Get Over It and Get Moving Forward.

When is the last time you stopped complaining and blaming other people, disorders, the government, the economy, your spouse, your family, your job, (the list just keeps going) for all your problems? Have you even stopped to consider that maybe it is your fault? Have you, even once today, admitted to being wrong and done your best to fix the issue? Or have you blamed your behavior on a situation or a condition that is “out of control”?

I am so tired of people, even myself, claiming that we are helpless and we’d would rather throw a fit than put that effort not into our own drama, but in the bettering of dilemma. If you’re failing in school, study. If your life is crashing down, maybe He’s breaking down the false thrown you created so you’ll make one for HIM. If your family is being pulled apart, see if you’re doing all you can to bring Him into the situation so it can be healed, if you’re paying attention to what your kids have to say, what they need, what they expect of you as their leader. If your marriage is suffering, maybe it is time to look over your actions and what the implications are for your spouse, and if you are treating him/her in the manner God intended or if you’ve taken this God given Helpmeet for granted.

If you’ve got a mental disability, depression, addiction, anything that you claim “overrides you” – did Jesus not cast out demons, did He not promise the power of His Spirit on all of us so that we might free ourselves from such afflictions? Does He not say in Mark that we are given power to go out and be reflections of Him and His Might and Glory?

Where in your life are you? Are you on the sidelines, or wandering around wondering which way’s the nearest bandwagon or pity party, or blaming others, or are you the one who regardless of circumstances understands that God gave you a purpose meant only for you, and expects you to get it done.

There are no exceptions to that fact that YOU are in control of your attitude, your actions, your outlook, and your life. When Jesus said if we had faith we could move a mountain, He was serious. We have the capability for that kind of control.

So where is it? Why is humanity claiming to be under attack, that we “just can’t do anything about ____ because ____ isn’t doing their part.”

Where is THAT in the Bible? God never once said we were weak, and that it’s ok to be passive, or inactive, or dramatic. Did He ever say it was ok to blame someone else for your shortcomings?

NO!

He said we’re HIS CHILDREN! We’re HIS WARRIORS – HIS LIONS! We have no excuse! GOD HOLDS US 100% RESPONSIBLE.

Forgiven

You are forgiven. IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW BIG YOUR SIN WAS. It is taken care of. That is why Jesus came. We needed a perfect sacrifice, He paid that debt, and to receive that mercy takes nothing more than a prayer, a humble crying out to God, admitting you were wrong and willingness to follow Him. That’s it. There’s no hidden hoop to jump through. No fine print. If you are willing to change, He’s willing to save you.

So the question is, are YOU willing to change?

Are YOU willing to put down that selfish spirit and stop doing/saying/ thinking ____ ? Are YOU going to be strong enough to admit you were wrong, weak enough to know you need to change, and faithful enough to call Him Savior?

These questions are very simple, they can even be “yes” or “no” answers. But the aftermath of this decision will last an eternity.

If you are willing – He is capable.

If you are humble – He is waiting.

If you are ready – Get on your knees –

And He’ll meet you half way, just before you hit the floor, so to speak, and bring you back up again in the wholeness, a purity only HE can give.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace… Ephesians 1:7.

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

“The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:15

The Lions of God Creed…

Our lives can be ended so easily that its scary to think one minute you're here and the next you're before God's throne. That's why we have to make it count. Nothing we will ever do will make us better than anyone else.

But that doesn’t mean we should conform to a fallen world.

We have to stand up in it, be proud to be His sons and daughters, yet be humble enough to realize we're no better than those we witness to. We have to dance and sing when others are silent and act when others are afraid. We have to pray in Jesus Christ's name while others curse in it. We have to see the world through His eyes and act with His hands, listen through His ears, and speak in His words.

That is our calling. To "Go into all the World and preach the good news to all creation." In His name we will "drive out demons, speak in new tongues, place our hands on snakes and not be poisoned, lay hands on the sick and they will get well." (Mark 16:15-18)

We have the power. We have the opportunities. All we lack is the courage to be the Lions we are called to be. We have Christ inside of us. Your friends, your teachers, your enemies will see Him in you and ask themselves 'what makes him/her different?', and in that little thought the gates of their mind and heart will be opened enough to let God in.

Savior Complex

 

One of my best friends (no, not Jesus, or my mom,) recently introduced me to this term and how it applied to his own life and relationships, and I realized that many, (if not most people, and especially Christians,) can also be caught in this deadly trap.

Christ was made to be our sacrifice. He is our Savior. He is the One we are meant to bring our sins to for healing, the One we are to go to in prayer and in a humble spirit, the One made to save us from ourselves… He is the answer to every problem we will ever have, in some way, in every way, He is our Source.

Yet, we all to often try to take on this roll of a savior for the people we hold dear to us. (I’m guilty too.) We try to be the answer to all their problems, the band-aid to all their hurts, the medicine to all their illness, the doctor to their disease, and the sacrifice to all their sins… And that, is plainly wrong.  It isn’t how things were made BY GOD to be. If we were made to be each other’s saviors, there would be no need for Jesus. 

But, as I hope we can agree to, we are all in desperate need for Him – so why is it we think we can take upon His Cross as our own, and become the superficial antidote to a fellow sinner, the cure to a fellow human’s sins, past, and pain?

