Free Will

Hello my dear friends! It’s sunny and hot here in Florida! Here in the “sunshine state” the summer season extends from mid-spring thru early fall. The weather will pretty much be the same, sunny and hot. Why? God’s natural order with the weather during the different seasons will be the same year in and year out. With every season comes the expected weather patterns. God is the creator of the weather and its natural order.

It is the same with humans. We fall into a natural order of things too. One of the main things about a human that was given to us is “free will.” This “free will” thing is quite extraordinary. It means that we can pick and choose what we want and do not want to do. We get to choose who we want to have a relationship with and who we do not want to have a relationship with. This includes whether we choose a relationship with God.

God created humans in His likeness. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 (NIV) Our God-given likeness is the ability to think and make choices on our own. Our responsibility with this ability is that as we make the choices we make we need to remember that attached to them are consequences. Whether they are good or not we are the ones who have chosen to do them.

This is the natural order of “free-will.” We were not created to be God’s puppets. We have been given the freedom to make our own choices. Why? So that we can have the choice to accept God’s terms for the salvation that He offers us. So that we can have the choice to fellowship with God. So that we can have the choice to live in obedience to God. The importance of believers living in obedience is ultimately for what? “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15 (NASB) Believers in Christ demonstrate their love for God through their obedience. This freedom to choose obedience or not is up to us. My dear friends’ “free-will” is not to be taken lightly. As believers in Christ our choices demonstrates our love or lack thereof for God.  

 

Thank you for reading this devotional! It is such a blessing to share these with you. Have a blessed day!

Should you or someone you know would like to read these devotionals in Spanish please visit my other blog: www.ministerioreflejandolaverdad.blogspot.com

The Daily Decision

The Lord will never force us to choose what we do not want. He may nudge us towards a decision like a good parent would but, as any parent knows, children will end up doing what they want to anyway. Why is it that God doesn’t force us? It is because of “free will.” He will not break His own natural order. He created “free will” and He will not break His own natural order of things.

This is why Jesus offers us salvation instead of forcing it, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.” Titus 2:11 (NIV) Our decisions whether big or small are in the end our decisions. No one, including God (again, because of “free will”), forces us to make these decisions. This is why we need to own up to our decisions, the good and the bad ones. It is when we take responsibility over our decisions that we truly appreciate the importance of them. It is when we truly understand how important our decisions are that we do not make them in haste. My dear friends the most crucial decision of all is this one, is the one and only true living God your, the God of your salvation or not? With that decision there’s another crucial decision that has been made by you and me and we will continue to make them daily. What is that decision? To take up the cross daily or not to. “If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.” Matthew 10:38 (TLB)

What does this mean to take up the cross? It means to put Jesus first. It means to live in faith daily, “for we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NASB) It means to be willing out of love for God to stand up for Him and do what is right no matter the cost. “When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don’t quit. Don’t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you’ve run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.” Matthew 10:21-23 (MSG)

My dear friends thank you for reading today’s devotional! Know that you and your families are in my daily prayers. Thank you for your support and your prayers. Have you shared this page with anyone? If you or someone you know would prefer to read these devotionals in Spanish please refer www.MinisterioReflejandolaVerdad.blogspot.com

God bless you and your families!

Summer Time!

Hello my dear friends! Hope you have all been doing well. It's that time of year again. School's are about to break for the summer. Graduation time for many. Days full of heat and kids whining about the heat  I am looking forward to the summer, how about you? 

I know that I haven't consistently posted on this site for the past few months. For those of you that have been checking and waiting patiently for my post's-thank you for your patience.

This page is a tool that I use to try and reach out to others with the Word of God. Discipleship training is the purpose of this ministry. Submission to God is where it all starts and ends. That's my platform. This word, "submission," has taken on a whole new meaning in our society. The reaction to it is worst than if you were to use the worst of profanity! It never ceases to amaze me how many are against this word.

I have created this page because I submitted to the Lord's prompting to do it. It's gut wrenching sometimes to share these devotionals with you all. They come straight from the heart and are prayed over before I hit the "enter" button to post them. I try my hardest to not sugar coat God's truths but, I also try my hardest to share these teachings with lots of love and care.

I plan to post a lot more frequently this summer. In one way or another these postings will have to do with submission. I'm looking forward to all the Lord will be leading me to do. Please leave your comments. I love to read them. Feedback is always a good thing. Also, I love it when you "share" these too. These postings are not meant just for you so do not covet them. They are meant for many to see  

I love you guys and I've missed you! Have a great summer! God bless you and your families!

IT IS SAD

       It is sad really. The thought that one person cannot make a difference.  It is sadder when the person that believes that lie is a Christian.  The lie that changes are impossible is a very old one and it comes from the old deceiver, Satan.  In the Old Testament we find the people of Israel in the wilderness.  In Numbers 13-14 they were receiving the long awaited report from the twelve spies sent into the land that was promised to them by God.  Only two out of the twelve believed God’s promise of this land belonging to them.  The ten that did not believe in God believed in the lies of Satan.  They caved to fear and managed to instill fear in most of the people that they were reporting to.  The lie was that they could not do it.  The Lord was clear in his discontent with the unbelieving people, His people.  “The LORD said to Moses, “…How long will they refuse to believe in me…” Numbers 14:11 (NIV) 

        The question in that verse was directed towards Moses but, God has asked us that very question too.  If you were to insert your name in the blank it would read, “_______ how long will you refuse to believe me?”  The thing is, we often refuse to believe the Lord.  I know I have.  I know that God has a plan and a purpose for you as well as for me.  “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG) Even though we know He has a plan we still allow fear to creep in and take away our belief in God’s ability.  It would be awesome if all of us believers would just rebuke Satan’s lies and accept that we can make a difference for the Kingdom of God. 

