Excellent Classic Cinema

Two of my favorite childhood movies of all time based on scripture are The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston and Jesus Of Nazareth with Robert Powell.

Whenever I read my bible or think of Moses Charlton Heston and the 1956 film automatically comes to mind. I actually see Charlton as Moses he played the role so well.

The Ten Commandments was a beautifully and wonderfully made depiction of the book of Exodus.

Every year on ABC from my childhood on up the television station would air the three-hour movie for the Easter holiday and I would eagerly and joyfully watch it every year. I remember during one of my teenage years it had come on at midnight and my eyes were glued to the screen as I was snuggled comfortably in my bed with the lights out.

It’s best to view the Ten Commandments uncut in its entirety. Back when I was growing up in the 1980’s we had VCRS (video cassette recorders) where we rented or purchased VHS or Beta tapes for movie watching. These days we have DVD’S and DVD players.

Jesus of Nazareth was another outstanding and beautifully created film that I first originally seen when I was about nine or ten. It was released in 1976 or 1977, however I didn’t get to see it until the 80’s. I was glued to my television set back when the mini-series aired too, I couldn’t stop talking about it afterwards.

In my opinion these two movies based on biblical history are the ultimate best ever made, and they will always be my favorites. They both hold a special place in my heart.

The Ten Commandments and Jesus Of Nazareth had major impact and they were cast so excellently with the perfect actors and actresses.

 

Good And Sweet People

 

Scripture leaves no doubt about it: There’s nobody living right, not even one, nobody who knows the score, nobody alert for God. They’ve all taken the wrong turn; they’ve all wandered down blind alleys. No one’s living right; I can’t find a single one. Their throats are gaping graves, their tongues slick as mudslides. Every word they speak is tinged with poison. They open their mouths and pollute the air. They race for the honor of sinner-of-the-year, litter the land with heartbreak and ruin, Don’t know the first thing about living with others. They never give God the time of day. This makes it clear, doesn’t it, that whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it’s clear enough, isn’t it, that we’re sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else? Our involvement with God’s revelation doesn’t put us right with God. What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else’s sin. But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. This is not only clear, but it’s now—this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness. So where does that leave our proud Jewish insider claims and counterclaims? Canceled? Yes, canceled. What we’ve learned is this: God does not respond to what we do; we respond to what God does. We’ve finally figured it out. Our lives get in step with God and all others by letting him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade. –Romans 3:10-28

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We are not to assume, or entertain the thought that everyone who is or was considered to be a good person, will reside in heaven after they die. Only those who are saved.

I’ve met and come across some very nice people who have treated me ever so kindly, and we all had gotten along pleasantly well.

Many of us interact or have interacted with people of upstanding character, hospitable dispositions, and generous hearts. The only thing is they may have ongoing lifestyle acts, choices, or beliefs that do not coincide with the will of our heavenly father.

We may say to ourselves, “That person is so nice, so good. They should be able to go to heaven or have eternal life in the new kingdom on earth”. We look at their favorable attitudes and personalities, not necessarily caring about what they do or what they have done within their personal lives as long as they are decent citizens and not hurting anybody.

However, it is just not possible according to the scriptures. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. –Isaiah 55:8-9

Particular things in life that may not matter heavily to us or that we may disagree with have great significance and righteousness to God. Yes, some of those things do seem very unfair because I’ll be the first to say that I didn’t ask to come here into the world why should I have to be subject to certain aspects that I didn’t have anything to do with in the first place?

One thing I don’t like is Jesus commanding us all to love one another (in a perfect world that would be logical). That is a very hard one for me. Love has to come natural for me and I wouldn’t even want to love just anyone, especially an undesirable person. Who wants to love a trouble-maker and the like? It may be easy for God to love them because he designed them but I didn’t create them so why should I have to even like them? There are many believers/born again Christians who struggle with this one. I can be civil, polite, and reasonable with them but I don’t want to love them and I genuinely don’t. At the same time, I don’t hold any animosity.

