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-Godly sorrow leadeth to repentance-

I really like the verse psalm 27:4 – desiring to dwell with the Lord all the days of my life. I long for that and hope that I will be accepted in his kingdom, though I’m undeserving. I hope all of my loved ones are there too. All the brothers and sisters I’ve grown close to, near and far…I hope to see them all in heaven. But the way is narrow and few there be that find it. We must enter in at the straight gate and endure until the end. We must finish the race; never give up and never look back to the world. If we sin, we must confess and repent that we may be forgiven. We must have godly sorrow, but realize that Jesus can forgive if we ask and are truly repentant. It’s not the depth of our sins that God cares about, it’s the shallowness of our repentance. Meaning that no matter how bad the sins in our past may be, we can be forgiven! We can be made new in Christ! BUT, we can’t continue to live in sin. We can’t continue in willful sin. 

No matter what you’ve been through or are going through, God is there for you. He’s waiting with arms wide open for you to run to him. 

Nothing is impossible with God. He is able to mend even what seems to be unmendable. May we give him all the pieces and see what a masterpiece he can create from a wreck. ❤

“For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.” -2 Corinthians 7:10 

If we are sincerely sorry for what we did with a godly sorrow, then it will lead us to repentance and to have a loathing of that sin and cause us to not want to turn back to it. If it is only a worldly sorrow, then we may be sorry for a time because of the consequences, but it is only surface level and not a deep shame for something we did wrong. That type of sorrow will result in spiritual death and won’t result in repentance, which is turning from the sin. 

Time will tell and God will reveal if someone is truly repentant. 

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” -Matthew 7:13-14 

Most people would probably say they think they are going to heaven, but it says “few there be that find it”. How many of those people are actually deceived, and rather will end up in the lake of fire? About 33% of the world’s population professes Christianity. If that much of the population actually practiced Christianity then the world would be a whole lot different! 

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” -Revelation 3:15-16 

He wants all of your life, not only part of it! He wants to be your life. God is thirsty to be your thirst and hungry to be your hunger. He desires us to love him and to seek elsewhere no longer. 

“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” -Matthew 24:13

Finish the race! May God help us all. Nothing this world has to offer us is more sweet than the eternal home we have to look forward to. Nothing is worth throwing that away. 

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” -Psalm 34:18 

It’s amazing what God can do with a broken heart when given all the pieces. He is there for you even when it feels like no one else is. He is your rock and strength. You can lean on him in times of trouble. He will satisfy your longings. He can restore your broken heart. He can fill the holes and gaps and make full all the voids. 

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” -1 John 1:9

We can’t conceal our sin and make excuses. We must confess and repent that we may be forgiven. (People can change)

“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;” -Acts 3:19

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
-Romans 6:1-2

“Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;” -Romans 6:6 (people change) 

“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.” -Psalm 27:4 

Selfishness and sin causes pain and hinders God’s work. Lack of charity causes relationships to be broken and trust to be lost. Through Christ though, nothing is impossible and even when we’ve messed up and things seem like they are ruined, we can call out to him and he shall answer and come to our rescue. That is, if we are sincere and have sincere repentance. He can mend what seems to be the unmendable. 

May God fill us with love and compassion and a sincere heart to do what is right. 

“For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.” -2 Corinthians 7:10 

If we love Jesus, and we love people, then naturally we are going to have a desire to share the gospel with them. There are so many lost souls out there that are without hope, so we should be spreading the love of Christ to them and giving them hope! Hope that is found in Christ alone. Nowhere else can this hope be found. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the ONLY way to eternal life.

May we give hope to the hopeless! May we feed his sheep!

“He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” -John 21:17

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” -Mark 16:15

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” -1 Peter 3:15

(This is not my song)

From Hopeless, To You – 8/2/20

(A short allegory I wrote about giving hope to the hopeless.)

Mr. Careless has lived his whole life in the Valley of Despair. He spends most of his days strolling down Hopeless Way. One morning he leaves his home and takes his usual walk on this trail, having not a care in the world. This trail is very broad, and everyday he walks back and forth, possessing no purpose in his travel. Without thought and free of care, he journeys through this country. Little did he know though, that this morning is unlike any other morning. This morning will be a morning that changes his life forever.

On the other side of the hill resides Mr. Gives Hope in the town of Agape. Mr. Gives Hope is a man of great faith and is well known throughout this country for his overflowing love that he offers to each person he meets. His desire is to show people their purpose in life and to open their eyes to the meaning of life. He spreads the love of his Master everywhere he goes. Everyone knows that he is a follower of the Great Shepherd. It is clearly seen through the love that he shares and he never denies his Master. It doesn’t take long in conversations before he mentions his faith. Sharing his faith and the hope that only comes from his Master is his main goal in life. He has been given hope of an eternal home that is incomparable to any earthly home, and he wants to share that hope with others. He would willingly give up his life for the Shepherd and his sheep.

