Glory to God in all His goodness!!!

As we look around us, and what's happening in our world, everything is coming to pass as Scripture has warned us. As upsetting as it might be, as Christians, we should be accepting and understanding that the coming of our Lord is close. As a matter of fact, we should be excited and start to prepare our seed to be sown as the time of harvest is near.

This is the time when we should look into ourselves and ask about the fruit we are bearing if the Holy Spirit lives in us. (Galatians 5:22) Christianity should never be labeled as a religion. Christianity is a lifestyle. As in a past series I wrote, we need to conform ourselves to the image of Christ and transform ourselves into the character of who Jesus was.

Jesus knew who He was. He knew that His Father had sent Him to come and free us from sin and death. He did His job perfect, and although so difficult at times, He followed through with God's plan. Jesus was, in the flesh, a man of integrity. He had a righteous confidence and in turn He was the light of the world! (Luke 2:32) But before we can be a shining example we have to be comfortable with who we are. We need to be able to shine within ourselves before we can shine towards others.

I am reminded of a short story I read some years ago in the classic book, "Streams In The Desert", by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman. It tells of a king who goes into his garden one morning and finds everything withering and dying. He asks the oak who stood near the gate what the trouble was, and the oak tells him that he is sick of life because he wants to be tall and beautiful like the pine. He walks over to the pine who was out of heart because it couldn't bear fruit like the grapes that hung on the vine. The vine was going to throw it's life away because it could not stand erect like the peach tree and bear fine fruit like a peach. And it went on and on like this in the garden. Then the king came to a tiny violet that was standing straight and tall, with it's leaves reaching high to the heavens, as cheery as could be. The king said, "Well tiny violet, I'm glad that throughout all this disheartment, I can find one brave little flower. You do not seem to be disheartened." And the tiny flower replied, "No, I thought if you wanted an oak, you would of planted an oak, if you wanted a pine tree, vine, or peach tree you would of planted that also, but you planted a violet and I am determined to be the best little violet I can be!"

We all should be exactly like that tiny little violet. We should all be content and confident right where we are at and walk in the comfort that God is in control of our lives and all He seeks are servants. Being God's hands, feet, and smile. When we do this then we can walk in love as Corinthians instructs us to do. (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

In turn you will see good things happening in your life. The way you raise your children, the relationship between husband and wife, how you prosper in your job, and in every thing that you do! The more you change and transform into that noble person, the more those around you in your family, work place, your friends, and anyone that comes around you will start to yearn for what you have living inside you. This is how we witness to a lost and hungry world, through our integrity.

Yes, times have changed, and it's getting evil in the world, but the Word teaches us that we are not of this world. (John 15:19) As time changes we must always remember that we serve a God that never changes. We must always remember that we serve a living God, Jesus Christ, that is the same, yesterday, today, and forever! How comforting is that?

Look into yourself. Ask yourself if you are content with who you are, with who God made you to be. Remember that whatever trials we go through in life, God never wastes time and He uses them to form and shape us and our character. And in time we will be ready to use those trials as tools. Accept yourself, sometimes that means to forgive yourself. Because guilt and condemnation will bring feelings of unworthiness. But remember the old saying, 'God never makes mistakes', and you are not an acception. In Psalm 139, the Word tells us that He knew us even before we were formed in our mother's womb, and yet He already had a plan for us. Once you can let God fill you with His love and acceptence, then you can shine, prosper in integrity, and be the best that you can be!!!