Conditional Christianity

Sometimes it Takes a Mountain

I faced a mountain that I've never faced before.

That's why I'm calling on You, Lord.

I know it's been a while, but Lord, please hear my prayer.

I need You like I never have before.

Sometimes it takes a mountain.

Sometimes a trouble sea.

Sometimes it takes a desert to get a hold of me.

Your love is so much stronger than whatever troubles me.

Sometimes it takes a mountain to trust You and believe.

Forgive me, Jesus.

I thought I could control whatever life would throw my way.

But this, I will admit, has brought me to my knees.

I need You, Lord, and I'm not ashamed to say...

Sometimes it takes a mountain.

Sometimes a trouble sea.

Sometimes it takes a desert to get a hold of me.

Your love is so much stronger than whatever troubles me.

Sometimes it takes a mountain to trust You and believe.

          I was talking with someone the other day about how some people only serve God in the good times; while there are others who will only serve Him in the bad times. It's always been hard for me to understand that mentality. I mean, sure - I get why someone will serve God when everything in their life is going amazing. On the other hand, I can see why a person would turn to God when their life is completely turned upside down. What I don't understand is why, after turning to God, they don't just live for God...no matter what. 

          I have had this song in my head almost constantly during this last week. There have been things this last week that I have faced (first verse of the song) that I have never faced before; things I have struggled with that I would never have imagined having to war. But - I am not going to turn my back on God just because things are getting rough. On the other hand, I am not going to leave God if/when my battles ease up a little and my life gets amazing. I am in this for the long-haul. It's like the song says, the love of God is "so much stronger than whatever troubles me." 

          I don't want to be a "conditional Christian" and only serve God when it's "convenient" for me. There's another song that comes to my mind: 

I vow to praise You through the good and the bad.

I'll praise You whether happy or sad.

I'll praise You in all that I go through,

Because praise is what I do and I owe it all to You.

          I vowed, a long time ago, to praise God no matter what. I promised Him that, no matter how I was feeling and no matter what I was struggling with, I will praise Him. That vow has kept me. There were many times I wanted to give up - I wanted to give up on my God, my church, my family, my friends, my life. I wanted to throw in the towel because I couldn't take it any longer. But, even when I was on the verge of giving up and giving in - I still would praise Jesus. Because I vowed I would. 

CHALLENGE: 

          Make up in your mind today that you will praise God no matter what. Vow, to yourself and to God, that you will not let the struggles of life get you down enough to where you won't praise God...and - make good on that promise. 

          There are a lot of promises in the Word of God. However, God is not One to just promise something - there are usually stipulations with those promises. For example: 

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14

          God gave us a promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14 - but He gave conditions to His promise. God WILL hear from Heaven. God WILL forgive your sin. God WILL heal your land. IF you humble yourself. IF you pray. IF you seek His face. IF you turn from your wicked ways. 

          If you want God to make good on His promises to you - then you need to give yourself completely to Him. Entrust Jesus with your life, with your heart, with your mind, with your emotions, with your past, with your present, with your future, with everything. Vow to serve God - no matter what!

Don't be a Conditional Christian

Thank God I'm Not What I Used to be...

Sadly, I've heard it said of certain people before, "that person will not make it." Sometimes that person will make it; and, unfortunately, there are other times when the individual will fall and turn their back on God. I have heard it said of me before - 

"Tiffany won't make it. She will give up..eventually. There is only so much a person can take..." 

I used to take those comments as "prophecy" - something that was bound to happen. But now, I take them as a challenge. I won't give up. I may stumble. I may fall. But I will not give up. I am not be where I need to be (not by a long shot), but I have come a long ways from where I once was. 

So many times, we judge ourselves by not measuring up to where we think we need to be. I am not saying we need to be satisfied with where we are at; but what we do need to do, is be thankful to God for bringing us this far. So many people give up after the first difficult step. After the first hint of a trial shows itself, they're out the door. Giving up. If you are still struggling and striving to make progress in your walk with God, you have already come way further than a lot of people. 

Do me, and yourself, a favor today - don't focus on your struggles and your failures; but rather, give thanks to God for bringing you through your trials. Thank God for giving you the power to overcome the temptations that the devil is trying to throw your way. Give God praise - for everything. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Psalm 34:1-4

I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

More than Enough

My God is more than enough
He can supply all needs
He is my El Shaddai
He always looks out for me
Jehovah Jireh, He is my God
Jehovah Jireh, He is my God

So why should I worry 
'Bout the highs and the lows
The ups and the downs 
When by my faith I know

My God is more than enough
He can supply all needs
He is my El Shaddai
He always looks out for me
Jehovah Jireh, He is my God
Jehovah Jireh, He is my God

All of the earth is His
And the fullness thereof
Everything that I need 
You can be sure of 
Jehovah Jireh, He is my God
Jehovah Jireh, He is my God

          I don't know about you; but, so many times, I find myself looking at God like He is -just- enough. I find myself in a situation and most of me does believe God can get my through it (yes, I'm human -SURPRISE!- so I do have some unbelief). However, there is always that small part of me that doubts. I pray, quite often, what the man told Jesus in Mark 9:24 - Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief. 

          Jesus is not -just- enough to take care of your situation. God is -MORE- than enough. 

          There are some things I can do with computers: I am working on being able to write code, etc. I am technically qualified to do some pretty advanced things with computer. So, if you are wanting me to do something simple like wipe your hard drive...with my knowledge and ability, I am -more- than able to do that. Additionally, if you are wanting me to write some code to help you with your website that you are trying to set up...that is what I am currently working on, so I would say that my knowledge and capability would be -just- enough to help with that. 

          Now, that being said, God is -more- than able to do whatever you need. He doesn't have limitations like I do. Well, I take that back - God does have limitations...limitations He put on Himself a long time ago. We are able to put limitations on Jesus. Be careful. God won't push Himself on you - He is a perfect Gentleman. 

          If you are struggling with something - you need to entrust God with it. Remember... 

My God is -MORE- than Enough!

Jesus, You're Excellent

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

~ Psalm 8~

          This Psalm has always struck something inside of me. O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Proclaiming the excellence of my God is something that I never want to cease doing. However, it is verses 3-4 that always gets me: When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 

          When I think about everything I have done. When I think of how low I have stooped. When I think of the evil that has tried to sink it's claws into me - and, at times, I've let it. When I think of the times I've turned my back on God. When I think of the times I've blamed God. When I think of the times I have been angry with God. And yet - God, through all of that, has been mindful of me. Through everything I have done, God has been there for me. Through all of the times I have been angry with God, He was still willing to come down and wrap His Arms around me and reassure me that He cared...for me. 

          In my life, I have not had a problem recognizing the fact that God cares for people. I have not really ever questioned that. There have been times, however, when I have doubted that He cared for me. Admittedly, there were times when I had known that God loves the chiefest of sinners - yet, I still questioned, and doubted, His love for me. 

          There have been several times, in the last few weeks even, when God has come down and wrapped -me- in His Arms. Even during that time, while I could feel the Arms of God wrap around me, the devil was trying to convince me that it was all in my head and that Jesus had better things to do than take the time to show me He was there for me - to show me that someone like me could be special to Him. 

          So, when I read Psalm 8: 3-4, I think - Wow! Thanks, God, for spending time with me. Jesus, You created the stars. You created the moon, Lord. God, you created the earth. You spoke the entire universe into existence. Jesus, You reached down and formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Master, You are so excellent. Savior, You are majestic. Yet, Father, You...love...me.