Why its impossible to get yourself into heaven.

A few months ago there was a speaker at Southern Adventist University that was concentrating on the end time message comparing twin institutions established at eden. His presentation was definitely for bringing the students to repentance. He made powerful statements that I am sure changed the lives of many, but there were a few things that really impacted me and have ever since stuck to my mind.

He said homosexuality will deny you an entrance into heaven. At first when I heard it I was shocked to hear such a blatant statement and I was almost offended at the lack of tact used in his speech. Of course, I realized I was attacking his style over the message. I tried to look past it but then I realized how big this statement is.

• One thing we have to realize as Christians is that "gay" people should not be marked with the identity of "gay." People have names that were carefully chosen by their parents and should not be labeled for the actions they perform or the things they believe but instead they should be viewed as normal human beings that are God's children. They are to be honored, and loved, and taken care of. There is no reason for us to think that they are the leprous sinners that should be cast out of towns and societies because of what they practice. They should be lovingly embraced into your home, into your bible studies, into your churches, into your family events. The last thing that I would want is for people to cast me out and judge me because of my struggles, and my sins. God never casts out those who diligently seek him, instead He invites them into sit and dine with Him. 

• Second I saw the magnitude of sin. Sin has no measurement, its not small, nor is it big. It is just sin. We have no right to zone in on one particular sin just to elevate it to a level that makes others feel better about their own sin. A christian should know he/she is a sinner, and should be able to be specific with their sins. What do you mean specific with your sins? Pointing out the sin of homosexuality is very specific and a struggle for many christians and non christians alike. So if one is to point out homosexuality specifically, then when you refer to your own sin, be specific. The generic mention of "yes I am a sinner too" is not enough. Be vulnerable and say your specific sin! Allow yourself to be judged if you will be exposing others to judgement.

• No one is able to get into heaven...This was the last and final thought that came to my mind. I was thinking so much about the denial of sinners into heaven and all I saw was a big "DENIED" sign on my head. If homosexuals cannot get in, then there is no chance for me either. If the Bible says that no sin is greater than another then all my "small" sins of jealously, envy, anger, selfishness, vanity, and arrogance would have to be seen side by side with sexual immorality. With murder. With Abuse. I am unworthy of entering the holy gates that require a spotless person. A perfect being. I cannot enter heaven.
  Yet, thats the beauty of the gospel. All of our struggles, all of our sins, all of our impurities are not counted against us, because we have a mediator. There is only One person that can enter heaven, and that is Christ. So we cling to Him when the day of judgement comes because no one can stand proudly before the Mighty Pure King but only the Spotless Lamb can stand before Him. 

So yeah its pretty unfortunate that we cannot make it past the Pearly Gates, but thats not our job. We are only to accept the guidance and love of the Savior. So the next time you feel like you need to condemn someone else for their sins, think about the last time you were not nice or the last time you did something selfish and repent, because we will never be able to share the love of Jesus unless we experience our own necessity for Him. When Jesus washed the feet of sinners it was an act of humility an act of love. He came to be a servant so that YOU a sinner might humble yourself before him and others. To show the true love that the gospel brings, and that is servanthood to one another.

This speaker is one of many that are beginning to be more open about sexual sins. Something that many people struggle with. No, a sinner cannot make it into heaven, a homosexual, a liar, a selfish and  evil person cannot make it into heaven... but a Person that washes the feet of another, a Person that humbled Himself before humanity even though He was God can make it into heaven. So if you are struggling with homosexuality, porn addiction, or any other lack of control in sexual desires. There is Someone that would love to help you and serve you: His name is Jesus.

Wonderful God

The heart that beats for God
is the heart that will beat the longest

LOVE, the thing we've always longed for.
1 John 4:8 says we've just been longing for God
because God is love
I've never gotten to know love so well,
until I finally found the true deep and hurtful love
love told me I have to let go of myself
and take on Christ,
it hurts to strip away self
I struggle with it today, but God...
that real love is so worth it..
I have never experienced such love that gives,
gives until it cannot give anymore.
It gives without reason to give, its a love that is self-motivated
not dependent on your actions, not dependent on you,
its just an everlasting, eternal, love that cannot be changed,
no matter how hard you try, you cannot stop His heart from beating for you.

God is love.....

My desire

There is a song called My Desire by Anthony Evans, it has been such an amazing song that always wants to make me live life right and for the honor and glory of God. I know for Christians we all desire to be the best we can be, which means purging yourself of the sins you might be holding on to. 

I've had instances in my life where I so badly wanted to let go of a sin that I knew was not helpful with my relationship with God. I could function and minister fine and my relationships with others were unaffected, so I thought. Since I could function fine with the sin lingering there I knew that I could maybe keep this one and it was approved by God. I couldn't resist the temptation. But that is where God comes in and makes it ten times easier. God will hold your hand through it all. Isn't that amazing? I'm so amazed by Gods hand in my life. God is so good. Give up that sin holding you back!! You don't need that temptation. You need the one who conquered all temptation. 

