Humanity Got the Best of Me

This past weekend, I've went through a lot. My emotions have been completely drained. I cried more in 5 hours than I have in years. My heart felt as if it had been thrown out and trampled on. I felt lost and alone.

It's not a good place to be.

The worst part is that I completely neglected God.

It's almost like I could hear Him saying, "Fall on me. I'm here for you." But I pushed away, and tried to deal with things on my own.

The reason for all of this distress? Another human being. I let someone else take hold of my emotions and use them against me. This person knows that they get under my skin, because they know me better than anyone else on earth. I don't think it's fair that someone should be allowed to hurt you like that, but it's life. It's going to happen.

People are always going to use us, misuse us, mistreat us, deceive us, manipulate us, break us, and hurt us. At times, we let those things try and define who we are. But God has called us to be something else. Something greater. He has called us to Him. He has called us His own.

He wants us to come to Him in our times of need. He wants us to fall before Him, broken.

This is my favorite Bible verse. I've used it before, and every time it applies, I will continue to use it. It proves Christ's love for me, and lets me know that He is always going to be with me:

Matthew 11:28-30 -- Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

This man, who gave up His life for me, wants me to know that He is greater than anything I will ever endure on earth.

Yes, my heart will be broken. Yes, I will feel rejected and neglected by other people. But NEVER will I have to fear being forsaken by my Savior.

I have a friend who shared a Bible verse with me this morning, and it really helped me out, so I thought that I would share it with you guys.

Psalm 42:5-6 -- Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

This past weekend has taken its toll on me, but it has awakened me to a simple fact: People will fail. Friendships will fail. Human promises will fail. But God, He will never fail.

I now know that I can't survive through this life without God. Trying to push Him away was the worst possible thing that I could have done, and because of it, I had to suffer through emotions that have been foreign to me since God has been at the forefront of my life. God isn't going to make us run to Him; He wants us to, but we are never forced to. So because I chose to rely on myself, I was subject to experience humanity and its burdens.

My advice to you? ALWAYS fall of God. Don't ever trust yourself enough to think that you can get through this life alone.

Put your hope in God, for He is God.

Blessings,

A.

The Lost Get Found

There is a singer, by the name of Britt Nicole. She's a Christian artist, and one of her songs is called, "The Lost Get Found." I'm in love with it right now. It talks about not being afraid to tell people about Christ, because that is how the lost people get found. It's about being brave to speak the name of Jesus in a world where He is disappearing.

My question to you is, are you afraid to talk about God?

Are you afraid to proclaim the name of Jesus?

Luke 9:26 -- If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

I know that I wouldn't want to stand before God one day and know that His son, the Lamb of God, is ashamed of me before Him, because I was too ashamed of Him on earth.

That's a mouthful right?

What I'm trying to get at, is that we need to be proud to speak the name of Jesus.

Romans 1:16 -- I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.

Keep this verse in your heart. Memorize it. Believe it. Live it.

So many people need Christ in their life, but if everyone is too afraid to share His name, then how are the lost going to be found? Aren't we denying Christ if we don't share Him? Aren't we disobeying? Jesus says that people need to know the Truth, and that as His disciples, we will face trials in this, but that our reward will be great.

As Britt Nicole puts it:

Don't let your lights go down.

Don't let your fire burn out.

Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe.

Why don't you rise up now?

Don't be afraid to stand out.

That's how the lost get found.

Why do we go with the flow?

Why take the easier road?

Why are we playing it safe?

Love came to show us the way.

Love is a chance we should take.

I'm moving out of the gray.

There are people out there that need someone. They need you.

You are the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14)

You are the salt of the earth. (Matthew 5:13)

Don't be afraid to stand out and be different in a world of like mindedness. Be different, and make people wonder.

After all..that's how the lost get found.

Blessings,

A.

God Says

God created the universe with a word.

He molded each of us with dust and breath.

He planned the future of eternity with us in mind.

But you're still frustrated. You're still downtrodden. You're still weary, worn and afraid.

You want answers and comfort, when all you ever seem to get is questions and pain.

Sometimes, we all need a little reminder that God is bigger than it all. His love is over, it's underneath, it's inside, it's in between. His love never ends.

He is bigger than our yesterdays, our today's and our tomorrows. He knew us before we were born, and he knows what eternity holds for us after this life. He is saying, "Don't fear, my child, for I am here." Because when you say things, or fear things, you are telling that thing or that fear that it is bigger than our God. Bigger than our Creator. Bigger than the Maker of the heavens and the earth.

So the next time you feel the weight of this world, remember what God says.

You say, “It’s impossible.”

God says, “All things are possible.” (Luke 18:27)

You say, “I’m too tired.”

God says, “I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:18-20)

You say, “Nobody really loves me.”

God says, “I love you.” (John 3:16 and Jeremiah 31:3)

You say, “I can’t go on.”

God says, “My grace is sufficient.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 and Psalm 91:15)

You say, “I can’t figure things out.”

God says, “I will direct your steps.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say, “I can’t do it.”

God says, “You can do all things.” (Philippians 4:13)

You say, “I’m not able.”

God says, “I am able.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

You say, “It’s not worth it.”

God says, “It will be worth it.” (Romans 8:28)

You say, “I can’t forgive myself.”

God says, “I forgive you.” (1 John 1:9 and Romans 8:1)

You say, “I can’t manage.”

God says, “I will supply all your needs.” (Philippians 4:19)

You say, “I’m afraid.”

God says, “I have not given you a spirit of fear.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

You say, “I’m always worried and frustrated.”

God says, “Cast all your cares on me.” (1 Peter 5:7)

You say, “I’m not smart enough.”

God says, “I give you wisdom.” (1 Corinthians 1:30)

You say, “I feel all alone.”

God says, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

God is bigger than it all.

Trust in Him.

The Power of the Cross

Do you need love? Are you searching for mercy? Looking for peace of mind? Want understanding without judgment?

Look no further than at the foot of the Cross.

Jesus Christ was born. He lived and He died. He was buried and He rose again. All so that we may find rest in our souls.

The Cross was meant to be a symbol of death, torture and finality. But instead, it became a symbol of hope, love and eternity.

Everything that Christ suffered, was for us.

As His arms stretched wide, so did His love.

As His arms encompassed the world, so did His mercy.

As His arms reached from east to west, so did His promise of peace.

As His arms held the weight of the world, so did His understanding.

If you feel like you've run out of love, look no further, for love has come.

Are you praying that someone would show you mercy? Find it in our Savior's embrace.

If you're fighting a battle, with peace no where to be found, let the peace of Jesus wash over you.

Are you looking for someone to understand your pain? Christ has been there; He understands.

Sometimes, we need a reminder. We are not alone. We don't have to walk this life in fear.

2 Timothy 1:7 -- For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

At the Cross, we find the love of Jesus. We find His mercy overflowing. We find a peace that only He can give. And we find understanding beyond anything we could imagine.

The Cross is power.

And it held the very man that holds our hearts.

Please watch this video and listen to the lyrics; it's the reminder that we all need.

You're Not Alone - Meredith Andrews