Mary did you know? By Kutless

Newsboys This is Your Life

♫ "All My Words" - Kutless ♫

Lecrae - I'm a Saint

Kutless - It Is Well

Brian "Head" Welch - I am Second

God is Awesome!

Christ The Only Way-R.C. Sproul

How Deep The Father's Love For Us - Fernando Ortega

An awesome and moving song

Brian Regan- Dinner Party

Jack Webb Sgt Joe Friday Schools Obama

Tim Hawkins "Names and Titles"

Tree63-Look What You've Done

I Am Second - Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford

Sometimes we get caught up rooting for or against certain athletes and never realize who they really are. I thought this was an awesome video.

Sea of Faces

Audio Adrenaline - Leaving 99

Promise of a Lifetime

John Piper - Make War

Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine

Read the Gospels: JC is not PC (John MacArthur)

By John MacArthur
Pastor, author

Let's be brutally honest: most of Jesus' teaching is completely out of sync with the mores that dominate our culture.

I'm talking, of course, about the Jesus we encounter in Scripture, not the always-gentle, never-stern, über-lenient coloring-book character who exists only in the popular imagination. The real Jesus was no domesticated clergyman with a starched collar and genteel manners; he was a bold, uncompromising Prophet who regularly challenged the canons of political correctness.

Consider the account of Jesus' public ministry given in the New Testament. The first word of his first sermon was "Repent!"--a theme that was no more welcome and no less strident-sounding than it is today. The first act of his public ministry touched off a small riot. He made a whip of cords and chased money-changers and animal merchants off the Temple grounds. That initiated a three-year-long conflict with society's most distinguished religious leaders. They ultimately handed him over to Roman authorities for crucifixion while crowds of lay people cheered them on.

Jesus was pointedly, deliberately, and dogmatically counter-cultural in almost every way. No wonder the religious and academic aristocracy of his generation were so hostile to him.

Would Jesus receive a warmer welcome from world religious leaders, the media elite, or the political gentry today? Anyone who has seriously considered the New Testament knows very well that he would not. Our culture is devoted to pluralism and tolerance; contemptuous of all absolute or exclusive truth-claims; convinced that self-love is the greatest love of all; satisfied that most people are fundamentally good; and desperately wanting to believe that each of us is endowed with a spark of divinity.

Against such a culture Jesus' message strikes every discordant note.

Check the biblical record. Jesus' words were full of hard demands and stern warnings. He said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?" (Luke 9:23-25). "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26).

At one point an unthinkable Roman atrocity took the lives of many Galilean pilgrims who had come to worship in Jerusalem. Pilate, the Roman governor, ordered his men to murder some worshipers and then mingled their blood with the sacrifices they were offering. While the city was still reeling from that awful disaster, a tower fell in the nearby district of Siloam and instantly snuffed out eighteen more lives.

Asked about these back-to-back tragedies, Jesus said, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:2-5).

Ignoring the normal rules of taste, tact, and diplomacy, Jesus in effect declared that all his listeners were sinners in need of redemption. Then, as now, that message was virtually guaranteed to offend many--perhaps most--of Jesus' audience.

Those with no sense of personal guilt--including the vast majority of religious leaders--were of course immediately offended. They were convinced they were good enough to merit God's favor. Who was this man to summon them to repentance? They turned away in angry unbelief.

The only ones not offended were those who already sensed their guilt and were crushed under the weight of its burden. Unhindered by indignation or self-righteousness, they could hear the hope implicit in Jesus' words. For them, the repeated phrase "unless you repent" pointed the way to redemption.

Elsewhere, Jesus made the promise of life and forgiveness explicit: "He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life" (John 5:24). "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:27-28).

That, of course, is the glorious message of the gospel, just as potent and just as relevant today as it was then. But the promise is for those who are weary of sin; those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6); those who come to Christ with repentant heartsCnot those who are convinced they are fundamentally good.

Proud people, including lots of religious people who call themselves Christians, don't really believe Christ's message at all. He said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance" (Mark 2:17).