I am a genuinely honest person, I can’t help but tell the truth about the way I feel, it is very therapeutic for me to express my self sincerely.

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. –Matthew 5:43-48

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. –Luke 6:27-28

 

Now back to what I was addressing about people who we deem as good who don’t fit in with the standards of the Lord. We may have friends, relatives or associates who we like, love and have compassion for who are homosexual, are pro-choice about abortion, or who live with their partners outside of marriage. These circumstances are inexcusable to God. He doesn’t penalize the ones who accept him and are trying to break free from what they are doing as his holy spirit will work within one to gradually heal and deliver them from their sin.

On the other hand those who don’t want or don’t have a desire to change and want to continue on with behaviors and attitudes, knowing that it goes against the Lord’s will- no matter how nice and good they are to us- won’t be accepted into heaven or enter into eternal life.

Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. –1 Corinthians 6:9-11

So called Christian’s also need to be heedful as we must not deceive ourselves to think we are following Jesus Christ/God when we actually are not.

Jesus warns us, On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ –Matthew 7:22-23

Whatever the case upon any individual is between them and our father in heaven. We must never be quick to suggest who is or who may be going or have went to heaven or hell based solely on what we see or perceive. We don’t know their hearts and mind or whether or not God reached them or they went to Jesus in or before their last moments.

The most important thing for us to do is to remain focused on the core facts of the New Testament that we can without a doubt rely on. Stay into the word of God as he gives us this time to surrender/follow him, trust in him, and be filled with hope and anticipation for the expectation of his return.

 

 

God’s Insight

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. -Colossians 2:8

 

 

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. -Ephesians 4:14

God is always working within us keeping us open to the truth so that we know to reject the lies that are told.

Discernment is a gift that I’ve always had, especially when it came to identifying certain types of people along with circumstances, occurrences and situations.

As believers, no matter how long or how shortly they’ve been following God/Jesus they should always continue to grow within faith and to seek the true interpretations of God’s word.

Common sense tells us that we cannot believe everything we hear, or listen to just any or everyone who sets forth particular information.

We are to be cautious and carefully examine what we see, hear or believe- and this goes for anything in life.

There may be times where we observe something said in a blog post, bible study or a pastor’s sermon, that rhymes with or resembles a truth- but that is not the truth, exactly.

Anyone can understandably misinterpret a phrase or scripture erroneously. The problem is when people deliberately attempt to fool and misleads others with lies in order to deceive, which is not right.

Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, Matthew 24:4

And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Matthew 24:11

For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. Matthew 24:24

We are to pray to God for further insight into anything whenever we are not sure, unclear or troubled about something. We are supposed to test the spirit and line up everything we hear and back it up with the bible.

There are also times and things I’ve noticed that seem legitimate that the bible may not mention or speak of in life experiences, nevertheless, we must constantly take our situations to the Lord, leaning not on our own understanding.

Pay close attention to the scriptures and keep in close relationship with God and listen out for his divine messages.

Just trust and wait on the Lord.

 

 

But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. -2 Timothy 3:13

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead. -1 Timothy 4:1-2

But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. -2 Corinthians 11:3

Honoring God With Our Gifts

The Lord designed me like no other and it was no mistake. He understands me when others don’t just like he does all of the other individuals he crafted and brought into existence.

All we have to do is go to him with any concern and talk with him. Seek his leading, guidance and achieve to stay in his word to always gain and maintain further understanding and deep faith.

He is there to love, protect and teach us his will and provide a wonderful eternal future for all who believe and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior.

We don’t have to answer to anyone but God he knows everything about us- not what others lie on us about, falsely perceive about us or misinterpret about us. He knows the complete truth about us to the core.

He knows us better than we know ourselves.

God knows our hearts, intentions and entire makeup. After all, he formatted and assembled us together from the beginning before we even came into being.

God has given me quite a few unique gifts I’ve recognized since childhood, and all through out my life. Many incredible accounts of events I can give honest testimony to.

God made all of us differently, none of us are exactly the same (no one can duplicate or replace you, you are one of all his prized possessions).

