Cross Over to the Other Side

Everybody knows the story of how Jesus calms the storm, and that is a great story. This is a bible story that we read to our children. It shows how Jesus has absolute power and authority over all things in this world... but this story is so much deeper than just "Jesus calming the storm".

Luke 8:22-25
²² Now it happened, on a certain day, that He (Jesus) got into a boat with His disciples.
And He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side of the lake." And they launched out.

Did you catch that? Jesus said, "Let us cross over to the other side"! He did not say, "let us launch out, get caught in a storm and perish". Jesus told His Disciples exactly what was to come... He was going to take them to the other side, despite what they will face.

READ MORE --------->>>>

Let Us Cross Over to the Other Side

Hello Everyone!

I just had my first article published on the Yahoo Contributor Network and I am really excited. I was just testing the site to see how things worked.

Check it out...

Everybody knows the story of how Jesus calms the storm, and that is a great story. This is a bible story that we read to our children. It shows how Jesus has absolute power and authority over all things in this world... but this story is so much deeper than just "Jesus calming the storm".

CONTINUE READING HERE ------>>

God In An ER

God in an ER

THIS IS AN AWESOME VIDEO - EVERYONE SHOULD TAKE THE TIME TO WATCH!

I am so glad that there are still Christian Doctors that have more faith in God than just medicine alone!

You must watch this video and see how God works in an Emergency Room.

Jeff Markin: Back from the Dead, Reborn Into the Light

Wordless Wednesday

“Monday’s Life In Him”–Believe Him or Doubt Him?

Happy Monday Everyone! Who wants to join in “Monday's Life In Him”? It’s easy… Just grab this button below & post it somewhere either on your blog post or on your main page. Then… Write a post about HIM (Jesus) Sometimes I just post a verse, sometimes I share a short story or sometimes I write a short study.Either way… Let’s spread His Word and His Love! <a border="0" href="http://wedonthaveitalltogether.blogspot.com/search/label/Life%20In%20%27Him%27" target="_blank"><img src="http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab13/jacquiblogger/danielle/buttonlifeinhim1.jpg" width="125" height="125" /> </a>

^{Here is what I have for today:}

Faith and Wisdom

² My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, ³ because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience.⁴ Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do. Then you will be perfect and complete and will have everything you need. ⁵ But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom without criticizing you. ⁶ But when you ask God, you must believe and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like a wave in the sea, blown up and down by the wind.^7-8 Such doubters are thinking two different things at the same time, and they cannot decide about anything they do. They should not think they will receive anything from the Lord.

So what I am pulling out of this for ME today is faith. Faith and patience. If you’ve read my other blog this morning, you will see why.

So I need to be patient and have faith, that God will take care of us in HIS time. Not mine. (Psst! Hurry up Lord!) <----- Joking.

I believe that He is working in our lives. He is going to get us out of this house and the home He puts us in will be what is best for us. I believe that He will bring me more income (childcare). And I will not doubt. I will stand firm. And hopefully He gives me some peace when it comes to this topic… because I am stressed out to the max!

Monday’s Life In Him

Happy Monday Everyone! Who wants to join in “Monday's Life In Him”? It’s easy… Just grab this button below & post it somewhere either on your blog post or on your main page. Then… Write a post about HIM (Jesus)Sometimes I just post a verse, sometimes I share a short story or sometimes I write a short study.Either way… Let’s spread His Word and His Love! <a border="0" href="http://wedonthaveitalltogether.blogspot.com/search/label/Life%20In%20%27Him%27" target="_blank"><img src="http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab13/jacquiblogger/danielle/buttonlifeinhim1.jpg" width="125" height="125" /> </a>

^{Here is what I have for today:}

^{Luke 8:43-48}

⁴³ Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, ⁴⁴ came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.
⁴⁵ And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”
When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” ⁴⁶ But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” ⁴⁷ Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.
⁴⁸ And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

This women had this sickness for 12 years & spent all of her life savings on trying to get better.

She had enough faith to go touch Jesus. SHE TOUCHED HIM! She didn’t wait for Him to go to her… SHE went to Him! Just because Jesus is in heaven and we can’t physically SEE him, doesn’t mean WE can’t touch HIM.

And Jesus knew someone had touched Him because He felt the healing power leave Him. Amazing! Jesus still heals today, just go to Him!

