Journal #3

My philosophy is simple; I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything that He is helps me survive each day. I don't have seven to ten guidelines or principals because I have a whole book. I am a strong Christian and I try to live my faith out everyday. I've decided I'm going to explain my faith using the Lord's words.

1. Belief in a God who is personal and worthy of worship.
"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people in his pasture, the flock under his care." Psalm 95:6-7
The Lord is nothing but personal! He created us in his own image so that we might come to know Him! God wants to be a part of our everyday life. He loves each and everyone of us unconditionally and deserves our praise.

2. A personal relationship with the Lord God.
"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."
John 14:15-17

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:4

"If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love." John 15:10

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:39
The verses about having a personal relationship with the Lord are endless. He desires to have a personal relationship with all of his creation. He knows us completely; he knows our thoughts, desires, plans and even every hair on our heads. He wants us to know and seek after him. By denying our self, and picking up his cross we can truly follow him. A personal relationship means that he is with us and through us and he is made a part of our everyday life. Prayer is a large part too. We pray to seek him, be comforted and to praise him. The Lord is the best friend anyone can have and a constant pillar of hope and love. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

3. Reveals his purpose and plan through the word.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

"Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:12
The Lord God has a plan for all of us. When you follow the Lord not only do you have hope in Jesus but you have hope of a lifetime with your Creator. It is written that he will never give you more than you can handle and that the Lord's will is perfect. I don't really know how people get through trials and hard times without clinging to the love of the Lord.

At this point, I am a crying mess. I think about my life and how the Lord has impacted me and changed my life. The Lord has come into my life and radically changed everything I've ever known. He's mended relationships in my family, shredded hearts and most importantly taught me to love as He loves. He has turned my life upside down and I will forever be grateful to him. It saddens me that the culture we live in has a hard heart toward God. People think that life is meaningless. But a life serving the Lord is nothing but meaningless. Life is a beautiful gift given to us by Christ. And to live for the Kingdom everyday is my goal. I've been persecuted for my faith. But I know that my obedience will be worth it. We live in a culture that doesn't love. People are mocked for being the slightest bit different. The Lord commands us to love our neighbor as our self! His greatest command is love. Love the people on this earth like the Lord loves us. We as believers are to be the light for him on the earth and glorify him in all we do. I am reminded everyday of the beauty of Christ's creation and of His merciful love. We ALL have sinned and all short of the glory of God, but he chose to send his Son to die for us anyway so we can be one with God! What an amazing promise. In the Lord, I will forever be full of everlasting joy.