The Litmus Test

Love, a word we find ourselves using oh so often. "I loved that movie", or "I love your hair." We even tend to throw the word love around concerning human interaction. However, I'm not here to talk about loving one another (shocking I know). 

Today I want to focus on another notion. 

Do we love God?

I'm sure, when faced with this question, every one of us would emphatically declare, "Of course!". Just how sure are we? I'm going to step on some toes - don't worry I'm preaching to the choir.

Let's see what the Word says.

1 John 2: 3-6 (AMP)

3 And this is how we know [daily, by experience] that we have come to know Him [to understand Him and be more deeply acquainted with Him]: if we habitually keep [focused on His precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings). 4 Whoever says, “I have come to know Him,” but does not habitually keep [focused on His precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings), is a liar, and the truth [of the divine word] is not in him. 5 But whoever habitually keeps His word and obeys His precepts [and treasures His message in its entirety], in him the love of God has truly been perfected [it is completed and has reached maturity]. By this we know [for certain] that we are in Him: 6 whoever says he lives in Christ [that is, whoever says he has accepted Him as God and Savior] ought [as a moral obligation] to walk and conduct himself just as He walked and conducted Himself.


These verses present a very simple "if ______, then _______" scenario. Our society has a tendency to blur lines, smearing black and white into grays. There is no room for gray in Word of God. It is the Ultimate Truth, straightforward and cut and dried. 

We can find this same test of the heart in the gospel of John.


John 14:15 (AMP)

15 "If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments."

From the start, we see the explicitness of this principle. Let's dig even deeper.

By keeping His commandments, we prove our love. 

What are we proving when we don't keep His commandments?

1 John 3:4 (AMP)

4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness [ignoring God’s law by action or neglect or by tolerating wrongdoing—being unrestrained by His commands and His will].

The key word here is "practices". Let's continue reading in verse 6.

6 No one who abides in Him [who remains united in fellowship with Him—deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin. No one who habitually sins has seen Him or known Him.

9 No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because God’s seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again—who is reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are clearly identified: anyone who does not practice righteousness [who does not seek God’s will in thought, action, and purpose] is not of God...

This truth may trouble many of us, but it is most certainly undeniable. A man can be judged by the fruit he bears (Luke 6:44-45). 

Some may rush to defend themselves. "But Nathan, we're flesh and flesh is imperfect." Or, "We're under grace".

Let's see what Paul has to say about that.

Romans 6:1-2 (AMP)

1 What shall we say [to all this]? Should we continue in sin and practice sin as a habit so that [God’s gift of] grace may increase and overflow? 2 Certainly not! How can we, the very ones who died to sin, continue to live in it any longer?


Now we see in Paul's writing that when we are born again, our old man dies. We are a new creation in Christ. As John wrote in 1 John 3:9, no one born of God can habitually or deliberately sin because the very nature of God (righteousness) remains permanently within him. When we are born again, that transformation makes it physically and spiritually impossible to knowingly sin on a perpetual level. 

Bringing everything in full circle, 

"If you love Me, keep My commandments."

So, do we love God?

This Truth bears weight and hits hard. Let each of us examine ourselves. Our actions are the litmus test of the heart.

Love: The Greatest Calling

Good evening readers. Before we get into today's post, let's do a quick recap about the Body of Christ:


-Christ is the Head of the Body

-The Body of Christ (the church) is comprised of many parts, each possessing a specific role/responsibility.

-Every member of the body is mutually dependent on one another.

- No one part/member is more important/significant than the other.

-The Body is always unified and connected in everything. When one part suffers, the entire Body suffers. When one part succeeds, the entire Body succeeds.

-We must always intercede for one another (without ceasing), as this directly affects the church’s unified health and its ability to flourish and operate in power as intended.


How does love tie into the Body of Christ?



1 Corinthians 12: 27-31 (AMP)

27 Now you [collectively] are Christ’s body, and individually [you are] members of it [each with his own special purpose and function]. 28 So God has appointed and placed in the church [for His own use]: first apostles [chosen by Christ], second prophets [those who foretell the future, those who speak a new message from God to the people], third teachers, then those who work miracles, then those with the gifts of healings, the helpers, the administrators, and speakers in various kinds of [unknown] tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire and strive for the greater gifts [if acquiring them is going to be your goal]. And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one of the choicest graces and the highest of them all: unselfish love].



1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (AMP)

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not [a]love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction].2 And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing.3 If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body [b]to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.


So based on these two excerpts, it’s safe to say that if we’re not operating in the Love of God, all of our spiritual gifts, no matter how grand they appear, are indeed irrelevant.