The most amazing thing to me about this story is this: In the beginning of this story, she is called “women”. At the end of this story, she is called “DAUGHTER”!!! Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well”. Jesus not only healed her & made her well physically… but he healed her spiritually and made her well.

She is HIS now!! She is a child of God because of her faith!!

Praise God! Praise God! Praise God!

This is one of my favorite stories, I could read it over and over! I had to share this today.

Don’t forget to link up. This way we can visit your blog.

 

I hope you all have a wonderful week. I am leaving Wednesday for Wisconsin Dells. I can’t wait!

Go To The Other Side

^{I thought I would give us all a little reminder…}

^{Matthew 8:18}

¹⁸ When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he told his followers to go to the other side of the lake.

Did you notice that?

Jesus said “GO TO THE OTHER SIDE”

Here is the rest of the story…

²³ Jesus got into a boat, and his followers went with him.²⁴ A great storm arose on the lake so that waves covered the boat, but Jesus was sleeping.²⁵ His followers went to him and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We will drown!"

²⁶ Jesus answered, "Why are you afraid? You don't have enough faith." Then Jesus got up and gave a command to the wind and the waves, and it became completely calm.

What about us?

Do we have enough faith to make it to the other side of the trial we are going through?

Don’t we realize that Jesus has promised us that we will make it to the other side?

Matthew 6:30-32

³⁰ God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So you can be even more sure that God will clothe you. Don't have so little faith!³¹ Don't worry and say, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'³² The people who don't know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them.

Philippians 4:5-7

⁵ Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon.⁶ Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.⁷ And God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Don’t worry!

But PRAY!

Ask God for what you need in faith & give thanks! Praise Him for what He has done for you! God is so good to us even when we are in the lowest valley, He is faithful to us!

Are we faithful to Him?

When everything in life is going great, we shout from the mountain tops & praise Him… but what happens when we are down in the deepest valley?

Do we say,

“Hallelujah Jesus!”

“Thank you Lord!”

“Glory to God!”

We should. Because look at where He has brought us from

My worst day as a believer is better than any of my best day’s were when I was lost.

Jesus will not leave you to sink. He will get you to the other side.

Jehovah-Jireh = The Lord Will Provide

I turned this post into “Glimpses of  God” Go check it out  & link up :)

I think everyone in the world recognizes Psalm 23. Maybe not by title – but by the words, “The Lord Is My Sheppard, I Shall Not Want.”

This morning I heard something that really touched me, so I want to share. I hope it touches you.

There is a lot of struggling going on lately. Too much struggling. It seems too much for one person to bear. Financial struggles, relationship struggles, health struggles and struggles with battles within our own personal walk with God. People I know have lost loved ones recently. So much seems to be going on.

I heard a description this morning that I really want to share. I hope it is comforting to someone who needs to hear this right now.

 First of all, read:

Psalm 23

¹ The Lord is my shepherd;
       I have everything I need.
² He lets me rest in green pastures.
       He leads me to calm water.
³ He gives me new strength.
    He leads me on paths that are right
       for the good of his name.
⁴ Even if I walk through a very dark valley,
       I will not be afraid,
    because you are with me.
       Your rod and your shepherd's staff comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a meal for me
       in front of my enemies.
    You pour oil of blessing on my head;^[a]
       you fill my cup to overflowing.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will be with me
       all my life,
    and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Now lets look at vs.. 3 that says, “He leads me on paths that are right for the good of his name”

“He leads me on paths” – the shepherd leads his lamb on this path that is ‘right’. 

We have all probably seen pictures of Jesus with a staff like this:

{Notice the lamb on his shoulder?}

Here is a Jewish illustration:

The shepherd leads his lamb on this path that is ‘right’. 

At times the lamb will wander away from the appointed path. Sometimes he becomes tangled in the briars of the rocky byway. Being unable to free himself, he calls out for his shepherd and begins to bleat (baahh, baahh). Very soon the shepherd comes and retrieves the lamb from the midst of the thorns, briars, and rocky defiles. The shepherd extends his staff and uses the crook to pull the little lamb back onto the path of safety. If the little lamb were to remain there, he would be devoured by a wolf of other wild animal.

