The Sprout of Life

     I believe we all are born with a sprout of life within us. It is something that if we nourish it and make it grow, we will feel complete and whole inside. It is not a material thing but spiritual one, a spiritual maturity within us that is waiting for us to nourish it in someway. It is enclosed in our sinful body, in a sort of darkness and needing light to make it grow. If we do not give it light, it will stay a sprout until the day we die.
     The sprout of life within can never die nor matter how evil we may become, it just waits patiently for the light of life to make it grow. This means that a great change can happen to any of us at any point in our life, provided if we would only change the way that we live. In the forgiveness, the mercy and the grace of God the sprout of life is given a chance to grow and flourish. The sprout of life matures and blossoms under the light of God. Our spiritual maturity is made whole and complete by the guidance of God's word and spirit.
     The light that we need comes from God. John 8:12 "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." By having this light of life we will be made satisfied. Jesus said in John 4:14 "but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."  By us embracing the words of Jesus Christ the darkness within us is overcome and the spiritual sprout within us grows.
     For us to spiritually mature, we are told to long for spiritual food. 1 Peter 2:2 "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation." The sprout of life within us needs proper nourishment and that nourishment is the spiritual food that comes from God. John 6:35 "Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." The bread of life, which is Jesus, is the food and water source that will make the sprout of life within us to flourish and grow.
     There is hope for us and that hope is in God. He knows how to make our lives better. We do not have to live in fear and darkness. The sprout of life within us can be made to grow, we can mature into a higher spiritual being and have happiness, joy and love. Our minds can be made over by God's word and spirit. The sprout within us, can grow and blossom making us feel whole and complete inside.

2 Peter 3:18 "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."    
   

Do Not Lose Faith

     Do not lose faith for God is with you and he will sustain you in your hour of need. Times are getting worst and violence seems to be ever increasing throughout our world. More and more I am hearing in the news about violent acts that are being carried out and this reminds me of what is written in the book of Matthew about the lasts days before the return of Jesus Christ. Matthew 24:12 "And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of the many will grow cold." And lawlessness has increased throughout our world bring with it fear and great sadness, making us feel a little less loving and forgiving toward each other.
     What can I say is this, now is not the time to be losing our faith but on the contrary to be growing stronger in our faith in God. God is our great healer, he is the one we should be looking to for our comfort in these hard to deal with times. There is a spiritual war that is going on around us, the devil is trying his best to keep his control over mankind through fear and violence knowing he has only a short time left. He is trying to plant his seeds of hopelessness, despair, hatred and mind numbing fear in everyone's heart.
     The devil is trying to drive out our love, for Jesus said in John 13:35 "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." If we lose our love the devil wins, we let our fear to paralyzed us into inaction for God. Our love reaches out to others while our fear will push them away. 1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." Spiritually, fear will stop us from trusting in each other for fear of being harmed. We will start to see people as our enemies instead as our future friends. How will we be able to love and to forgive, if we let fear and hate take control over our own heart?
     Trouble times are upon us and it looks like that it will only get worst but do not let your fear paralyzed you, always trust in God to see you through. Keep your heart soft and do not let it become harden by what is happening around you, be the light in the darkness and give hope to others. Let the loving spirit of God pour out through your heart so to give healing and comfort to those who are in need. Let not the devil win but keep your faith and be strong, knowing that God is working hard to bring these dark times to an end. Jesus Christ will someday return and bring an everlastng peace and love that will change our entire world, so if possible live in peace and keep your faith and your love.
     Take comfort in these words. Psalm 34:17-19  "When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. ¹⁸The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. ¹⁹Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all."

I Am Alright

     When I experience difficult times of my life, I can always find encouragement from God's word to give me the strength to carry on. I can pick myself up and say to myself that I am alright, meaning that I am not in a perfect condition but I do have enough strength and hope to keep moving onward in life. I thank God for that, for without hope, I would not have enough mental energy or motivation to start my day. With the help of God's spirit I can still say to myself, I am alright even after the difficult times of my life.

The reasons why I am alright:

     I am alright because I can count on God's help in my time of trouble. Psalms 107: 19,20 " Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. ²⁰He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction." Psalms 34:19 "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all." Psalms 41:3 "The LORD sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health." God is always my hope in the darkest hour.

     I am alright because the LORD is my protection. Psalm 9:9 "The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble," Proverbs 18:10 "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe." Alone I feel fragile, with God I feel safe.

     I am alright because I find comfort in Jesus Christ, he makes me feel that I am loved and cared for. Matthew 11:28,29 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." 

     I am alright because of the beautiful promise of God's future kingdom, where all of God's loving children shall dwell someday. There will be no more pain and sorrow. These words of hope brings me comfort when I see our world in a state of chaos. Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." What a wonderful world that God is planning for our future.

     Yes, I am alright for God is my strength. Exodus 15:2 "The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him."
     I am alright because God has put a spirit of strength within ourselves. 2 Timothy 1:7 "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
   
     God watches out over his children, we are his sheep and he is our shepherd. King David's words in the book of Psalm sums up how I feel. Psalm 27:1 "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"
     I am alright because of the love of God. He has strengthen me through the hard times. He has stayed with me and guided my way, even when I could not clearly see. I am alright not because I relied on my own strength but I relied on his, and I am alright for a great future awaits me someday in his beautiful kingdom.