So what would Jesus say to a pluralistic, tolerant, self-indulgent society like ours? I'm convinced his approach today would be the very same strategy we see in the New Testament. To smug, self-satisfied, arrogant sinners (including multitudes on church rolls) his words would sound harsh, shocking, provocative. But to "the poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3)--those who are exhausted and spent by the ravages of sin; desperate for forgiveness and without any hope of atoning for their own sin--Jesus' call to repentant faith remains the very gateway to eternal life.

This is a particularly hard message in cultures like ours that elevate self-love, self-esteem, or self-righteousness, but Jesus was absolutely clear, and these words do still speak to us: "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 18:14).

Dr. John MacArthur, pastor of 7,000-member Grace Community Church in Southern California, is a best-selling author of more than 200 books and study guides. His new book is "The Jesus You Can't Ignore: What You Must Learn from the Bold Confrontations of Christ."

By John MacArthur | August 14, 2009; 11:44 AM ET

John Piper: Sermon Jam

A weak, defenseless and foolish creature!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"The Lord is my shepherd--I have everything I need." Psalm 23:1

"The Lord is my shepherd!" What condescension is this--that the Infinite Lord assumes the office and character of a Shepherd towards His people! It should be the subject of grateful admiration, that the great God allows Himself to be compared to anything which will set forth His great love and care for His own people!

David had himself been a keeper of sheep, and understood both the needs of the sheep, and the many cares of a shepherd. He compares himself to a weak, defenseless and foolish creature--and he takes God to be his Provider, Preserver, Director, and, indeed, his everything!

No man has a right to consider himself the Lord's sheep--unless his nature has been renewed; for the Scriptural description of unconverted men does not picture them as sheep--but as wolves or goats! A sheep is personal property--not a wild animal. Its owner sets great value on it, and frequently it is bought with a great price. It is well to know, as certainly as David did--that we belong to the Lord!

There is a noble tone of confidence in this sentence. There is no "if", nor "but", nor even an "I hope so". David says, "The Lord IS my shepherd." We must cultivate the spirit of assured dependence upon our heavenly Father.

The sweetest word of the whole verse, is that monosyllable, "MY". He does not say, "The Lord is the shepherd of the world at large," but "The Lord is MY shepherd!" He is a MY Shepherd to no one else--He cares for me, watches over me, and preserves me! The words are in the present tense. Whatever the believer's situation--he is constantly under the pastoral care of Jehovah Himself!

The next words are an encouraging inference from the first statement, "I have everything I need." I might lack otherwise--but when the Lord is my Shepherd--He is able to supply my needs--and He is certainly willing to do so, for His heart is full of love towards His people!

I shall not lack for temporal things. Does He not feed the ravens, and cause the lilies to grow? How, then, can He leave His children to starve?

I shall not lack for spiritual things, I know that His grace will be sufficient for all my needs. Resting in Him--He will say to me, "As your days--so shall your strength be!"

I may not possess all that I wish for--but "I have everything I need." Others, far wealthier and wiser than I, may lack--but "I have everything I need." "The young lions may lack, and suffer hunger--but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing."

Come what may, if famine should devastate the land, or calamity destroy the city, "I have everything I need!" Old age with its feebleness shall not bring me any lack; and even death with its gloom--shall not find me destitute. I shall have all good things and abound; not because I have a large store of money in the bank, nor because I have skill and wit to sustain myself--but because "The Lord is my shepherd!"

The wicked always lack--but the righteous never! An unsaved person's heart is far from satisfaction--but a gracious heart dwells in the "palace of contentment!"

There is nothing more beautiful

God's love is amazing

This has to be my all time favorite version

Are you going hard for Christ?

Great Stuff

Ever wonder what excactly the "Christian Life" is? Just listen to these lyrics.

Michael Jackson's REAL cause of death!

Sadly True (From the Sacred Sandwich)

If Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians was Published in Christianity Today

Posted on 20 February 2009
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Christianity Today:

In response to Paul D. Apostle’s article about the Galatian church in your January issue, I have to say how appalled I am by the unchristian tone of this hit piece. Why the negativity? Has he been to the Galatian church recently? I happen to know some of the people at that church, and they are the most loving, caring people I’ve ever met.

