Shipwrecked

Shipwrecked, originally uploaded by Cajun Budro.

Do you feel like your life is shipwrecked? There is a way out! Jesus is the way! He can put you back in calm waters!

Mark

Mark, originally uploaded by Cajun Budro.

This is me!

Bee-ing a Hard Worker

Bee-ing a Hard Worker, originally uploaded by Cajun Budro.

Take the time to enjoy the small things in life!

New Beginning's

As the sun came up this morning, I was sitting at work looking out my window. The colors of the sky were so vivid, and the sky and clouds stretched to the horizon. Everything was still and quiet, the fresh dew was still on the ground, and the air was crisp and smelled fresh. The sun creeps up the sides of the homes behind my job slowly. All this reminds me that every day is a new beginning, we can all start fresh. I am by no means the most biblical person, and I still have struggles of my own, but it is a fact that Jesus can help us renew our lives.....just like each day is renewed. Take the time today to spend some quality time with the ones that you love, and enjoy all the nature and the natural wonders that are around you.

Mark

Changing Times

I don't know how much you guys watch the current world news (I really prefer not to get all my news from the main stream media), but there is alot going on in reference to end times prophecies and signs.

• We have President Obama saying that the US is no longer recognizing the legitimacy of Israeli settlements. I am not sure what the answer is over there, but I can tell you that we had better support Israel!
• We have the Iranian President building secret uranium enrichment facilities, and threatening to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. Recent reports have even said that he says he is communicating with the twelfth Imam.
• General moral decay of society has sped up drastically
• A recent survey has said that in as little as 20 years, a quarter of Americans are likely to claim no religion.
• The New World Order and G8/G20 Global Economy leaders have been busy as well. It looks as if it won't be long and the dollar will not be used anymore. It looks as if we are going to be going to a one world currency. A week ago the United Nations called for a new global reserve currency to end dollar supremacy which has allowed the United States the “privilege” of building a huge trade deficit. I also saw in the news this week that Russia and China are buddying up. Read up on prophecy from the Bible on that one.
• A rise in earthquakes, Tsunamis, mud slides, and global catastrophe
  
• Wars and rumors of war. I think it's safe to say we have that!
• Financial and economic woes worldwide.....the spread of H1N1 and other viruses worldwide (pandemics)
• Then we have 2012 approaching. I am not sure if 2012 will really turn out to be anything at all, but with all the hype and hysteria about it I am sure there will be global fear

So, as you can see, things are really starting to heat up now. Now is the time to really be thinking about your salvation and the salvation of your family. Stay strong!

Prayer

We could sure use some comforting words and prayer right now. Please keep my family and I in your prayers! Thanks!

Mark

Sid Roth Video

Well This is Misti, and I have not posted in a while. I thought this was worthy of a discussion. The video is Sid Roth on It's Supernatural with guest John Paul Jackson, speaking on what God has revealed to him about the next 10 years. After seeing the video I was wondering what is your 10 year plan, ie new car, vacation home, that kind of stuff. Does it really change how you would do things. I believe God will protect and provide for his people. I was just curious on everyone's opinion. I have ask God for conformation on this, so we'll see what He provides me with.

God bless
Misti

Ps just hover over Sid Roth video above to reach link.

Tangled in the web of everyday life

I don't know about everyone else, but I often find myself so wrapped up in the daily things in life, that alot of times I realize that I am not giving God the time that he deserves. I have to step back, and really just set some time aside to worship, and thank him for everything he has done for me and my family. I have not quite got to the point where I have learned to balance my time between things I need to get done at work or at home, and just taking some quiet time to sit down and read the bible....or just sit down and meditate on God and praise him. As I read back at what I just wrote, I guess I am feeling like I have let God down, and have not put forth the effort that I need to. There are alot of things out there that can distract us from our walk with God, lets just list a few of them here, and see if your match up to mine. I think that you will find that we all have pretty much the same distractions in life that draw us away from what we really need to be doing.

