The Mark of A True Christian

Have you ever thought-I wonder if so and so is a Christian, or I think this person is a Christian, but I am not sure. One evaluation you can have to determine if someone is a true Christian is if they are continually growing in Christ-there MUST be fruit of a Christian in their lives. Many people can say they are Christians and can even act like they are Christians, but a true lover of Jesus and follower of Christ is evidence throughout time and evidence of what's in the heart of someone. After being around and hanging around people you are able to tell what is in their hearts and what they think about. One is able to determine from relationship and being around someone where they are at in their walk with God.

I personally know and have met people who, it seemed like to everyone that they loved God and was pursuing God, but in the end we found out hidden sins that they never told us. Now everyone will have sins that they really, honestly don't know about but it's in their growth and evidence throughout time that proves where they stand and where their heart is. True repentance is when you have been doing something wrong and you turn the other way and follow after God whole heartily, never turning back-standing firm in faith and love for God. Many people can "walk the walk" and they can "talk the talk" but do they have the fruits of the Spirit, are they applying what they have learned from scripture to their lives? Are they studying the Bible and living it out in their lives? Do they honor others? Look at the character of a person and that also tells a lot. Is that person lieing a lot? Is that person listening to Godly leaders and searching out God in all of His righteousness? Is that person inspiring others to live like Christ? There are so many questions you could ask yourself and another person to see where they are at spiritually.

Evidence of love and faith in Jesus is continual growth and fruit in their lives in all aspects and it can't just be "going through the motions," but a sincere different person change in their lives. The person is different-they have a different spark or light to them that you never noticed before, etc...God is evident and real in their lives. Hidden sin is not hidden-but one is accountable to leaders in their lives for their growth in Christ. There is a difference between "unknown sin" and "hidden sin." Unknown sin is sin that a person doesn't know about sincerely, but hidden sin is sin that a person does know about and no one else knows so they hide it thinking they are getting by with it, but in the end ALL sin will be out in the open and revealed for all to see. Can you see what I'm saying? GROWTH is evident in a TRUE Christian, a RELATIONSHIP with Christ is evident in their lives!

If you have any questions on this, please feel free to talk to me about it! I will do my best to answer them!  Thanks for reading and keep following and keep updated on current posts to learn more! :)

The Best Part of Waking Up...!

"Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart as working for the Lord and not for man."

Many say that "The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup!" I say that the best part of waking up is seeing the beautiful sunrise and spending time with God! I don't know how you wake up or what you do when you wake up, but you can tell me! How does your day start? Does it start out with coffee, or tea, or a reading or do you just jump right into your day? Do you pray? Do you eat breakfast on the go or at home? What is it that makes your morning special? I know some of you might be married, do you wake up and are welcomed with a kiss? Are you woken up with Breakfast in Bed? How about a sweet song or does the sun wake you up? How do you start your morning? What makes your morning so special?

I enjoy waking up as the sun is rising and walk outside and maybe sit on our porch or on our swing and read my Bible. I might even listen to music on my mp3. I just love to be outside and I feel closer to God when I am. I enjoy hearing the birds chirp and dance in the fields. I enjoy singing and feeling the wind on my face as I praise my King! I enjoy being in the presence of God! It is the most satisfying and amazing feeling that I have ever felt in my whole life! Nothing can surpass that feeling. Recently though (within the past month) I have felt distant from God. I hate this feeling! It makes me just want to cry and I just ask God to renew me and make me more passionate and more in His presence, more in love with Him! The business of life has just seemed to have gotten me down. It's really sad, but I know that I am an overcomer and nothing is impossible with God! I am dedicating this next week or so or to renewing the passion once again! If you feel the same way, I encourage you to pray and ask God to help you and to show you and lead you where He wants you to be. I believe that God can and will do it. We just have to have more faith and really seek Him, because He said that if we seek Him with our whole heart, we will find Him! That's what I am going to do. I encourage you to do whatever you have to do to stay focused on Him and love Him with all that you are and do and say! :)

Fear vs. Faith

Recently, I have noticed how our world is getting worse in many ways and fear has come up within me. I see so many terrible things happening within my peer groups and friends and around the world and it has really bothered me. So many don't really know the love of God and don't know Him in a personal way, as Lord and Savior and as Master and Father of their lives. Several of my, once close friends have fallen away from God and the reason I know this is because of the fruit I see in their lives. The "fruit" is not Godly fruit in no way. They aren't growing, in fact several of them are running away from the Bible and the truth and God's word. It really breaks my heart and I am a very sensitive and emotional person. I have a super compassionate heart, which makes me cry or makes me sad when I see people I know not following after God with all of their hearts, soul, mind and strength. It is very hard to see and watch. With all of this happening it has brought some fear into my heart about them, life and the future of our world. Some thoughts that come to me are, "If my "Christian" friends or once Christian friends are falling away from God, who will stand? What will our world look like in many, many years to come? Why are so many falling away? etc...?" I am just filled with thoughts, concerns, prayers and uncertainty. I don't want to be fearful or weak, I don't desire to be "drowning" in this. I want faith, not lack of faith. I want and I know God's heart and desire is that He wants those He made to worship and love Him with all that they are. I want to stand firm in my faith until death, always growing and loving God. I want to follow in His path and in His way. I can't walk my fear, but by faith!

Please remember that "without faith it is impossible to please God." If you are living or struggling in fear, I encourage you as I am beginning to do as this fear has creeped up, to replace fear with prayer and faith! We can and will walk by faith and not by sight. We will have faith and not fear, we will believe and not doubt. I will live and pray God's promises and pray for those I know and for the world and all people to know God. Faith is what I want, not fear!