Phyllis Snodgrass; Ann Arbor, MI

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Dear Editor:

How arrogant of Mr. Apostle to think he has the right to judge these people and label them accursed. Isn’t that God’s job? Regardless of this circumcision issue, these Galatians believe in Jesus just as much as he does, and it is very Pharisaical to condemn them just because they differ on such a secondary issue. Personally, I don’t want a sharp instrument anywhere near my zipper, but that doesn’t give me the right to judge how someone else follows Christ. Can’t we just focus on our common commitment to Christ and furthering His kingdom, instead of tearing down fellow believers over petty doctrinal matters?

Ed Bilgeway; Tonganoxie, KS

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Dear CT:

I’ve seen other dubious articles by Paul Apostle in the past, and frankly I’m surprised you felt that his recurrent criticisms of the Church deserved to be printed in your magazine. Mr. Apostle for many years now has had a penchant for thinking he has a right to “mark” certain Christian teachers who don’t agree with his biblical position. Certainly I commend him for desiring to stay faithful to God’s word, but I think he errs in being so dogmatic about his views to the point where he feels free to openly attack his brethren. His attitude makes it difficult to fully unify the Church, and gives credence to the opposition’s view that Christians are judgmental, arrogant people who never show God’s love.

Ken Groener; San Diego, CA

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To the Editors:

Paul Apostle says that he hopes the Galatian teachers will cut off their own privates? What kind of Christian attitude is that? Shame on him!

Martha Bobbitt; Boulder, CO

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Dear Christianity Today:

The fact that Paul Apostle brags about his public run-in with Peter Cephas, a well-respected leader and brother in Christ, exposes Mr. Apostle for the divisive figure that he has become in the Church today. His diatribe against the Galatian church is just more of the same misguided focus on an antiquated reliance on doctrine instead of love and tolerance. Just look how his hypercritical attitude has cast aspersions on homosexual believers and women elders! The real problem within the Church today is not the lack of doctrinal devotion, as Apostle seems to believe, but in our inability to be transformed by our individual journeys in the Spirit. Evidently, Apostle has failed to detach himself from his legalistic background as a Pharisee, and is unable to let go and experience the genuine love for Christ that is coming from the Galatians who strive to worship God in their own special way.

William Zenby; Richmond, VA

——————————————————————————

Kind Editors:

I happen to be a member of First Christian Church of Galatia, and I take issue with Mr. Apostle’s article. How can he criticize a ministry that has been so blessed by God? Our church has baptized many new members and has made huge in-roads in the Jewish community with our pragmatic view on circumcision. Such a “seeker-sensitive” approach has given the Jews the respect they deserve for being God’s chosen people for thousands of years. In addition, every Gentile in our midst has felt honored to engage in the many edifying rituals of the Hebrew heritage, including circumcision, without losing their passion for Jesus. My advice to Mr. Apostle is to stick to spreading the gospel message of Christ’s unconditional love, and quit criticizing what God is clearly blessing in other churches.

Miriam “Betty” Ben-Hur; Galatia, Turkey

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Christianity Today apologizes for our rash decision in publishing Paul Apostle’s exposé of the Galatian church. Had we known the extent in which our readership and advertisers would withdraw their financial support, we never would have printed such unpopular biblical truth. We regret any damage we may have caused in propagating the doctrines of Christ.


http://sacredsandwich.com/archives/2781

Letters of John Newton

"By the grace of God--I am what I am!" 1 Corinthians 15:10

October 27, 1778

My dear friend,
How industriously is Satan served! I was formerly one of his most active under-tempters! Not content with running down the broad way which leads to destruction by myself--I was indefatigable in enticing others! And, had my influence been equal to my wishes--I would have carried the whole human race to hell with me! And doubtless some have already perished, to whose destruction I was greatly instrumental, by tempting them to sin, and by poisoning and hardening them with principles of infidelity. And yet I was spared! When I think of the most with whom I spent my ungodly days of ignorance, I am ready to say, "I alone have escaped alive!"

