One of the hardest things in life is to forget. Well, dealing with past hurts, pains and memories that is. Sometimes it's easy to forget scheduled meetings, people's names, what work to do and people to call back. But I am not talking about those things. I am talking about things we have been carrying near and dear to our hearts. I want to bring up a scripture by our dear brother Paul. In Philippians 3:13 Paul says this: "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead."
Notice Paul says, "forgetting." The "ing" at the end of "forget" tells me that the forgetting is in process. It's not saying I forgot all at once. Paul is saying, "look, there are some things from my past that I am not well pleased with. There are some decisions that were made that I am not proud of. There are some things, which are in the process of being let go." The process of forgetting is a patient process. One in which many do not like to go through.
What I have realize is this. There are some things from our past that tend to carry along with us for way too long. There are some things from our past always trying to sneak back up on us and if we allow it to, it will. Many times we tell ourselves, "I am over this, or that doesn't bother me anymore," but the moment something comes up from the past we respond in the same manner we use to respond.
In the action of moving forward one must take their eyes off of what's behind. How can one see what's ahead by looking at what's behind? It is nearly impossible. Eventually you will have to look ahead to see where you are going and I believe this is what Paul is getting at as he finishes the rest of the scripture in verse 13. He goes on to say, "and reaching forward to those things which are ahead."
If you know like I know reaching towards anything requires effort. My friend, it is going to take some effort for you to move ahead and let go of what's behind. One of my favorite scriptures in the Bible and a very impacting scripture is found in 2 Corinthians 5:17. It says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
When you became new in Christ, ALL of those old things passed away. In other words they died! There is a new you! Christ has forgiven you. Now it's time for you to do your part and make sure those things continue to stay dead. Your life is now new. As you continue to grow closer to Christ, you will continue to grow farther away from what's in your past. The end result is to have a renewed heart, mind and spirit, which will lead to forgetting all that's behind just like Christ does with our past.
My dear friend in Christ, be encouraged. God is not done with you. He loves you and he is developing your character. We are all a work in progress. Keep on holding on. God's got you!
James 1: 2-4 - "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
"I Sin Too"
We as Christians and as people have become so caught up in the
fad of perfection that we act like we do nothing wrong in our lives. We want to show others this perfect persona of us when there is no way possible to be perfect.
Why do we put on fronts for others? Why do we hide that we struggle and hurt? Why do we act like we do not sin?
Christians do not want to be labeled as hypocrites and back sliders so they hide their faults.
We have to understand, even though we live for Christ we still will slip up. If there were no mistakes in the world or if you never made any mistakes then how would you learn?
We cannot be afraid to show others we are weak in certain areas. We cannot be afraid of others judging us because we slip up. People have no right to judge. God is the only person that can judge us.
We have to let go of this perfect image we try to portray.
Think about this, a person that always tries to be perfect, says they’re perfect; when they make a mistake, think about all of the negative pushback they will encounter from others. Even though others shouldn’t be this way and say negative things, you have to be prepared to hear it because of the way you were portraying your life to be.
It is better to show others you are weak in certain areas and need improvement than act like you are strong and complete. There is nothing wrong with admitting you slip up and make mistakes. The key is correcting the mistake and not doing it again.
We all sin but that does not mean we have to continue in sin.
We will make mistakes but that does not mean we have to live in fear of making a mistake. We can live a life for God.
It’s a fight to live a life for God but it is the right fight to fight.
He knows that it’s impossible to be sinless and perfect. He just wants us to sin less.
God wants to see you giving your all and living life the best you can. So my friend keep pushing and getting better everyday!
God bless,
J Scott
Why do we put on fronts for others? Why do we hide that we struggle and hurt? Why do we act like we do not sin?
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23A lot of Christians believe if they show others that they sin, unbelievers will not convert to Christ. They think if unbelievers see they are weak then the unbeliever will believe that there is no chance of changing their life around.
Christians do not want to be labeled as hypocrites and back sliders so they hide their faults.