Too often, the same lamb again leaves the appointed path and finds himself in an area that will lock him in. Every time when he cries out, the shepherd comes and retrieves the little one with his shepherds staff. If the lamb refuses to stay on the appointed path, the final alternative is the following: 

The lamb again leaves the appointed path, and as usual,  finds himself in difficult straits.  As before, he begins to cry out for the shepherd to come; however at this stage, the shepherd must teach the little lamb a lesson. So the good shepherd does not come immediately when the lamb begins to to call. Finally, the little voice grows hoarse from bleating and it is forced to stop crying out  altogether. At long last, the shepherd does finally come. As before the shepherd removes the wayward lamb, but now he does something different….

The shepherd takes the same staff, by which he reached down into the rocky crevice and retrieved the wayward one. He pulls out one of the lambs forelegs and cracks it sharply with the staff,  which instantly breaks the leg. Then the shepherd carefully sets the leg, and lays the lamb on  his shoulder, close to his heart. He carries it until the wound is healed. Then when he puts the lamb back down on the paths  of righteousness it no longer desires to go astray.

This is called chastising the one he loves.

Hebrews 12:5-11 (New Century Version)

⁵ You have forgotten the encouraging words that call you his children:
    "My child, don't think the Lord's discipline is worth nothing,
       and don't stop trying when he corrects you.
⁶ The Lord disciplines those he loves,
       and he punishes everyone he accepts as his child." — Proverbs 3:11–12

⁷ So hold on through your sufferings, because they are like a father's discipline. God is treating you as children. All children are disciplined by their fathers. ⁸ If you are never disciplined (and every child must be disciplined), you are not true children.⁹ We have all had fathers here on earth who disciplined us, and we respected them. So it is even more important that we accept discipline from the Father of our spirits so we will have life.¹⁰ Our fathers on earth disciplined us for a short time in the way they thought was best. But God disciplines us to help us, so we can become holy as he is. ¹¹ We do not enjoy being disciplined. It is painful at the time, but later, after we have learned from it, we have peace, because we start living in the right way.

This is how much He loves us! One thing we need to understand is Jesus is our shepherd. All we have to do is follow Him. He will never leave you. You can leave Him… but He will never leave you!

Hebrews 13:20 (New Century Version)

^20-21 I pray that the God of peace will give you every good thing you need so you can do what he wants. God raised from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, because of the blood of his death. His blood began the eternal agreement that God made with his people. I pray that God will do in us what pleases him, through Jesus Christ, and to him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Sometimes God has no choice to let us fall down to our lowest level. So low that we have no possible hope left… and the ONLY thing left to do is finally call out on Jesus! How many times have we hit rock bottom?

How many times have we hit rock bottom… and finally given up & said, “Ok Lord. I have tried everything I know to do. Now I need your help. I give up!”

Now  read Psalm 23 over again:

¹ The Lord is my shepherd;
       I have everything I need.
² He lets me rest in green pastures.
       He leads me to calm water.
³ He gives me new strength.
    He leads me on paths that are right
       for the good of his name.
⁴ Even if I walk through a very dark valley,
       I will not be afraid,
    because you are with me.
       Your rod and your shepherd's staff comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a meal for me
       in front of my enemies.
    You pour oil of blessing on my head;^[a]
       you fill my cup to overflowing.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will be with me
       all my life,
    and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

This is comforting to know, isn’t it?!? 

We have everything we need if we are ‘In Christ’. He gives us strength.

We do not have to fear when we are walking through dark times because He is with us!

When we are struggling with things in our life, look up to Him and know that He is right along side of you waiting for you to call upon His name! 

His staff is outstretched and all we have to do is grab on to it.

Take that first step of faith & reach out to Him. He is waiting for you.

Jehovah-Roi = The Lord is my shepherd

Jehovah-Jireh = The Lord will provide

Jehovah-Shalom = The Lord our peace

Do you have peace today, knowing that Jesus will provide for you, because He is your shepherd and you are His lamb?

Read more on Battles, Trials and Faith… or what it means to be "In Christ"

My Idea Of A Relationship!

I was lazy this week & didn’t post anything…  So I am making up for it now :)

I got this email today & I really enjoyed it. I figured I would share.

This is MY idea of a relationship with HIM!

 

MOM'S EMPTY CHAIR 

A woman's daughter had asked the local minister

to come and pray
with her mother.
When the minister arrived,

he found the woman
lying in bed with her head

propped up on two
pillows..
An empty chair sat beside her bed.
The minister assumed that the woman

had been informed
of his visit...
'I guess you were expecting me, he said.
'No, who are you?' said the mother.
The minister told her his name and then remarked,

'I saw the empty
chair and I figured you knew

I was going
to show up...'
'Oh yeah, the chair,' said the bedridden woman
'Would you mind closing the door?'
Puzzled, the minister shut the door.
'I have never told anyone this,

not even my daughter,'
said the woman.
'But all of my life I have never

known how to pray.

