Misconceptions - 3. I am not good enough to be a Christian

One of the most common things I hear people say, and it saddens me because it really isn't true, is this...

'I am not good enough to be a Christian'


Let me get this straight, none of us are good enough to go to Heaven. The standard for Heaven is perfection and only Jesus has lived a perfect life BUT


Jesus died for imperfect people


Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.


God doesn't just say He Loves us, He demonstrated it through Jesus. Christ gave up His perfect life on the cross in exchange for all of our imperfections. Martin Luther called it 'The Great Exchange'. 


John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.


This offer is open to anyone in this world.


Jesus helped imperfect people

• John 8:1-11 - Jesus defends a prostitute and forgives her when others want to stone her. 
• John 4:1-26 - Jesus speaks an adulteress who has been through five divorces.
• Luke 19:1-10 - Jesus eats at a Tax collectors house, even when others condemn Him for it (V7)

Jesus picked imperfect disciples

• Peter denied Him three times but was forgiven and went onto be a warrior of the early Church.
• Paul persecuted and killed early Christians and called himself the 'Chief of Sinners' and confessed hardship at doing right (Romans 7:14-15)
• Thomas doubted Him when He returned

God turns the bad into good

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I know that there have been lots of bad things happen in my life, but I can see how God used them for the greater purpose and some of my bad times have been a large contribution in the happiness I feel now. RT Kendall says that this is God showing us that we should not be guilty about the past, because it is forgiven and He has worked in into good. 

As you can see, the disciples all let Jesus down, King David messed up with Bathsheba and Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. Did this stop God working and doing great things in their lives? NO :-)

God loves you and He has cleared the way for you to be a Christian and be good enough for Him through Jesus. Don't waste any more time, who knows when Christ will return to bring judgement and Eternity for those who believe.

Misconceptions - 2. Evolution disproves God

This morning when I was driving to work I saw a fish symbol on the back of someones car - except with a difference. This fish had 'Darwin' written in the middle of it and also had two legs...inferring the concept of Evolution, that we have a common ancestor and evolved through time to become what we are now.

Personally, I disagree with Evolution because of one simple fact...there is no proof that any specie has ever evolved into another specie. There are two types of Evolution, micro and macro. Micro is species changing but remaining one specie. This accounts for the variety in many animals such as cats & dogs but not for how human beings or cats and dogs themselves came into being. (Genesis 30:25-43 describes this kind of evolution happening in Jacob's flock).

However, I do understand that some Christians accept Evolution and actually that doesn't bother me too much because...

Evolution does not explain the origin of life


For Evolution to work, life already has to be there to evolve. People who do not understand this issue tend to assume that Evolution is how life began when that is not even what any well educated Evolutionist would argue.

What I am saying is that even if we evolved, God is still a explanation for life's origin. These Christians would argue that Evolution is part of God's plan. However, as I have written already, I have serious reservations regarding Evolution.

So is there any alternative Scientific explanations for the origin of life?

I wrote about the dearth of knowledge and fact in this area the other day but let's see what a few major Atheist scientists say courtesy of Rabbi Moshe Averick's book, Nonsense of a High Order.

Dr Stuart Kauffman - 'We do not, in fact, know how or where life started...clearly none of theories are adequate'

Dr Richard Dawkins - 'but how did the whole process start?...nobody knows how it happened.

Dr Chris Willis - 'the biggest gap in Evolutionary theory remains the origin of life itself'

Dr Stanley Miller and Dr Leslie Orgel - 'It must be admitted from the beginning that we do not know how life began.'

Dr Robert Shapiro - 'The difference between a mixture of simple chemicals and a bacterium is much more profound than the gulf between a bacterium and an elephant.'

Dr Christopher McKay - 'The origin of life remains a scientific mystery...we do not know how life originated on the earth'.

I am confident enough in God to say that these guys will never find an explanation of how life could have occurred without God, because God created everything we stand/sit on today. Praise Him Indeed!

Misconceptions - 1. Faith is blind and without evidence

To be honest, I've really been struggling for ideas but I have now found something that will keep me going for a while. I am going to address ten of the most common misconceptions about Christianity. Society today says a lot of negative stuff about Christianity and a lot of it isn't actually true so I hope to answer a few questions and resolve a few moot points in this blog. I haven't totally decided much of the ten so please comment your suggestions!


