I absolutely love Easter Sunday! What a wonderful celebration of God's love and a time to reflect all he endured for us on the cross! He suffered and paid the ultimate price for us...DEATH. As I try and wrap my mind around and ponder all that he went through for us, suffering the most horrendous and humiliating death, it's truly mind boggling! Why would he do this for ME? I encourage you all to watch the Passion of the Christ if you haven't as it can give you an idea of what Jesus had to endure so that you and I could be forgiven but I still cannot comprehend the depth of his love for ME: He was despised and rejected, mocked, beaten and flogged, his body was disfigured beyond recognition, he had the weight of the worlds sin on his shoulders, he was separated from God for a period of time... all for me? WHAT?? I need to remember EVERYDAY instead of just Easter Sunday what Jesus went through for ME! He was crucified on the cross for ME! And YOU!!! And even though it was a horrible thing that he had to endure it was also wonderful and miraculous... HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD! HE'S ALIVE!
Easter bunnies, eggs, yummy dinner and family time is all great and lots of fun but lets all remember why we celebrate this holiday! HE'S ALIVE!
The music video below has a bit of the Passion of the Christ movie in it. Take a peak and see a glimpse of what he has done for you!
Now Jesus was going to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the twelve aside and said to them "We are going to up to Jerusalem, the son of man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teacher of the law. They will condemn him to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!" Matthew 20:17-19
I have really began to notice that so many "Christians" including myself are not being very Christ like in the way we act toward others. The Holy Spirit has been really working on my heart in this area of my life. God has been bringing to my attention when I am not treating others as he expects me too. My tone, facial expressions, body language and words are not matching up to what he wants them to be much of the time. I am convicted over and over again, sometimes all day long about how I am not being real with people or I'm not really listening to them at times. I am not investing in their lives like He would like me too, I become irritated, rude or short with people often times and I treat people unkindly.
So many "Christians" do not even behave like Christians...they are short with people, they are impatient, entitled, embarrassing, rude, distracted, and self absorbed, it seems like many "Christians" act just like the world and it is very hard to even tell they are "Christians" because they are mad all the time and quite frankly act like spoiled brats if things don't go their way or if something goes wrong and disrupts their schedules they throw a fit. If someone messes up and it affects them in anyway they become irritated act like a child. Their facial expressions say it all and their tone of voice is very apparent, they think they may be doing a good job hiding their irritations but they are not. There are so many unhappy and irritated people in this world! Look around and pay attention this upcoming week and you will see what I am talking about. They are everywhere! I understand those individuals that don't follow Christ as they are not trying to live as Christ, but what I don't understand is the people who say they are "Christians" and they are not acting very Christ like. We have a guidebook (The Bible) to follow and it clearly outlines how we are suppose to act and speak and if we are truly following how God expects us to be we would be more aware and try are hardest to be kinder, and more loving towards people even if we are in a hurry or things don't go how we expect them too. We would practice being patient with people. We would try to not get so mad and irritated at everyone and everything. We would smile more, laugh more and have a little fun and conversant with people while we wait and make the best of the situations, taking each and every opportunity that comes our way to bless somebody's day instead of making matters worse. We need to remember God is placing opportunities in front of us and wanting us to take advantage of these opportunities to make a difference in somebody's life.
If we call ourselves "Christians" we better be acting Christ like. Christians, we better wake up! People are turning away from God because of our behavior! People are longing for someone to show kindness because there is such a lack of it these days! We can't afford to get this wrong, we must strive to be the person God has called us to be in all areas of our lives!
Lord, I want people to have no doubt in their minds that I am a Christ follower, I cannot do this if I am not acting as you have called me too. I want others to see you through me and want to have what I have because I have a relationship with you but if I am not showing your fruit, I have failed you. You give us the ability to show your love, and kindness, your peace, and patience, your goodness, and faithfulness, your gentleness and self control. Lord help me to pray for these fruits of the spirit as they do not come naturally to me. Lord, I do not want to hinder anyone from wanting a relationship with you. If they know that I am a "Christian" but yet I do not act like it they will turn away and not want anything to do with you. Lord, please help me to get this area of my life under control so that others will see you through me! If I fail which I will ...and become rude, irritated, self absorbed and unkind to people bring it to light right away and prompt me to apologize. You are the one that gets the bad rap for my bad behavior and for that I am truly sorry! In Jesus name I pray Amen.