At church I used
to hear the pastor talk about prayer,

but it went right
over my head...'
I abandoned any attempt at prayer,'

the old woman continued,

until one day four
years ago, my best friend said to me,

' Prayer is
just a simple matter

of having a conversation
  with Jesus.

Here is what I suggest..

'Sit down in a chair;

place an empty chair
in front of you,
and in faith see Jesus on the chair.
It's not spooky because he promised,

'I will be with you
always'..
'Then just speak to him in the same way

you're doing with
me right now...'
'So, I tried it and I've liked it so much

that I do it a couple
of hours every day.

I'm careful though . If my daughter
saw me talking

to an empty chair,
she'd either have a nervous breakdown

or send me off to
the funny farm.'

The minister was deeply moved by the story and

encouraged the old
woman to continue on the journey.
Then he prayed with her, anointed her with oil,

and returned to the
church.
Two nights later the daughter called

to tell the minister
that her mama

had died that afternoon. 
Did she die in peace?' he asked.
Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock,

she called me over
to her bedside,

told me she loved
me and kissed me on the cheek.
When I got back from the store an hour later,

I found her .
But there was something strange about her death.

Apparently, just
before Mom died,

she leaned over and
rested her head on the chair

beside the bed. What
do you make of that?'
The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said,

'I wish we could
all go like that.'  

Ephesians 3:14-20  (New Century Version)

The Love of Christ

¹⁴ So I bow in prayer before the Father¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth gets its true name.¹⁶ I ask the Father in his great glory to give you the power to be strong inwardly through his Spirit.¹⁷ I pray that Christ will live in your hearts by faith and that your life will be strong in love and be built on love.¹⁸ And I pray that you and all God's holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ's love—how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is.¹⁹ Christ's love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with the fullness of God.

²⁰ With God's power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine.

Are WE Sitting In The Shadow Of Darkness?

I heard this message this morning & it was an awesome message so I really want to share the ‘jist’ of it!

Matthew 4:16 

“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,
And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death
Light has sprung up.”

“The people sat in darkness” – The people settled & accepted the darkness because they KNEW NO BETTER!

THE WORLD ACCEPTS DARKNESS BECAUSE THEY KNOW NO BETTER!

Religion produces spiritual darkness – which produces moral darkness & the end result is separation from God = “spiritual death”. This is because all religion strives to reach God by their own good works instead by faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

Most people think they are saved or ‘will go to heaven’ because of their religion.

Christianity is not about religion. It is about a MAN & a RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT MAN!

“Shadow of death” – it doesn’t say they sat ‘in death’. (there was hope) Also, you can’t have a shadow without the sun! (or The Son)

“A light sprung up” – Out of the shadow… comes The Son of God & “THEY SAW A GREAT LIGHT”

-The Greek word for ‘light’ is “phos” which means: underived and ABSOLUTE LIGHT!

The opposite of  complete darkness!

So when JESUS stepped on the scene there was a LIGHT that shined that they had never seen before!

It was a light that brought HEALING!

It was a light that brought LIFE!

It was a light that set the leaper FREE!

It was a light that brought Lazarus from the dead!

IT WAS & STILL IS THE

ONLY

LIGHT

THAT THE WORLD NEEDS TO SEE!

JESUS CHRIST!

 

God Is Faithful To His People

One of the [many] blogs I follow had a really encouraging post. I can’t remember who it was but I do remember two of the verses… The reason I remember the verses is because they were very encouraging. For some reason within the past week or so I know of quite a few people who are struggling with one thing or another. These verses hit me. I wanted to share with all of you…

Exodus 3:7

" I have surely seen the oppression of my people...and have heard their cry... for I know their sorrows...so I have come down to deliver them... "

It says GOD HEARS our cries! HE KNOWS our sorrows! How awesome is that?!? God knows what we are going through… and He will deliver us. He is faithful to His people!

