Category: Be a follower of Jesus

Hearing God’s voice


“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

What does it take to hear the voice of God? First, you have to acknowledge that there is a God and that He exists. Then you have to realize that He communicates with mankind.

How does God communicate and sound when He speaks to me? The only way to know this is to read God’s Word and learn what His voice sounds like and what He says to us in it. It is a difficult concept that we can recognize His voice when He speaks but with study, it can be done. The fact that the Bible exists proves that God has something to say because He has been speaking through the prophets and His disciples for many hundreds of years.

The “Old Testament” is full of God’s Words spoken by inspiration or directly to those He spoke to in the past. God is still speaking to us today but there is so much noise in the world that it has become difficult for us to hear Him clearly. In the world outside the church, many people don’t seem to care what God says or even believe that He exists in the first place. The problem with this kind of thinking is the time that we are living in. For most people who have never been to church or who just didn’t pay attention when they did, the Bible is a book written by old men long ago with tired history in it and rules that we don’t want to live by anymore.

Did the Israelites listen to God when they were in the wilderness after He freed them from bondage in Egypt? For most of the forty years that they spent in the wilderness all that they did was grumble and complain about their living conditions, the food, the water, etc. God even led them to their Promised Land but when they saw that it was occupied by “giants”, they refused to go in as He told them to do. It was this refusal that caused them to be in the wilderness for forty years.

The voice of God is not terrible nor is it scolding or wrathful, it is loving and caring, like a parent with their child. But when the punishment comes, as it usually does, people want to fuss and complain.

God hears your prayers and in some instances, He answers them. But, He answers them in His time and in a way that is consistent with His will for your life, not because you want a certain thing right now. Sometimes His answer is consistent with what you seek, if your heart belongs to Jesus and you’ve grown in your faith enough that your wants align with God’s, but your answer may not come today or tomorrow.

Sometimes, we would rather listen to “wise counsel” from a friend but if it goes against what God’s Word says it should be discarded. Satan can sound “wise” from time to time because he is a created being and can speak God’s Word as smoothly as anyone but also twist it so that it doesn’t mean what it should. Even your own voice can speak so convincingly that you can talk yourself into things that you shouldn’t, just as Jonah did when he didn’t want to warn Nineveh about God’s judgment.

Studying the Bible from cover to cover is the best way of learning how God speaks and what He desires from us. Why should we study His Word to learn about Him? Because it is the best way to learn about God and His ways. Each time you read His Word, you will glean a new insight into His ways and what He wants for your life. God’s Word is the “living Word” and the Holy Spirit gives each of us wisdom that is meant for us. What I get from it may not be the same thing you get but the Spirit gives us according to our ability and maturity to know Him.

Bear each other’s burdens


Life is hard enough today without any help from anyone. But, God promises to be with us every day. As Christians, we should help others bear the burdens that have been placed on them by life’s circumstances. Not just because it is the right thing to do but because we would want help whenever we become burdened with a load that is too much to bear alone.

A Hard Rebuke For Today’s Teenagers Who Lead Christian Clubs: It’s Time To Stop Being Spectators And Joining In The “Crowd”


Dear Teenage Youth Leaders,

First and foremost, it is of my greatest priority to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for assigning me the role as a messenger of the Good News as explicitly communicated in the Scriptures, boldly preached by men and women across this land we called Earth. I would like to thank author Tracy Eldridge for presenting me the privilege to humbly and passionately contribute to this site as a writer dedicated to exemplified the love of Jesus Christ, and to be a role model of a God-honoring soldier who has devoted her time to engage in the lifelong battle against Satan.

Serving as Vice President of a student-led Christian organization that is highly unpopular has been very tedious. Since the coronavirus pandemic started, we have seen a sharp decline in attendees, and things have gotten worse ever since the Former President (who graduated with the Class of 2021) left. We have started collaborating with a Christian Fellowship Organization in Northwestern University (which the Former President is involved in) to implement new strategies to run the club for next school year.

My concern for writing this message is not to address the recent changes. I sincerely am in for a change every now and then, in light of the challenges we are still facing while adjusting to the post-quarantine world. However, what I am truly against is the tendency for us to see church or the solemn occasion of preaching, ministering, and meditating on the Word of God as a time to be entertained or simply “lighten up the mood”.

The truth is: The message is not always going to be comfortable nor convenient for you to hear. With this in mind, I wholeheartedly admire your curiosity and your desire to figure out why God exists, and whether science and other trends contradict the faith. Personally, I have little knowledge about evolution, although I did learn about it in my biology class freshman year. Based on some of the theoretical principles in this merely scientific concept, I do see various contradictions between that spoken of in terms of the creation narrative mentioned in Genesis 1.

It’s easy to listen to someone telling you that God is love, God is faithful, and God will take care of you and give you strength to endure trials. However, it is not easy to be told that you have a sin nature, and that the world that many so adore for its vain pleasures — is the very place where sin is ever-present, accepted, and celebrated by many. Among one of the most challenging and uncomfortable topics our teenagers do not like to hear is the issue of morality and the existence of Satan. It is not easy to write about, let alone speak of, such hard truths, let alone on a presentation or a blog post. In a climate where our disciplinary system encourages and fosters an environment of immorality and compromise, such messages must be preached as it is: and not watered down to satisfy an audience or gain numbers or popularity.