Here are some examples of areas in which you can practice Christ like behavior: 1.) At the grocery store-with the clerks, and customers- There so many grumpy people in the grocery store-think of ways to strike up conversations, smile and or show some kindness to those that are grumpy and or in a hurry! If you do this it helps waiting in line so much easier and time will fly by! Praise those clerks that are friendly, smiling, happy and giving great customer service. Tell them how nice it is that they are so friendly as it is rare to see and is so very refreshing -try and do this so others may hear you say it to them so they might begin to notice clerks that are trying hard!
2.) Praise your co-workers more often, telling them how amazing they are for being kind to others, Make it clear to your co-workers it is not ok to be grumpy, irritated or impatient in your work environment, practice this every opportunity that arises. People don't want do business with grumpy, unkind, irritated, unhappy people. If you have a boss who is hard to deal with kill them with kindness and show them love, respect and honor them despite how they act. Pray for them to change their hearts.
3.) When you are doing business on the phone pray before you begin your conversations so you are not rude to the person on the other end of the phone or if they are rude you can turn them around with your kindness. It can be hard to be kind sometimes when you have to figure things out with someone on the phone.
4.) Practice being kind, loving and patient around and to your family members. We need to teach our children that it is not ok to treat others rudely. We need to teach them to show others God's love in all situations. We need to be patient people so they have an example to follow. We need to love the family members we have that might be difficult to love and show them kindness even if they are rude to us and may not deserve it.
These are a few examples of ways we can begin the process of being more Christ like to others. Will you take the challenge in asking God to reveal to you how you can be more aware of how you are treating people and begin to treat them as God wants us to?
Since God has revealed that I need some serious help in this area of my life he continuously is bringing my behavior to my attention and convicting me over and over again! I have been practicing these very things above and the more I practice the easier it becomes and someday I will not have to practice it will be natural and I will not have to apologize for my rudeness hopefully! As believe me I have had to apologize so many times and it is not fun but at the same time when the Holy Spirit prompts me to apologize and I don't, it eats at me so it is just best to say sorry if you are short and offend someone!!
Come on "Christians" let's begin the process of behaving as God wants us to behave so we can point others to Him and not turn them away because of our behavior!
God Bless, Angie Goucher
_______________________________________________________________________________ Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. 1 Peter 2:12
I got to go to the Rock and Worship Roadshow with my mom and friends and see a lot of my favorite Christian singers, Jeremy Camp, Citizen Way, Audio Adrenaline, Newsboys, Danny Goeke, Mandissa, and Family Force Five. It was so much fun! Here is one of my favorite songs from Audio Adrenaline.
I would like you to listen to the song at the bottom of this post before, during or after reading this blog if you would! Enjoy!
I have learned that bad things are going to happen in my life and in the lives of the ones I love and I want to get to a place in my life that I know that God is in control of these things and my part is to respond in a certain way in each and every circumstance. God is teaching me that when something difficult happens that I may not understand that I need to focus on Him and refuse to respond in the way I would WANT to respond. He is teaching me that I need to act and respond as he would.
In each circumstance and situation that arises we must ask ourselves...How would you respond Jesus? He wants us to pray about these troubling things and ask him to help us respond like he would. I believe if we do not consult Him first we will react like the rest of the world to difficult situations through anger, fear, hostility, judgment, and lack of concern or compassion.
Jesus wants us to open our eyes to the hurting and show them love in anyway we can. He wants us to see the broken and lost people in this world and reach out to them with love, compassion, forgiveness and genuine concern. He wants us to point them in the right direction, to encourage them to seek Jesus for their comfort, peace and strength. We need to show grace and mercy to everyone as Jesus has given us much grace and mercy to us even though we may not deserve it and He expects us to do the same to others.
