Seek not riches and fame!

Matthew 10:24-25 KJV

The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. "Jesus Christ"

This comes straight from the Master. Why then are people looking to become rich and famous in order to "bear fruit" or "spread the Gospel". Jesus did not seek fame nor riches, but the will of His Father. In doing so, He successfully completed His task on earth. Why is it that some that profess to be Christians seek their own will and what they think is doing Gods will, rather than spending time with the Father and learning His will for them, which is perfect for He is perfect. Seek not to be above your Master. We are to associate ourselves with the humble things (Romans 12:16). For the Lord said "the last shall be first, and the first last" (Matthew 20:16). Therefore if you wish to be great in Gods kingdom you must humble yourself, for Jesus came as the most humble and has been exalted on High.

And do remember that Jesus says "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:25)

Peace be with you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Jesus - The Promise!

This came to me as I prayed and envisioned the blood of Jesus as I pleaded His blood, I saw a rainbow... and all these dots connected.

On the cross, Jesus' side was pierced. 

His blood rained on me and reigned over me.

And as in the days of the flood, 

when the rainbow marked God's promise to mankind; 

Jesus the Son brighter than the sun, 

shines in Glory after the rain! 

I see the rainbow!

Thank the Lord!

Links

God's rainbow as a promise

Jesus' side is pierced

When I say I am Christian

So a friend of mine posted this poem on facebook and I fell in love with it right away. The author is Maya Angelou, but upon "googling" this title I came upon another author, Carol Wimmer. I'll post both versions so you can pick the one you like.

Maya Angelou:

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow!

-----------------

Carol Wimmer's Original Version

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not shouting, “I’ve been saved!”
I’m whispering, “I get lost!
That’s why I chose this way”

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I don’t speak with human pride
I’m confessing that I stumble -
needing God to be my guide

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not trying to be strong
I’m professing that I’m weak
and pray for strength to carry on

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not bragging of success
I’m admitting that I’ve failed
and cannot ever pay the debt

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I don’t think I know it all
I submit to my confusion
asking humbly to be taught

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are far too visible
but God believes I’m worth it

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartache
which is why I seek His name

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I do not wish to judge
I have no authority
I only know I’m loved

Copyright 1988 Carol Wimmer

My Cross I'll carry

When I think about Jesus on the cross I have no choice but to agree with the fact that "nails didn't hang Him there, Love did". You see, Christ set an example for us: through weakness, God shows His strength. If it wasn't for Christ's sacrafice, the people seeking salvation and righteous standing before God would have no hope. But through Christ's death, Christians can find LIFE.

Sometimes we have certain authority and power given to us by God that gets tested. And in those times of testing, we have to humble ourselves in order to show our weakness that God may show His strength. Of course this is not what we're taught in schools, but God "uses the foolishness of men to shame the wise" (1 Cor. 1:27). It is in our weakness that God operates and brings Himself glory. Because this shows true selflessness and love for others. Christ for example could've crushed the world at their mocking and brutal treatment but instead HUMBLY, He lowered Himself and accepted the harsh treatment that He may take our place and satisfy the cost of sin.

Now when we choose to follow Christ we will all have burdens. But we cannot allow these burdens to deter us from our narrow walk with Christ. This is why Christ says "if any one would come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross daily" (Mat 16:24). These burdens could be cravings for cigarretts, foul language, attititude problems, lustful ways, or anything else you had to put away when coming to Christ.

Denying yoursef = saying no to the flesh. Picking up your cross = saying God is mightier than this, and through my weakness He will show His strength. By one no longer swearing or quitting cigarretts cold turkey in faith, this can be a testimony to others who are struggling with the same issue, that there is a God in Heaven who is able to save and set free His people.

Sometimes though as in Christ's case, your cross is something you don't really deserve. But this cross can be crucial towards winning another or maybe many others over to the Kingdom of God. My cross includes a multiple amount of things. There's lust, rap, foul words, love for food, but there's one that is just something so hard to bear. This cross is too personal to share, but man its tough. All I can say is I KNOW there's a God in Heaven, because only HE could sustain me to bear it.

Jesus is worth the fight. God is worth the fight. The Kingdom is worth the fight. Once God has put His perfect Love and Joy in your heart, you will carry your cross no matter the distance. May you continue to fight the good fight! May God bless you and sustain you all. In the peace of Jesus, I bid you fair tidings.

Eddie

Psalm 52 (The goodness of God)

When the evil is so tempting
And my flesh rises against me
I know that I can count on the Lord, to give me strength.

When the world seems so confident,
in it's false and empty hopes,
I know that Jesus can show me the way.

Chorus:
The goodness of God endures continually.
He delivers me from my enemies.
Without You Lord, I don't know what I'd do.
Because your name is good, I will wait on You

My old pants don't fit

This morning I was having an "off" day. Everything just wasn't going "my way". I slept over my parents house because my wife and I were over with the baby and we spent too much time before leaving, so we decided it was best to stay. Well, this morning after showering, I tried on some old pants - AND THEY DIDN'T FIT! I was barely able to squeeze into my shoes, and I realized on my way to work that I forgot my glasses!

