Let's Strive for Perfection!

Perfect: Having no defect or fault; flawless; accurate; absolute
Perfection: complete

The word “perfect” as the bible uses it of men, does not refer to sinless perfection, nor does the word mean that we are flawless or absolute. The Old Testament characters described as “perfect” were obviously not without sin, but as they grew into the knowledge of the truth, they began to walk in perfection.

In our quest for perfection, we are like plants. We start out in a seed stage, but through nourishment, we grow and become mature. In Philippians 3:12 Paul tells us, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."

We are NEVER going to be perfect while on this earth, Jesus is the only perfect one to walk this earth. God's law is perfect; His will and His way are perfect. Fortunately, He does not expect us to be perfect, even though that's exactly what we should be aiming for. Aiming for perfection means that each day, we are walking in the highest level of maturity and sincerity that we have grown into. In simplest terms, to walk at the highest level that we've grown into means that we have to "walk the walk." Some might even say, "once you know better, you do better." For example, once I come to understand that I must forgive in order to be forgiven, God expects me to be mature enough to do that; mature enough to aim for perfection. So no matter how many times I feel as if I’ve been walked on or walked over, I still must be mature and upright in my heart, and I must forgive; because God expects it and on my Christian journey, I must strive for perfection everyday.

It’s imperative that we achieve perfection in every area of our Spiritual Journey. The Lord wants us to be mature, upright, and sincere in our love, holiness, and patience and every good work. Maturity is achieved progressively, of course, which means that everyday we can strive for perfection! Matthew 5:48 tells us, "But ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (i.e. mature, upright)

The Lord knows that I’m not perfect. In fact, I often feel like I'm not where I should be in Him, but I thank Him because I’m definitely not where I used to be! As I feed daily in His word, I learn, and I grow. Every day I can practice striving for perfection, because He is going to make sure a situation will come my way that will give me the opportunity to show my level of maturity and/or sincerity. Thank God that He realizes that we are all WIPs - works in progress!!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen… and AMEN!

Pride Will Steal Your Blessing!

Pride: A feeling of pleasure, because of something achieved or done

God hates pride! When pride comes in, we will not seek after God. He won’t be in our thoughts; instead it will be all about us. Pride will hinder our spiritual growth and steal our blessings. It is also one of Lucifer’s most successful strongholds. Pride puffs us up, until we're like a big balloon. When that balloon is full of air, it can swell so big that one cannot grip it with a single hand. But when God lets the air out of that balloon, it becomes very small.

Being prideful is the exact opposite of being humble. 1 Peter 5-6 tell us; "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." When pride is working, it wants to exalt itself; it wants credit for everything. Pride can even cause us to admire ourselves and condemn others - in other words - we overlook our faults, but seek out the faults in others. Pride will have us thinking that we look big and talk big, but rest assured that God has a remedy for that too.

We can become so driven by pride that we try to gain all we can in this world. We become so anxious, so restless and so discontent simply because we want more. Think about it my friends, what good will it do if we gain the whole world and lose our own soul? What has it profited? I don’t know about you, but I have never seen a hearse pulling a u-haul full of the deceased's possessions behind it on the way to the Church. And don't let us get a job that we think is beneath us, pride tends to work over time then!

Remember, those who walk in pride risk God letting all of the air out and bringing them down; just as King Nebuchadnezzar was brought down. God gave Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, and majesty, and glory and honor that the people feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his Kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: (Daniel 5:18-20). That feeling of pleasure, for what he thought he had achieved, caused him to lose it all.

God loves us and He wants to sit on the throne of our hearts. LET HIM DO SO! When you find yourself puffed up with pride, just confess it, repent over it, and move on. Our God is an awesome God - He forgives and He loves us - let’s love Him back and He will exalt us in due season.

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

Stay Connected to Your Source!

Source: The beginning, origin, starting point, foundation

Jesus is the source of everything, period. He is the beginning, the end, and everything that goes on in the middle. He is our source of life. The Word says in Genesis 2:7, "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." That alone is enough to let us know that we are not the source - the Lord is.

Jesus is our source of power, strength, energy, love, peace, forgiveness, and joy. Let's use an iron as an example. In order for that iron to get hot, it has to be connected to a power source. We have something in common with that iron. If we want to have power, peace, love, etc. we also need to get connected - and stay connected - to the power source; the source of everything, Jesus Christ.

As John 15:5 tells us, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." Just as the iron when it gets disconnected from its power source, if we don’t abide on the vine, we have no power.

