Friday, August 28, 2015

it's all about GOD

God Loves YOU!!!!
All you really need is the love of God.....God loves us like our parents love us or even better and more then our parents love us.  Have you ever created something that you were proud of?  Something that was a reflection of you?  How much pride and time you put into that project?  Well, Gods love is kind of like that, but plus infinity or shall I say eternity?  God's love when you acknowledge and cover yourself in it is indescribable.  His love for me brings hope, peace, security....Everything that it would take to feel loved.  He created us in his image.  He loves and wants the best for us like any parent would their child.  This pamphlet is for people who want to get closer to God.  Who want to learn basic principles on establishing a personal relationship with God.  I can tell you with certainty that my life would be all kinds of messed up if I was without the love of God.  I feel so blessed that he has called me to write this.  There is nothing like the love of God and nothing better then to share it.  Please contact me if you have any questions as I will do my best to answer them.  Thank you (kthierry76@msn.com).

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

How to Pray
I read somewhere that sticks in my mind that prayer should be like breathing, it should come natural and constant.  I pray all the time and maybe sometime about things that other people may believe to be frivolous.  I lost a remote and said "God I know you are busy with bigger issues then mine right now, but can you please help me find this remote?"  Sure enough God lead me to the remote.  People may say, "Awe, you just kept looking for it and finally found it!"  Nope, God put it in my mind to look where I did and I found it.  I just talk to him like I would anyone, but with the up most respect most of the time.  There are those times when I'm really frustrated and talk to God, but like any parent he knew I didn't mean it in a derogatory manner, and he is a forgiving God.  Kind of like asking a teenager to wash the dishes...You know they were frustrated when they questioned why they had to wash the dishes or snapped back about it.  I don't talk to God disrespectfully and I've NEVER cursed or used his name in vain.  I also apologize and ask for his forgiveness during these times when in my heart my manner of speaking to him was out of frustration.  He hears me and I know it.  I can't explain how beautiful and peaceful it is to know that I can count on Him.  I can't explain the love I feel when I'm sharing moments with God and I feel his presence like I can feel the breeze on my cheek during a windy day.  Prayer can be out loud, in your heart, mindful, anyway, because He hears it all.  I don't believe there is a right or wrong way to communicate with God.  You can do it standing up, sitting down, in a busy crowd, by yourself, at work or with someone else.  It may sound silly, but it's almost like talking to yourself sometime, but it's God who you are communicating with.

Isaiah 65:24
Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.

Matthew 6:9-13
Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
How to Listen
When I was a child I would often ask God to make the shutters move if he was there or make the wind blow.  Listening to God has to be different for everyone.  I always say it's that gut feeling.  Like going into a place and something says..."uh, maybe we shouldn't be here?"  Listening to that gut instinct can save your life.  I've had countless number of people tell me that if they'd listened to that gut instinct it would have kept them out of trouble.  I believe we all have it, because God gives us freedom of choice.  Again, when I was young my family never went to Church, however, we were spiritual but not religious.  Spiritual meaning we believed in God, but never went to Church which I consider is the religious portion.  I taught myself a lot about the Bible by reading it and asking questions of people who I knew were religious.  I asked God one day what the rainbow signified.  It wasn't until weeks later that I was flipping through the channels on my television and stopped at the story of Noah and the Ark.  The narrator said "the rainbow is a promise from God that he will never flood the earth again.  Saying no more water, fire next time."  My question had been answered.  It's very true when people say that God does things on his time. However, if you aren't open to receiving his word or focusing on Him speaking to you, what He's trying to convey may go missed.  Trust me, I've missed a lot of what God was trying to tell me and didn't realize until after a struggle when I looked back at the situation.  Everyone goes through this, but a lot of people do not attribute this to God, but to coincidence.....your life is no coincidence!  Everyone has a purpose and God has a plan for us all.  Being open and focused can help us hear God's call.  I have a friend who God has been calling for many years now.  My friend doesn't see it this way, but has been struggling and battling with God.  If you are at a point in your life that you are questioning yourself and God, He is calling you......you have to choose weather to answer that call or send it to voicemail.  I can guarantee you that he will be like a creditor and keep calling until you face Him.  At that time the best thing to do is to surrender.  For a lot of people surrendering is hard to do.