Mr. Gives Hope likes to walk in the field of Feed My Sheep, near the Valley of Despair, in hopes that he will meet somebody who is traveling the Hopeless Way, that he may offer them something worth far more than earthly treasures.

As Mr. Gives Hope walked in the field, he saw in the distance Mr. Careless, so he increased his pace to catch up with him. When he finally caught up with him, he called out, “Friend, what brings you here, to Hopeless Way?” Mr. Careless responded, “I have no other thing I could be doing, so I walk this path each day.” Mr. Gives Hope felt a deep sorrow and love in his heart for him, so walked up to him and reached out to hug him. Mr. Careless, confused and unaware, stepped back. He didn’t understand why the man was trying to hug him. Tears ran down Mr. Gives Hope’s eyes as he thought about where Mr. Careless is headed and knowing that he had been living a life full of poverty, and that he is a poor and needy soul. He shares with Mr. Careless the hope of his Master, and the things that his Master, the Great Shepherd, had taught him. He told Mr. Careless that there is more to life than just living. There’s more than aimlessly traveling through this land and he doesn’t have to live a life in bondage to his sin anymore. He can turn to the Great Shepherd and leave his life of sin behind him, but in order to do this, he must take up his cross and follow him. No longer he who lives, but Christ liveth in him. He must follow the Master and not look back. He has to leave behind the things of the world, for he can’t serve two masters. One can’t hold the nail pierced hand of Christ while enjoying the things of the world for which his hands were pierced. Mr Careless’s eyes were opened and he desired to have what he offered him. He didn’t want to wander that Hopeless path any longer. Mr. Gives Hope prayed with Mr. Careless, asking his Master to show him the way; to show him what his plan is and to help him abandon his life of sin and to take up his cross and follow him. Mr. Careless made the choice to abandon Hopeless Way and to follow Mr. Gives Hope to the town of Agape, where the Great Shepherd takes care of his people. No more aimless wandering and purposeless travels. The Great Shepherd openly welcomed him into his land and rejoiced at his coming. He is loved and given purpose. The whole town rejoiced at his conversion. He now walks the Narrow Pathway in his Master’s land. Mr. Careless has been given a new name. He shall no longer be called Mr. Careless, but Servant of El Shaddai, for he has been reborn and surrendered his life to the Great Shepherd. Forever will he dwell in the Masters land.

The Lord inflicts us, but he also gives us relief. He wounds us, but he also heals. He gives, and he takes away. He brought us into this world, and he can take us out of this world. He is the creator and he’s in control. He can bring rain upon whomever he desires.

“For He inflicts pain, and gives relief; He wounds, and His hands also heal.” -Job 5:18 

God chastises his children. There are many people who say that God would never bring pain, suffering, or sickness upon his children and that he only heals and ‘loves’ us. He is a loving God indeed, but true love warns! True love reproves someone when they are in the wrong. God chastises us like a father disciplines his children. If he didn’t love us, then he wouldn’t care to make us better. He uses trials to help us; to show us when we’re in the wrong and also to strengthen us. It is much better to be disciplined in this life (which is very short), rather than to be cast into outer darkness for eternity. Do not despise the chastening of the Lord. 

“My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction” -Proverbs 3:11

“Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” -Job 5:17 

“But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.” -1 Corinthians 11:32 

“For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” -Hebrews 12:10-11 

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” -Psalm 27:14

Wait on the Lord. Trust him with all your heart. He wants to be the one that you rely on for all your needs. He wants you to be poor and needy for him. He is near to the broken hearted. Wait on him to heal your heart. Wait on him to direct your paths. Wait on him for everything. He has a plan for each and every one of us; we just need to be patient and trust that his will is greater than our own. That he has a purpose for our life. A purpose that we may not yet see or realize, but one day we will thank him and our eyes will be opened to the purpose behind it all. The purpose behind all the pain. The purpose behind all the sadness. The purpose behind the trials and hardships. The purpose behind everything you’ve been through. All we have to do is look to him, the maker of heaven and earth. The author of our story. He is the strength of our life, of whom shall we be afraid? Of what shall we be afraid? He is in control of everything and he knows all. He knows every hair on our head. He knows the stars by name. He takes care of the sparrows, how much more so will he take care of us! Even though we may pray earnestly for something, it may not be his will for us to receive it, or maybe it’s just not the right time. He may have greater plans or he may want us to be patient and learn to wait on his timing. Wait on Yahveh, and he will strengthen thine heart.

