My Christian Diary

Hello All, Grace and Peace be to you!

The theme of our retreat was “Finish the Game”, equating the sports theme with the game of life. In order to finish anything there has to be a beginning or start position.
First, a person has to show up, or in other words, recognize the need for salvation.
Second, a person has to sign up, or surrender life to CHRIST.
Third, a person has to suit up, or serve God with the spiritual gift HE has given you.
Fourth, is soak up, or the reading of GOD’s WORD everyday to help us develop a closer relationship with GOD.
And…
Fifth, is SCORE!!! One day we, who have trusted in JESUS will hear, “Welcome home thy good and faithful servant.”

Until the day we “SCORE” there are things we have to do as a team and as individual members here on earth. Here are a few, but certainly not all.

We are to be good team player’s in serving where there is a need. GOD gives us all a spiritual gift upon our salvation, and if we refuse to serve, we would be throwing off the rest of the body (Or team) in Church, walking in disobedience, and walking unworthy of our vocation. Ephesians 4:1 says… I therefore, the prisoner of the LORD, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called. I know that there is so much that goes into walking worthy, but GOD has revealed to me, (personally speaking) that I would not be worthy to serve if my heart is not willing.

What is your spiritual gift? Working of Miracles? (1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, 29) Gift of Healing? (1 Corinthians 12:9, 28, 30) Gift of Helpers? (1 Corinthians 12:28) Gift of Governments or Administration? (1 Corinthians 12:28; Romans 12:8) Gift of Faith? (1Corinthians 12:9) Gift of Apostleship? (1 Corinthians 12:28) Gift of Prophecy? (Romans 12:6) Gift of Discernment of Spirits? (1 Corinthians 12:10) Gift of Teaching? (Romans 12:7) Gift of Exhortation? (Romans 12:8) Gift of Speaking the Word of Wisdom? (1 Corinthians 12:8) Gift of Speaking the Word of Knowledge? (1 Corinthians 12:8) Gift of Tongues? (1 Corinthians 12:10, 28) Gift of Interpretation of Tongues? (1 Corinthians 12:10, 30) Gift Evangelism? Pastoral Gift? (Ephesians 4:11) (Ephesians 4:11) Gift of Acts of Mercy? (Romans 12:8), or Giving Aid? (Romans 12:8)

Follow this link and take a simple test to see what your gift or gifts may be…SPIRITUAL GIFT TEST.

May our gifts of the HOLY SPIRIT work out in us as we yield our bodies to HIM.

HE convicted me on tackling trials and, “Enduring Pain In The Game”. GOD revealed to me recently that I needed to handle trials in a godly manner. I would handle trials with impatience, fear, and doubt, instead of faith, belief and joy. James 1:2-6 says…
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and intire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of GOD, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (without reproach); and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

What? Did the WORD say to count it joy? How do we have joy in the midst of a trial? FAITH! We all need to turn to HIM in faith and believe that what HE is doing is molding us into what HE wants us to be. We must cry to HIM before we ever call upon our family, friends or Pastor. Why call anyone when we have access to the best COUNSELOR, and HE does not charge! HE wants to listen and give us wisdom to proceed through the trial. I believe I would have been through many trials sooner if I would have listened to GOD first. I took advice from others when I should have listened to HIS voice. There is nothing wrong with asking for counsel from brothers and sisters, but go to GOD first and let HIM direct your path.

We are like the gold bar being purified in the fire. When gold is melted, all the impurities rise to the top, while the pure gold rests in the bottom. As we are tried in the fiery trial, our impurities emerge and GOD is able to show us what it is we need to remove from our lives. Then what is left is a more purified spirit.

If we did not go through these battles, how would we know HE could see us through, or set us free? How would HE build the trust we need in HIM if we never went through trials?

When we do get to the end of our game, I pray that we all can be counted worthy of our vocation, and though we traverse in many trials, we might finish our course with JOY, as we hear, "Welcome Home Thy Good and Faithful Servant!"

F-antastic
A-dventures
I-n
T-rusting
H-IM