Firstly I will address this argument - Faith is irrational and not based on evidence.


My pastor spoke a great sermon this morning and he quoted the following bit of scripture:


Romans 10:17 - Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.


Faith isn't a blind jump. It comes from hearing what God has to say and putting it into practice. 


When God tells me in His Word that 'If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.' (Romans 10:9) I can trust Him because of who He is. I know that He has never let me down before, that there is countless evidence of Biblical prophecy coming true and that I know He is real because of what He has done in my life and because I have felt His Presence many, many times.


It's like if my Mum told me she will be okay to make me breakfast before University on Tuesday. I know that she has done this many, many time (thanks Mum!) and that I don't see any evidence of her not telling the truth in other things that she says. From my life experience I know I can trust her and it is the same with God. 


Faith isn't a blind leap, it is a confident prediction based on previous experiences and promises made. Actually, it almost sounds like how you would describe Science! Put your faith in Christ, He will never let you down.

A Good Foundation

Matthew 7:24-29. The Wise and Foolish Builders

    ²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

 ²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

I think it's important to consider what the foundations are in our lives

For many people I know, the foundation is a relationship or success in an area such as Exams, Sport or just being popularity. The problem with these things is that relationships can end, success isn't always guaranteed and you can't be popular with everyone!

When I have bad things happen, it's hard and I struggle. But what always amazes me is how, even during this tough times, it doesn't seem so bad. I find myself happier in my hard times as a Christian than I was in my happy times without God.

God helps us make the most of our lives, even if our situations totally stink.

Hahaha

I am throughly enjoying my new book - 'Nonsense of a High Order - The Confused and Illusory World of the Atheist' by Rabbi Moshe Averick. (I highly recommend getting this book to Christians, interested Agnostics & truth seeking Atheists alike) The ideas that people such as Dawkins & Hitchens has brought up have been condemned to the trash by Averick and I wonder if they'll ever respond to this book and would be interested if they did, for this book is very very good in its criticism and its own ideas.

One thing, at the end of a chapter, Averick linked to is this, it made me laugh!

http://www.us.net/life/

On this website they offer a prize of $50,000 a year for the next 20 years for anyone who can propose a 'highly plausible mechanism for the spontaneous rise of genetic instructions in nature sufficient to gave rise to life. To win, the explanation must be consistent with empirical biochemical, kinetic, and thermodynamic concepts...and be published in a well-respected, peer-reviewed science journal'.

No 'highly plausible' explanation has been presented for the naturalistic origin of life. The evidence all points to a supernatural creator and once Scientists stop making assumptions that there is no God and start testing assumptions like they are supposed to then maybe they will find something they didn't want to find and thought they never could.

If you do have a highly plausible explanation, go and enjoy the $50,000 a year for the next 20 years!

Seek and you shall find

We took some of the young people to Ignite last week and something came to me afterwards. At Ignite there are about 500 young people and leaders there and whilst some sit in the middle where they can listen and participate easily, a percentage will sit around the main part of the hall talking and not really listening...I mean some of them listen & participate and not everyone can sit in the main bit anyway.

What I noticed and have been noticing a lot recently is this...those who put themselves into the presence of God, experience Him.

Often those who complain that they don't see God work or that God is not in their lives or helping them with anything have never truly looked for Him.

The Bible says:-

Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.


Luke 11:9
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.


There are several ways I find useful in knowing God in my life...

• Consistent and dedicated Bible reading - because faith comes from hearing the Word of God
• Concentrated, faithful prayer - because God is always with us and when we still everything else, only He is left
• Fixing my eyes upon Jesus - in all situations of the day, because He is there and wants to help us
• Making the right choices - such as choosing to do something for Him or spend time with Him instead of doing worldly things
• Worship - not just singing but living my life for Him...because God is in the praises of His people

If there is anything I have missed out, as I am far from perfect, please comment it in!

I encourage you all to really seek out God, and experience the fullness of life through Him. I guarantee He will not let you down.

Picture of the Day!

This is my 100th post!! Hoooraaayyy!!