We live in a broken world, where there is so much pain, confusion, lack of sympathy and compassion for one another and for their needs. We live in a world where there is disappointment, death, sickness and depression. We live in a world that is filled with loneliness, broken homes and fighting amongst each other. Each and every day I am faced with something tragic going on with someone I know and love and that isn't going to change, it isn't going to get better. God says as the end nears there will be all kinds of calamity, that is how we will know it is close.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 says "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, boastful, arrogant, rude, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of Godliness but denying its power."
Doesn't this sound like our world today? So what can we do as Christians in the midst of this calamity and chaos that surrounds us on a daily basis? How can we refuse to be caught up in the destruction and react in a Godly manner with all this going on?
1.) Stand on the word of God- know what He says about how we should act, think and behave and try to always stay true to what his word says for any situation that may arise. Believe it or not all the answers are in His word! Walk in His will in ALL areas of your life.
2.) Believe in the power of our Almighty God and trust that He is in control! He wins in the end! There is absolutely no doubt! He says He will work ALL things out for good for those who love him. (Romans 8:28) Have complete faith in him, never falter from your faith no matter what trials and tribulations come your way! It is easy to have faith when things are going good but the true test of your faith is when trials and tribulations that are out of our control come our way. God never promises us a life without suffering He promises us that He will walk through the trials with us.
3.) Rely on Him in ALL situations and in ALL circumstances for your strength, comfort and peace. This is only going to come from Him and Him alone.
4.) Persist in prayer -don't turn to Him as a last resort only when all else has failed and the situation has become desperate. He should be the first person and last person you should go to. Pray for those that you love that need prayer...Commit to it don't just say you will pray- follow through!
5.) Remember we are only here on this earth for a short time. All the pain suffering, tears and tragedy will soon be gone and we will get to spend the rest of Eternity in Heaven with our Lord and Savior.
6.) Refuse to sit around and wait for someone else to do what God has called us to do ourselves. Take action and listen to God and what He is telling you to do in the situations that arise. We need to listen to the Holy Spirit prompting us and respond without hesitation. Let's refuse to be complacent to all the hurting around us, reach out to people, encourage them and love them through their difficult times. They need to know someone cares enough to ask them how they are, that someone is there for them when they need help and that someone is praying for them.
What do you say we open our eyes and hearts and begin to be the person God has called us to be? Would you join me in prayer this week to see what that looks like for? Would you ask God to show you how and who he would like you to encourage, love and pray for? He will bring people to mind as you walk through your day and will you respond?
Dear Lord, I am all about myself so much of the time please open my eyes to your hurting people and allow me to be used in whatever way you see fit. Help me see what you see and respond how you would in each and every situation I face. Thank you God for the times you have opened my eyes in the past to the hurt that surrounds me, it has been such a blessing knowing I have followed your will. Remind me to pray for them and with them and help me to always point them to you.
In Jesus Name Amen
May God Bless You, Angie Goucher
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrew 10:24-25
Lord help me seek you and your Kingdom first, help me to learn to value and desire to have a deep relationship with you always! Lord help me be obedient! Teach me your ways, show me how to love like you love Lord! I want to love so deep, so pure and so rare that it touches everyone I encounter. Please give me a clean heart, a clear conscience and a sincere and strong faith. Lord help me to pray for myself and be in your word daily! Help me to always live a life that will please and bring glory to your sweet name. Lord help me to follow you each and every day.
Lord teach me how to love my husband in a way he deserves to be loved! Help me to encourage him to be our spiritual leader always, and praise him for all he does for me and our family. Help me to respect him and his decisions. Help me to not take him for granted Lord! Help me listen to him and help him in any way I can especially when I see him struggling. Help me to be kind, loving, attentive and affectionate toward him. Lord help me learn to take care of myself spiritually, physically and emotionally so I am lovely in not only my appearance but also in my actions and words I speak to him. Lord help me to listen to him and not be so distracted by everything around me. Lord teach me that the most important thing I can do for my husband is to pray for him, myself and our relationship daily! My marriage and my husband are very important to you and I want to learn to follow what you have taught me about being a Godly wife. Lord keep my husband safe, healthy, happy and help him to continue to follow you and your ways.
