Forgiveness

Luke 7:47 (MSG) Impressive, isn't it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.

Have you ever heard those stories of people that were addicted to drugs? Alcoholics? Gamblers? Sexually impure?

THEN-they have a GOD MOMENT-like Paul in the Bible-on their face blinded before God?
And everything changed.

OR-they have a God MOMENT-like 9 lepers in the Bible-healed from their disease and didn't even say thank you.

So what was the difference? How is is that people that have been forgiven and healed act like nothing ever happened?

1. They are not thankful.
SO many times in the Bible, it talks about giving thanks, being thankful, in all things bring praise, let everything that has breath praise the Lord. YET-time and again, we forget what God has done for us.

2. We focus on what we don't have instead of what we do have.
How much easier is it to write out a list of things that you need instead of things what you have? Our prayers usually are more requests than praises. Lord, I need this. Lord, give me this.
1. Asking for things is NOT wrong.
2. Asking for things without being thankful IS wrong.
3. Asking for things with a bad attitude IS wrong.

So-how do you become like Paul? How do you become thankful and full of gratitude?

1. Change your attitude.
Yes-be positive. Yes-be thankful. Yes-stop complaining. Yes-stop acting like everything in your life is wrong.

No-I am not saying that your life is perfect. No-I am not saying that life is easy. No-I am not saying that your challenges are more than I can even begin to comprehend.

Yes-I am saying that GOD KNOWS! Yes-God has a plan. Yes-God will see YOU through! Yes-You have the strength through Christ! Yes-all things work together for good. Yes-You can trust God with everything.

2. Stay in His Word.
Nothing and no one will fill your need except Jesus Christ. Matt 6:33 Seek Him and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.


3. Stay on your knees.
Phil 4:6-7 Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything...with prayer and thanks...present your requests to God...and He will give you peace!

Thank God. Stay close to God. Live for God.

God is all you need

God is all You need.

Here are some things I have heard...
If I only had someone...
If I only could get a better job...
If she would just realize...
But, I need it...
But, It's worth it.
But, I know the consequences, and I am willing to pay for them.

2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for LIFE and godliness through our KNOWLEDGE of HIM who called us by his own glory and goodness...

1. God gave you everything.
Not only did Jesus GIVE You everything through HIS LIFE,we now we HAVE everything we need for life. Just by us knowing HIM, we have everything we need.

Peter 2:9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials...

2. God will get you through anything.
There is no trial too big for God. God's word says above that the Lord will rescue us from trials!We may feel like we are at the valley, but know that there is a moutnain top ahead! (Read the whole chapter to get a better picture).

1 Peter 3:8b-9 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promises, as some understand slowness.

3. God may make you wait through something.
This life is short. Waiting- is something that we fully don't understand. Time is of no value to God. God has no time. He is the beginning and the ending of life. So, when we feel like God is taking too long to do something, remember His timing is best. His timing is not slow. He keeps His promises when He says He will never leave us, He will rescue us from trials, He will comfort us, He will forgive us, He will be everything we need!


4. Give God everything
Since God keeps his promises, claim this one! I pray this verse allllll the time.
Matt 6:33 God, I am going to seek You first, your kingdom and righteousness, and I KNOW that all these things will be given to me!
If you feel empty, sad, lonely, upset, angry-KNOW that GOD promises that IF YOU SEEK HIM FIRST, He will bring all these things to pass and give you what you need.

Father, I pray that we would live our lives for YOU. I pray we would understand that Your timing and Your way is a lot better that our timing and our way. Amen

God is greater than our hearts

To be completely honest, this blog is for me today. I need this.

Have you ever wondered why you feel a certain way, and wish you didn't? Ever had a "bla" day where you are not motivated? Don't care? Feel lost or misguided? Or perhaps just tired? Or maybe you feel emotional for no reason? Or you are irritable at everything and everyone?

I think we all can relate to one of those things. And even though you may only feel like that for a moment or a season in your life, how do you make the most of it and get over it?

