The Company You Keep

At my church, the pastor will sometimes give mini sermons before the actual sermon if the Holy Spirit is leading him to touch on a subject or two. I attend Word of Life Church in Flowood, MS. The pastor there is Joel Simms.  You can find more out about my church HERE.

 

Last night was so awesome and I just wanted to share the notes I took with you. The church does download podcast and media of each service. You can listen to the message HERE. I tried to listen to it this morning and it was actually a guest speaker from last week. I am sure that error will be corrected soon. But if you are interested, keep checking that link and click on the 8.28.2013 message. It is well worth it! It blessed me and I am sure it will you too!

 

Anyway, my notes will be bullet style and will not have scripture references – but it is good stuff so please check it out!!!

·        You are a steward of the last instruction God gave you. You can progress or move forward until you complete the last task.

·        Stop making excuses and start making changes!

·        Watch your associations

o   The devil wants to stop you from reaching your destiny.

o   The easiest way to do that is to get someone close to you to distract you.

o   Who are your associations?

§  Are they promoting God’s direction for your life?

§  Are they turning you away from God?

§  Where are your standards held when you are around them?

·        Watch out for a critical and lying spirit.

o   BIND yourself in mercy and truth (Proverbs).

o   Speak UPLIFTING words! Words of love! Words of life!

o   If someone is consistently critical – get away from that person.

§  This is reflective of something deeply wrong spiritually.

§  Everyone is your ministry; everyone is NOT your friend.

o   How do you know if this is an association that you do not need to be around?

§  Your heart knows.

§  Make the necessary changes so you can grow.

o   Most of the time, the critical person enters your life on a positive aspect and with praise.

§  BE CAREFUL OF THIS: there is a difference in praise and flattery.

·        Praise gives

·        Flattery takes away from you

·        God knows your future better than you know your past and better than the devil knows your past.

I encourage you to listen to last night’s podcast and to read the points in these notes. It is so very important to your spiritual growth!

 

Stay in love,

Clare!!!

Time is Short - Life is but a Vapor...

For those of you who know me personally - probably know that I believe that the rapture of the church will happen at some point in the next year or two. Am I saying that it is a for sure thing? No. However, I have done enough research to feel that it is a great possibility. It is so easy to get into the "yeah right" attitude. People have been saying He is returning for years. That is the very reason this is so exciting and scarey all at the same time. If anyone would like to know more of my reasoning and research - please message me here or on facebook and I would be happy to share this with you.

I was driving to work today and I was hit with the hard reality that THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN!!!! Regardless of when it happens or how it happens.. one day there is no denying that I will be standing in front of the Lover of my soul. As I am dwelling on this and meditating on it I was overcome with a sense of "unworthiness". I am so unworthy of the love that He gives to me. I am a sinner, I mess up all the time, I endulge in sin, I do things that I am not supposed to do, I don't do the things I should do. How is it that He loves me so much to let me in when I don't do my part all the time??? My own selfish agendas were weighing down on me with condemnation.

Then the Lord spoke to me and told me that "My sons blood has given you access to My kingdom". Jesus Christ paid the penalty for all of my mess ups, and the short-comings that I have, and all the people that my actions may have pushed away from God. I am worthy to be in His kingdom because He was the sacrifice for my sin. God is not about a bunch of nos... He is about leading you to the greater things in life - a more abundant life - and ultimately, His kingdom.

I did not write this post with the primary purpose of telling you to get ready. I did not write this post to tell you that Jesus died for your sins. I wrote this post to remind you that time is very short here on earth. The bible says in James 4:14

Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are [really] but a wisp of vapor (a puff of smoke, a mist) that is visible for a little while and then disappears [into thin air].

What is this saying? We are gone before you know it! If you look at the expanse of eternity and think about your life - it is literally nothing. Gone before you can blink your eyes. So why are we here? What is the point? What is the nature of your life? To love. The answer is to love. I wrote this post to remind you to love. God wants us to love others and show His love to others. God wants us to love ourselves. God wants us to love Him. How do we love Him? By keeping His commandments (John 14:15). God is not trying to restrict us - He wants us to live as He has called us - to live in love - so that we can show His love - so that His kingdom may be fulfilled.

With this being said - be encouraged. Know this:

• TIME IS SHORT
• He is coming!
• You are worthy through the blood of Jesus Christ
• STAY IN LOVE

I love you all! Be blessed! If you have questions, comments, or concerns.. please feel free to email me, comment, or message me on facebook!