Category: Salvation & Relationship with God

What a Savior!

On By CarmenIn God's Character, Salvation & Relationship with GodLeave a comment

Perhaps it would have been better for me to post this message as we prepared to celebrate the resurrection of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, but I believe that we should keep daily at the forefront of our thoughts the price that He paid for the whole world—past, present, and future.

Our family custom during this most holy of celebrations is to watch various series depicting the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; so much so, that I purchased a DVD of The Passion of the Christ a few years ago to watch on Good Fridays.

Some would say that this movie is difficult to watch with the graphic illustration of Jesus’s beatings and crucifixion, and I agree.

However, I need to remind myself through these images the great price that my Savior paid for me personally.

In this post, I would like to share a few verses from the Bible regarding those three days of indescribable pain, sorrow, and then joy.

Good Friday:  The Cross

This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

1 John 4:10

Jesus willingly went to the cross for you, me, and everyone else.

He could have said, “No, Father, they are too prideful, selfish, arrogant, vile. Let them have what they deserve.” (my thoughts)

But He did not.

He said, “Yes, I will go to the cross in obedience to You and because I love them despite their sin. I will take upon myself their consequences so that they can be with us in Heaven for eternity.” (my thoughts)

Jesus, the only perfect being ever on this earth, took upon Himself all our sins and suffered horrendously in our place.

He suffered indignation: He was lied about, spit upon, and stripped of his clothing; yet He did not defend His reputation and forgave. (Isaiah 53:7, Luke 23:34)

He was humiliated: He was hung on a cross, mocked, and tempted to show his power; yet He accepted this mistreatment and completed His mission. (Mark 15:29-32, John 19:28-30)

He physically bled for us: He was scourged, beaten unrecognizable with His flesh ripped open, and nailed in both hands and feet to a cross; yet He willingly suffered and died for all mankind. (Isaiah 52:14, Romans 3:25-26, Ephesians 1:7)

Jesus endured all of this for all of us. He gave His life as a ransom for ours. He suffered so we would not have to. He paid for our sins because He knew we could not.

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:28-30

Good Friday symbolizes God’s love for the human race through the ultimate sacrifice of His Son. God’s grace is given for all who will accept it by surrendering to Jesus Christ.   

Holy Saturday: God Works through Silence

Jesus was laid to rest in haste after his death on Good Friday since the Sabbath was starting at sunset that same evening and preparations needed to be made for Passover.  

He was placed in a rich man’s tomb and His body wrapped in cloths waiting to be perfumed with spices.

The chief priests and Pharisees wanted to be done with Jesus and ordered his tomb sealed because they feared His followers would somehow steal His body to claim He had risen. Guards were also placed outside Jesus’s tomb to insure they could not steal His body.

Meanwhile, the apostles, Jesus’s followers, gathered together after having fled and deserted Him.

Apart from their sorrow, I am sure they were fearful, confused, and angry with themselves for deserting Him.

I imagine that they were meditating on and discussing what He said while He was with them about being God’s Son, the Messiah—the only Way, and His promise of coming back for them.  

The shock of it all was most likely laying heavy upon their hearts and minds of what they should do next.

How could they move on since Jesus was gone?

He healed others, why wouldn’t He save Himself?

How could this have happened? He promised a kingdom where He would rule righteously.

Broken hearts, misunderstanding, desperation was their lot.  

We may have silent days in our lives, but we should remember God’s promises and still our minds while waiting for His next move.

See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:19

Even though we may not see it, God is always working in the background, in our silent periods of waiting.

Jesus was on the move on the Sabbath after His death. He was not dead, but very much alive in the spirit and displayed His victory over death and evil.  

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.

1 Peter 3:18-20a

Christ descended into the pit where the demons from Noah’s days were bound due to their wickedness against God. Jesus let them know that He was very much alive and had defeated them and death.

Jesus had the last say and put them on notice.

Let’s wait expectantly for God’s promises to us.

Resurrection Sunday: The Promise Fulfilled

Mary Magdalene and Mary (the mother of James) went early Sunday morning to Jesus’s tomb to prepare His body for burial with spices.

When they arrived, they saw that the tomb was open and an angel of the LORD began to speak with them. He informed them that Jesus was not in the tomb, but was alive.