1. Family - As much as I hate to say it, this is a big one. When we say family, we should not be talking about it being a limiting factor, but sometimes it is. Keeping up with the kids, cleaning house, school, house repairs, and lets not forget just trying to work in some family fun in there!
2. Work - This is a big one for alot of people. I am a shift worker, so I end up spending alot of my time at work on 12 hr. shifts. When you work 6 in a row alot of times, with few days off, you really don't have much time for anything else? Or do we? For instance, I am working nights right now while I write this blog. I try to maximize my night shifts, because there is less going on. I try to make this the time I can spend writing or meditating, or studying about God. You need to do this in your life as well, you have to make time somewhere in there for GOD!
3. Hobbies and relaxation - Lets be honest. Everyone wants to relax and have a good time when they are not working, if they can. How many times have you got off work for a long Holiday weekend and said to yourself, "I am going to take time out this set off to just sit and commit to reading one book of the bible". Or how about "I am going to go home, and the first thing I am going to do is to take my family, and just spend a solid hour praising God". Be honest. I don't think that too many people do these things....they may think that they will do it, but how many of us actually do?

These are just 3 of the things that can take away from us spending time with God. There are many scriptures about the hazards of getting too close to the world.

James 4:4 says "Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God"

Ouch....that one kind of hurt didn't it? Makes you really sit back and think.

1 John 2:16 (AMP) says "For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]--these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]."

So, how hard is it for us to give up the things of the world? How hard would it be for you? Maybe we need to look at what God considers things of the world, or what we perceive the things of the world to be.

- Worldly friends?
- How about the movies that we watch?
- Smoking?
- Excessive drinking?
- Taking drugs?
- Some of the shows we watch on TV?

We have been so adapted and reliant on this world, and the ways of it, that it is very difficult for some (if not all) of us to give up the things of the world and the flesh. I will tell you right here and now that I am guilty. For instance, I LOVE having my laptop, and the Internet....but are those worldly things that we should get rid of? Do I LOVE it more than I Love God? (BTW, the answer to that is NO...lol) What if I told you it was in the way that you use what you have? I am using my computer and the Internet right now to write on this blog....which I started to try and change my life and help myself and others for their walk with Christ. So is it still a bad thing right now? I don't think so. I think it is all in how we use it. This computer can be used for many devious and worldly things (Hacking, porn, etc), but in the hands of a responsible user it can be a tool to reach the masses and help others. Just like in life, there is dark and light....we just have to choose which we will go with.

I don't want to make this too long and boring. Let me just close by saying this. We all make mistakes, THE KEY IS REALIZING THAT WE ARE MAKING THE MISTAKE, CORRECTING IT, AND TRYING OUR HARDEST TO NOT LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN AS WE MOVE ON! So, i hope this had shed some light on what many of us are going through, so that we might recognize it, and begin to correct it. I pray that God blesses everything that you do!

Mark

Christianity 101 - How To Become A Christian

I am continuing my Christianity 101 series here with a subject that all people have asked at one time or another.....how does one become a Christian?

The one thing that you must do, is to believe in Jesus and what he did for you on the cross. You must trust Jesus, and accept his sacrifice for our sins. You must recognize and admit to your sinfulness before God, you must recognize that your sin has separated you from God, you must believe that Jesus is the ONLY way to God, you must ask Jesus to forgive your sins, and you must turn away from your sins (do them no more).

Sounds like alot right? That is the unwillingness in your heart that stops you from doing what you need to do, the pride in your soul. Have you ever sat back and wondered why there are so many people in the world that refuse to come to the Lord? It is because there is an eternal battle going on for your soul, and there are a great amount of people that are being lost to the enemy. Lost.... because they are too stubborn to come to Jesus, or because they just have too much going on in their lives, or because they are embarrassed to be associated with Jesus.

One of the hardest things (at the time) that I did in my life was to give up drugs and alcohol, and everything that went along with it. Basically, my whole life shut down. No more friends, no more social life.....nothing. I was the life of the party, always having a good time......and always sinning against God. But even in those dark times, God was there with me.

All men (and women) sin, so don't think that anything is wrong with you. If someone tells you that they do not sin, they are a liar. You just have to be able and willing to admit that you have done wrong......to me that was actually the easy part. The hard part comes when you have to turn away from sin. Alot of people will tell you that it should not be hard, if you have the Lord in your heart. The fact is, we all live in a carnal world and we are all exposed to sinful behaviors and actions on a daily basis. The most difficult part for me has been simply turning it all over to Jesus. I have had a hard time letting go of worldly things, I am not ashamed to admit it. I believe that you would rather hear me tell you the truth rather than sugar coat things for you. For alot of people, they say it is easy for them, I don't know that I necessarily believe that. We are all susceptible to temptations, we all have choices to make. There was a reason that Jesus died on the cross for my sins....BECAUSE HE KNEW I WOULD MAKE ALOT OF MISTAKES AND WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH SIN IN MY LIFE.

