Proven Foundation

1st John 1:5-7

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, 

that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, 

we lie and do not practice the truth. 

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, 

we have fellowship with one another, 

and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV)

When you look in the mirror.. Do you like what you see? 

Do you see someone who has failed over and over only to have no hope left in life?

Or

Do you see someone wholly relying on God, striving to please Him, 

and growing closer to Him every day and in every way?

Life will throw many things at us. 

The Devil will try to trip you up and kick you when you fall, 

never letting you forget failures in the past.

If this is you then STOP! There is hope!

Let what you see in the mirror push you to a loving, merciful, and patient God. 

The only one who can grant forgiveness for the sins we commit.

You don't have to go through life regretting the things you have done wrong.

"Walk in the Light" and set your foundation on the Lord.

As we saw in 1st John 1:5-7, God is light. Nothing can be hidden from Him.

If you want to be a good parent, wife, husband, leader, employee, etc. 

then spend time in the Word of God DAILY! 

Those who seek with their whole heart, find.

Those who knock, the door will be opened to them.

Those who ask, will receive.

In God is our foundation built. The building block for our entire life. 

No matter where you go or what you do in life, keep your foundation rooted in Him.

If we as Christians do and practice what we say, our footing will be firm.

We wont be tossed about in a world of sin.

And we will always come back to a mirror that reflects someone with hope.

One who is truly forgiven of sin. Someone who is loved, and accepted.

A true reflection of what the Lord see's..... 

A redeemed Child of God.

Hidden Deception

Have you seen "Seasons" in your life? A time when all seems misaligned, or not working?
Or perhaps you are going through some personal things in your life and you are beginning to question where God is in it all..?
In times like this, we must be ever on guard. Satan and his demons lurk in the hidden shadows, waiting for a time to render us ineffective through the struggles in life. He accomplishes this by subtly convincing us that God has left us alone or that He doesn't care and wont help us.
Now when you look at that statement you might be saying "God doesn't leave us, and He most certainly does care for us." Which is true. But that is the nature of subtle deception. It starts small. Maybe he convinces you in some way that your are able to handle a small situation with out bringing it to God in prayer. And from there, through more similar situations, more small things are not brought to God. It is then that we are not as effective, and have now begun to do more on our own, and we are not completely relying on God to get us through. Then larger issues arise, and more serious things happen, and our hearts begin to question. What was once small, is now to big.
And because we stopped coming to God, we are left in over our heads.
I am so thankful that God is a God of Mercy and Love...
No matter where we are.....
There HE is.
We just need to surrender.
In my life when things tend to go wrong, I begin to question what's wrong. I truly believe we as followers of Christ must "gut check" where we are in our relationship with the Lord. Where have we gone astray? How did we pull away from the loving guidance of our Lord? With all certainty I can say, God is not the problem... WE ARE. Deception is all around us. We as Christians are under attack every day. Sometimes in the most subtle ways. And we don't even realize it. That is why we are warned to ever be on guard.
1st Peter 5:8 gives a clear picture of the devils intent.
"Be sober- minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (ESV)
If we are not constantly on guard, we are vulnerable.
He will strike when we are not looking, and at the most unexpected time.
And that is when the most damage can be done.
If there is one thing in my life that I have learned over and over again, it is simply,
Stay Close To The Lord Everyday.
Be in His Word, learning and growing.
Be in prayer, Daily!
The days that I don't study, and the days I don't pray, are among some of my worst days.
Apart from the Lord, we are nothing.
If we are not under His protection, we are lost.
Without His love and mercy, we have no hope.
Do Not Be Deceived.
Read, study, pray, watch.
Bring everything and place it before the Lord. He will make straight your path.