I love this picture! I took it yesterday when visiting my cousin Simon in Swindon. This is one crazy roundabout, and is just as confusing in reality as it is on the sign. It looked like a dodgem thing at the fair!

In reality, our lives are also very confusing and we have times where we have no idea where we are going and why we have to go that way once we go in a confusing direction.

One thing I do know is that God knows the future and Has Great Plans for us...

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.


If you are fed up of that verse now...maybe it's because God sees you haven't truly believed it and experienced the freedom and joy it brings.


He is Good. He Loves You. He wants the best for you. Trust Him :-)

A Chilean Miner's story

I was reading Alpha News yesterday and it had an interview with the miner who was in charge of prayer, by the end of their ordeal 22 of the miners had come to faith in Christ...this is a section of the interview that blessed me and I hope will bless you too. It also fits in nicely with the suffering themes I've done this week :)

'We began to pray every day. We'd hold hands in a circle twice a day at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock. We began to be touched by God's Spirit and as I led the prayers, somebody began to say 'Amen, amen, amen'.

I thought who's that? Who's praying? And God suddenly brought him out. Osman was his name and he said, 'Lord, I used to know you, but now, if you take me out of here I will serve you the rest of my life'.

'Good', I said, 'Lord now I have a disciple. Hallelujah!'

So that's how it began and we began to pray every day. I taught each one how to pray - and even taught them songs. It's a wonderful thing to sing when you're happy but it's even better to sing when you are in a crisis. You feel the presence of God come in there...

The whole atmosphere began to change under there and this invisible God would visit us. He doesn't need doors to come into a mine. He doesn't have to perforate a rock to go in. He just came into the mine where we were. That's our living God, He responded to our prayers'

Why do bad things happen? #2

This post is not concerned  so much with events with Japan , my first post covered that in a better way.

Bad things happen, but God makes good come from it


Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.


I speak from experience in saying that in one of the most painful and sad periods of my life, God used for incredible benefits in my life. He showed Himself so much more in my life, brought me closer to Him and taught me so much. I would go as far as to say that without this bad event, I would probably be worse off in my faith.


We grow through bad times


Romans 5:3-5 - Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.


James 1:2-3 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.


Hard times help us become more like Christ


2 Corinthians 1:5 - For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.


Suffering brings us together


1 Peter 5:9 -Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.


Our sufferings are worth it


1 Peter 4:13 - But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.


Just think of the verses in Revelation I shared yesterday, one day there will be no more tears or suffering! Hallelujah!

Mediocre faith

I am fed up of mediocre faith, the below will define what mediocre faith is to me:-

Mediocre faith is saying we believe in Jesus but not acting on it.

Mediocre faith is not really loving others but just making it look like we do.

Mediocre faith is putting worldly things above God.

Mediocre faith is wasting any opportunity, no matter how small, to tell others about my faith.

Mediocre faith is being unwilling to give up something for God.

Mediocre faith is thinking I know better than God.

Mediocre faith is denying God's Word.

Mediocre faith is not practicing what we preach.

Mediocre faith is putting what others think before what God thinks.

Mediocre faith is not believing that God sees you as beautiful in His eyes.

When I come to think of it, mediocre faith isn't really faith at all.

Do you have any to add?? Please go for it in the comments section :-) Let's pray that we can all have a faith that is at least as small as a mustard seed and that it would move mountains in Jesus' Name!

Matthew 17:20
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. ”

Why do bad things happen?

This is a question that just keeps popping up and popping up, perhaps understandably given recent events.

I watched the News earlier, I usually don't because I find it sad as they only ever seem to report bad news and it is just too much for me after a hard day of work. Tonight I caught some of it and I saw some of the horrifying pictures from Japan. I dislike all of the patronising, pointless comments by many of the media and the world, proclaiming how sad and awful it must be for them before they move onto another story and forget about it within a few weeks.

Anyhow it makes some wonder, why does God let these things happen?

I will try my best to answer this.

