Repentance

I went to church this morning and this is what Pastor Hackbarth sermon was about. It was a really good sermon and I would like to pass it on. The title of this is repentance, people believe they know what this means but repentance means a promise or resolve not to repeat the offense; an attempt to make restitution for the wrong, or in some way to reverse the harmful effects of the wrong where possible. When we do wrong doings, and we know it's wrong, we feel dirty, as we have failed, and we just want to push it away and act like it never happened. The biggest thing that we feel we fail with is temptation. Being tempted is nothing to be ashamed of it is what we do after we are tempted that may be. We are always going to be tempted to do things that are wrong, but it's the decision to fall into the temptation or to turn the other way. If you decide to fall into the temptation than that is sin, not being tempted. It is hard to turn away from what we are tempted by because we are tempted by things we desire. The things we are tempted with fit so perfectly to us, that is why we fall into temptation. Like my pastor said, "It is like we are setting up our own trap, putting the bait in that we like, then falling right into our own trap." When we fall into temptation we give excuses and make it look like it's not our fault. My pastor used an example from Genesis when Adam and Eve ate from the tree. God came into the garden and asked them where they are. Adam told him they were hiding because they were naked. God then asked who told them they were naked, He also asked them if they ate from the tree. Automatically Adam put the blame on his wife, Eve. Adam tells God, "The woman you gave me, she gave me the fruit from the tree, and then I ate it." Did you also notice that not only did Adam pass the blame onto his wife, he also passed the blame onto God, by saying " the wife YOU gave me." Then God asked Eve "What have you done?" She then tells him that Satan deceived her and she ate the fruit. Eve also passed the blame on someone else, it wasn't her husband or God, it was Satan. We always tell ourselves that it is not our fault because Satan tempted us so it is his fault. No it's not, yes, Satan gives us the opportunity, influence, and a push, but it is OUR decision what we do with the temptation, what we do is our responsibility. Not God's, our friends, parents, or Satan's, it's ours! We all pass the blame on to other people because we don't want to admit to what we have done, it's much easier to just pass the blame. God was not asking Adam and Eve where they were because He wanted to know. God already knew where they are, God was asking so THEY realized where they were. We need to stop blaming others for what we do. If we do it, we need to take responsibility for it. We have control over ourselves. Also we try to compromise. The only thing that will save us from our sinning and guilt is repentance. If we ask God for forgiveness and try to make things right, then things will become right. Yes, like I have said before we are going to mess up. We struggle but that is what we have God for, not just struggling, but He is always there. He is going to go through the struggle with you, and He will help you. He love you so much and He wants to help you. I'm going to close this by saying, we trip up, we mess up, we fall into temptation because it is so easy, but we need to take responsibility for what we do and repent!. It is no one else fault for what we do, we can turn things around, God will help you out after falling in. God is amazing and He loves you unconditionally.

Some verses from the Bible(: (remember, these are from the message bible)

Don't let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, "God is going to trip me up." God is impervious to evil and puts evil in no one's way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and us only. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin gros up to adulthood, and becomes the real killer. James 1-13-15

So let god work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and He'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master, it's the only way you'll get on your feet. James 4:7-10

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not he only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ-eternal and glorious plans they are!- will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word, yes, He does. 1 Peter 5:8-11

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down, He'll never let you be pushed past your limit, He'll always be there to help you come through it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Music :D  
Tenth Avenue North-You Are More 
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwtcwQwgdsA&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Thousand Foot Krutch- Out of Control
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ad1FSMu1I0

Prayer♥
Dear Jesus, Please help with the temptations that we face everyday. We know that we are always going to face temptations, especially the ones that fit so perfectly to us, but help us turn from the temptations that we face. Help us to not fall in. Let us know that even if you do fall, you will pull us out of it and help us go the other way. Thank your for each day you give us, we know that ever day counts, and tomorrow is not promised. Love you Jesus. In Jesus name, Amen♥

Love ya guys(:


.

