All or nothing

It's becoming clearer to me that with Jesus it is all or noting.

Mat 12:30 ESV(30) Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Luk 9:23 ESV(23) And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Rev 3:15-16 GNB(15) I know what you have done; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were either one or the other!(16) But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth!

1Co 10:21 ESV You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

Mat 6:24 ESV "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

Jesus wants our whole being. Our whole life, that's what it means to take up your cross- the cross symbolized dying - dying to our old self. Jesus says to do this daily. It is really hard to imagine the fullness of that statement. The song "getting into you" by relientK explains it quite well, when they say "do you know what you are getting yourself into?" I have committed my life to Jesus, but there is probably parts of my life that I still have that I would have a hard time giving up. If it was God's plan for me to never get married, would I be okay with that? There is such magnitude when you give your life up. But, just as the disciples did, we need to give up our lives and follow Jesus. They dropped their fishing poles and left their families and followed Jesus. That would be the same as if someone who is who has a successful job decides to quit and become a missionary. But when we make that sacrifice it just opens up the opportunity for God to work in our lives more than we could imagine, and certainly better than we could ever do on our own. The disciples all went on to be such strong leaders. We can do the same if we let God take over.

'Whoever does not gather with me scatters.' This was convicting to me. Jesus is saying if I am not bringing people to Him then I am basically pushing people away from Him. That is the last thing I want to do. So I need to make it a point to spread the Gospel. But I find this so hard to do in a regular day setting. It's such a serious subject, which makes it more important to talk about, but how do you incorporate that in conversation? Some say that by the way we live we can spread the Gospel. "My Father's glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become my disciples." (John 15:8) Can you see fruits of the spirit in your life daily? "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Gal 5:22-23) But is that enough? "Everyone will know that you are my disciples because of your love for each other." (John13:35)

My prayer is that God would reveal to me the things that are keeping me from him - things that I have not given up. And that God would train me so that I would be able to talk to others about Jesus with ease.

The Room - An Amazing Story of The Gospel

The Room

17 year-old Brian Moore had only a short time to write something for a class. The subject was what Heaven was like. "I wowed 'em," he later told his father, Bruce. "It's a killer. It's the bomb. It's the best thing I ever wrote." It also was the last.

Brian's parents had forgotten about the essay when a cousin found it while cleaning out the teenager's locker at Teays Valley High School in Pickaway County. Brian had been dead only hours, but his parents desperately wanted every piece of his life near them such as notes from classmates and teachers and his homework.

Only two months before, he had handwritten the essay about encountering Jesus in a file room full of cards detailing every moment of the teen's life. But it was only after Brian's death that Beth and Bruce Moore realized that their son had described his view of heaven. "It makes such an impact that people want to share it. You feel like you are there." Mr. Moore said.

Brian Moore died Tuesday, May 27, 1997, the day after Memorial Day. He was driving home from a friend's house when his car went off Bulen-Pierce Road in Pickaway County and struck a utility pole. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed power line and was electrocuted. The Moores framed a copy of Brian's essay and hung it among the family portraits in the living room. "I think God used him to make a point. I think we were meant to find it and make something out of it." Mrs. Moore said of the essay. She and her husband want to share their son's vision of life after death. "I'm happy for Brian. I know he's in heaven. I know I'll see him."

Brian's Essay:
The Room

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order.

But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings.

As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I Have Liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.

This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I Have Betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I Have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed At." Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've Yelled At My Brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done In My Anger," "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath At My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents.

Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "TV Shows I Have Watched," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke in me. One thought dominated my mind, "No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared The Gospel With."

The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand. And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.

But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him.

No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No! No!" as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.



"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." - John 3:16

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9


Dear Savior, Thank you so much for signing your name on my cards, so I wouldn't have to take the blame for them. Thank you for paying the price for my sins and making me clean so that I may have everlasting life. I am sorry for what I have done. Please give me strength everyday to live a life without sin. Amen


This is from the site: http://www.starburst2005.com/christian/001.html

What is [Yahweh's] God's Will?