That’s right….POINTLESS!!!


We discussed how the body is all interconnected and mutually dependent on one another. Each believer has his or her respective gifts and calling, but we are all yet linked to one another. A physical body consists of many different parts, but each part’s unique identity doesn’t leave it separated or apart from the rest of the body. All of a body’s members are bound together by muscle, sinew, and tissue.


As the Body of Christ, what binds US together?



John 13:35-35 (AMP)

34 I am giving you a new commandment, that you [f]love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”


So not only is it the Love of God that binds the Body of Christ together (the very essence of our unity), it is also our very identity. Love is what differentiates the church from the world.

And if that wasn’t enough, Love is not just what identifies us as believers, it’s a COMMANDMENT! (vs 34)

This commandment can been found periodically throughout Scripture.



2 John 1:6

6 Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.



Romans 13:10

Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.


Galatians 5:14

The entire Law is fulfilled in a single decree: "Love your neighbor as yourself."


James 2:8

If you really keep the royal law stated in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.


Mark 12:29-31 (AMP)

29 Jesus answered, “The first and most important one is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord; 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul (life), and with all your mind (thought, understanding), and with all your strength.’ 31 This is the second: ‘You shall [unselfishly] [h]love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

1 John 3:16 (AMP)

16 By this we know [and have come to understand the depth and essence of His precious] love: that He [willingly] laid down His life for us [because He loved us]. And we ought to lay down our lives for the believers.


We learned that when one member of the body suffers, the entire body suffers.


How does the Commandment of Love tie into this principle?

1 John 3:17-18 (AMP)

17 But whoever has the [a]world’s goods (adequate resources), and sees his brother in need, but has no compassion for him, how does the love of God live in him? 18 Little children (believers, dear ones), let us not love [merely in theory] with word or with tongue [giving lip service to compassion], but in action and in truth [in practice and in sincerity, because practical acts of love are more than words].

When one member suffers, the entire body suffers. So, when one of us is in need, the entire body shares the weight of that need. The Word says when we see a brother (member of the body) in need, and shut up the bowels of our compassion, the Love of God is not in him!

If it’s the Love of God that binds, connects, and unifies the Body of Christ, what happens when we don’t walk in Love as commanded?

This is why each member is mutually dependent on one another.

If we aren’t in Love, we are DIVIDED!!!

Jesus tells us in Matthew 12,

“Any kingdom that is divided against itself is being laid waste; and no city or house divided against itself will [continue to] stand.”

Suffice it to say, if we as believers (members of the Body) fail to walk in Love, the church cannot stand. We will never succeed. We simply CAN NOT be out of Love and walk in power as He intended.

The Body of Christ

So how is this “body” constructed?

Colossians 1:18 (AMP)
18 He is also the head [the life-source and leader] of the body, the [e]church; and He is the beginning, [f]the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will occupy the first place [He will stand supreme and be preeminent] in everything.

First and foremost, Christ is the Head. We are HIS body. Nothing can be separate from Him and yet joined to the Body. If anything is not directly connected to the Head, it is not part of the Body; therefor, it is foreign.

It is Christ the Head that defines the Body itself. It is also the Head that unifies us.

Once we've been grafted into the Body by and through the Head (Christ), what comes next?

Romans 12:4-8 (AMP)
4 For just as in one [physical] body we have many parts, and these parts do not all have the same function or special use, 5 so we, who are many, are [nevertheless just] one body in Christ, and individually [we are] parts one of another [mutually dependent on each other].

Why does Paul compare the church to a physical body?

6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them accordingly: if [someone has the gift of] prophecy, [let him speak a new message from God to His people] in proportion to the faith possessed; 7 if service, in the act of serving; or he who teaches, in the act of teaching; 8 or he who encourages, in the act of encouragement; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, [d]with diligence; he who shows mercy [in caring for others], with cheerfulness.

Just as a physical body is comprised of different parts, each bearing its own individual responsibilities, every believer is gifted/graced (vs 6) to fulfill a different role in the Church body.

These verses list several examples of gifts, “parts of the body”. Which of these are greater than the others?