Bow Before Him

It has been about a month since I completely gave my life to Jesus. My life was changed at a camp that I have attended twice now. As I have said in my other blog, I went to came 3 years ago, I accepted Jesus into my heart but then I moved so my flame burned out. This year at camp though, it was different, it was so much more life changing. I almost decided not to go to camp this year but one of my closest friends talked me into it and I can't thank her enough. Before I arrived at the camp, I asked Jesus to do something for me that would be life changing because I was barely hanging on, if hanging on at all to Him. He definitely answered my prayer. The first night of camp the speaker talked about what was stopping us from giving our lives to Jesus all the but this and but that, that came with it. That really had the most impact on me because I was putting someone in my life before God and I finally realized that, that night. I went up and had someone pray for me. The second night he talked about identity crises; how we convince ourselves that we are what we have done, failures, what other people say that we are, and by our insecurities. This one did not speak to me that much, but it was an amazing sermon and I could see that it spoke to a lot of the kids at that camp because they were struggling with that. So I am very thankful for that sermon. The third night he talked about being branded by Jesus. This was my other favorite sermon. It talked about when we are branded by Jesus that, He is the main part of our lives, and how we need to keep that fire for Jesus alive inside of us. This was the night that I gave my life to Jesus Christ because I felt that I was branded a long time ago but I kept falling away from Him and I did not want to do that anymore. I went to the front and I started worshiping to God and you can tell that so many lives were being changed as you looked around. I got angry, yes angry, because all the people looked so happy and free. I could not realize why I never felt anything like that before when I gave my life to Jesus.You know how so many people say that when they do it they just feel so free and something changed in them, well I never go that before. I wanted to feel that change, I started to pray to God and I prayed that He would make me feel that change. I was mad at God, I kept asking Him what I was doing wrong. He then put a picture in my head, it was two hands about to grab hold of each other but they were not quite there. I knew in my heart that, that was the hand of God and the other was mine. I felt so close but like I just could not quite get there. I knew something was holding my back . I knew God was telling my to go to the front to the alter and bow before Him and pray. Well there were tons of other people there and I acted like I didn't hear Him because I didn't want people to look at me. How lame is that, who cares what anyone thinks. Let me tell you right now, when God asks you to do something for him, do it, it shows Him how much you love Him, and that you don't care what anyone else things. Anyways, so I pretty much told God no. This pathway between people started forming in front of my to the alter, I thought to myself you have got to be kidding me. Then one of the girls taking pictures sat in the spot were I was to go. I thought she would be there awhile, well I hoped, so I told God, if and when that girl moves I will go to the alter. Right then and there she moved. I decided that I should really go to the alter and I did. I started to pray to God how hurt I was, that I was so close to Him but I was not quite there. This girl came and prayed with me and then she says" Sierra, God loves you so much and He knows that you are hurting, He understands" She said some others things but this is what stuck out to me the most. He did hear my cry and He was there listening. Another thing that blew my mind is when she got up to go pray with someone else, I never seen her before, and she knew my name... I went back to praying then our preacher came and sat by me and put his hand on my back and started praying. I thought i was the preacher so I opened my eyes to see and what I saw was feet with olden day sandles. I was so shocked I couldn't believe what I was seeing, then I thought to myself then it must not be the speaker, he was wearing tennis shoes. I went back to praying again. I felt a hand on my head. As the speaker got up to leave I looked at him walk away and sure enough he was wearing tennis shoes. I started to cry because right then and there I realized that I was actually bowing before the feet of Jesus and He could hear me hurting. I know that He showed me that He was there with me. I literally saw the feet of Jesus and He put His hand on me and prayed. I prayed and thanked Him so much for the life changing event that I prayed for. After I prayed for a little longer, I got up and I felt a weight lift off my chest. Then I saw that picture in my head but the hands were now holding each others and I knew that I finally have God in my life and I was never going to let go. I started to worship my God.

Whatever is holding you back from God, remove it, because God is wanting to come into your life. He wants to be apart of everything and not just somethings. It will be hard but it will be so worth it. God is amazing and I hope that this will help you in someway. My life has changed so much and I know it is for the better. All you have to do is really accept Christ into your life and then He will come in. You just have to make that decision that you are wanting that. You are the only one that can make that decision no one else. God keeps pulling at you, just do it(: No matter how many times I told God that I didn't want to go to the alter, I didn't want to give Him every part of my life, He just kept on pulling at me and He never gave up on me. He will never give up on you either. I'm going to pray and then let you go.

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray to you that you let my story work in who reads this, Lord. That you would help them see that you are the answer to all their problems. Let them know that You want to be part of their lives so bad and that You love them so much. I thank you so much for giving me my life changing event that I asked for. Now, I pray and ask you to give them their life changing event. Keep pulling at them Lord. Love you. In Jesus name, Amen♥

Love you and I encourage you, if you can find a church camp that you can go to, go, it will be so worth your time(:

Struggling is okay.