I think it boils down to pride. Of course there is a form of love involved, because you obviously care about that person very deeply, to want to help them so much, but who are YOU, who are WE, to believe we're even remotely capable of helping someone else fix their whole life when we can barely keep ours in order??

My friend was strong enough to see that truth, that we are imperfect, and thusly cannot be capable of being that. He realized that as much as it hurt, he had to let a certain relationship go in order for him to work on his relationship with God. Was this an easy choice? No. Not at all. It was extremely trying, both emotionally and spiritually, for him, and I’m sure for the other person involved, but he did it. He had to. We are only responsible for our own spirituality, and he saw clear enough to comprehend that. He understood that he had no business being someone else’s savior when he was in need of his Own.

We cannot be a savior to anyone. No one has that right. Only God. All we can do is help lead them in His direction.

PUT GOD FIRST

 

I cannot stress this point anymore than He already has. He will have no other gods before Him. Period. Whatever you define yourself with, whatever you let consume you, is your god. Even if what it is, is done in the name of God, it is wrong.

Your girlfriend, your boyfriend, your job, your money, your charity work, your friends, your status socially, how much attention you can get, how much appreciation you receive, sex, drugs, pornography, too much co-dependence on another individual for the needs only He is supposed to provide. All these things are commonly allowed to take the place in our heart where only God needs to be.

It can be so sneaky, but it is so very, very crucial that it is fixed as soon as possible. God Himself admits to being a jealous God, and will only put up with our antics and selfishness for so long before He allows something to happen to us that will bring us to our knees, and make us put Him back on the throne of our hearts.

It’s a Relationship.

        I believe that although Christianity is a 'religion' by all standard and common definitions of the word, it is often deemed as being nothing more than just that, a ritual, something passed down from parent to reluctant child, outdated, and banal in the more recent generations. Countless times I have heard the phrases and pejorative terms cacophonously muttered about my 'brothers and sisters' and have personally been called unrepeatable names and labeled as a "religion shoving (verb, adjective)," but truthfully, I understand why certain people believe this way. When history itself describes my faith as a zealous, somewhat insane practice, when so-called modern society lays upon all of us as a whole the stereotypes of a thousand exaggerations, when we ourselves often lack unity and conviction, when we falter and are subsequently called hypocrites, it would be seem exceedingly undermining. But their words cannot hurt me or change my beliefs because this isn't a religion. It's a Relationship.

He is our Sustenance

He raises the poor from the dust,

He lifts the needy from the ash heap

To make them sit with nobles,

And inherit a seat of honor;

For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S,

And He set the world on them.

“He keeps the feet of His godly ones,

But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness;

For not by might shall a man prevail.

1st Samuel 2:8-9

 

But He (Jesus) answered and said,

It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:4

 

As for God, His way is blameless;

The word of the LORD is tested;

         He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

“For who is God, besides the LORD?

         And who is a rock, besides our God?

“God is my strong fortress;

         And He sets the blameless in His way.

“He makes my feet like hinds’ feet,

         And sets me on my high places.

“He trains my hands for battle,

         So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

“You have also given me the shield of Your salvation,

         And Your help makes me great.

“You enlarge my steps under me,

And my feet have not slipped.

I pursued my enemies and destroyed them,

         And I did not turn back until they were consumed.

“And I have devoured them and shattered them, so that they did not rise; And they fell under my feet.

“For You have girded me with strength for battle;

         You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.

“You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me,

1 Samuel 22:31-41.

 

“The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock;

         And exalted be God, the rock of my salvation,

The God who executes vengeance for me,

And brings down peoples under me,

Who also brings me out from my enemies;

         You even lift me above those who rise up against me;

         You rescue me from the violent man.

“Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the nations,

         And I will sing praises to Your name.

He is a tower of deliverance to His king,

         And shows lovingkindness to His anointed,

 1 Sam. 22:47-51

His Will. Our Choice.

Just because something is done in the Name of God - doesn't mean it is OF God.

 

The 2nd commandment was to not take God's name in vain. This pertains to our actions too. Doing something in "the name of God" when it isn't in His Will or acceptable by anyone's standards is, on top of everything else we could claim it as, breaking that God-mandated law.

 

It can be as simple as claiming a single selfish act as His Will, or as devastating  as attempting to destroy entire cultures “for His Benefit.” History has proved, time and time again, that we are capable of horrendous acts all for the sake of ‘Religion’. From ancient times, to the Crusades, to more modern acts such as Hitler’s Regime, internationally dispersed civil wars, and even the War on Terror.

 

But it is crucial that we realize these wars didn’t start out as a war. It started with one choice. The choice someone made to listen to their demons, give into their flesh, and from that fateful choice, spawned actions and reactions that would encompass generations.

 

So we cannot underestimate our choices, the things that we face right now, even as you read this. We have to be sensitive to our Spirit, and reject our human desires, that way we know that when we claim an action in His Will, it won’t lead to our undoing.

 

His aim is not to punish us, not to condemn or cause us pain, He wants us to listen to Him.

 

And the best way to do that is to constantly be SEEKING out His Voice, so we might KNOW His Will, and be WILLING and READY to ACT on it.   

Why I 'Wait'. ...

Waiting is easy when you don't know what you're waiting for.

It's simple, because you're easily distracted from what's in store.

