A Holy Calling

When sin plagues our lives and we feel like there isn’t anything we can do to ever get “right” with God we need to remember that it is through the grace of God that we are saved in the first place.  Yes, there are certain commands that God has given us to become Christians.  For example, Acts 2:38 says that we are to be baptized for the remission of our sins.  However, we cannot “work” our way into heaven or into a right relationship with God.  So even when we sin we have to ask for forgiveness and trust in him and continue on in our journey as a Christian.  If we dwell on what we have done then all it does is cloud our relationship with him.  It keeps us off focus.    2 Timothy 1: 8-9 says, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”  If you have obeyed the gospel then you have been called to a holy calling.  But remember it is not because of your works but it is because of HIS own purpose and grace.  So stop feeling ashamed, unworthy, unloved, for all of the past mistakes you have made.  Remember that God erases sin.  Allow him to cleanse you of your past and strengthen you for your own “holy calling.” 

Prepare, Pray, Provide

We have been made right in God’s sight because of our faith in HIM.  Yet, having faith in God during the good times in our lives is much easier than having faith during the bad times.  How do we ensure that we are able to be faithful to God during both the good and the bad times?  What can we do to make sure that we have that ultimate peace with God that is only made possible through our Lord Jesus Christ?

1.       Prepare yourself for both the good and the bad times.  Recognize that they will come.  Acknowledge that it will be difficult at times.  Gather tools (favorite bible verses, songs, or recorded sermons, bible dictionary, commentary, journal, etc) and start now using these tools to help you study and grow stronger so that you will have something in place already so that when the bad times come you will be better able to deal with them

2.       Pray for strength, pray for faith, pray especially through the preparation stage, and ask God to help give you the peace that can only be given to you through Jesus Christ

3.       Provide help to others who might be suffering.  It may help you with your own needs.  God often shows us how to work through our own problems when we help others.

 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we^[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² Through him we have also obtained access by faith^[b] into this grace in which we stand, and we^[c] rejoice^[d] in hope of the glory of God. ³Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. -Romans 5:1-5

The Journey

This summer I was empowered as a human being, as an artist, as a writer, and as a child of God.  As many of you may or may not know I was provided the opportunity to go on a series of “journeys” that truly tested me both physically and spiritually.  We traveled through nine different states, had three break-downs, endured 110 degree heat and 50 degree breeze extremes within days of each other, had serious conversations/arguments/discussions/ in close quarter spaces with my husband and in-laws through 20 hour drives across mountainous regions of Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, and the like!  And yet the most amazing “journey” that God took me on was a journey that occurred four days after arriving home from our one month vacation.  I was feeling overwhelmed from the trip.  I was exhausted.  I was anxious about the new school year that was fast-approaching.  My muscular dystrophy was flaring up.  I could not concentrate on God’s plan for my life.  Everything was piling up and I didn’t know how to handle it all.  And then God showed me a way to put everything in perspective through the friendship of a very special group of people that I met through a Christian program that saved my life!

One of the first things that I found out from my Christian group of friends was that I do indeed have a talent as a writer/artist.  I had no idea that I had any real talent in the writing department until I started sharing my music and my words.  God allowed me to bless others through my music.  I was then encouraged by my friends to share my own life experiences with others through my music and through a blog.  I was hesitant at first.  I didn’t think I had it in me to write my own life experiences down in such a way that people could relate to.  However, I have been sharing my music and my blog for a few months now and the response that I have received has been very positive! 

My experiences as a writer helped me discover that I am actually a beautiful child of God who has truly blessed, encouraged, and made a difference in the lives of many people that I have met along the way.  Finally, I found out from a very special friend that I don’t have to be perfect to worship God or to receive God’s precious love and forgiveness because Romans 8 says there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus.  I can start new each and every day because when I became a Christian I was given a new chance at life even though I did not deserve it.  I was baptized into Christ and was raised to walk into newness of life.  But there wasn't anything magic about the water.  Its this thing called Grace.  God’s grace covers me because I have salvation in Christ Jesus.  His grace makes me whole again.  It renews me each day.  It refreshes me.  It is the soother of my soul.  Paul said “My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9).  So its okay to make mistakes.  It is okay to be weak at times.  We are all human and we are all sinners.  You have to pick yourself up and ask God to forgive you and start over again!  You don’t want to live every single day fearful to venture out and worship God, fearful to live for HIM, afraid of what you might do to hurt HIM.  He knows your heart and he is ready to accept your sacrifice, your holy worship, if you worship him according to HIS will!  Don’t be afraid!  Be strong.  Be courageous.  Stand firm.  Let nothing stand between you and your worship of HIM.  And so if you are here today feeling scared or fearful, needing prayers, needing God’s forgiveness please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask for them.  If there is ANYTHING you would like for me to pray about please post it here or email me at prayerwarrior4thepsalms@yahoo.com and I will pray for you.