Hey. Sorry it has taken me so long to write another blog. In my first blog I said that I would be truthful, well I have been struggling a little bit the past couple weeks. God has given me a test and I failed. Being a christian is hard, it is, but it is so worth it!! You have to give God time and I have not been doing that lately. I have been reading my bible some but I have not found myself praying lately. I constantly think about how I failed God recently but I think that is because I have not asked for forgiveness. I'm so embarrassed to even talk to Him. But not only do I feel that I disappointed God, I feel that I have disappointed some of my closest friends. God knows that I failed His test, but Jesus will forgive me if I ask for forgiveness so what better time to ask for forgiveness, than now? So here it goes. And maybe you need to ask for forgiveness for somethings you have done. Jesus will forgive you if you ask forgiveness He loves you, never forget that.

Dear Heavenly Father, I know that I have failed you recently. You asked me to do something, I did it half way and then backed out. I'm embarrassed to even pray to You right now. You sent Your son to die on the cross for me and everyone else and I can't simply obey You. It's not fair to You. I'm truly sorry and I am coming now, Jesus, to ask for your forgiveness, to let me know I am forgiven, to help me move on, and live for You, Jesus. Thank you for dieing on the cross for our sins. Love you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Even as Christians we struggle. So many people judge us and make it seem like we have everything together and that our life is perfect. Well wrong, we have a life just like everyone else, we have hard times, we struggle not everything is perfect. But what is different from us and everyone else is we have Jesus to be there with us and help us through it. Jesus will never leave your side. When you need help ask for it, when you need wisdom, ask for it. It is as simple as that, He will be there to the very end, but the thing is when we have Jesus in our lives there is no end, with Him we have eternity. It is so easy to ask God to come into your heart, He is longing to be with you, He is just waiting for you to give Him the okay. Yes, you will sin, we are sinners, but we need to try our hardest not to. and when we do we ask for forgiveness, we receive it, and then life goes on. Jesus keeps no record of wrong. When He forgives, He forgets! He knows it is hard that is why He was sent here so when things get ruff He can be here with us through it. Though, do not sin because you know you will be forgiven. God knows when you are doing that and really what you are doing is playing God, and that is not a true relationship. Yes, you will mess up sometimes but it's okay. I know I was to talk about why I gave my life to Jesus in this blog but I just feel that this is so important. God is not asking you to be perfect, He's simply asking you to surrender and to admit you need His help. God loves you and he just wants to be part of your life. Don't we own him that much, He created us and He loves us more than anyone else could ever try. His love is unconditional, what more could we ask for. In my next blog I do plan on talking about why I gave Jesus my life and what happened after. It's a testimony that I know God would like me to share with people. The main things I want you to get from this is, we all struggle, but with God we are not doing it alone. He takes every step with us. God will not bring you to something you can not get through. When you sin ask for forgiveness and try not to do it again.Well I love you and so does Jesus(:

Bible versis(:  (I get these from the message bible)

'God-devotion makes a country strong, God-avoidance leaves people weak." Proverbs 14:34

"Human strength can't begin to compete with God's "weakness"." 1 Corinthians 1:25

Some more music I would like you to listen to: (I try to add different kinds of music but you can tell who I like to listen to the most haha)

Lecrae- Background

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZosXYJYV8c

Meredith Andrews-Can Anybody Hear Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhuecogczYY

Disiple-After The World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eConC09RBmE

One more prayer before I let you go.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for each day you give us on this earth to be with our families and friends and to spread to word to the hurting. Let the hurting know you are there for them. If there is someone struggling because they feel that they messed up big and they are not good enough for you, let them know that You love them so much and You forgive them for anything they have done in the past. Touch the hearts of the people Lord. I pray to You in Jesus name, Amen.♥

Giving your life to the one who gave His.♥

Hello. Welcome to my first real blog. I'm excited about this one and I hope it does something for you. This is on of my stories, hope you like.

