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The Things We Take For Granted Are Things We Miss When They Are Gone

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As I am learning day by day to be an ambassador of God’s love there is one fact that stands very clear to me: the things that we take for granted are things we miss when they are gone. I apologize if this sounds like a golden-age’ish trip to the past, but I assure you there is a revelation for you.

Starting out in my childhood I never really realized (and we typically do not as kids) how good life really was. Having  little responsibility and having the only worries of what that note said that was passed at school was definitely a care-free time in my life. Sports were great…well…playing sports with an energy that did not run out was great! Christmas was a different experience as a child than an adult; for I can honestly say that the look on my face when I got presents I wanted let me know what pure glee felt like. I never knew that the experiences I would have with my family that we would seemingly be rushing through would be moments that I would give anything to have had more time in. There were people that I got to be around that were such a joy to my life that have passed away as I have gotten older. What I would not give for that chance to thank them with the same love they have shown me.

Moving on into my teenage years I plainly see my attitude was always objective with rebellious actions and always wanting more. I got what I wanted and thought I was entitled to it, as if being totally irresponsible and ungrateful were not enough in my opinion to deserve it. And even though my teenage years had a lot of bad decisions involved I am happy to say that there were some people that still attempted to invest in me. I had 3 teachers I specifically remember that took the time to make sure they knew I cared. I still remember their names and faces and now know what it was they were trying to do for me. I remember beginning to pay attention in church and seeing people do things that went completely against my outlooks and perspectives of things I thought were true as I was discovering life for myself. Yet there were those who still loved me even when who I thought I was changed all the time. Those people have never left my heart and I am so grateful that I was taught by example about what it means to love through God’s love.

I guess it would be safe to say that I am about in the mid-point in my adult life now. I’m not sure how much more time God will give me to live. Since I have been saved and delivered from my addictions life has totally changed. Something else changed: the numerous amount of people that were as a support around me began to let up little by little. I began to wonder if it was something that I had done to have people start only calling when they were in need of something. I thought I must have surely done something wrong to get in a situation where I always gave and never received a return. I went my entire life knowing one way and now was lost in this part of the journey. The one thing I had to learn in what seemed like the hard way at first was that God was there all along! I then began to learn about how much help I could have through God, that it was so much more than just knowing you had salvation. There was a relationship with God that began to bloom in my life that began to feel just like the people that were around me in my past. And now more than ever I now understand that this stage was a transition to God’s full purpose for my life. There are people now, as I have stepped into the faith, that are in great need of that person that will love through God’s love. Sure I could be sad about losing all of the loved ones and experiences I have had, but I now know why I ever got to feel the good times to begin with. It is now my time to pay it forward.

This ministry and the calling God has on my life was built by every good memory, good experience, and good person that invested in all of our lives. We were being built by people who had the love of God that wanted the best for us. When I really think about that my heart goes out for so many. I could never repay them all, just as much as I could ever fathom of repaying God’s free pardon of sin and love that has been shown to me. God’s love for all of us is shown to us so that we not only know God but show that same love in kind to others. It is so important to not stay selfish and always looking to find more for you. As you grow up and mature in your life God can teach you how to change from being selfish to selfless. In closing this thought I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the things I always took for granted are things that I wish I could get back. And though I cannot get back what I had I can still give out of what I had received. That is where the bible all of a sudden opened up to me like a flood and these verses hit me like I had just read it for the very first time.

1 John 4-7-11

[7] Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

[8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

[9] In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

[10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

[11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Send A Message: We Miss You

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I want to write a message today that reaches out to many that might think that they are so often missed. This one is for you.

There have been many times in my life where I was looking for others to encourage me and it was not there. Either I was looking for advice or some kind of positive outreach to give me that breath of life that lets you know you still exist. I couldn’t tell you how many times, especially in the earlier years of my youth, that I longed to feel like there was someone that was truly there. No matter how old you are today, people continually still want to fill this void in their life; and over time we find some way to occupy it with persons, objects, or by some kind of abstract thinking to just “get us by”.