When God created the world He declared it 'good' (Gen 1:25). He had made everything perfect. As part of this perfection, His biggest and best creation...human beings were given a free choice to obey God or disobey God. This fitted in with everything because in a perfect world, human beings would choose to obey God rather than be forced (after all, wouldn't you rather friends & family who chose to love you rather than being forced to love you?). However, as we all know, the first humans disobeyed God and brought sin into the world. This sin has corrupted the whole world. The world wasn't perfect anymore and disease, earthquakes etc. began to happen.

Any pain on this world is down to sin, either our own sin..somebody else's sin or because of the sin that was brought into the world from almost the very start.

God doesn't stop any of this because He has given us free will to make our own decisions...to obey Him or disobey Him.

Of course, God also has a greater plan (Jer 29:11) one where those who, even though they have messed up, can be perfect in God's sight through faith in His Son who paid the price for all their sin...and go to a new world where there will be no death, mourning, crying or pain (Rev 21:4).

I speak this message not only because God has changed my life through it and commanded me to do so but because I genuinely want all to know the joy of knowing their Creator and join me in this wonderful place.

Revelation 21

A New Heaven and a New Earth

 ¹ Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

 ⁵ He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

If you want to know God and have a safe eternity with your sins forgiven, just ask Him for that tonight :-) Let me know if you do!

Jesus Wants You For A Sunbeam!

This is a phrase often heard at Vacation Bible Schools for children and as a result it can become, in peoples mind, a cheesy slogan and something not thought of as a deep truth of the Christian faith.


In the Bible, Jesus makes two claims which seem contradictory...

John 9:5
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”


Matthew 5:14
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.


How can Jesus be the light of the world and us be the light of the world also?


I heard this be wonderfully put once before...Just like the Moon reflects the Sun's light we should also reflect the Son's light! 


Maybe it is a calling to stand by people in hard times...because when things are going well, sometimes people find it easier to love God and find Him in things. In the hard times, I know I have found it both harder and easier to know God and maybe our role is to be the light of God in people's lives when they are struggling to see the light of God at all?


This ties in nicely with something from my Bible reading yesterday:-



^{1 Corinthians 2:16} 
for,
   “Who has known the mind of the Lord
   so as to instruct him?”
   But we have the mind of Christ.

I believe that having the mind of Christ is having the desire to serve and love God and others. Are we doing this with all our heart? If not, you can do it!! :-)

30 day song challenge #1

I have decided to make friday a day dedicated to putting up some songs for everyone on here..the 30 day song challenge seems a perfect way to do this! :-)

So Day 1!

Day 01 – Your favorite song

Some things never change

I took this picture on my lunch break today. It is the River Taff from the bridge leading to Ynysangharad Park in Pontypridd. I love this place!


I like going there and thinking, through everything that has happened in my life, this beautiful river has just kept flowing on and on...regardless of my mistakes, my despairs, my joys, my triumphs and the things of this world.


What's even more amazing and even more of a joy to me is that throughout all of these same things Jesus, who is God, has always been there and He has always been the same.


Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.


The God who saved you whenever it was you were saved is still the same God. His desire to know us and His love for us never changes. The God whom you were interested in before but didn't follow up on, is still the same God and He waits for you to come to Him. He wants to help you no matter how much you have already been helped. He still wants to forgive you some more, even if you have been forgiven many, many times. 


He is the same as before, the same right now and the same tomorrow. 

Challenges

With difficult exams, a tough work schedule, developing relationships, mental, spiritual & physical exhaustion and busy times ahead all going on or coming ahead at the moment this is a time of real challenge.


I don't think a challenge is something we cannot do but something it takes an effort to do and my life is very challenging at the moment in that sense at least.


This is the verse that comes to mind, it is from the amazing chapter of faith in Hebrews 11...


 ¹ Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.


I don't know how any of the things I am doing are going to work out. Some will not work out as I imagined or hoped, some will be everything I wished for & more. But I know that whatever happens, God is in control and I know He will do right by me and more importantly right by HIM, and He is a Just God :-)


My devotion this morning was really sweet it was based on Hebrews 12:1 which is...


¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,


It linked the verse up to this beautiful poem...


'When the powers of hell prevail,
O'er our weakness and unfitness,
Could we lift the fleshly veil,
could we for a moment witness
Those unnumbered hosts that stand
Calm and bright on either hand;


Oh, what joyful hope would cheer,
Oh, what serene faith would guide us!
Great may be the danger near,
Greater are the friends beside us.'