Surely I have not half the activity and zeal in the service of Him who snatched me as a brand out of the burning--as I had in the service of His enemy! Then the whole stream of my endeavors and affections went one way; now my best desires are continually crossed, counteracted, and spoiled, by the sin which dwells in me! Then the tide of a corrupt nature bore me along; now I have to strive and swim against it.

Had my abilities and opportunities been equal to my heart desires--I would have been a monster of profaneness and profligacy! A common drunkard or harlot is a petty sinner--compared to what I once was! I had unabated ambition, and wanted to rank in wickedness among the foremost of the human race!

"O to grace how great a debtor--daily I'm constrained to be!"

one of my favorite comedians

Young Conservative Anthem

A Wicked Deed in Wichita -- A Test for the Pro-Life Movement

A Wicked Deed in Wichita -- A Test for the Pro-Life Movement

Shared via AddThis

jars of clay

John Piper's Response to President Obama on Abortion

just a thought

I know for me sometimes life can start feeling very redundant. The last couple of weeks have sort of been that way for me. I had begun to question a few things. The other night I came across this song and it literally brought me to tears. It reminded me that no matter has isolated I may feel God is always there. He is always listening and watching every moment of every day. When we feel that no one is around or no one is even listening to us it is way too easy to forget that not only is God there but He is guiding and shaping every moment of our lives. No matter how redundant we think life might become it isn’t. Because it has to be something very special if the God of the universe came to give up His for ours.

a message to today's youth and beyond

working on a new post but wanted to share this song/video.

schools out

Finished up another semester this week. It has been a great one. I am hoping to take this summer and post more on random things that I come across in my life. As of right now I am halfway through getting my Bachelors in Ministry. At the same time I have no idea in the world what I will do with it. I know God has placed me where I am supposed to be at this moment learning more and more about Him. I am asking that if you read this please keep me in your prayers that I will be patient (this is a virtue I quite honestly fail at a lot) with God's timing and that I will not try to accomplish anything outside of Him. I know that His timing is perfect and when He is ready He will place me where He wants me. Thanks for listening. Hope to post more starting next week.

The Crucifixion - A Medical Examination

Please take the time and watch

This is something we should all take heed to and take seriously. A very high percentage of "Christian" churches in this country have walked farther and farther away from God and closer to a man centered gospel. It is time that we come back to the one and only truth.

wow

This video just shows power and glory of God through any tragedy. Only a week after the murder of her husband.

Can only describe as humbling and life changing

All I Can Say is Watch

One of those songs that is too true

Where is the outrage?

It is a sad and sick thing that the morals of our country have gotten so bad that this is not plastered on the front page of every newspaper and the headline of the news. Sick and despicable. When are we going to stand up for the rights of the unborn and stop the murder of children!


Abortionist throws child in trash to die

more music

Agnus Dei

we are the clay

Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Jeremiah 18:3-4

The same way that the potter took the marred vessel and turned into something good is the same as what God does to us when He saves us from our sins. Just as the first vessel the potter created, I was marred before I came into the saving grace of God. I personally, find it awesome to look back and see some of the things God has changed about me and some of the stuff that he is still changing. When you step back and look at your life, it is wonderful to see how He has changed the molding from the day He saved us to what we are now.

On the other side of that, if we cannot see the changes in ourselves from that time of conversion then we should step back and see why. God is our potter and if we are going to profess Him as the Lord of our lives we should be able to show a before and after of that. I whole-heartedly believe that there has to be a change in our mold. He uses the same clay but molds us into what He wants us to be. If there would be no reason for a change in us than there would be no reason for Him to extend grace to us. The most remarkable thing of all is the fact that God can take the broken man that I am and turn me into something beautiful in His eyes.

more music

became addicted to this song this week

no excuses

Then I said, “Ah Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth.’ for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whenever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 1:6-8

I will admit that when it has come to me sharing my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ I have used the excuse of not knowing what to say. I always found it convenient to use the fact that I was still a young Christian and was not ready to witness. The truth was that one real reason for my lack of witness was the fear of what the reply would be from the other person. Not until recently have I come to understand fully that I have been prepared to witness from the day God saved me. I have no excuse for not sharing what Christ has done for me in my life from the day He saved me out of my sins and placed me into Him.