John 13:34-35, John 15, 1 John, and 1 Corinthians 13

Jesus calls us to love one another as he has loved us, but how did he love us? Does he only love us when we love him back? He says if you love me keep my commandments, so unless you are perfectly keeping his commandments then you are not perfectly loving him. Were the Romans loving him when they nailed him to the cross? Did he resist them when they captured him and killed him? No. He loved them literally to death. He loved them even though they did not love him. If we cannot love those who do not love us, then how deep really is our love? If our love vanishes because it was not reciprocated, then is it really love? How shallow must our love be if it refuses to give because it does not get. Love is never failing, never ending, does not seek its own. Charity suffereth long and puts others above oneself. Jesus showed us the ultimate example of what true love is by laying down his life for us while we were yet sinners. He was tortured, persecuted, beaten, and killed for our sakes. All because he loves us, but not with a shallow love; his love is perfect and never ends. That’s the kind of love we should have. We must love one another as he has loved us. We love because he first loved us. The world should be able to see a difference in us, being followers of Jesus, and that difference is that we love endlessly and our love is not selfish. That our love is long lasting. That our love is patient and kind. That our love is not easily angered and always perseveres. They will surely know us by our love. 

“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” -John 15:12 

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.” -1 John 3:16-19

On 6/13/20, a friend was driving so he had me type a thought in his phone and this was the thought: “Why were the broken attracted to Jesus? Why did they cling so tightly to him?” I had tears in my eyes as I typed it in his phone and I really don’t even know why, but it was very inspiring.

These were my thoughts on 7/18/20:

They clung to him because he was the healer of their wounds. He puts the pieces all back together and makes us whole again. Why wouldn’t the broken cling to him? When we have no more hope and we’ve searched everywhere else, we eventually realize that he is the only one who can heal us and mend our broken hearts and that we should have clung to him all along. No where else can we find true happiness and be satisfied. There is a hope that is only found in him. We shouldn’t put our faith in man because men will fail us and men will let us down, but Jesus won’t ever fail us. He is the only one who won’t ever let us down. Even when we’ve fallen and feel we can’t get back up, he’s right there by our side waiting for us to reach out to have him pull us back up again. He gives us hinds feet to stand on high places. He calms us through the storm. He heals our shattered hearts.

“He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.” -Psalm 18:33 

“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” -Psalm 147:3

“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” -Psalm 34:13

Even when we have no place to lay our head, no food to satisfy our hunger, or drink to quench our thirst; Jesus is our resting place, our bread of life, and living water. He is all we really need. He can strengthen us. He can fill us with his spirit and satisfy our souls. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He never leaves us empty. We can be forever filled with him. All we have to do is run to him and lay down all of our burdens at his feet. He died with his arms wide open, not with his arms crossed. He is waiting for you to fall down at his feet so he can pick you up. 

On this earth we may lots of friends, but many are only temporary. They may last for a short time, then be gone with the wind. Sometimes it may feel like you get close to somebody, but then all of a sudden they are snatched away. Or you may have absolutely no friends at all. You may feel all alone and like you have nobody. Nobody who understands how you feel. You may feel like God is the only one who knows. The only one who feels your pain. The only one who truly loves you. Even if you don’t have friends in this life that care about you, just remember that Jesus is your forever friend who absolutely without a shadow of a doubt cares about you and loves you with an unfailing perfect love that will never fade away. Nothing can take away this friend. The only thing that can come between our relationship with Jesus is our own disobedience and unrepentance. Only we can walk away from all he’s done for us. Earthly friends come and go. Some friends may be artificial. Others may be genuine, but they may pass away, but we have one friend who is always here to stay. One friend that will never leave your side as long as you follow him. He is not temporary. He’s in for the long hall. He loves you with a long lasting, never ending, perfect love. A love that will never fade away. A love that stands through any storm. We’d be fools to throw away all he’s done for us. Fools to lose our best friend. The greatest friend of all. A friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Jesus Christ. 

The song “Home To Me” by Jason Upton and a conversation I had with a friend inspired me to write this.

Home is the place where we run back to in times of trouble, the place we feel most comfortable, the place where our heart is, where the ones we love are, the place that is most familiar, nowhere else is sweeter. Home is where you want to be. Home is where your heart is. Jesus is home to me. Though we be in this dark evil world and would rather be home with him, he gives us dear friends and we can feel his love through them.