"BE YE SEPARATE"

It is amazing how God made the weather different throughout the year. I really enjoy the view of snow in the fields and houses all over town. I think about the warmth inside every home, and how a heater or a fireplace is just making things snug and comfy inside.  I know its kinda early but I hope you all have a good time with family this Christmas. I can't wait to see family myself, in a way, I'll be going home for Christmas.

As I started to read God's Word this morning in a rather too comfy couch I felt the urge to fall sleep again, but as I read the first verse of a chapter that would breeze off the sleepiness, I was reminded of the many times I've missed reading (looking, searching) and finding promises from God's word. As a family we have devotionals every evening and there's no missing it. but being consistent in spending time "alone" with the Lord is another story. I am encouraged that even though I "miss out" quite literally in seeking and finding promises, God is still faithfully taking care of me and waiting for me to come back and stand in awe as I read and learn.

So I've been reading the book of  2 Corinthians this week, and today I picked up where I left of in 2 Corinthians 7. The first verse says. (remember, this is when I was just about to fall asleep in that amazingly comfy couch). =D

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. "

It felt like I had started at the end of a chapter, and decided to at least go back one chapter.

The first few verses of chapter 6 talk about being good examples. so that no one can say that we have complained and so on and so forth. but being able to be good servants.....

".... in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left..."

In the last few verses of chapter 6 it talks about being separated. the word "holy" means being set apart, derived from, belonging to. We need to be set apart.

"....Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?...."

"....And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

 Theres so many things to talk about in this chapter, but I really want to focus on the fact that we need to be set apart. this passage reminds me of Matthew 7:13-14. It says,

^{13 "}Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

Strait is the gate and narrow is the way. Being in the narrow road means being set apart. 

Which makes me come back to 2 Corinthians 6,  the last two verses 17-18 says,

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 

And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

Chapter 7

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. "

I think this is a good place to end even though it is the start of the next chapter. I do encourage you to look into scripture and be set apart, be in the narrow road towards the narrow gate. 

I'll be back soon.

Ernesto 

 

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WHY?!

Humility. how I wish I could be humble. God has been teaching me so much this ten days since I wrote last. God has tested my response to difficult situations. He's tested my patience, He's tested my willingness to drop to my knees and ask Him. He's tested my willingness to let to of things I thought would work out, but did not. He's tested me in the area of spending time with Him even though I have "so many things to do" and no time to do them.

I'll give you the gist of all these tests that God has been teaching me through, and some of these have been in less than 3 hours. So I've been listening to a message that you can find in Utube BTW. It is by Paul Washer, I totally recommend it =D. And while listening to this awesome message that he gave to about 5,000 kids in the '90's in a conference, He talks about how through faith we repent of our sins, and through that we seek Him for his guidance. What caught my eye was that "we repent of our sins." When was the last time I repented for something that I knew was wrong but I still did it. I probably should not write it because it would take a while. Please understand what I'm trying to tell you, this is vital for us as Christians, I was talking to a friend of mine after Ice skating for a few hours. I told him that the way I saw a good friend is that he or she would make me or encourage me to seek God and to search myself through the Word of God. being blessed by a friend like that is AWESOME. because being able to put God's standards before anything or any other is hard.

I grew up without a dad. My dad left home when I was six years old. and I haven't seen him since. but the thing is, when I was younger, my hope was to be accepted by my friends (I didn't have many friends, most of the time I would play by myself). and because I wanted to be accepted I was like them, I talked like them, I smelled like them (I probably took more showers than they did). I was PRETENDING I was lying to myself! I wasn't me because I was scared that they wouldn't like "ME." I was also Very Very short, skinny, and cute. lol so I got pushed around, laughed at, and rejected. I wondered why, I thought I was doing so well, "JUST like them." long story short, I went through this conference called "Journey to the Heart" that lasted 10 days. (ill explain more about this conference in the future). In 2007 I had just turned 14 six days before. same time I got my first study bible. (this was already a good start), there was even lots of snow. loved it! so through this 10 days in the woods of Michigan, I learned through God's Word that I didn't need to be like "them." They will let me down, dad let me down. They will promise and break promises. BUT, I WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. I learned what "Abiding in the Presence of the most High" meant. not having to pretend. being me with the God that would be the BEST Father, and the only Father I really needed.

That was not the last "Journey to the Heart" I went to. I'm still working on it, I'm still learning, God is still teaching me, pretty sure I can't skip classes on that one. So friend, don't let the circumstances let you down. Look up to God and His Word. live up to what He wants you to be. Abide in the presence and see what He can do.

I sorta went into a rabbit trail. The testing I was talking about earlier, I am so thankful that I am tested and tried. I dare you to do something hard, and that is to thank God whenever you are tripped over or you just don't know why it is happening. Thank God, turn your murmuring into a time of praise to the Lord. THEN. You WILL dwell in the secret place of the most High. And will abide in shadow of the ALMIGHTY. there is no better place my friend. No better place than under His wings. (Psalm 91)

so much more I could say to you, but you will learn more through seeking His Word by yourself.

SO GET TO IT.

God bless you!!

~Ernesto

The first day of the rest of my life!

         We, and I am talking about all of us in the planet earth. We are born in captivity. we are born in this world with nothing but sin. anything good we do, if we do it--is nothing. it does not matter how good the deed is or how good we think we are compared to other people. comparing ourselves to other people is what we have learned to do, because that is what everyone else is doing, right? In the Bible there is a verse from my favorite chapter. Psalm 139 verse 23-24. it says, "Search me, oh GOD , and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts: (24) And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." This is a cry that all of us should have to God. asking Him to search us. Now you may ask, Doesn't God know everything? Yes He does, He knows all of our hearts, but it takes humility for us to ask Him to search ourselves in his Word and tell us what is sin towards him. Like I said before, in our own eyes we have done everything good according to us. but what is all of that according to God's eyes?

I don't know if I am making sense. but if I am, my writing skills are not as bad as I thought =P lol
this is my first post in my first blog ever!! recently (I say that because its a working progress.) since last few years God has been teaching me to stop comparing myself to others. Because ..."all have sinned, and come sort of the Glory of God..." (Romans 3:23). so I want to compare myself to what God has for me. and what He wants me to do. Trust me this is hard, but with God's Holy spirit I have the hunger to seek Him more. God started something good when I declared Him as my Savior, when I was 6 years old and repenting of my sin. and putting my faith in Him and continually asking forgiveness. and praising Him for what He has done. It does not stop when you get saved, that is not all. there is so much more than that. I have to get to know Him more. so that one day He will say to me, "Well done good and faithful servant." 

There is so much I want to share, and learn through this blog. like one of my good friends said, "This is the first day of the rest of your life." ( I think that's how it goes... lol =D )

Catch you soon!!!

~Ernesto Gomez