Faith is our relationship with God. It is what we believe and see. Think of every thought and opinion your mind contains that pertains to God. That is your faith. Religion is mans interpretation of what gods will is. It seeks to guide you to what its makers believe to be the right path. Religion seeks to control faith, but heres the flaw. Faith is given be God where religion is given by man. Would you put your trust in man over God? No you wouldn't. So be careful. Men are not perfect. Only God is flawless so what is given by him will always be true. Learn to differentiate between the faith of God and the religion of men. Remember, religion can disable faith, but faith exists to keep religion in check.
Remember to read your Bible, it is a guidebook. Especially the gospels (Matthew, mark, Luke,john ) never take the teachings of a church or any man over the word of God. Let God's word have the last say in everything you do. Remember, the word is essential to live a true Christian life. It is your greatest teacher.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
The fall of faith
Maybe it is beginners luck or maybe just the novelty of the new, or the excitement of a new life with God, but contrary to what everyone says; the first year is the easiest.
Tell me if this happened for you: you were at the top of your game, the high of life, because your in youth group. You have a group of people who support you and care for you, but then everyone goes there separate ways. College, university, exchange or work. My youth pastor always gave amazing advice, very practical, but not Christian advice. It was good just not God based. So when everyone leaves and your left to stand on your own you see that your not as strong in your faith as you thought. Everyone in my grade twelve year fell. Some a little, some a lot. One of my friends doesn't even believe in God anymore and drinks all the time. Two of them haven't talked in six months over a stupid fight that neither remember.
I fell hard. I stopped going to church, my girlfriend of a year and I broke up, I started smoking again and I gave my virginity to a girl I knew for about two weeks. This "rut" lasted for eight months. One day I finally had enough, I broke up with the girl I gave my virginity to, knowing it was a terrible relationship. I begged God to take me back, but I knew I would have to work long and hard to get back to where I was.
Now I am happy. I am back with my girlfriend of a year (Jessica Clerke) whom I love to no end. I am also stronger with God then I have ever been in my two years as a Christian. I told God I needed something solid to make my faith grow everyday. The next day I was offered a job working with kids at a church called "the water and wine assembly of Christians" and I quit my job at starbucks and took up the first steps on my new walk with God. I knew that this wasn't a short walk, because this time it was forever. I am now one of the strongest christians in my friends group. Because I know I am good with God. Even though Satan fights for me everyday I know he can Never steal me from God again.
We need two things to stay good with God. Think of them as your wings. One is spirit. We need to make our spirit strong, through prayer, worship, however you connect with God. Second is The Word. You need to read your bible. Especially the new testament. Because Jesus came to teach us how to live, but how can we do at if we don't read what he did? We simply can not. Also Jesus is essentially God, so through learning who Jesus was you will better understand who God is.
A bird with one wing will fall and be hurt. As will any Christian that does not strengthen both their wings.
Tell me if this happened for you: you were at the top of your game, the high of life, because your in youth group. You have a group of people who support you and care for you, but then everyone goes there separate ways. College, university, exchange or work. My youth pastor always gave amazing advice, very practical, but not Christian advice. It was good just not God based. So when everyone leaves and your left to stand on your own you see that your not as strong in your faith as you thought. Everyone in my grade twelve year fell. Some a little, some a lot. One of my friends doesn't even believe in God anymore and drinks all the time. Two of them haven't talked in six months over a stupid fight that neither remember.
I fell hard. I stopped going to church, my girlfriend of a year and I broke up, I started smoking again and I gave my virginity to a girl I knew for about two weeks. This "rut" lasted for eight months. One day I finally had enough, I broke up with the girl I gave my virginity to, knowing it was a terrible relationship. I begged God to take me back, but I knew I would have to work long and hard to get back to where I was.
