GOD HAS A REASON FOR EVERYTHING

God is truly amazing. I am a Senior at Mayfair and I had quite a time here at Mayfair. Mainly because I have occupied my time to be a part of this Bible Club, and this was the highlight of my senior year; besides basketball. But back to the topic.

God really does have a reason for everything. At the moment, honestly, you may not know it. But God makes everything happen for a reason. Here is a summary of Rick Warren's "A Purpose Driven Life" DAY 7: THE REASON FOR EVERYTHING. I recommend this book to you all. This book is amazing.

The ultimate goal of the universe is to show the glory of God. Let me define the glory of God for you guys:

• who God is
• the essence of His nature
• the weight of His importance
• the radiance of His splendor
• the demonstration of His power
• the atmosphere of His presence
• THE EXPRESSION OF HIS GOODNESS

God's glory is best seen in Jesus Christ---He illuminates God's true nature. Jesus came to earth so we could fully understand God's glory.

God commands us too:

• recognize His glory
• honor His glory
• declare His glory
• praise His glory
• reflect His glory
• live for His glory

Two of God's creations fail to bring glory to Him. Can you guess?:

• fallen angels [demons]
• AND US [people]
• loving anything else more than God.

[Romans 3:23] All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

How exactly can you bring glory to God:

• fulfill your purpose on earth [God's Will for You]
• worship Him
• motivated by love, thanksgiving, and delight, NOT DUTY!
• love Him, enjoy Him, give Him your LIFE. ALL OF YOUR LIFE, NOT PART OF YOUR LIFE.
• Loving other believers
• God is Love.
• become like CHRIST
• grow in spiritual maturity
• serving others with our gifts
• the way you are made is NOT AN ACCIDENT
• Tell others about God
• Help them discover their purpose in life

Living for the glory of God requires:

• change in priorities
• change in your schedule
• change in your relationships
• change in everything else

Real life begins by committing yourself completely to Jesus Christ:

• believe that God loves you and made you for His purpose
• receive Jesus into your life as your Lord and Savior

POINT TO PONDER: It's all for Him.

VERSE TO REMEMBER: [Romans 11:36] "For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by His power, and everything is for His glory."

QUESTION TO CONSIDER: Where in my daily routine can I be more aware of God's glory?

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS DOWN BELOW<3 OUR GOD IS ABLE!

Faith Over Feelings: Spiritual Dryness?

As Christians, we often base our faithfulness based on what we feel. And this isn't the best way to go about it, as emotions easily fluctuate. However, faith in Jesus Christ alone is where true stability can be found.When times are tough, our level of maturity as Christians is revealed. In these trials, do we cast our cares upon God? Praise Him? Pray to Him? Or do we get angry and complain, doubt God, and try to handle our problems on our own? When problems come, don't run from God, but draw near to Him. You won't regret it.
- Justin P.
              Have you ever felt as though you couldn't hear the Lord's voice if He were next to you shouting your name?  Have you been, or are you now in, a period of spiritual dryness?  If you have had a spiritually dry time and are now past it, then praise God.  If, however, you are in the midst of one, then maybe this can help you.
First of all, it isn't necessarily bad to be in a spiritually dry place -- unless it is because of sin.  If we commit a sin that we know the Lord wants us to abandon, then He often withholds His fellowship from us.  We sense a distance between the Lord and ourselves, and it hurts.  Of course, this does not mean that the Lord is abandoning us, nor does it mean He does not love us.  If anything, it is a demonstration of His love to let us feel broken fellowship since it moves us to repentance.
              On the other hand, spiritual dryness can be a specific time that the Lord wants us to go through as a time of testing and of preparation.  The Lord will allow us to be tested into order to refine our faith.  Think about it.  Do we stay Christians because of the feeling of fellowship we have with the Lord or is it because we trust in Jesus, God in flesh (John 1:1,14), as our Savior and Lord (Jude 4)?  We are justified by faith (Rom. 5:1) and our assurance of salvation is found by faith, not by feeling.  After all, "The just shall live by faith," (Hab. 2:4).  Therefore, The Lord can use a spiritually dry time to cause us to examine what and who our faith is in so that we might rest assured in the cross, and not our feelings that can deceive us (Jer. 17:9).
               Spiritual dryness can also be a time of preparation.  Most every major person in the Bible that was used mightily of God had to go through a desert time.  This includes Moses, Elijah, Jesus, and Paul.  Being in a place where we are dry, waiting, wanting, praying, examining, etc., is often the proving ground of strength and refinement.  Then, after this time is completed, the thing that we have been prepared for comes upon us.  Sometimes this preparation is for hardship, sorrow, and pain.  Other times it is for blessing, reward, and ministry.  Remember, the Lord has not saved us to be trophies on a shelf.  We are instruments in His hands to be used in the world.  This usage requires that we be able to be used, able to be sent, able to trust the Lord in spite of what we see and feel!  Hence, the time of spiritual dryness that is a time of preparation.
               What do you do in a time of spiritual dryness?  First of all, you should ask the Lord to reveal any unconfessed sins of which you have not repented.  If He reveals anything to you, then confess it as sin and repent of it -- even if it is a sin you have committed so many times before.  Second, you must read your Word regularly.  Third, you must pray regularly.  And fourth, you must trust the Lord through this.  You must look to Him and remember that He loves you greatly and will never forsake you.  In this, your faith will be perfected, your character improved, your walk strengthened, and you will be prepared for the tasks ahead that the Lord has called you to encounter.
                And finally, in the midst of your dryness, offer praise and thanksgiving to the Lord.  Do not let your feelings rob you of the opportunity to praise and thank God even when the times are not so great.  Remember, it is easy to praise God when things go well.  But the true men and women of Christian character praise God through the trials as well.

by Matt Slick of the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry (CARM)