Peace

This will be a short post. I’ve been busy lately, and I apologize for not posting more often.

The purpose of this post, in short, is to describe some aspects of God that have been revealed to me.

God’s love gives me peace of mind. I know He has His hand on my life, and I have nothing to worry about from this life. I am His, and that’s my only objective- remain His and the rest follows. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these will be given to you as well.”

God’s timing is perfect, in every instance. This is closely related to the above point. God has His hand on my life. For this reason, I don’t need to cloud my mind with the stress caused by futile efforts at living my life without Him as my sole focus. In other words, don’t say “in a year I will go here or there, or live here or there. But, rather, say, if God wills it…”(loose quote from somewhere at the end of James)

God has His hand on my life. And yours, if you allow yourself to recognize it. The peace of mind, soul, and body can be experienced by you too if God is allowed to be your focus. God loves you, even when you don’t recognize Him. He wants our relationship. I have given Him that, and even though I fall short, His love guides me. He is my life.

God has plans, not to harm us, but to prosper us. He is good, pure, and lovely.

The Human Christian

Am I a human Christian, are you? What kind of question is this? Of course we are human. Yes, I am a Christian. But am I a human Christian? I think so, and here’s why.

My call

So. I’ve been thinking and praying recently. When I was in Master’s Commission, I felt led to go out into the wilderness, camp, and fast until God told me He was done. I would have done that to seek His face, His love, His will. Guess what I didn’t do in Master’s Commission?

How should a Christian respond to persecution?

How should a Christian respond to persecution?.

I think that this is a good article to read for anyone who is experiencing persecution in their lives. Just so we all understand persecution, let’s define it.

Persecution – act of persecuting.

Persecute – to subject to cruel treatment, esp. because of religion or race.

What is cruel treatment? Could be anything. I take it to mean any antagonism against our faith. It is a part of being a Christian in this dark world. It is going to happen if we lead the lives we are called to. I love how the author of James says this about persecution, or trials –

2Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.

3Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.

4But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)

He does not say “if” we run into trials, but “whenever”, which tells me that it is pretty much a given that we will run into trials, tribulations, persecutions.

I have most definitely run across trials in my life, and it can be difficult at times to not react out of anger. Especially with things like this “the more religious you are, the less intelligent you are likely to be”; “you have mentally regressed”; “you are irrational and arrogant in believing the Bible”. Utter ridiculousness. But! We should take it in stride. I do my best with it. I sincerely do. The problem is that I should be relying on God’s help when these trials come, and not myself. Forgiveness is key.

Update 4/27/12: another way to respond to persecution is to bless the persecutor with the love of Christ, God. Works every time.