I Hate Religion!

Wah?  Am I nuts?  No, not at all.  I'm just growing tired of what "religion" has done to our faith in Jesus.

Christianity isn't like the Boy Scouts.  The Bible isn't a checklist of things to do to earn your next merit badge.  But you know something - religion has made our faith a big joke.  People mock us.  They laugh at us.  They put us down.  They hate us.  They disregard us.  They keep their distance from us.  Why?  Let me ask you this.  Have you ever pressured someone into believing your own mother loved them (someone else)?  Then why do we feel the need to pressure anyone to know Jesus loves them?  Why can't we all just be the kind, loving type of person Jesus was and is?  Did He ever go around and beat the gospel into people? NO!  Then why do we?  Everyone is free to make their own choices.  Didn't you?  Or we're you forced into religion?  Don't you know that isn't what it's all about?

If you are religious, it's time to think a little more about what you are really doing.  Don't live a religious life.  You don't do that with your friends.  You don't do that with your family.  So don't do it with the one who created you.  Instead, love, be kind, be compassionate and just try to understand God.  He's not a few simple steps towards earning a new patch on your uniform and the Bible isn't just a guidebook.  The Bible was written so we could know our God.  Religion has turned the Bible into a rule book just filled with meaningless words.  When you love someone, it shows.  You don't love out of obligation, so why try to force anyone else into "buying in?"

Today, practice love and compassion like Jesus taught us.  Don't let religion get in the way.

Do you love religion or do you love God?

What are you afraid of?

Your greatest obstacle in life is fear. Did you realize that? Think about it for a moment. What are you afraid of? For most of us here in the great USA our greatest fear is the loss of the comfort we have come to know. We each have a different sense of comfort based on our current circumstances and income levels. The ultimate fear we face is the loss of our comfort. We each may strive for increasing levels of income and comfort, but we relate loss mostly to the loss of our current level of comfort. Do you realize, regardless of your current circumstances that you mostly fear the loss of what you currently have? What if you lost that? Would your life truly be at an end? What if you lost your job or your home? Would that be it? Could you no longer stand to live? Do you not realize even with "nothing" you have more than many? Those disciples that gave up everything to follow Jesus had FAR less than you will ever experience. I don't think it's the loss that paralyzes us. It's the anticipation of loss that does. I once rode an amusement park ride called the Power Tower. It raised me up several hundred feet before it dropped me. You know the anticipation was far worse than the actual event, or drop. Once I was let go to free fall I quickly overcame my fear and actually enjoyed the ride. Do you suppose if you actually lost everything your life would be over? Or, would quite the opposite occur? Would you finally be free? Don't be afraid of the unknown. Our Father has provided more for you than you realize. There is freedom in letting go of what you're holding onto so tightly. The freedom comes in having faith in your heavenly Father to provide for your needs no matter what. A job loss or the loss of your home are not even close to the end, but rather the start of a new beginning. Trust me. I've been there. Our Father will not let go of you. Yes, you may experience discomfort, but you will never be without. Your basic needs will always be met. Do you trust God to take care of you or are you trying too hard to do it yourself?

Seasons of Change

The past month or so has been an absolutely incredible and life changing time for me.  I’ve spent many late nights hearing from God in ways I never have before.  It has been exciting beyond words to be so close to our Father.

Even so, times change.  My last post was on how God tests us and I feel that I may be in that season right now.  How will I react after having spent so many wonderful times with Him now that I am not hearing so many wonderful things to share with you?  Will I go back to just living life or will I continue to spend time in the Bible and read about who He is?  Will I get crabby and angry?  Will I get impatient?  Will I get frustrated?

Just a night or two ago, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace.  It was nothing like I’d felt before.  It was as if everything was ok in the world for once.  The day following I couldn’t shake the impression in my spirit that God is on the move and preparing something wonderful – maybe that is just for me, or maybe it is for us all.  Time and patience will reveal whatever it may be.

Compared to the past month or so, now feels quiet and dry.  I’m still listening and waiting, but the leading has backed off.  I’m convinced that our Father is checking to see what my intentions are.  Have I been sharing these blogs with you just for my own sake?  Or, have I been sharing them with you with honorable intentions of hoping to see you grow as I also grow?  I shared with our Father my heart.  I told Him I will love Him and trust Him no matter how I feel or what I see.