When you're young these things don't truly matter to you

It's the plain day to day you're living through

But when age and 'wisdom' come right along

And your heart believes in the promise of a new song

That's when things and thoughts become a little astray

And we find we just want things to be our way

Well... He doesn't play that particular game

It is our wants that will put us to shame

He sees the end, and knows what we need

Firstly, it's our souls we must feed

Then in time, when our 'single' path is complete

He'll send someone our way, our help-meet.

An earthly adoration is given, a glimpse of Him

His Love is our love's root's stem

Things might not be near perfect

But love is the reason that makes it worth it

Battles will be fought and won

And there isn't turning back once begun



So we wait, as we are told we must

Protecting our flesh, even if its made of dust

It is His Temple, and I'll treat it no less

Because with rewards He will bless

It is a struggle, I won't dare lie

But it is His Word I must abide by

It isn't made to be a piece of cake

It's our demons we must break

And desires for the 'what if' oft' get in the way.

But that is a price I am willing to pay.

So I wait, and I know that true to all

Another heart shall hear my call



All Powerful

                                        This isn't over yet.

                                               ...You've made it this far.

                                        He is still Lord of All.

             In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.

Ephesians 1:7

The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

                                                                        Psalm 28:8

 For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. 

                                                                   Deuteronomy 10:17

This very picture is one taken of a homeless man's prayer.  He has faith enough to believe in God, and His Power over All. 

Live R I G H T

 

            THE TEN COMMANDMENTS...

 

Do not worship any other gods besides Me.

-Anything we put before God, becomes our god. Money, sex, whatever consumes your focus is considered master over you.

Do not make idols of any kind

Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

God’s last name is not ‘Dammit’ and Jesus Christ is your one chance at salvation, not a curse word.

Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy

Take 1 day out of the 7 He gives you each week and make it a day to honor, praise, and Glorify Him.

Honor your father and mother.

Regardless of your relationship with your parents, and the history behind you, it was by their actions and God’s Will that you are here on this earth, and also by His Will that you were born unto them. If you refuse to acknowledge them, you are in turn dishonoring His Will.

Do not murder.

Do not commit adultery.

Do not steal.

Do not testify falsely against your neighbor.

Gossip, lies, cheats, anything you say should be said as if Jesus, and the person you speak of, was standing right next to you. He hears and knows all. And chances are, whoever you speak of will hear about it sooner or later.

Do not covet

If God wants you to have it, you’ll eventually get it. But you cannot want what others have, thinking that if only you have this one thing, life would be so much better for you. Whether it is their lifestyle, gifts, money, toys, looks, or husband/wife (boyfriend/girlfriend) it isn’t yours to desire.

 

"But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, [to be] sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored. Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, [with] purity in doctrine, dignified, sound [in] speech which is beyond reproach, in order that the opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us."  Titus 2:1-8

"Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." Romans 13:13

"Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body."  1 Corinthians 6:18. 

“Human Nature.”

“It’s just Human Nature…”

Wrong answer.

Human nature as it was intended to be, was oneness with God, in a place where sin and shame knew no home, and lack and need weren’t even in existence. Human Nature was talking, walking, with God, in a state of earth and mind that we can’t even grasp.

And sadly, Human Nature has been corrupted.

First with Adam and Eve in the Garden, and every single second, of every day of existence since. This new nature, we call Sin. It is a virus, taking root first in our thoughts, spreading into our actions, and one day we realize we’ve allowed ourselves to become trapped in it because we stopped focusing on our original calling, to follow God, and have let ourselves be swayed by our Sinful Nature (otherwise known as our ‘flesh’.)

When we give into our ‘Flesh’ – very cunningly disguised by society as the new definition of “Human Nature” – and toss God’s desires for us to the side, we are opening ourselves up to this virus.

It doesn’t take much to become vulnerable to this disease.

A little ‘white lie’ could get you caught in a web of deceit. A lustful thought becomes a fantasy, and a fantasy turns into action. A rumor among friends becomes a lie that shatters someone’s social life. Simple ‘flirting’ turns into something much less seemingly innocent.

All said and done, every little ‘door’ that we open, every thing that we do, say, or think about, leads to more just like it.

It is crucial for our total survival (both physical and spiritual) that we cling not to our flesh and the desires of our Sinful Nature, but that we strive to return back to what God made us to be.

 

The Original Human Nature – made in His Image and in His Likeness, to fellowship and share in His Blessings and Glory. 

James 1:12-18

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.

BUT GOD…

      HAS MERCY. IS FAITHFUL. GAVE US OUR SALVATION. GIVES US CHANCES WE DO NOT DESERVE. AND LOVE US.

 

    Regardless of our sin, we're here. Regardless of all the reasons we shouldn't be. We are.

    Our parents, our pasts, our choices, our fails, our trials, our tribulations, throughout all we call our lives, you, right now, are reading this. You are alive. Even if you think you shouldn't be, even if there seems to be little purpose to your life, you are still breathing.

     Obviously (or if it isn't obvious yet, it will be once you've read this, I hope,) if we're here, God has a plan. All those times when you know you shouldn't have lived through that night, He was with you then. The times you screwed up, and had no ambition of getting back up on your feet, He was there then too.

