Daily Devotion: Heavenly Alchemy

Faith's Checkbook

Your sorrow shall be turned into joy. -John 16:20

Their particular sorrow was the death and absence of their Lord, and it was turned into joy when He rose from the dead and showed Himself in their midst. All the sorrows of saints shall be thus transmuted, even the worst of them, which look as if they must forever remain fountains of bitterness.

Then the more sorrow, the more joy. If we have loads of sorrow, then the Lord's power will turn them into tons of joy. Then the bitterer the trouble the sweeter the pleasure: the swinging of the pendulum far to the left will cause it to go all the farther to the right. The remembrance of the grief shall heighten the flavor of the delight: we shall set the one in contrast with the other, and the brilliance of the diamond shall be the more clearly seen because of the black foil behind it.

Come, my heart, cheer up! In a little while I shall be as glad as I am now gloomy. Jesus tells me that by a heavenly alchemy my sorrow shall be turned into joy. I do not see how it is to be, but I believe it, and I begin to sing by way of anticipation. This depression of spirit is not for long; I shall soon be up among the happy ones who praise the Lord day and night, and there I shall sing of the mercy which delivered me out of great afflictions.

-Charles H. Spurgeon

Who is the love of your life?

**This was sent to me via Facebook by Alex Garrett. Very encouraging! I hope this encourages men and women alike! Never settle when it comes to a spouse...we are not to be unequally yoked! "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?" 1 Corinthians 6:14




3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.
4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4

The one perfect man who made you beautiful on the outside, also makes you beautiful on the inside..He washes you clean..His love for you no other man could attain to. He wants to use you, in ways this world can't measure. The beauty He gave you is not for our pleasure, but it's Jesus' way of saying your HIS treasure. The Father you have in heaven is all the love you need, because through Him, you'll find your true love on earth.
Wait for the LORD; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

While you're waiting God is molding the heart of your future man to love your heart. God is waiting on you to allow His blood to cleanse you on the inside! Just walk by faith. Trust in the Lord who gives you everything. Don't walk by sight, because the world will deceive you into thinking you'll never find love.
Also, don't live your life worrying about who you're going to marry one day. God wants you to live your life for Him! Fully devoted to Him.
1 John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
Seek first the love God has for you. The irreplaceable love that nothing can separate you from.
Wait, and pray. Think about the love Christ has for you. He spilled His blood all over you...You are His first! He's jealous for you!
He can't trust you being one in Spirit with someone before you are one in Spirit with HIM!

JESUS IS THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE, LET HIM COME IN AND HAVE A DATE WITH YOU!
Jesus said, Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
Jesus, the Hottest date you'll ever have! For our “God is a consuming fire." HEBREWS 12:29

He wants to give you all of His fiery love; He wants to embrace you, and keep you forever

-Alex Garrett

A Taste of Hell Anyone??

So recently, I've been having conversations with my friends about...Heaven, Hell and just how some things aren't meant to be understood. I've had my ideas and theories about Hell. I believe there's a reason why we can only go so far in space, and so far beneath the earth. Which is because there's a limit to where our Human bodies can travel. Somewhere beyond where God hung the stars...is Heaven... and down below..into the depths of the earth...is Hell...I think Hell is in the center of the earth. But of course, that's just my idea. But the Bible does say Isaiah 14:9 "hell from beneath..." & "how art thou fallen from heaven..." Isaiah 14:12

Moving right along, a few people told me "you should definitely watch the sermon Creflo Dollar did on Hell." So...today...or technically yesterday when I went to Bible Study I picked up the DVD..from New Years Eve '08. Throughout Bible study though.. all I could think about was getting home to watch the sermon!! LOL [Yes, I am a World Changer! lol] BTW I think bits of the sermon are on Youtube "The Truth About Hell" is the sermon title if you're interested.

I guess the anticipation of not really knowing what to expect began to consume me. All I knew was that it was a very good sermon. Even people who don't attend World Changers were saying I should check it out. I got home..popped it in and was locked in from beginning to end. The audio and visuals actually made it that much more...extreme. I never WANTED to sit down and just think about what Hell is like, you know? LOL why would I? But that sermon...makes you think about what you're doing NOW...that could...send you straight to Hell. And it's scary! It's scary how you can send your own self to Hell by your iniquities you know? It's scary how many people don't know...or just don't believe or even care that there is a Hell and they could very well end up there.

Imagine...going through life like tomorrow is promised to you and one day...poof...you're in another realm. You try to walk towards the light only to be pulled away by some alien, predator, species type looking creature(s)...then you think about the person who was telling you to give your life back to Christ...now you're spending ETERNITY in Hell...the lake of fire...where there's weeping and gnashing of teeth [Matthew 24:51 if you read the 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) they all pretty much give a brief description of hell] a place where worms do not die... it's dark, people are screaming all the time... you want to die but you can't...you're thirsty but there's not one drip drop of water anywhere, that is tormenting in itself...but the most tormenting part.. is that YOU WILL THINK about all the chances you had to truly surrender your life to Christ.

Some people say, "I'm not ready to be saved." Well, I wasn't necessarily "ready to be saved" when I gave my life back to Christ but..it is something I am so glad I did! I won't front, sin does feel good, but once you get a taste of the love of God...you wouldn't want to do those things anymore. Fulfilling the lusts of the flesh brings satisfaction for but a moment... but think about it...you have to keep going back for more and more because then it's like, you can't quite get enough and you're trying to fill this hole that is now a bottomless pit. And from my experience...that one little sin turns into a big ol' mess, and then you're trying to figure out how in the world did you get there!?