The fact of the matter is that people are living in depression each and every day and are finding better ways to mask what they feel inside. People long to feel like they have someone that loves them, cares about them. We as Christians DO know of something that we could give unto others that could help them begin to live, but yet, we get weary from fears and worries of rejection. I once had these same struggles, and believe me, living in this for too long will lead you down the wrong road.

So let me get real and stress this clearly and with joy! I’m glad people were not afraid to lead me to a better life. I’m glad I got out of the lifestyle that I was living in. I’m glad that I finally found happiness. I’m glad that I finally got saved through Jesus Christ! I’m glad that I got filled with His spirit to the greatest abundance! I feel like I can finally see the light in the midst of all the darkness that we live in! Praise God! I’m free today!

I want to remind us all to reach out to people that are in need to say that we miss them being at church, miss them being in our lives, and that when they are in need that there is a solution, Jesus Christ!

Drawing From The Fountain Of Life

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Revelation 7:17 – For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Revelation 21:6 – And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

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When it comes to things we need, there is a vast abundance of resources available to every person for just about anything you can think of. We are living in the information age! If you want to know something you do not have to go to too much effort to find the information about it. I have found that having this leisure does not fulfill everything. In fact, my curiosity for every question that comes across my mind does not necessarily have an answer.

When it comes to the things we wish we did not have, the reality is that they are present before us. Burdens will never go away or the thought of them. Worries will more than likely be prevalent in the future. The great thing about the things I do not want is that there is something that can help me shake them off. I am put in remembrance that I can always draw from the fountain of life! I can draw from the living water of the spirit of God. Jesus said drinking from this water would have you to never thirst. It was implying that it would be something that would always fulfill you while you were living on this earth.

Now we know that there are always going to be more trials, but you can always be refreshed in the spirit each day. Always remember to let your cup be filled by God and not be dry from neglect! God intends for our vessels to be full and abundant with His resources! Just remember: You can live longer off of water than you can food. You can live off of the spirit of God far longer than you ever can with any other substitute. I say you, but it applies to all of us! If we apply it we can grow leaps and bounds and see the storehouses of our hearts flourish!

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Put Into Practice:

Take an empty glass that you can pour water in and sit it in front you. Now then, go ahead and make an attempt or two at having a drink of what would normally be your regular beverage. It seems silly that you would go through the motions without the substance, right? At some point we all reach this low point before God, where we are just going through the same routine of going to services and doing our part but serving God with little spirit within us.

Silly or not, just remember to keep yourself from ever getting in that position. Continually keep in prayer before God. Stay in good communication with God and with your pastors or teachers. Never forget to come to the realization of the worth of the resources that are often recognized but not utilized!

Confidence In God Is Of More Worth Than Gold

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Proverbs 3:26 – For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Isaiah 30:15 – For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

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In many opinions, people can be primarily confident from their good works. It is often heard and referenced to that in essence “the work speaks for itself”. Others are confident in themselves simply because they are who they are and do not care about the popular opinion of others. And finally, you have those that have a confidence that speaks volumes about them even though they do not say a word. You can simply just see it all over them by the life they live and the example they lead by.

Regardless of how you want to put up an opinion of what an accurate definition of what a person is confident in, the fact is that people like to put their confidence in something. There are some that put it in objects, while others will go all in on people they trust. It seems like in the day that we live in anymore that the one thing that no one is confident anymore is God. It is not something we really have to debate about; for it is just something you see by the decline of the church and the joy of serving God in those who still are attempting to live a life for God.

If you read anything on this page, catch this part: being confident in God each day will build your faith and reduce your worries and confusion. It takes you away from being focused in areas that you should not be and allows you to devote your love and happiness in a way that it was intended for you to enjoy. I know that life is not always lived in joy, but if you are confident in God joy can be sought after (or sometimes fought for) and found! In the long run, I have always found that it is the prayers and endurance of faith that has brought me through further than anything else where “moth and dust doth corrupt”!

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Put Into Practice:

I know we have all seen the infomercials on television that attempts to captivate us quickly for a quick spend. The principal of those sorts of infomercials is simply this: It is so easy to use and such a small price to pay to get the convenience.