Proverbs 2:1-5
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 23:26
My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

When to Know When God is Working in Your Life
Feeling like He isn't listening when you can't see how He is working can be frustrating and confusing.  My car's breaks were going bad and being a single mother of four girls it seemed that everything else would come up, so I pushed it to the back burner, until one day I woke up and got into my car to this horrible rubbing of metal sound (people who know about cars are squinting up their faces right now).  I had been praying for a new car as my warrenty was almost out and without it I knew I wouldn't be able to afford to continue getting it fixed. I kept praying for God to help me get a new car.  Sometime, I pray so much out of habit that I forget what I'm praying about.  Then like a storm clearing I can see things coming together.  In most of my life the things I prayed for didn't always come how I expected.  Sometime trials or hardships are blessings in disguise.  We can't always or maybe it's very few times that we can see Gods ultimate plan, but everything He does works for the betterment of our lives.  I remember when I first got this car I drove to Church and as soon as I was in the Church parking lot a service light came on.  I got that fixed and I went to Church again and that same light came on again.  I had asked God for my dream car in which He gave me.  I am coming to realize now a lesson he may be teaching me, because I liked the status that this car brought me.  Lately, I'd been reading the story about the seeds:  

Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23
“He used parables to tell them many things. “Once there was a man who went out to sow grain. As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some of it fell on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The seeds soon sprouted, because the soil wasn't deep. But when the sun came up, it burned the young plants; and because the roots had not grown deep enough, the plants soon dried up. Some of the seed fell among thorn bushes, which grew up and choked the plants. But some seeds fell in good soil, and the plants bore grain: some had one hundred grains, others sixty, and others thirty.” And Jesus concluded, “Listen, then, if you have ears!”

“Listen, then, and learn what the parable of the sower means. Those who hear the message about the Kingdom but do not understand it are like the seeds that fell along the path. The Evil One comes and snatches away what was sown in them. The seeds that fell on rocky ground stand for those who receive the message gladly as soon as they hear it. But it does not sink deep into them, and they don't last long. So when trouble or persecution comes because of the message, they give up at once. The seeds that fell among thorn bushes stand for those who hear the message; but the worries about this life and the love for riches choke the message, and they don't bear fruit. And the seeds sown in the good soil stand for those who hear the message and understand it: they bear fruit, some as much as one hundred, others sixty, and others thirty.””
Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23

I realized I was the seed that fell among the thorn bushes, worried about what others think of me, because I have a luxury car.  When what really matters is how I feel about myself and how my work should be pleasing to God.  I live for his purpose and not my own.  So, life lessons and the Bible teaches me about myself daily.  I am going to get a car that is reliable and responsible.  One that will get me where I need to go and not break my pocket book when something goes wrong.  God gave me the good sense to learn from my mistakes.  I'm a sinner and make mistakes every day.....and He loves me still and continues to help me along my journey.  So, paying attention to how things transpire in and around your life will allow you to see how God works.

Beware of what you ask of Him, because God works in mysterious ways!
This is so true....Many times I have asked God for things that came to me, but not in a way that I expected.  He will use people and work through them to help you obtain the things you need and want.  I read the Bible every morning (Holy Bible App-has different meditations and plans) and came across this verse:

1 Corinthians 2:9
However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" -- the things God has prepared for those who love him--

How powerful!!!!  This was exactly how God works in my life.  When I would ask him for something, it would always turn out better then what I could have ever imagined or perceived.  So, when you ask for something don't be surprised if it comes to you in a way that you never expected. I have learned in some cases to be very specific, but He will still work on his own terms.  It is glorious to be loved by God!

Out of tragedy comes blessings.

John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

What Happens in Your Life When You Start Acknowledging God's Love
Many things start to take place.  You go through a transformative period that can be filled with many blessings, self awareness, and negativity.  Yes, negativity, because when you start to turn your life over to God the evil one doesn't like it.  He will try every and all temptations to get you back to doing evil.  When all else fails he will cause mischief in your life including with the people in your life.  It may hurt to the point of wanting to turn back to your old ways of thinking and behaving, but you have to hold fast and invite God in more never shutting him out.  During these times I am mostly on my knees praying for strength and the courage to make it through.  Since I am not perfect and many times fall into sin I have to get back up and asks for his forgives and continue on with my journey.  No one ever said it was going to be easy, because honestly nothing ever is......

Giving Thanks
I have learned to be thankful in everything.  During my bad and good times.  Remember, a blessing could be coming out of that tragedy.  So, be thankful for having another opportunity to see it through.  Being thankful comes from the heart of truly appreciating Gods love and what He does for you.  It is also telling him thank you for all of the wonderful blessings you are receiving and the opportunity to grow during difficult times.

Luke 12:28-30
28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs.

Having Faith
The definition of faith is: having complete confidence in something or someone.  If you follow and apply this guide to your life then you have faith.  Faith is trusting that God's got you!  This may be hard when facing difficult times, but during these times is when you really need faith.  For me patience and faith go hand in hand.  Anything worth having takes time.  Allowing God to work in your life means giving him the time it will take for everything to fall into place.  Rely on that faith to help you get through allowing God to do what he does on his time!

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Mark 11:22-24
And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

In closing, I hope this was helpful in understanding some basic principles that will help you become closer with God.  My relationship with God is always changing, because I am consistently growing and learning in His love.  Remember, we are not perfect while we strive to perfect our love in God we are sinners.  His love is merciful.  Reach out and spend some time with Him and he will guide your path to an even better understanding.  Have a blessed journey!

Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Keisha