Lord help me to care for, teach, inspire, and love my children unconditionally and bring them up to know and rely on you for EVERYTHING. Help me to raise my children in such a way that they have no doubt that YOU are Lord! Help me to teach them to learn to rely on YOU in times of sorrow, grief, pain, and disappointment and help me to also teach them to be thankful for all they have and to praise you regardless of what is going on in their lives. Lord, it is my job to teach my children to go to YOU to find joy, peace and hope. Help me to teach my children how much YOU love them and that your deepest desire is to have a relationship with them. Help me to set a example and be a good role model for my children to follow. Help me to practice what I preach and not be a hypocrite. Help me to be aware that my mood and behavior effects my children greatly. Help me to always forgive them for anything they may do that I don't agree with and pray they will do the same for me. Lord help me get this right...I don't get a second chance and my children's lives are at stake. Please Lord help me to always be attentive to my children and listen to them because what they have to say matters and is important. Lord please protect my children always, keep them safe, healthy, happy and guide their futures. Lord help me to follow the guidelines you have given me in your word. Remind me to pray for their present situations and their future and help me to recognize that my children are a gift from you and to enjoy every minute you have given me.
Lord help me to see others as you see them, help me to care for them as you have instructed us to do! Lord help me to see the hurting, the lost and the hopeless. Help me to not be so busy I miss the importance of being in relationship with your people. Lord help me to not give up on those who have hurt me, help me to always forgive and let go of any anger and resentment I may have toward someone. Please give me the strength, courage and boldness to encourage and point others to you for every situation and remind me to pray for them! Please help me to be uplifting, kind and generous to all I encounter in one way or another. Lord Let my life glorify you in all I do and say!
I am often self absorbed and I care about many things but please help me to always stay focused on what matters to you most... and that is to follow you in all my ways!
Psalms 25: 4-7 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for theyare from of old, do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways: according to your love remember me for you, Lord, are good.
I have heard over and over from so many people this year that Christmas does not feel the same, even from the children! I believe God is trying to wake us up to the fact that we are not focusing on the real Reason for the Season, which is Jesus Christ! Christmas has become so commercialized, stressful, overdone and expensive. We run around liked crazed maniacs trying to get it all done in a month. We decorate, put up lights, get our trees up, bake cookies, shop until we drop, wrap presents and go to endless parties, plays and events, leaving us overwhelmed, broke, stressed and thoroughly exhausted often times wishing for the month to just be over! We worry about buying the perfect gifts and spend way to much money on them a lot of times using money we don't even have which leads to regret as now we have credit card debt to start off our brand new year with.
God did not intend for Christmas to be this way and I believe he is disappointed and is beginning to show many of us the reasons we are not satisfied and things feel different this Christmas. When I was a child my mom struggled to make ends meet, often times working three jobs to keep food on the table and clothes on our backs. We did not get a lot for Christmas presents, mainly homemade gifts the focus was not about gifts then and all the hoopla we all go through these days but I tell you those were the most memorable Christmas's for me! Being surrounded by love and laughter with my family was the best... but even then I don't really remember much emphasis put on Jesus other then the prayer before our Christmas dinner and Christmas Eve service if we went. Many families are not even getting together anymore which is very sad. I have heard over and over this year as well its just going to be my immediate family getting together. This just goes to show the disconnect of families now days people are spending less and less time with their families which is something I know God does not want!
How about if we were to take a look at our Christmas this year and vow to make some changes next year to make it more memorable and meaningful. How about we vow to seek what God wants for Christmas. How about we seek out the lost, hurting, grieving people and invite them to Christmas dinner? How about we get together with our families we have ignored and quit being so selfish and self absorbed making everything about us and our immediate family? How about we seek to give more to those that have little and serve those that need to be served next Christmas? I believe if we can make an effort to start making some small changes on how we view Christmas... God will begin to use us where he wants us at Christmas (and throughout the year) We need to begin to see what Christmas is really suppose to be about and we really need to seek what God wants from us.
I am just as guilty as the rest when it comes to all I mentioned above. I buy to many presents, try and pack to many things into my schedule, don't give or serve as much as I should, haven't invited anyone in need to dinner, haven't reached out to my family, I am caught up in the world's view of how Christmas SHOULD be! But God is working on my heart this year and I truly hope I can get this right next year!