The angel told them to go tell Jesus’s followers that Jesus is alive and to go to Galilee where He would meet them.

As they left filled with excitement, Jesus Himself appeared before them.

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Matthew 28:8-10

As He promised, Jesus appeared to the apostles in Galilee, but they did not believe it was Jesus at first. Then, after speaking and eating with Him, they were overjoyed while He reminded them of what He had told them would happen to Him. (Luke 24:36-49)

Jesus gave them instructions (The Great Commission) to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon them and then to go into all the world to teach about His love and sacrifice for all mankind and obedience to the scriptures. (Matthew 28:16-20)

No matter the effort in trying to silence God’s truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ some 2000+ years later, the Great Commission is ever strong and will continue to be until the end of time.

I am certain of one thing—we will see all the promises that God has given to us through the Holy Scriptures in our lifetime and into eternity.

We only need to study His word, believe in Him, and abide in Him.

God has already done the difficult work for us through His Son Jesus Christ.

Thank You, LORD Jesus, for Your sacrifice!

May the song below bless you as you consider the gift of grace given to us by Jesus’s death and resurrection.

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

The LORD Will Provide

On By CarmenIn Faith & Trust, God's Character, Salvation & Relationship with God1 Comment

I feel compelled to write about how faithful our Heavenly Father is when we are affected by devastating news.

It could be any measure of disconcerting events that happen to us that leave us bewildered, angry, but most of all anxious about our future.

Lately, I have prayed for several people who have lost their jobs due to downsizing, poor economic conditions, or changes in company vision.

So, for this post, I’ll write about my similar experience of being laid off years ago along with where God has brought me to today.

I also want to share an inspiring story in the Bible of one of the most beloved kings chosen by God.

My Loss Led to Greater Faith in God

I want to share my experience of a layoff several years ago as a single woman, understanding what it is to overcome the fear of losing a consistent paycheck after many years of hard work, diligence, and settling into a certain lifestyle.

My first reaction apart from fear was “how unfair” and then “how will I make it?” Even with some savings and a severance package, I knew that I had to find another job that could pay the bills.

My second reaction was, “God, please help me!”

That should have been my first reaction.

God already knew what I would be facing at that moment in time, and He was working behind the scenes. I could not see it at the time, but I learned through this scary experience that He alone would help me.

My Jehovah Jireh. My Provider.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

As time passed, I saw God work to provide everything I needed.

I did not miss a meal and I was able to keep my apartment and pay all my bills on time. I am grateful that I had some savings and I adjusted my spending.

I took odd jobs while networking and sending out resumes, until a better opportunity opened up with better pay.

I do remember along the way that I promised God that I would do whatever work He provided for me—and I did.

I was already a Christian seeking after God and reading His word daily. I attended church and volunteered in different capacities that He led me to.

I was His child and I understood that He would provide. I just needed to learn it from experience!

It was the only way that I could know for sure that He is who He says He is, and that He will do what He says He will do in His word.

This opportunity opened my eyes and helped my faith grow exponentially. It simply drew me nearer to God and prepared me for the next opportunity to grow in faith.

King David’s Experience of Faith in God

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
    yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
    and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

Psalm 77:11-12

This Psalm was written by Asaph, King David’s music director. I encourage you to read the Psalm in its entirety.

It encourages us to remember the good God has already done to and for us—to remember how we struggled before and God saw us through it.

If nothing else, we should realize that as we were each once a newborn baby, God has brought us this far and we’re still breathing, even if we’ve had to face difficulties.

In my studies of the Bible, I love the story of how David rose to King as a shepherd boy.

This is not just a story—it is historical fact about the life of King David whom God said was a man after His own heart.

Although David was anointed king as a teenager, he had to wait several years until he was crowned king.

He faced many hardships and had to flee for his life from King Saul. He became a great warrior and although he had the opportunity, he never wronged or attacked King Saul.

David’s rise to kingship was not just happenstance. Nor was it due to David’s human ability, but to God’s divine providence.

It was God who destined David to be king.

It was God who showed Himself mightily to David by giving him the ability to kill a lion and a bear as a shepherd boy.

It was God who made David a great warrior.

It was God who supported David and defeated his enemies before him.

It was God who caused the Israelites to love David and accept him as King.

It was all God!