Take things in baby steps......don't try to run the race while you still have your pampers on! It is going to take time for you to get used to living a life that is pleasing to God. You have been living for you, and everything else but God up to this point, so don't expect a change overnight. Don't get me wrong, I believe that God can do that, but God gave us free will for a reason.

The main thing is that you need to take the first step, and not get disappointed and give up if you make a mistake afterward.......you are going to fall, you just have to get back up again! Say this prayer out loud, and mean it, really mean it!

Father, I have made mistakes in my life. I have separated myself from you. I believe that Jesus died for my sins, I believe he was raised from the dead and is seated at your right hand. Jesus, please come into my heart right now and forgive my sins. Blot out my sin from your eyes, and cast it far away to be seen no more. Wash me in the blood of the lamb, and make me clean. Father, I thank you for hearing my prayer, and thank you for forgiving my sins.

If you said that prayer, I want to welcome you into kingdom of God! Now, just take it one day at a time.

No Time and No Money

I was watching a Perry Stone video where he was interviewing Pastor Tommy Bates about visions and near death (comeback) experiences. How refreshing to hear accounts of what others have experienced either in a vision from the Lord, or coming back from a NDE (Near Death Experience).

Pastor Bates was talking about a welcoming station where he spoke with a man that was making furniture. In the process of their conversation Pastor Bates referenced earthly time and what it would cost for the man to build the furniture. The man simply told the Pastor that there was no time there, and that there was no money.

How refreshing it is to be reminded that we will not have to worry about earthly things when we pass from this life into the next. There are many things here in this earthly life that bring us down, and hold us back, but none of those will affect us when we transition into eternity. Eternity.....that word has a great deal of finality to it. Let's take a look at how the dictionary defines the word eternity.

Eternity - e·ter·ni·ty n. pl.
1. Time without beginning or end; infinite time.
2. The state or quality of being eternal.
a. The timeless state following death.
b. The afterlife; immortality.
3. A very long or seemingly endless time

Time without beginning or end. Can you wrap your brain around that? After being in this flesh for almost 41 years, I find it hard to do that. Won't it be great to never have to worry about time again? For that matter, will we even be aware of time anymore? Will the idea of time itself even enter our thoughts? It seems to me from the conversation with the man making furniture that h never even gave the idea of time a thought until someone from outside Heaven asked him.

Money. Not having to worry about money will be an absolute dream (so to speak, and for lack of a better word to describe it). Money is the root of all evil, that is the truth. I will be glad when the day comes and I do not have to worry about it.

For those of you that find this blog and are still making the decision to believe in what Christ did for you, I would ask you to think about eternity. Can you afford to not believe in him?

Fitting In At The Workplace

Once I decided to follow Jesus, I lost all my old friends. I stopped drinking and doing drugs, and they all just faded away. I have been struggling with fitting in at work with the "group". I guess I have always been one of those people that likes to fit in and not rock the boat. I am finding it very difficult to do this sometimes. I guess I never really realized how much I used to cuss and take God's name in vain. Now that I am consciously making an effort in my life to straighten out all those shortcomings I am finding it difficult at times.

What is really tricky to me is that no one is making me want to cuss, or talk bad. Everyone around me is just doing it, and the first instinct of my old self tries to rear it's ugly head and just jump right in. Most of the time I just cannot participate in their conversations, because doing so would end up causing me to do something that I really do not want to do. I mean I really want to stop, I consciously think about it, but sometimes it just slips right out of my mouth.

When I say I am far from where I need to be, the first thing that comes to my mind is a lack of discipline and will power. That gets me every time. Anyway, I have not given up, but it sure is a challenge. If any of you have had similar experiences to this one, please share how you dealt with it and what worked or did not work for you. May God Bless you all!

How Do You Do It?

I would like to see how everyone else is dealing with their daily lives and walks with Christ. I believe that it could be beneficial for all of us to share our experiences (both positive and negative).