One of my good friends who has been struggling financially was telling me how despite her financial struggles and not getting to give their children the "Traditional Christmas Presents" this Christmas that God has blessed her in abundance by meeting her needs and showing her the kindness of others who have given her gifts for her children, a Christmas tree, Christmas dinner and much love! She is content and happy with very little and so appreciative for all she has. We can all learn a BIG lesson from her! Giving a little goes a long way, loving a little goes a long way and sharing a little goes a long way! We can also learn that you don't need to a lot to make you happy! She loves the Lord and is happy and content with just having Him and her family for Christmas! AMAZING!!
You see my friends, giving to others is what God wants for Christmas, helping others is what God wants for Christmas, spending quality time with our families is what God wants for Christmas, pointing others to Christ is what God wants for Christmas, seeking to know Him, have a relationship with and love Him everyday of our lives is what God wants for Christmas. Won't we give him what He wants and deserves for Christmas? If not this year because it might be to late maybe we strive for this for next year and years to come?
God please forgive me for not remembering the real reason for the season. The birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Help me to remember YOU and what YOU want not just on Christmas but everyday of the year from me! Lord help me teach my children to not focus on the stuff that keeps us from YOU this time of year! Lord I am guilty of the commercialized Christmas, where Santa, presents, parties and busyness often times gets more attention and honor than YOU and I am truly sorry! I want to put forth as much effort or more into YOU as I do into those THINGS because truly these THINGS just often times bog me down and stress me out! If I can get this right next year Lord I believe I will indeed have the most memorable and meaningful Christmas ever and I believe YOU will finally have want YOU want which is ME-ALL IN -ALWAYS! I love you Lord!
Merry Christmas to all my family and friends! I love and cherish you all so very much! May God richly bless you this Christmas as you too will hopefully want to give God the honor He so deserves!
Love to you all, Angie Goucher .............................................................................................................................................................. People forget that Christmas is about Jesus. Instead they spend too much money on presents, for their kids. Well it shouldn't be about the presents it shouldn't be about the Christmas tree, but about Jesus and celebrating his birthday and thanking him for all the blessings he gave us.
Merry Christmas, Mariah Goucher
My all time favorite Christmas Song: Chris Tomlin singing O' Holy Night!
Thank you Maria Christina for singing this beautiful song at Camp and the Christmas Party this year!
Lord let our light shine so bright that the whole world has no doubt we love you and we are your child! Let us act and speak in a way that pleases and glorifies you! Those of us that claim to love God and call ourselves "Christians" should know the meaning of the word "Christian"- it means Christ like...We need to take this title seriously, as people are watching us and we are to be example to all. There are people wanting to explore a relationship with God and may look to us desiring what Christ has given us and they may turn away and want nothing to do with him because of what they are seeing. They may think it hasn't changed or helped us at all so why bother. We need to honor Christ with the way we live and many of us "Christians" fail so miserably in this area. (Myself included!) Many people have been hurt by Christians and the church so they refuse to go back to church to learn God's word. This is very sad as church is suppose to be a place where you can feel comfortable, not feel judged by all you have done, fellowship, build relationship and worship the Lord. Some "Christians" are very judgmental and unloving even. If we want to become Christ like we need to pursue Jesus and what he says we are to act, speak and live our lives like. Jesus is our model, if you read the stories about Him his mercy, kindness, grace and forgiveness are very evident. He even shows these attributes to those who betrayed Him, mocked Him, ridiculed Him, beat Him and eventually killed Him.
The word of God says we are to be an example to all believers in what we say, in the way we live, in our love, faith and purity. 1 Timothy 4:5. We are to stay true to what is right for the sake of our salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:16. It also says to live wisely among who are not believers and make the most of every opportunity, we are to let our conversations be gracious and attractive so that we will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:5-6. The Lord gives us a very clear picture and direction on how we are to live and behave as we are ambassadors for Him.
He says if we claim to accept him as our Lord and Savior our lives should reflect this claim. We should get rid of all anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language Colossians 3:7-8 but instead clothe ourselves with tenderhearted, mercy, kindness, humility, and patience. Making allowances for each others faults and forgiving anyone who offends you. Colossians 3:12-13.
