"It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.
But there is a place where someone has testified:
"what is man that you are mindful of, the son of man that you care for him?
you made him a little lower than the angles; you crowned him with glory and honor
and put everything under his feet." (psalm 8:4-6)
in putting everything under him, God left NOTHING that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering
Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the SAME family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers
He says,
'I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.'
And again,
' I will put my trust in him."
And again he says,
' Here am I, and the children God has given me." (us.... our sins He died for!)
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil--
and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death,
For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants (which is US)
For... this... reason...he HAD to be made like his brothers in EVERY WAY, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people
Because he himself suffered when He was tempted [and tried], he is able to help those who are being tempted."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How can we not serve a God who has lived a human life, has gone through everything we could ever go through and MORE (death, crucifixion, wrath... so much) just to prove that He is God and that WE CAN BE SAVED!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Fear?
After a long nap i woke up overwhelmed with fearful thoughts. Some things just don't change, I've always been faced with fearful thoughts. Lately it hasn't been that big of a deal but for some reason today it was. I couldn't figure out what exactly was making me fear so much but i continually handed it over to the Lord only to find myself fearing once more. What was it? Why do people fear? What causes fear? Why do i fear so much? These questions i couldn't answer, but i knew that the Lord could and would help me overcome this as i continue handing it over to Him. As i was laying in bed i looked up at my bookshelf and found some of my prayer journals i had written a year ago, curiously i began to read. As i read through November of 2008 i came across some hard prayers. One in particular was when my family was in the United States visiting for Thanksgiving and we found out that Mexico (which is my home) had become a lot more dangerous. While my parents were here we heard that 6 men had been killed in front of our house due to a drug event. During this time i was dealing with fear of "what if" something were to happen to my family... My prayer then was that i would be able to hand all the things that were going through my head to the Lord. At this time i was learning that God has a greater picture and that i am to be a part of His plan for my life instead of Him be part of my plan for my life. I found myslef continueally praying this prayer:
"Lord as much as i want to pray/beg you to keep my family safe... i know
i don't need to and i shouldn't because you are the one who is in control
and i fear that but i will trust you! i want my prayer to be that whatever
happens my family and i will grow closer to you! And that whatever You
do- it is all for YOUR glory!"
As i continued reading i came across a few pages that God was guiding me to for the exact thing i was struggling with today... Fear. At the top of this page it said "Free at Last - God has freed us from Fear" - when i read this, all i could do was be in complete awe of the One and Only God that i serve - Who knows every thread in our bodies, and every thought/fear/hurt that we go through! (Pslam 139).
This is what i want to focus on:
Hebrews 12:1-3
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Fear is the MOST effective tool that satan uses! The enemy will use fear to persuade us to doubt God! As humans we need to remember/ i need to remember that God is God, and because of that we have no reason to fear. God is all knowing and ever present. He is LORD! The enemy wants us to live in fear! When living in fear we focus on ourselves. Our minds don't see the clear picture, we become physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually drained, we dishonor the Lord through our actions, and it takes away the life God wants us to have!
If our minds are not in Gods word, if we are not in scripture daily, we are robbing our minds of truth and we will look at other things. We are missing out on hope! In the book of Hebrews we see that the people in the Bible overcame their fear through faith!
In Luke 9:23 shows us a formula to "Letting Go & Letting God", Letting go of trying to do it on our own and handing it over to God and allowing Him to take care of it! Luke says that we are to deny ourselves, surrender our agendas and ideas to the Lord. Inorder to do what the Lord is asking of you, we are to sacrifice ourselves to HIM who made us! sacrificing the fears we are faced with!
Inorder for me not to fear i need to strive to fix my eyes on Jesus! Hunger for Him, Desire Him, not allow anything to distract me from Him! Because He has already won my salvation, he has won my heart! It's encouraging to know that when i am able to have complete focus on Him as my LORD and Saviour the fears aren't as strong because it's not my focus or me in control of them but Christ! Knowing that He has my best interest is an incredible feeling and looking at what He did on the cross He has certainly earned my trust!
closure: a song i continueally ask myself if this is true to my heart but i always am encouraged by it
"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blessed assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
"Lord as much as i want to pray/beg you to keep my family safe... i know
i don't need to and i shouldn't because you are the one who is in control
and i fear that but i will trust you! i want my prayer to be that whatever
happens my family and i will grow closer to you! And that whatever You
do- it is all for YOUR glory!"
As i continued reading i came across a few pages that God was guiding me to for the exact thing i was struggling with today... Fear. At the top of this page it said "Free at Last - God has freed us from Fear" - when i read this, all i could do was be in complete awe of the One and Only God that i serve - Who knows every thread in our bodies, and every thought/fear/hurt that we go through! (Pslam 139).
This is what i want to focus on:
Hebrews 12:1-3
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Fear is the MOST effective tool that satan uses! The enemy will use fear to persuade us to doubt God! As humans we need to remember/ i need to remember that God is God, and because of that we have no reason to fear. God is all knowing and ever present. He is LORD! The enemy wants us to live in fear! When living in fear we focus on ourselves. Our minds don't see the clear picture, we become physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually drained, we dishonor the Lord through our actions, and it takes away the life God wants us to have!
If our minds are not in Gods word, if we are not in scripture daily, we are robbing our minds of truth and we will look at other things. We are missing out on hope! In the book of Hebrews we see that the people in the Bible overcame their fear through faith!
In Luke 9:23 shows us a formula to "Letting Go & Letting God", Letting go of trying to do it on our own and handing it over to God and allowing Him to take care of it! Luke says that we are to deny ourselves, surrender our agendas and ideas to the Lord. Inorder to do what the Lord is asking of you, we are to sacrifice ourselves to HIM who made us! sacrificing the fears we are faced with!
Inorder for me not to fear i need to strive to fix my eyes on Jesus! Hunger for Him, Desire Him, not allow anything to distract me from Him! Because He has already won my salvation, he has won my heart! It's encouraging to know that when i am able to have complete focus on Him as my LORD and Saviour the fears aren't as strong because it's not my focus or me in control of them but Christ! Knowing that He has my best interest is an incredible feeling and looking at what He did on the cross He has certainly earned my trust!
closure: a song i continueally ask myself if this is true to my heart but i always am encouraged by it
"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blessed assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
thoughts....
The more i seek you.
The more i find you.
The more i find you.
The more i love you.
I wanna sit at your feet, drink from the cup in your hands.
Lay back against you and breathe, feel your heart beat.
This love is so deep, it's more than i can take.
I melt in your hands, it's overwhelming.
The more i find you.
The more i find you.
The more i love you.
I wanna sit at your feet, drink from the cup in your hands.
Lay back against you and breathe, feel your heart beat.
This love is so deep, it's more than i can take.
I melt in your hands, it's overwhelming.
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