God intentionally designed each of us individuals for a reason.

As he created us all uniquely, he gave to us certain natural abilities, talents and gifts.

God gave us the precise talents and gifts that he viewed suitable for us as he had a specific plan for us to carry out using the gifts that he incorporated within us.

Through our distinct God-given faculties, we can tremendously reach other people in such a diverse number of ways and direct them toward our heavenly father.

What are your talents, abilities and gifts, and how is God inspiring you to use them?

Our Lord doesn’t want us to compare ourselves to anyone else or to try to measure up to anyone else. He just wants us to be sincere and work with what he enabled within us and shine that light on behalf of him in honor of him.

Without the Lord operating through us we wouldn’t be capable of doing anything.

God will be there the entire time helping and encouraging us to continue in the race.

 

 

 

The Sweet Truth That Leaves A Bitter Taste

Encountering difficulty and people who are trouble is an inevitable part of life. We unfortunately cannot avoid this problem. We live in a broken world full of torn ligaments and dislocated parts.

This culture is shattered now more than it ever has been.

Many of us will have or have had trouble brought into our lives by other people.

Other individuals will not always line up with what we believe in or where we stand on certain things and they will not necessarily believe in everything we say even though we speak the truth.

We must learn to continuously trust in the Lord our God to always carry us through every difficult situation that may arise.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. –Hebrews 13:8

We are to hold firm onto the faith that we will make it through whatever problems happen to come our way just as God has delivered us so many times before.

The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time. –Psalms 34:19

The Lord consistently gives us his comfort and peace within a way that is incomprehensible to others as we are unaffected by the circumstances and events that would otherwise upset or tear them apart.

God gives us wisdom, strength, and confidence because we personally know him and he knows us extremely well! He lives inside of us and we are in him and nothing can ever separate us from our Lord Jesus Christ. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. -John 10:27

Even if we wander for a while, we will eventually return again to our heavenly father due to the fact that he comes looking for his children to bring them safely back to the fold.

For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search and find my sheep. -Ezekiel 34:11

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? Luke 15:4

I speak all from what I truly know firsthand!

Some people cause their own problems, their troubles are often a result of their own deeds. Some accept their faults and attempt to improve and learn from the errors of their ways. Some others, instead, continue on not taking any responsibility or just don’t care of their destructive actions.

We in particular know that when we walk with God and stand for Jesus, we will especially have discord among specific people. It is being made clear those who are adhering to the Lord and those who are deserting him.

Jesus himself acknowledged that we would have conflicts in our lives and he wanted us to be prepared for them. “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. -Matthew 10:34

He knew that some would be divided when it came to choosing him, living, and being not of this fallen world.

Thankful

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. –Thessalonians 5:16-18

Thanksgiving day arrives next week, though, to me every day is a day to be thankful just as everday is a day for mothers other than just the one day each year celebration of Mother’s day. I just can’t express it enough as that was always my view on those special occasions.

I’m thankful for just the little things which are really big things because they are the most important. I’m thankful, and we should all be thankful to God for waking us up in the morning, for having a roof over our head, for having food to eat, for having our loved ones and kind friends or associates share in our lives.

These are all the things that count and matter. There are a lot of people in the world who don’t have these precious things.

Without God there to give us guidance and to watch over our daily lives we don’t have anything. We need him first and foremost everything we have is owed to God and his generosity.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. -John 15:5

There is so much to be thankful for and nothing is too small.

I thank God for the wonderful mother he gave to me from birth and the dog he gave to me throughout my childhood, how I love them so. Love never dies and it is God’s love that sustains us.

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. -John 4:16

 

Prayer

I remember in my early adulthood I was very strong in prayer and the Lord would answer me and bless me.

The Holy Spirit Speaks to us and guides us into the correct direction.

It is so important to stay in touch with God, to put him first, and include him in everything we do.

There are no special or fancy words to recite just speak to God with your heart. He knows our every need and seeks for us to talk to him as he is very concerned about our feelings and welfare.