David just had to believe in God and believe that He was for him.

David had to want God in his life, seek after Him, and follow His ways.  

If you’ve read about King David, you know that he was not a perfect man, but he loved God and relied upon Him for his very existence.

When he was brought to reckon with his sin, he repented before God and was willing to accept God’s consequences for his sin. He acknowledged his sin and sought God for forgiveness.

The Bible tells us that in the future King David will rule with his descendant, our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, during the Millennial Kingdom and throughout eternity.

My Life of Faith in God Today

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
    I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

Psalm 9:1-2

This psalm was written by King David and I have adopted it as my motto in life.

I will praise God continually for His goodness in my life. He has brought me from a struggling, seeking young woman of God to a seasoned, thankful servant of God.  

It’s been a few years since that layoff left me scared and falling on my knees before God, but I have chosen to continually walk in faith with Him.

There have been many blessings and lifestyle changes that give credence to God’s goodness in my life.  

One is the freedom to write this blog to tell of God’s goodness to any who is interested in reading it.

By freedom, I mean that this is my “job” now (I prefer to call it my service to the LORD Jesus), which was made possible by God’s blessing in my husband’s ability and work that provide an income that surpasses what he and I used to make together.

I remind myself and my husband daily that all our blessings come from God and that our security is in Him only.

We still have challenges along with goals that we’d like to achieve, but we keep our eyes on Jesus.

As my husband is now in sales, there is always the possibility of losing a customer that could upend our current living situation; so, the threat of a financial setback is consistent. But…  

We trust in God who has done great things for us.

We trust in His word and that He’ll do what He says He’ll do.

We trust that He is for us and not against us.

We trust that if He gave up His most prized possession, His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us that there is no good thing that He will withhold from us.

We trust that we will be with Him in eternity because of the atoning work of Jesus on the cross.

We trust Him and submit to Him as our Savior.

He loves us and He loves you too!

I hope that this blog has and will continue to bless you as you seek after God and purpose to walk in His ways.

Enjoy this song below as you contemplate God’s goodness, power, and love for you.

It’s one of my favorites and has blessed me when walking through uncertain times.

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

Hallelujah! Our Righteous King Has Come!

On By CarmenIn God's Character, Salvation & Relationship with GodLeave a comment

As we prepare for this Christmas season, let us not forget the true reason we celebrate Christmas.

Christmas is derived from the Old English Cristes mæsse meaning the “mass of Christ” or the church celebration of the birth of Christ.

The birth, life, and death of Jesus on earth is the greatest gift ever given, and not by any human, but by God the Father Himself.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 

John 3:16-17

I am so grateful that the LORD Jesus was willing to leave His throne in Heaven, come down to Earth, be born among mankind as an example of how we should live our lives, and take upon Himself the sins of the whole world. 

He was born as King—THE KING of kings—not in a palace with all the wealth and comforts of royalty at that time, but in the humblest of conditions in a manger with animals and their smell surrounding Him.

Jesus is the best gift we’ve ever been given!

His love, forgiveness, and self-sacrifice is better than any material thing we could desire.

…but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23b

Without Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection, we’d all be lost to eternal damnation.

This was God’s plan for the redemption of mankind from way back when Adam and Eve committed the first sin in the Garden of Eden.

We all need a Savior to rescue us from our sin nature. This Savior is Jesus Christ Himself—the perfect Lamb, the perfect Gift.

The Hope of all the world was born, completed His ministry by going to the cross, and resurrected to the Father where He lives seated at His right hand.

Our Savior is active on the throne of Heaven and is present in our everyday lives. He is alive and in command!

Let us not become complacent with such a majestic gift.

Today, we are blessed because we have the Bible, the Holy word of God, to teach us about God’s plan of salvation, our LORD Jesus Christ, and our future based on the choices we make, especially the most important choice we could ever make.

There was a time when Israel, God’s chosen people, was anticipating our Savior, expectantly hoping, and eagerly awaiting.

Life was difficult for them because they sinned against God and subjected themselves to all kinds of consequences that God had warned them about.

God had already spoken His plans through the prophets of old, and because Israel was under the rule of foreign nations, they were waiting on their Messiah to come rescue them.

They knew the Savior was promised by God and they had experienced the faithfulness of His word many times.