We all go through very dry spiritual times, but I think it is important to still be tuned into what our Father is doing.  After all, it really isn’t about us, is it?  I know I certainly don’t ever want to be overly proud of things to the point that I think I could do all of this on my own.

Every word I have written (short of typos and poor spelling) have come to me directly from the Lord.  I have vowed to only blog when I know I’ve heard from Him.  I will never write anything here on my own.

I love our Father with all my heart.  I am thankful tonight that I have a warm bed to crawl into, a pillow to put my head on, blankets to pull up over me, and my wonderful wife to cuddle with.  I’ve tucked my beautiful son into bed and realize that he is truly a magnificent treasure to me that nothing in this world can compare to.  I’ve been blessed with so very much and I am so very thankful for it all – family, friends, health, and yes, even things.

I hope as you read this, you will know that even when we don’t hear from our Father like we hope to, that He is never farther away than our next breath, that His arms are around us and that He is treasuring us and thinking wonderful things about us.

God bless you and may you continue to seek out our Father no matter how you feel and no matter what season you are in.

Your brother in Christ,

Ed

Passing The Test

A few years ago I moved my family to our current home because I believed I had found a career that was going to last a long time.  We sold our house and move about 80 miles away and bought another home so we could live the dream and be closer to my job.

I think it's fair to say that we've all had a job where we had an annual review.  During that time our work is evaluated.  You've been there before, right?  It's a bit of a nerve wracking time, but it does have its benefits - primarily you get the opportunity to know how your efforts are evaluated and that gives you the opportunity to improve.  The problem with this job I had was that I'd been there for a year and a half and had no review and thus had no idea how I was performing.  Eventually they called me in and rather than giving me a review and a chance to learn and grow, they just decided to let me go.

How often as Christians do we wonder how we're doing?  How often do we struggle and wonder what God thinks of our performance?  I think most of us feel we never know and worse yet we never know when we're being tested.

Do you realize our Father is testing us?  Do you get frustrated at life and just feel like God isn't there?  I would suggest from my own experience that we are tested by our Father more often than we realize.  Would you like to know how to pass His tests and perform well?  Would you like to know how He is testing or judging us but felt you never had a clue?  Well here is the good news and a way for you to know:

The next time you throw a temper tantrum and yell at God and complain to Him about how tough your life is, stop and ask yourself this:  am I being tested?

I recently came across something in my reading that showed me at least six ways that our Father tests us.  It gave me great insight into my own life and I hope it will do the same for you.

What you are about to read came from another believer and can be found at their website using the following link:  http://www.so4j.com/why-does-god-test-us-scriptures-on-testing.php#why_tests

I believe if you honestly take the time to read this, and evaluate your own life, you will be forever transformed and your life will have a greater impact and greater value. 

6 Reasons Why God Tests Us - Links

1 - God Tests Our Character & Integrity- Do We Lovingly Obey Him? Is He First Place?

GOD TESTS US TO— See if we Truly Love Him with all of our Heart & Soul. He Tests Our Character.

If you and I say that we love Jesus, and we say that we are a Followers of Jesus, and we call ourselves Christians, guess what? Our love for Him will be Tested, and many of these Tests are a Test of our Integrity.

2 Cor 2:9 (NASB) "For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the TEST, whether you are Obedient in All things."

For instance: God Tested Judas, the Disciple who betrayed Jesus. Judas, just so happen to be put in Charge of the Finances of the Ministry of Jesus. Judas did NOT pass his small daily Integrity Tests. We know this because it says that He OFTEN STOLE SOME (MONEY) FOR HIMSELF. Judas was proven by the TESTINGS OF GOD to be a THIEF. Judas did not Obey God's Word out of a Love for God— He did not truly Love Jesus. (John 14:15, John 14:21)

                  John 12:6 says, "Not that he (Judas) cared for the Poor—he was a Thief (John 10:10), and since he was in charge of the Disciples’ Money, he OFTEN STOLE SOME FOR HIMSELF."

Joseph, in the Old Testament, was a man of incredible Integrity, and Character. He loved God, and God loved Him. God was with Joseph (Gen 39:2). God however wanted to Test Joseph's Love for Him, to see if it was genuine. If it was truly Genuine, he was about to be Promoted to a Great Leadership Position.