How do we know what the Will of Yah (God) is for our lives?
In college I was asking this question, mostly thinking about what does He want me to do with my life? What major, what friends/relationship to have, what job to take? It was always confusing to me to know if I was doing what Yahweh wanted for me in my life. I expected there to be this voice from above telling me to do (this). But then I looked at the scripture and really studied what the Will of Yah (God) is. And it is much more simple than you would think. 

Definition of will>#1 The mental faculty by which one deliberately chooses or decides upon a course of action #3 A desire, purpose, or determination, especially of one in authority (answers.com) Rom 12:2 "Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God---what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect."

• In order to know the will of God we need to view things differently than the world
• We need to view things the way God views them
• --for example the world views adultery as a married person sleeping with another person but as we know God views adultery differently: Mat 5:28 "But I can guarantee that whoever looks with lust at a woman has already committed adultery in his heart."
• --Luk 6:27-30 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, (28) bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. (29) If anyone hits you on one cheek, let him hit the other one too; if someone takes your coat, let him have your shirt as well. (30) Give to everyone who asks you for something, and when someone takes what is yours, do not ask for it back.
• ---How different that is from how the world acts. Jesus tells us to do pretty much the opposite of what we would normally think to do. That means every beggar that asks me for something according to Jesus I am obligated to give them what they ask for. And the book I let my friend borrow - i shouldn't ask for it back. I still long to have it back even though they borrowed it 2 years ago.
• --Eph 6:5-7 ESV Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, (6) not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, (7) rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,
• ---This would mean that doing the will of God would be serving our human masters as if we are serving God. So, I can do God's will by serving my boss at work as if i were serving God. The passage describes what that type of serving looks like - fearing the boss, working from the heart, working good even when no one is looking, trying to please God not people (which is a higher standard)
• --1Pe 2:15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 
•  In the latter part of 1Tessalonians Paul gives a lot of direction on how God wants us to act (1Th 4:1)
• --1Th 4:3-4 ESV For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; (4) that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,
• --1Th 4:3 clearly states that the will of God is to make us holy, and even more explicitly to abstain from sexual immorality - pointing out this specific sin shows how detrimental it is. So if I am to follow God's will I need to do everything that would make me more holy or sanctified
• ---How are we made holy? We are cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Rom 1:17 "For therein is the righteousness (holiness) of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." - with our faith in Jesus we are made holy and through continued faith we are cleansed more (because of course we get dirty)
• ----faith can be defined as belief, trust, devotion to (deep love or commitment)
• -----Christ told us to love him is to obey his commandments (John 14:21)
• --love one another (1Th 4:9-10)
• --1Th 4:11 Also, make it your goal to live quietly, do your work, and earn your own living, as we ordered you.
• ---encourage and build one another up (5:11)
• 1Th 5:12 Brothers and sisters, we ask you to show your appreciation for those leaders who work among you and instruct you.
• 1Th 5:14 We encourage you, brothers and sisters, to instruct those who are not living right, cheer up those who are discouraged, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.
• 1Th 5:15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
• 1Th 5:16 Be joyful always,
• 1Th 5:17 pray at all times,
• 1Th 5:18 be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.
• 1Th 5:19 Do not restrain the Holy Spirit;
• 1Th 5:20 do not despise inspired messages.
• 1Th 5:21 Put all things to the test: keep what is good
• 1Th 5:22 and avoid every kind of evil.

"And Yahushua answered him, The First of all the commandments is, Hear, Oh Israel, Yahweh is our Elohim, Yahweh is one: And Thou shalt love Yahweh thy Elohim with all thy heart and with all they soul, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29 RNKJV)

"After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for." (Ecclesiastes 12:13GNT)

It is simple if you are honoring Yahweh with your life, obeying his commands, and loving Yahweh and your neighbor as yourself you are doing the Will of [God] Yahweh. I used to think you had to be a missionary or something specific related to faith. But the truth is you can Honor Yahweh in whatever job or endeavor your choose to do. You will have opportunities to share about the faith no matter what you are doing. 

That was what I found in the Bible related to the will of God, but I found a great website that tells more about God's will click here to go to that site.