1 Corinthians 12:14-26 (AMP)
14 For the [human] body does not consist of one part, but of many [limbs and organs]. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” is it not on the contrary still a part of the body? 16 If the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” is it not on the contrary still a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole [body] were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now [as things really are], God has placed and arranged the parts in the body, each one of them, just as He willed and saw fit [with the best balance of function]. 19 If they all were a single organ, where would [the rest of] the body be?20 But now [as things really are] there are many parts [different limbs and organs], but a single body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 But quite the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are [absolutely] necessary; 23 and as for those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, these we treat with greater honor; and our less presentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 while our more presentable parts do not require it. But God has combined the [whole] body, giving greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 so that there would be no division or discord in the body [that is, lack of adaptation of the parts to each other], but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the parts share the suffering; if one member is honored, all rejoice with it.

Romans 12:3 (AMP)
3 For by the grace [of God] given to me I say to everyone of you not to think more highly of himself [and of his importance and ability] than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and a purpose designed for service].

We see here how a “body” is a collection of interconnected parts, and how, as mentioned in Romans 12, we are mutually dependent on one another. Let’s take a step back and look at what Paul writes to the Corinthians in verses 25-26.

25 so that there would be no division or discord in the body [that is, lack of adaptation of the parts to each other], but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the parts share the suffering; if one member is honored, all rejoice with it.

What kind of division or discord is Paul referring to? And what causes it?

Jealousy. Envy. Pride. These are the cancers that plague the Body of Christ. Why should one be jealous of the gift of another? Are we not all unified in Christ? Do we not all share the same goal? We have become consumed with self. Our eyes wander to the flesh, fixed on prestige, stature, and the praises of men.

We should rejoice in the successes of one another, for our brother's success is also our own. We should walk in empathy and be moved with compassion when we see our brother in need, for our brother's need is our own ("but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.")

Verse 26 tells us that if one member suffers, all the parts share the suffering. The body of Christ is connected, unified, in success and in failure, in joy and in trials. This is exactly why we must pray for one another.

Ephesians 6:18 (AMP)
18 With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all [e]God’s people.

James 5:16 (AMP)
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].

Why must we pray for one another to bring about healing and restoration?

Our physical bodies are designed to minister to themselves. The Body of Christ is one and the same. When our brother falls, it is our responsibility to...cast him out? To push him aside? No! We pray for him! We forgive him as Christ forgave us.

The "church" of today is too quick to condemn and cast aside its own; the very ones it needs (mutual dependence). When you break your finger, is it ejected from the hand? Does your body expel the broken finger because of its imperfect state? Of course not! Then why is this so in the church?

Surely we would not want to be handled in such a way should we fall. This realization brings us in full circle, right back to the Commandment of Love.

Matthew 22:37-39 (AMP)
37 And Jesus replied to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’


Summary
-Christ is the Head of the Body
-The Body of Christ (the church) is comprised of many parts, each possessing a specific role/responsibility.
-Every member of the body is mutually dependent on one another.
- No one part/member is more important/significant than the other.
-The Body is always unified and connected in everything. When one part suffers, the entire Body suffers. When one part succeeds, the entire Body succeeds.
-We must always intercede for one another (without ceasing), as this directly affects the church’s unified health and its ability to flourish and operate in power as intended.

Always Forever

I've been stuck on this song lately. It really captures the intimacy of the Christian walk.
"Always Forever"- Phil Wickham

You are the hand that catches my fall
You are the friend that answers my call
You are my day, You are my night 
You are my love and all of my life

You are the love I need
You are the air I breathe
You are my love my life always forever
I would lay down my life 
Just to be by Your side
You are my love my life always forever

You are the grace that covers my sin
You’re everything the beginning and end
You have my soul, my heart and my mind
You have my love and all of my life

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, forever



Nothing is more comforting than the knowledge of His unchanging, unending, unconditional love. Be reminded today, you are loved by a Savior, who despite everything you have ever done or will ever do, loves you so much that He came and suffered the most unbearably brutal death, laid in the grave for three days, and rose from the dead that you might be delivered from eternal suffering and live forever in a place that knows no pain, sorrow, or fear. Praise Jesus!


-In Christ,
Nathan Noel

FIGHT!!!

I have no creative rights to this material. I read it recently and felt I should share it with my readers.

---FIGHT!!! (written by Markus Johnson)

A few nights ago I was physically attacked by the enemy and I know that when it gets that serious, you've stepped behind enemy lines in the spirit. Before I describe the attack, I want to express my most urgent cry to the body of Christ to arm themselves for war. 

Ephesians 6:11-18 AMPLIFIED 

 Put on God's whole armor {the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies}, that you may be able successfully to stand up against {all} the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

12For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

    13Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

    14Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

    15And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness [b]produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.(A)

    16Lift up over all the [covering] shield of [c]saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

    17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit [d]wields, which is the Word of God.

    18Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).

The Word of God is very clear. We are at war. 

