Let's Get Rid of Our Sin!

God loves to teach me things when I am working in our garden. Today, our tiller would not work. Consequently, my mom, my friend, and I pulled the weeds out of our garden by hand. As we were working, God said, "I am going to tell you something in a minute." Unaware of what He could possibly tell me, I agreed. A few minutes after God said that, His promise was fulfilled. My mom said, "Let's look on the bright side. If we would have used the tiller, it would have just turned up the weeds and then let them go back where they were. Now that we are pulling them out by hand, we are doing a much more thorough job." I smiled and whispered, "Thank you, Lord." Let's take this thought about the tiller and weeds and apply it to our lives. It is so much easier to just use a tiller to get weeds out of the garden, just as it is so much easier to just apologize to God for our sins and then promptly forget about it. However, it is better to pull the weeds out by hand. We can then make sure all of the roots are pulled up and that they never grow back, and we can even get the weeds on the edges of the garden (We have a fence around which they like to grow.) We can do the same thing with our sin. Yes, it is hard to get rid of each sin individually, but it is so worth it. After we pull out our sin (pride, selfishness, self-pity, etc.), we may enjoy the fruits of our labor (gentleness, peace, joy, and many more!). However, those weeds of sin keep coming back. Since their primary goal is to attack our fruit, we must continue to get rid of them. Until the day our Lord Jesus comes back for us, we must keep pulling the weeds of sin from our life. Only we do not have to do this alone. He longs to pour His strength, mercy, faithfulness, and love onto His children. He delights in standing by our side and helping us pull up our sin.

"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:22-27)

 "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." (1 Thessalonians 4:7)

I realize that getting rid of our sin is way harder than just telling God our sins and then forgetting. However, our fruits of the Spirit will grow much more abundantly and beautifully if our life is not overgrown with sin. As you go about your week, I encourage you to ask God to show you the areas of sin in your life. Then, with His tremendous strength and wisdom, start removing those areas! Our Lord promises that, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:17-18) Let us be separate from this world!

Do we put our trust in Jesus or in this world?

A few days ago, I read Faith by John Wycliffe in school and was so inspired. Here is an excerpt:

"While Peter had true faith, he went upon the sea as upon dry land; but when the firmness of his faith failed, he began to sink, and therefore Christ reproved him as of little faith. Thus it fares with us, who are staggering and unsteadfast with the wind of each temptation or fear. Therefore, brethren, let us set all our belief and full trust on Him, Who is Almighty, and not in any vain thing may fail in any time. Trust we steadfastly that nothing may grieve us farther than He will suffer it, and all things which He sendeth come for the best. And let no wealth of this failing world, neither tribulation, draw our hearts from firm belief in God. Let us not put our belief or trust in charms, or in dreams, or any other fantasies, but only in Almighty God."

As I was thinking whether I put my faith and trust only on my perfect Savior and not on the things of this world, I thought of the hymn The Solid Rock:

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

This hymn is one of my favorites; it is so beautiful! It makes me ask myself, "Do I built my hope on anything other than Jesus?" He is always faithful, and I want to encourage you all not to put your faith and trust on anything other than Him. Psalm 37:3 says, "Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness." The world says it has all we need: money, fame, possessions, entertainment, "happiness," popularity, success, and the list goes on. However, do you notice Someone who is missing? Jesus! Do you know what Jesus promises? He promises: eternal life, joy, peace, strength, mercy, grace, His constant guidance and power, and so much more! What the world promises pales in comparison to what Jesus promises. As we go about our day today, let's put our entire trust in our perfect Savior!

Our Lord has risen!!!!!!!

Happy Easter everyone!!! I hope you all have a glorious celebration of our Lord Jesus' resurrection!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..." (1 Peter 1:3)

We are alive and free from sin because our precious Jesus has conquered sin and death! Hallelujah!

Not "I hope you live!" But "I will make you live!"

These past few weeks, I have spend hours helping my mom plant trees in our yard, and once again God has shown me an example of His unending love and faithfulness. As soon as we had the first tree planted, my mom said, "I hope you live!" Because trees and vegetation are often used as examples in the Bible, I decided to think of the similarities and differences between my mom and I growing trees, and us growing in God. One thing really stood out to me. Yes, our Father plants us in firm, excellent soil (His Word and Truth); and fills us up with water (His living water); and buries us in mulch to help us grow (His love and guidance). But I have never heard Him say, "I hope you live!" We are never left wondering and worrying whether we will make it through the storms. We are never left alone. God is always right beside us; He is our perfect shelter and He will never leave us. Yes, He says there will be storms, but He also reminds us that nothing can separate us from His love. (Romans 8:38-39) Instead of saying, "I hope you live, Child!" , He declares, "I will restore you and make you live!" (Isaiah 38:16)