We are all just human, and none of us are perfect. I find that I am constantly having to check myself....not because I am a horrible Christian, but because I am still dealing with things on a daily basis. I am far from where I should be, but I am thankful that God is faithful to his word and has mercy on all of us.

So, how about you?

Back to the grind......

I was called back early from vacation due to layoffs in the company that I work for, so I did not get the time off to get situated that I would have liked to have had. I have been busy working a very long schedule, and dealing with several changes at work now, so I have not really been writing much. I did however see a story on CNN tonight that caught my eye. Here is the link;

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/08/01/pakistan.sectarian.violence/index.html

The story headline reads: 6 killed in Pakistan as Muslims burn Christian homes

That really should get everyone that lives here in the US (and is a christian) thinking. I am thankful to God that I do not live in a society that condones or lets this type of behaviour happen. It really makes you realize that there are people out there in the world that are DYING for Chritianity everyday.....for them, things are no different than the days of Jesus when Christians were persecuted as well. I just wanted to post the link and get some feedback from all of you on any thoughts you might have on the subject. God Bless all of you!

He never ceases to amaze me....

Even when I am not at my Christian best, God is still looking out for me. I was supposed to still be on vacation, but I got called back to work early. When I arrived, I found out that the company I work for was restructuring, and that layoffs were happening......right then. As I sat and waited with my fellow co-workers, I began to ask God to protect me and my job. I believe that God opened the door for me to have the job i do, and I just wanted to keep the door open!

There were 4 people's names called, and just 5 short minutes later all 4 were on the unemployment line.....I was not one of them. God took care of me. I have been resolving to do my best at everything that I do at this company, which at times has had me labeled as a suck up, etc.....but I don't care. Today, my strategy of doing everything to the best of my ability, being proactive, and living for God paid off.

Our company laid of 25% of the workforce all across the country, so there are alot of families with no job now....so we need to pray for them. Times are tough all over this country, but I heard something yesterday that really struck a chord with me.

If Jesus is not worried about the storm, why should I be?

I hope that this blog finds you and yours doing well, and blessed.

Mark

Update

Well, we are finally in our new house. It was very stressful getting approved for the loan, and we did not close on schedule, but with God's help we were able to get it done. I am about to go on vacation and I plan on taking some time to write some more on the blog. We appreciate all your prayers, and we are looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.

Mark and Misti

All Things are Possible

Today I sit here with the closing of our house on my mind. It's in 4 days. I read in Hebrews this morning about unwavering belief in what God can do. Any single doubt can cause the devil to creep in a take it all away. So therefore I am believing that all things are possible with my God. We should be getting a number for our closing cost today. So I am asking for prayers that it is way below what was estimated. With God's grace and love that abounds for everyone of us, I am grateful everyday and want to give Glory and Honor to Jesus Christ in every way possible. Thanks for the prayers and if any of you need something prayed for, please let Mark and I know. In Jesus name, thank you all.

Misti

Moving forward.......at the speed of light!

Wow, we have been super busy! We close on our first house in 2 weeks, and I have been working so much overtime I feel like I live at work! God has blessed me with a great job, and a wonderful family.....I give him all the glory!

I am currently reading Charles F. Stanley's book, Landmines in the path of the believer. So far it is pretty good. Has anyone out there read any of his other books?

God Bless! Mark and Misti

Victory and Promises

Our blog's title has the words "trials" and "tribulations" in it. When my wife and I set out to write on this blog, we intended to use those trials and tribulations to our advantage. We wanted to share them with other "new" Christians, and hopefully our they could relate to our experiences and benefit from them. I want to talk to you today about something else......something that God is known for......Victory and Promises.

From previous posts, you can see that my wife and I have been going through some tough times over the past couple of years. But recently, we have found a home that we believe is just right for us and our children, something that we can call our own. To us, it is a sign that God keeps his promises, and can give you victory over anything that stands in your way. I am not saying that you will get victory over everything in your life (like winning the lotto, ways of the world, carnal desires, etc.), but victories are not always measured in that way. Here is a verse from 1 John 5:4 (AMP) that I wanted to share; "For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith."
What a powerful verse! It says Whatever is born of God is victorious over the world. Once we are born again, once we give our lives to God, we are victorious....over the entire world. That means that there is nothing that can stand in your way! You can do anything with God!