As I write this blog and go through the endless scripture in God's word about how we are to act, live and speak it has become abundantly clear I need to pray about this in my own life. He has opened my eyes to the fact that I'm not living as a light in this very dark world. He tells us that others should know that we are a Christian "Christ like" by our fruits that we will produce in our lives; Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control and I must say my fruit is rotten much of the time. He also says love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable and keeps no record of being wronged. If we love we never give up, never lose faith are always hopeful and we will endure through every circumstance 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and to be honest my love does not reflect his idea of love often times. He says to fix our thoughts on what is true and honorable and right and pure and lovely and admirable Ephesians 3:17-18 and instead I am a lot of times filling my mind with distressing and anxious thoughts. If we can start fixing our thoughts on the way Jesus wants us to act, speak and live on a daily basis we can become more like Christ and therefore draw others to him.
Being lovely will produce the mindset and personality which others find pleasing and enjoyable to be around. The mind of a Christian must be set on kindness, sympathy, forbearance and love if we are critical and always finding fault with one another nobody will see our fruit.
The Lord has spoke to me very clearly this morning as I have been struggling to be all that He wants me to be. He has shown me once again through his word how I am to act, think, speak and live and I am seeing clearly that I need to cover this area of my life in prayer and spend more time in his word reading on this topic. My deepest desire in life is to please my Father and to be a light in this dark world, I want others to see Christ through me. If I cannot show his love as he instructed me too how will I ever help lead anyone to him. If I am not showing his love, mercy, and grace to others and showing them how he has changed my life how will they believe that its true. If my life does not reflect Christ like behavior then I am not doing as he has asked!
Lord, forgive me for not being a good example to others all the time. Forgive me for my bitterness, rage, anger and harsh words I have used. Forgive me for not always showing the fruits of your spirit as I want so badly to be your light! Amen
I know the perfect example of someone who lets her light shine to all those around her I would like to give a HUGE shout out to Lorilee Addy! Love you Lorilee! Mariah Philippians 2:3-5 Dont be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in other people too. You must have the same attitude that Jesus Christ had.
I wrote on the topic of suffering two weeks ago and after 3 hours of writing what I thought God wanted me to say was apparently not what he wanted as my computer shut down and I lost what I had written because I didn't save it. I was frustrated and confused as to why I had worked so hard on this particular blog to only have it disappear within seconds. I believed that God had something else in mind for this blog so I began pondering, reading and praying about it and started to write again.....
Almost everyone I know is suffering in way one or another whether it be physically, emotionally or spiritually. The pain and hardship is real and is very overwhelming. These hardships come in many forms...grief, marriage difficulties, financial stress, abuse and neglect, illnesses, crippling pain, disabilities, depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol addiction, people are starving and homeless, losing their jobs, homes and families, and many are so hopeless they are taking their own lives because the pain and suffering is to much and they see no other way out, leaving their loved ones behind.. confused and devastated.
Some are suffering because of bad choices they have made, some are suffering because of other peoples choices they have inflicted on them, and some are suffering because they are victims of circumstances which they cannot control..... regardless they are suffering.
We all have questions as to why there is so much suffering and why is God allowing it if he loves us and has the ability to stop it? We wonder if we are being punished. We wonder why he is not helping us or answering our prayers. We wonder what we did to deserve all the pain, suffering and heartache we are experiencing. Sometimes we even blame God and sometimes we even doubt there is a God. God said in the end times that the world will get increasing worse...Matthew 24:1-13,33,34, 2 Timothy 3:1-5. God also says that Satan is roaming around wanting to seek and destroy us. 1 Peter 5:8
All the pain, heartache and suffering really began to overwhelm me and I realized I needed to ask God what it was I was suppose to do to help my loved ones... what was my part in all of this? Through prayer and reading God revealed to me that I could do something and that I needed to remember and remind my loved ones that God is with us always and if we allow Him to He will give us strength, peace and comfort through our storms. He is our Father and He hurts when He sees his children suffering. He is there in our joy AND in our darkest hours. We need to learn to cast our burdens, pain and sorrow upon Him. God wants us to cry out to Him, to trust Him, depend on Him, and to draw close to Him. He also wants to teach us to be compassionate people, to have sympathy and empathy for one another. He wants us to reach out to others and use our experiences, trials and tribulations to help others through their storms. He wants our eyes to be opened to the hurt, pain and suffering that people are going through and help them in whatever way we can. He wants us to stop being so complacent and non-chalent when we hear of yet again another tragedy. He wants us to wake up and quit being so wrapped up in our busy worlds so that we can see all he hurting people around us and do something to help them instead of saying.... "Oh that's so sad and moving on." He wants us to not only say we will pray for them but that we will actually PRAY for them!
