Hi everyone,
Today I wanted to do a side bar post to explain how I came to fall in love with Jesus. First off, let me warn you that it is impossible to do this fall in love process, unless you know Him and once you know Him, you will love Him. That is if you belong to Him.
That is one of the most asked questions. How do I know if I belong to Him?
What is a person to do? So how can you tell? You have to understand that Christianity is not about your love of God but about His Love for you.
We love, we hate, then we love again. We are friends one moment and then can't stand the person the next. We love our parents and we love cake. We love people, we love places, and we love things, all the while using the same word. LOVE.
I saw on t.v. that the way they train people to know a counterfeit dollar bill is to teach them first what the real dollar bill looks like, feels like etc. Then the fake becomes more obvious.
The characteristics of the REAL dollar bill has to be known first. Once you KNOW Jesus, His characteristics and His Love, then you can use that as your standard of Truth.
Everything you say or do must be held up to the knowledge of Him and corrected accordingly.
If you find that something in your life, doesn't measure up (it's counterfeit), whatever it is, to His Love For YOU then it has to go. It has to be cut off.
Knowing Him is the entire transformation process that he wants us to go through. Jesus said, "You will KNOW the truth and the truth will set you free."
So the truth that you do not KNOW will leave you in bondage. You will be left in bondage to the lies of this world. Period.
LOVING Him will come like any other TRUE love. It will not be necessary for you to even be paying attention. You won't need to ask yourself do I love Him. You will know.
How?
First you have to, have to, have to, KNOW Him.
The way you KNOW Him is by reading your bible. It is a love letter written just for you, from Him. It is not just a book that Christians read. It is to be read as a letter of LOVE. Preserved over the ages just for YOU.
Read it in sentences, in full chapters, by Books etc. One minute, two minutes, an hour, however much time you have. Read it and read it some more. The fact that reading your bible is a struggle is a lie from the pit of hell.
If you receive a love letter you take it out and read it over and over again. Basking in every word and letting the thoughts of the writer penetrate every part of you. You hold it closely to your chest and scream out with joy, over just the thought of someone loving you that much!
Well then, from this moment forward, you must look at the bible the same way.
While reading you are storing up this knowledge and will use it later to filter your decisions. Be determined that you will filter your actions according to the knowledge of Christ. The more you KNOW, the more will be filtered. (process of transforming your heart and renewing your mind)
Rest assured that Jesus has every intention of presenting you spotless and blameless before the Father on Judgement Day, if you let Him.
Now this may not sound like the process of Love. Reading a book; using it to make decisions. How is that Love?
Well, it doesn't actually start there. Let me back up.
First you are drawn by His beauty. He is altogether lovely and He is calling YOU.
No matter how much you want to deny it or how many questions you have regarding it, you know that you hear Him. The Father is calling out to you.
You do not first love Him but He first loves you and calls you out by name.
He speaks to your heart on a direct line. Your brain can't explain it or even put it into words because He speaks directly to the part of your brain that has no capacity for language. Bypassing everything, that up until this time, you have known to be true.
You have met His love. ( you accept) What now?
Then you want to spend more time with Him. (reading your Bible)
Then every waking moment is spent thinking of Him. Talking to him. (praying)
You can't wait to see what He has to say next. (more reading)
In every circumstance good or bad, you start to wonder what is He trying to teach you. (discerning)
You realize very quickly that He is on your side. (Trusting)
Even when circumstances and people make you question or doubt or feel that you will be made a fool of, you remain perfectly convinced that, He is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. (faith)
You will find yourself more and more able to tell the difference between Good and evil and will choose Good. (practice)
If you find you have said something you shouldn't have said or done something that you shouldn't have done. (blown it) You run to Him, accept his Grace and try it again.
The point of practice is to pass the test; to sharpen your reflexes. If you choose Good, you win every time.
So Practice , Practice and Practice some more. (decide)
Grace has been given to you to practice listening to the correction of the Holy Spirit (your helper/your teacher) without feeling condemned.
Be more focused on choosing Good. Stop at that point of decision and choose to do what God has determined is Good.
For God is Good and God is LOVE and so are you!
Trust that the work He starts in you He will complete in you, if you let Him.
The process can seem quite painful if you don't come at it from the right prospective.
God is a jealous God. He is jealous for you like any parent is for their child. A Good parent will love you, teach you, bless you, protect you, stand up for you, correct you and die for you!
He will not let you be tested beyond what you are able to bear but your capacity level for testing (what you decide you should or shouldn't have to go through) and His capacity level for testing YOU, will never be the same. Your faith MUST be tested and MUST be found genuine.
If He ALLOWS what I like to call TT&T, Trials, Tribulations, and Temptations, it is not only for the sake of your Life but for the sake of your Testimony.
You stand as a witness to the Trial of the ages. The trial of ALL trials. God is being tried by this world. His Goodness and character and even His very existence are being called to stand trial, as being a LIE. The world is testifying against Him.