We have to understand, even though we live for Christ we still will slip up. If there were no mistakes in the world or if you never made any mistakes then how would you learn?
We cannot be afraid to show others we are weak in certain areas. We cannot be afraid of others judging us because we slip up. People have no right to judge. God is the only person that can judge us.
We have to let go of this perfect image we try to portray.
Think about this, a person that always tries to be perfect, says they’re perfect; when they make a mistake, think about all of the negative pushback they will encounter from others. Even though others shouldn’t be this way and say negative things, you have to be prepared to hear it because of the way you were portraying your life to be.
It is better to show others you are weak in certain areas and need improvement than act like you are strong and complete. There is nothing wrong with admitting you slip up and make mistakes. The key is correcting the mistake and not doing it again.
We all sin but that does not mean we have to continue in sin.
We will make mistakes but that does not mean we have to live in fear of making a mistake. We can live a life for God.
It’s a fight to live a life for God but it is the right fight to fight.
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12God didn’t say it will always be easy. Once you turn your life to God, He gives you power (Acts 1:8) and puts a determination in your heart to live for Him. What’s worth having is worth fighting for and you have to be willing to fight for God to get to heaven.
He knows that it’s impossible to be sinless and perfect. He just wants us to sin less.
God wants to see you giving your all and living life the best you can. So my friend keep pushing and getting better everyday!
God bless,
J Scott
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Abusing Grace
Romans 6:1-2 “ What
shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly
not!”
Grace is a gift from God. We do not
deserve grace. For some reason God grants us grace and extends His love towards
us. Grace is unmerited favor. Having favor from God is a blessing. Think about
the favor extended towards you from a person who is an authoritive figure in
your life. I am sure there are times where you know you do not deserve
something or may have not earned a reward but yet someone grants you. This is
how grace works.
Paul the writer of Hebrews brings to
our attention potentially continuing in sin now that we have received the grace
of God. This is something we should not do. We should not willingly continue in
sin after we have been reconciled to God. How many of us have accepted the
personal invite to live for God and still continued doing certain things we knew
we shouldn’t be doing? I believe all are guilty of this at some point. Once you
know something is wrong and you chose to give in and do it, this is taking
advantage of grace.
I do not know where you are at in your faith walk with God
but for me I am in a place of recognizing I need to do better in this area of
handling God’s grace. My problem I am having is this; knowing God’s grace has
been extended to me, I consciously make a decision at times based off the
simple fact I am in the will of God. In other words, I know God is on my side,
and He will forgive me at some point, so in the end I will be good. What a terrible
way to think.
Where do we go from here? – Let’s go to prayer!
Father, first I want to praise and thank you for extended
grace towards me. You didn’t have to grant it but God, because of your love for
me, you knew that I needed it. Father, I want to apologize and seek forgiveness
for abusing your grace. I have been taking advantage of you and I recognize
this is not who I want to be. Through the Holy Spirit, I know right from wrong,
so my cry on today is to change the way I operate in your grace. From this
moment forward I want make my wrongs right. I want to let my past wrongs go and
I want to move forward with a renewed mind to do what’s right. So Father, I
thank you for keeping me. I am grateful to be apart of your Kingdom. Into your
arms I commit my spirit to do what is right in Your sight. Have your way with
me Lord!
In Jesus Name,
Amen!
Monday, January 14, 2013
Pressing Place
Philippians 3:13-14 - “One thing I do brethern; I forget those things which are behind, and look forward to those things which are ahead. I PRESS toward the mark for the prize of the High calling in Christ Jesus.”
There are certain times in life where we find ourselves in some rough places. For days, weeks, months and even years we hide, fake and put aside what is going on inside of us. It seems the longer we hide what’s going on internally; externally we become numb to who we really are. The external persona gives us a role to play whenever we are out in society amongst peers. We become vocally systematic in our responses. Our gestures become mastered so others cannot see what is truly going on inside of us. We hide the brokenness, the pain and hurt so well.