Thank you for reading! Have a wonderfully blessed day my dear friends!

Thought of the Day #23, February 24, 2014: Self Worth vs. Self Expectations

            There are way too many born again Christians that have issues with their self-worth!  It amazes me just how many people go around evaluating their worthiness or lack thereof with other Christians that serve in the “church” (church in general that is).  Why is it that there are so many Christians, including those in ministry, that are constantly feeling that they are not meeting the expectations they have set for themselves?  Why is it that it matters more what self expectations have been met than what God expects?

            That is really the question that needs to be asked, not every now and then but, every single day when we spend time in prayer.  Prayer is essential to any Christian. “You must pray at all times as the Holy Spirit leads you to pray. Pray for the things that are needed. You must watch and keep on praying. Remember to pray for all Christians.” Ephesians 6:18 (NLV)  What we need to be asking God is if we are meeting His expectations.

            Part of the problem is that we are constantly bombarded with ads on television, internet, magazines, billboards, that convinces us that we’re not good enough but, if we use their product we will be good enough!  We then somehow bring these thoughts into our Christian walk.  We place way too much emphasis on trying to be “good enough” that we can’t meet our own expectations.  What is “good enough?”  These expectations aren’t usually attainable but yet we get upset when we do not meet them.  The more our expectations are not met the more our self worth seems to go down. 

            One of the things that I love about Jesus is that He is extremely clear.  One of the things that He is clear on is that He’s first.  All of this self worth business that is based on an over bloated self expectation is just plain foolish.  What we need to be concerned with is if we are meeting God’s expectation of us.  What we are to do first is to love him with everything we have first. “He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Luke 10:27 (NIV)  Notice that the verse ends with “as yourself.” 

            We are to love others as we love ourselves.  All of this self worth business needs to be tied with how much God loves us.  “No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.” John 16:27 (NIV)  “For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17 (NLT) “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” Romans 8:38 (NLV)  So, the next time we start to measure our self worth we need to make sure that we measure it by how much God loves us instead of by what self expectations we have or have not met.

Thought of the Day: #22 "Forgiveness"

            There’s a great song by Toby Mac that’s entitled “Forgiveness.”  It has to do with how we are forgiven by Christ.  We love to sing about forgiveness.  We love to know that we’re forgiven by God.  We love to read verses in the Bible about God’s forgiveness.  What we don’t like so much is when it’s our turn to forgive others.

            Grant it forgiveness comes easier for some but, for others it does not.  I have experienced being forgiven by others and not being forgiven as well as forgiving others myself.  I have to admit, I have been tempted to not forgive, especially when what was done to me hurt me or someone that I love but, God was not pleased with that.  Conviction hit my heart; I turned to Scripture, asked God to help me forgive and then forgave.

            Its way too easy to forget that we are forgiven by God because of what His Son did on the cross for us!  We gladly accept God’s forgiveness but begrudgingly forgive others.  There’s a parable that Jesus taught about this very topic that can be found in Mathew 18:21-35.  The parable is about a man that owed, in our money today, about 10 million dollars to the king.  He begged the king to forgive his debt and the king forgave him! “The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.” Matthew 18:27 (NIV) Do you know what this forgiven debtor dared to do?  There was someone that owed him money.  In fact, what was owed was about a day’s wages, a whole lot less than what he had owed the king.  Do you think he forgave the debt?

            Not only did he not forgive the debt, he threw the man in prison!  When the king that had forgiven him learned of this he became very angry.  “…‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.  Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.’” Matthew 18:32-34

            We know that if we ask with all our heart to be forgiven by God we will, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NIV) We need to forgive others as well. “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13 (NIV) When we are faced with a need to forgive lets pray about it. God will give us the ability to forgive and the ability to let it go in our hearts. 

Just in case you’re curious about Toby Mac’s song here’s the link from You Tube: http://youtu.be/xfkhqpl81NA

 

Thank you for reading! God bless you my dear friends!

 

If you or someone you know would like to read my devotionals in Spanish please visit my Spanish blog at www.MinisterioReflejandolaVerdad.blogspot.com

 

 

Thought of the Day #21: “Priorities” February 5, 2014

     Priorities: “somebody or something that is ranked highly in terms of importance or urgency.” Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. The priorities that God has given to us: He is first, our spouses are second and then our children are third. It’s as simple as that, one, two, and three. The problem is that we like to put a lot of other things up in those three top priorities. We want to make time for everything and everyone. The problem is that no matter how hard we try if we do not keep our priorities in the right order we will have problems.
      Should we put anything or anyone in first place then our first priority, God, has now been moved to second. There is to be no one in that first priority as per our God. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” Mark 12:30 (NIV) “You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:2 (NIV)
      Should we put anything or anyone in second place then our second priority, our spouse, has now moved down to third. In Ephesians Chapter Five Paul goes through the priorities. The second place is the spouse. “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:33 (NIV) The spouse is the only person that we are to hold in that second place spot because, if we don’t we will be rocking the boat at home.
      Should we put anything or anyone in third place then our third priority, our children, has now moved down to fourth but wait, there is no top four! There are only three top priorities! Our children are given to us as a gift from God. We are God’s stewards for our children. How can we as a good steward not place and keep our children in the top three?
      Priorities are placed so that there can be order. When we keep things in the right order there is peace. This is the only way that we can be able to live a life as God intended us to. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NASB)

 

Thank you for reading! May God continue to bless you my dear friends. Praying for you all. If you are a Facebook user I have a ministry page! It's www.Facebook.com/ReflectingTruthMinistries.com  I'd love for you to join the page! 

 

If you are someone you know prefer to read these postings in Spanish please visit my Spanish blog at www.MinisterioReflejandolaVerdad.blogspot.com