Unexpected

You never know when you might run across something that God wants you to see. But once you come across it, all you can do is thank God for showing it to you. Some of these things are small and may just bring a smile to our faces for a moment. Others are huge and may change our lives. And still others are ones that just make us stop and think. I think that it is important to take the time to thank God for these blessings because nothing is a coincidence. There is no "chance." God places everything where it should be and He lets us see things when it is time for us to see them.

This weekend I came across something I know God had placed in my path.

I'm a firm believer that you should back up your beliefs and your actions with scripture. God wants us to know for ourselves why we do things. He gave us His Word so that we could look things up for ourselves and not just believe what other people tell us. The issue with that is, I, myself, haven't always been so studious in looking up scripture to back up what I believe. But this weekend while looking around on facebook, I came across a note that one of my FB friends had written about why he believes what he believes. After reading it I was really impressed at how he had taken the time to look up the verses and really explain his beliefs. It's good enough, I think, that I wanted to share it with you guys, and he has given me his permission to do so.

So, this is the note "Why I Believe What I Believe" By Spence Gourley


Hello again,

So, I figured I was at a point in my life where I am mature enough to completely think about why I do what I do and believe what I believe; because mom and dad said is no longer a good enough reason. I love the Bible as much as the next Christian, but the truth is that not everyone listens to the Bible. So I will give both sides of my beliefs.

I have never tasted alcohol before in my life. It used to be because I was scared of Mom's wrath if I did. Now that I am on my own and I need to know why I don’t feel like it’s right. Let’s start with the Bible because it always comes first. Ephesians 5:18 “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.” Well, there you go. That’s pretty self-explanatory. I’m not saying that drinking is bad if you are remaining under control. But I have always believed that if something has the chance of getting out-of-hand I don’t want to put myself in the situation. Now for the life experience explanation. I never got to meet my great-grandpa because when some friends and him were out one day they got drunk and his friends literally beat him half to death then finished it off with a truck in the middle of the road. Alcohol ruins lives; I have seen it many times.

Now for smoking and other recreational drugs. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” This is saying this body we control was not made by us. We are to honor the Creator of it by keeping it healthy. I personally believe all of those things are disgusting. Here is a list of crap in cigarettes:

Ammonia: Household cleaner.
Arsenic: Used in rat poisons.
Benzene: Used in making dyes, synthetic rubber.
Butane: Gas; used in lighter fluid.
Carbon monoxide: Poisonous gas.
Cadmium: Used in batteries.
Cyanide: Lethal poison.
DDT: A banned insecticide.
Ethyl Furoate: Causes liver damage in animals.
Lead: Poisonous in high doses.
Formaldehyde: Used to preserve dead specimens.
Methoprene: Insecticide.
Maltitol: Sweetener for diabetics.
Napthalene: Ingredient in mothballs.
Methyl isocyanate: Its accidental release killed 2000 people in Bhopal, India, in 1984.
Polonium: Cancer-causing radioactive element.

That’s disgusting. As for the other drugs that put you in an alternate state of mind. My state of mind right now is just fine. Thanks.

Mmmm, cussing. Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Cussing never helps someone. I don’t care what anyone says, (makes you cool, makes people listen, gets your point across stronger) cussing has no benefit to the human race in anyway, end of discussion.

Why am I not gay? Well, for me personally I don’t need a Bible verse to make up my mind on whether it is right or wrong. Some people really do struggle with this though, and I do not judge nor condemn them because I am not perfect. 1 Corinthains 6:9-10 “9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” To clear up a lot of questions, this verse is by no means saying that if you have ever committed this sins that you will not go to heaven, will get to that later. My personal opinion is that woman is God’s greatest creation. Women are gorgeous and men are ugly.

