Why is living a Christian life so difficult?

First we must examine ourselves to see if we qualify to be a Christian.

A very high percentage of American households profess to be Christians, but the sad truth is... we read the wrong book for guidance.

Let’s see what JESUS said according to John 14: 1-7 (NLT)… “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

The BIBLE say Jesus is the way to the all knowing GOD. He (Jesus) bridged the gap between a Holy God and sinful flesh. But, we must be born again!

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NKJV) say… 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The bottom line is… if we are who we say, then we should practice what we preach.

We tend to obtain knowledge from all the wrong sources; we make decisions based off knowledge presented us from people who could care less about how things will turn out for us and our families. 2 Timothy 2:19 (NLT)… 19 But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The LORD knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil.

The reverse spelling of evil is LIVE… When we run from evil we are running toward live. When we feed the Spirit man with the Word of God Roman 8:28 say…28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. God work things out for our good, even when we make bad decisions.

If living a Christian life is difficult, beef up your spirit man! 2 Timothy 2:15-16 (NIV) say… 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.

Blessings to all!
CJ

Marriage was implemented by God… why do so many fail?

Let’s take a look at the basic instructions before leaving earth (BIBLE)…

1 Corinthians 7:1-5 (NLT)

1 Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to live a celibate life. 2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

3 The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. 4 The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.

5 Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

==
In this setting the apostle Paul is teaching the Corinthian Church about the thing that drive so many of us… “SEX” Let’s talk about sex… some engage in sexual activity without any fore thoughts other than getting the prize. Meaning, it’s all about feeling good for the moment. When we move from person to person we are moving away from God’s true design. Disobedience is a great price to pay!

Paul highlights the fact that it is good to live a celibate life… lets walk down a side road for a moment; people talk constantly about how to control teen pregnancies? May I suggest teaching the “CELIBATE “principle? The sad truth is… when we go against the will of the all knowing God… we reap what we sow. Don’t cry when you get back what you put in.

All isn’t lost!

The “Marriage” did I say Marriage? It’s one of God’s most prized gifts to mankind. Of all of His creations, He made man/woman in His own image; we are the ONLY beings created who can feel and enjoy sex as we do. But God designed sex for the MAN who finds that GOOD THING (WOMAN) to come together as ONE (marriage).

Any thing operating outside of its design will experience problems!

Many Christians use the BIBLE to validate their actions… lets take a walk… a husband or wife may say the reason I cheated is because he or she didn’t hold firm to what the BIBLE said. The BIBLE said according to 1 Corinthians 7: 5 Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

God didn’t give any married person room to CHEAT!

James 1:14 (NLT) say… Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. In other words, it was already in the person who CHEATED. They thought about it, dreamed about it, and waited to seal the deal.

I want to leave all readers with this… If you want a good marriage, get to know a good man first (GOD). Both the husband/wife need to know this man JESUS! If a husband and wife is close to JESUS they will also be close to each other. If the husband/wife moves away from JESUS, they will in turn move away from each other.

For the singles out there… hold firm to that special GOD given gift, and allow Him to present your husband (for the woman) and wife (for the man). If you have failed in this process, don’t worry! God can and will clean you up and make you like new. God work things that are impossible for man.

Start now and be blessed!

Blessings to all!
CJ

Words of Wisdom / Thoughts to Live By

Let thy words be few.
~~Ecclesiastes 5:2 from Words of Wisdom

The only medicine for suffering, crime, and all the other woes of mankind, is wisdom.
~~Thomas Huxley

By associating with wise people you will become wise yourself.
~~Menander

The more a man knows, the more he forgives.
~~Catherine the Great

A loving heart is the truest wisdom.
~~Charles Dickens

The man of wisdom is never of two minds;the man of benevolence never worries;the man of courage is never afraid.
~~Confucius

When one door closes another opens. But often we look so long so regretfully upon the closed door that we fail to see the one that has opened for us.
~~Helen Keller

The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at a time.
~~Richard Cech

Try not to become a man of success but a man of value.
~~Albert Einstein

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them.
~~Henry David Thoreau

To find what you seek in the road of life,the best proverb of all is that which says:"Leave no stone unturned."
~~Edward Bulwer Lytton

If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.
~~William Arthur Ward

If you would create something,you must be something.
~~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Men do less than they ought,unless they do all they can.
~~Thomas Carlyle

Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.
~~Leon J. Suenes

The first step in the acquisition of wisdom is silence, the second listening, the third memory, the fourth practice, the fifth teaching others.
~~Solomon Ibn Gabriol

--
Blessings to all!!!
CJ