Thank God and praise him during the day, afternoon and night for all that he does for you in your life. The Lord protects us within ways we don’t even know or realize he is so passionate within his love for us.

Let us love him back and honor him with our gratitude and that we have the privilege to utterly rely on our heavenly father and not on ourselves.

Thank you, father, that I can come to you for all of my matters and concerns, but above all I can come to you as a daughter who wants to spend quality time enjoying your company. In your precious son Jesus Christ name, Amen. –your child LaToya

 

Church

Back during the spring, I prayed to God to find me a good church that was right and compatible for me to attend. One that was Christian and that preached straight out of the bible.

God answered my prayer and delivered.

I found a nice church that I like with a Pastor who is authentic and studies the bible with me one on one every week.

My church gives Communion, has prayer group meetings, teaching and learning, outreach and service, discipleship and community and is dedicated to complete fellowship with God.

No church is perfect (as far as members who gossip, who are judgmental, and who put on airs in general) but I found my place of worship and I’m content with the church that the Lord led me to.

Going to church every Sunday, reading the bible regularly, and doing good works doesn’t mean one is saved. It is doing those things along with having a close personal relationship with our heavenly father. What is the purpose in going to church, reading the bible and doing good if one doesn’t truly know God/Jesus?  It never hurts to do good will regardless out of one’s heart, but we are not saved by any good works, bible reading or church attending. We are saved through faith and belief in our lord and savior with a true desire to want to give our life to him.

As long as we who are genuinely sincere, dedicated, and striving our best to live and stay connected to God we will be okay.

Jesus said:

Do This In Remembrance Of Me

 Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”

He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you. –Luke 22: 17-20

Today

Someone once said to me, ” The closest us believers will get to experience hell is here on earth whereas the closest unbelievers will get to experience heaven is here on earth.- LaToya Lawrence

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Tomorrow isn’t promised to any of us.

For us believers and followers of Christ we know that this present world is not and has never been our true home.

We are just sojourners here to do God’s will and to carry out his plan and spread the good news/gospel of salvation the new kingdom to come.

I knew ever since I was a little girl that I didn’t belong here within this world. I like certain others were born into the world, yet I definitely was not of it, and Jesus informed to us in particular “That because the world hated him, they of the world would hate us also”.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”- John 16:33

 

God in his patience gives people time to decide whether or not they’re going to repent and choose him but one day that grace period or period of grace is going to run out.

Once one dies without having believing in and accepting Jesus Christ’s offer of eternal life (which he died on the cross for so that we may be redeemed and have unity/relationship with God the father) with him forever there is no turning back and no undoing of one’s own everlasting permanent destiny.

God is no joke, and neither is hell. Make the best choice of your life today.

Eternal life within Christ doesn’t begin after you physically die it begins the exact moment you start living the life that you have now for him. Your soul is already dead without him and headed for damnation.

The devil as we know is ready, willing and able to take as many people down with him as possible because his time here is very short. Jesus already conquered Satan don’t let the devil conquer you!

Jesus is coming back soon indeed don’t you want to be in his number?

Narrow is the path to enter through the gate into the kingdom of God, and the road is definitely not an easy one, though, it is and will be all well worth it!

Broad and spacious is the road to hell and it is very easy to get there and many will unfortunately be there either because they rejected Jesus or because they didn’t act within time.

Don’t delay and don’t wait for tomorrow because tomorrow may not come for you. Once you take your last breath you won’t be able to change your circumstance.

So, do it right now before it’s too late.

Go to God/Jesus and let him save you and give you the future of his beautiful promises.

P.S. There is debate among interpretation of scripture in regard to exactly what “Hell” describes. Some believe it is an actual place of everlasting eternal torment and some believe it is a place where a brutal annihilation occurs within the lake of fire, or perhaps just a cease of existence.

Whatever the case of what it turns out to be don’t be one to have to find out firsthand.