We are bombarded with so many people suffering on a daily basis. We NEED to take action in the lives of those that God places on our hearts. We need to be there to comfort, offer a helping hand and a listening ear to the hopeless, grief stricken, and suffering people in our lives. We need to stop just saying we are there for them and really start being there for them in any way we can! We need to encourage our loved ones and build them up. We need to tell them we love them more often and tell them all the reasons why we love them. We need to let them know we appreciate them more. We need to forgive people and quit taking offense to everything everybody does and says. We need to show more grace and compassion to one another. We are all way to hard on each other. We need to start paying more attention to people bottom line. ESPECIALLY OUR OWN CHILDREN OUR SPOUSES AND IMMEDIATE FAMILY!
The suffering is REAL and people are often times alone because we just don't have time to serve and love them as God has called us to do and the cost is high. People are taking their lives because they feel hopeless, alone and afraid. People are anxious, overwhelmed and depressed and we are all to busy to see it. People's marriages are falling apart, they are struggling financially, they are in physical and emotional turmoil and we are not helping them because we are to busy! Satan is reeking havect on this nation. He is killing and destroying us and his goal is to distract us so he can keep us from doing what God has called us to do... which is to love God, love others, to help and serve others, to build relationship with others and truly invest in their lives. We need to know that people care so we don't feel so alone in this crazy world.
Friends and Family its time to wake up! There is a war on for our lives, much is at stake and it is only going to get worse! Let's take a stand against Satan, let's open our eyes to the hurt and suffering and be obedient to God and do something for his children. Let's pray for opportunities and for God to free up some of our time so we can reach out to others and help them. Let's be bold enough to point these people we love to Jesus and assure them and give them hope that someday we will leave this pain and suffering behind once and for all and we will go to a place where there will be no more! Let's tell them about Heaven and how Glorious it will be and that they need to stay focused on the fact we are only here on this Earth for a short time and we will get to spend eternity in Heaven someday with our Lord! We need to take our eyes off ourselves and our problems for awhile and help others and I promise you it will help you in turn as well.
I am truly heartbroken for all those that are suffering. I cry out to God daily for those I love for some sort of relief and healing from it. But am I doing more than just praying for those that are hurting? NO! I don't understand it and often times I am very overwhelmed by all of it. I desperately want to help but don't know how so I will pray for God to show me how and he will if I ask. He places people on my mind and I try not to ignore the Holy Spirit and in that moment I will reach out... because if I don't right then and there I will forget or get to busy and move on. Listen to Him prompting you... if He brings someone to your mind there is a reason. Don't ignore it! Act on it right then if possible!
Lord, please come quickly and in the meantime help us help others see you and trust in you in the midst of all their pain. Help us to serve, listen and be more aware of the hurt, pain and suffering around us and help us to remember you have a plan for our future!
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. In those days when you pray I will listen. If you look wholeheartedly for me you will find me. Jeremiah 29:11
It really bothers me when people say oh my God or OMG! That can be offensive to a lot of people and it is taking the Lords name in vain. Its one of the 10 commandments and you aren't supposed to say that. Its the 3rd commandment and it says "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." It's in the Bible.... here is the verse: Exodus (20: 2-17) Someone at my youth group said oh my God and my youth group leader said that that was very offensive to a lot of people and that it was very rude to God. I always correct my friends about it because it bothers me, its very sad. Everywhere I go someone always has to be there to say it... no matter where I go youth group, school, sometimes church. Almost everyone does it. Sad to think about but, so true that's the world that we live in. How about we show our creator some respect. God Bless, Mariah Goucher.
