But What If God Isn't Real?

Tonight, one of my neighbors came over while I was studying my Bible. He said, "Alicia! You spend so much time studying that and it's not even for a class! You're crazy!"

I responded, "Well, yeah!"

He was so puzzled! He asks me, "What if your God turns out not to be real? That could happen you know. He could have just been made up to make money for churches and you will have wasted all this time." 

I replied to him, "Not possible. He's real for sure, I just know it, without a doubt."

That's about as far as that went. Thinking about it now though, I wish I would have replied, "You know, if my God doesn't exist, then I will just die and you will just die and nothing will happen. However, what if my God is real? What will happen to me then? and what will happen to you?"

I believe God exists with everything in me. I do not doubt it at all. I also believe that Jesus is the Son of God and died on the cross for everyone to have a chance at eternal life. In my own life, following God has been extremely rewarding and has completely changed my life. I know that whatever happens in this world, God is in control and I will be okay, and at the end of this life I get to go to Heaven and spend eternity with my savior and never feel an ounce of pain EVER AGAIN. In this life, I have hope, and never need to feel anxious because God has my heart and life in his hands. People may think I'm crazy for being so crazy about God, and people may think it's a waste of time, but I know that God's promises are real. 

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

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, from the dead and to an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. Kept in Heaven for you." (1 Peter 1:3-4) 

Absolutely

"Three things you should never apologize for: 

1. Dreaming Big 

2. Your Passion 

3. For Saying "NO" to what you need to say no to."

-Tony Cruz

MOTIVATION

‎"He who stops being better stops being good."

Oliver Cromwell 

Dear God

Sometimes I get impatient. Sometimes I feel like I can have more from this world than from you. Sometimes I fool around and forget about you, and sometimes I promise you that later I will pray and read my Bible and don't. Sometimes I feel like you forget about me. Sometimes I just want to hear from you and you don't speak to me. God, I really do love you. I absolutely believe you exist, but sometimes I lose my fire. Sometimes all I want is to be on fire again for you, Lord, but I am not willing to work for it. Sometimes I forget that sacrifice is intentional and that you want me to seek you first of all. 
However, the only thing that I always know, no matter what, is that you always want me. You always will love me and have bigger plans for me than I can ever have for myself. You will always take care of me and have my back even when I forget you are there. You will always love me with a perfect love, and you will always deserve praises from me. Always.

My Theme Song Right Now

A Lesson Learned.

‎"A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all" 

(Proverbs 2:7)

NOTICE* it does not say any person, thing, or worldly indulgence can deliver you from your troubles or circumstances. ONLY GOD. The saddest thing that can happen is for someone who has known God and been close with Jesus starts looking toward other things for their happiness. It will never happen, maybe temporarily, but God's love is the only way to receive consistent joy. 

By Grace I'm Free

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5). 

I am so thankful for GRACE. GRACE. GRACE. GRACE. GRACE. GRACE. Today.

" You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body. "

C.S. Lewis

Day 14 Of My Prayer Marathon

Lesson of the week: DO NOT TRUST MYSELF TO MAKE PLANS. Put my hopes in God's hands and he will protect me from mistakes and mold my future himself. God knows everything about me, he gives me true dreams and will let me know when to move. Giving my trust to God ensures my safety and protection. Giving hopes to God ensures the best life for me that is possible. LET GOD MAKE MY DECISIONS, he is after all, all-knowing, and the creator of the universe. Lastly, I need to be patient while waiting for God to reveal his will to me. My impatience leads to imperfection in God's plan. God is the author of time, and works in perfect time. God is love, and he wants to take care of his people. ""For I know the plans I have for you" Declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."" (Jeremiah 29:11-13). 

Watch Your Mouth.

"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." (James 1:26)

God wants us to keep a tight rein on our tongues, meaning he doesn't want anything unrighteous coming out of our mouths. No cussing! No dirty jokes! This is hard for me because I am a college student constantly around people who cuss and say dirty things and it is just awkward if I don't participate! The most important thing though is to remember that God sent his son, his one and only son, to come down from Heaven, to earth, and die because of my sin! Jesus faced every temptation in this world and overcame them all. Jesus is perfect, and he had to die while being mocked and beaten. God had to watch that, which makes me safely assume God hates sin. So I don't really care if there is an awkward moment when I don't laugh at a joke or encourage that kind of thing. God hates sin, but at the same time understands humans are not perfect. He is a forgiving God, a merciful God, and a loving God and always there with his arms open wide to take me back. The only thing I prayed for last night was that I can be a good representative for the Kingdom of Heaven. I want to lead people to Jesus. I want to get to Heaven and hear, "Well done." straight from the King.

Salvation Is Here!

I know my God saved the day

and I know His word never fails. 

and I know my God made a way for me!

Almost.

Amour

The only thing that separates Christians from other people is love. I know it is not so easy to love our enemies. The people that ask to borrow money all the time and promise to repay it but never do.  The people that party every weekend and post pictures drinking beer and flicking off the camera because they think it makes them look cool. The people that make fun of you for listening to music that glorifies God instead of glorifying the world. But, we are called to "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgement" (Romans 14:1) and "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8) The most important part of everything we believe in is love. We have to love everyone unconditionally, like God loves us.

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repayed in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without epecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your father is merciful." (Luke 6:32-36)

Crazy Love

This whole post is based off of my reading of "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. 

(http://www.crazylovebook.com/)

"A lukewarm Christian is an oxymoron, there is no such thing."

Jesus says, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one of the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:15-16) Jesus wants your all or nothing, He says, "If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 14:15) Jesus then commands us to "Love the Lord God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37) he does not command us to only do things so that we can go to Heaven when we die. He does not command us to be lukewarm! It is too hard to live like that anyway. Once we fall in love with Jesus, and have a relationship with him, we KNOW we are going to Heaven because through Jesus, and only through Jesus, do we get to have grace. Jesus lived so that he can save us, so that he can save everyone. 

"but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." (Hebrews 7:24-25)