ENCOURAGEMENT in the Body of Christ

---> Being encouraged, believed in and Knowing that people want to see the BEST in my life has greatly impacted me.God has blessed me beyond measure with family and friends who come along the side of me and have encouraged and pushed me. I know my relationship with God would not be where its at without discipleship and encouragement/being believed in.


We are called to be the BODY of Christ. To walk together hand in hand. Lifting each other up. Encouraging, cheering and being real with each other. Moving forward- to win souls for the Kingdom of God.

But today satan has a different plan. If we aren't a body of Christ, we are just a body--> One person. and that's when its just about us- we get so wrapped up in our life. We don't have enough time for others and if we do we only want to spend our time with who we want to be with. We are selfish. ( and I'm guilty of this too)

We are all hurt, broken people. None of us have had the PERFECT life. We are all sinners saved by grace. and although our circumstances maybe different. We are not at all. 

I've messed up time after time and have experienced forgiveness and grace from both God and my leaders. and without it I wouldn't be in this spot.

So, when I look at others- God reminds me to look through eyes of grace.
Remembering I've been there and if I don't come along the side of them and encourage- I may never have another opportunity to run this race along the side of them.

The past month I've been on the road traveling with my Master's team. We've been to Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and of course Iowa-  and all the places we have been we've met people from so many cultures and living conditions and they are all at different places in their life.

I had to just take time to process it all- and to see the importance of life and how I was living.

I don't want to live to get the best material things or to have better fashion than the person next to me..

I don't want to be caught up on the latest gossip of my friends or the people in my church/town..You see- if we were a true encourager- we would STOP what is being talked about and go to that person and help them. (whenever there is drama among our friends, I don't care if  you are young, or old- it all has to with someone being hurt/brokenhearted /insecure) they NEED the LOVE OF JESUS- and you! The words you speak are life or death. Choose life. 

I don't want to see myself as better than anyone and look down upon the people God has called me to encourage and lift up-


I'm not called to one ministry. I'm not called to keep up with the latest trends, I'm not called to be about Brittany Bluhm.

 I'm called to show people Jesus. To encourage them. To walk beside them and hold them when the enemy attacks.




I believe with all my heart that if we would take the time to put aside these little things that build up walls between us we would see change in our world. If we could start looking through eyes of grace and coming down to the level of those who are hurting and help them find the HEALER- and walk with them as the BODY OF CHRIST-

we would be unstoppable for the kingdom of God.

So today I just want to encourage you to be the member of the Body of Christ who is going to move- be active. Think: who around you needs to be lifted up? Who is feeling shame and needs to know they are not being condemned- but can be forgiven. Who needs to know they are not alone on this journey?
Let's take back what the enemy is trying to steal and be THE BODY of CHRIST!

Encourage. Love. Bear each others burdens. and  Rejoice with one another.

What does GOD say about THIS issue or THAT issue?

My Favorite book: THE BIBLE! The Author: My God. My Creator. My Savior. My King!

It's sacred. It brings clarity to all situations. Any issue on life- there is wisdom. Every time I read it I feel like I'm reading it for the first time and falling in love with God all over again.

In this book we learn about Creation. How the earth, land, clouds and stars were created.  How man was created  and how you and I were formed in our mothers wombs. We are fearfully and wonderfully made.

We see men and woman who feared God. They had an encounter with Him. Their lives were changed. They led by example and we get to learn from them!  


Then, we see men and woman who disobeyed God, turned their backs on Him and walked in evil and not in light and where the result of sin took them. 


We have the story of our Savior taking on the likeness of man and being born into this dark world and we see the perfect life He lived. We can learn about how He LOVED others and how He loves us. How He discipled twelve men and taught them His ways.

There is the story of His death ( He died to save us from our sins to have ETERNAL life with Him) and then we see His resurrection. (HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD!)  and then He sent the Holy spirit to be a Helper to us so we could know the TRUTH. So that He could convict the world of sin! He guides us into ALL truth.

The twelve men He discipled went on preaching and teaching the Gospel. the way of TRUTH.
and we get to see His commands, His Laws and His LOVE. and SO MUCH MORE!!


The Bible is TRUE.
The Bible is TRUTH.
The Bible is the WORD OF GOD.

 
So my thoughts:  The past couple days there has been so much going on in our society and so many arguments here and there. I see it on the TV and social media. Everyone has their opinion of what is right or what is wrong.

What does God say is right and what is wrong? It doesn't matter what our opinion is. 

Through all of this my heart is breaking because of how far away from the Word of God this Country has become and how HIS truth is not being taught or sought after.

I'm hearing/seeing "Christian" men and woman argue against/for something and their views are not even lining up with the word of God.

People claim to be Christians but look just like the world and are going against what the Bible says. 

In the Bible God gives us commands of how we are to live. What displeases Him and what pleases Him. it shows us what sin looks like.

So why are we teaming up with the world and saying it's okay to do THIS, or to do THAT?

We have become blinded and numb to the word of God.
We care more about being accepted and pleasing man more than pleasing GOD. 

