Draw close to God and He will draw close to you. Wash your hands you sinner; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. -James 4:7, 8

God First, Freedom Second

When I talk to people who are in bondage and I tell them to start pursuing God, I hear things like this:

• “I need to quit drinking, smoking, having sex, etc. before I come to God”
• “If I walked in a church it would burn down”
• “God could never like me with all this junk in my life”

People that say things like this seem to always stay in bondage…

The reality is that God loves you regardless of what you’ve done, what you’re doing, or what you will do. He longs for you to come to a place where enough is enough and you start to rely on Him.  He loves you right where you are! Notice the what the verse says – Draw Close to God, and He’ll draw close to You. THEN wash your hands and purify your hearts.

The first and most important step in getting free from any bondage or addiction is to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and start drawing close to Him.

God First, Freedom Second - More tomorrow

I’m obviously a big Kenneth Hagin fan and I really enjoying reading his books. I’d highly recommend all of them because of the truths contained in them. Of course, like any book, the key is application, but these books always provide truths that we constantly need to be renewing our minds to. Here are some of my highlights:

• Learn to not only get the what of God’s plan, but pray until you know the when and how
• Days of preparation are never lost time
• Your preparation time might not be comfortable because you have to die to your own desires and your timing and allow God to prepare you
• Find the race that God has set before you
• Don’t look around to see where others are in their race and try to get on their track and run. Let God speak to you where you are in your race.
• Many Christians are caught up trying to receive specific direction from God, but they forget to be a doer of the Word.
• You won’t be able to follow God’s plan for your life unless you’re willing to do whatever He might ask you to do
• Believers who follow God’s way may not always be able to see very far down the path, because following God is a step-by-step walk of faith and obedience.

Those were only through the first half of the book… If you’re need direction in your life or questioning how to figure out the will of God- check this book out.

Grade: B     Buy it here

²³“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’                     -Matthew 25:23

It’s been 3 months since I’ve moved out on my own. It’s going so fast! I just want to share a few things I’ve been learning since I’ve been “On my own. I don’t know how often I’ll blog about this, but here is part 1.

You don’t find a great life, You build One – When I heard Joe Mcgee say this years ago it changed my life. I think the best part of being on my own is that whatever I become in life now is entirely up to me. “With great power (freedom) comes great responsibility” sums it up pretty well. I’m free to come and go as I choose, have people over as often as I want, I’m free to do anything I want. The best part about this – my values and beliefs are based on God’s Word. I’m building my life on the Word of God and the principles God’s given us to live by – because of this – the life I’m building is going to be unbelievable!

Food is Expensive and Goes Really Fast! – I look at food in such a different light now that I can’t just open my fridge and cupboard and see the endless amounts of food my dad provided for me for free. It makes me appreciate what my dad did to provide for me so much more. When I go to peoples houses and they make dinner for me – I’m more grateful than I’ve ever been. I’m really looking forward to when I’m  able to have a ton of people over and provide feasts for them!

I was not wise in spending my money - I remember when I told my dad I was moving out and I’d be renting. He said, “I think you’re dumb – you could be saving all that money renting by staying at home.” That is a true statement – I could be saving money by living at home, but the question is – Would I be saving money? Nope! Before I moved out I had all the money I wanted to get Starbucks everyday, go everywhere, eat out whenever I wanted, etc..  Since I moved out and actually have to budget my money! In tracking my expenses for the past year and a half I was able to see where I was not being wise in spending money and cut it out of my life (i.e. $60/month at Starbucks). I’m learning to deal with finances wisely, and while I’m paying $X a month in rent, I view that as tuition in the school of handling money wisely. It’s worth it!

God is My Source - It’s easy to believe God is your source when you don’t need money, don’t need healing, don’t need salvation, it’s a lot harder to believe He is your source when you do need those things. That is where faith kicks into gear. Do you really believe God’s Word is true or don’t you? I’ve come to learn that my job isn’t my source, my parents, or anyone or anything else. God is my source and He always provides everything I need and even more so I can be a blessing to others. Being on my own has stretched and grown my faith big time and this is only the beginning!
Those are the big 4 things I’ve learned thus far . . . thoughts?