32. it will get worse before it gets better

(photo by SpinC)

there is a question
asked by many:
why is it that when you walk with GOD
troubles come a-plenty?

pastors I knew
from internet broadcasts
have mentioned the same
in their separate podcasts

they say that to walk with God
is like a basketball game
if you are sidelined
nobody calls your name

but try get in the game
score points, start the rally
they'd guard and keep you
from getting ahead in the tally

when you are cold for Christ
the Enemy doesn't bother
set your heart on fire for HIM
the enemy stalks you like no other.

the trials come pouring in
like when it rains, it pours
problems, sickness, misery
adversities in scores

right now, that is exactly
the door that I chose to enter
when I took steps to follow GOD
I know it will get worse before it gets better.

31. do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal...

"Beloved, do not be surprised
at the fiery ordeal among you,
which comes upon you for your testing,
as though some strange thing were happening to you"

when adversities come into your life
what does it make you feel?
"God doesn't love me". "He is punishing me"
"I am terrible". "Take my own life, yes, I will"

Stop believing the lies
that the Evil One tells you about adversity
it is a very private, very dark
and a very scary place to be.

Adversity is the hammer
that shapes the new us
God draws closer and nearer
to those whose spirits are crushed

In those windows of time
that you literally reached the end of yourself
cry out to Him, don't hold it back
admit that you need Him, that you need His help

Adversity is normal
it happened to Jesus, to Paul, to all Christians
where sin abounded, grace abounded much more
according to the Book of Romans

Adversity is expected,
we are told not to be surprised
the fiery ordeals are for our testing
and in each of them. the Lord hears our cries.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone
Through adversity, your life, God transforms
it is an uninvited friend in the hands of an all-knowing God
in the midst of my pain God will wean me from my pride.



1Peter4:12
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;

30. hang in there

(photo by SpinC)

"I quit. I can't take it anymore. I had it!
I'm opting out. I'm done!"
make a difficult problem work for you
instead of making it bring you down

The spirit of God spoke
to the writer of the Book of Hebrews
to encourage them, to draw them back,
and so their confidence in Him, they won't lose

he reminded them how they remained faithful
even through terrible suffering
how they accepted it with joy
even when from them, they've taken away everything.\

Think back on the early days
When you first learned about Christ
Do not throw away the confident trust
keep in mind, that in the end, there is a "prize"

From the Book of Philippians
remember, if you can't, Jesus CAN
believe that God wants to help you
read the 34th chapter of the book of Psalms

I can't. You can't. HE CAN.
God wants to help you and me
Hang in there, don't lose hope
God's love and grace, we will see.

29. He is not here!!!!!

the prophets of most religions
have died and their bodies, "laid to rest"
it is a comfort for their followers
knowing they are "there", more or less

the mortal body that rests there
have long since been buried in the earth
the years will pass on and on and on
whatever is left of the bodies, mixed with the dirt

it is because they are mortal men
that cannot rise from the dead
only a man that is GOD
can, even death, transcend

the instance of Jesus' death
caused grieving and heartbreak
He is the SAVIOR and yet
His dead body was laid in the grave

in His own words He had said
that He will rise again after three days
the sepulchre was heavily guarded
but God is God, He has ways :)

totally opposite from the prophets of religions
whose followers feel proud where the bodies laid
For believers: "He is not here, He is risen"
Is the greatest sentence ever said.

Read in Matthew 28:10
"Be not afraid, go tell my brethren,
that they go into Galilee,
and there shall they see me"

Believers received comfort
from discovering an empty tomb
it is the reality of a prophecy
so be ready, He will be back soon!

28. are your pearls real?

once there was a sailor
who was alone and had no family
over time at sea he collected pearls
pearls from the bottom of the sea

he didn't have anyone
to give the pearls to as a gift
there wasn't anyone that he had met
who had made him feel pleased.

Alas, there was a little girl
that he met and he was pleased
the little girl wore a string of pearls
but they are pearls made of plastic

the sailor and the little girl became friends
although she was there only on vacation
when it was time for her to leave
the sailor decided and reached a decision

he offered the string of real pearls
to the girl who immediately became excited
these are real, and genuine pearls,
priceless and pure, one's hard work, invested.

but when he said "before I give you these,
give up the plastic pearls, give them to me"
the girl held onto the bogus pearls
and said, "They're mine! Don't take them away from me!"

funny when we fail to see
the real value of what is true
we hold on to material things
where our hopes and dreams are anchored to.

the fake pearls, they represent
our love for the world, our lust
may we wake up to the realization
they are second rate fun that don't last.

In our lives let us search ourselves
what are the things we hold on to?
do we even know that oftentimes
what we hold on to have no real value?

1 John 2:15-16  ¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father^[a] is not in them. ¹⁶ For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

27. all that I am, all that I have

what does God want
from you and from me?
what can you give to The One
who has everything a-plenty?

he doesn't want your religious attendance
not your riches or money
not the length of time reading the Bible
not your gifts to charity

to create the first step in the relationship
you must accept God as your Lord and Savior
contrary to what many believe,
the next step is not rules, regulations, orders.

Surrender is what He wants
Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice
Live God's way, forget your own way
Ask Him to run your life

what God really wants from you
is none other than YOU
all that you are, all that you have
no pretenses, just what is true.

Romans 12 ¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.