There is what I like to call, a “pressing place.” A pressing place is a place where you are being so suppress you cannot hide and hold in what’s going on internally. A pressing place presses against your pain and it forces you to say enough is enough. Too many times in our lives we run from our pressing place.
In order to overcome we must go through. In order to go through we must release. In order to release we must confront. In order to confront, we must be real. In order to be real, we must be transparent.
Someone once said, “Don’t fake it until you make it, faith it until you make it.” In our pressing place we have to find faith. In Matthew chapter 17 verse 20 the text says, “If you can have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to that mountain, move, and the mountain will move!” Faith, no matter the size, small or great can move the mountains in your life. In case you haven’t heard, small faith can get you to the right place!
I don’t know what your pressing place is today but I pray whatever it is that it forces you to let go of all of the things hurting on the inside of you. You do not have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You don’t have to put a fake smile with your face. You can be real and transparent about what is going on with you. In order to grow you must let go!
My friend, my prayer for you today is... God will suppress you in your pressing place to get you to release the brokenness of your soul so that He can make you whole!
God bless you,
J Scott Samarco
There are certain times in life where we find ourselves in some rough places. For days, weeks, months and even years we hide, fake and put aside what is going on inside of us. It seems the longer we hide what’s going on internally; externally we become numb to who we really are. The external persona gives us a role to play whenever we are out in society amongst peers. We become vocally systematic in our responses. Our gestures become mastered so others cannot see what is truly going on inside of us. We hide the brokenness, the pain and hurt so well.
There is what I like to call, a “pressing place.” A pressing place is a place where you are being so suppress you cannot hide and hold in what’s going on internally. A pressing place presses against your pain and it forces you to say enough is enough. Too many times in our lives we run from our pressing place.
In order to overcome we must go through. In order to go through we must release. In order to release we must confront. In order to confront, we must be real. In order to be real, we must be transparent.
Someone once said, “Don’t fake it until you make it, faith it until you make it.” In our pressing place we have to find faith. In Matthew chapter 17 verse 20 the text says, “If you can have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to that mountain, move, and the mountain will move!” Faith, no matter the size, small or great can move the mountains in your life. In case you haven’t heard, small faith can get you to the right place!
I don’t know what your pressing place is today but I pray whatever it is that it forces you to let go of all of the things hurting on the inside of you. You do not have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You don’t have to put a fake smile with your face. You can be real and transparent about what is going on with you. In order to grow you must let go!
My friend, my prayer for you today is... God will suppress you in your pressing place to get you to release the brokenness of your soul so that He can make you whole!
God bless you,
J Scott Samarco
Monday, August 13, 2012
This Love Is It..
Each breath, each moment, every touch, every thought of it you come
to mind. Is it true that there is a love that lives inside but is
express on the outside. This type of emotion cannot be held back. This
cord, this strand, this connection is never meant to be broken. It is
self less.. It surpasses all of what eyes have seen. It sings sweet
melodies to your ears. It floats your soul pass the moon. A limitation
is unheard of. Pages can be filled for days about every characteristic
of what this love is.
So effortlessly, so gracefully, so peacefully and always happily it lives on. It pours out. It goes for long walks. Every sun rise there sits two with long talks. Throughout the day, memories, pictures created with no words on them but they speak for themselves. There is no way such a thing as this can be captivated. At times when there is nothing to say it still speaks. In the breathless times the warmth of it calms. Thinking about it alone makes ones stomach confirm that there's something special.
Healing, singing, moving.. There is no way one can keep still. The music plays love cords. The hands write love notes. The table gets set, the candles are being lit, the stove is steaming. Nothing is rushed because each scene is like for ever. Never wanting to sleep unless the dream is about it. The bond that's been created strengthens. Never remembering what a broken heart ever felt like. This love pumps. The blood always remain warm. Holding each other to each arm becomes numb. Not wanting to move a spot.
This love is it.
