Why do we try so hard?

I guess it's our human nature (for most of us at least) to try and be as close to perfect as possible. I have given up!!!!!

WOW...what a relief that was to finally surrender all to the One that created me and loves me as imperfect as I am. I finally realized that it doesn't matter how hard I try to please everyone in my life, that it is simply not possible. I have not had some life-altering situation or anything...it's just a realization of the marvelous grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus. 

So many times, we try to be perfect before coming before the throne of God. How selfish is that??? Why do we wait to have an abundant life here on earth? The beauty of His grace is that He loves us in spite (if not because of) our imperfections. He loves to help us fix our mess ups. HE REALLY DOES!!! But how many times have we thought..."Man, I need to really get my act straightened out before I can ask God for His help on this problem I have." I mean seriously...we have all done it! No shame in it really. We are, after all...just humans. We, in our minds, think that WE have to make things better. That WE can fix things. But the truth is...WE mess things up. If we would just surrender and let GOD handle it, we would save ourselves a lot of work, grief, worry...etc.

If there was such a thing as perfect people in this world then God would be a murderer. And we know that that's not true...so then Jesus' death had to be for a reason! To clear our pasts of any imperfections and make us as white as snow. Now...that's not to say that we won't screw this up...because we probably will!!! But again, His grace is enough to cleanse us and His mercy is enough to guide us from wrong. We just have to pay attention and follow Him.

Our lives would be so much easier if we would learn to surrender early on in our lives. So many people in this world are waiting to "get things right" and for some...they wait too long and their lives end before they know the love and forgiveness of Christ Jesus. Romans chapter 3 lays it out pretty clearly to us, starting in verse 22. (New Living Translation)

22. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

23. For everyone has sinned, we all fall short of God's glorious standard. 

24. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

25. For God presented Jesus as a sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God  when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that Gos was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

26. for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they BELIEVE IN JESUS.

27. Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith.

28. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

31. Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not!!! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

So there is is in a nutshell...we as humans cannot buy our way in to Heaven with our good deeds (following the law.) Only by the faith in Jesus and the confession of sins to Him do we obtain eternal life. 

The moral of this blog....stop waiting. WE can't fix what we have messed up. Only God can fix us. He makes this so much easier. We waste so much time trying to make things better when if only we would just surrender and give it all to Him. He will take the burden and works things out in your favor. He does all the work and you reap the benefits. 

My prayer for those of you reading this that might not know my Jesus...that you would come to know Him and enjoy the wonderful life that He has in store for you. It's not too late! For those of you who know Him but are holding on to things, my prayer is that you relinquish all control to Him and let Him do the work for you.

Loved by the King,

Carmen

Wow...I really stink at keeping this thing going!!!

Well it has been almost a year since I last posted anything on this blog! When I started it, I didn't think I would be very good at keeping it up but thought..."What the heck, everyone else has one. I think I will start one as well." Knowing good and well that I didn't have the time to keep it up!!! LOL...it's a good thing that I don't have any followers!!! My plan from here on is to try and post at least once a week with what the Lord is placing on my heart to share. I want this to be a tool for Him to use!!!

Well here is is 2011 and the start of what is going to be a wonderfully blessed year!! I start my new job on Monday and I am really excited. It is very bittersweet leaving "The Shack" after almost 7 years with the people that have become family!! But all things must change after so long. I look forward to the blessings that God has in store for me, just because He loves me.

Speaking on that...isn't it awesome to think about how much He really does love us!!?? He has not only provided us with eternal salvation but He has provided us a way to have a BLESSED life right NOW! We have the blessings of the Lord around us at all times and the favor upon us...if we'd only take the time to look. It's there...it's always been there. It's not just coincidence that you have a front row parking spot at Wal-Mart or the you saved an extra $10-15 but going to the grocery store on a certain day the they were having a sale! That's favor!!!! And it's there for us because He wants nothing but the best for His children!

I have purposed in my heart to live each and every day with a smile on my face and a song in my heart because I am His. I choose not to live as the world lives because in it is a life of death and destruction. No good comes from the world but all good comes from the Father above. Doors are opened to them that trust in the Lord and are willing to follow His lead. But once those doors are opened...YOU have to walk through. Though the steps may seem scary and uncertain, you have to trust that God is leading the way and all you have to do is walk in His footprints.

Scary...yes! I have had to walk through some doors lately that scared the pants off me! But I trust that He is leading me to where He has made a place for me. That's exciting!!!!!  It's like a treasure hunt each and every day! I'm excited when I think of what He might have in store for me!!! His promises are "Yes and Amen" to me, His beloved!!! He fulfills the desires of my heart above and beyond what I could have ever hoped for!!

And He will do that for all of us!! That's what so awesome...there are enough blessings to go around, and around, and around!!! There is an endless supply with the Master!! All you have to do is tap into those blessing NOW. Why wait until you get to Heaven, when you can have Heaven on earth!!!!

Woo...Now that I've preached myself happy...I think I will get going to the day's tasks ahead.

My prayer for each and every one of my friends is that if you haven't found Jesus, that you begin to seek Him and learn of his marvelous love and mercy. If you already know my Jesus...then my prayer for you is that you learn to walk in His blessings each and every day. We as Christians have no need to be depressed and downhearted. We are loved by the most AWESOME GOD and through Him there is life, health, peace, protection and never-ending mercy and grace.

Be Blessed,

Carmen