Try to realize that the way God is to you is the same, yet it is free and is without any middle man. You can call out on God directly, even now. I would ask you to try and make a “pitch” to someone who does not know about Jesus Christ and let them know how easy it really is to begin a relationship and how change can begin to work in their lives for their good! I would buy in on that, and encourage you to get out there and do that kind of ministry! That sort of infomercial is called being a witness for God!

Face Your Confusion and Worries With God

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1 Corinthians 14:33 – For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Psalm 71:1 – In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

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Normally I do not share personal details of this magnitude but I thought I would start this piece out with this: One of the most requested items that people come and ask me to pray for is either direction for their life or outside problems that they are worrying themselves to death over.

It is a big burden to walk around with these concerns on our hearts each day. I also do not think that this is something that people can easily just “shake off” without some assistance either. Luckily, we have something within us that gives us the ability to ward off all of the woes and worries of life. What is it you ask? God of course!

You see, the peace of God surpasses all understanding and will give you comfort when you cannot find it in logic or the facts you have before you. God works in things seen and unseen and goes before you even unto what you do not even know. We can begin each day alleviating our confusion by beginning to obtain peace in our mind! When the weight of burdens attempt to come and be more than we can bear, those are the times when we are to do more than watch. I believe that is why it said to “watch” AND “pray”.

Be aware of things, but don’t let the circumstance pull you down. Pray and begin to let God pull you out of the pits of every single issue that would steer you away from the focus of God’s will for your life!

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Put Into Practice:

I really encourage you to participate in this exercise as we have many things that we are in question of or are confused about. Take one to two minutes and dedicate it to finding something (it will not take long) that is really bothering you that you cannot do anything about. Once you have it on your mind perform these simple steps: humble yourself in prayer, openly admit to God that you do not have the answer, and then openly establish your trust in God by believing and building your faith.

Please do not go past this page before completing this. I encourage you more than anything to get down this very moment and take God at His word to realize we can lay our confusion down and begin to realize a more greater love and trust with our unbreakable Godly relationship!

Do Not Be Surprised By Anything

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Proverbs 4:23 – Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

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Although this sort of reminder is now becoming more popular in today’s world, I feel it necessary to give a reality check about preparation. There are going to be many situations that will come up in the months, weeks, or even days ahead that will take you by surprise! These occurrences may be good or bad, wonderful or tragic, or simply just something you could not have put together in your mind to ever happen. There are also going to be circumstances, objects, or people that will be involved. Now that I have presented the reality, I would like to also give the solution to this reality: We cannot always be prepared, but we can be guarded! Regardless of how you put it all together before it happens, you have to learn to get yourself in the mindset to always be on guard in your mind through prayer. God has began showing me that in theory thought I may be surprised I can still be on guard and protected by the covering of His spirit!

I have learned as of late that the only thing you can put your trust in is God. Some of the best things are learned the hard way, right? Wrong! I cannot stress enough that the hard way is not the best way! Do not wait until you are in a real bind with your guard down before you begin to trust in God. God is the only foundation that will be solid that gives you a place you can seek for peace over the worries of your mind. I believe that is why the word of God talks about watching and praying. It bears more significance now more than ever!

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Put Into Practice:

When it comes to testing yourself for being surprised, there are many things that came to mind that could be fun and silly and would more than likely leave you forgetting this quickly. What I would like to do instead is to go a step further than a physical activity.

Think and consider a time where you heard something that did not affect you at first but did over time. Think about another time where something you hear had an immediate effect on you, bringing forth emotions that are normally not exposed in an everyday scenario. Perhaps you may have opened a letter in the mail or read an email about something that affected your finances, or you were informed about the passing of a loved one. There are many things that you could get a hold of here, but I would just ask you not think about the event, but the reaction.

Begin to pray and seek God to prepare you for the “next time”. Sometimes we will have a good run for a while before something else will arise, but God wants us praying daily and continually so that we can abide in all of the benefits of the spirit. By doing this I can boldly guarantee that you will handle the situation much better than you would have without prayer and a guarded heart!