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For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. –Romans 6:23

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. –Roman 8:13

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. Roman’s 2:5

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. – John 3:36

For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live! –Ezekiel 18:32

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. –Matthew 10:28

you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins. –James 5:20

For we walk by faith, not by sight— we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. – 2 Corinthians 5:7-21

 

The Serenity Prayer

My mother taught me the Bedtime prayer and Serenity prayer when I was a little girl. Neither one of the prayers are in the bible (biblical), however, they have truths derived and that can be applied from a scriptural nature.

The Serenity prayer was hung up above her bed professionally written on a large canvas print material designed with a drawing of  praying hands during the late seventies and/or early eighties.  

A lot of the times the things that cannot be changed are the things that we may have wished could be changed the most. I know I did as I grew up, yet unfortunately we just had and have to accept the way things are and the way some things were created. 

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Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray to the lord my soul to keep. If I die before I awake, I pray to the Lord for my soul to take.

 

 Jesus is the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the father, of course, except through him.

The Elect

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14

God loves us all and he wants no one to perish, but he already knew before we were created those of us who would accept him and those of us who would deny him.

God knew that I would listen to no one but him as no one knows me better than him.

 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 
    your works are wonderful, 
    I know that full well. 
 My frame was not hidden from you 
    when I was made in the secret place, 
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 
 Your eyes saw my unformed body; 
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book 
    before one of them came to be. -Psalm 139: 13-16

God draws back those who are his. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. – 1 Peter 2:25 

Not all those who wander are lost and I am living proof.

 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. – Ephesians 1:4-6

Jesus said: For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. John 6:44 

My message for those who don’t believe and or who don’t know Christ, Jesus says “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me“. – Revelation 3:20

The most important decision to make in your life is to completely surrender yourself to Jesus and sincerely follow him. Jesus turns no one away he wants you to know him,  love him and trust him.

 

Visit Walking With Jesus: (https://missladylatoya.wordpress.com/)

God’s Love

The very first time I ever asked and accepted Jesus Christ into my life as my Lord and Savior I was between the age of ten or twelve. I was always led and drawn to God. 

I had along down the line become angry with God for reasons of my own. I was so convinced of his evilness, twistedness and unfairness. I had developed the impression of the Lord being a harsh and unreasonable strict father who was fixated on being obeyed and on un-repented sins eager and ready to condemn and discipline with an angry vengeance at the crack of a whip.  

Nevertheless, and to make a long story short, God was able to get my attention some months back. No one else could do it but him himself along with the influence of my mother’s faith and wisdom that I had grown up with.  

The moment the Lord gained my full attention I was instantly ready and willing to yield to him.  

Prior to feeling resentment toward the Lord, I had a good history with him. One that had brought a faith of my own that could never be denied and because of this faith through many incredible experiences I knew that I could put my trust in him again just like that. 

God allowed and invited me to get to know him within a way that I never knew or understood about him before. He cared enough about me to reveal the truth of who he really is so that I would have the fair opportunity to realize his truth and to get into a deeper personal relationship with him. A relationship stronger and more intimate than years ago before. 

What I noticed also is that God didn’t at all punish me during the entire time I distanced myself from him. He never left me and he kept on protecting me and looking after me regardless. He extended his grace and mercy on me.  

The Lord’s actions reminded me of Paul in 1 Timothy 1:13 when he said, “Even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief”.   

When I read that passage it had spoken to me. God knew my heart. Even though I was wrong in my thoughts and actions toward him nothing was done out of cruel intent or spite it was out of my own eventual ignorance and unbelief in his goodness that resulted after years of going through trials and tribulations. 

My error was instead of focusing primarily on the unwanted trials and tribulations that we all go through I should have focused on how God had always successfully brought me through and out of them. 

If one is truly a child of God; they will always belong to him. God has always shown favor upon my mother and I.  

God has truly been extremely good to me and he is continuing to bestow upon me his mercy and grace (The Lord has been so kind and compassionate) and I will spend the rest of my days living my life for Jesus and glorifying God through his holy spirit and cooperating with his word to the best of my ability.