It is beyond sad that my generation has become so accustomed to the habit of attending a “church” presentation where the Word of God is being taught to receive donuts rather than the sweet taste of divine revelation and wisdom that will assist them down the road, for the sake of “recruitting new members”. It’s time to stop viewing this as an opportunity to be spectators sitting back and pretending that such occasion is like watching a comedy show from MTV. I encourage anyone who is leading a club to go beyond the “god is love” mantra, and preaching against immorality. It’s time to show our younger generation that there is a sacred obligation that is beyond the realm of fitting in with the group and delighting in the world. It’s time for parents to stand up and tell their children who Satan is, and teach them how to daily fullfill and persevere in our sacred duty to be devoted ambassadors of the light to a dark, wicked society.

Now is not the time to mingle around and just simmly “energize the room”. Now is the time that young leaders of Christian organizations in the corridors of public and private schools across America to rise above the status quo and be courageous in fostering and maintaining a climate of Godliness and demonstrate an attitude of determination to overcome every Strongman, every obstacle, every tragedy, and every influence that will hinder us from walking as a victorious and free people: released from Satan’s prison of iniquity! All because of the blood of the lamb of God that was shed on that cross.

Sister in ⠠⠡⠗⠊⠌⠂

M.A

A prayer of Solomon


if they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name: then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee. 2 Chronicles 6:38‭-‬39 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/2ch.6.38-39.KJV

This prayer was given by Solomon when he was dedicating it for the people and as God’s house in Jerusalem. I pray that you might read the rest of the chapter so you can know what an awesome God we serve.

Christmas


Most of the Christian world waits for this holiday all year, but what does it mean to you? For some, it means lots of presents and all sorts of getting together with family. For others, it is just another holiday and for some, it is just another day on the calendar. We celebrate the birth of Jesus at this time of year but Jewish historians place His birth during the Feast of Tabernacles during September/October. Truly it doesn’t matter when you celebrate our Savior’s birth as long as you know Him as your Savior.

The Son of God was the first gift given to all of us and all we have to do is accept it when we know that we truly need it. God calls us by His Holy Spirit to convict us that we can’t get to heaven without faith in Jesus and we should accept the gift given by His grace. It is a gift given to you by the Creator of everything. Isn’t He more important than your Mom or even Santa Clause?

The gift that Jesus gave to us is more valuable than all of the money in the whole world so shouldn’t we treasure it above everything else? I do.

No need to say more


Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: And he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Proverbs 17:28 KJV https://bible.com/verse-of-the-day/pro.17.28/74705

Amen

Are you broken?


In the past year or so I think we have all felt a little broken in some way. Some, I think, more than others. Especially the doctors and nurses who are on the front lines of treating this disease that doesn’t seem to yield to a vaccine. It just keeps mutating and changing and no one knows whether the shots will work against this one or that one and if it does work…for how long? Then, after all of this, there are the everyday diseases that take our loved ones and the criminals and others who shoot people for no real reason. The brokenness of our world and our lives, to one extent or another, just seems to keep expanding from one day to the next with no ending in sight. 

Where do we find solace? Can we find help in our lives that will bring some closure to this broken feeling that we have? Yes! By giving your heart to Jesus and following Him for the rest of your time on Earth you can have hope and a future regardless of what may be going on around you or in your life right now.

The news and the media that we get our news from are no help these days. Sometimes we hear good news and sometimes it is not such good news. Our families are beset with cancers and other diseases. Our children are being rebellious at times and even our job is not helping much with prices going up at the grocery store and the gas station. We look around and even on Friday, we may feel better because the weekend is here but then Monday comes and we have to endure it again.

This time that we are living in has been prophesied in the Bible. If you go to church or if you are curious, check it out in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. Jesus tells us that all sorts of problems will be happening just before the end of the age (the church age). We are living in that period of time right now and whether we choose to believe it or not won’t change that fact. All of the prophecies in the Bible have come true except for the Tribulation and the Rapture (taking away) of the church. The Rapture will happen first and when that day comes many will be blessed but there will be many more that will be left to live through the Tribulation period of seven years.

I pray that anyone who reads this will seek to find a Bible-teaching church and make sure of your salvation. Read the books of John and Acts and Romans. Pray that God will touch your heart and draw you to become a follower of Jesus. The problems and the diseases that are being reported today are just the beginning. It will get much worse during the Tribulation so make sure that your soul and your heart belongs to Jesus Christ before that day comes.

Even in his sorrow…


25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. Job 19:25‭-‬27 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/job.19.25-27.KJV

Are you able to help others?


If you are a Christian, help others to come to know Him as well. Others need His blessings as well.

There were three…


In the poem, “Footprints in the sand”, the man who had the dream noticed that at some of the most trying moments in his life there were only one set of footprints. The Lord told him that during those times He carried him through them. He was never alone.

For a married couple who is totally committed to each other and to the Lord as well, there would be three sets of footprints during their life together. During the hard times in their lives, the Lord would not carry both of them but their footprints would be closer together as they walked along. When their lives approached the end of their life together the Lord would carry them both through these really tough times. God doesn’t leave us in rough times only to show up during the best times, He is there all of the time.

Life today is tough and it seems to be getting tougher as time moves on but, as Christian believers, we are never alone. Jesus is there, the Holy Spirit is in our heart and God is always accessible to us by prayer. While we may feel alone at times, seek comfort in knowing that Jesus is always close to us. He is as close as a prayer and closer than a friend or a brother. 

Why am I writing this today? Because life is hard and it is harder when we try to live through our troubles alone. Some of us aren’t made to go through life as a married couple but some of us are and we are more relaxed and able to cope with the good times and the bad when we have someone to share both of them with. The good times will be better when shared and the bad times won’t feel so bad because you are able to bear each other’s burdens.

This is how I see married life because God gives each of us a partner to live life through as a couple because, just as a rope, when there is more than one person/strand put together the bond is harder to break. Make sure of your bond as it is between three persons, Jesus, your spouse, and you.