One thing about fighting in the army of the Lord is that we cannot fight on the Lord's side against evil and then partake in the evil that we fight against. You will get hurt. It's dangerous. 

2 Corinthians 2:11 AMPLIFIED 

1To keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions

2 Corinthians 2:11 New King James 

lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

The scriptures let us know that we aren't ignorant of what the enemy has up his sleeves to attack us. We must be be prepared and even though we are aware of his devices it does not mean that he will not attack. That's his method of operation and agenda. 

It's very important that we stand and stand always in this fight. It's very easy to become lazy and passive but before you know it, you've taken off your armor and you've put down your sword and shield and have become a reserved soldier. God doesn't have an Army Reserves Division. 

If we're an army then it's important that we all are fighting. Every soldier is responsible for those who fight along side of him/her. This will explain why we feel the heavy weight in the spirit because we feel like we're fighting alone in the battle. The Word of God declares in Leviticus 26:8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. 

No one fights alone.

The enemy has turned up the pressure and I would go as far saying that if you're not being harassed by the enemy then you might want to check out your commitment level to Christ. If you're not praying and doing battle in the Spirit, you most likely aren't engaging in real spiritual warfare. I Thessalonians 5:17

says to Pray without ceasing. The real fight takes place on our knees first and when we get up off of our knees the fight continues but we get our instructions on how to war in the spirit while we are on our knees.

I believe that the enemy isn't giving up anything without a fight. Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force.

When we begin to engage in spiritual warfare, we must be prepared for Satan's retaliation. All of his attacks are fear based. Based upon I John 4:18, we do not live in fear because God's perfected love in us casts out all fear. Satan, on the other hand works in the opposite. So as we established earlier, we are not ignorant of his devices and we understand now that those devices are all fear based and the motivation behind all of his attacks. If we know this, then we ought not be afraid. When we fight, we go in the name of the Lord of hosts. Just as David confronted Goliath, not in his own strength or his own name but in the name of the Lord of hosts, we too are to go in the name and power of the Lord. 

This past Sunday, I was in prayer and felt led to pray for God's people everywhere in the area of stubborn situations that they are up against. I wasn't praying based upon a minor request but for that one thing that stands in your path and won't move. Maybe it's been there for months or even years and no matter how much you pray it still resists to move. When this happens, we have to join forces with other believers who know how to intercede and bombard Heaven on our behalf. 

I don't know why but I felt led to really go deep and pray for people who are dealing with tough situations in their family, their church, their finances and so on. It's like, if that one thing would get out of the way, other things will fall into place so that you can do other things that God has laid upon your heart to do to advance the Kingdom. 

Later in the prayer, I began to pray for myself and my ministry and some things that I needed God to do for me to advance in the Kingdom. There's a project that I've been working on for something huge and it's taken months for me to do something so small that would bring in great finances but the enemy isn't going to allow any of us to move forward without some kind of resistance. 

Well, Sunday night I was finishing up on the project and submitted it for viewing and got a quick response that was positive. I was excited and felt like celebrating. I didn't have a full answer but the feedback that I had received was good enough for me to begin celebrating. 

Later that night, two friends of mine were over at my house and we had dinner and were watching a favorite tv show. I started feeling strange physically to the point where I felt sort of dizzy, my head felt numb and I thought, well I better just lay down in another room but that didn't help. I went to get some water for my face because I felt hot and tried laying down again and nothing subsided so I called the guys into the room where I was and we began to pray. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest and I had thoughts of death coming to my mind and could hear in my head, this is it, you're about to go. Right then, my spirit rose up within me and I got up and started walking the floor and praying in the Spirit and pleading the blood. This went on for a good 20 minutes or so until things subsided. Even the next day I could feel the residue from whatever this attack was so I continued to step it up in prayer.

I believe that what happened was a result of what was covered in the Spirit while praying for the needs of others earlier that day. The enemy was intimidated and retaliated.

It's not the lay me down to sleep little prayers that are going to get us anywhere and I don't mean to sound like our prayers are weighed because the bible tells us in James 5:16

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

God knows our heart and sometimes the effectual and fervent prayer is simply saying the name of JESUS. It's the authority that we possess in his name that brings change. It's not how loud you say his name or even how loud you are when you pray but I will say this, when you know what you're up against and if it gets bad enough, you'll holler loud enough to wake up your neighborhood. There are even instances in scripture where the people of God lifted up their voice and cried loudly. I believe that there is something to the lifting up of our voice in prayer. God's not deaf but it's funny how we holler louder when the team on the court or field isn't doing so hot because we believe that they need to hear our voice of encouragement. Well what about in prayer. It's not that we are fighting alone but it's our God who ultimately fights for us. We must give Him our voice in prayer and in the Spirit so that He can go to war for us in the Heavenly realm. It's the spiritual law that we pray...Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Sounds like God needs permission from us. How is this done? With our tongue yielded in prayer and in the Spirit. 

