This is probably the most important post I've ever written.
If you've got a problem with worry, as many people do, then this post is really important for you to read.
I recently had a tragedy strike my family. I won't go into it in detail, but the point of it is that God revealed to me some very important truths after the trial, and pretty much all throughout it.
I've struggled with worry, pretty much all of my life, though I am a christian, and that shouldn't be our part of our MO.
But it was. And especially during this trial, it hit me.
But God gave me an answer!
This is the good part.
I wrote a book about it (really He wrote it, I just tried to type fast enough:)).
I want to share it with everyone for free, because if worry is part to your life, this is super-going to free you.
So without further ado, here is the link to the full Worry to Grace devotional...
This is a PDF, so anyone should be able to read it simply from their computer or phone.
Guys, I can't stress enough how much this will really help you if you struggle with worry.
If you'd like to buy the paperback format (I can't make that one free, because they charge to make it! lol), then you can buy it here on lulu: Worry to Grace Paperback on Lulu Publishing
And then, here's a few songs that really fit the heart behind the book:
I'm trying to get this book out there fast, so if anyone happens to notice a typo in the file, please let me know here in a comment. That will help a lot!
Thanks, and God be with you in all that you do!
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**side node: DUST (the third book of the EMBER series) is coming out next month! Yay! More on this next time.
So, I've done this things since I was younger, (or maybe I should say God's been doing this thing) where I'll be listening to a song, and here what He has to say on it, sort of elaborated. Like you can say, to re-hear it from His point of view.
Anyways, I recently thought it'd be cool to begin to share it with everyone. So without further ado, here are a few songs. Each video will be followed by my little God's heart excerpt on it, so click play and listen as you read. Hope it blesses you!
"The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My
voice; and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27
God looked down on us, and said the main lines of this song.
In this crazy world of people, there are only two choices for Me and My sheep,
the people I have made. My first choice is that they come with Me, where I am
going, and be like me. I gave them rules to follow in the garden--of
peace!--they disobeyed. I gave them laws to follow in the desert--of
rest!--they disobeyed. I gave them a land of promise, and blessing--my
land!--they defiled it. This covenant plan failed because it depended on their
behavior.
The second choice for God and His sheep? Either you’re
coming with me, or I’m coming with You. He sent His son. He sent his Son, his Son
came down, to this mess we’re in with a perfect light. Do you think it some drudgerous march? That is not the hope and glory Jesus kept. John says He
walked with truth and grace (John 1:14) There was grace in His eyes, none had
ever seen before. He had a light of fiery love burning inside of Him. He knew
His Father, He understood love, He WAS love.
He’s come down for His sheep. Those that our His, will
follow. If we try and run off, He’s coming with. That’s just the way it is.
This is God’s new covenant. And it is wondrous to our eyes.
"When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over
that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed
through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!" Hebrews 12:3
Marvel ye that the world persecutes you? Oh, how far our
thoughts are from His thoughts; how much lower the line of them. We think that
success is marked by prosperity. We choose originally to follow God’s plan, but
don’t seem to consider thoughtfully the evidence placed before us in the lives
of the faithful. A few lines before the verse above, Hebrews 12:1, says: “since
we have so great a cloud of witnesses… let us push on in the race.” The
witnesses are those that have lived out a life of faith. The previous chapter
quotes they never received what they were after, the hope their eyes were set
on; they knew that this world wasn’t their home.
So what should we do, choosing to do what’s right? How do we
define it, when we cannot mark our efforts by success, or even receive the
comfort which comes by that?
Marvel not that the world persecutes you. What’s the cure?
Stop looking at resistance, as opposition, as any sort of sign of inaccuracy.
In fact: it can generally mark the opposite. That’s what Jesus says. Stop
looking at the effect of your efforts on others, or even yourself. Instead,
focus your attention on fighting and racing for God. Start performing for His
approval. Wait and expect and hope for Him to look down from heaven and say:
there goes a fighter. This ones a fighter. And then the world, also, will
undoubtedly look on (if not in this lifetime, then in others to come, and
certainly in our eternal life): there goes a fighter. This one’s a fighter.
Even the Apostle Paul, who was so opposed, did they not look on him, and say:
This one’s a fighter. There goes a fighter.
Stick out like that, fighting for God after the pattern of
Jesus; instead of trying to measure your every step by the world’s every
reaction.
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My
disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself
and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly
to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also]." Matthew 16:24
We see a good man, a heroic man, and maybe we would
sacrifice our lives for them, but who ever put their own life on the line for
an evil man? But God shows His love for us, in this: that while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us. And we ought also to put our lives on the line for
our brothers and sisters.
This world is wild! It’s cruel; it’ll kill you. Who will you
die for? You’ve got to serve someone; you’re not going to live forever. Self?
Another person, perhaps one you see as good? A cause?
Think about it: honestly. You’re standing on judgment day.
Say, you don’t even believe in a judgment day, but at least, you must admit,
there is someone, at least one person on this wide earth that looks on you. Can
you make a life? Can you form a person? Than why not be honest and admit that
even a single one is a wonder--no matter what type or class they might be. So
that one person, miraculous human, is looking upon you. Who would you will for
them to see you standing beside, losing yourself to??? You’ve got to lose
yourself to someone. You will die eventually in this world. When others look
(when God looks) do you want them to see you losing yourself to self, standing
alone and proudly? Beside…. yourself? Don’t you know yourself? Are you really
that great? Should you really be so proud of that?
Well, look across the world then, look at all men, of all
nations, look across the ages, through all time. Find the man or woman you
would proudly stand beside, lose yourself to, die for. Think, honestly. Name a
name. Pick a person. Be honest (people, if not God, are watching; miraculous,
people). Think of the person. Now you take your person, or your self, and I will
stand beside Jesus Christ; I will show myself losing my life for Him, I will
bank on His words, and design my life after them. When I fail, I will call for
forgiveness to Him (who is it that you would prostrate yourself like that
before? Who else has the grace mixed with authority, to keep both your person
and soul intact?)
Think of any person, as a dare, that YOU would lose your
life for.
None compare to Jesus Christ, no, none compare to Jesus
Christ.
Only He will allow you to quote these words throughout life
and the hereafter:
Take us down, and we
keep trying. Forty-thousand feet keep flying.
Take us down, and we
keep trying. Forty-thousand feet keep flying.
