What Today's Devotions Help Me See

Today's Devotion: Freedom
Today's Bible Reading: Romans 13:1-10

This devotion hits home with me because I feel the same way when it comes to driving. My queen teases me for driving the speed limit but in the end she thanks me because she doesn't have to worry about unnecessary drama like getting a ticket or hitting the brakes because I see a highway trooper and like Mr. Lamborn's wife has to remind him from time to time, "It's the law."

It is liberating and not a "hinder" when you do the right thing. It's a simple to remember; not easy to live by but the alternative is much worse in the end. That is how I view the Bible in two ways in regards a sense of freedom because even if people wrong you in the end you are the winner because it is you who took the high road and knowing that once you leave this earth you be in presence of God.

Again, I'm not going to lie it is so hard to not be effected when it comes to living right now because with the climate of corporations wanting to pay workers barely a living wage, people living their lives in a immoral way, racial tensions at a all time high, news organization reporting news before getting the facts in order. You can find yourself wanting to reach out and begin living that way but what I have found out is that in the end that way of living turns to ashes. It may not happen at that moment but it will happen and what I have learned the longer you live that way the longer it takes to rebuild your life and rebuild trust and respect from people.

For me the way of the world is going it's pushing me back to my Maker because the more I watch television (which is less and less) the more I getting back to the basics of reading books, rediscovering how much I love God, the price He paid by sending His son to die for my sins. For many people, the older you become the more you see how wonderful life is and you don't have time to waste it.

I wish more people could see the freedom in doing it God's way but as always it's best to lead by example and not just our speech.

What Today's Devotions Help Me See

Today's Devotion: Now Is Not Forever
Today's Bible Reading: Revelation 21:1-5

"The confidence we have as Christians is that God has something good planned for us. Suffering was not part of His original act of creation, but it serves as a temporary reminder of what happens in a world where God’s order has been broken."

~ from Now Is Not Forever {Our Daily Bread 10August2010}

To be honest I can't add anything to that but I will try. Many times we think God is trying to keep us from having fun. In today's world many people want God out of their lives because they feel it's an intrusion and Satan blinds people time and time again that most pleasures of this world is the best way to live but in the end that happiness is only temporary. This is what happened to Eve in the garden.

The serpent made Eve focus on a tiny part of the Garden of Eden instead of her keeping her eye on the Creator and if she would have done this she would have see all that God had blessed her and her mate with. Eve and her husband Adam would have to work but it wouldn't be as hard as today. She would have had pain in regards to child bearing but not that much pain.

Instead she allowed herself to take her eyes off of her blessings and focus on a moment of happiness which in the end cost her dearly in the end in regards to true happiness and joy. Lately many people around me is reminding me little by little how important life is when less and less unnecessary drama is allowed in my life.

There will be heartache from time to time in my life but many times small things like turning off the news, not watching the latest gossip show and opening an informative book or relaxing to some good music or just sometimes just being still for 15-30 minutes and listening to God and focusing on Him my day will go much better.

This past weekend my best friend said something to me which helped me greatly in dealing with my job,

"Focus on each day and what that work day is paying and allowing you to enjoy."

That's pretty cool advise and reading this devotion ties into that...

"Think about how good it will feel when it stops hurting."

In today's world where people think they are entitled to talk to people harshly not think about the other person's feelings. but we (especially myself) have to keep in mind this is not something we have to endure 24/7 and when we begin focusing on the wonders that God has blessed you and with it makes the day more bearable.

Great devotional for today for my spirit.

Finding My Way Back (A Work in Progress)

I have gotten away from writing on my main blog, Theology and Technology it's not funny. I've gotten away from reading God's word it's shameful. I haven't been to church in so long and now I'm seeing the result of it in my life. This is not a good thing. I'm finding myself feeling that opening the Bible I would be a hypocrite and I know that's a lie straight from Hell because once you give your life to Christ you never lose your salvation. I find myself letting my job get the best of me, I've lost my way of finding out what God wants for my life. I feel like I've done every type of job and now I'm at the end of not being what I should be. But again, that's a lie from Satan.

I know God wants me to turn back to His word, because He wants the best for me but it's up to me to make that move, make that first step. I need to begin putting things back in priority. I started early this morning making a schedule to listen/reading the word of God. I have the entire Bible on CDs. It's 66 books in the Bible and it's 52 weeks in a year so I will make it a habit listening to one CD a week of the word of God. I say this because it's good to listen to something over and over because that is how it gets in your heart, your soul, your mind. We watch some television programs over and over, movies over and over, music for sure we listen to the same track over and over so why not God's word?

Funny thing happened to me early this morning...very early this morning. I woke up about 3am so I got up, took me a shower, grabbed my ipod and listen to the first 19 chapters of Genesis. Funny how I tried to get sleepy listening to something that will enhance my life and as soon as I finished listening to Disc 1 of the Holy Bible (NIV) I couldn't get back to sleep for an hour. When it comes to reading books, or something that will help you in life we get sleepy our mind tries to wander, we try and get sleepy and something I found out, WE have control that. So again after work I will listen/read the first 19 Chapters of Genesis but it's something I have to do if I want my life to improve. And not only do I need to read it but get back to obeying His word.

It's amazing what God covers in just the first chapters of Genesis in regards marriage, quantity of marriage, what we can eat, capital punishment. The Bible is a wonderful guide for life and I'm sorry I allowed myself to drift away from it.

But again, as a friend used to say to me all the time, "I'm a work in progress, Darren." I'm that way too and I'm glad God loves me "just because". He knows my faults but it doesn't mean I have the right to stay in that condition I will force myself to move away from that day by day.

On to a better life.