ANONYMOUS

International Women's Day!

One of the major complaints I hear about Christianity is that it devalues women. It baffles me because the Bible is actually one of the most liberating books as far as women are concerned.

Only in the last hundred years or so have women finally made ground on gaining the equality and opportunities in society that should be available. And more can be done.

Jesus was a revolutionary in so many ways and with women was one of them. He made best friends with women, frowned upon at the time. Women followed Him and were allowed to be a part of His ministry. When He rose again, the first person he appeared to was a woman, considering a woman's evidence wasn't allowed in court at the time this was a pretty big thing. He spoke to women and actually showed incredible grace when others would have mocked or oppressed them (John 4:1-26, John 8:1-11), even that was frowned upon!

Of course, the Bible gives woman a high position not just from Jesus time, not just through heroic Old Testament women such as Esther, Ruth & Deborah but from the very beginning of Creation!

In Genesis 2:18 it says, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him'.

People would use this as evidence that woman are only helpers and not as high as men but wait for it...

The majority of Bible references where the same Hebrew word for helper, ezer, occurs are used to describe the kind of 'help' that only GOD can give (e.g. 1 Sam 7:12, Psalms 121:2, Hosea 13:9).

So far from being just assistants, Woman are necessary to make mankind complete.

Let's be thankful for the amazing women in our lives today :-)

The power of prayer

I think after the weekend I had, the tiredness and aches took hold a little today and led to my mind driving me crazy a bit in work today.

There is only one answer to this and so often it is the last thing I do - prayer!

I sat in Ponty Park and just let God speak to me, within 15 mins my mood went from troubled to overjoyed as God gave me love, guidance and a joy that seemed to come from nowhere for no reason.

If you are ever looking for an answer or comfort in a tough time...there's no better to turn to too than God Himself :-)

Psalm 9:9
The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.


Psalm 61:3
For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.


Psalm 118:8
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.

Visiting a dear friend!

Had some great fun visiting my friend Matthew, who is spending the year working and learning at the Pioneer Christian Centre in Shropshire. It's amazing to see people from all over the world working together there, some Christians and others respectful to the beliefs. I always find joy in that Christianity has a following in every continent and country in the world, even the ones where it is illegal or dangerous to believe. It just shows the power of God and the truth of God, that people in all countries have come to know Him.

The Suffering and Glory of the Servant - Isaiah 52:13-15

 ¹³ See, my servant will act wisely;
   he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
¹⁴ Just as there were many who were appalled at him—
   his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
   and his form marred beyond human likeness—
¹⁵ so he will sprinkle many nations,
   and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
   and what they have not heard, they will understand.

Praise Jesus for dying for all! Hallelujah!!!!!!

What are we 'Abel' to give?

Genesis 4 : 1-7

Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”

This Bible passage has always scared me a little bit. That Cain's offering was considered not good enough for God. It makes me wonder whether I really give God as much as He deserves in my life. Don't me wrong, we go to Heaven and are saved and are in relationship with God because of GRACE not WORKS. But I still have a burning desire to please God & worship Him because of what He has done.


I was thinking about this today and I realised something:-


'If we can give God something better, then what we are giving is not good enough'. 


If someone appears to be giving more than to God than you, it may be simply that they have more to give than you do. Think of the widow who gave her only coin compared to the others who gave plenty out of their riches...whose sacrifice did Jesus appreciate more there?


Cain could have given God a better sacrifice, this is why his sacrifice was rejected. As God stated to the Israelites in Amos 5:21-24:-


²¹ “I hate, I despise your religious festivals;
   your assemblies are a stench to me.
²² Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
   I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
   I will have no regard for them.
²³ Away with the noise of your songs!
   I will not listen to the music of your harps.
²⁴ But let justice roll on like a river,
   righteousness like a never-failing stream!


Even though the Israelites were making sacrifices, it meant nothing to me and as V24 suggests..they were neglecting offering God their all in not upholding justice and not living righteous lives. Offering God second best is just as good as offering Him nothing at all.