We think in our carnal minds, God thinks on a much higher level.....one that I assure you none of us can even fathom. So, the next time that something good happens in your life, something that you have worked hard for and prayed about, don't just dismiss it as just "I got what I wanted, time to move on to the next thing". You need to praise God for all the victories in your life, even the small ones. We really have no idea of the events that God had to put into motion for our victory to manifest itself to us. We take alot for granted in this life that we have been given. It is very easy to get caught up in the things of the world, and to become a fool. God's promises are something that we can count on; Psalm 12:6 (AMP) The words and promises of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over.

I found these notes on this verse: Pure - Without the least mixture of falsehood; and therefore shall infallibly be fulfilled. So, as you can see, there is no question that the Lord's motives and promises are true. I hope that you are finding victory in your life, and that the promises of God will come true in your life! May God bless everything that you do!

Mark

We Serve A Great God!

Praise the Lord! God has answered the many prayers that my wife and I have asked for. Looks like we are on our way to a new home!

Mark and Misti

My wife and I are looking for a new home, we would appreciate your prayers.

How It Must Have Been

I am a shift worker, so I am constantly switching between day shifts and night shifts at my job. Sometimes the hours and days all run together, and I literally have to check my watch to see what day or date it is. There are mornings that i wake up and think, "I really don't feel like getting up today, maybe I will just call in sick", or there are times (like this morning) when the alarm goes off at 4AM, that I just don't feel well rested and have a general "sick" feeling.

As I was driving to work this morning, I started thinking about Jesus, and how it must have been for him while he walked this earth. Without the modern conveniences that we know, without advanced medicines, etc. Do you think that Jesus knew sickness, or being tired, or doing without? I do. I often think about the behind the scenes daily life of Jesus, things like what he did on a daily basis, the mundane things of life. I often wonder if there were times that he was very tired, or grew bored of everyday tasks? I am sure that deep down inside he knew he had a much more important task in this world.

We are the same way! We go about our daily (sometimes boring) tasks, but deep down inside we all want to know that there is more for us. We want to know that there is something out there that is better, something that we are working towards, something that we can count on. Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven is that "something" that we are working towards, but there are a great number of people that don't get that. They have blinders on in life, or they see it, but just don't accept it. From birth we are all encoded, ii is put inside of us, to know that there is a creator and something bigger out there than us. God puts the knowledge of himself on everyone's heart, from you and I, all the way to the tribesman in a remote village that has never seen or heard of the outside world.

What I am getting at here is that we all have a higher purpose, ultimately we are all on the same path, we are all headed for a day of judgement from the Lord. So as we go about our daily lives, let us think back to the days when Jesus walked the very earth that we stand on. He kept on going no matter what happened, because he knew that he had a higher purpose...he knew there was more beyond this life that we lead on this planet. We should be doing the same, moving forward, and doing all that we can to follow in the Lord's footsteps.

If you are struggling right now with your decision for Christ, let me ask you to think about something. Your life on this earth is only temporary, but after death comes eternity. Where will you be spending your eternity? Have you REALLY thought about it? Making a commitment to Christ is a difficult thing for many people, but the really hard part comes after the decision. living your day to day life will be more difficult for those of you that have only known sin in your life. The devil is not going to want to give up your soul, he will fight for it. You will be tempted, and you will go through tribulations and difficulties. You are going to fall along the way....if anyone tells you any different, run as fast as you can in the other direction! They are not telling you the truth! You have to learn to trust in the Holy Spirit, get up and ask for forgiveness, and continue on your walk with the Lord.

Please consider making the Lord first in your life today. If you need prayer, or just someone to talk to, please leave me a message in response to this post. May God bless you and your family.

Mark

Christianity 101 - Born Into Sin

I am going to periodically do some writings in a series I am going to call Christianity 101. This will be intended for an audience of new believers. The views expressed here are my own, but I assure you that they will be taken directly from scripture, so as not to be taken out of context or cast any doubt. In doing some of my own studies, I often come across things that I have heard of, or already know about, but after studying a bit more something new comes to light. So, I am currently doing an online Bible Study, and currently it is looking at the "first Adam", so that is what I will touch on today.