1. Realize that God is greater than our hearts.
I John 3:20 even if our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
Sometimes, I feel something and I think it must be true. But, in light of past experiences, you know that is definitely NOT true! God knows our hearts better than we do! God's word also says that our heart is deceitful( Jeremiah 17:9) and that we are supposed to guard our hearts above all else ( Proverbs 4:23). So, just know that if you don't understand why you are feeling or what you are feeling, you don't have to! Just trust God and know that HE IS GREATER THAN OUR HEARTS!

2. Realize that God cares more about your character than your comfort.For me, I thought I was going to marry 2 guys that I dated...and I didn't. I FELT as if it was going to work out and it didn't! Well, then I go through the break-up stage, which is horrible! lol but I know that God cares more about my character than comfort. Sure, I could have married those guys, but then I would not have been in God's will and WE ALL KNOW THAT IS A BAD IDEA! Again, trust God! He cares for us! He would not allow us to go though a trial if is wasn't for our benefit and for our character building.

Romans 5:3-4 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;perseverance, character; and character, hope.

3. Realize that God is everything you need. When you have unfulfilled longings, realize that God is the ONLY one that can fulfill those needs! Psalm 31:14-15 I trust in, rely, on, and am confident in You, O Lord: I say, You are my God. My times are in your hands.

HE LOVES YOU! RELY ON HIM!

4. Realize that without Him, your life will crumble.
Lean into God when life is hard. Don't run. You cannot run from God. You might as well run to Him. Whatever you do, realize that your life is nothing with God. Look around you and you will see broken, lost, helpless people without HOPE in ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. Then, you will go to a foreign country and see people with no clean water, no food, but they have the HOPE of JESUS CHRIST and an eternal life to look forward to! Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:11


I am not into the pictures, but on this site, there are some AWESOME verses to help you realize who you are in Christ and WHO HE IS! Check it out.
http://www.squidoo.com/scripture-verses

Also, check out the church website!!!!http://www.crosspointechurch.tv/ministries.html

Love you guys! Thanks for reading!

Why God Why?

That's it-the why question. How many of us ask God or ourselves WHY things are happening? Why did you let me date someone that was going to break up with me? Why am I sick? Why did my parents get divorced? Why are finances so tight? Why is our family so messed up? Why is work so stressful? Why do I struggle with this sin so much? Why do I feel lost? Why does it feel like no one knows what I am going through?

TRUTH: YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THE WHY'S

We like to be in control. We like to know why things are happening and the solution to it to make it better. We want to know why we are going through what we are going through.

You might as well just face the facts that you are NOT in control over yourself. The more you spend time trying to figure out the WHY-the longer you will stay in that trial. God is smart enough and loves you enough to do what is best. Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

TRUTH: GOD KNOWS ALL THE ANSWERS TO YOUR WHY'S.

This is a simple verse, but revolutionary if we start living this way:

Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Where am I going with this? Well honestly, this truth is something that cannot be read and be done with. It is a lifestyle change. It is saying daily, God You know best. You know the reasons why everything is happening. I may not understand why, but I know You do-and I KNOW YOU. You are saying to God, I trust you enough to obey you even when I don't know why or when I don't feel like it.

TRUTH: ASK WHAT INSTEAD OF WHY.

Sometimes, we ask the wrong question to God. We ask "why God is this happening?", instead of "What can I learn from this?". I am not saying that you have to be fake with God and convince yourself that you are Hunky Dorey when you are not. I am saying that you will get the most out of trials if you start asking God-what can you learn from this instead of why this is happening.

It changes your perspective into being a criticizer into a maximizer. The more open we are to what God is trying to teach us, the more we will get out of the trial.

How can you make changes in your life to start living you life like a maximizer? How can we stop being the criticizer?

For more info about me and my ministry, check out http://crosspointechurch.tv/ministries.html

Complaining leads to disobedience.

