Repost: He Is There

I just recently bought a CD entitled "Through the Storm" by the Hooker Family. And let me just say this, the second I saw the title, I thought to myself. "I wonder if there is something in here that would be a blessing and encouragement to me.".  I bought it and borrowed my friends computer so I could listen to it. By the time I finished listening to the 3rd song on the CD, I was crying. Why? Well, these past couple of weeks have been a little hard and stressful. Turning eighteen, my brother's wedding, and now College. I have had a lot on my plate and a lot consuming my mind. My life seems to be moving so fast and I am having a hard time keeping He Is There- The Hooker Familyup, but you know what. God has made Himself ever so apparent every single time I have been going through everything. Often times when we are going through something we wonder why we have to experience it or that it isn't fair. The way I try my best to look at it is this. God is trying me for a reason, He has a plan for my life and we have to go through things because he is making and molding me for something He has desired for me to do in the future. And the only thing God asks of me, is to cling to Him and to rely only on Him- for courage, for strength, To go to Him with every need or concern. I know God is there and I will make it though anything that this world throws at me. I will be a crusader of the cross. I won't back down. If I fall, I will get back up and charge the mountain.

Many of you probably know the story of William Borden writing the famous words, No Reserves. No Retreats. No Regrets. In the back of his Bible. If you do not know this story I would like to share it with you.

   “William Borden was an heir to the Borden family fortune, he was wealthy. When he was sixteen he traveled through Asia, the Middle East and Europe, While he was doing so he became burdened for the lost and decided to be a missionary. Will Borden wrote home about his "desire to be a missionary."One friend expressed disbelief that Bill was "throwing himself away as a missionary." In response, Borden wrote two words in the back of his Bible: "No Reserves" Soon afterward Will attend Yale and he was responsible for a revival that spread across the campus. By the end of his first year, 150 or so freshman were meeting weekly for Bible study and prayer. By the time Will Borden was a senior, one thousand of Yale's 1,300 students were meeting in such groups. Shortly after graduation Will was offered a job by his father and Will rejected this offer and his family cut all ties with him. And shortly after he wrote. “No Regrets.” in the back of his Bible. William Borden went on to Princeton Seminary to finish his work there and he then sailed for China. Because he was hoping to work with Muslims, he stopped first in Egypt and study the Arabic language. While there, he contracted spinal meningitis. Within a month, 25-year-old William Borden was dead. When the news of William Borden's death was cabled back to the U.S., the story was carried by nearly every American newspaper. "A wave of sorrow went round the world . . . Borden not only gave (away) his wealth, but himself, in a way so joyous and natural that it (seemed) a privilege rather than a sacrifice" Was Borden's untimely death a waste? No! Prior to his death, Borden had written two more words in his Bible. Underneath the words "No reserves" and "No retreats," he had written: "No retreats."

           To be able to write in my Bible, “ No Reserves, No Retreats. No Regrets” is my desire. And I know God does give us things for a reason. And through it all God can and will be glorified and with Him by my side I will be the victor over anything that I face. One verse that is a reminder that God is always there is in Isaiah 43:2-3

          “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame be kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour. I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.”

           And I guess I am writing this too you my friends so that you know No matter what you are going though He is still there and He will never leave you! So run the race, Keep going strong and don't look back. Be able to write No Reserves. No Regrets. No Retreats. In your Bible.

                                        He Is There by Amber Guzzi

                                       When the trials you face

                                       turn into your darkest night

                                       And you're hoping in some way

                                       The darkness will turn to light,

                                       And you feel all alone,

                                       And there's no one there with you,

                                       Never fear, my God is holding you.

                                       He is there to comfort you

                                       When you feel your world is shifting.

                                       He is there to hold you

                                       When everything is changing

                                       My Lord's still there.

                                       Some days I was so lost

                                       I just couldn't see Him.

                                       There were moments I felt

                                       My heart would just five in,

                                       But when you're through tryin'

                                       And there's nothing left to do

                                       Never fear, my God is holding you.

                                       He is there to comfort you

                                       When you feel your world is shifting.

                                       He is there to hold you

                                       When everything is changing

                                       My Lord's still there.

I hope this was an encouragement to you. If you ever need to talk or you need me to pray for you! I am only just a message, text or phone call away! :)  Praying for you all!

Julie

Preparation for Walking Worthy part 2: Separation

 

The next step in preparation to walk worthy, is separation. There is no way we can walk worthy for the King if we are following man and the way of the world. God tells us multiple time that we are to be separate.

Romans 12:2 - "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable. And perfect will of God."

2 Timothy 2:4 - "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."

John 2:15 - "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

The Bible clearly tells us that we are to be separate. This is where I personally and other Christians tend to struggle the most. The LORD knows we have a sinful nature and we will have desire for the things of this world. But God has warned us and commanded us to take our desire for the world and turn them to Him. I know it is hard, but we need to strive to have some sort of detachment from it.

Once we are able to separate ourselves from “worldly lusts” God can use us for His will! This is the key to living a Godly life. We need not to delight in worldly pleasure, but devote ourselves to pursuing the Lord’s spiritual goal for our self.

There are many areas of our lives in which we struggle, there are multiple ways we can be separate ourselves. In the way we talk, act, dress and the way we live. When we separate ourselves from the way the entire world lives, Christ can shine through us more and God's love is more apparent. A moment ago, I mentioned four ways we can be separate; In the way we talk, act, dress and the way we live. The only way for you to examine yourself is to ask yourself these questions.

The way I talk, Is it pleasing to the Lord? Is it edifying? Is it helpful? Is it true? As women, we all know we have the tendency to talk, maybe a wittle too much. That is normal and frankly half of us can't help it, but ladies and maybe gentlemen. We need to be careful how to talk and the way we communicate things.

Proverbs 10:11 - "The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked."

The way I act, Is it pleasing to the Lord? The question my mother so rightfully imposed to me growing up was this and it got me thinking. Would Mrs. Brown (my Pastor's wife) do that? Ohhh how I dreaded hearing those words as a child, but it instilled in me to examine my actions and watch myself in every aspect.

1 Peter 5:8 -  "Be sober, be vigilant; because you adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

The way I dress, Is it pleasing to the Lord? Is it honoring Him? Can people see Christ in me? I will not elaborate much about this right now, but trust me I plan to in the future. But as Young Ladies and woman, we need to be careful how we dress. The way we dress does affect the way people will look to the Lord. People will either see Christ in you or just think you are just another person in this sinful world. Which would you rather have them see?

1 Timothy 2:9 -  “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel..."

The ways we live, Is it pleasing to the Lord? Is it honoring Him? Are you serving Him? Are you yielding to Him? Are you surrendered? This is the BIG one. The way you live is your personal testimony, the way you live is maybe the only example people see Christ in. So be careful, make sure everything you are doing is bringing honor and glory to the Lord.

Proverbs 12:28 - "In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death."

In conclusion, I encourage you to examine yourself and pray and ask the Lord to show you any areas where He feels you are not separate from the world in. I am praying for you too. God bless.