Effectiveness in ministry

This blog is all God inspired... I hope anyways. This post will be using the teaching from Matthew 7

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
-Matthew 7:3-5

I ask you to read this with open minds and open hearts. When we do God's work we have to have no agenda, no goals, no extra motivations. We need to come at it with loving hearts. In order to do that we have to take care of our own business first. We can't be too effective if we are preaching things that we aren't even following. We are called to love everyone, forgive everyone, and treat everyone the same.

I, along with many others, struggle with this day in and day out. It is something I have to take care of each day at all various times. Forgiveness isn't easy for us, but its definitely necessary. It takes the burden off our own shoulders, which are incapable of doing it, and puts it in the hands of Jesus, who is far more capable and qualified.

Before you go about trying to do God's will next, make sure that you are going along with what you are teaching and make sure its biblical. Repent of any sins that you have committed and truly seek forgiveness. Forgive those around you as well. Follow God with all your heart and come to your brothers and sisters for advice and wisdom. Tell them what's going on without falsities. Also if you do notice something in a brothers or sisters life that needs to change, don't be scared to take them aside one on one and tell them. It's our duties as the body of Christ to lift each other up.

If they fail to accept what you are saying, bring them to a SMALL group of believers and ask them to confirm it. Do it in a lovingly way, not one of condescending and misunderstanding. At our peak we do miracles in peoples lives. It's a gift from God to be able to spread the Gospel, but we need to take care of business before we can help others take care of theirs.

God bless

Ricky

Why my GOD rules!!!

There is a reason why there is so much power in the Word of God. It speaks. When I read it, I become fascinated by it. It has infallible truth to it. People may look at some things falsely and try to say the Bible fails to stay consistent. I haven't really found anything that is falsified yet unless people take it out of context and situations. I was talking to a friend today and she was stating how Muhammad is the one that brings the real truth. I did a little researching and it is believed by Islam that Jesus wasn't a Jew. That he didn't die on the cross or die at all. They just claim he was an average man of Muslim variety that prophesied, and just was taken up to Heaven to wait until final judgment day.

Well this of course couldn't be. It's been WELL documented that he was in fact Jewish. It is by far WELL recorded that he was in fact crucified by the Romans. There is one thing that people don't doubt. That when a Roman carries out an execution that they in fact died. There is no way around it. Jesus DIED. He ROSE again and he has ascended up to Heaven. These are all well documented events. If there were any lies in the Gospel and New Testament, there were THOUSANDS of people around that would have said "Hey that didn't happen, its not true, it happened like this."

What else is true is the feeling I get from praying. I have never been a man that would embrace my emotions. But when I pray, and when I worship, it brings TEARS to my eyes every single time. I feel the PRESENCE of God upon me. It breaks my heart to see how far people can stray from the truth. I have learned some things today. I have learned that MY God doesn't care if I do this fast. What He does care about is that I worship Him. That I bring with me the new and leave behind the old. I have learned really to let go of my past. It has to change and be healed by God in order for me to be a better person.

It is by the Power of the Holy Spirit that I have been given this testimony. It is by the Power of the Holy Spirit and what Jesus did on the cross that saved me. It is by HIS name that I proclaim to cast out all false testimonies. We worship the Lord of Lords, King of Kings, I am that I am. He will conquer the false truths and Antichrists. I am just one of His humble sevants and it is only my duty.

God Bless everyone
Ricky

You shall have no other gods before [a] me.
Exodus 20:3

Rawr (^^^)

I just wrote the title of this because I couldn't figure out what to call it. I am horrible with naming things but meh.

My point in writing is about the things that are happening all around me. God has been blessing people all around me for some time now. Of course he has done so for me also, but this isn't about me right now. It seems as though everyone I am coming into contact with is getting married. Just this past September my good friends and family members Steve and Jessica got married. This summer coming up(I think its this summer) my really good friend from high school Tony is getting married. I just learned of 2 other couples getting married in the near future. Wow its such a change. I am overjoyed to have friends those that I consider family tying the knot and becoming one flesh.

I am thankful for all the things and can't wait for my day to get into a relationship once I get over this whole lacking of self confidence issue... But in the mean time Congrats to all those around me. May God bless you and you're family more so than you can ask or imagine! It's definitely a path that each of you have to grow together and change together!

Peace be with y'all
Ricky