I went to camp a couple weeks ago and that is when I completely gave my life to Jesus. One of the most important things I learned is don't wait to give your life to Jesus because you feel you need to change the way you act or live your life. Let God do that, let Him make the change in you, let him work in you and he will make that change. I thought I had to change before I came to Jesus, but Christ changed me! I made the mistake of not giving my life fully to him before. I always just gave him parts of my life that he could take charge of but I still wanted to be in control of some parts but that doesn't work. If you want God to make the change in your life and fully have what God has for you, you have to hand everything over to him, not just some parts of your life, all parts. My best friend is the one who really introduced me to Christ. I always went to church but I went cause I had to not because I really wanted to, I didn't care. When I accepted Jesus into my life the first time, I was so on fire for it at first, and my flame just burned out. I tried to get that flame back three years ago when I went to camp, it worked until i moved a couple months later because I was forced to move from my hometown, i thought my world was ending, I was mad and hurt. God has always been part of my life since I first accepted him but I was lukewarm, which is probably the worst thing to be. I never fully gave God every part of me, that is the mistake I made. Either you have God part of your life and give it all to him, and have a true relationship with him or you don't. God knows if you are truly committed to Him or not. I know it's a scary thing, you want God there when things get rough, but when things are good you don't notice He is even there. You want to make decisions for yourself that you think would be the best, but the thing is, we don't know whats best for us or how it will affect us later in life, but He does. He knows everything about us, He created us, He knows what is best for our life. It's scary, I know, I have been there, it took me 4 years to completely give my life, but don't make my mistake! It is so worth it to give your life to Jesus. He is always there, He will never leave your side. When everyone else walks out He is still there. When I felt like I had no one to go to I went to him even though I didn't have him apart of my life like I should have had, and guess what, when I asked for him, He was already there with me and I just let everything out on the table. He has this love for you that is unconditional. He loves you more than you could ever imagine. Jesus died on the cross for you. That is so amazing, that is how much He loves you and more. It's amazing to not have fear, to know that your God is taking every step with you and that He is never leaving. God is amazing and His love is so strong for you, I would love for you to know what that feels like, and you wont just feel it for a day, a week, a month, you will feel it everyday that you live your life with Christ in your heart. There is only one way to get away from the pain, it's not cutting, drinking, drugs, sex, ect., it's having Jesus in your life! That is a decision you have to make on your own though, no one can make that decision for you, except you. To having a relationship with God is not just reading your bible, and praying, of course that is part of it, it is very important, but God is you friend, he wants to be your friend, (you still need to fear him because he is God), but he is there always he listens. He answers your prayers, it might take awhile for him to, but Jesus is never late. He knows when it's best for everything in your life. Jesus is someone who you can go and talk to about anything, you never have to hide anything from him, if you sin talk to him about it and ask for forgiveness. You can literally talk to him about anything, your day, struggles, good times. God wants you to talk to Him and for you to make Him part of your everyday life. He loves you so very much. You can never lose faith, because faith is what keeps you holding on. So I just want you to soak that in, everything that I have said today. Really let it work in you.(: My next blog is going to be about my experience at camp, why I finally gave my life fully and completely to Jesus, and what made me never want to go back to my old life.

Dear Jesus, I pray that with what I have said today, that you will help it make a change in them, for them to hunger to know more about you and to want more of you. Maybe even for them to make the decision that they want to give their heart to you Jesus. Work in them Jesus and let them know that you have always been there and that you are never going to leave their side, and also that you love them so much and you want them to experience the love that you have for them everyday. Thank you for everything that You do for us Jesus. In Jesus name, Amen.

Here are some addresses that you can go to, they are songs that I would like you to listen to(:

Lecrae-Take Me As I Am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po3k6sPHeX0

Meredith Andrews-You're Not Alone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FXLo3aCkuQ

JJ Heller-What Love Really Means
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgGUKWiw7Wk

Don't forget, I love you and so does Jesus.♥

New begining.

For my first blog I am going to explain somethings to expect with this. I'm going to be real, I'm going to be truthful, I'm going to tell the word of God, I'm going to try to help at least one person with each blog. These blogs are for anyone. Don't feel like you have to be someone else just to read and accept this. Maybe you are someone that knows of God but does not know His love for you, maybe you have given your life to Jesus before but something happened where you became staggered, maybe you have given your life to Christ and you are just looking for encouragement and learning more, or maybe even you have never heard of Jesus Christ and you're curious. Well I have something to tell you right now, I have been through all of these. You are not alone. I'm hear and Jesus is here. No matter what your situation is, no matter what you have been through before, you have a God who is wanting to take a hold of your life and change it for the better. I'm going to warn you right now, God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, or sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. Giving your life to Jesus is definitely worth it. I'm going to tell you why through my blogs. I'm going to talk about Gods love, struggles, my testimony, others testimonies, the past, the future, scriptures from the bible, hell, heaven, things that God has put on my heart, just everything. For help on more understanding I will add songs, scriptures, my own life stories, book knowledge, and some prayer at the end. You better buckle up because you are going to get blown away.(: In a good way. There is only one thing I ask of you... actually listen to what I'm saying and open your heart to what God tells you, if you feel that you are starting to change and you are wanting to give your life to Jesus, LET IT HAPPEN(: Don't be scared, it will be amazing, worth it, and a life change that you would have never expected. Well that's it for my first blog if you are totally hooked, kind of hooked, or not at all come back anyway because I'm working on my first real blog. Thanks. & don't forget Jesus loves you and so do I. (:

P.S. I know what it's like to be confused about all this and struggle with this but it's okay. No one is perfect. You just need to make the decision that this is what you want then God will be there to take your hand and guide your way(: