Get Close To God

It has been a while since I last wrote anything. I would have to say that I have walked at least close to, the valley of the shadow of death, at least emotionally. But I must say, that I have had good times worshipping the Lord, during this time. I have found, that even though as a pastor, I taught about how God needs to be priority, and how the Word of God needs to be primary in our lives, even through difficulty and hardship. But it is one thing to teach it. It is an entirely different thing to live it. And to the people I taught, I apologize. But the Lord has allowed me this valley for a reason. I don't yet know what it is, but one day I know that I will look back, and see the hand of my Savior as He led me the entire journey.

Many people have criticized me, saying that there must be this great sin in my life, for me to be going through this. Those people have sat in judgment against me, and will have to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. Romans 14:4-13 says this:

"Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. 5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live tot he Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way."

The emphasis on that is mine, of course. I have been the subject of gossip and slander, and have been judged, by people I thought were my friends. That is not the point. The point is, is that we will all have to stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account. We seem to minimize that somehow, as Christians. Beloved, this life is precious, and I am finding out more and more, that people are in such need of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. And people are very open to talking about it. I got a tattoo tonight, and talked to the tattoo artist for a couple hours about spiritual things, on his part, and Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit on my part. We talked about how God speaks to our hearts, and speaks into our lives. I have begun a relationship with him now, and will continue to stop in there and just say hello and minister to him when I can.

I started this writing to talk about worship, but I guess the Lord had other plans. Beloved, get close to God. I don't mean religion. There are rules, and rituals, and the swishing of robes, and candles, and lists of do's and don'ts. Get close to God. Get close to Jesus Christ, Emmanuel. God with Us. If you don't know Him, and you are reading this, confess your sins to Him, tell Him that you want to repent of your sins, ask Him to forgive you - and He will, and then ask Him to teach you to love Him - and He will. It is that simple. Ask Him to be the Lord and Savior of your life, and to make you into the person He wants you to be. Ask and receive. That is all there is to it. Believe that He is who He says He is (and He is), and believe that He will do all that He says He will do (and He does). Let me know if you have accepted Him as your personal Lord and Savior of your life, by commenting on this blog. May the God of heaven and earth bless you with all blessings, through the power and might of the Holy Spirit of God. Shalom.