Just Beachy.

So, this morning I woke up really early and had the plans of going gleaning with the Otter Christian Fellowship, but my friends didn't wake up...and they were the ones forcing me to go...so I decided I would go read my bible on the beach instead (by myself! I'm growing up...). Oh my gosh, it was a lovely experience of peacefulness. 


So, I read a lot of verses on the subject of passing judgement and God's grace for us and I just wanted to share that with you (whoever 'you' are...even if it's just me...). 


Philippians 3:13b-14 -- Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.


Ephesians 2:8-10 -- God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.


Romans 3:23-24 -- For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins.


Romans 3:27-28 -- Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.


Romans 5:2 -- Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyful look forward to sharing God's glory.


Romans 12:3 -- Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.


1 Corinthians 13:13 -- Three things will last forever -- faith, hope, and love -- and the greatest of these is love.


1 Corinthians 13:5b -- Love keeps no record of wrong.


Luke 6:41-42 -- And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying 'Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.


Luke 18:11 -- The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: 'I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don't cheat, I don't sin, and I don't commit adultery. I'm certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.' But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.' I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.


2 Corinthians 5:17 -- This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!


If Christ can look past everything we have done in our lifetime, forgive our sins, and love us unconditionally...don't you think we should do the same to each other and the people we encounter in our lives?


Romans 5:8 -- But God demonstrates his own love for us in this, while we were still sinners Christ died for us.


We are called to live like Jesus lived-- to love people the way he did, give mercy to people the way he did, and forgive people the way that he did.


Romans 14:10-13 -- So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgement seat of God. For the scriptures say, " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.' " Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let's stop condemning each other. Decided instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.


Luke 6:31 -- Do to others as you would like them to do to you.


I'm not okay with the way we treat each other. If Jesus, the perfect Son of God, can love each of us unconditionally, faithfully, without fail...why can't we accept the fact that none of us are perfect and that God is sovereign enough to captivate each of our hearts at the right time, in the right way, with the right testimony?


God doesn't have a Plan B...his plan prevails, it cannot be stopped. The life you have been given may not be ideal, it may not sound the best on paper, and it may not please others at times...but God knows why you are who you are, why you've done what you've done, and why you've seen what you've seen. There is a reason and it ties in with His plan....not your own, and not anyone elses.


Satan loves to plant the thought in our minds that because of what we have done we aren't worthy of God's love...or the love of other Christians...but that is a lie. There is nothing further from the truth. If you need to, go back through and read all of the scripture in this post.


God loves you. He has a plan for you. A plan that only you can follow through with. He designed you perfect in His image for this specific plan that only you can fulfill. Trust in Him that your pain and suffering wasn't for nothing. There is a purpose...and it is His.


1 John 4:16-17 -- We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgement, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.


Galatians 4:4 -- But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.


God knows the timing, even when we don't.


Proverbs 16:9 -- We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.


Proverbs 17:9 -- Disregarding another persons faults preserves love, telling about them separates close friends.


Ephesians 6:12 -- For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but agains evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.


We have to take a stand-- together. We can't get caught up in the do's and don't's and rules and regulations...we are called to love and follow God's plan. 


Luke 9:49-50 -- John said to Jesus, "Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn't in our group." But Jesus said, "Don't stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you."


1 John 5:4 -- For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.


Romans 8:33-35 -- Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one-- for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one-- for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading for us. Can anything separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?


Romans 8:37 -- No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.


God loved you first. He chose you. He has a plan for you. Nothing can separate you from Him. He is sovereign and he has control. Trust in Him.


John 15:16 -- You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.


1 John 4:10-12 -- This is real love-- not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, surely we ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.


God loves you. God loves your neighbor. God loves your enemy. God loves your best friend.


John 3:16 -- For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish and have eternal life.


Let's make the Kingdom of God a place where people actually want to be. Through the power of Christ, let's love one another and love each other with a genuine affection.


Romans 12:9-10 -- Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of good. Love each other with a genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other.


Matthew 16:24 -- Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, shoulder your cross, and follow me."


He didn't say "Make sure all the other Christians are turning from their selfish ways and shouldering their crosses". He said, "Follow me." And he loved, showed mercy and saw us as new creations.


Romans 12:2 -- Don't copy the behavior and customs of the world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.


Let God transform you.


My apologies for this being the longest post ever, but this was on my heart. We should strive for this daily. I have been able to see more of this as I move into the real world. The perception Christians give themselves is one of judgement, hypocrisy, and disgust...but we know the truth and the truth will set us free. So, let's live in love and challenge the current definition of the word Christian. We are not of this world, so let's stop living like we are and let's allow God to change the way we think. Take a stand.