So effortlessly, so gracefully, so peacefully and always happily it lives on. It pours out. It goes for long walks. Every sun rise there sits two with long talks. Throughout the day, memories, pictures created with no words on them but they speak for themselves. There is no way such a thing as this can be captivated. At times when there is nothing to say it still speaks. In the breathless times the warmth of it calms. Thinking about it alone makes ones stomach confirm that there's something special.
Healing, singing, moving.. There is no way one can keep still. The music plays love cords. The hands write love notes. The table gets set, the candles are being lit, the stove is steaming. Nothing is rushed because each scene is like for ever. Never wanting to sleep unless the dream is about it. The bond that's been created strengthens. Never remembering what a broken heart ever felt like. This love pumps. The blood always remain warm. Holding each other to each arm becomes numb. Not wanting to move a spot.
This love is it.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Truth Telling
No child left behind. The people are trying to integrate but
don't know how so we see another form of how to segregate. The great
lost hope. The clear specimens are throwing out, pushing away, while the
blurry pray for a different day. This nation was never built off of
love. It's been a get out of my way, I'm taking whatever I want attitude
ever since the Europeans crossed the latitudes. So why keep trying??
The government was built off of lying. So much pain, so much wrong. Is
it worth it? To try and create a new song.. How can something be for all
people when all people wants to be amongst their same people??
Contradictive suicides, parallel with wrong actions on both sides, I
call that a double homicide.
The blind leading the blind so they keep on building. The foundation is the people. It's the stories! But its the high tower people covering up what needs to be heard. Hate conquering hate over and over. It is no longer a cycling mess but a pyramid chest. The heart beat of the triangle is the evil of the spirit of power. Nothing really matters. We are still under control. Being washed away by the World Wide Web better know as WW3. These intellects have every piece of your information, all of your photos, genealogy, family history, know your every move but yet we still think its cool websites.
We are such a dumbed down generation! Foolish and blind to what is going on. Our minds are so closed that we cant open the curtains to see if it is night or day. We have given away our identity, put away the Holy Trinity and simply said, "It's all about me!!" Money, pleasure, cars, homes and success should all be laid to rest. The wealthiest person is the humblest person that cannot be defined by the world's standards. The platform is left wide open. There is a stage that only a few people will be on. Only the wise and the humble that have taken off the blinders will be able to change the world. From house, to community, to state, to nation, to world, to reaching every boy and girl. There is so much skin to peel off. So many layers to scratch.
God of the Universe the people are so off from what you've started. You once destroyed us because our ignorance. One can only imagine what's in store for making the same mistake as the ones before. But wait.. There lies a knocking at the door.. The door knob turns.. It opens.. The question is.. "What will it take for you to see that YOU need to do better??
The blind leading the blind so they keep on building. The foundation is the people. It's the stories! But its the high tower people covering up what needs to be heard. Hate conquering hate over and over. It is no longer a cycling mess but a pyramid chest. The heart beat of the triangle is the evil of the spirit of power. Nothing really matters. We are still under control. Being washed away by the World Wide Web better know as WW3. These intellects have every piece of your information, all of your photos, genealogy, family history, know your every move but yet we still think its cool websites.
We are such a dumbed down generation! Foolish and blind to what is going on. Our minds are so closed that we cant open the curtains to see if it is night or day. We have given away our identity, put away the Holy Trinity and simply said, "It's all about me!!" Money, pleasure, cars, homes and success should all be laid to rest. The wealthiest person is the humblest person that cannot be defined by the world's standards. The platform is left wide open. There is a stage that only a few people will be on. Only the wise and the humble that have taken off the blinders will be able to change the world. From house, to community, to state, to nation, to world, to reaching every boy and girl. There is so much skin to peel off. So many layers to scratch.
God of the Universe the people are so off from what you've started. You once destroyed us because our ignorance. One can only imagine what's in store for making the same mistake as the ones before. But wait.. There lies a knocking at the door.. The door knob turns.. It opens.. The question is.. "What will it take for you to see that YOU need to do better??
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