Off the Path

Off the Path

1 John 5: ¹⁶ If you see a believer commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray to God, who will give that person life. This applies to those whose sins do not lead to death. But there is sin which leads to death, and I do not say that you should pray to God about that. ¹⁷ All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which does not lead to death.

 

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“Stay on the path” were the words of wisdom given to us from the forest ranger. It was easy at first, but there was a point where the path was not as obvious. We took a wrong turn and noticed the trees were getting thicker. We kept going and could see light. It was a small cliff that had a fall into a river.

 

• Veering off the path was scary and I tried to use my instincts to get to safety.
• The direction I was going could have led to death.
• Every step I went in the wrong direction caused me to get closer and closer to danger.

 

John attempted to address one time sin versus a lifestyle of sin. He states “All wrongdoing is sin” to make sure that people were not trying to categorize types of sin to justify his or her actions. He attempted to get people off the path of a sinful lifestyle that could lead people away from GOD, especially if the relationship with HIM was not true in the first place.

 

My Observations:

• JESUS died for all my sins, past, present and future.
• Sin is very offensive to GOD and I should not take it lightly.
• There is a way of thinking that is dangerous to my wellbeing that believes I can sin all I want and be forgiven, which will lead to my destruction.

 

“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death” is a scary quote to me. I mean, when the crowd says it’s right and my desires say it’s right, is everything I do or say right? No! There are some sinful desires, ways and words that are accepted by the world but are offensive to GOD. BUT HE always has a better way.

 

HE wants people to pray for each other, asking HIM to guide one another back to the path of life. HE knows we may innocently go down the wrong path by mistake. The problem comes when I stay on that path because I like it or my heart is too hard to turn back. I am glad GOD listens to prayers from others who may see my sin and want the best for me.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer recommend going to GOD versus confronting people?
• Have you ever accidentally done or said something wrong?
• If your heart has not been firmly planted in belief in JESUS, will you consider the path you are on may lead to death, so you can be placed back on GOD’s path of life today?

Convinced, Judged and Opened

 

Convinced, Judged and Opened

1 Corinthians 14: ²⁰ Do not be like children in your thinking, my friends; be children so far as evil is concerned, but be grown up in your thinking. ²¹ In the Scriptures it is written,

 

“By means of people speaking strange languages
    I will speak to my people, says the Lord.
I will speak through lips of foreigners,
    but even then my people will not listen to me.”

 

²² So then, the gift of speaking in strange tongues is proof for unbelievers, not for believers, while the gift of proclaiming God's message is proof for believers, not for unbelievers.

²³ If, then, the whole church meets together and everyone starts speaking in strange tongues—and if some ordinary people or unbelievers come in, won't they say that you are all crazy? ²⁴ But if everyone is proclaiming God's message when some unbelievers or ordinary people come in, they will be convinced of their sin by what they hear. They will be judged by all they hear, ²⁵ their secret thoughts will be brought into the open, and they will bow down and worship God, confessing, “Truly God is here among you!”

 

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Walking into a church, I noticed everyone was dressed nicely, the place was neat and clean and everyone had a smile on their face. It felt weird, almost like a group of aliens from another planet had taken over. They spoke to each other in Bible verses that I was unfamiliar with and made me stand up and introduce myself, as if I wasn’t already uncomfortable enough.

 

• I felt like I was on the outside of the group.
• I felt like I was not “clean” enough for this group.
• I felt like I was more of a burden than a willing participant so I left and never came back.

 

Paul concludes addressing the use of speaking in tongues. He mentions this gift is valuable, but can be disruptive to those who are not believers. He tries to explain the purpose of saying anything needs to be for GOD.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to share my testimony which includes my sins.
• GOD wants me to be free to share how I am forgiven for all my sins.
• GOD wants me to want others to be free to see JESUS as the solution, versus HIM being the problem.

 

Making JESUS the problem is usually not done on purpose. I mean, well-meaning people, who may have gone through a lot, try to explain that JESUS is the answer to every problem, and HE is. But sometimes this group can forget they are “still” sinners who need guidance by the HOLY SPIRIT daily.

