I can't tell you how much this post meant to me. Last night I prayed about how I wanted to live for Jesus more and desired strength, but I had now idea how. I actually used the words "i feel as if I'm taking two steps forward, and one step back each day."

I truly believe the Lord used you to talk to me today. Thank you so much, and God Bless.
Kel | 04.11.06 - 8:38 am | #

Thank you again guys! What you have written here has been very much on my heart these past few days. May the Lord bless you for your desire for Him!

Oh... btw - We seem to be living in the past.... "Originally posted on August 19th, 2006"... heh :)
David Peyton | Homepage | 04.11.06 - 11:32 am | #

originally posted August 19th, 2006??



Can you say, "Sneak Peek."??





What about "typo"?


Still eagerly awaiting your call Alex!

God Bless!
Marshall Sherman | Homepage | 04.11.06 - 12:14 pm | #

"Here we are, lacking in strength, courage, and patience. Lacking the power to stand, to move forward, and to make a difference in our evil world. We find it so easy to conform to this world and so very difficult to go against the flow. We seem to fall back two steps for every one step we take forward and all our “firm” resolutions turn out short-lived and useless."

I do not entirely agree with this. We arn't necessarily called to rebel against culture, neither are we to be of the world. Yeah - it's one of those love/hate things. We're in the world, but our citizenship is in heaven. We have desires and dreams like people of this world, but our eternal destination is different.

And there is another case for argument. Who am I to judge a Catholic? Do they not believe that Jesus died and rose for the forgiveness of our sins? In what ways do I myself stray away from the point of the passage just like the worshiping of icons is (according to Reformed thought from what I understand) a disfiguration of the entire God-experience? We all got our falts. I'm not entirely sure of what mine are, but I think a biggie is pride.

Your previous post reads:

"Remember, the time is coming where it will become more and more difficult to avoid sin and more and more necessary to develop the strength of character to resist it, fight it, and conquer it.

The landscape is changing rapidly. We must turn to God and plead with Him to grant us the grace to strengthen our character now, before it’s too late."

These percieved evils arn't really the end of the world. I have to agree with a RL friend of mine: the legalization of homosexual marriage won't be the end of American society as we know it. Just because the evil passes as acceptable in society doesn't mean we Christians have lost the fight. We have God on our side, like you say.

That's my response, though. I can see that you may have been going for... seeking after God's help in the sense of tolerance and understanding of other worldviews, or something? Or am I missing something?

But don't get me wrong, Alex. Your writing makes me think about my life in perspective. I guess it's good that I don't entirely agree with you, because if I did then I think that means I'm brainwashed.
Dan | Homepage | 04.11.06 - 12:20 pm | #

You guys always make me think about things in a way I haven't in the past. This is a good post to keep in mind when you think you're stumbling with your faith.
Mr. K | Homepage | 04.11.06 - 2:58 pm | #

"It would be so beneficial if Christians studied the four Gospels more than they do."

This is very true, I believe, for everyone. Especially with Easter fast approaching.

Great post!
Zachary | Homepage | 04.11.06 - 6:41 pm | #

I'm so happy you posted this! It was a much needed reminder in my walk and relationship with Jesus. God bless!
Katie Marie | 04.11.06 - 8:17 pm | #

That was a very encouraging post. Thank you!
Christine | Homepage | 04.11.06 - 8:43 pm | #

One thing that rings Truth in seeing Christ face to face is that we can not see ourselves in any other way than "in need of Him". When you find out who you really are in Light of Him, and then find that His whole desire is towards you, it is so earth-shattering. So humbling.
True Humility is, I think, the best armor against the enemy because it puts us in the proper position and perspective. True Humility only comes through relationship.
Great post guys.
Deeapaulitan | Homepage | 04.12.06 - 5:30 pm | #

Thank you for the reminder! Friendships do take time, and our relationship with God should take more of our concentration than anything else. That is the challenge.
Elizabeth | Homepage | 04.13.06 - 6:20 am | #

It's true. The main thing to do is once you are familiar with Jesus and His teachings, to BELIEVE them, not just believe in the idea of their reality. I think that's why there's such widespread unhappiness among Christians and non-Christians alike today--no one actually believes. If we trust in Christ's power and mercy, and we truly believe that He is the Christ, nothing can stop us because through our intercession, we can change the world. Remember, we can never lose the fight--God will come in glory at the end of time and raise the dead and judge the world. We must pray for mercy on the world.
mia | 04.22.06 - 3:26 pm | #