Why must I be born again to claim the title and lifestyle of a Christian? There are lots and lots of “Christians” in this world. Here’s the truth (I shall use the Romans road). Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Not a few, not you, not I, but all. We are all at fault. I have messed up in my life and I know it. Romans 3:10 “As it is written: “ There is none righteous, no, not one;” God makes it apparent that we have screwed up. I accept that I have. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Wow, death. That is powerful, but the good news is that we can receive a gift. That is so awesome. That is why I choose to be born again. Because who doesn’t want something that is free? Especially something like a one-way ticket to heaven? I have chosen to be born again and be saved. It was simple; I put my faith in the fact that God loved me so much He sent His son to die for us and raise from the dead. It’s so great. The least I can do is live my life according to His plan and tell others of this good news praying they will see the joy I have also received.

People think that salvation can be lost. I would have to disagree due to some sweet facts found in the Bible. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” When we accept the gift of salvation God says we are a new creation. We have new lifestyles, new ideas, and new standards. If we could lose our salvation God would have to take back everything new He instilled within us. Also Jesus was the only sinless person who could pay the price to earn eternal life for all of us. The sin-debt was paid 2000 years ago. So if he holds it in His hands we cannot lose it. Basic logic tells us we cannot lose our friend’s basket at his house while we are at our house. So if we are not holding our salvation we will not lose it. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” This is a promise to us from God that we can have eternal life if we believe in Him. A promise from God. He has never gone back on a promise, and He never will. 1 John 1:8 ” If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” This shows that we will continue to sin after our salvation. But if we are truly saved it will hurt us to do so and we will repent.

Baptism. Romans 6:3-4 “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” This shows me that baptism can only be done after salvation has come into effect. Throughout the Bible everyone that was saved was baptized immediately after. Because it represents loyalty to our God after we accept Him into our lives.

Dagum, I’m done, for now. Once again the point of all of this is to maybe help someone, never to receive personal Glory. Please don’t let this stop here. Use these points I have made or even make up your own. But please always be able to back up your opinions with scripture or they will be pointless.





After reading this the first time, I thought about doing the same thing: going through the Bible, finding the corresponding verses, and writing out my thoughts and beliefs. But then I realized that it would be so similar to Spence's note that it would be better to give him the credit and use his words. Plus it's well written and I think it's much more succinct than anything I would have written (which I figure may give you a break from my usual blogs with lots of ranting... =).

So, I'm done for now. I hope that you really think about what you believe and what you do. I know that there are things I need to work on. But the fantastic thing is that with God's help I know I can be who He wants me to be and do what He wants me to do. I just have to be willing to say yes to Him.

Which of these things do you agree with? How are you living them out?

God Bless,
Taylor

God's Love

Romans 8:37-39 - Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

There is nothing that you can do to make God love you any more than He already does. His love is perfect, never ending, unchangeable.
There is nothing that you have ever done or will ever do that could make God love you any less.
His love is perfect, never ending, unchangeable.
We're His children, and He loves every one of us. We all sin and have come short of His glory, but that's one of the MANY amazing things about God: He can separate US from our SIN! God hates sin with a perfect hatred, but He still loves us with a perfect love.
We have to be willing to accept His love for what it is. He is able to forgive and forget our sins, but oftentimes we aren't able to forgive ourselves. If the God of the universe is able to see the goodness in us, why can't we see it in ourselves? We have to learn how to forgive ourselves and let go of the wrong that we've done. If we keep piling junk onto our list of sins then we're discrediting the death that Jesus died on the cross. He DIED to forgive us of our sins. It doesn't do us any good to try and hang on to the past. God has forgiven us, so it's time to forgive ourselves.
Nothing can separate us from God's love, but we can separate ourselves from God by hiding in shame. God knows everything about us. There's nothing that we can hide from Him, though we may try. Let your sins go, forgive yourself, and run to God with open arms. He's waiting, and He loves you no matter what.


Psalm 103
1Praise the Lord, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2Praise the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits--
3who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

7He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel;
8The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10he does not repay us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for hose who fear him;
12as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children--
18with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

19The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all,

20Praise the Lord you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21Praise the lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22Priase the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, O my soul.