 

GOD wants me to see people different. It is not “us” who are believers versus “them” who are unbelievers. It is “us” who are all sinners. No one sin is greater than another and anyone who confesses their sins and believes that JESUS is the one and only forgiver, will be saved eternally. I am convinced I am a sinner, judged by my wrongs and open to saying JESUS forgave me for my past, current and future sins.

 

Challenge

 

• How do you think salvation should be spoken to someone you know who may not believe in JESUS?
• If you attend church regularly, what do you notice about testimonies?
• Will you take baby steps in telling people about your deepest sins so they will be willing to turn their life to JESUS today?

Believe Today!

Deuteronomy 2: ⁷ The Lord your God has blessed you in everything your hands have done. He watched over you when you traveled through that huge desert. For these 40 years the Lord your God has been with you. So you have had everything you need.

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“I think I can make it!” I said to myself as I sprinted through the busiest airport.  Fortunately my plane was at a close gate this time.  As I arrived at the gate, to my dismay the plane was pulling away and so went my dreams of having this wonderful conversation with the partner of the firm.

“GOD, why did YOU put all this traffic in my way?” I mean I left in plenty of time, or so I thought. Now I have to catch another plane, arrive late and instead of being on the partners’ good side, I would have to explain my shame away!

• In moments of stress I quickly fall into a panic.
• In moments of duress I easily fall blind to what’s wrong.
• In moments of pressure I hastily fall into short term planning without thinking.

My panic comes from an unsatisfied expectation of GOD.  I mean when I really want something I can’t have then panic sets in because I haven’t thought of another path.  I only thought about getting or achieving “that” thing. When I panic I lose trust in GOD.

• GOD says “stand still and watch the great thing the LORD is about to do right here in front of you!”
• GOD says “I decided to show you my power”
• GOD says “This day is your deliverance.”

During stressful times, GOD wants me to quiet down for a moment and communicate with HIM.  HE wants me to understand HIS might and power in the situation. When I allow GOD to take on the fight my trust increases.

Looking back on the many disappointments I’ve had in life, I have realized it was great that I didn’t get what I wanted because GOD gave me what I needed!

• Is your faith slipping?
• Did you want something so bad only to find it crumbling away from you?
• Are you willing to let GOD take things away from you?
• Can you let HIM guide you onto HIS path instead of trying to do things on your own?

Unfaithful

Romans 3: ³What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? ⁴ Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:

   “So that you may be proved right when you speak

   and prevail when you judge.”

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I have been unfaithful many times! Not the way you are thinking but in many ways I have proven to show “unfaithfulness.” Like the time I left work to relax in my apartment, I was unfaithful to the job at hand. The time I decided to go on a date without asking my parents and I went missing the entire day, I was unfaithful to their guardianship.

How about the time GOD told me to remain pure in thought and deed and… you get the picture.

• I have been unfaithful to GOD when I doubt HIS plan for me.
• I have been unfaithful to GOD when I refuse to change my ways for HIM.
• I have been unfaithful to GOD when I take matters into my own hand.

Unfaithfulness has some difficult consequences. My relationship with GOD is less than optimal when I don’t have “faith” in HIM. I mean I can believe HE exists, I can even believe JESUS died for my sins, but do I actually have “faith” that GOD can lead “all” my decisions, not just the big scary ones. Unfortunately the answer is “no.”

• When I am unfaithful, GOD is faithful.
• When I think I can do life by myself GOD says “you need ME and I will always be there.”
• When I make the mistake of thinking I can live my life any old way, GOD steps in and corrects me and is “just” for doing so.

Many think unfaithful means cheating on husbands or wives or boyfriends or girlfriends and this is true. Even a longing glance at someone else is a degree of unfaithfulness which I am guilty of. But how many times have I decided GOD is wrong and I am right and I deserve to do “this” sin because HE will forgive me anyway so “I’m cool.”

