Not So Same Beliefs

Days are unique to everyone. One day may be better for one person while just another day to a different person. We are not to judge others if their views are different from that of ours. This world is made up of all different kinds of people with different belief systems. The main theme we are to show every person is that of love. If we are to love each other then we can break down any barrier that may be in the way. I have fallen victim to the not loving others or thinking more highly of myself. 

When I first came to the faith, I found Reformed Christian Theology and began to think that others who did not follow that path were not believing the truth. This was because I was putting myself into a box and pushing away all other people who were around me. I would not listen to other belief systems due to them not proclaiming the truth that I felt I had found. Regardless of if it was the truth, in order to have others listen to me and understand the belief system that I had there needed to be some openness to learning about other faiths and belief systems. This, though, can be done without fully converted to that system and by just researching a developing a knowledge of what that belief portrays. Even within the Christian faith, there are many different ways to go about the faith. The main points need to be all the same, but outside of that, there are many different subject matters that can differ from person to person and have all of us still follow the same belief. 

I also fell down this rabbit hole of thinking highly of myself when viewing conspiracy theories. There was a time in my life where the only thing I did ways research and listen to conspiracy theories. I would indulge myself with YouTube videos and viewing websites with lots of information that talked about end times and the government being out to take out and control everyone. Lots of this seemed to line up with the Bible, especially information that was in the Book of Revelation. I became very paranoid during those times wondering when the world was going to end or when the downfall of the USA was going to happen. I thought of people who did not understand as sheeple or the masses that were letting themselves be taken over. I had no understanding of why certain people just did not care or would willingly give up their freedoms to this system that was bound and determined to take over every aspect of their life. It was only through reading scripture during this time that I was able to break free from that bondage that brought fear into my life. All of what I was researching could be true, but I now rely solely on the Bible when it comes to interpreting the information. I know that the time and hour for Christ to come back will not be known by man and that we should not live in fear of what is to come if we are believers. 

In doing research on many religions, I have found that only Jesus lets us know that there will truly be one way to know the truth. That is through having faith in Him:

""Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him,"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."" - John 14:1-7 

Many ways and beliefs may say that you can find the truth in them, but only one can boldly proclaim that statement. It is only through a relationship with Christ that you are truly able to know the truth and that can set you free of any bondage that you are under. If you do not believe what is in the Bible or care for it, I will not judge what you decide to do with your life. I will, though, let you know about the truth that passes all understaning through Christ. 

At the end, there will be many who do not believe the gospel of Christ and their judgement will be on their hands. Whatever you decide, I fully respect your decision. Out of love from Christ, I will still fight to show and fully proclaim His name to ALL the earth to let you and others know of the love that He brings. He loves you and wants to have a relationship with you, however, you have to place your trust in Him and what He has done for you to have eternal life with Him. Hope this can bring comfort or change in someone's life. Until next time, take care and God Bless.

Being Thankful

It is hard to have a feeling of being thankful when things around you seem to bring you down or constantly bring on a sense of conflict. When you have felt or been wronged, it is hard to show forgiveness. When you feel like everything that you have been working toward and for are suddenly ripped out of your life, you start to wonder if there is any reason to keep on going. These are some of the feelings that I have felt over the past couple of years. It is only from God's love through Jesus Christ that we are truly able to be thankful for all that we have and where we are. 

This is hard talking about on a day of giving thanks, but it is my story and one that God has worked in to bring to a place where I am thankful for all that He has done in my life. It may not be where I thought it would be, however, it is exactly where I believe He has needed me to be and that is in total reliance on Him no matter the circumstance. About 10 years ago, I was stuggling to be in a relationship with someone and vowed that I would turn to just being single. It was through this time that I found the woman that would be my wife and the mother of my kids. I felt pure joy as our relationship began and blossomed into a union before God in marriage. It was after the wedding and the marriage was set in place that I began to lose who I really was. I began to become more distant towards her as I focused on work and trying to find who I was outside of her instead of growing with her. This continued over the years as we added children to the marriage and the stresses began to multiple. I grew a harsh feeling of regret of having uprooted myself from my previous church community to the one where she was and this caused a deep sense of contempt towards her. I also sunk deeper into the addiction of pornograpy even within the marriage. Over time, I fell into a depression that ultimately led me to attempt suicide due to not finding pleasure in what my life had become. I also started to question my relationship with God and that He was truly worth following in my life. I began to start living a double life in my mind, one that pretended to be a Christian and living according to the word and another that was indulging in lust and having jealousy over how others were living their life. God eventually broke through this by changing things in my life, but I still had to go through much pain. After attempting suicide, I went to get help to try and get my life back on track. It was during this, that I ended up in a state of separation from my wife and eventually ending up in a divorce. 

