Testimony

And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing]. Revelation 12:11 AMP

Tonight I had the opportunity to share my testimony with regeneration youth ministry.  It was an honor and a privilege. This scripture came alive to me tonight.  As I spoke, I felt things break off of me. It was as if I was healed of a deep hurt from long ago.

Anxious and Stressed No More

Isaiah 9:6

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Jesus, the One who lives on the inside of you, is the Prince of Peace. Peace himself is in you and me. When stressed or anxious call upon the One in you. Call on Jesus. He will give you and me the peace that surpasses all understanding;  He will give Himself. He is the Prince of Peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding. 

Never Ending Love

I'll love you if ____________. I'll love you until ___________. That's the world. God loves us no matter what. No conditions. There is nothing you can do to make Him love you less or more. He is love. He never changes. So nothing can change His love for you.

Romans 5:8

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

I'm so Horrible

Have you ever felt worse than somebody else? I have. Maybe you were the one that didn't grow up in church, had premarital sex, drank, stole, did drugs, cussed and struggled with mental illness. Then there's the kid who grew up in church. Maybe she went through the motions at church and didn't  say hi when God told her too. Both are sinners; no worse, no better.

Romans 3:22-23

Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [And it is meant] for all who believe. For there is no distinction, Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives.

Sin is sin. There is no sin hierarchy with God.

Worship or Work?

Colossians 3:23

Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.

Ever feel guilty for spending too much time with God? I have. Ever feel guilty for working too much? I have. Want to get rid of that guilt? Of course you do. Of course I do. Take everything you do and do it as if you're doing it for the Lord.

Damaged Goods

How many times have you thought you were too damaged, too screwed up or had too messy of a past to be used by God? For me, that answer is more than I can count. But just as clay is the potter's material, we're God's material. He is shaping us, even our past, into what He wants us to be.

A cracked pot has more places for the light to shine through.

Jeremiah 18:4-6

And the vessel that he was making from clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he made it over, reworking it into another vessel as it seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me: O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does? says the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

I Need Help

Luke 5:31-32

Jesus (answering for the disciples): Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do.  I haven’t come for the pure and upstanding; I’ve come to call notorious sinners to rethink their lives and turn to God.

"I got this." Or "I don't want them to know I'm struggling." So often we stay sick, oppressed or hurt because we act like we have it all together.

James tells us to "Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant]."  James 4:10

We must humble ourselves by asking for help so that we can be exalted (lifted up) out of and above our problems.