Have you ever felt like praying about a situation is a waste of time? Let me assure you that it’s by no means a waste - instead, it’s an investment that pays big returns! Let me share a situation with you: 1 Samuel 4:1-2 tells us what happened to the children of Israel when they did not get connected to the source before they went to battle against the Philistines. Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men. The children of Israel were so confident in themselves that they didn’t bother to go to the source first. What a big mistake!

Jesus is the source of everything; He’s the origin, the beginning and the starting point. We must always remember to stay connected to our source of power - that can change us from useless to useful; from death to life; and from defeat to victory!

With all that said, let the Church say amen...and AMEN!                                 

                                                                                                          

Are You Looking for Someone to Fill a Vacancy?

You know how you get those forwards in your email that warn you to share it with "x" number of friends by "this" time or "something bad" will happen?! Well, I finally received a forward that I thought was good enough to forward/share! 

This is by no means written by me, nor do I claim to be the owner of this content - again, I just thought it was too good to keep to myself! 

If you're looking for someone to fill that vacancy in your heart or your life, consider this resume:

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The Resume of Jesus Christ 

Address: Ephesians 1:20 

Phone: Romans 10:13 

Website: The Bible . Keywords: Christ, Lord, Savior and Jesus 

____________________________________________________________

Objective 

My name is Jesus -The Christ. Many call me Lord! I've sent you my resume because I'm seeking the top management position in your heart. Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume. 

____________________________________________________________ 

Qualifications 

• I founded the earth and established the heavens (See Proverbs 3:19)
• I formed man from the dust of the ground (See Genesis 2:7)
• I breathed into man the breath of life (See Genesis 2:7)
• I redeemed man from the curse of the law (See Galatians 3:13)
• The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through me (See Galatians 3:14) 

Occupational Background

• I've only had one employer (See Luke 2:49)
• I've never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful
• My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me (See Matthew 3:15 -17) 

Skills Work Experiences 

• Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to be poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are bruised (See Luke 4:18)
• I am a Wonderful Counselor (See Isaiah 9:6)
• People who listen to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil (See Proverbs 1:33)
• Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of your sins (See I John 1:7-9) 

Educational Background 

• I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and understanding (See Proverbs 2:6)
• In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (See Colossians 2:3)
• My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path (See Psalms 119:105)
• I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart (See Psalms 44:21)

Major Accomplishments 

• I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times (See Genesis 1:26)
• I laid down my life so that you may live (See II Corinthians 5:15)
• I defeated the archenemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly (See Colossians 2:15)
• I've miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!

There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can read them on my website, which is located at: www dot - the BIBLE. You don't need an Internet connection or computer to access my website!

References 

• Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healing, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance 

In Summation 

I will properly direct your paths (See Proverbs 3:5-6) and lead you into everlasting life (See John 6:47)

Now that you've read my resume, I'm confident that I'm the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. When can I start - Time is of the essence (See Hebrews 3:15).

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With all that said, let the church say Amen... and AMEN!

Compassion Is All About The Lord!

Compassion: Suffering with another; to spare; to have deep sympathy, pity, love, mercy

As I was going over the original blog that I wrote for this week, the word compassion in the text stood out to me. At the time I thought, "I don’t want to talk about compassion, I want to talk about being like the Lord." Of course, when I finally looked up the word compassion, I realized that being compassionate IS like being like the Lord! So praise God for allowing me to talk about being like Him AND having compassion! 

Let me take a few minutes to share with you the Lord's deep sympathy, His love, and His mercy. I know we all know the story about Jonah and the great fish. Did you also know that he didn’t want to go and preach to the people of Nineveh? In his defense, the people of Nineveh were very wicked people who had no regard for the Lord. The city was noted for its cruelty and violence. Jonah felt they deserved to be punished - just as many of us would feel - but God, in His great compassion, sent them a warning - via Jonah and his preaching. Those wicked people repented, and God did not punish them. How compassionate and merciful is our God?! He wants to forgive us - and will if we would just repent.

The Lord also gave us an example of compassion through His touch. His willingness to touch others, to heal the sick with that touch is evident in Mark 1:40-41: "And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean."

In order for us to learn compassion, we must turn to the source of it - the Master Teacher who demonstrates His mercy and compassion to us daily, just as He did when we were still sinners. Even though we were unworthy, He made us worthy. Even though we were/are sinners, He made us righteous. Even though we may occasionally find ourselves in the kingdom of darkness, He transfers us into the kingdom of light. It's simply God’s nature to show compassion - His heart is full of it and He wants the hearts of His people to be like His own. He wants us to have that kind, loving feeling that results in kind and helpful actions towards others; while expecting nothing in return. If you're lacking compassion - simply go to the source and ask for it!

With all that said, let the Church say amen… and Amen!