From Death To Life Part 2

I was really encouraged this morning during church service. I became aware that the Lord was confirming my blog post from last night and I feel it is important to share. I figured that when this happens, I will use Part 1 for my original blog, followed by Part 2 to share the confirmation revealed by the Lord.

So, I was pondering through the night how I came up with "From Death To Life" as a blog post and wasn't sure if that was the name I wanted to keep. Kinda funny how that happens. But then I thought I should just leave it because that is what was on my heart at the time and now I know that God placed it there. Well, as we were singing "Jesus Paid It All" during worship this morning and at the end of the modern version of the song, it goes: "Oh praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!" I was like "Oooh ya!" Then during the message I heard my pastor talk about how we go from death to life when we put our trust in Jesus. It caught my attention again in John 5:24 where Jesus says: "I tell you the truth, those who listen to My message and believe in God who sent Me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death to life." I also wanted to share these verses about being born-again, in John 1:12-13, "But to all who believed in Him, He gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn - not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. Like I said, it is a supernatural occurrence that takes place when you place your trust and life, in Jesus. You are made alive in a whole new sense.

I've realized that I don't want to write such looooooong posts. I might even turn this into a devotional type blog to help minimize how much I write. It is a rather random idea but I'd like to keep it simple and direct as I can. God may step in at anytime, so I plan to make changes based on what He reveals to me.

If for any reason you want to share what God is doing after you read this and don't mind me blogging about your experience, I would really like to hear from you. Perhaps you just have some general comments, questions, would like some prayer or need encouragement. This is how you can reach me: delightinthetruth@hotmail.com.

More to come....Lord willing!

From Death To Life Part 1

I know some of you are familiar with the miracles Jesus performed in the Bible. How He walked on water, turned water into wine, gave sight to the blind, made the lame walk, rebuked evil spirits, and even raised the dead to life. Believe it or not but He is raising the dead this very day. He raised me from the dead on Good Friday of 2006! He made all things new just like He promised. I am so enlightened by this truth and just wanted to take a moment to share. All around us are dead people walking, breathing, working, so to speak. I'm not saying physically dead of course, but spiritually dead. There is no mention of God in their lives except for perhaps the occasional curse word with God's name. People are simply missing out on the reality of God and the role He plays in their lives. I pray that He raises you from the dead if He hasn't already. We all need Jesus and we CANNOT get by in life or get to heaven without Him! He wants to make His home in you, but are you letting Him in? If you aren't and just plain straight up refuse....tell me this. What makes you think He will let you into heaven later? You are given this moment to be concerned about your destiny on the other side. If you wait till you die to worry about it, by then it will be too late. The gavel will drop and your fate will be sealed!

Life is no joke. We aren't here because we evolved from monkeys. We didn't just form out of thin air either. If you're honest, I'm sure you have at one time or another had the puzzling thought, "What am I doing here?". Well, I know I had that thought before I was saved. I had no idea what to believe or what the purpose behind my life was. I didn't like the way that thought made me feel because nothing made sense at the time. And now that I am born-again, I know my purpose and things make a heck of a lot more sense now. If you are wondering what it means to be born-again....it is quite simple. Placing your faith in Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." This only happens by faith. There is more to it than just being saved from God's wrath to come or being saved from hell. It is about having an intimate relationship with the ONE who made you. He gave you life. He put you here. He wants to give you an abundant life and use you in mighty ways! There are still struggles that we face as God's children but He uses those times to make us more like Him. Knowing God is the most supernatural, radical experience ever!

I am praying so much for the people that God has placed in my life. Their need for Jesus is quite evident. I think of those who are sick, hurting, troubled or feeling like an outcast. God is right there in the midst of all that we go through. Sometimes people wonder what God would want to do with them and think they are just too messed up. Reality is, God wants you to come to Him....just as you are! You don't have to try so hard to find the answers. God found me when I was lost and He took me in just as I was. No reason to try and clean ourselves up first. That is why God sent Jesus. To be a sacrifice for our sins and it is His blood that cleanses us, by faith in Him. That is what it takes on your part. You're here now and I don't think it is an accident you just happen to be reading this. God is trying to tell you something. Are you not convinced? Ask God to confirm it and He will. Then will you believe?

Anyway, in closing....my prayers are that you just reach out to God tonight. Saved or not saved. He is not far from you and His arm isn't too short that He cannot save you. He just wants to bless you and give you life! He wants to water your dry and thirty soul. Lord, help these people out of their disbelief! Reveal Yourself and give them the Light of Life!!!