Yes, we have all done it from time to time....we have complained. Things don’t go our way and we are complaining about this and whining about that. We make excuses. Yet the Bible clearly says that complaining is a sin. It shows an attitude that you are ungrateful and bitter. It often tests God’s patience.

1 Corinthians 10:10 - And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. (NIV)

While the Bible says that complaining is a sin, it also states that it can lead to further disobedience. Along with complaining comes the game of self-pity.
If you complain too much or focus on all the negative things, you can lose sight of all the good things God does in your life.
This can lead to an attitude where you lose faith and cause others to lose faith, too.
Psalm 106:25 - They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD. (NIV)

As I read this, I think about the Israelites. They were rescued from slavery and was promised to see the promisedland. BUT-they complained about everything! They did not ask nicely-they were whiny. They whined for food, God gave them food. They whined that the food wasn't the "right" kind of food. God gave them meat. They complained about the meat and wanted figs....you get my point.
Then, I honestly had to look back and ask myself-do I do that? Do I complain about things when I have been set free from a life -condemned to hell? Do I complain when I am promised a life of eternity with God in Heaven? I am not saying that God is going to strike me dead for complaining and is never going to let me enter Heaven...that is not biblical. What I AM saying is that sometimes we need to ask ourselves-why am I complaining again?

I am not saying that God doesn't care about your problems. He clearly does. I Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

There is a difference between complaining to others and giving your worries to God or others.
The key is being content in all circumstances.

Philippians 4:10-13 (NKJV) But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Have you complained about not having something that you really want? Do you realize that when you get to heaven, you wont be able to take that with you?
God is saying, it doesn’t matter as much as you think.
Paul was in prison when he was saying all this. He was thrown in jail...how many of you have been in jail? Not many of us! Paul didn't have the latest T.V. shows recorded, he didn't have the best food all the time, he didn't get to do whatever he wanted-He was in prison. He said that he has learned to be content,to be happy with what you have, no matter if he has a lot or not much at all.

I pray that I can learn to be as content as Paul...I hope you can too! :)
Will you start trying to be content with what you have?

To learn more about my life and ministry see http://www.crosspointechurch.tv/ministries.html

Belief Determines Your Behavior

Often times, people try to change other people's behavior. We will often hear from others-"Stop drinking", "don't say that" quit watching that",...etc. But, the fact is that people don't change because you ask them to. They change when you change what they believe.

For example, I have a friend for the longest time lived in the stronghold of insecurity. She thought she was well, an elephant, when in fact she looked great-and I would TELL her how great she looked-but it didn't help. Nothing I SAID helped her get over this stronghold. Why? Because she BELIEVED she was ugly and undesirable, so she acted like she was. She would wear bigger clothes, not want to eat in public, avoid mirrors, and so on.

Luckily, God brought someone along to make her feel and believe that she was beautiful, no matter what size she was...her husband now. At first, she denied all the compliments, stating that he was wrong. Eventually, after hearing her boyfriend/fiance tell her how beautiful she was, she started to act different. Why? because she believed what her boyfriend said!

Even though God is the ONLY one who can truly satisfy us, God can bring you boosts along the way to HIM. My friend realized that she was made by GOD-and HE DOES NOT MAKE JUNK. Her belief about herself changed.

Friends-we are in a battle-of the mind. Everything starts with a thought. Proverbs 23:7-As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Whatever you believe, whether its true or not, becomes a reality.

So, if you are in a stronghold-HOW DO YOU GET OUT OF IT?

1. Rewire your brain-any time a negative thought comes into your mind-replace it with a positive one IMMEDIATELY!! Don't let your mind wander. Phil 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

2. Remain on your knees! We have THE POWER SOURCE LIVING IN US TO GET THROUGH ANYTHING! I Corinthians 10:4 We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

3. Realize that God is always right! Read the Bible when you feel weak. Pray and ask him for help! He is always available and His line is never busy! God knows what he is doing and His Word is TRUE! Psalm 41:10 Be still and know that I am God.