GOD wants me to focus on HIS grace not mine, HIS love not mine, HIS mercy not mine. Only HE is righteous.

• Have you been unfaithful?
• What thought just popped into your head?
• Are you willing to tell those you have been unfaithful to?
• Can you tell GOD about your unfaithfulness and “move on” because you “are” forgiven?

I admit it I did it

Acts 19: ¹⁸ Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. ¹⁹ A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. ²⁰ In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

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“Spray paint!” I thought to myself.  I searched the garage vigorously to see if I could find a can that matched. Believe it or not I did! Well it sort of matched. I backed the car into the garage and began my body work on my mothers’ car. I tried to cover up the dent from the accident I was in.

Yes it was the guys’ fault but he had no insurance and I had no experience in making sure he paid for the damage. I figured I would just paint the car and explain everything later… much later!

• When I try to hide my sins I can’t get better.
• When I try to hide my sins I never grow up in following GOD.
• When I try to hide my sins I don’t admit I need JESUS’ help.

Hidden sin is the worst sin. At least if I were blatant with my sins, someone could approach me with correction then I would have a choice to follow GOD or not. When I sin and try to hide it, the HOLY SPIRIT says to me “you shouldn’t have done that.” HE never repeats HIMSELF but let’s me know I am forgiven when I admit my maleficence.

• Admitting sin is never easy at first but gets easier the more I do it.
• Admitting sin lifts all kinds of burdens from my conscience.
• Admitting sin doesn’t give me the license to sin more but helps me identify areas of weakness that I need accountability for.
• Admitting sin enables me to live a victorious life because I have GOD on my side.

It’s funny how GOD works. HE tells me I must confess my sins and believe HIS SON died for them. I can never be good enough or strong enough to break my way into an eternal relationship with GOD.  Confession says “GOD I need you” rather than “I will hide my sins and try to make it on my own.” 

I can now say “LORD, I admit I am wrong in YOUR eyes and I want an everlasting relationship with YOU.”

• Are you hiding something?
• Are you trying to cover up your sin?
• What do you think you will gain by trying to hide any sin from GOD?
• Do you know the embarrassment of admitting your sin is far better than a broken relationship with JESUS?

It’s easy for GOD

John 21: ⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

 

   “No,” they answered.

 

 ⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

 

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Sometimes I think I have become too smart for my own good.  There is nothing wrong with learning and education, but there are times when I brush off situations as coincidences or I explain them away with my scientific prowess. Do miracles happen daily and I am just numb to them?

• Bullies told me to be scared of them because of their power but GOD said something different.
• My professor told me I would never make it in my field of study but GOD said something different.
• Scientists told me my child could be born with an illness but GOD said something different.

Throughout the years GOD has been there in my life nudging me along to a much better place. HE raised me to levels I should have never been, HE took me to places I would only have dreamt of travelling to and HE has shown me HIS power over and over again. 

 

Many would chock it up to just being lucky or karma or the “universe” just likes me but I say give credit where credit is due. 

• It’s easy for GOD to protect me from that terrible accident.
• It’s easy for GOD to heal my broken body.
• It’s easy for GOD to mend my broken heart.
• It’s easy for GOD to handle any and every situation or obstacle placed in my way.

Even the disciples had stopped following JESUS when HE died. They had seen HIM alive again and yet went back to work like nothing happened. HE wants me to know miracles happen daily, just open my eyes, ears and heart and they will happen.

• Do you doubt GOD’s power?
• Have you placed your belief in other mystical or scientific things outside of GOD’s HOLY SPIRIT?
• Can you give GOD credit for doing more things in your life?

Stop doubting and believe!

John 20: ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

   But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

 ²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

 ²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

 ²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

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Confidence is an amazing thing. As my father followed behind me he had let go of my bike and was simply running. I thought he was still holding on. When I was lifting weights some guys pretended to hold each side of the bar but later I discovered I did all the work. I thought they were still holding on.