                  Psa 105:19 "Until the time came to fulfill his Dreams, the Lord TESTED JOSEPHS CHARACTER."

Joseph was about to encounter a series of Temptations, Testings, & Trials, and one of those Tests was the Integrity Test, just like Judas encountered. Joseph however Passed his Test, as well as his many others. Gen 39:1-20 (Whole Story of Joseph Gen 30 thru 50).

God Tested Joseph's Character by allowing him to be Tempted to Lust & Sin against God, through allowing Joseph to be Tempted by the Evil Wife of the Captain of the Palace Guard. Day after Day she would constantly come up to Joseph, and pressure him to sleep with her, but he refused her every time (Gen 39:9-10). Joseph feared the Lord, and because he feared the Lord, Joseph passed his Integrity Test. He was later Promoted to be Second in Command next to Pharaoh himself, in Egypt.

More Scriptures on God Testing Our Love, Our Obedience & Character:

Deut 13:3, Deut 8:2-20, Deut 8:16, Deut 13:3, Judges 2:22

2 - To Reveal What is Presently in our Hearts, whether Good or Bad

GOD TESTS US TO— what is presently in our Hearts & Lives— whether Good or Bad. He Tests us by appearing to Withdraw from us. One Example of a Test like that was when God WITHDREW from Hezekiah, as a TEST, to reveal to Hezekiah what was really in his Heart.

                  2 Chron 32:31 "GOD WITHDREW from Hezekiah in order to TEST HIM and to see what was REALLY in his Heart."

Of course the Lord knows what is in all our Heart's, he knows our Motives, and the reasons WHY we do WHAT we do, even before we do it. The Trials & the Testings of this life for a True Believer, is from God, and the end result is for our Good.

                  Rom 8:28 "We know that God causes ALL THINGS to work together for the GOOD of those who LOVE GOD and are CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE for them."

But we must Examine our Heart and make sure that if God appears to be distancing Himself from you, that it isn't because of a result of Sin in your Life. (2 Cor 13:5)

3 - To Find Out If You Will Do Things For God's Glory, or For The Praise of Man

GOD TESTS US TO— Find out if we will do things for God's Glory, or for mere the Praise of People

                  Prov 27:21 "Fire TESTS the purity of silver & gold, but a person is TESTED BY BEING PRAISED."

                  1 Cor 10:31 "So whether you Eat or Drink, or Whatever you do, do it all for the GLORY OF GOD"

                  John 3:30 John the Baptist: "He must become GREATER and GREATER, and I must become LESS AND LESS"

4 - To Produce Fruits of Patience, Leading To— Sanctification & Conformity to Christ

GOD TESTS US TO— Give us a Need to Reach for Him. It reveals what is presently inside us, which in turn gives us a Need for Him, and it is developing Godly Character in us by Teaching us Patience & Endurance through Trusting more and more in God's Word through the various Storms of Life. It leads us to produce more Fruit for Jesus. The end Result is that we might be conformed to Image of Jesus Christ.

                  James 1:2-4 "My Brethren, count it all JOY when you fall into VARIOUS TRIALS, knowing that the TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PATIENCE (ENDURANCE) . But let PATIENCE (ENDURANCE) have its perfect work (result), that you may be PERFECT AND COMPLETE, LACKING IN NOTHING."

                  Gal 5:22-23 "The Holy Spirit PRODUCES THIS KIND OF FRUIT in our lives: Love, Joy, Peace, PATIENCE, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control."

                  John 15:8 Jesus says, "My True Disciples Produce MUCH FRUIT."

                  2 Cor 3:16-18 "But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be MIRRORS THAT BRIGHTLY REFLECT THE GLORY OF THE LORD. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we BECOME MORE AND MORE LIKE HIM (JESUS) and REFLECT HIS GLORY EVEN MORE."

                  Matt 5:48 Jesus says, "But you are to be PERFECT, even as your Father in Heaven is PERFECT."

5 - To Reveal & Show His Faithfulness, Mercies, Love, and Comfort To His Holy People

GOD TESTS US TO— Reveal & Display (Eph 2:7) His Eternal Faithfulness, Grace, & Mercies of God to His Holy People, His Children for all future Generations to come!

                  Eph 2:7 "So God can point to us in ALL FUTURE AGES AS EXAMPLES OF THE INCREDIBLE WEALTH OF GRACE & KINDNESS TOWARDS US, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus."

