Why do we need to feel God, but not see him?

For some reason we feel like we need to feel God when we don't feel the need to see him, Why? Why can we not get past this? because we do not trust God. Our relationship with him is not strong enough. We look at feeling God and think that there lies our goal; To do good and earn that, but it is an unachievable event. You may say "what do you mean? It not unachievable! I have experienced it.", yes maybe so, but not because you earned it.
This mind set makes us feel like poor Christians when we don't feel the presence of God for a while, but in reality we do not need that. We know when we are doing wrong and right. We do not need God encounters to act as a spiritual report card for us. We know how to live lives pleasing to God.
The funny thing is that if we did trust God the way we should we would feel Gods presence, but because we don't feel his presence we don't trust him. We have got it backwards! It all comes down to trusting the lord and living lives we know are pleasing to him. It's not easy, but it is simple.

God calls people

I don't know how many times i have heard people say that God doesn't work in the modern day world. That miracles, signs and wonders happened it the biblical times, but not today. But here is a newsflash; God is very active. Maybe your just not seeing what he is doing.

I have a friend named Craig. His testimony is one of true power.he grew up with his aunts in a very anti-Christ environment. The thoughts had never been put in his head so he was not influenced to think about God. But one night, Craig had a dream. A dream given by God himself or I am not a Christian. In this dream Craig was on a ship, and the ship sank. Craig was in the water half drowned feeling hopeless and ready to die, but then he saw a boat. A small life raft but in the boat was the brightest light you can imagine. When the boat got closer a hand reached out for Craig and he then saw that the light was Jesus Christ.

Over the next little while Craig fought with his aunts for their difference in theology. They forbid him to practice Christianity and were like fortified walls between him and Christ. Satan fought Craig in one of the toughest ways. The very people he loved were now against him. He had to make a choice.

I am very proud today to say that Craig is currently attending a bible college and is on his way to becoming a pastor.

So you try to tell me the lord doesn't call people. I promise you he does. He is the same "now, then, and forever". Only our skepticism can ever keep us from the truth. God calls people. All of his people. Make sure you are listening when he calls you.

God, where did you go?

Too often Christians feel like God has abandoned them. They feel like they have been left alone because they haven't had a God encounter in a very long time. They feel like God is gone, like the holy spirit doesn't live in them, he just visits once in a while.
These people are very wrong. There is a huge difference in the the holy spirit being within us and upon us. The truth is that as soon as u accept Jesus in your life the holy spirit moves in, along with your first beating heart.
The spirit upon us: "the annointing", is when you are feeling the glory and love of God. A God encounter, but this is not a prize. It is not something won or earned. It is given when God feels it is needed. Sometimes to help you escape a rut in your life, sometimes God gives it to remind us why we do what we do or that what we believe is real.
If you feel like you have gone too long without a God encounter do not give up. God wants us to have have a hunger for him. Remember matthew 7:7 "all who ask will receive, all who look will find and all who knock will have the door answered."
If you are longing for a God encounter, then pray, dig into the word (read your bible), worship, fast. Do everything you can think to show God how much you want it and you will get it. That's a promise from God.

Faith VS Religion

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.

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.

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.

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