1st Peter 5:10

" And the God of all Grace....after you have suffered awhile will himself restore you and make you steadfast. To him be the power forever and ever amen. "

We are so strong in faith when we are on top of the mountain & things are going great… but when we are down in the valley & everything is going wrong – our faith is weaker. {unless I am the only one} Sometimes we may wonder if God is there? If He is going to help us out of the trouble we are in? We look to our problem instead of looking UP at HIM.  This verse shows after our ‘trial’ is over, God WILL restore us. Our trials make our faith stronger. When it’s over we can look back & see that it was Him who got us through it. Then hopefully we can also learn – next time we are going through something difficult… look to HIM. Not the problem. Not to ourselves to do it.

“Apart from Him, we can do nothing” (John 15:5)

God is faithful to his people.

Are you His?

  

Life With Him

This is a verse that I would have my little one’s in Sunday School memorize. They were pre & kinder’s. Very easy verse & very important to know!


Romans 10:9 (New International Version)

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

So basically… similar to the famous John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”. Of course everyone knows this one.

The jist of it all? If you have faith that Jesus is The Only Son of God, He died for your sins, and He rose on the 3rd day… you are saved eternally. You will spend your eternal life with God in heaven.

What is relationship?

Hmmm...let's see here. We are surrounded in relationships, right? So this should be easy.

Here is a definition: 

re·la·tion·ship [ri-ley-shuhn-ship]
–noun
1.a connection, association, or involvement.
2.connection between persons by blood or by marriage.
3.an emotional or other connection between people: the relationship between teachers and students.
4.a sexual involvement; affair.

Here is another definition:

re·la·tion·ship (rĭ-lā'shən-shĭp')
-noun
1.The condition or fact of being related; connection or association.
2.Connection by blood or marriage; kinship.
3.A particular type of connection existing between people related to or having dealings with each other: 4.Romantic or sexual involvement.


So this is something we already knew, right? I think we forget something though. Our relationship with Jesus. Is this (above) the definition of OUR relationship with Jesus? Or do we claim to be something that we are not? Do we have a connection to Jesus? Are we involved with Him?

Take an earthly relationship. "Husband/wife" relationship. We are connected. We are involved. We love eachother. We speak regularly to eachother. We don't do anything to one another that would hurt feelings or make angry. We are not dishonest. We depend on eachother. We trust eachother. We think of them before ourselves. What if we didn't speak to our husbands or wives? Our relationship would crumble and eventually it would be gone. What if we did things that we knew would hurt eachother? How stable would our relationship be? What would happen to a relationship where one put himself before the other? This would not last long either.

Now. Do we have a relationship with Jesus? Do we treat our husbands better than we treat Jesus? Do we speak more to our husbands/wives/kids/parents more than we speak to Jesus? Do we put Jesus' wants before our own - or do we selfishly put OUR wants BEFORE Jesus? Do we depend on Him and trust Him? Do we live the way He told us to live? Or do we live the way WE WANT to?

Do we care enough to read the bible to find out what HE wants from us? Do we talk to Him in prayer every single day? Are we 'doers' of The Word? Do we KNOW HIM?

It bothers me to hear people throw out the word 'Christian' like it is just a lable. Like when you fill out a survey or application. Check the box that says you are 'white/caucasion' or 'african american' or 'christian'. I also think people just assume they are Christian because they "believe in God".

Christianity is a relationship with God and His son Jesus!! If the lawenforcers came to your house and arrested you for being a Christian - and then your day in court came. If you stood in front of the judge - would there be evidence of you being a Christian? Or would the judge throw out the case - because there was NO EVIDENCE of your 'so-called' "Christianity"?

Battles/struggles & the "sin nature"

When Adam and Eve 'fell' they fell from the level of total God-consciousness ... down to the lower level of sin-consciousness. They were then controlled by the "sin nature". And then the entire human race became one of sin. Every single unredeemed person is controlled by the sin nature. No matter how you want to argue this fact - it is a FACT that the unsaved are ruled by the sin nature. US before we got saved were also ruled by the sin nature. The sin nature has POWER OVER us if we are unsaved. Our own WILL POWER is not strong enough to fight the sin nature. We may win at times. But ultimatly the sin nature has complete dominion over us. From the minute a baby is born the sin nature is in control. Do you need to teach a child how to lie? No. If you put two infants in a crib together along with one bottle... what happens? They fight over it. THIS is the SIN NATURE. (Eph. 2:1-3) Born in original sin, mankind is controlled by the sin nature, which is the cause of all war, strife, and man's inhumanity to man.