     He's been with you your whole life, providing a slew of things often called 'But GOD' moments... Where everything that should be happening, happens. When His Mercy outweighs your sin, His Protection overcomes your circumstances, His Plan overrides yours.

    When I look at my life, it is all a 'But God' moment. So I can't help but think "Wow, He must really have something HUGE for me to do, if He went through all that trouble to keep me here."

    This thought applies to all of you too. The truth of the matter is, it doesn't matter what, who, where you are. God's there. And He's put you where you are for a reason. You might not know the reason yet, or if you do, you don't want to admit it. But every single, solitary "BUT GOD" moment in your life is HIM giving YOU a SECOND (or third, fourth, etc) chance to DO WHAT YOUR ARE CALLED TO.

 

"God's purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord." Ephesians 3:10-11

 

 

In His Mercy, in the times of His intervention on our behalf, the BUT GOD moments, He provides for us the means to complete our callings through striving for Him and His Purpose throughout our every day lives.

You are…a work in progress. <3

You are not the drugs you used to take, the alcohol you like to drink,

the willpower that always breaks,Or the pain that brings you to the brink

 

You are not the pain you drown in You are not the hurt that binds

You are not your kin Or the fulfillment you can't seem to find

 

You are not the scars on your arm You aren't the weight you are -

Your spirit's Above the worlds harm You are not your scars

 

You're life is worth more than that You're not emo or goth or lost

You are His Precious artifact And He's already paid your cost.

 

He spilled His blood for you So you don't have to shed yours

And He promises love and comfort too This isn't some fantasy lore.

 

You are not the emptiness in the mirror You are not the hopeless you feel

Oh if only you could see clearer! Then I know you'd begin to heal!

 

You are His beloved, His bride.You were wonderfully made!

In Him you can take your pride! In Him your debt is Paid!

 

He can take you were you're at No matter how dark and deep

And I know its crazy, but it's a fact You can hear Him in your sleep.

 

Open up your tired heart Shake the doubt from your mind

Let His Light break the hurt apart Listen to Him Divine

 

All the promises He has given The joy and peace as well

Showing you the way you should be livin And how He's saving you from hell.

 

I know this sounds so strange, That this Awesome God cares.

You might think I'm deranged, But frankly I don't mind your stares

 

You see, We care for you And love you all the same

God picked a chosen few, And He knows you by Name!

 

His presence reaching from above He takes you, broken and in pain

He can bring you light and Love And yes, I am fully sain.

 

My friends you are never alone, No matter how much you think

That there is no place you call Home And your life is only going to stink

 

He lived among us years ago He felt our suffering

He let His Love flow To take away the sting

 

Of sin and of faults we've done He gave us hope to live by

A Hope He calls His Son A Son that holds us when we cry

 

So Call out to Him now Before it is too late

Let Him show you how His love your soul will sate

 

Always know that He wants to heal your brokenness!

Choose your Battles wisely.

If you seek a battle - you'll surely find one. If you seek peace, you might have to fight a war first. But if you seek God - you are joining a battle already won, and entering a peace that surpasses all understanding.

…How easily we get offended. Let’s be truthful, any little thing that doesn’t fit our fancy often leaves us upset, mad, and irritated. The words people say and things they do, life in general, we all expect it to go our way, and when it fails to, we resent our life. And in our sin and selfish ways, we all get ‘put out’ at God sometimes. (Needless to say, that is a BIG no-no…)

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8

We have forgotten His promise to keep safe all those who trust and seek in Him. And have chosen to not obey His order that we must monitor our thoughts, take captive our words, and choose our battles in a way He would honor.

“Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.” Romans 12:17

The rumors, lies, and hatred of the world isn’t in your life to weight you down, or put here for you to fight and exhaust yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually. It is here so that you might learn how to overcome, overlook, and override it all through the power and peace of God. If we each would put our energy into only the things that bring us happiness and peace, and let God take care of the other things, we would find life a much more pleasant experience. …

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6

Don’t lose your Voice.

They Cannot force you into silence. even if the world is seemingly deaf to your voice – God isn’t. 

There is a reason you have gone through these things – a reason you were placed here. The fallen world can say whatever it wants about you, they can lie, cheat, hate, and even hurt you – but they can’t take away what god himself has given you – your voice, your love, your faith, your spirit – not if you don’t let them.

stand up for yourself. you are a child of god – you are strong in His Spirit and Cleaned in His Grace. You are HE who is in YOU. Let them hear your ROAR.

With my Love and His ~ Arial Alexis Lioness of God

Something Taken out of my Hands…

The beginning, turned ending, turned beginning. A true story.

By Arial LionessofGod

 

She was the beginning to all this, you could say. Sure, I had been on facebook and my blogs for a long time before she came along. And I had talked to and I guess helped a few, but she was the 1st who I felt pulled to. And even now I can't help but look back and wonder how God knew exactly what I needed but did not want. It is easily the hardest lesson I have had to learn recently. And it is one I will recall for the rest of my life. Who comes into our lives, we are given for only a short while, and then they move on, and it is His Turn to work in them. Even if that short while is merely 2 hours on facebook chat.