You have received a subpoena, a request to Testify.
You are being asked to stand and give a reason for the HOPE within you. Do not prepare with facts and figures. Who does that? If I ask you to prove that you love someone do you begin with facts, figures and dates? No.
You begin by explaining how you would tell them and how you would show them, that they are loved. Well, you have been told (the bible) and you have been shown (the death of Jesus).
Start with the testament of your very own life. Because we have Overcome (Jeremy Camp) by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of OUR Testimony is His unfailing love for us.
The reason for the HOPE that is in us, does not come from facts and figures but through the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus. His life and his death were God's Witness and His Testimony to you!
That my friends is how you know you have fallen in love. You will have both a love FOR God and the love OF God oozing out of every part of your life.
Everyone you encounter should walk away with a piece of God's love. It is given to you freely and generously to both, be loved and to give love. So receive it and give it freely and generously. For as He is, so are you in this world.
Once you allow His Love to wash over you and cleanse you, you quickly realize that you are a New Creation. The old person has been put to death by LOVE himself.
The New Creation (100% Human and 100% God in you) MUST be in full control of your decisions and your decisions are your life.
Your testimony, in view of the world, your family and your friends will not be able to be disputed!
The only proof you need to bring to the witness stand (the world) is God's love for you and His love for the world Through you.
The prosecutor will Rest his case. Listen, silence.
Walk it out by faith! Be sure of what you hope for and confident in what you cannot see.
Lastly, go to church. Find a Jesus preaching, bible teaching, LOVE giving church and go.
Get involved. There are no sidelines.
Don't be late to worship. That is no ordinary music playing. It is not the elevator music before the sermon.
It is praise to a Father who has come and rescued us from death itself!
Church is a gathering of the witnesses of God on this earth. It is a courtroom called to order.
All Rise.
Stand in defense of the HOPE that comes from a greater LOVE, such as this.
Sing, praise and worship Him!
Throw up your hands without regard, not because you love Him, but because He is worthy.
It is our Revelation Song. (Kari Jobe)
Be Loved
Today I wanted to do a side bar post to explain how I came to fall in love with Jesus. First off, let me warn you that it is impossible to do this fall in love process, unless you know Him and once you know Him, you will love Him. That is if you belong to Him.
That is one of the most asked questions. How do I know if I belong to Him?
What is a person to do? So how can you tell? You have to understand that Christianity is not about your love of God but about His Love for you.
As you begin to know more and more how much He loves you, then you will find yourself falling in Love with Him. Your love of Him comes from your knowledge of Him. If you don't know Him you cannot possibly fall in love with Him.
By your old nature (of the flesh) you think that if you, DO love then you will KNOW Jesus. (works)
But your new nature (of the Spirt) is the reverse. If you KNOW Jesus, then you will DO love. (faith)
We love, we hate, then we love again. We are friends one moment and then can't stand the person the next. We love our parents and we love cake. We love people, we love places, and we love things, all the while using the same word. LOVE.
I saw on t.v. that the way they train people to know a counterfeit dollar bill is to teach them first what the real dollar bill looks like, feels like etc. Then the fake becomes more obvious.
The characteristics of the REAL dollar bill has to be known first. Once you KNOW Jesus, His characteristics and His Love, then you can use that as your standard of Truth.
Everything you say or do must be held up to the knowledge of Him and corrected accordingly.
If you find that something in your life, doesn't measure up (it's counterfeit), whatever it is, to His Love For YOU then it has to go. It has to be cut off.
Knowing Him is the entire transformation process that he wants us to go through. Jesus said, "You will KNOW the truth and the truth will set you free."
So the truth that you do not KNOW will leave you in bondage. You will be left in bondage to the lies of this world. Period.
LOVING Him will come like any other TRUE love. It will not be necessary for you to even be paying attention. You won't need to ask yourself do I love Him. You will know.
How?
First you have to, have to, have to, KNOW Him.
The way you KNOW Him is by reading your bible. It is a love letter written just for you, from Him. It is not just a book that Christians read. It is to be read as a letter of LOVE. Preserved over the ages just for YOU.
Read it in sentences, in full chapters, by Books etc. One minute, two minutes, an hour, however much time you have. Read it and read it some more. The fact that reading your bible is a struggle is a lie from the pit of hell.
If you receive a love letter you take it out and read it over and over again. Basking in every word and letting the thoughts of the writer penetrate every part of you. You hold it closely to your chest and scream out with joy, over just the thought of someone loving you that much!
Well then, from this moment forward, you must look at the bible the same way.
While reading you are storing up this knowledge and will use it later to filter your decisions. Be determined that you will filter your actions according to the knowledge of Christ. The more you KNOW, the more will be filtered. (process of transforming your heart and renewing your mind)
Rest assured that Jesus has every intention of presenting you spotless and blameless before the Father on Judgement Day, if you let Him.