Just as Jeremiah does in these verses, we try to make excuses for why we cannot do what God has told us to do. Thankfully, the statement that God makes to him also applies to us today. We cannot hide behind the excuses of not being mature enough in our faith or not knowing what words to say because God has covered that for us. The minute that He changed us, we immediately have the words to say because they are the same words that changed us and we are just mature enough to be telling everyone what He has done to change our hearts. When we fear what people might say or how they may react the same promise that God gives to Jeremiah He also gives to us. No matter what someone says to us or how they may react physically, God promises to deliver us away from that and He always fulfills His promises.

He hhhdhhddjdjjdjfjfjfjfj5455

another great song (been too busy to write much hopefully can soon)

AWESOME TESTIMONY

How can we rightfully pray and expect God to bless this country???

http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/abominations/abortion-clinic-story-horrifies-but-why/

The Gospel in 6 Minutes (John Piper)

John Piper and the Prosperity Gospel

My favorite song right now

Here comes that "great" change

Sad sad sad........................................................

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123267481436808735.html

awesome song

Thousand Foot Krutch

music

I have always loved music, even though I cannot sing a lick (although I am an awesome lip singer) I am pretty sure I am probably tone deaf, and all I will say about dancing is one of my Dads favorite sayings "Like a bumbling bull in a china closet." With all of that said I still love listening to music. It has always amazed me how certain types of music can move your emotions around so easily. So while working on posting different items I want to also just post videos of different songs that I love to listen to and that have impacted me in some way. So here is one that is one of my favorites and one that has really hit home with me over the past few months.

dos and don'ts of evangelism

I came across this on http://kimriddlebarger.squarespace.com and thought that it would be a great resource to share.

1. Be clear about what you believe and why you believe it. Know the Scriptures and know the confessions and catechisms. The more you know about your faith, the easier it is to talk with non-Christians.

2. The essence of evangelism is communicating the correct information about sin and grace, simply and clearly. Talk about the law and the gospel, not about infralapsarianism and divine simplicity. That comes later!

3. Avoid the use of Christian jargon. Speak about real sin, real guilt, real shed blood!

4. Use tact and be charitable! Don’t talk about reprobation with someone who has just lost an unbelieving family member. Be kind and courteous! Many non-Christians act and speak out of ignorance, not malice.

5. Be sensitive to someone’s past—if they’ve had a bad experience in church, struggle with a particular sin etc., be understanding and compassionate! Non-Christians hate self-righteousness, and they have a right to do so. Do not soft-peddle the law and the guilt of sin, but make sure they understand that you are a justified sinner, not a self-righteous "know it all," who is here to correct them!

6. Stick with the subject—don’t get side-tracked. When the conversation wanders, pull it back to center stage—the law and the gospel.

7. Evangelism is not about winning an argument, but leading people to Christ. Discussions may get heated and intense at times—that’s okay. But the purpose of evangelism is not to show why you are right and they are wrong. It is to communicate the truth of the gospel. The message is to be the offence. Not you!

8. When people are apathetic about sin—use the law. When people have doubts or are skeptical—use basic apologetic arguments. When people express guilt for sin—present the gospel.

9. Evangelism is about leading non-Christians to Christ. Convincing evangelicals that Reformed theology is true, falls under the heading of polemics. Don’t confuse the two.

10. Stick with what all Christians hold in common wherever possible. Leave the internecine fighting among Christians aside when talking to non-Christians. A non-Christian will not care much about why the Lutheran view of the Lord’s Supper is in error, or why Baptists are wrong about infant baptism. That will come during catechesis.

11. Wherever possible, speak about Christianity as factually true— "Jesus did this," "Jesus said this," "people heard and saw him," etc. Keep away from the subjective line of approach— "it works for me."

12. Pray for wisdom.

13. Trust in the power of God the Holy Spirit working through the word! Cite texts directly from the Scriptures with attribution. Jesus says, Paul says....Not, "I think," or "it seems to me."