 

Her name was Morgan Cotton. I don't know how old she is, a year older than me I'd guess, since she's still in school. Presumably fake black hair, blue eyes, a silver hoop hanging from a thin, faded lip belonging to a pale and emotionless face - someone who looked like one I might write about in one of my novels. She lives in New Zealand, and dreamt of coming here to the US to study art and things like that in New York. She had goals, hopes, things followed by ' :) ' and ' <3 ' in the chat message box.

 

But there were shadows in her past, I knew that simply because of how she had come to send me a friend request... To Write Love on her Arms is an outreach for anyone troubled, and she was no exception. The too big sweatshirt she wore in her profile picture, stamped in big white letters was the word 'LOVE', a piece that To Write Love on her Arms sells, was all the more proof to her affiliation with their mission to save the lost. And though one mustn't judge by appearances alone, she wasn't someone like me, whose only purpose on the site was to offer support. She was the one who needed it.

 

Even as we talked, mostly about the nonsense of fellow teen drama and the promise of simplicity if we let all that go as we matured and grew in confidence and standing with the world, I knew there was only so much beating around the bush that could be done before I had to ask, "What made you send me that request?" and, even now I smile with a hint of sadness that her reply had been "You sounded like you would care...You said you did. No one ever really cares."

 

I'm sure at least one of you could guess what I said. God cares. She, like so many, was afraid of being unworthy of this grace we cleave to, and had never thought of being accepted into His Love as being attainable for someone 'like her'. As I continued to tell her of her beauty and of her purpose, I learned more and more of the demons she battled, things that haunt in scars and bruises, nightmares, and thoughts better left unthought. In a flash of clicking keys, I asked her if I might pray for her. This was my first time, only this past January, breaching that level of spirituality and personal nature with someone I had never met in person. But - she had said this clearly -  I seemed like I would care. And care I did.

 

I would very much like to tell you that she can be found underneath my 'friends' list. I'd love to say that we speak regularly and that she is now a strong believer and has shed the 'habits' of her past... Believe me, I've shed my fair share of tears over that possibility that never came to be. What happened that night in fullness I will never know. We prayed, we exchanged our music interests and blog sites, we talked for hours, as if we had known each other for years, and then as she said goodbye I knew in my spirit as I hit the enter button, replying 'Ok, talk soon :)' that she meant forever. The green dot of her online presence disappeared just after she received the message, as did her profile from my screen. Frantic - thinking the worst, that perhaps the idea of heaven had been twisted into an immediate escape from this world, I searched for her and came up fruitless. In a desperate attempt to see if she had deleted her facebook, or if mine had a glitch, I logged into my father's facebook account, only to see she was very much okay, it was only me that could not find her.

 

I had been blocked.

 

Can you imagine what I thought? What had I done wrong? The first person I had prayed for in hopes of her being Saved had BLOCKED me?? Why would God have me share my heart with this girl if she was to only block me?

 

And then, when I recalled she had a blog, I knew that she could not hide that from me.

I found these words typed onto a picture of a girl sitting on a cliff. "You saved me when no one was left. Thank you Arial." posted an hour before she had signed off. This only added to my uncertainty of why she had felt the need to literally block me from ever speaking to her again.

 

What must have happened?

 

My mother, whose voice I find is often an echo of God's, reminded me as I told her this tragic story, unable to remain calm, of seeds. Maybe the idea of an immediate need for change, responsibility for her actions and emotions, had been too much - but she had already prayed. And the thought of His Vastness was too much - but again, she had prayed His Presence into her heart, and once in us, He will not leave.

 

In the comfort of seeing my insignificance in this greater picture, of the Power He has, and her inability to ever 'block' Him, I was mercifully able to sleep that night, something only minutes before had seemed impossible. I know that one day, the Bible verses I shared, and the words I personally promised and the promises He already made, the songs I had posted to her profile, and the hopeful messages they lulled, will resurface.

 

I still go to her blog every now and then, and sadly nothing has changed yet, there is much pain and brokenness within the quotes and pictures she has posted since then, but I smile at one of them. "There is Hope." It says, a pink bow wrapped around a scarred wrist lies in the back ground. When she finds this hope for herself, when she submits to His Presence within her, when His Light breaks through - I will bow my head in awe that that one joyous turned seemingly tragic night was the first of many equally powerful nights to follow, for both Morgan and myself, and that maybe one day, whether it is five or fifteen or fifty years from now, she might lift the 'block' she has placed over God, and I hope over me.

Salvation…. “the deliverance from the power and effects of sin”

The only barrier between us and God's love is our own freewill. Scary, that the God of the Universe puts our ultimate fate into our own hands, because let us be honest with ourselves if no one else, it is our own choices that lead us to where we are, no matter where that may be. We made a choice, whether it was yesterday or twenty years ago, whether it was the righteous choice or not, that impacted today. There’s rarely a ‘grey area’ when it comes to our decisions. God made sure of that when through Jesus’ death and resurrection, and eventually Him rising into Heaven, we received the Holy Spirit, the essence and voice of God in us, meant to guide, comfort, and even condemn us if necessary. The choice of our Salvation is arguably the most important choice you will ever have to make.

And Jesus Christ is the door.

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me!'" (John 14:6).

All it takes is a prayer. Asking Jesus, asking God, to come into your hearts, into your lives. Trusting in Him alone to be your source of all your needs and wants. YOU taking on the responsibility and honor of now knowing He is our Savior and our King, and we, as His Children are called to a higher calling than this Earth, to serve Him.