So how does a Christian STOP SINNING? If you take a poll and ask, "How do you stop sinning?" (I will use some big examples here: alcohol, drugs, sex, cheating, gossiping) - The answer you get will probably be the WRONG ANSWER! This saddens me. It is sad and depressing to battle something in your Christian life. It is sad and difficult to see someone else battle something in their Christian life when you don't know how to help.  If you have ever battled something in your walk that is similar to an addiction - then you have probably wondered the same thing: "HOW DO I STOP DOING THIS THING THAT I REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO...but I can't help but DO?" This answer can be found in Romans chpt. 6 & 7.  However the answer you will get from most ministers, teachers, fellow brothers & sisters in Christ... "DO" something. Read your bible more. Pray more. Stay away from the things that may lead you to be tempted to sin. Go to the preacher and have him lay hands on you. Stand in the prayer line. All these things are wonderful things to do in your Christian life, but they are not the answer to your struggles. My personal favorite...GIVE IT TO GOD! My answer to that one...HOW?!?!? Have you ever had a battle and sat there and talked to God and said, "Ok God - take this battle from me. I am giving it to you." How has that worked for ya? You have probably slipped to the battle not long after you asked God to take it from you, right? The reason that will not work is this: The believer who talks to God and says, "Take this from me"...is NOT putting his faith in the right area.

Unfortunatly this stuggle with the sin nature happens more to the believers who are the most consecrated. They love the Lord and to fail the Lord is a burden almost too heaye to bear. This make a Christian - a MISERABLE Christian. Not understanding how and where to get the victory, they are constantly failing the Lord. These people are lead to believe that the Christian experience is a daily struggle. IF a Christian is struggling with sin then he is fighting a battle which he can not win. Christians are to "Fight the good fight of faith" (1Tim. 6:12) but that should be the extent of our stuggle. Scripture says: "But this Man (Jesus), after He had offered one sacrafice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; from hence forth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. For by one offering, He has perfected forever them who are sanctified" (Heb. 13:20) In other words: Our Lord totally and completely defeated sin at the Cross of Calvary. His sacrifice of Himself was so perfect, so total, so complete, and so finla that it will never have to be repeated. Paul refers to this at "The everlasting convenant" in Heb. 13:20.

THE  ANSWER...
When a believing sinner comes to Christ, the sin nature is then made absolutely dormant. The sin nature has NO HOLD on the person anymore. The sin nature has NO CONTROL over the person anymore. The chains of sin fall off. The only way for this to happen is for the believer to register his faith totally and completely in Christ and the cross - and then MAINTAIN that faith. FAITH that when Jesus died on the cross and rose 3 days later... HE BROKE THE DOMINION that the sin nature HAD on us!! THIS IS WHERE OUR FAITH MUST BE!!! JESUS and the CROSS!!!! Jesus did so much more than just die on the cross!!! HE BROKE the POWER of the sin nature when He died!!! So the only answer to our sin 'battle' = Jesus and Him crucified!!!! FAITH in what HE DID on the cross!!! "FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH" (1Tim 6:12) We don't have to fight the sin nature - JESUS ALREADY DID!!!! That is exciting!! !!! There is NOTHING we can 'DO' except have FAITH in Jesus and His FINISHED WORK on THE CROSS

Here is a little formula regarding the sin nature and victory:
FOCUS:  The Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:6)
OBJECT OF FAITH:  The Cross Of Christ (Rom. 6:3-5)
POWER SOURCE:  The Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:1-2, 11)
RESULTS:  VICTORY!! (Rom. 6:14; Gal. 2:20)

Now - this is the formula that most Christians will tell you to use:
FOCUS: Works (Rom. 4:2)
OBJECT OF FAITH: Performance - try harder (Gal. 2:21)
POWER SOURCE: Self (Gal. 5:2)
RESULTS:  FAILURE! (Gal. 5:4)

WANT HELP FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT?
 IF a believer continues to place his faith in Jesus & His finished work at the cross, then the Holy Spirit will work mightily in the heart and life of such a believer, bringing about righteousness, holiness, Christlikeness, and the Fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit can not work any other way. The Holy Spirit is the 'dispenser' of the GRACE of GOD. Paul said, "For the LAW of THE SPIRIT of LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS has made me FREE from the LAW of SIN and DEATH" (8:2) The Holy Spirit works ONLY within the parameters of the Atonement.  It is the CROSS which makes it possible for HIM to live permanently within our hearts and lives, and to carry out HIS ministry as The Dispenser of GRACE on our behalf. HE ONLY REQUIRES FROM US FAITH IN CHRISTAND WHAT HE DID AT THE CROSS!!!!  However if the believer places his faith in anything other than the finished work on the cross... (for example: pray more. read more...) the Holy Spirit can not function. The Holy Spirit will not help that believer function under works & law. The Holy Spirit only functions under GRACE & FAITH in what Jesus did at the cross.

