Hubs and I watched this video about a week ago, shared it with my BestieBooBaller middle of this week, wanted to put it up on the blog too. A short, but very powerful and forever relevant message from Dr. Charles Stanely, Satan's Strategy to Defeat Us.

Peace, love, and blessings to you through our Savior, Jesus Christ! 💙

The prophet Jeremiah, whose writings are quoted in snippets all over social media, had this full doctrine charge to say, well not he, but the Lord God used him to speak these words to the people (Judah), but is very applicable to us today. It establishes who we, the people are, in relation to a Holy and just God. One that is above our ways (Isaiah 55:8), yet we try to put Him in a box of our own design. 

This is one of the many places that bring up the deceit of humankind and our feeble see-saw nature. Examples are shown through-out the Bible, from Cain and Able to the Israelite nation wondering 40 years, to Judas. We are born into a fallen world and therefore born into sin. You don’t have to teach a child how to lie, it is a trait that we, as humans, seem to just pick up. Unchecked emotions and selfish-nature can cause “the best of us” to do something we would not have normally done in a clear headspace, and no one can deny it. Henceforth a “temporary insanity plea” would not even exist. Right?

This is one of the things that keep people from accepting the truth of the gospel. You/me/we may be considered good to a world around us and un-needing of a savior, but what does “being good” look like to this world, in our current time or place, when there is so much backwards in our society that is openly tolerated (abortion, racial injustice, the mockery of God, etc)?

We are not holy on our own accord, only the Trinity is, and He (the Father) sent His Son (Jesus Christ) to Earth (100% man, 100% God) to make a way back, so that He (the Father) might look upon us a holy (Hebrews 10:10).

The law was originally given to the Jewish people to set them apart and reveal their sins. The first of those laws, the Ten Commandments were given as an original moral guideline, since cultures were engulfed in ungodly practices, witchcraft, child sacrifices, and the list goes on.

When I look at my own life, I can see how even I allowed the good and evil switch to take hold at times, it always starts out small at first, but can have a nasty grasp if left unaddressed.

Do I say *awesome humans* and mean it? I do, we were all handcrafted and created by God, the same God that stitched together the universe, but we are in desperate need of a Savior to be reconciled back to Him.  

Do I say this to *trigger and upset you*? I write it in hope that if there is anyone whoever reads this that doesn’t have a personal relationship with Abba Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit of God, that it might lead them to that choice. Or strengthen believers in their own walk with the Trinity. There is so much false doctrine going around, and it is very important that we search the scriptures ourselves, and ask God for wisdom and guidance. 

The Bible is not all sunshine and roses, and yes, God is Love, but let us not forget about His plan, which does include all who oppose Him being sent to an eternal, never-ending, tormenting fire for all eternity. 

This is serious business and I do not know how much time any of us have left, but today is a great day, to accept Jesus Christ into your life, as King, Lord, and Savior, and start your own communion with the Trinity.

Love, peace, and blessings to you through the Savior, Jesus Christ. 💙

As I said it my insides knew something wasn’t right, although culturally acceptable, so many people use the word, believers and non-alike it didn’t taste right coming out of my mouth … “well you know karma” is what I said, while having a conversation with someone on checking if something was accurately mine or not … which lead me to ask, does the word karma even have a place in a follower of Jesus’ life?

So, it originates from the Buddhist and Hindu religions, and it would be hard pressed to go a day without hearing or reading it, right?

Karma is defined as the following: 

 - action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or in a reincarnation: in Hinduism one of the means of reaching Brahman. - the cosmic principle according to which each person is rewarded or punished in one incarnation according to that person's deeds in the previous incarnation. - fate; destiny. - the good or bad emanations felt to be generated by someone or something

So in pursuit of knowledge, I worked the Google, and came upon a few other blurbs and blogs on the topic.

On Crosswalk there is a heartfelt writing, What’s The Difference Between Grace and Karma by Sarah Coleman:

“The Bible does not teach karma. It teaches grace. 
Grace is where you get what you don't deserve. 
Grace is unmerited favour. It is love and mercy 
bestowed upon us by God because He desires us 
to have it. As you can see, very different to karma. 
More like polar opposites.”

On Compelling Truth the question is asked straight forward, What Does The Bible Say About Karma? It concludes that, “It is only through Jesus' sacrifice that our good deeds will produce any real good” (Philippians 2:13). It goes on to share Galatians 6:7-8 that reads, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

In 2 Corinthians 5:10 we can read that is says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” Being told even prior to that in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

These all point to what we, as Christians, believers of the One true God, and His Son (our Savior), should focus on .. the bigger picture (the reason we are here), advancing God’s kingdom, as there are only one of two possible outcomes for everyone once this life has concluded. The price of our sins have been paid, yes we may stumble and fall, but glory be, Jesus’s death and resurrection has set us free! So as believers of Jesus, we do not have to live by the fear or trappings of the idea of karma. The Bible is clear that good and bad falls on the just and unjust, but the way to secure your forever is to accept and declare the truth that Jesus IS savior, as by Him alone are we reconciled to the Father. No amount of good deeds or “right” behavior can earn our way to a blissful eternity. “It is a free gift, so that no man can boast.” While we should try (and try again) to do that which is right, and operate out of love, we do not have to live with the fear that karma lends notion to. 

Rejoice, I say, rejoice. Give thanks to the Creator for His wonderful plan, for Jesus’ obedience to the Father, and for the Spirit that guides!

For further reading check out “Reaping What You Sow: Christian Karma” on Crosswalk.com by Whitney Hopler.

As a previous post mentioned I am reading through the Old Testament at the moment (will parts of it). The journey started with Jeremiah – moved on to Daniel and it now currently in Isaiah. All I can say about this book is WOW, GOD DON’T PLAY!

Honestly, when I was in my early twenties I simply logged for this “all to end”, I was not unhappy on this Earth, but the idea of it being over and getting to chill with the Creator seemed (and still does seem) much more appealing. However, as I near my 30’s and since my outlook on the lost has changed, I am more considered with those that are blind to the truth and after reading Isaiah 24 – I am just well “whew”.

I know that not “everyone” will be saved, I know that to be truth, but my hope still remains that EVERYONE is, especially all of my friends and my family. I am very well versed in Revelations and as I am reading the Old Testament (which is my opinion is a lot more descriptive and illustrative than one of my most beloved books) I wish for no one to suffer that fate.

We (the collective church) preaches SO MUCH on God’s love and forgiveness, which are both VERY well and VERY good and VERY true, but I cannot help but wonder, do we preach the truth on the devastation of here-after enough? Do we go into specifics, not just as “you will go to Hell” but actually what all that the separation from the Creator entails?

I will depart with this, a personal from Little 5 Points and I had a conversation a few weeks ago. He said to me, “I wonder how many of us are murders?” I, very intrigued by where this was going was glad he continued on to explain. “Not in the physical sense, but rather in the Spiritual. How many of us has killed someone, by not sharing the gospel [listening to the Holy Spirit when He tells us to talk], so they die without have accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior?” Wow is what I said then, and wow is what I still say now.

To God be the glory for ALL things; may we rejoice in His peace, presence and gifts that He has given us from life to salvation to death.  We thank You Father, Son and Spirit for all things – that which we know of and that which we don’t. May You strength us, may we cling to Your will, may we choose Your way instead of own on, in the name of Jesus we ask. Amen.