I'm praying that we can turn our hearts back to God and back to His TRUTH.

We all are sinners and all need Jesus and I'm so thankful that God continues to work on us, and He forgives us of our sins but we must walk away from that sin and not continue to live in it.

I challenge you to get into the BIBLE. Seek TRUTH!







 

"If you love me keep my commandments."  John 14:15


 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. " John 14:23&24

Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action). 2 Timothy 3:16

I will meditate on Your precepts and have respect to Your ways [the paths of life marked out by Your law. Psalm 119: 15
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 12:4

But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. James 1:22


I delight to do Your will, O my God; yes, Your law is within my heart. Psalms 40:8




 

When you KNOW God- You don't stay the same.

Go to church.

Feel convicted.

Live off the sermon for the few days.

Go back to the same old life. 

This happens time after time. 

I lived my life like this for years and you know what?  I liked to feel convicted. That way I could feel like God was doing something in me. 

 I didn't know how to change or how to live a freed life and the bottom line... I was just too LAZY. 

I was raised in a christian home. Grew up in the church (3 days a week) Went to a private christian school. I could tell you every bible story, I could sing to you every bible club song. I didn't drink. I didn't cuss. I didn't smoke. I was a good girl. 

But yet I felt so empty.  

I tried to feel that void by whatever the world had to offer me and nothing changed. 

I think so many christians feel this way and don't really know how to change. 

They feel alone and think the rest of the church is judging them because they don't have the perfect christian life. 

well here is a secret... 

NO ONE has the perfect christian life. We are all sinners. We all need Jesus the same amount. But some people do whatever it takes to get to Jesus and lay aside laziness, and the lies satan throws at them. 

But others walk in apathy and go through the motions. 

Just showing up for church, singing some worship songs, listening to a sermon and then running to the alter isn't  going to be enough for you. 

We are broken people. We have hurts. We have pains that we have carried for years. and we think it's normal to walk a life in defeat. 

We go to church just to check it off our list. . . and we read the bible to comfort us because of the hard times we are going through and maybe throughout the week we will put a status on facebook about God and maybe we aren't doing anything "bad".

But thing you need to understand is His love! Because that's what changes us. 

He died on the cross because He LOVED us. So we could spend eternity with Him.  

Once you start to walk in His unfailing love and FALL IN LOVE with Jesus, you WON'T be able to stay the same. 

I think back to my life. I had such hurt and pain. I walked in insecurity and didn't feel worth anything. I was bound by lies and went through all the motions of the christian life. 

I took everything I was given for granted.

Yes, I had a good life. But a good life isn't enough and it won't satisfy you. 

but Jesus is enough. 

I just want to encourage you to do all you can to get to Him. It's a DAILY THING.

Set aside time for prayer EVERY DAY ( How awesome is it that we get to spend time with the Creator of the Universe?!?)  and we can KNOW HIM!!

Read your Bible! Fall in love with Him!! 

The more we learn about God and fall in love with Him, we understand who HE IS. Why HE created us and who we are in HIM. 

I'm free. I'm restored. I'm whole. I'm redeemed. I'm His. 

and no, I'm not perfect. But my Jesus is and I want to stay as close as I can to Him. 

I pray for each one of you that read this and that God really starts to stir in you a new desire, a new passion for Him. That you don't just go through the motions, but you FALL IN LOVE with Him. That you experience His unfailing love. and that you will be used of Him- to show OTHERS His LOVE! 

Be blessed today and remember- You're loved!!! 

I did absolutely nothing and He chose me because of love.

I'm not going to promise to be consistant on here.We all know how many times I have apologized for blogging only twice a year.

But, I will blog when God lays something on my heart to share and I know that if God is involved it's what  someone needs to hear.

It makes me so happy to know that I serve a God who cares. Who is faithful and loving. Who has given me so many chances and has covered me with grace. Who keeps on pursuing after me and has CHOSEN me to be his daughter.

YES- He Chose me.

That just BLOWS my mind. ---> GOD CHOSE ME. He has captured my heart and brought me to the place where I get to LOVE him with ALL of my heart, soul and mind.

I get to move the heart of God with my praise, my love, and my adoration to Him. He delights in it.
and you know what!? I didn't have to do ONE THING to deserve this love.

I think about celebrities...and athletes who the world will OBSESS with. ( I've had my share of celebrity crushes...and athletes) But when we think about it.. HOW SILLY. They are people. They are NOT my GOD. Although, I could worship them like they are and yes, people do-  They want their autograph. They will do anything to get a chance to see them in person. and then the real crazies CRY when they get into the presence of them. . . . and what do those moments do?



Do they change our life? ( maybe if we are obsessed enough)
Are we made complete and found our hearts desire?
Have we found the thing that will sustain us?
Are we going to be able to change other peoples lives in the eternal perspective of things? 

No to all of the above.

But I worship and serve God- The King of Kings, The Creator of the Universe, My Saviour.... and with Him I see hope arise. I see lives that are broken- healed. I've experienced a love that NEVER fails. I'm made complete and whole. I'm changed forever.

 He CHOSE me and I'm forever Grateful!