The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:9

You are not destined to be Alone

        Searching. We spend most of our lives doing it. As children, for friends, toys, anything that draws our fancy. As teens, (and in adulthood) we are looking for meaning and direction for our lives, something to bring us a sense of purpose and accomplishment. We can find much of this in knowing we are called by God and for God to be witnesses and followers of Him... But, we all know this, there's still more we need. Deep down, there is that certain void that still needs to be filled by a different kind of Love. God Himself said so. "Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him." (Genesis 2:18).

      He promised that there is someone who is "Just right" for you. Out there in the world right now is your 'better half', your One. And, if we will discipline ourselves to wait for our one, since "It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;"  (1 Thessalonians 4:3) and live by God, trusting in His timing and His Plan, He's vowed to bring us together. It may not be in the way you expect. Or the period in your life you'd prefer. Our plan for how we want our lives and our love to work out is not His Plan.

        He understands how much you feel alone, and how the "if only I had someone to hold" thoughts seem to creep up. He knows what you're going through. But, until we seek as much as we can from Him, He will not send you your One. We have to learn to put Him first, so that when His Plan takes a sudden and unexpected turn, we'll willing follow, and should there be a trial or test along the way, we'll find strength in HIM to push through. Because as much as earthly Love can be made pure and holy in God's eyes, and the pleasures and comfort it brings when done correctly, it can also be a distraction.

      You see, even Adam had to complete his first task of naming the animals before God created his reward.

      To all of us still waiting for our One, let us pray for His Will to pass. Because, as is promised, His Will has our ultimate best interest at Heart, our Love and our needs will be met through His Plan. And, in time, He will reveal Himself and His Design to those who seek Him. "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." (1 John 5:14)

With my Love and His, Arial, Lioness of God, waiting as you wait, for His Ultimate Plan, for our One's, and His Return.

1 Peter 3:13-22

"Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring YOU to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him."  

---

With my Love and His, Arial LionessofGod

Take His Hand…

  One must only reach a hand into the darkness to help bring another into the light.

It doesn’t take much soul-searching to realize, and to admit to yourself, you’ve needed some one to be that hand for you, many times throughout your life. We’ve all needed that extra assurance that someone cared enough to help us. When the rest of the world kicks us while we’re down, we are always seeking the condemning crowd for a face promising more than rebuke and a hand offering more than retribution. And by the birth and death of Jesus Christ, and through the washing of His Blood and the power of the Holy Spirit, we’ve been offered that hand. Though hard to find at times, or simply forgotten to be sought after, and often concealed by doubt, His Hand has always been there. For everyone. And often times He sends someone into our lives to be a reflection of His Hands, to help us rise from the pits of our existence, pray on our knees, and finally to stand and face the world. And, above all this, above His Comfort and His Peace, above His Love and His Power, above all, is His Mercy and His Grace, and the honor He has bestowed on anyone willing to humble themselves to His Will and take His Hand, so that we should submit and He might lead you through life, like a parent leads a child, rearing us away from harm and picking us back up should we let go and stumble along the way.

Take His Hand, my fellow Lions, let Him guide you. He has promised to never lead us astray nor forsake us in times of need. He will never desert you. Never block you out. And never once forget, forsake, or fail to forgive you.

With my love and His~ Arial, Lioness of God

Don’t lose Hope

The second we lose hope, we lose our future. For without a hope in tomorrow and the joy it might bring, we will no longer care if it comes, and should it come, we will hide, away, in the dark, thinking nothing of the joy we might once have possessed if only we'd pushed through.

We will sit there, crying, dead to the world that we thought had beaten us so badly we could not rise again, and there, without hope, we will die. Faith will only be a memory, of a time when we thought we’d once glimpsed happiness, only to have it seemingly stolen from us and our will to live taken with it.

Without hope, we are dead. Without faith, we are lost, without realizing we are worth putting up a fight, we will lose.

So why then, give up hope? Why lose this precious glimpse of light in our lives where our actions define who we can be? Why give in? Don’t let the world take you down, don’t submit. Why thrown up a white flag when our heart's blaze red???

Do not lose Hope, or faith, nor your right to Love and Be Loved - These give us our place in the world, and a light in our hearts. These mold us into the Children of God we are all capable of being. These, are what shapes the color and texture of our hearts...

 

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

“And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.” Titus 2:13

“For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.” Ephesians 4:4

Thoughts…

If they come from your heart, and you seek Him with your heart, then yes, they could be from God’s Holy Spirit.

But just as easily, we can be influenced by the World and its evil. It is a matter of taking our thoughts in captivity (seeing their purpose and where they come from, if they are good or bad)

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2nd Corinthians 10:5)

And by focusing on the thoughts we trust and have tested to see that they from God, we will find the answer we need to hear in His Purpose for us. If there is something you know you need to do, but really don't want to, that is normally God. Our flesh, the selfish part of us, doesn't want to submit. We rebel in every way we can. Music, drugs, ‘relationships’, anything and everything we can turn against God and use to destroy His Plan for us. (While the Devil plays a “fiddle of gold” in celebration…)

And if God has to make something horrible happen to bring us to our knees in order to realize He is in Control and we need to follow Him alone, and let go of the world and allow Him take the reigns of our life and our choices, He'll do it.