Finally, over 2000 years ago, Israel’s Savior, our Savior, was born in Bethlehem in God’s perfect timing when Rome ruled the world.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Luke 2:1-21

May we continually glorify and praise God as the angels did on the night of our Savior’s birth.

The gift of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ is for everyone who is willing to accept Him in their hearts, invite Him into their lives, and follow Him in all His ways.

As the angels stated at Christ’s birth, those with whom He is pleased will have peace and joy today and forevermore. 

While we’re busy decorating our homes, shopping for gifts, and gathering with our families and friends, let’s remember that without Jesus Christ, there is no Christmas.

Let’s demonstrate the same excitement, wonder, and awe as the shepherds did who went to see Him that first Christmas night!

I wish you a Blessed and Merry Christmas.

Enjoy this song of praise to our Father in Heaven for our most wonderful gift. I have enjoyed this song over the years and hope the same for you.  

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

What Does it Mean to Be Blessed?

On By CarmenIn Bible Study, Christian Living, Salvation & Relationship with God1 Comment

We’ve all seen the decorative motif “BLESSED” worn or displayed proudly on personal items like t-shirts, bracelets, pillows, and—yes, even on license plates!

But what does it mean to be blessed?

I think many of us would agree that a blessing is something that benefits us and makes us happy.

For example, a blessing could be something that we’ve been wanting or anticipating, like a home or a trip that we’ve been saving for.

It could be having enough money in an account to take care of emergencies, help others, or provide for anything you want or need.

Or it could even be something that is not material or monetary, like good news from the doctor about a health concern.

Let’s take a look at what the Bible says about blessings.

The Blessing of Peace

In the book of Philippians, the apostle Paul writes to those in the church in Philippi about having peace in their daily lives.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

What a blessing peace is in the midst of turmoil!

God wants us to have this type of peace “that surpasses all understanding” when we face uncertain times much like today.

We are experiencing many issues within and outside the U.S. that make the most confident of men concerned.

Economic uncertainty, division (even within our families and churches) due to political turmoil, and wars and rumors of wars are at an all-time high.

When we understand and believe that God is still on the throne, we can give these concerns to Him and relax knowing that He is in charge of ALL the affairs of the world.

This doesn’t mean that we have a nonchalant attitude. On the contrary, we should stay informed of what’s going on, but we don’t let it overwhelm us and ruin our peace.

If you’re a child of God and you’ve walked with Him through good times and bad, you know that He loves you and will take you through the storms of life to a better outcome.

Trials serve to build our trust in God and create an unshakeable faith that brings peace.

For more on the promise of faith, see my post Trusting God.

The Blessing of Discipline

While most of us don’t like discipline, we would welcome it if we understood the blessing it holds for us.

The author of Psalm 94 tells us so.

Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,
    the one you teach from your law;

Psalm 94:12

Likewise, the author of Hebrews 12 expounds on the blessing of discipline from the LORD.

“. . .My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t give up when he corrects you.
For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. . .For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

Hebrews 12:5-11

If you are a godly parent, you instruct your children so they know what is best for them. You want them to act in a way that leads them to good outcomes so they may have productive lives that lead to peace and happiness.

When they act in ways that bring destruction into their lives, you discipline them and give them consequences for their actions to turn them around.

Discipline does not mean abuse; it means loving instruction and consequences for wrong actions. Your child may not like it, but you do it because you love them and want what is best for their future.

This is why God disciplines us—to lead us to a sound future with peace and happiness.

The Blessing of Eternal Life

Who wouldn’t want to live forever in a world of continual peace, without physical and emotional pain, rejection, unjust criticism, lies, fraud, division, war, —you name it?

This is the way God intended for us to live from the creation of the world. This is the way that Adam and Eve, the first man and woman God created, lived in the beginning with God.

But sin changed all that by separating us physically from God. We were thrown out of the Garden of Eden and placed in a tainted world susceptible to Satan’s wiles.

Because of sin everything changed, and we now live with all the consequences that drive discontent and fear into our lives.

Our hearts, minds, and bodies are affected by sin every day which is why we see so much mental illness, disease and premature death, as well as division among family members and fellow citizens.

Thankfully, God has provided the solution to this sin problem and its effects. He has promised us that we can go back to the way He intended us to live from the beginning.

