Pick Up Your Cross

Are you stuggling with trials, tribulations, and persecutions?

Rough Life as Christian? Your not alone!

It has been a while since my last blog. I have been extremely busy. I decided in December to fill my days with activities. Activities is important when you suffer from depression, ADHD, PTSD, and anxiety. Sitting around the house is not the best mental health activity. Well, I have three days a week of playing cards, three days a week water walking, and two days a week babysitting the toddler grandchildren.

Also, I have been licking my wounds from deciding to leave my last church. It has taken me awhile to even go to church again, but the Bible does tell to not forsake the assemble of others as we see the day approaching. I went to a church on Sunday and felt feed and like the lord was telling me all my live suffering was not in vain, but it is how the Lord uses many of us.

Philippians 3:1-11

“Philippians 3:1-11 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

²Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

³For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

⁴Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

⁵Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

⁶Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

⁷But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

⁸Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

⁹And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

¹⁰That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

¹¹If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”

Rejected?

I realized I had been going to a church that while the read the bible and went word per word, many of the people in the church, did not show the walk and were embarrassed, or uncomfortable with the life style I have lived and they made this known to me. It is hard when you believe you are the worst human on the earth and deserve to just take a back a sit to everyone.

When hearing the message of the service and certain verses that seem to pertain to one’s life. It caused me to realize that my life was meant to shine a light in the dark world. To show others what it looks like when God uses your predicaments, troubles, hardships, and illnesses to bring others to Christ.

Degrees are worthless in Heaven

Not to worry about my achievements here on earth and how they are nothing in reality to Jesus Christ’s faith and my faith in him.

Yes, I have very little monthly to work with in money, but I am so rich in spirit and truth. Just because I no longer can use my MBA is no consequences how I can up the fight and just focus on helping others find Jesus. I don’t know who the Lord will send but he always sends me someone to mentor and help with Biblical instruction.

If you have lived a life full of dysfunction, abuses, addictions, bad life choices, rejects, disabilities, and more but have had Jesus to walk with and talk with throughout your life. You are not alone. Read the verses above and here are some more and the ones below and know you are loved by Christ.

He will never leave you or forsake you.

Philippians 1:21-22, Luke 9:23, James 1:2-3

“Philippians 1:21-22 KJV For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

Luke 9:23 kjv

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Lastly,

“James 1:2-3

King James Version

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience”.

Help to get through

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I know how hard this, but we are reminded when reading our Bibles of how the Holy Spirit is there to guide us and Jesus is daily defending us against the devil. We must hold on to the dear scriptures and put them close to our hearts to get us through these perilous times.

Another thing that helped me during my rough times and struggling was journaling. Through journalling I was able to see God’s hands in, on, and around me through all the pain and tribulations I have lived. We can never be too bad for the forgiveness of God.

We must remember, Paul was an assassin, David was a murder and an adulteress, Lot lived in Sodom and Gomorrah, and had incest with his daughters, yet repented and was written as one of the faithful men in Hebrews. No one knows the real crimes of the sinners on the cross, yet one of them was going to be in heaven with Jesus that day. Then Samson’s last act was suicide, yet he is also mentioned in Hebrews as one the righteous, faithful men.

So, when others look down on you or spend time constantly criticizing you, remember God is who we finally stand in front of, and he is the ultimate judge of us not others around us.

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