365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 98

I am preparing to take my first exam for my class on Basic Christian counseling. I am finding it is always good to repeat viewing a dvd class as things said the first time may not have gone in because I was thinking about the previous thing said or writing something down. I love the “oh, I get it” feeling. One of the main points of Christian counseling is about salvation. Many people have a misguided perception of what it takes to have salvation. It is not something we earn. If I am a good person does not equal salvation. It is a gift from God that we willingly take into ourselves through the blood of Jesus Christ. Our choice to believe that Jesus is God’s one and only son and that this sinless son of God died on the cross and took the punishment for our sins and his blood covers our sins and makes us presentable to God is the only way we have salvation. The Holy Spirit is walking behind us all of our days and will cover the sins that we will do keeping us clean in the sight of God. Without this belief, you will find yourself drawn down a darkened path that only leads to destruction. God will never leave or forsake us. His goodness will follow us all the days of our lives and keep us cleansed of our sins.

Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 96

The story of Joseph is one of my favorites for many reasons but especially to show that God’s purpose is working through everything, the good, the bad and the ugly. Joseph was thrown in a pit, sold by his brothers as a slave, shipped off to a foreign country and accused of attempted rape and thrown in jail. But he was in a place where he could use the gift God gave him with his dreams that would end up helping the Pharaoh and the whole nation of Egypt and put him in a place to help and forgive his brothers. Joseph had learned throughout his tribulations that no matter what his brothers intended that God intended it for good. This belief is what helped Joseph in forgiving his brothers. The evil in the world is certainly not good but God will use it for his good purpose of bringing more souls to salvation and back in relationship with him. If we have this belief in our hearts of the goodness of God and his purpose than we too will be able to forgive which is the way to gaining freedom and peace. God is good.

Genesis 50:19-20  But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 49

I did it! I have applied to Colorado Theological Seminary for the Masters in Clinical Pastoral Counseling. The moment I clicked the submit button I felt such joy and peace. It was time to get the ball rolling. There is so much to learn and I am excited about this journey. It feels much like what Peter says in 1Peter 1:8 (see below). I have had the faith to step out and get this going and I know that I will reach that end goal of having my own Christian Counseling practice. All things have a process that has an end result. Faith in Jesus = salvation and eternity in heaven. Evil desire leads to sin which ends in death. Applying for school leads to learning which gets you to a degree. I am just tickled pink with starting my journey that will end with a degree and a future in which I will be equipped to help hurting people find the joy that the Lord can bring us.

1Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you live him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 152

I was thinking over some of the things that happened on my trip and this one particular incident that happened the first day although funny to look back on makes me wonder how well do I hear. My mom and sister and I were eating at Rita's on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. As we were enjoying our mexican fiest, a mariachi band came over to a table in our area and played a fun sing-a-long kind of song. Afterwards, they made there way over to our table. It was so fun watching that I wanted them to sing for us, too. One of the guys said something that I didn't quite understand but I just nodded okay so they began there song. My mom eyed me during the song to give them $5 for a tip so I pulled out some cash. When I handed it to the guy after the song had ended he tells me it's $10 for a song. They weren't singing for free! I guess I missed that when he spoke to me before the song. I know I don't do well with accents because of my undiagnosed auditory disorder and you throw in the atmosphere of a restaurant and it's noise and it's a combo that just doesn't work for my ears. I paid the $10 and we laughed and balked to each other how we had been duped because we didn't hear. We told ourselves that if anyone else came up to us wanting to do anything, they would have to have a big sign saying it was free before we said yes. Our salvation is free. The cost was paid by Jesus' death on the cross and resurection from the dark pit of hell. We don't have to do good things to earn our salvation, all we need to do is choose to believe in Jesus. So now when I think of the cross and Jesus, I think there is also a big sign saying free! Romans 3:24 There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redepmption that came by Christ Jesus.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 135

He is Risen! Today is the day we celebrate our salvation. God gave us hope in his son Jesus. We can go through our lives with the Holy Spirit guiding, helping, strengthening and growing us. Jesus has overcome the world! We, too, can overcome the challenges that life will throw at us with Jesus by our side. Hope is Alive! Jesus is Alive! Thank you Lord for the greatest of all gifts. Have a blessed Easter and may you keep the celebration of your salvation in your hearts, souls and minds throughout everyday of the year.
1John 4-5 And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.