So I gchat my wife to tell her how "off" my day was today, and this is her response:

 erickabultron@gmail.com:  but guess what you didnt forget . YOUR JESUS

 me:  i feel discombobulated

 erickabultron@gmail.com:  

 Hes right there with you and to Him your not discombobulated at all but one of His.

remember your gonna be walking  streets of gold

Lord willing ill be right there with ya

 me:  thx wife

i needed to hear that

 erickabultron@gmail.com:  of course your old pants dont fit you baby your a new CREATION!

 me:  haha amen!

 erickabultron@gmail.com:  but your holy garment fits you perfectly remember what your really wearing

THANK GOD FOR A HOLY WIFE

Deny yourself

The flesh will always want to do the evil or what is against God, but what matters is what the spirit does in truth and in action. We must deny the flesh and do God's will


Jesus teaches us throughout the whole new testament how to deny the flesh! Christ at Gethsamane asked the Father "if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42). And what did Christ do in spirit and in truth? He went through with His assignment of being crucified and dying for the sins of man, a weighty burden.


You see, even though the Lord's flesh wanted to escape this task, He denied Himself and did what God wanted Him to do; In faith knowing that God the Father was, is, and always will be faithful.


We too must deny the flesh. No matter how tempting the sin, we must put aside our feelings and wants and do the will of God - no matter how painful.

No turning back

Happiness. A word used frequently but one frequently misused. True happiness should not be able to be stripped away. Up until last year >>>11'<<< I didn't know true happiness. I always had to find something new and fresh to keep me happy. My happiness was contingent upon what I had.

Sorry for blabbing.

Long story short:

I was a hip-hop artist living the fast life and taking life for granted.I grew to be depressed and suicidal while still masking it with a smile (the most dangerous situation in my opinion). One day the Holy Spirit led a strange man to my recording studio, who asked me a simple question. "Who is Jesus?". This question as well as this man struck deep into my conscience. For one, I always wondered "If there is only one God, then why is there God the Father and Jesus (muslims used to always trip me up with this). Two, I've met plenty of "Christians" in my life, that when they were in this same scenario (seeing sin before there eyes: drinking, pot-smoking, and partying) would only nod their head, look at studio, and say "nice equipment".

This man was different. he shut down every speculation I had against the Holy Bible and every question I had about Jesus. And then he reminded everyone in that studio of the goodness of God as well as the consequence of sinning and not accepting God's generous offer, which is eternal death in hell.

After one more grievous sin that only proved to me I had no control over myself, I gave my life to Jesus. Once I decided to follow Jesus, I said to myself "No turning back". The good Lord has been guiding me to many truths and I continue to hold own to His precious garments as He guides me through His Holy Spirit to walk this narrow road.

Now I'm filled with Joy from the Lord. I am truly happy  =)

Lord willing, I will be posting thoughts, hymns, and poems as the Lord leads.

May God bless you and lead you into His rest.

Love

Edwaldo

"It is finished" (John 19:30)

HEAVENLY FATHER...
WHY DOES THE DEVIL BOTHER.
JESUS ALREADY TOLD US HE'S A KILLER AND A ROBBER.

WHY WOULD I DARE TO TRUST HIM? KNOWING HES BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR MY WORST REPERCUSSIONS

ITS ALL ABOUT YOU MY LORD MY GOD. MY SONGS ON IPOD. ARE PRAISING HE WHO IS PRAISEWORTHY.
DUE TO THE DEVIL WE WERE MADE DIRTY
BUT YOUR MERCY...

CLEANED US UP. IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB. FOR HE IS WORTHY. MURDERED FOR BEING PERFECT. BUT HIS SACRIFICE WAS YOUR PURCHASE.

LORD JESUS I LOVE YOU. I REALLY DO LOVE YOU. I LAID DOWN MY LIFE BECAUSE YOU. IN EFFORTS OF BEING JUST LIKE YOU. YOU LAID DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR THE SHEEP TO END THE CYCLE. OF SIN.

AND DECIDED TO REIGN FROM WITHIN. CLEANING THE INSIDE OF THE BOWL, WIPING US CLEAN.

BETTER THAN A DISHWASHER WITH EXTRA SOAP EXTRA STEAM.

YOU PURIFY US WITH FIRE. BECAUSE YOU LOVE US. YOU CORRECT US BECAUSE YOU WANT US TO BE PERFECT AS YOU ARE.

THIS IS BETTER THAN A NEW CAR. NO DOWN-PAYMENT AND NO CAR NOTES FOR LIFE. THIS IS LIFE ETERNALLY - SET ME FREE - BECAUSE MY LIFE WAS IN JEOPARDY - BUT YOU CAME DOWN AND RESCUED ME.

YOU'VE GIVEN THE BLIND SIGHT AND CLEANED LEPROSY
FORGIVEN ME OF MY SINS AND MADE ME A BETTER ME.

BECAUSE I'M NO LONGER ME, MAY THE HOLY SPIRIT EMBODY ME...WITH YOU LIVING IN ME I AM A STRONGER ME.

YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE WORK