Anyway, I'm getting off topic LOL and I don't want to be rambling on in this one blog post. But please if you haven't accepted JESUS THE CHRIST as Lord AND Savior of your life... do yourself a favor and please do so. PLEASE! You can do it right now as you read this blog... it's called the ABC's of salvation. And when you say this... mean it from your heart. Be sincere..God knows your heart Hebrews 4:12 says, "...and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" ...and for some people...Ima be real...that's not a good thing. But uhhhh... yeah the ABC's [sorry for rambling it's been a while haha!] Ask Jesus into your heart today...and don't stop here, get connected to a bible based church, read your Bible..ALLOW God to change your heart, your thoughts, your ways...

Admit that you're a sinner
Believe that Jesus is the Son of God
Confess that Jesus is Lord of your life

Dear God, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I realize that I'm a sinner and I cannot save myself.  I believe you sent your Son Jesus to die on the cross to take the penalty of my sins.  I ask Jesus now to come into my life and save my soul, and guide and direct my life from this point on as my Lord.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Let the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanse you clean! THERE IS POWER IN HIS BLOOD!! Develop your prayer life....PRAYER WORKS!!


Much Love,

Mari ♥

I am Saved...

Shout out to my friend Jonathan for his participation in this video! SO beautiful to see people in the Body of Christ letting the world know...you may not have as much time as you think...

I smell a blog coming... lol

Appreciation

      These past couple of days, I have grown to appreciate life and health so much more. You never know what the future holds, so all you can do is live in and appreciate the "now." When something does happen, it just gives you confirmation that the little things are more important than you think. Example, you never appreciate a pain free knee until it starts giving out on you, and hurting all the time. I experienced this a few weeks ago. My knee was giving out on me, and just hurting for about 3 weeks, suddenly I noticed the pain went away. Now I appreciate my painless knee so much more hahaha!
       I am just so grateful that God has continued to bless me with a breath of fresh air every morning. Not only that, he wakes me up in right mind, and great physical health. On Monday, I was having cardiac complications. At first, I was definitely scared, but as people began to pray for me, a sense of peace came over me. By the time I made it to the doctor I was thinking, "I don't care what she says, I will be okay either way." No weapon formed against me shall prosper, I'm more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus. The ironic part is, Sunday...I chose to stand on Ephesians 6:10-18
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"

I am just....SO GRATEFUL and GLAD that God continues to keep me and hold me up with His Glorious and Righteous Right Hand! What more could I ask for. I have SOOOOO MUCH to just...SHOUT about!! I'm learning not to focus on the things of this earth which are temporary, our light afflictions last but a moment compared to an eternity with the Glorious Father in Heaven.! 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Thank You Father for the Blood of Jesus Christ, and for Your grace and mercy that carries me along the way...THANK YOU!!


-Mari ♥

Just a smooth tune that I absolutely love... This is "Still here" by Travis Greene

Daily Devotion: the Leadership of Our Guide

Faith's Checkbook

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth. -John 16:13

 Truth is like a vast cavern into which we desire to enter, but we are not able to traverse it alone. At the entrance it is clear and bright; but if we would go further and explore its innermost recesses, we must have a guide, or we shall lose ourselves. The Holy Spirit, who knows all truth perfectly, is the appointed guide of all true believers, and He conducts them as they are able to bear it, from one inner chamber to another, so that they behold the deep things of God, and His secret is made plain to them. 

         What a promise is this for the humbly inquiring mind! We desire to know the truth and to enter into it. We are conscious of our own aptness to err, and we feel the urgent need of a guide. We rejoice that the Holy Spirit is come and abides among us. He condescends to act as a guide to us, and we gladly accept His leadership. "All truth" we wish to learn, that we may not be one-sided and out of balance. We would not be willingly ignorant of any part of revelation lest thereby we should miss blessing or incur sin. The Spirit of God has come that He may guide us into all truth: let us with obedient hearts hearken to His words and follow His lead.

-C.H.Spurgeon

Un-Equal: Jonathan Inman

This is a note a friend of mine posted on Facebook. What a beautiful mind! I just HAD to post this lol :)

A couple people asked about the symbol or emblem i have created on my profile phone and in my room. This is like an unofficial breakdown of what it means. I got the sign from the mathematical sign "not equal" but when i thought about it, it had a lot of biblical/spiritual meanings:-2corinthian6v14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
1) 2 + 2 = 4 This statement is not just a relationship of what 2&2 will equal but it is also a comparison of 2&2 to the number 4. Are they the same? 2+2 (is) 4.   2+1(is not)4 There should be a difference in the way the world & Christians live their lives, handle situations, and perceive this life in general, they should not be equal they should not be the same thing. The way we think live act talk walk & feel should be 1st off diff. from the way we did before and likewise the way the world does now. A mathematical equation cannot contradict itself otherwise its not legit. It is always a statement of truth. Our lives shouldn't have contradiction and should re-present the truth. Light drives out the darkness, love drives out hate both cannot live in the same environment

2) The 2strips of red represent who i used to be, what i used to do, how the world is, red means stained deceptive & blood, deserving of death, 2lines standing for double what ever i would have earned, both are parallel meaning what i would have gotten in this life and the next. however a white line acceding vertical covers, cuts thru & overcomes both, the white means purity light righteousness and truth obviously Jesus Christ, He is the reason i am, have the power to be, and ability to become righteous separated & different otherwise i would be an equal sign like every1 else..

3) When u pay attention to the linear placement of the equal sign it is horizontal, something horizontal is always a matter of distance-you are always on the same plane..the same level but just going further away never really closer to anything but further from where you started. God is not on our level, he is greater, higher. The white strip is vertically ascending..rising..like flight..at a progression never the same, constantly seeing something new, being on a different level. Once i used to live horizontally but God is in the heavens, now I'm trying to get closer to him so I'm flying, rising, ascending not just running or walking but using wings to get there.

-Jonathan Inman