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:45 1 Corinthians 15:22 Romans 5:18-19

So, you may have seen that I typed the "first Adam". Many of you may be saying, "You mean there was more than one Adam?" In short, yes there was. Read 1 Corinthians 15:45 and you will see what I am talking about. The Adam that we all grew up hearing about with Eve is known as the first Adam. The Last Adam was Christ. So why title this "Born Into Sin"? Well, most people know that when you were born into this world, you did not come in without sin. Even though you were an infant, and had done no wrong...you still had sin hanging over your head. I know that alot of people say that a just God would not let that happen, and that if he really cared about us he would not have allowed that to be. Well, he is a just God, and back in the first Adam's day there were rules. Unfortunately Adam and Eve both broke the rules.

You have to understand that Adam represented all of the human race, he was our link to God. God has always dealt with mankind through a representative link, and the first Adam was that link. So, the first Adam was created in the image of God, but when he sinned with Eve, he destroyed and disgraced that image. So that damaged image, along with his sin was passed onto all generations from him.....so that would be us. So the first Adam reproduced what would become generations of sinners. when you were born, like it or not, you inherited that damaged image and the judgement that comes along with it. So, God did not try to fix the human race, he sent a new representative, Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, he became the last Adam.

So, in the same way that the problem came through one man, the first Adam, the answer came through one man, Christ the last Adam. There is also a reason that Jesus was not called the second Adam. Second implies that there may be more to follow, but stating that something is the last leaves no doubt that nothing will follow. There would be no other Adam's following Christ, because God crucified the WHOLE of fallen humanity on the cross in Christ. So, we are all born into sin, and there is nothing unfair about it. We should be rejoicing in the fact that God saw fit to send his only son to save us. The only way out of your sin, and into Heaven is through the Son.....make no mistake, there is no other path.

I hope that this has helped you and answered some of your questions and concerns. Please feel free to leave me a post on this site if you have any other questions, or if you need prayer. God Bless.

Mark

Hanging in there....

So it has been a little while since my last post, lots of things going on! God is still breaking us down and getting ready to reposition us. It is during these times that I have the most difficulty. It is during these times that I realize that I am still a work in progress....a work that was started long ago, and is now being continued. I told my wife today that I feel like my family is like the tribes of Israel were long ago....just wandering through the wilderness. It is difficult at times, and it takes a while for the reality of what God is trying to do in my life to sink in.

I believe that God does have something big lined up for me and my whole family, I guess we are just being prepared for it. For now, we are hanging on....and waiting.

Busy?

Wow, it is amazing how Lucy ( Satan's nickname I gave him) keeps on destroying the Truth. I have to admit I need to slow down and spend more time with Jesus. Jesus I am so sorry that I've been busy. In day to day life with kids and school, house work, grocery shopping, most days you wake up with your feet running and never stop till I hit the bed for sleep again. Hope this video helps you like it did me.

God Bless You All,
Misti

A Night of Hope

My wife and I just finished watching Joel Osteen's "A Night of Hope" from Yankee's Stadium in New York (we had it on the DVR!) I have always said that Joel is a "feel good" preacher, and it is true, you really won't hear anything negative out of him or his message. I watch a variety of preachers, evangelists, etc. to get a good grasp on what is going on around me and to get a different view point. I have to admit though, Joel can lift my spirit and touch my heart in an instant, and that is what the good news of the Lord is really about anyway.....Hope. Joel hit on several points, but the one that I was really glad that he touched on is something I have both dealt with, and have spoke about on our blog several times....letting your past go.

I think that is one of the hardest things for new Christians to do, is to let their past go and understand that we are starting with a new slate. The devil will always creep up and try to steal your joy and remind you of your past, your failures in life. Don't give up! The devil will not have any authority unless you give it to him! We have to understand that when we ask for God's forgiveness, and we believe that Jesus died for our sins, that we are starting fresh.......all things from the past have fallen away, and we are new creatures IN CHRIST! I am really glad that I recorded the Night of Hope event, it really gave me a boost when I needed it. So, for all of you out there reading this right now, remember......you are a child of the most high God! Like Joel said, you have everything that you need to be an outstanding man or woman of God right inside you!

May God Bless you in all that you do!

Mark

Who's Right and Who's Wrong?