God Bless,
Taylor

New Beginnings

As we ring in yet another new year, we can take time to reflect on the past and look forward to the future. I urge you to take one more look at your past year and see all they ways that you have changed, all the ways that you have grown.

Then really look at where you are now.

Think about the changes that you want to make in your life... friendships, relationships, attitudes, your walk with God, anything else that is big in your life. Some of the things you want to change may seem impossible, but I have great news about that. We serve the God of the IMPOSSIBLE!

Mark 10:27 - And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

And if that's not enough, we can also find this truth in the Bible.

Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

So we can take comfort in the fact that God will give us exactly what we need as long as we are walking with Him. If you don't have it, then you don't need it. And if you Do need it, then God will surely give it to you.

Psalm 84:11 - For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

I know that one of the big things that I hope to change in my life this year is not taking the little things for granted. It seems like life goes by so fast, but I need to slow down and really look for God in the world around me, because He is everywhere.

So what do you want to change this year? Your major? Your friendships? Your campus? Your community? The world? With God's guidance and support, anything is possible. We as Christians would be better off as a whole if we would simply remember that.

I pray that you make the changes that God wants you to make this year, just as I pray that God will help me to do the same.

Happy New Year everyone!

God Bless,
Taylor

Rough Patch

So... it's been an interesting couple of days. Yesterday I found out that one of my best friends will be moving to Arizona in less than 2 months, and that one of my uncles probably has throat cancer. It's hard to really think about either of these situations without getting emotional. Although both make me sad, I know that God will be working in both of their lives. I ask that you would pray for them, that God's hand will be on them and that His will be done. I know that God is moving in my friend's life. He has been accepted to a small, private, Christian college where he will be majoring in Christian Ministries. He feels like God is calling him to become a missionary. I know that he will need God's strength and guidance as he pursues this career. As for my uncle, I know that he will need God's comfort and healing, if that be God's will for him. Sometimes it's hard to glorify God when things get rough, but it's during those times that you really have to live in the moment. Live and love as much as you possibly can. And even more than that, make sure that you're showing God's love. I think about how much time I'll have left with my friend and my uncle. How much time do I really have left with any of my family or friends? God tells us that we aren't promised tomorrow. In the end, I have to keep reminding myself that I may not know what tomorrow holds, but I do know who holds tomorrow. And I know that as long as I am doing God's will and living my life for Him, He will not withhold Himself from me. We sang this song at my small group meeting tonight, and it really helped me to be more at peace with these situations.

Safe - Phil Wickham

Verse:
To the one who's dreams are falling all apart
And all you're left with is a tired and broken heart
I can tell by your eyes you think your on your own
but you're not all alone

Have you heard of the One who can calm the raging seas
Give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet
With a love so strong he'll never let you go
oh you're not alone

Chorus:
You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms

Verse 2:
Did you know that the voice that brings the dead to life
Is the very same voice that calls you to rise
So hear Him now He's calling you home
You will never be alone

Chorus:
You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms

Bridge:
These are the hands that built the mountains
the hands that calm the seas
These are the arms that hold the heavens
they are holding you and me

These are hands that healed the leper
Pulled the lame up to their feet
These are the arms that were nailed to a cross
to break our chains and set us free

Chorus:
You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms


It just reminds me that not matter what happens in my life, in my friend's life, or in my uncle's life, we will all be safe in God's arms because we all know Him as our personal savior.

Psalm 119:75-77 - I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me. May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.

Isaiah 51:12-16 - "I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass, that you forget the LORD your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction? For where is the wrath of the oppressor? The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread. For I am the LORD your God, who churns up the sea so that its waves roar -- the LORD Almighty is his name. I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand -- I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, 'You are my people.'"

It's comforting to know that the God who made the heavens and the earth is holding me together. No matter what, I know that God will care for me. I know that these hard times in our lives are the times that make us stronger and increase our faith in God and our love for God. He will never give us something that He will not equip us to handle.

