"CLASH"

So, in life when we have clash moments what do we need to do? This morning that was the topic of the message our Pastor Mike Franklin spoke on and boy was it powerful. This morning sermon and singing just blessed my heart. Of course, I was going expecting.

Dealing with the circumstances in our life's and how we relate them to the word of God is a huge thing as a Christian. He spoke about 2 Peter 1, and boy was it great. I had never looked at this piece of scripture in the way I did until now. I had read it a bunch of times, but it became a part of real life scenario this morning for me. It became real. This passage spoke on divine hope and how it gives us everything we need for a life of godliness. Life is hard, but his word tells us that we can transcend life's circumstances into overwhelming victory.

We are a royal priest hood and a holy nation. God says we can come out of the darkness into his marvelous light. That is so wonderful isn't it. I am so glad we have that promise to stand on, especially in the hard times we face today. Once we become saved we are chosen for a purpose to show others who God is and what he can do for those around us. We have chosen from that moment on to serve him, and to follow his vision he has for our life's. Its not easy, but so worth it all.

Pastor Mike also gave us three principles to live by regarding this passage. It touched my heart and I am sure it will touch yours too. First, We must figure out what our position is. I wanted to add something to this. We have to be in the right mind set in every situation. For me right now this is the hardest thing I am facing. I have been looking for a job and will probably have to go into something that I dont want to do, but becasue of cirsumstances of finances I have no choice. Its just part of it.

I have a dream job that I want so bad, but I have realized that I can minsiter anywhere. Its not all about place we minister in, but the way we do it. Our day to day walk can be so much more powerful to somewhere, than where we work. Its not all about us, but what he wants to do within us. Its tough no doubt, but doing it Gods way is best. We also need to set our position in the word. We need to speak the word within our battle, and have faith that he will see us through. Matthew 16:19 says what we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. So true. We have to become set apart from the world, and follow God completely. We have to use his word, not just proclaim it. We have to recognize who we are in his word, and who he has choosen for us to become.

Second, declare his praise. Celebrate him and what he is doing in the misdt of your storm. Easier said than done I know. I am so facing this right now, and its a fight, but it must be done. It makes us stronger no doubt. This reminded me a little of the song Alabaster Box. Mary was shunned by others around her, but she still praised God in the misdt of it, and did not let anything get in the way from where she wanted to be, which was at the feet of Jesus. She got her mind off the cirsumstances of her life, and on him. She had been through a lot, and she only wanted to praise him. No matter what it costed her, and others did not have to know that, she wanted to praise him. So powerful!!! Acts 5:1 tells us to focus on the living God, not what is around us. If we were on a bridge, and focused on what was on the side of us, we would be swearing back and forth. We need to look straight ahead not only on the bridge, but also in our lifes. Be brave and keep going no matter what comes our way.

Third, Focus on the Pace of life. According to 2 Pet. 2:11, we need to get rid of all the ungodly things, and trust for God to see us through it all. God's way works better, not ours. Something that was powerful that the pastor said is that I cannot control what happens in life, but I can control my attitude among the cirsumstance. OOppppssssss.. I bet that set in on a lot of people this morning. I can say it did with me. Sometimes we want things to happen right when we want it to happen. It does not work that way. We have to continue on the journey God has before us with a good attitude. God can do awesome things in our lifes within having a good attitude, but only if we decide to do it, and let him work and change our hearts. We need to determine our behavior in accordance to what God has in his word for us. Its a choice that we have to make.

One of the things that touched me the most was from Tim. 4:12 which tells us to set our life in the word no matter what is going on around us. Our hands, feet, arms, legs, words etc. is what we have to use to show others Christ. If we have a bad attitude in the midst of the storm, then we are not showing the love of Christ in the best way we can. We have to be willing to give up and sacrafice now, to gain later. I keep saying to myself if I can get through this now I can get through anything. I just have to have the mindset to Position myself in Christ, Praise him in the misdt of the storm I am in now, and follow the pace that is before me. I have to take things one step at a time, watch my attitude, and keep focused on him. I know it will be worth it at the end. I have just to continue and not give up. So now the question is will you???