Leading us to Trust God the Father More & More, and in turn want to be like Christ to one another. We are to show the same Comfort, Grace, & Mercy to Others, as Christ has done for us.

                  Heb 2:18 "Since He Himself (JESUS) has gone through SUFFERING AND TESTING, He is able to help us WHEN WE ARE BEING TESTED."

                  2 Cor 1:1-12 I am writing to God’s Church in Corinth and to all of His HOLY PEOPLE throughout Greece. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you GRACE and PEACE. All Praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our MERCIFUL FATHER and the source of ALL COMFORT. He COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR TROUBLES SO THAT WE CAN COMFORT OTHERS. When they are TROUBLED, we will be able to give them the SAME COMFORT GOD HAS GIVEN US. For the MORE we SUFFER FOR CHRIST, the MORE God will SHOWER US WITH HIS COMFORT THROUGH CHRIST. Even when we are WEIGHED DOWN WITH TROUBLES, it is for YOUR COMFORT AND SALVATION! For when we ourselves are COMFORTED, we will certainly COMFORT YOU. Then you can PATIENTLY ENDURE THE SAME THINGS WE SUFFER. We are confident that as you SHARE IN OUR SUFFERINGS, you will also SHARE in the COMFORT GOD GIVES US. We think you ought to know, dear Brothers and Sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we STOPPED RELYING ON OURSELVES AND LEARNED TO RELY ONLY ON GOD, who raises the dead. And He did rescue us from mortal danger, and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by Praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because GOD HAS GRACIOUSLY ANSWERED SO MANY PRAYERS FOR OUR SAFETY. We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a GOD-GIVEN HOLINESS AND SINCERITY IN ALL OUR DEALINGS. We have DEPENDED ON GOD'S GRACE, NOT ON OUR OWN HUMAN WISDOM."

6 - Make us Worthy of His Kingdom— To Reward Overcomers With the Crown of Life

MORE BIBLE TEACHINGS ON REWARDS:

                  REWARDS IN HEAVEN - WHO WILL BE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD - PART 1

                  REWARDS IN HEAVEN FOR OBEYING GOD'S COMMANDMENTS (1,050 N.T. COMMANDMENTS) - PART 2

                  FIVE CROWNS & REWARDS IN HEAVEN - PART 3

                  JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST & BELIEVERS REWARDS - PART 4

                  ETERNAL REARDS IN HEAVEN FOR GODLY CHRWISTIANS - PART 5

GOD TESTS US TO— Make us Worthy of His Eternal Kingdom— He Rewards those who Suffered (gave up their Sin (1 Peter 4:1), endured harsh treatment (Matt 10:22), Sacrificed, and Endured with Great Patience the Great Time of Testing that is upon this World.

                  2 Thess 1:4-5 "We proudly tell God’s other Churches about your ENDURANCE and FAITHFULNESS in all the PERSECUTIONS and HARDSHIPS YOU ARE SUFFERING. And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you WORTHY OF HIS KINGDOM, for which you are SUFFERING. In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you."

                  James 1:12 "God blesses those who patiently endure TESTING and TEMPTATION. Afterward they will receive the Crown of Life that God has promised to those who love Him."

                  2 Cor 4:16-18 (NKJV) “Therefore we DO NOT LOSE HEART. Even though our OUTWARD MAN is PERISHING, yet the INWARD MAN is being RENEWED DAY by DAY. For our LIGHT AFFLICTION, which is but for a MOMENT, is working for us a FAR more EXCEEDING & ETERNAL WEIGHT of GLORY, while we do NOT LOOK at the things which are SEEN, but at the things which are NOT SEEN. For the things which are SEEN are TEMPORARY, but the things which are NOT SEEN are ETERNAL.”

Overcomer Scriptures— Rev 2:7, Rev 2:11, Rev 2:17, Rev 2:26, Rev 3:5, Rev 3:12, Rev 3:21, Rev 21:7, 1 John 5:4-5, John 16:33

I pray today that our Father will use these examples and scripture to help you change your life and to help you recognize His testing so that you can not only pass the test, but to excel at this life we live.  I pray that you will recognize, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, the areas in your own life that God is testing you.  Be strong, be brave, and trust in your Father.  When you do that, your life will have a much greater impact on this world.  God bless you!