It has been through divorce that I am now living in, that I am starting to see God in a different light. He has shown me that He has always been there with me even during the dark times that I felt He was far away. I gave all my money away during a romance scam that I was involved in during my separation due to a depression that I was still in. This has caused a struggle to simply survive and provide funds for my children. I am thankful to God, though, that He has much grace and has showed me this during this time. I have been led to spend time with Him each morning and this has brought a sense of joy back to my life that I thought was lost. He can give you the strength that you need to endure and face each day. He has led me to an amazing church that has surrounded me with love and now new friendships that make taking on any challenge now a lot easier. Thanksgiving can be hard, but with the love that God shows to us in what He has done for us can only bring one of adoration and gratitude. If you feel a sense of hopelessness due to the circumstances that you are in, turn to Him and you will begin to feel the warmth of His love and the grace that He has for you.  This in turn will bring thanksgiving and gratefulness for all that He truly can bring. God can break through any circumstance and bring light into your life. Showing thankfulness can bring joy and happiness in your life. Remember this and don't wait to turn to Him. Until next time, God Bless!

Trust In God

The world is very seductive in how it lures those who are unaware into its grasp. Without the knowledge and relationship with Christ, we can easily fall victim to the snares of this predator. To be sucked into the world will make us in uniform with it and not able to be conformed to that of God. I personally have fallen victim many times to the pressures that the world can bring on someone. This from stress at work and home to feeling like I am not good enough or a failure at many things. This is a false way of look at life and one that can be very destructive. That being that it can lead to depression or even death due to the lack of feeling for ones life and forgetting where your true foundation is. Christ is our only hope to transform us and make us a living sacrifice that is good and acceptable to God.

After having been a Christian for a few months, I had to make a sacrifice to move on from physical items that were in my possession. This being that they were taken from me by a break in to my townhouse that I was living in at that time, though, I was away on a church camping trip at that time. The trauma from that event happened when I cam home from the camping trip to see a rock had been thrown through my window and once I entered I could see items that were missing as well as drawers opened up in the kitchen. As I walked upstairs, I saw clothes thrown everywhere and that my laptop that was on my desk was taken away. All of this brought on a feeling that was uncomfortable and that I could not bear to stay in my own home by myself. I contacted the leasing office and they were only able to help by stating I could put a trash bag on the window. I was not helped by this feeling and had to sleep many nights with all of the lights on for fear that the intruders were going to come back. I eventually moved out of the townhouse and went to live with a friend of mine.

After going through a divorce this past year, I now see the need to sacrifice my desires to help make the lives of my children better. When the feeling comes to succumb to my pleasure, I have to remind myself that the needs of my children come first. I do not always make the right decisions in these moments, but it is the battle that plays on in my mind that to continue to walk down the paths of indulgence in seduction of sins will lead me to destinations that will make it harder for me to be there for my children. I still have felt depression during this time and questioned God of why this has happened to me only to be reminded that He works all things for good even when we may not see it that way. 

These events that have unfolded in my life have showed me that I do not need to rely on the physical to help me get through this life, but to put my mind on Christ. All of the items that were stolen when I was a new Christian were reminders of a previous life that I used to live and it almost seemed as if God was telling me to renew my mind and have my actions of this life be devoted to Him before all else in this world. Having my children taken out of my life from being in it every day to every other weekend has been a hard adjustment that I still feel the pain over. It is only through the grace of God that I am able to have the strength to endure these tough times and persevere for the hope of a better future with them. My hope is to continue to endure when times are tough and put my trust in God. You can too and He will give you the strength to make it through any tough situation that you find yourself in. Until next time, God Bless!