Testimony Tuesday: Do You REALLY love God?

God Gold of the day

“If you REALLY love God, you would be reading His Word!”

-Travis Dixon

Convicting statements like this one call for a challenge to make a response of action! By spending time in Gods Word today, it’s the decision that will not only change your day, but your life!!!

“King David said this about him: ‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.”

Acts 2:25

“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

Psalms 119:11

Testimony Tuesday: Two Moments

God Gold of the day

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”

― Mark Twain

To think of this quote in terms of how it applies to the life of a Christian. The day you are born, how God, your Creator. created you and pieced you together so specifically and so uniquely that there is NOBODY else in this world with the same cellular makeup, genes, and personality of you. He thought of you and chose you before the world was created, think about that for a moment……

Then there is the next, after your formation, God came into your life to bring transformation. The moment God reveals the truth to you about Him, who He is and all He has made happen to save you from your sin and death to bring you victory and life. That is the moment God begins to transform you from the inside out, and NOTHING will ever be the same. Remember how specifically and uniquely God created you? That was wasn’t an accident, actually for a specific and unique purpose.

In the Book of Acts, chapter one, we see the disciples, all gathered together awaiting to find out what their formation (birth) and the transformation was all for. Jesus shows himself to them, they see how the Savior is ALIVE, even after the pain and death He endured on the cross. Jesus spent some time with these men and women to prepare them for the journey that laid ahead. Wait, I thought once you get saved that’s all you need and all there is to it??? Nope, there is MUCH MORE!!! That second greatest moment of your life, apart of the transformation God brings, He opens us up to see the WHY in why we were created and why we were created so specifically and uniquely.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ‘ Acts 1:8

The disciples received the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within them, just as we have. Once Jesus comes into your life and come to faith in Him, you are given the Holy Spirit to live with you and the power of the Spirit is not just for fun, it’s for a purpose. After the disciples receive the Holy Spirit Jesus gives them the big WHY to their lives and the calling He’s given them. To simply GO, and tell others about the Savior that came into your life, saved your life and point them to see Jesus and how He can do the same in their lives as well.

Take some time today to think about these two great moments God has given you. Your birth and the reason for your birth, which is your purpose. We can live our days on this earth chasing all the “fun” and comfortable things the world has to offer but that’s not the WHY to why God has created you so specifically and uniquely. It’s when you, in your uniqueness begin to realize the purpose of why you are here today, why you have been through what you’ve been through, and why Jesus has come to show you just how alive and awesome He really is, that’s when you see it’s not about you and never has been. It’s about Jesus and what He’s done and what He’s called you to do as you carry His name to other’s lives. Nothing more satisfying or great than witnessing the two greatest moments God has given you and helping others see the reason for why they were created the way they are! You have a purpose, you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t, praise God and walk in it today!!!!

Testimony Tuesday: Purpose in Your Story

God Gold of the day

https://youtu.be/g9Meo2Jztwo

Each experience you go through, good and bad, God is designing your story. These experiences you’re having, God is not only changing you, but He’s setting up future moments where God’s hand in your story will change someone’s else’s story forever! Every moment holds a greater purpose than we could ever imagine! Step into it, live it, and point others to the One who is writing your story!!

“We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”‭‭

1 John‬ ‭1:3‬

Testimony Tuesday: “Waiting” by Craig Suglia

God Gold of the day

“I cannot wait to give you the answer on how to deal with your season of waiting… its killing me!”

How many times have you heard someone say “I am in a season of waiting” or tell you that you are in a season of waiting and to just trust God and His timing? I have heard and said this so many times and to be honest it can be more discouraging then anything at times. I feel like it is a general and sort of a cop out answer when it is given to me and when I say it to others it can feel like empty words.

Whether you are waiting for that raise at work, for a future spouse, to start a family, to get accepted to your dream school, end of financial worries, to finally quit an addiction, or finding your career job there are endless possibilities, but regardless you are in this season of waiting, and you want a quick fix and for it to happen now. When you are in this season of waiting with no end in sight to be real it sucks sometimes. In this season, I know I get very impatient especially when I compare and see other people around me thriving; it may make you wonder why it seems like God is answering their prayers and not yours. Which can lead to stress, depression, and worry which could make you look other places instead of God to try and get a quick fix to your problems or to get your wants and plans answered.

Sometimes seasons of waiting can be days, weeks, years, and sometimes you might never get what you want. I know this so far sounds negative and discouraging, but JUST WAIT.

Something that I have realized very recently in this season of waiting which has been years is that I am praying, hoping, and waiting for things I WANT. I am waiting for my plans and wants to come through even if they aren’t inherently selfish things. I know when I pray, and you may do this too when you pray at times about these wants and plans you may say; “Let your will be done in my life God in this season of waiting,” but in the back of your mind you have your plans, timing, and desires that you are praying for. Or you could be putting God in a box with your requests, your timing, and your plans and hope that He answers them. Let me challenge you with this!

Take some time to read these verses before you continue reading this Romans 12:1, Luke 9:23, and Philippians 1:21. Verses I have heard many times phrases like “dying to self”, “take up my cross”, “present myself as a living sacrifice”, and “to die is gain” I heard those words and I understood what they meant, but never put them into practice. If you don’t know what they mean I will try to explain first with “taking up your cross” it will help bring them all together. So the cross now is seen as a symbol that relates to Christ or being a Christian my chain has a cross on it so some people might assume I am religious or a Christian today because I have a cross around my neck. In Jesus’ time, a cross symbolized death, and not just any death but the most intense and painful way to die. When Christ died on the cross for our sins He completely surrendered to God the Fathers plans and fulfilled the purpose He called Jesus Christ to do.

So, when I read these verses now and put the context of that time period behind it, it hit me harder than before. Christ is literally asking me to take my selfish wants, my sins, and my plans for my life and to put them on the cross, and to put them to death and present myself as a living sacrifice in complete surrender to His plan.

So, I challenge you to everyday pray to take up your cross and die to yourself in complete surrender to His plans for your life. Instead of asking for your wants and plans ask God these kind of questions without any of your own input; “God where are you calling me to go?”, “God what are you calling me to be?,” and “God who are you calling me to be with or impact?” When you truly die to self, “to die is gain” really means something. You put to death all the stress and worry of when or how your plans or wants are going to come true and you gain the endless possibilities and things you could not even imagine that God can do when you truly are seeking His will for your life. Living this way is hard and it is a daily decision to take up your cross it leaves you vulnerable hoping and having faith that God is working behind the scenes.

I encourage you to read Romans 8:28, Romans 4:21, and Philippians 1:6 through this time of waiting as a chance to really grow in your faith and relationship with Christ and trust His plan not yours  for this life. I encourage you to be excited in this time because literally with God anything can happen and is possible when you are following His plan for your life.

Testimony Moment: Adam Tomberlin

God Gold of the day

Today’s testimony is a little different….. instead of a story of what God has done throughout someone’s life, it’s a moment of God working in their life bringing out a story has changed their life and we pray it changes yours today!

Question Challenge: How are you using the blessings God has given you? To serve yourself or to serve others?