I came across this article from the Resurgence about the importance of keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2) in the fight against sin in our daily lives and thought it might be helpful to some that might be reading this blog.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus 

In Christ, we have a firm foundation upon which to stand on. When things get rough or the seas of life get stormy, all we need to do is look to Christ and His Word to be reminded that in Him we have a firm foundation that will not be shaken. 

"...if we are faithless, He remains faithful." (2 Timothy 2:13)

A person's faithlessness (i.e. abandonment of the faith does not affect God's faithfulness (i.e. His commitment to His mission to save sinners).

Sin can't enslave a person who is utterly confident and sure and hope filled in the infinite happiness of life with Christ in the future (John Piper).

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV1984)

Reminders are Good.

When we blow it and sin we have the glorious opportunity to just marvel at the Gospel.
When our minds go to places that they shouldn't, when our mouths say things that they ought not to say, when our hearts don't desire and treasure Jesus Christ above everything else, we have the glorious, wonderful opportunity to marvel at the Gospel; what God did for us in Christ Jesus to save us from the power of sin and death and to reconcile us back to Himself.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:6-11 ESV)

I saw a bird yesterday as I was sitting outside at the local coffee shop reading and was reminded of Jesus' words in Matthew 6:26

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

God provides what we need when we need it.

Can I say that no matter what, in having little or much, that God is enough? Jesus needs to be my greatest treasure because He is enough; He is sufficient.

Can I say with the author of Hebrews, that I can be content with whatever I have because God said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what
you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you.

In any situation in this life that I could face, God promises that He will never leave me nor forsake me. Even in the deepest depths of sadness and pain, God will be there.

How He Loves

Just thought I'd share a quick video about how Jesus never lets go of us and He won't give up on us despite what we go through.

Obeying Jesus Everyday in our Lives

It's so easy to read the stories in the Bible about people who disobeyed God when He was calling them to do something or go somewhere. The one person that comes to mind is Jonah. God had called him to go to Nineveh and call the people of Nineveh out because of the evil that was being done there and bring them to repentance and the forgiveness of sins. But instead of obeying God and going into Nineveh and call them out because of their sins before God, Jonah went the complete opposite direction and caught a ship in Joppa that was headed for Tarshish. Now when we read this in Job 1 it seems like we all too often (or maybe its just me) think that we would have done different than Jonah and would have obeyed God by going into Nineveh. But think about this, how many times have we disobeyed in just the small matters of life such as not sharing the love of Jesus and what He did for everyone by dying and rising again three days later, paying the price for our sins? Or praying, loving, and caring for those people in our lives that we don't get along with. Now I'm not judging or condemning anyone, I'm just as guilty of disobeying God in my life as anyone else. But the good news is that Jesus Christ died and rose again paying the price for our sins and disobedience! Let's repent of our disobedience and seek God's face everyday; obeying Him in everything that we do!

Don't Waste This Life!

Where is all this leading? Where am I going? O Lord, I'm reaching, I'm calling out to You. Asking You to guide me through the fog of life lately. All the days of my life guide me, comfort me. Your thoughts are higher than my thought; Your ways are higher than my ways. O God, You are in control; You are Sovereign over all circumstances in my life. In my weakness, You are strong.You provide me Your strength when I have none. My greatest desire in this life here on earth is to glorify You and You alone with this life. I want to live this life that is worthy of the calling that i have received...All for Your glory Lord Jesus!

I want my life to make a difference. I want my life to count. This life that I live is not my own. I was bought with a price; bought by the blood of Jesus Christ. This life that I live belongs to Jesus, it it not my own. I desire for Jesus Christ to be magnified in my life!