In either case when I found out “I” was doing what I thought I could not do, my mind overshadowed my faith and I fell off my bike or dropped the weights. I didn’t believe!

• GOD wants me to have faith in HIM.
• GOD wants me to believe HE has overcome all situations.
• GOD wants me to stop doubting HIS methods, HIS motives and HIS love for me.

HE knows when I don’t believe HIM and needs to have patience with me, but HE gets excited when I put my trust in HIM and when I throw away my doubts. HE enjoys when I forget caution, when I stop trying to protect myself and when I fully turn to HIM.

I have not seen GOD yet I believe! HE motivates me and guides me even though my faith is small.

• Are you trying to protect yourself?
• Are you full of fear?
• Can you drop your fears, doubts and worries by “knowing” GOD has taken care of the situation?

Do I really know what to believe in?

John 20: ⁶ Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.

⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹ (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

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Pranks could easily be played on me because gullible was stamped on my forehead. Blind faith was my “strength” and a weakness as the con artist or liar covered their tracks well. Soon my blind faith just turned into blindness toward believing in anything. I didn’t want to be burned again.

• Life has a way of making me cynical.
• Life has a way of placing negativity in front of me causing me to want to give up.
• Life has a way of reducing my dreams turning them into the mundane.

Like a whipped animal with a broken spirit, I moped around thinking “why believe?” I mean what good is church or “believing” anyway when it seems like evil people are easily getting their way?

• JESUS died for my sins because HE is concerned about my eternal life.
• JESUS sent HIS HOLY SPIRIT to live in me because HE is concerned about my earthly life.
• JESUS is building a new heaven and a new Earth for me because HE wants an awesome relationship with me forever!

Even the disciples who watched HIM heal people, walk on water, create things right in front of their faces and raise dead people, still did not grasp the magnitude of what JESUS did. Quite frankly I don’t either but I know this, HE has done some incredible things in my life! 

If given the choice of “my way” or “GOD’s strange way”, I nervously choose GOD’s way to guide my path and relieve my worries, doubts and fears. I choose to believe.

• What do you believe in?
• Do you have blind faith that GOD will work everything out?
• Are you fighting against GOD with your lifestyle?
• What are you doing to make changes in your life specifically for serving GOD?

Am I missing something?

John 17: ¹ After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

  

 “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.

 

² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.

 

⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

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After reading this, I could not find a situation in my life that would do these words justice. All I know is that there must be something really big that I am missing. A flood of questions came to mind.

• You mean to tell me GOD is greater than science or the human will?
• Can’t I just be good? Yes I sin but compared to “those” people over there I’m doing pretty good. 
• Why can’t GOD just accept the way I want to worship HIM and make everything good the way I want it?

 

Then I realized, all of my questions are coming from a sinful position. With my questions, I am trying to make GOD bow down to me while attempting to justify my ways. It’s a difficult thing to say “I need you to save me LORD” if I think nothing is wrong with me.

 

• What I am missing is a full understanding of what sin is.
• What I am missing is why I have to go through a sometimes difficult life to get to a place I have never seen or touched.
• What I am missing is why I have to be the one who serves or sacrifices my money or gives in to arguments to keep peace.

 

I mean science says life was created by two mega planets colliding, so what if I’m wrong about this “GOD” thing?

 

Faith was the one word that came to mind as I asked “what am I missing?”

 

• It’s actually harder for me to reject the “fact” that GOD always existed rather than two objects always existing.
• It’s harder to believe I can ever be good enough to deserve GOD’s love rather than GOD showing “pure” love by dying for me.
• It’s harder for me to believe everything will be fine on earth when I have seen it deteriorating rather than believing JESUS is building a perfect eternal spot just for me!

 

Do you believe?

 

Do I believe a little or a lot?

John 12: ⁴⁴ Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. ⁴⁵ The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

   ⁴⁷ “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

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Being a follower of GOD is tough sometimes. The occurrences of JESUS happened over two thousand years ago and while well documented, take faith to truly believe all of the things HE did. Over the years my broken faith has led me to ponder GOD and HIS relationship with me.