14. Don’t rush things. Just because someone is not ready to trust in Christ after one encounter does not mean that effective evangelism has not taken place. Pre-evangelism is equally vital. You may plant, but someone else may have to water.

15. Treat people as objects of concern, not notches in your belt. Establish relationships and friendships whenever possible.

16. Don’t forget that a prophet is without honor in his own home. The chances of you leading your own unbelieving family members [or someone close to you] to Christ are remote. Pray for someone else to come and evangelize your family!

17. Don’t force things. If people balk, ridicule and otherwise are not interested, back off. Find another time and place. If after repeated attempts to communicate the gospel, and someone still shows an unwillingness to hear what you have to say, "shake the dust off your feet and move on to a new town!"

18. Be willing to get people the resources they need: be willing to provide them with a Bible, the right book to read, and certainly an invitation to attend your church or Bible study, etc.

19. Pray for opportunities to evangelize. Pray for your church—that God would bless the preaching of his word, that he would bring non-Christians into our midst, and that he would bless the church with growth.

20. You don’t have to become a practical Arminian to be a faithful evangelist! A Reformed approach to evangelism simply means telling people the truth in love.

Your Best Life Now? pt 2

Luke 9:23-25
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

These 3 verses completely go against the popular teachings of today from men such as Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, Rob Bell, Brian McClaren and sadly many many more. We see in these verses what the true cost of being a disciple of Christ is. The three conditions of this are clearly laid out in that we first have to deny our self. Which is more than just a denial of certain things, but instead a rejection of a life that is based on our own self interest and the fulfillment of worldly things. Next is the command to take up our cross. You might easily take that verse lightly but we must understand that when Jesus was speaking these words the cross was a emblem of a horrible and painful death. Just as today we see the electric chair as the source of capital punishment that is what Jesus was basically referring to here. This is not a command to go out and seek death, but instead that we should be willing to suffer unto the the possibility of death for Christ. 1 Timothy states that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" so why do we expect a life of ease and fluff when we are told what we will have when we are living in Christ? Last we see the we have to follow Jesus. Basically this is easy. Follow Jesus and no one else. Just as He stated in John 14:6 there is no other way but Jesus Christ!

25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

This has become a verse that I am trying to make a motto for my own life. To me it is pretty much asking what is you soul worth? Are all of the treasures of the world worth spending an eternity in hell and completely separated from God? Would you sell you right eye for a million dollars? Then why would you sell your soul for less?


Christ came to this earth not to give us a better life here, He did not suffer a painful death on the cross so that we could have a lot of money and be happy happy and He did not rise from the grave so that we could demand anything and everything that we want from Him. No He done all of that because without it we would have no hope. We would be living a life of nothing because apart from Him we are nothing. He is not our "magic genie" He is our Lord and Savior. Our Master! So instead of asking what Jesus can do for us We should be asking how we can glorify Him. Because that is what the Christian life is. To glorify God and God alone. He does not need us we need Him. It is an awesome thought to me that Jesus willingly gave His life for me and gave me eternal life for nothing I had done, but through everything He has done. I did not have to do anything to earn that. But I want to live a life that serves Him daily.

Your Best Life Now? pt 1

Turn on TBN (or has I have heard it called Twisting the Bible daily Network) and you will probably hear that if you become a Christian that all your troubles are gone. You will have wealth and health and will prosper greatly. That whatever you ask of God will be done. Basically, they teach that God is your "magic genie" and there to meet all of your worldly needs. Anyone who has opened the Bible for more than a 2 minute pick me up will realize that this is nothing near what is taught throughout. Not only that but anyone who has faced a tough trial and come out of it knowing that God and God alone was the only one pulling you through it knows that this is false.
After Jesus blinded and converted Paul on the road to Damascus the Lord came to Ananias in a vision and told him to go to Paul so that he could receive back his sight. Ananias was not to keen on really going to Paul because of the persecution he had done to the Christians, but the Lord told him "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake." If you notice there he did not say that Paul was fixing to live the life of a king and prosper greatly but that he will suffer for God. Not only there do we see that the Christian life is not a bed of roses but instead we are to die to this world and to our self.