Let's challenge each other to give God our best! He is Worthy :-)

Psalm 46

I love my life, I sometimes think it cannot be any better. I believe that some might read that and think 'What? But how you can you enjoy your life? You are not having sex, you don't go out getting drunk every weekend, you are not cool!'

I have realised that the times when we as human beings enjoy our lives most are times of dependence.
I, Michael Woodington, cannot fulfill myself by myself. Buying a flashy car will give me a bit extra short term happiness but not JOY. Having a girlfriend might give me extra happiness for a few months but not JOY. Success in my exams might feel good, but it won't give me JOY.

I was having a hard time the other night. With all of my revision and other responsibilities plus really missing friends of mine...I was a bit down in the dumps.

I get complacent in my faith at times, when God gets me on top of things I'm like 'Thanks God, I can take the wheel from here', and funnily enough every time I end up needing Him again, sometimes even more than before.

I think this was such an occasion so I prayed and God said something to me, He said that He was with me in this, all the way.

I know what life is all about. I know where true happiness (aka JOY) comes from. It comes from surrendering all of my dreams, ideas, hopes and troubles and giving them straight to God and living life hand in hand with Him. When Jesus said He came to give us life to the full (John 10:10)..He meant it! Instead of worrying and trying to make our own way. Let God sort out our problems, trust His guiding Hand over our lives (Jeremiah 29:11) and let God instill in us His Spirit, His Joy, His Peace so that we can fully appreciate the wonderful life He has mapped out for us. God never lets us down.

The next morning my daily devotion book led me to this verse...it met me so much where I was (definitely a GOD-incidence!) and I felt God urging me to send it to a friend, who also said the same thing...so maybe it will really bless you as well today.

Psalm 46

    For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.
 ¹ God is our refuge and strength,
   an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
   and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam
   and the mountains quake with their surging.
 ⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
   the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵ God is within her, she will not fall;
   God will help her at break of day.
⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
   he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
 ⁷ The LORD Almighty is with us;
   the God of Jacob is our fortress.
 ⁸ Come and see what the LORD has done,
   the desolations he has brought on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease
   to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
   he burns the shields with fire.
¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
   I will be exalted among the nations,
   I will be exalted in the earth.”
 ¹¹ The LORD Almighty is with us;
   the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Thank you Lord that you don't stop caring about us. That you love us so much. That you have promised to never let go of us.

"Take my life, let it be, everything, all of me. Here I am, Use me for your Glory."

My take on Universalism

I was shocked to see a well known Christian trending on Twitter the other day. His name is Rob Bell and he has courted controversy in the past with books such as Velvet Elvis, The Gods Aren't Angry and his latest offering Love Wins. I don't really know him that well and have nothing against him.


He was trending because his latest book confirms his belief in Universalism.


I have looked into this and will explain why Universalism does not add up Biblically and is therefore an incorrect doctrine.


Universal Reconciliation - the idea that all will be reconciled to God no matter what, the penalty for sin is not everlasting and that everyone will eventually go to Heaven is a major belief of Universalists.


My question to that is, if the penalties for sin are not everlasting and everyone will go to Heaven then why did Jesus have to die? Because if the Universalists are right then Christ died for nothing.


Nowhere in the Bible is a verse found that suggests our sin doesn't last forever and we will all go to Heaven. 


Jesus made it clear to Hell does exist and some have to go there because of their own choice to reject God.


Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.


Jesus also says that there is such thing as eternal sin


Mark 3:29
but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”


Universalists also believe that we pay for our sin in Heaven, which simply isn't true. For Jesus told many in the Bible that their sins were forgiven.


Matthew 9:2
Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”


Actually, anyone believing in Christ and accepting the sacrifice of His blood is forgiven. My take on forgiveness is that the sin is gone once you have been forgiven. You don't then pay for it afterwards!


Matthew 26:28
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.


Christ died because the 'wages of sin is death' (Rom 6:23). God is LOVING but He is also JUST. Just like we want to see pedophiles & murderers punished for their crimes, God is also passionate about justice and that every wrong should be punished.


But because God also Loves us and wants us to go to Heaven...Christ came, God Himself, to die and take the bill for all of our sins so that we could go to Heaven because God Loves US!