This is the promise of eternal life with Him in peace and without the woes of the world we experience today.

We can have this peace today while we’re still living in this world AND be reunited with our heavenly Father when we are called home.

The apostle John who lived and walked with the LORD Jesus over two-thousand years ago bears witness in his letter to us.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 

John 3:16-18

There is a choice that we have to make—we must recognize that we are sinners, repent of our sins, ask the LORD Jesus to save us, and earnestly seek after Him.

We must choose to receive His free gift of eternal life simply by believing in Him.

My prayer for you is to choose (if you haven’t already) Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior so you will have the blessing of eternal life.

In my next post I plan to write about and explain the blessings we receive when we follow our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ as he taught us in Matthew 5 from His Sermon on the Mount. I hope you’ll join me.

If you would like to receive more about the goodness of God, subscribe to my email list below.

As usual, I have included a beautiful song for your listening pleasure, and I can’t think of a more uplifting song to share with you for this post.

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

Relationship with God – Part 2

On By CarmenIn Salvation & Relationship with God19 Comments

Once you’ve accepted Christ’s invitation to be the Lord and Savior of your life, you will want to strengthen your relationship with Him. The way to do this is to learn about Him, that is to read about Him, to seek Him, to commune with Him. God wants us to know about Him and He wants a relationship with us. He has given us His Word, His Holy Scripture in the form of the Bible.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

THE BIBLE IS A GIFT FROM GOD

Over the years since my salvation in Christ, I have heard and read about Bible reading plans. Some of these include reading the Bible in a year. This will require dedication and time daily to study the Scriptures. You will need to carve out a set time that works best for you based on your work and personal life. Some people (including me) prefer to wake up early in the morning before they start their day with their families and/or work. I like reading the Bible first thing because I have uninterrupted time with God to study His Word and I feel that I start my day off with good news and the ability to meditate on or practice what I learned for that day. Other people may have time to read on their lunch hour, and still others prefer to wait until evening after the children have gone to bed and the chores are done. One factor to consider is whether you are an early riser or a night owl. There have been times that I have read morning, noon, and evening. What’s important is that you read consistently each day. If you miss a day here and there, don’t fret, it happens to all of us. Just start again the next day and keep reading. God is not looking for perfection, He sees our efforts and knows our intentions.

When starting to read the Bible, many wonder where to start. Some say that it is good to start in John in the New Testament. Here you will find John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Everything in the Bible points to Jesus, the gift of God, and promise of salvation. The Old Testament is full of prophecy that points to the promise of our Savior; the New Testament is about the life of Jesus and His redeeming work on the cross; and the last chapter, Revelation, is about His second coming and eternal rule over all the nations. I won’t recommend where you should start, but I have always started in Genesis and read all the way through to the end of Revelation. Each time I read through one version of the Bible I immediately start another version. There are many versions available and the hardest one for me to read was the King James version. I promise you that I read it in its entirety! It took a little more effort, but was completely doable.

Before reading each day, speak with God in prayer and ask Him to show you what He wants you to understand and learn. Also, remember to meditate on what you learned and maybe even practice it for that day or talk to someone else about it who reads the Bible and is a Christ follower. There will be times that you may not understand what you are reading and that’s ok. Perhaps after talking to your friend who is also reading, you may understand better. There have been times that I have searched for online comments by Christian sources that I have followed and trust in their knowledge of the Bible. There are also study Bibles available that explain the context which references the time and customs when the chapter was written. Also, you can reach out to the pastor of the Bible-believing church you will be attending.

FELLOWSHIP IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR WALK WITH CHRIST

It is important that you attend a church that teaches from the Bible. You may want to go to several churches before you decide which one is right for you. And remember, ask God to show you where you should attend and He will make it clear to you. When my husband and I moved from Florida to South Carolina, we started searching for a new church home. This was during COVID, so it took some time because some churches were just starting to reopen their doors. We attended many different churches before we decided on one. We would go to one church and then another, until we gravitated toward one church in particular. The primary reason to choose a church is that it teaches from the whole Bible with Jesus as the central theme, and all honor and glory are given to God—not man. There are other attributes that are important such as a youth program, Bible study, the worship ministry, men’s and women’s ministries, financial stability, outreach programs, and for my husband and me—cultural diversity in the membership.