It is best to focus on Him now, before we make the wrong choice, and end up paying for it down the road.

I find that many people think that simply because we're forgiven, that means we no longer have to pay consequences for what we do. Yet it says there is no sacrifice for willful sin, so if we do something we know we shouldn't, ignoring God, and turning from Him, even if unintentionally, though we repent and will be forgiven, there is still a price to pay.

Every choice has an aftermath.

If we choose God, our aftermath is more of a reward.

What have you to lose except your pain?

    No matter how much you feel like it, you are never alone. This comforts some and scares others, but nevertheless it is true. Whether you're standing in the midst of a crowd of your peers, wearing a plastic smile to match theirs while feeling as if no one couldn't care less if you even existed, much less accepted the invite. Or sitting on a half deserted bus, headphones in ears, bitterness in heart, thoughts no one should ever think swirling in your head... Or seemingly alone and forgotten in your room, and your only companion and confidant is the computer. God's here. He's always here. Feeling alone and being alone are two different things.

    I know, I've been there. It's hard to trust that God knows what is going on inside your heart every second of every day. Its hard to not want to completely withdraw from the world when it has hurt you so many times. And it is hard to have to realize this world isn't perfect, that the people who live here aren't, our lives will never be perfect, or ideal, we will always have our faults, and that the only perfect One is Jesus. And it's really, really, hard to grasp how no matter how many times you are the one to stab Him in the back, He's always willing and ready to be your best friend...

    But it is true. God is a God that comes to us on our own level, in order to 'meet us halfway'  in a sense of words. He became human to get closer to us. He gave us His Holy Spirit so we will always have Him in Us. And He is now waiting, waiting for you to find Him in the midst of the storms and chaos. Waiting for you to seek Him and only Him when the world crashes around you. Waiting for you to use Him as an escape, rather than the drugs, music, blades, and lighters. Waiting for you to realize that He doesn't care how messed up you feel, He can heal you, and give you the Love you're desperate for. Give you that Hope that you just can't seem to find. Give you a peace that surpasses all understanding, so that regardless of the situation, you feel Him with you. Don't keep Him Waiting <3 <3 Let Him in. Pray Him into your heart. So that you too, will know what it is to be a child and a Lion of God.

You Aren't Alone.

No matter how much you feel like it, you are never alone. This comforts some and scares others, but nevertheless it is true. Whether you're standing in the midst of a crowd of your peers, wearing a plastic smile to match theirs while feeling as if no one couldn't care less if you even existed, much less accepted the invite. Or sitting on a half deserted bus, headphones in ears, bitterness in heart, thoughts no one should ever think swirling in your head... God's here. He's always here. Feeling alone and being alone are two different things.

I know, I've been there. It's hard to trust that God knows what is going on inside your heart every second of every day. Its hard to not want to completely withdraw from the world when it has hurt you so many times. And it is hard to have to realize this world isn't perfect, that the people who live here aren't, and that the only perfect One is Jesus. And it's really, really, hard to grasp how no matter how many times you are the one to stab Him in the back, He's always willing and ready to be your best friend...

Just remember this- Jesus had to leave some of His friends behind when He needed to get closest to God. Maybe the reason you are feeling separated is because He needs you to be so you'll seek HIM. And, if not, if you still seek Him, He'll reveal Himself to you, and you won't be alone either way.

He calls us Friends and Children

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God's condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God." Romans 5:3-11

God is

God is not a God for those who deserve Him, but a God of those who need Him. If we were to some-how ‘deserve’ or be ‘worthy’ of His Grace it would not be called Grace, and we wouldn’t need it. But it is called Grace, and it is called Love, and His Grace and His Love is for everyone. You are not better nor worse than anyone else, in God’s eyes we are equal, and in turn His Love and His Promise of redemption from our sins and our pasts are equal. You have a right to love and be loved, and by being Saved in His Spirit you are now given the purest love of all, His Love. A Love that can take you from your darkest place and set you back on your feet, with Him walking at your side. A Love that can erase your scars. A Love that takes away the nightmares and the pain and gives Hope and Peace and Joy, even in the midst of the storms. A Love that, if you accept and live by, heals you. God is Love. Take this Love, accept this Savior, be His Child. And know that God is all you need, His Strength, Peace, Love, Guidance, Hope, Joy, Faith, and Healing… With my Love and His, Arial, Lioness of God.

You’re Worth It….

 

        

He shares our pain and tears, He knows our suffering. Turn over your pain and guilt to Him. He offers His Grace and Hope to ALL who seek Him. He delivers us. He redeems us. He Loves You. I say it again, HE LOVES YOU. You, are given Grace and His Love is given to everyone…

“Hear my prayer, O LORD; listen to my cry for mercy.In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me.Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.”

“For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,” Psalm 116:8

You are Not Alone

      

You are not alone, you’ve been died for, you can be given a fresh start…A new Hope, new Love, new Faith in the promise of a better tomorrow, a tomorrow we can change through the choices we make today. You are worth it. God Loves You more than you can imagine…

”But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” Jude 1:20-21

“God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us  pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.” 1 Corinthians 1:30

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

With my Love and His~ Arial, Lioness of God

Love is Real. Redemption is Real. God is Real.