Now I am happy. I am back with my girlfriend of a year (Jessica Clerke) whom I love to no end. I am also stronger with God then I have ever been in my two years as a Christian. I told God I needed something solid to make my faith grow everyday. The next day I was offered a job working with kids at a church called "the water and wine assembly of Christians" and I quit my job at starbucks and took up the first steps on my new walk with God. I knew that this wasn't a short walk, because this time it was forever. I am now one of the strongest christians in my friends group. Because I know I am good with God. Even though Satan fights for me everyday I know he can Never steal me from God again.
We need two things to stay good with God. Think of them as your wings. One is spirit. We need to make our spirit strong, through prayer, worship, however you connect with God. Second is The Word. You need to read your bible. Especially the new testament. Because Jesus came to teach us how to live, but how can we do at if we don't read what he did? We simply can not. Also Jesus is essentially God, so through learning who Jesus was you will better understand who God is.
A bird with one wing will fall and be hurt. As will any Christian that does not strengthen both their wings.
How I found God
I grew up in a non Christian household. My dad is indifferent to faith, but my mother is completely against it. I was never really introduced to God or Christianity, but I wish I was. When I was a teenager (like most others) I fell into some pretty dumb stuff, I was drinking, smoking, and picked up a porn addiction that I still fight with everyday. I almost threw away my virginity at the age of fifteen. I know how dumb that would of been, but at the time i just wanted to lose it. And luckily I never got into any hard drugs, but I had every intention of it, till I met God.
There was a girl named Natasha who I had the hugest crush on at the time. She mentioned Jeremy Camp, a Christian singer. I wasn't against Christianity, I just didn't know anything about it. She asked if I wanted to go to the concert, even though I had no interest in jeremy camp, I had interest in her.
When we were there I was amazed, everyone was so into it and I could tell it was far beyond just enjoying the music, there was something very supernatural going on. After the Concetta I asked Natasha if she could help me find God. I remember feeling dumb for asking and thinking shed say I was an idiot, but then she was so excited to say yes. I realized: a Christians favourite thing to see is someone come to God. They know how wonderful it is and will do whatever it takes to help others find him. We have an eternity in heaven, but only a lifetime to gather as many others as possible.
So September, 11, 2008 I went to the steps of the Moncton wesleyan, where the Jeremy Camp concert was and I tried talking to God, I brought my last pack of cigars and I threw them on the ground, promising God I would give up cigars forever if he would give me what those other kids had. I have been saved ever since that day.
There was a girl named Natasha who I had the hugest crush on at the time. She mentioned Jeremy Camp, a Christian singer. I wasn't against Christianity, I just didn't know anything about it. She asked if I wanted to go to the concert, even though I had no interest in jeremy camp, I had interest in her.
When we were there I was amazed, everyone was so into it and I could tell it was far beyond just enjoying the music, there was something very supernatural going on. After the Concetta I asked Natasha if she could help me find God. I remember feeling dumb for asking and thinking shed say I was an idiot, but then she was so excited to say yes. I realized: a Christians favourite thing to see is someone come to God. They know how wonderful it is and will do whatever it takes to help others find him. We have an eternity in heaven, but only a lifetime to gather as many others as possible.
So September, 11, 2008 I went to the steps of the Moncton wesleyan, where the Jeremy Camp concert was and I tried talking to God, I brought my last pack of cigars and I threw them on the ground, promising God I would give up cigars forever if he would give me what those other kids had. I have been saved ever since that day.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
First things first
I am new to Blogger, I'm normally a facebook kind of guy, but when I learned more about Blogging I saw it as a great way to share my faith with people. In my posts I will be talking about What Jesus is doing in my life, what he has done for me, the miracles I see and what makes my faith rise everyday. If you like a faith boost every now and then, take up your faith and "follow me". And I will share my Christian life with you, hopefully helping you get through your days. God loves us all, very much. Those of us who don't believe that will never be happy. Please read my posts, listen to what I have to say and you will know this is real and what I experience every day of my life is nothing but a testament to the glory of God.
-Corey Kristensen
-Corey Kristensen
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