Once you decide on the church that you want to attend, you should attend regularly and get involved. It may take a few weeks before you get to know some of the people, but make it a point to reach out to the members of this church. Remember the old saying, “To make friends, you have to be a friend.” Yes, you must make the effort to get to know people. When you do, soon you will start to be invited to the different programs that the church offers. Make it a point to introduce yourself to the pastor and his wife. They may be busy talking to others after church on occasion, but wait for your opportunity to talk to them. The leadership wants to meet you and know what they can do to help you in your walk with Christ. They will help you get connected in programs that you need or have an interest in. The reason to get connected is not so you will have a social calendar full of events; it is so that you can connect with others that have walked with Christ during both good times and trials. They will be more than happy to help you with your struggles and celebrate your victories.

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

I remember when I first started attending a new church in Miami many years ago, I made a promise to God (after I surrendered my life to Jesus) that I would do whatever He wanted me to do. I was sincere. It wasn’t but a few weeks later that there was a request at this church for volunteers at a pregnancy center. I felt in my spirit that God wanted me to get involved and I did. I contacted the pregnancy center, signed up for a Saturday orientation class, and became a volunteer at the center closest to my home. I could not have imagined how God would use me in this opportunity to counsel young pregnant women (and sometimes their husbands/boyfriends) on the sanctity of human life. It was a joyful experience for three-and-a-half years to volunteer weekly at this pregnancy center while meeting many who were determined to keep their babies and counseling others who were scared and wanted to make a good choice for their lives. I also gained a few friends that I know were and still are praying for me to reach God’s potential for my life.

I could go on and on about all the doors God opened for me to get involved in this church. There were many and I walked through them as He led me. What I gained in return was far more than I could have ever imagined or asked Him for. He is so good to us! I made so many dear friends and met women who wanted to help me and walk alongside me in my walk with Christ. There were many who were praying for me. Others taught me God’s word, gave me a safe place to talk about my struggles, showed me kindness, invited me into their homes, paid for Christian conferences (that I couldn’t afford and would never have asked for), taught me leadership skills, and gave me opportunities to grow in leadership. God only intends good for us and HE makes the way. We just need to be willing to follow His lead.

A NEW AND MORE JOYFUL LIFE

Jesus promises us that we will have an abundant life while living on this earth. We all want to have deep inner joy and feel like we have purpose in the here and now. As we become a doer (not just a hearer) of God’s word, we will find that our walk with the Lord leads us to a purposeful life. We grow in confidence in Him to achieve goals that we never imagined we could. And when the difficult trials of life come, we learn who our provider is—our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we have walked with Him through the storms, we understand that He loves us and cares for us and will never forsake us.

“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.”

John 10:9-10

My prayer is that you will allow God to show you His love and mighty hand that will make a way for you. May you also reach your full potential in Christ Jesus and enjoy the abundant life.

Below is a song that I have included for your listening pleasure. Music was and still is a great enjoyment and support that helps me in my walk with Christ. I hope you enjoy it too.

“I Surrender” – Hillsong

See my previous post Relationship with God.

Relationship with God

On By CarmenIn Salvation & Relationship with God20 Comments

For those who may be struggling and are looking for a better, joyful life and would like to taste and see the goodness of our Lord Jesus, it is only an ask away. You can ask Him to be Lord of your life, to forgive you of your sins, and to direct your path going forward. 

For He says,


“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

Matthew 7:7-8

If you surrender your life to Him, He will guide you in the way that you should go and you will indeed have a fuller, more joyful life here on earth and eternal life in heaven. This does not mean that you will not have trials and suffer hardship in this life, but as you trust in Him, you will experience His closeness and power in your life. You will understand true joy and experience the peace that surpasses all understanding.

My friends, we are all going to die and pass into eternal life. What’s important is for us to know where we are going. If we know the Lord Jesus, if we surrender our lives to Him and abide in Him, we don’t have to be afraid of dying. In fact, we can look forward to eternal blessings and peace with Him.

His word tells us


For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:16-17

Below is a beautiful song that I want to share with you.

“O Come to the Altar” – Elevation Worship


I pray if you have never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, that you will today.

Also, see my post Relationship with God – Part 2.

May God bless you.