Please be in prayer for my friend, my uncle, and I, as well as our families as we go through the rest of this year and start the new year.

God Bless,
Taylor

God Never Moves. Only I do.

We all go through times of uncertainty. There are many uncertain times talked about in the Bible. For example, God told Abram to pack up all of his things and allow himself to be led to a new land. Consider that for a second. Would you be willing to do that for God if He asked you to? How would that make you feel?
Proverbs 27:1 – Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
God tells us not to worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will take care of itself. We need to live today for today and COMPLETELY for God!
That goes along with the fact that we should make sure that we put God into all of our plans. Without Him, our plans are useless and foolish. How can we do anything without Him and try to claim that it is for His glory that we are here?
We need to constantly remember that were it not for God we would have nothing. He is our All in All.
As Christians, we are to be different. We should be separate from this world even though we are dwelling in it right now.
We need to be praying for God to give us strength to do His will. Not ours.
There will be uncertain times in our journeys. There will be times when we lose our way and we feel lost.
But the most important thing to remember during those times is that God didn’t go anywhere. God is always holding us. We may lose sight of Him and His will, but He never loses sight of us. He is constantly calling to us and trying to keep us on track.
I have to be reminded of this sometimes. I feel like I’m just lost and I don’t know which way is up. It feels like I don’t even know where to begin. But those are the times when I have to remember that it doesn’t matter if I don’t know where to start, because God knows where I am. He knows what I need to do. AND He will tell me if I just take the time to listen.
Sometimes I feel like I seriously need to refocus my life. It’s so easy to be pulled away by the distractions in this world. But God isn’t going anywhere. He will always be here to guide me. And to find me when I get off track.
Please keep this in mind at times when you feel like you don’t know where to turn or what to do. God knows.

God Bless,
Taylor

God's Will

Where there's a will there's a way. Right?
Isn't that what everyone says?

Well then if it's God's will, then there certainly is a way.
So why do we doubt Him? Why do we stifle His attempts to use us to fulfill His will? How could we ever even start to think that we could do things better than God?
The most incredible thing that we will ever be able to do is pray that God's will be done in and through us. He knows what needs to happen, and He surely knows the way that He wants those things to happen.

There are a gazoodle of places in the Bible where God talks about how He will do things, and He always makes it happen.

Genesis 2:18
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Genesis 6:7
And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

Genesis 6:18
But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.Genesis 7:4
For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.

Think about it. Those three verses were only from the very first chapter in the Bible!

God has a will for each of us. But more importantly, God has a way to make His will happen in our lives if we'll just let Him work.

What are you doing to prevent God from being able to do His will in your life?

God Bless,
Taylor

Anger. What do I do with it?

Sometimes, I get so angry that I feel like throwing things against the wall, or… punching something. I know that this isn't how God wants me to feel. So I turned to His word and this is what I found.

Ephesians 4:26-32 (KJV) – Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the things which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:26-32 (NIV) – In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

As humans, a lot of time we feel like it's our responsibility to be angry and seek at least some kind of outlet, if not full out revenge. But God tells us that this isn't our responsibility. It is His. He knows what injustices we have suffered. He knows the pain and anger that we feel. And HE knows how to handle it much better than we could ever begin to understand. In Ephesians, the Bible continues on in instructing us on how we should live.

Ephesians 5:1-2 (KJV) – Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV) – Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

I think that the best thing to do with our anger is to turn it over to God. We need to trust Him enough to know that He will do what is right, even if we don't see the effects of His judgment. If we hold all of our anger inside of us and let it build, we are giving the devil a foothold in our lives. We're giving him a way to tear at us and turn us away from God. We need to learn to turn everything over to God, forgive, forget about it, and move on.

Are you holding anger? Are you upset with a friend? Turn it over to God and let Him handle it. He knows what is best.

God Bless,

Taylor