I need the one who conquered all temptation. 

1 Corinthians 10:13

The Explanation For Our Difficulties

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22

2013

. . . that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us . . . —John 17:21

If you are going through a time of isolation, seemingly all alone, read John 17 . It will explain exactly why you are where you are— because Jesus has prayed that you “may be one” with the Father as He is. Are you helping God to answer that prayer, or do you have some other goal for your life? Since you became a disciple, you cannot be as independent as you used to be.

God reveals in John 17 that His purpose is not just to answer our prayers, but that through prayer we might come to discern His mind. Yet there is one prayer which God must answer, and that is the prayer of Jesus— “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . .” (John 17:22). Are we as close to Jesus Christ as that?

God is not concerned about our plans; He doesn’t ask, “Do you want to go through this loss of a loved one, this difficulty, or this defeat?” No, He allows these things for His own purpose. The things we are going through are either making us sweeter, better, and nobler men and women, or they are making us more critical and fault-finding, and more insistent on our own way. The things that happen either make us evil, or they make us more saintly, depending entirely on our relationship with God and its level of intimacy. If we will pray, regarding our own lives, “Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42), then we will be encouraged and comforted by John 17, knowing that our Father is working according to His own wisdom, accomplishing what is best. When we understand God’s purpose, we will not become small-minded and cynical. Jesus prayed nothing less for us than absolute oneness with Himself, just as He was one with the Father. Some of us are far from this oneness; yet God will not leave us alone until we are one with Him— because Jesus prayed, “. . . that they all may be one . . . .”

-Oswald Chambers

Longing for love

Why is it that we long for love so badly? What is so special about love?
As a part of the female species I know that girls long for love, especially from boys. They make you feel special, they make you bubble in your stomach, they are the best friends you can have. But what kind of love are we experiencing? Is it a temporary or an eternal love?

I know that I can get caught up in the niceness of liking or loving someone but when trial and tribulations occur will you still love him/her. Would you still love him/her if that person betrayed you? Would you still love him if he cheated? if she cheated?

That's the kind of love that we don't really understand. We love...until something bad or unpleasant happens. But I was introduced to an eternal love. Imagine someone that loves you FOREVER, no matter what. This person will treat you special, will make you stomach tingle, will kiss your face, will hold your hand, will hug you tenderly, even when you cheat on this person, even if you leave this person. This person would die for you.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 

Nothing can separate us from God's love. 

I experienced God's love and nothing compares to it. Its a love that lifts you up higher, its a love that fills your heart and makes it overflow. 
I pray that you may experience this type of love, and may reflect it in your own relationships with others. Love, like Christ did. 

Lately

Lately I have been having a hard time balancing everything.
I'm trying to improve my health by sleeping more, I have been working a lot to pay off my school bill, I have been studying a lot to make sure I keep my grades going well, and I have been spending time with God so that I can maintain that relationship with Him.
I have been so worried about neglecting all these things because of lack of time but I forgot one thing, God. He gives me rest when I am burdened..such a simple and honest message. He is the only one that doesn't yell at me when I don't spend enough time with Him, He is the only one that doesn't make me feel bad by giving me a bad grade if I don't give my best. He is the only one that gives me REST when I come to work with Him.
He is the opposite of everything that gives me stress. I love how He just sings to me "come to me you weary Valerie, and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light"
Matthew 11:28
Pray for me brothers and sisters, NOT to take spending time with God as another burden to my list, but as my time to unload and rest in Christ the burden bearer.

I Am Still Alive to Fulfill a Purpose

With the recent misfortunes that have been happening lately in the lives around me, I can assuredly say that there is more to this life that what we think of it.
A friend to this campus has recently passed away. I know that this is a tragic time for his family and his friends. But I have to say that his life is a testimony and an example of what the Lord has in store for us.
This boy had a purpose in his life and praise God he fulfilled it.
His last deed on Earth was to save another's life. 

My friend told me something incredible about his death (I know it might sound wrong to call it incredible but wait!). She told me that the autopsy showed that there was no water in his lungs from drowning, instead his heart just stopped while he was in the water. She told me that he might have died that day from a heart attack whether he drowned or not.
That made me stop and ask myself...did he suffer? did God stop his heart while he was in the water? Wow God, you never leave us! Its amazing to think that perhaps he was meant to save his friend from drowning by risking his own life. Imagine if he would have not saved his friend and they both ended up dying? Lord have mercy! Was that his purpose? was that his last work on earth?
This is such an incredible lesson for us all, Why are we still alive today? Do we still have a purpose to fulfill here on earth? Lord, I pray that we find our purpose and fulfill it. I know we might be scared to leave this earth, but your purpose is much grander than ours.
Give us the courage to do your will.