Wrong or right for testing HIM, I did check to see if HE was there and I concluded with a resounding YES!

• I looked at science who says my creation came from a large collision and the fragments on this planet were just right to start the chain of evolution.
• I looked at groups who don’t quite believe in science, but they somewhat believe in a higher being, and they somewhat believe in their field of study.
• I looked at “religion” and there were so many conflicting views over what a deity truly is.

These tests were done with filtered thinking because my parents had taught me the ways of CHRIST, but I had to see for myself. Here is what I found.

• It’s easier to believe GOD was always here rather than gasses and minerals colliding by happenstance.
• It’s easier to believe GOD created humans in HIS image with love embedded in them than cells evolving to the point where love happened to appear.
• It’s easier to believe GOD’s rules are so pure that only HE could save me from the consequences.

The more I read the Bible, the more it makes sense. No science, self-help or coincidence can explain what is truly going on. It boils down to this, I am a sinner and I need GOD not only to save me eternally but to guide me through this murky thing called life. HE even knows my faith is faulty, yet HE loves me!

• Do you believe in science more than GOD?
• Is your comfort zone in your field of study or can you step out on faith and add GOD to your thoughts?
• Do you believe in some things about GOD or all things GOD says?
• Is JESUS just a myth to you or is HE GOD who became a human to die for you?
• Are you avoiding learning more about GOD because you don’t want to change?

Believing “is” my job

John 6:  ²⁸ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

 ²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

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Sitting alone in my apartment was great for me because I could finally feel a need to go back to church. This was no longer my parents’ decision but mine. After wasting many years I felt I needed to make up for lost time. I think I volunteered for everything in church. “GOD, this makes up for all my sinful years, right?”

• I can never “work” away my sins.
• I can never “work” my way into GOD’s approval.
• I can never “work” hard enough to obtain eternal life.

I truly thought I could be “good” enough to erase the sin in my life.  In fact I stopped doing so many things soon I thought I was pretty “great.” I compared myself to my old “down trodden” friends and of course now I was better than them because they were still sinning and I wasn’t.

My attitude was smug and at that time I probably thought I could teach JESUS a thing or two.

• The only job GOD has given me is to believe.
• My one and only task in life that is paramount to anything is to believe.
• The greatest thing I can do for people is to believe in JESUS.

Spreading the great news about JESUS does take work but the work doesn’t make me holy. My willingness to tell people about HIM coupled with my faith that HE is “the ONE” makes me holy. My righteousness is like, excuse the expression, a used tampon.

Many times I have the wrong attitude about working, giving, and living for GOD. It’s either out of obligation or out of guilt and shame that I press hard to do my part. GOD the FATHER gave up everything when HE gave HIS one and only SON. HE wants me to believe “everything” will be fine in spite of today’s circumstances.

HE wants me to believe all the way to death and that’s my only job.

• Are you trying to work your way into heaven?
• Have you turned from GOD because it seems too hard to follow HIS rules?
• Have you been able to just “stand still” and watch the power of the LORD?
• Can you get your hands off of GOD’s job and do yours, namely “believe?”

GOD asks some “crazy” questions!

John 6: ⁵ When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” ⁶ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

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People have told me “GOD” spoke to them and said they would be rich.  “Huh” I scoffed at their statement blowing them off immediately. I thought to myself, “GOD doesn’t work like that” because, of course, I know everything about GOD, right? Wrong!

• My doubts about what GOD is doing in another person’s life stem from my lack of faith.
• My hesitations about a big vision that came from GOD specifically to me stem from not wanting to look foolish.
• My suspicions about GOD still performing miracles are bathed in ignorance because I have acquired “higher” education.

GOD is all powerful, all seeing, all knowing and resides everywhere. Any situation is easy for HIM to clear up and miracles aren’t miracles to HIM.  HE has the power to do anything but for some reason HE chose specific times to perform, what I would call, a miracle.