Now this may not sound like the process of Love. Reading a book; using it to make decisions. How is that Love?
Well, it doesn't actually start there. Let me back up.
First you are drawn by His beauty. He is altogether lovely and He is calling YOU.
No matter how much you want to deny it or how many questions you have regarding it, you know that you hear Him. The Father is calling out to you.
You do not first love Him but He first loves you and calls you out by name.
He speaks to your heart on a direct line. Your brain can't explain it or even put it into words because He speaks directly to the part of your brain that has no capacity for language. Bypassing everything, that up until this time, you have known to be true.
You have met His love. ( you accept) What now?
Then you want to spend more time with Him. (reading your Bible)
Then every waking moment is spent thinking of Him. Talking to him. (praying)
You can't wait to see what He has to say next. (more reading)
In every circumstance good or bad, you start to wonder what is He trying to teach you. (discerning)
You realize very quickly that He is on your side. (Trusting)
Even when circumstances and people make you question or doubt or feel that you will be made a fool of, you remain perfectly convinced that, He is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. (faith)
You will find yourself more and more able to tell the difference between Good and evil and will choose Good. (practice)
If you find you have said something you shouldn't have said or done something that you shouldn't have done. (blown it) You run to Him, accept his Grace and try it again.
The point of practice is to pass the test; to sharpen your reflexes. If you choose Good, you win every time.
So Practice , Practice and Practice some more. (decide)
Grace has been given to you to practice listening to the correction of the Holy Spirit (your helper/your teacher) without feeling condemned.
Be more focused on choosing Good. Stop at that point of decision and choose to do what God has determined is Good.
For God is Good and God is LOVE and so are you!
Trust that the work He starts in you He will complete in you, if you let Him.
The process can seem quite painful if you don't come at it from the right prospective.
God is a jealous God. He is jealous for you like any parent is for their child. A Good parent will love you, teach you, bless you, protect you, stand up for you, correct you and die for you!
He will not let you be tested beyond what you are able to bear but your capacity level for testing (what you decide you should or shouldn't have to go through) and His capacity level for testing YOU, will never be the same. Your faith MUST be tested and MUST be found genuine.
If He ALLOWS what I like to call TT&T, Trials, Tribulations, and Temptations, it is not only for the sake of your Life but for the sake of your Testimony.
You stand as a witness to the Trial of the ages. The trial of ALL trials. God is being tried by this world. His Goodness and character and even His very existence are being called to stand trial, as being a LIE. The world is testifying against Him.
You have received a subpoena, a request to Testify.
You are being asked to stand and give a reason for the HOPE within you. Do not prepare with facts and figures. Who does that? If I ask you to prove that you love someone do you begin with facts, figures and dates? No.
You begin by explaining how you would tell them and how you would show them, that they are loved. Well, you have been told (the bible) and you have been shown (the death of Jesus).
Start with the testament of your very own life. Because we have Overcome (Jeremy Camp) by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of OUR Testimony is His unfailing love for us.
The reason for the HOPE that is in us, does not come from facts and figures but through the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus. His life and his death were God's Witness and His Testimony to you!
That my friends is how you know you have fallen in love. You will have both a love FOR God and the love OF God oozing out of every part of your life.
Everyone you encounter should walk away with a piece of God's love. It is given to you freely and generously to both, be loved and to give love. So receive it and give it freely and generously. For as He is, so are you in this world.
Once you allow His Love to wash over you and cleanse you, you quickly realize that you are a New Creation. The old person has been put to death by LOVE himself.
The New Creation (100% Human and 100% God in you) MUST be in full control of your decisions and your decisions are your life.
Your testimony, in view of the world, your family and your friends will not be able to be disputed!
The only proof you need to bring to the witness stand (the world) is God's love for you and His love for the world Through you.
The prosecutor will Rest his case. Listen, silence.
Stand and say, "I AM a witness that God is LOVE!"
Walk it out by faith! Be sure of what you hope for and confident in what you cannot see.
Lastly, go to church. Find a Jesus preaching, bible teaching, LOVE giving church and go.
Get involved. There are no sidelines.
Don't be late to worship. That is no ordinary music playing. It is not the elevator music before the sermon.
It is praise to a Father who has come and rescued us from death itself!
Church is a gathering of the witnesses of God on this earth. It is a courtroom called to order.
All Rise.
Stand in defense of the HOPE that comes from a greater LOVE, such as this.
Sing, praise and worship Him!
Throw up your hands without regard, not because you love Him, but because He is worthy.
It is our Revelation Song. (Kari Jobe)
Be Loved
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*** The underlined words are actual songs that pop into my head while I'm writing to you***
The artist name will be included if I can remember LOL and if I don't please feel free to reply with the information.
And make sure to listen to the songs that are inspired by a God who hears you. (iTunes)