So, you are trying to make the right decision about your life and about God. By now, you are probably quickly finding out that it is not as easy as just speaking the words and it happens just like magic! You are probably discouraged, and wanting to quit, saying "It is too hard, it would just be easier for me to stay the way I am. I will try another day." I was the same way....for years! It is easy to quit and go back to what you were doing, and I agree that it is hard to try and change your life from everything that you have known...if it were easy, everyone would do it with no problem. Like everything else in life, it is all the more sweet when you earn it! Let me give you a scripture here;

(ISV) 2 Corinthians 6:14 - Stop becoming unevenly yoked with unbelievers. What partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? What fellowship can light have with darkness?

So, this is the one thing that new believers hate to hear. That verse means that all those people that are against what you are trying to do, and all those people that continue to do what you are trying to get away from, are people that you cannot be around anymore. You are not going to be able to hang around (yoke up) with unbelievers! It just does not work! Besides, if you are trying to quit drugs, and alcohol, you are not strong enough to be around it while you are trying to quit....trust me on this one, I tried it. To be able to make the conversion to Christianity work, you are going to have to be around like minded people, people that will be there for you in times of need. The only time those old friends will be around for you is if it benefits them.

When you are more sound as a Christian, and have kicked the habit for a while, it is okay to have casual conversations with your old friends. I am by no means telling you to completely abandon them, but for this to work, you cannot be around them for a while. I am only in contact with very few of my old friends anymore. Most of them disappeared when they realized that I was not using anymore. There is only one friend that is from my past that was a drug user, and is now a Christian, that I still really talk to. So, the answer to who's right and who's wrong is.....The ones that support you and your walk with Christ are the ones that you need around you. The ones that are trying to drag you away from that are the ones that you cannot have around you...at least for the time being.

I hope this has helped you in your decision to quit drugs, and come home to Christ. It is a rough road sometimes, but one that must be traveled.

Mark

Test MMS From Blackberry

I Have Setup My Mobile Blogger

I setup the mobile blogger on my Blackberry. Now I can post pictures and text from anywhere, this will be cool!

Judge, Jury, and Executioner

In today's world it seems that everyone has their own opinion on how we should be living our lives. There is no forgiveness among the people of today. Many times I have tried to reach out, but without any avail. In the time of Jesus there was a man by the name of Saul, he had no forgiveness and in fact murdered Christians for their believes. (Acts 6,7,8,9) Then Jesus decided that it was enough and that he would use Saul for His name's sake. He knocked Saul off a horse and blinded him. Through out this time Saul meet Jesus and turned into a new man. He spent time getting to know Jesus and the Christian faith. In time God renamed Saul, his new name is Paul. He is author of many books in the Bible. Without Paul most of the New Testament would not be.
This brings me to my point, judging people on their pasts. No matter what I have done, or what anyone else has done, Jesus died for those sins, and when we repent and do it no more, those sins are washed away by the Blood He shed for us.

Isaiah 43: 25 "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins."

That verse means that he doesn't even remember what you've done. If Jesus can take a man like Paul, and use him for God's purpose, why can't He do that with me, or Mark or someone like you? He CAN and He IS. He can take Misti and make me a new person. He can take Mark and make him a new person. He can take you and make you a new person. Don't be the one doing the judging and the executing.

Matthew 7: 1-2 "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."

Jesus was judged on the cross for our sins. It was finished a long time ago...........People have a past for a reason, sinners need to see that there is HOPE in the Light of Jesus Christ. All we need to do is reach out........

Praying God's Love to everyone
Misti

One Sacrifice For All....The Work Is Done

I was reading in Hebrews at work tonight and came across a piece of scripture that I believe can help a new believer to understand the finality of the work that Christ has done. Here is the scripture;

Hebrews 10:11-12
"Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God."

Now, what does this mean? Do you see the contrast in this small piece of scripture? The contrast is between standing and sitting. The Levitical priest always stood....because his work was NEVER done. When Jesus was offered as the sacrifice he was seated at the right hand of the Father. You only sit when you are DONE with something (in this context anyway). So now all that had to be done was in verse 13;

Hebrews 10:13
"Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool."

So, having offered, as priest, the all sufficient sacrifice, Jesus now sits as King and is looking forward to the ultimate triumph over all who oppose him! You need to realize that the work Jesus did on the cross for you and I was a FINAL work, there is nothing left for you and I to do! So be bold, and tell that devil and that addiction that you have, and all things not of Christ, to BE GONE, IN JESUS NAME!