Jesus, Friend of Sinners

God’s been working in me lately about being more compassionate towards certain people. You see, I have issues with certain people in my life due to unfortunate circumstances and I tend to have a bitter attitude towards them. That’s NOT something Jesus would do, this I know. And so I’ve been convicted of my sin.

There is a line in this song by Casting Crowns that says: “The world is on their way to You but they’re tripping over me.” WOW! Powerful, right? How many people are on their way to Jesus but because I’m in the way, pushing them away from the Lord they may not come to know Christ?

Another line from the song:

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
Yeah…
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

I hear God telling me, “Leigh, I love so and so just as much as I love you. I died for you just the way I died for them. OPEN YOUR HEART to them! Share me with them!”

“I will choose to listen to the Voice of Truth.” (another great song by Casting Crowns, by the way! It literally was the next song that played as I was writing this! How great is God?)

Will my relationship with these certain people in my life change overnight? No, I doubt it. But slowly God is working in me so that I can be a witness to them and stop being a hindrance. And my prayer is that I will have stepped out of the way just in time for them to come to know Christ. Because let’s face it, we live in such a fallen world these days. Christ could come back ANY MINUTE! We must stop wasting time and lead people to Jesus!

Jesus, Friend of Sinners–Casting Crowns

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth’s become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they’re tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I’m so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

CHORUS:

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who’s writing in the sand
Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of these
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
Nobody knows what we’re for only what we’re against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

CHORUS:

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they’re the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

‘Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

CHORUS:

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
Yeah…
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

 

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Battle for My Mind

Satan is constantly whispering in my ear, “You’re not good enough. You can’t do this. Just give up now.”

My inner voice responds to him “Shut up. You know nothing. Go away.”

Then it goes quiet. Nothing. No voices for a few minutes.

Then comes the voice that I have grown to know and love. The small still voice that is the Lord’s. He tells me I AM good enough. I AM able to do this. Don’t give up.”

I know what voice I need to listen to. It’s obvious. But Satan’s voice then comes roaring like a lion. It’s his voice versus God’s voice. They’re battling for my mind.

It’s a never-ending battle.

A battle for my mind, my heart, my soul.

Who will win?

Who will I LET win?

It’s up to me, really.

Who do I choose? God or Satan?

Heaven or Hell?

I choose God

I choose Heaven

But there are days where my actions clearly choose the opposite.

There are days I give in to temptation. I listen to Satan’s voice.

I forget momentarily who I am.

A child of the King.

I’ve let Him down once again.

But here’s the beauty of it. He will always take me back! He waits for me with arms wide open when I realize the error of my ways. When I realize how foolish I’ve been. When I realize that that missing piece in my heart is just a prayer away.

I’m a bipolar Christian with a desire to bring others to Christ. To help them see the error of their ways. To help them see that the missing piece in their heart is just a prayer away.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Being bipolar and a Christian is definitely not easy. I struggle daily with racing thoughts and distractions. Satan knows my weaknesses and uses them against me. I try my best to cling to God through these times but sometimes my fleshly desires kick in and I let go and try to go my way.

 

But then I hear His voice, ever so softly, urging me to return to Him. To reclaim the gift He gave me. The gift of salvation.

Redemption for my sins.

He loves me with an agape love. An unconditional love. An everlasting love. His love never fails. Is never rude. Is never harsh. He loves me.

Despite my failures

Despite my shortcomings.

Lord, it is my desire to please you. To live a life that glorifies You. It is my desire to bring others to you. Help me to stop being so scared. To stop being….well, me! You created me. You love me. You know what I can do, even if I don’t.

Lord, you have great plans for me. Point me in the right direction. I want to do Your will. I’m tired of trying to do it all on my own. Especially when we both know I can’t do it all on my own. I need You and I’m begging You to help me cling to You throughout all the hardships I am going through. You are teaching me something, Lord. Help me to understand what it is.

And He loves YOU just as much! He loves YOU the same way. 

Won’t you come to Him?

 

*Reblog* Reasons Some Will Not Come To Christ

Excellent points made in this article!

A Ruby In The Rough

This article struck a chord with me since I know some young people who will not come to Christ because they do not wish to leave their sins. May God grant them true repentance before it is too  late.

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Reasons Why Some Will Not Come to Christ

Albert N. Martin

Jerusalem was buzzing with activity during one of the high Jewish feast days. And now at the pool of Bethesda the controversial young rabbi from Galilee had astounded everyone by healing a man paralyzed for thirty-eight years! But instead of rejoicing, the Jewish leaders first confronted the healed man for carrying his bed on the Sabbath—this was work, they said, and God had forbidden all work on the Sabbath—and then condemned Jesus for His “work” of healing on the Sabbath day! Chapter Five of the Gospel of John records Jesus’ simple response: “My Father has been working until now, and…

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You Say…God Says…

When you are struggling and don’t know what to do…..turn to God and His Word. He will direct your paths!

 

Romans 8:18

I love this verse and what it says! Yes, we suffer many hardships and painful circumstances but if we remain faithful to God, if we keep our focus on Him, we WILL one day be with Him in glory and guess what?

Our pain will be gone! Our physical pain, our mental pain….it will all be gone! God has promised us this!

Are you suffering right now? Do you feel lost with no direction in sight? Turn to Jesus! He will take care of you!

If you would like to know how to become a believer in Christ, please click here.

God loves you and desires for you to come to Him. He won’t force you, however. The decision is yours. I can’t make the decision for you, no one else can. You have to choose to come to Christ on your own.

 

100

My last blog post was blog entry #100! WordPress notified me of that today. So I went and checked my stats and since I started this blog I have received over 1300 views and have had over 600 visitors! Pretty cool.

BUT!!!!…

My hope is that my blog is bringing glory to God. I don’t want to be blogging for the wrong reasons…..such as getting recognition for achieving blogging milestones.

I want people to know that there is a God that LOVES them! There is a God that has great plans for His people! If only we would turn to Him.

I’ve met some pretty cool people on WordPress who genuinely love the Lord and strive to live for Him every day! One of my favorite blogs to visit is: A Fractured Faith. Stephen is a really nice guy with a wonderful family. His blogs are so encouraging and lift me up. I encourage you to check out his blog. 🙂

I’m so glad I decided to start blogging again. I’ve actually had this site for many years but never really posted much. It wasn’t until I got serious about my faith that I got back into blogging and then I realized it was a great platform to share my faith. AND to meet new people who share my love of God. It’s pretty cool!

In the end, I want this blog to reach as many people as possible who may not know the Lord. And I want people to know that I am NOT ashamed of the Lord and I am PROUD to be a Christian. 🙂

Verse of the day: Romans 1:16

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes….”

 

Romans 8:28

Y’all….God loves us! And He has great plans for us if we would just take the time to listen and obey Him.

Why do bad things happen? It’s a question I struggle with on a daily basis. Why does there have to be mental disorders? Why must someone, such as myself, have to struggle with daily activities because of a mental illness? I don’t know. I do know that God can USE it for good though! How? I don’t know that. But I’m confident that God can take a bad situation and turn it into good. That’s just what He does! He’s a loving God and will always be there for us. He is faithful. He is just. He is an awesome God!