To sum it all up:  ALL the believer has to do is to understand that everything that comes to us from God has all been made possible through Christ and what He did at the CROSS. This is why Jesus said, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself (deny his own ability & strength), and take up his cross daily, and follow ME.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it" (Lk. 9:23-24) The "Cross" is so important that Jesus said we must take it up ON A DAILY BASIS. This is the only sucessfull way to follow Christ. When we do this, the Holy Spirit then works within our hearts and lives... to be sure the sin nature will then REMAIN DORMANT causing the believer no problems whatsoever.

It's all a matter of faith.

To read more about the sin nature I recommend this study guide:
"The Sin Nature"

WARNING: THERE ARE NO **GOOD** PEOPLE IN HEAVEN!!!!!!!!

There are only 2 classes of people here on this Earth. Christian & non-Christian. Saved or unsaved.

Being a "good" person is NOT a qualification to enter into heaven. The ONLY QUALIFICATION to be accepted by God into heaven is FAITH IN HIS SON JESUS! NOWHERE in the bible does it say you have to "do this" or "do that". Attending church won't get you there. Paying tithes won't get you there. Getting baptized won't get you there. Reading your bible won't get you there. Saying the same prayer a hundred times won't get you there. Telling your sins to a man in a booth won't get you there. Dipping you finger in a bowl of water won't get you there. Living by "the golden rule" won't get you there. Being "good" will not get you there.

Jesus said this: "I am the way (to heaven) the truth and the life, NO MAN can enter the kingdon (of heaven) except THROUGH ME" (John 14:6)  Meaning the ONLY WAY TO GET TO HEAVEN is to have FAITH IN JESUS.  Romans 10:9 says, "If you believe in your heart the Lord Jesus and confess with your mouth that God has raised Him from the dead, THAN YOU SHALL BE SAVED"  It doesn't say "be a good person, and God will let you in." Ephesians 2:8 says, "You are saved by grace through faith; and NOT of YOURSELVES: it is the GIFT OF GOD". In other words... there is NOTHING you can DO to "earn" your spot in heaven - It is a GIFT. Gifts are FREE. You can not purchase a gift. You can ACCEPT a gift though.

So that leaves us with this: Do you believe that Jesus is the only son of God and will you accept Him as your Lord and Saviour? If this is what you want, then pray a prayer similiar to this: "Father God I am a sinner in need of a saviour. I do believe in your son Jesus. I believe He died on the cross for my sins and arose from the dead and is living right now sitting next to you in heaven. Please save my soul and teach me how to live for you." This is where you become a child of God. Saved. Christian. Your name written in The Book of Life. Born again as a new creature. This is when your life changes.

I think most of the time a person thinks to themselves, "I have to stop doing 'this' or 'that' before I accept Jesus and become a Christian. That is not what God has asked of you. God has asked that you have faith in His son. God is the one who cleans up our life. Slowly-but-surely. Not instantly. It is a life process. We sure can't do it. How many New Years Eve 'promises' do we make to ourselves in our lifetime? Do we ever follow through? Nope. But God does. All you have to do is accept Jesus... and God will do the rest. Have an open heart and that is the first step. You are SAVED through FAITH in JESUS...BY HIS GRACE!!

Doctors Explanation of Death

DEATH~

WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO EXPLAIN IT !!!!!

A sick man turned to his doctor,

as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said,

'Doctor, I am afraid to die.

Tell me what lies on the other side.'

Very quietly, the doctor said, 'I don't know.'

'You don't know?

You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?'

The doctor was holding the handle of the door;

on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining,

and as he opened the door,

a dog sprang into the room

and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said,

'Did you notice my dog?

He's never been in this room before.

He didn't know what was inside.

He knew nothing except that his master was here,

and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear.

I know little of what is on the other side of death,

but I do know one thing...

I know my Master is there and that is enough.