    Pray for the hurting and broken. They hide behind their dark clothes, music, makeup and masks. They hide in our everyday lives. They hide within our own families. They hide behind hostile eyes. Behind lies. Behind smiles. But they want to be FOUND, they want to be SAVED, they need YOU to be the one to care enough to bring them to God and His Love and peace. There is hope. Rescue is real. Don't lose faith. You are 'fearfully and wonderfully made'. 

   You are beautiful. You can be saved. You are offered His Grace.  "In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress."  Psalm 71:1-3.

    "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness our sins." Colossians 1:13-1

Who We Are

We are all God’s children. And every single one of us is loved unconditionally, which means no matter how much we fall away from His Teachings, He’s still waiting for us to turn and run back to Him. There is always going to be a pair of open arms for us to crawl into and be sheltered from the world, even if we can’t see them. There forever will be Someone to wipe away every single tear, even if we’re still crying. He’s promised to always be here, even if we don’t trust Him to catch us when we choose to fall. Darkness flees from the Light, same as the torments of your life will when you give God ultimate control. So don’t ‘fit in’, don’t lose the definition of who you are for the world’s benefit. Don’t think that the only way out is to fall into the traps and trials set before you. Don’t change what you are, a Child of the Most High, for ANYONE. Our lives can be ended so easily that it is scary to think one minute we’re here and the next we’re before God’s throne. That’s why we have to make it count in the small amount of time we’re given. Nothing we will ever do will make us better than anyone else. But that doesn’t mean we should conform to a fallen world. We have to stand up in it, be proud to be His sons and daughters, yet be humble enough to realize we’re no better than those we witness to. We have Christ inside of us only because He sacrificed Himself for our sins, and offered us forgiveness and Grace so we may have the highest honor and undertaking to call ourselves Christians, reflections of Christ Himself. He’s as present and powerful today as He ever was. Your friends, your teachers and even your enemies will see Him in you and ask themselves ‘what makes him/her different?’, and in that little thought the gates of their mind and heart will be opened enough to let God in. That is our calling. “Go into the World and preach the good news to all creation.” In His name we will “drive out demons, speak in new tongues, place our hands on snakes and not be poisoned, lay hands on the sick and they will get well.” (Mark 16:15-18.) We have the power of the Holy Spirit. We have the opportunities through our everyday lives. We have His Promises. All we lack is the courage and faith to be the Lions we are called to be. We are meant to dance and sing when others are silent and act when others are afraid. We are to pray in Jesus Christ’s name while others curse in it. See the world through His eyes and act with His hands, listen through His ears and speak in His words. Take Courage in being His Warriors, courage to face the world and bring others to Him. Take Pride and Honor in the life and body He has given us, by using it to His glory. Take Comfort in knowing the most powerful, evermore being in existence has YOUR best interest at heart. Know you are Loved by the Promises of His Word and the beauty of His Grace. And take Peace, my friends and comrades in our Lord, in the thought that no matter the hell this life may seem like, by the healing Blood of Jesus, you’ve been promised a Heaven that will last for eternity.

With my Love and His, Arial ~ Lioness of God.

http://www.lionsofgod.blogspot.com/

God’s Glory can shine through

           

 

“Let no man despise your youth; but be you an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.” ~1st Timothy 4:12 AKJV. You are never too young, weak, broken, or lost that God can't use you for His Glory. He will always take you into His sheltering arms if you seek Him.

What Matters

What happened and happens with our bodies will one day be meaningless. We will no longer bear these scars. Whether we have been abused by ourselves, or others.

 

Our bodies are called to be the temple of the Lord, but we all fail in one way or another, by our doing or someone else’s, to defile this temple. If we've in our flesh have been beaten, stolen, taken, given, marred, one day these things will cease to exist.

 

All the pain and guilt. All the lies and hate. Everything that hurt us. Everyone that hurt us. Including our own choices.

 

Drugs, sex, alcohol, abuse, all these horrible yet real things… Family members we are forced to share blood with, yet who we would rather not share a continent with. People who promised love. Yet left us broken. Choices we made. Choices, we only wish we could take back.

 

None of it will bear consequence, not in the next world.

 

Not when He returns.

 

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Rev. 21:4

 

It is only those that we willingly shared our heart, spirit and soul with who we shall hold dear, and who shall matter. These are the ones we are bound to. Not the flesh, but the spirit. Including God Himself.  Anyone, that we shared true love with, love that forgives, love that prevails. They effected our heart, spirit and soul. And that is all that matters.

 

Because, one day, those will be all we have left of our time on this earth. ♥

"Give God the Glory"

Galations 1, NKJV,

Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead) And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Paul knew first and foremost to Give God the Glory, and recognize and honor His ultimate Will. We, in our lives, must strive to do the same, if we are ever to find peace within ourselves, no matter the chaotic world...

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

If we seek Man's Approval, we will not have God's. In all we do, we are called to do it unto Him.

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

Even Paul had to ask for God's Spirit. To truly receive the Lord, we must first pray Him into our Hearts and Lives. When we do so, we are separated from the world, called to a High Purpose.

Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preach the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me.

When we are praised for our Joy and our understanding, it is not us that is praised, but the Lord in us. "God in Me". No matter how horrible our past, people will see God in YOU, and Glorify Him for it, if you live as a Reflection of Christ in the World.