Believe it or not, I have seen HIM perform miracles in my life. Most would say they were coincidences or some doctor or medicine healed those in question, but I say it was GOD and GOD alone who performed the same miracles I read about in the Bible.

• When I open my spiritual eyes I can see GOD perform miracles.
• When I remove doubt about GOD I can see HE will do some incredible things through some doubtful people like me.
• When I believe HE will do larger things that I can’t explain GOD steps up and shows me how powerful HE can be.

JESUS knows exactly what HE is going to do in my life and wants me to see HE can do some incredible things if I would only believe. I can also tell when I put my vision in the place of HIS because it usually fulfills some lust of the world. HE still asks some crazy questions because HE wants my full attention on what HE “can” and “will” do.

• Do you doubt GOD’s mighty power?
• Are you busy trying to make GOD perform circus tricks instead of watching HIS true power?
• Can you remove your doubt today and start on your journey to listening to HIM even if it takes a while to hear HIM?

GOD does not need to be proven.

John 5:  ³⁶ “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. ³⁷ And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form…

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Finally I finished one problem after an hour of work. The advanced math class was quite challenging because I had to not only compute the answer, but show the right steps it took to derive my solution.

Each postulate, hypothesis and puzzle had to have an “exact” answer which could be proven by others otherwise it would not be believed.

• Many times I don’t believe GOD will help because HE doesn’t do things my way.
• Many times I doubt GOD because HE is not operating on my schedule.
• Many times I blame GOD because I’m busy looking at someone else’s action rather than focusing on mine.

I have to tell the truth sometimes I doubt GOD so I can be in control. It seems as if life runs crazy and I just want to pull the lever and make something happen. Then when my plans fail, I come running back to GOD who I didn’t believe in the first place.

• GOD’s existence doesn’t require proof it requires worship.
• GOD’s SON doesn’t need my blessing to be called KING of kings and LORD of lords.
• GOD’s presence doesn’t my need eyes to see HIM because my sin blinds me to what is standing right in front of me.

Daily GOD shows HIMSELF and my distracted mind ignores what HE is doing. My sinful expectations of “how” HE should appear to me, blinds me of the many things HE does right before my eyes. GOD operates the way HE operates and as harsh as that sounds, HE operates with unadulterated love for me.

• Are you busy trying to make GOD appear the way you want HIM to appear?
• Do you feel you have to prove HIS existence to someone?
• Do you think HE should prove HIS existence to you?
• Won’t you trade your disbelief for faith that worships GOD as the highest authority?

Help the part of me that doesn’t believe!

Mark 9: ²¹ Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

   “From childhood,” he answered. ²² “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

   ²³ “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

 ²⁴ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

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Being raised in a family who believed in GOD enabled me to understand who HE was at an early age. I was privileged to have parents who read and understood the Bible and who taught me to do the same. But my teenage years hit and I questioned the validity of what they taught me and of their belief.

Life happened and troubles flared. There was a part of me that disowned GOD until I was on my own facing the largest trials of my life at that time. Upon returning to GOD I asked for help, but I had disowned HIM.  I mean I didn’t believe HE would forgive me and I didn’t feel like I deserved to be listened to.

• I believe GOD created the world and everything in it but sometimes I question how.
• I believe GOD became a human to fulfill HIS decree but sometimes I ask why.
• I believe GOD allows me to sin yet HE remains sinless and gives me pure love but sometimes I turn my back on HIS forgiveness.

Humans cannot and will not understand who and what GOD is. HE revealed a little of HIMSELF by giving me the Bible but this is only a glimpse of HIS true and marvelous power.  HE is all knowing, all seeing and is everywhere and has all power. Part of me believes that, yet I try to steer my destiny.

I do believe everything is possible to those who believe. I have seen some marvelous things in my own life that can only be attributed to GOD. My only prayer is “LORD help the part of me that doesn’t believe so I can stop trying to steer my own life so much!”

• Are you trying to do things GOD is supposed to be doing?
• Will you allow HIM to fix what is broken in you?
• Can you ask HIM to help the part of you that doesn’t believe?