm sitting here with coffee in hand trying to decifer what I was trying to achieve through starting a blog.

I've seen beauty blogs, artsy blogs, work-out blogs and everyday life blogs.  I am not that.

So who am I?  What am I trying to achieve?

I am like everyone else, dealing with the same things, fighting the same fights, and at the same time--  I'm not.  I am not here to be stuck up and snobby and "better-than" you.  I'm not here to be some know-it-all, or someone who has it all together.  I'm here to be real.. really real.  To inspire people to stop being so worried about what isn't important... To challenge what is so-called 'acceptable' in this world's terms.  To inspire--- Change.

First post- done!