I have to be honest, this attack has awakened my spirit and alerted me to some things. I realize that I've shaken up the enemy's camp but I will continue to do so. I literally have felt like pulling out my keyboard and doing some damage to his kingdom and notice I spelled that with a lower case (k). It's time that we pick up our weapons of mass destruction and fight. If we really want victory, then we'll get on our knees and pray.

You might ask, "I thought that Jesus defeated the enemy. So why are we fighting for victory?" We've been given the victory through Jesus Christ and that is correct but just ask yourself, How many times have you allowed the enemy to recover ground from you? How many people do you know are participating in things that support the enemy's agenda? We are fighting because we have to take back what the enemy has stolen from us. Jesus took back everything from Satan and gave all dominion and power to us but we are losing that authority and power when we partake in things that support the enemy's agenda. When we won't pray and get in the Word and advance the Kingdom of God.

Satan has no power but when you see him at work just know, that's a result of a child of God that failed to do their part in the Kingdom. There's nothing in between or fine print. Either Jesus defeated him on the cross for once and for all or he just hurt Satan a little bit so that he would leave us alone for a little while. NO!! Jesus said that it was finished and hung his head. THAT IS OUR STATEMENT OF VICTORY!! THE FINISHED WORK ON THE CROSS. PURCHASED, PAID FOR AND SEALED.

So I urge you soldier of the cross, pick up your weapon and fight. Maybe everything is peachy for you and in these times, I don't see how but hey just like the weather, you better be preparing yourself for the next storm because believe me, another one is coming. That's not a message of gloom and doom; that is the nature of of our warfare. II Corinthians 10:4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;

FIGHT!!!! ---

Be encouraged!!!

-In Christ, 

Nathan Noel

Seasons

       I cannot begin to express the awe and wonder my God inspires. I look at where I've been, where I am, and where I'm headed, and all I can do is shake my head and smile. I look at the seasons that have come and gone. A life of constant growth, change, and maturing.
       I know what God has in store for me, and as I look at my past, I understand so much that didn't make sense at the time. It's like stepping out of a huge painting and realizing everything that surrounds little ole' you. You begin to see how He has held your hand every step of the way, while shielding you from unimaginable pain and disaster. You realize that He has laid the very path you walk in front of you. Divine appointments. Favor. It's overwhelming. Such a big God...doing all of this for such an insignificant being, a mere speck in the grand scheme of things.
       With each day He teaches me more about Himself, and simultaneously more and more about myself. We walk together, talk together. It's a relationship. It's real. I love my Jesus, and He loves me, more than I could ever comprehend. Enough to become the curse and face my death and my hell for my sake. And now through Him I am redeemed from the curse of the law. Through His redemption I am a son and an heir according to the promise.
        Now I'm transitioning from one season to the next. Some might be intimidated by the uncertainty of change. But I do not fear for I know the Lord my God is with me. I know that He orders my steps and that He has plans to prosper me, to give me a hope and a future. So during these changing seasons, all I can do is step out in faith and trust Him.

                      -Matthew 6:33 "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you."
                      -Psalm 35:27 "The Lord be exalted, who delights in the prosperity of His servant."
                      -Psalm 125:1-2 "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore."
                      -Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path."


-In Christ,
    Nathan Noel
      

A Song for the Brokenhearted

So I have been on somewhat of a Phil Wickham craze lately, and this one song has really grabbed my attention and stayed on my heart.

"The Light Will Come"

To the one with the wounded heart

The years fighting have left you scarred

Wait the light will come

To the one with the distant eyes

All this crying has left you dry

Wait the light will come. Wait the light will come

Lift your eyesThe sun has overcome the night. Come alive, as we shine in loves true light.

Here is laughter beyond the tears

Here is courage to face your fears

Look the light has come

So rise you daughters and stand you sons

Claim the victory that Jesus won

Look the Light has come. Look the Light has come

Lift your eyesThe sun has overcome the night. Come alive, as we shine in loves true light.

This song shows just how much our Saviour Jesus does for us. He truly is AWESOME and everything we need Him to be. Be encouraged in this and don't be afraid just to fall into His loving arms.

-In Christ,

    Nathan Noel