Gift Giving

"A man can receive only what is given him from heaven." John 3:27

As I was reading John chapter 3, this quote stuck out to me. As I reflect upon this verse, I realize that everything I have, everything I own, my thoughts, my body, my clothes, my money, my food, etc. Everything that I own was given to me because God has blessed me and gave me these things.

I'm known in my school for knowledge and the capability to teach and help others with their course and the material being taught by the teachers. I need to remember that every time I teach, I need to remember that this was all given to me. That nothing I do is mine but should be done to praise God. Recently, I've forgotten about that. I've forgotten that my marks and knowledge is used for God and not for my own pleasure of being able to explain, sound smart, and understand everything in front of people. 

I need to be able to maintain my humility while teaching, and learning to the best of my abilities. I need to stop judging, and still help people no matter the circumstances. God has blessed me with many talents and abilities. Now I need to give it back to him in every way possible. To praise him with everything he's given me because that's the least I can do when it comes to his everlasting love.

Believing what's not there

"I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?" John 3:11-12

This verse really reminds me of us humans and how we continually grow up, we continually need proof to believe even though God continues to say our faith should be child like. As a child, they instantly believe whatever they're told. This ability of theirs to solely live their life based on statements should be what we humans should strive for when it comes to God. Jesus did many miracles but did not want to be known for the miracles because believing through your eyes is not truly believing. By truly believing, you need to be able to believe in something you can not see. Hence the term faith. God sent Jesus in an attempt to reconnect with us, to save us, and to help us remember of the amazing power and what he's done for us ever since the beginning. 

As Christians, we need to continue to build this faith, without the need of proof. God works in miraculous ways and its only through faith that we are able to see these amazing things that he does for us. By believing, we can only get the most out of what God wants from us. 

40 DAYS: Day 28

James 5:19-20

If your friend has begun to wander off away from God, the person who brings him back will cover many sins. 

This verse really speaks to me to be more open and to be more out going to people. I have a tendency to think of thoughts but never able to actually act upon them. Therefore, I want to be able to actually act and show God's love through my actions. This hopefully, can also bring back people that have wandered away from God. Which relates back to the verse. 

40 DAYS: Day 24

James 1:22-25

Paraphrase: 

Don't just ignore what the bible says. Do what it says because God has promised to bless you when you do.

 This was a great reminder of the whole purpose of this 40 DAYS in the word. The sole purpose of this campaign is to allow us to get into the habit of daily devotions and to clearly understand his word better. However, you are only deceiving yourself if you don't do what you learn. Even in school, you need to be able to have some application of your learning into your daily life or into a situation. 

Through this, through our love for God, we should want to continually spread his word. This is only accomplished if we clearly understand and do his word first before we get others to do it to set an example for them. 

40 DAYS: Day 23

James 1:19-20

Paraphrase: 

Everyone needs to be able to quickly listen and slowly speak and get angry because anger is not a part of the life that God desires from you.

This verse reminds me to stay patient and try not to lose my cool. I've realized that when I recognize people trying to take advantage of my help, I get frustrated and disappointed becuase I'm giving up my time for nothing. However, I need to remember that true love and help is providing a service to them without a goal for anything back. I need to remember to stay patient, continue to help everyone as best as I can and let me control my emotions better. 

40 DAYS: Day 22

James 1:2-4 

Paraphrase it: 

Whenever faced with difficulties, consider it as a joyful time because when your faith is tested, it creates perseverance which results in maturity and completion. 

Whenever someone is forced with trials of tribulations, naturally, as humans, we tend to react to this as "why me? I did nothing wrong. I don't deserve this kind of torture." 

This verse is weird because it completely contradicts that but instead tells you to rejoice because it is giving you an opportunity to grow, learn, and mature in your faith and as a person as well. 

God promises us many things and this verse really touched me when I first got out of my retinal detachment this year. I am happy I was able to be still considered joyful but I realized that even though I didn't lack insecurities on the results, I did lack joy. I wasn't happy, and that's the difficult thing we need to learn. 

Prayer:

Dear God, I thank you for today. For this amazing day that you have provided us God. I just wanted to pray that you help me learn to be JOYFUL and not just deal with tribulations but rejoice in you that this obstacle was put in my path and I am able to learn and mature because of it. Thank you for everything you provide us with from the good to the bad times. You are always there omnipresent and never changing. Amen.

40 DAYS: DAY 21

Mark 16:1-20 The resurrection

Reading this passage, the major thing that stuck out for me was near the end when it says the disciples went out to preach his word and God was with them all making sure the people they preached too understood and believed.

This really reminded me that God works within you if you let him and that's the only way that we are able to reach out to friends and family that haven't already believed in him yet. We need to understand that its' not just us but God who plants the seeds and who grows the plants. We just need to be able to understand that growing plants takes time but we need to be patient and continually look after them in order to ensure the eventual growth of these plants or these people in faith.