“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:1-18 NIV
Author: myspiritualjourney
This is my journey to strengthening my relationship with Jesus Christ & to discover the true purpose of my life.
According to my Mother, I have always been a spiritual person. However, when I look back in my life, I didn’t follow God’s word. A few years ago, I had an eye opening experience that lead me on this path to grow closer to Jesus. During this time, I went through a traumatic divorce. I felt like I lost the respect of my son & daughter. I lost my career. I lost most of my materialistic, worldly items. BUT GOD! I didn’t lose Jesus. I actually found Him. I found the person that had always been there for me.
In the past 5 years, I have been healed from so many things when I gave my life to Jesus. He blessed me with a husband I never thought I would deserve. My kids tell & show me that the love & respect me. I was giving the responsibility of helping raise 2 beautiful daughters. Plus, I was blessed in so many other ways, as well.
In the midst of my blessings, I have been tested & attacked. These things have weakened & distracted me from my relationship with Christ. I have been backsliding in my relationship with God, almost to the point of being double minded. For 3 years I have heard that I must write. This confused me so much because I did/do not know what to write. So I put it off, I procrastinated, I just ignored what I heard from God. I would create FB pages & write what I believed He wanted me to write but it still didn’t feel like I was listening to God. This blog feels right. I have prayed about it. I have given it to God. So we will see what He allows me to share on this journey.
Enjoy my journey with me!!!
Psalm 9
“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you. For you have upheld my right and my cause, sitting enthroned as the righteous judge. You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever. Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies, you have uprooted their cities; even the memory of them has perished. The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done. For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted. Lord, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death, that I may declare your praises in the gates of Daughter Zion, and there rejoice in your salvation. The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. The Lord is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God. But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish. Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence. Strike them with terror, Lord; let the nations know they are only mortal.”
Psalms 9:1-20 NIV
From the You Verison Devotional – Anger: The good, the bad, the destructive
Evidence for Good Anger
How can we be sure there’s such a thing as good anger?
First the Bible says, “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity” (Eph. 4:26-27).
The phrase “be angry” is one that many people don’t expect to find in the Bible. The apostle Paul, who wrote these words to the Ephesians, knew that anger is an inevitable part of life. But he’s not merely acknowledging the inevitable. Paul is stating that it’s entirely acceptable—perhaps even desirable—for a person to feel anger. But it must be aimed at godly goals. The apostle clearly recognized that not all anger is related to negative or sinful expression and that some anger can be good.
Second, the Bible has nearly 500 references to anger. In 350 of those instances, the one who is angry is God.
If our heavenly Father gets angry, then there must be good anger, because God doesn’t sin.
So what did the Lord get angry about?
Repeatedly, He told His people they were not to worship idols (Lev. 26:1). God made it very clear to the Hebrews that they were His chosen people (Deut. 14:2). He expressed His love for them repeatedly and was jealous for their sole affection and worship. The Lord had protected and provided for His people, and He longed for their willful obedience so that He might bless them even more. The truth is God neither winks at nor overlooks sin. The Father sees our sin, and because He’s holy and righteous, He can’t reward or bless those who are sinful. He knows that sin puts people in bondage, leading to suffering and death. God longs to free His people from that bondage and put them on a path to life at its very best.
For these reasons, the Lord was strong in His commands to the people regarding their fidelity and loyalty to Him. Some of the angriest words from God are against those who disobey His command against idolatry (Ez. 36:18).
Throughout the Bible, our heavenly Father is most angry not at specific individuals but at situations and behaviors that affect His kingdom on earth and His plan for the redemption of mankind. God was, is, and always will be angry at sin. But He loves each of us individually and longs to free His children from the bondage of sin.
Growth With God 