Well, we've decided to do it! We're becoming bloggers! You just never know what we may blog about so be sure to check it out and see what's on our minds. We can assure that some of the blogs will be encouraging, memorable, spiritual, practical and/or comical. So, here are Amberly's thoughts for the first day of July!
Ever thought about how the disciples just dropped everything to follow Jesus? As I was spending some time thinking about giving EVERYTHING to go further in your walk with the Lord, I realized that those disciples were NUTS!
How did they know that it would all work out? Did they not worry about making money? Did they not wonder if He was who He really said that He was?
I must admit, I’m impressed with their obedience! What led them to respond to the call of Jesus in the manner they did? They all willingly walked away from their livelihood to follow Him. Did Jesus promise them a better paying job? Were they assured of some honor or glory? No! Not at all! As far as the things of this world, Jesus had absolutely nothing to offer them!
What was it about Jesus that impressed them to the point of leaving everything they knew to follow Him? It was the message that declared that the Kingdom of God was at hand! It was a new message of a new Hope. What they saw in the visible gave them no hope, but this message gave them hope. Ever noticed how most people don’t respond to a message of doom and gloom? In fact, I was having a conversation with my uncle the other day and we discussed how we all have enough to worry about in this life. The cares of this life can truly be overwhelming at times. People want a message of HOPE! The message of the Kingdom would mean a change within them. They were willing to relinquish [give up, run away, abandon, forget, sacrifice] all they had in order to see the Kingdom of God!
What had they given up? Was it their jobs? Yes, but so much more! Consider the words of Jesus to His beloved twelve, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?” (Matthew 16:24-26). Didn’t these men already make a huge sacrifice in order to follow Jesus? You bet your sweet bippy they did!!! And yet, despite their previous sacrifice there must have been something more required of them!!! What?!!! What then was Jesus saying? It was simply this: in order to fully realize and understand God’s plan and purpose, and in order to fully embrace His Kingdom, one has to be willing to give up more than visible things. One must relinquish [give up, run away, abandon, forget, sacrifice] all rights to self. To take up one’s cross is to put to death the self. To put to death our self will. In order to realize the Kingdom of God as a reality, a daily crucifixion, a daily death to the self life is required.
Simply put, that which costs you nothing will mean nothing to you and that which costs you EVERYTHING, will mean EVERYTHING to you.
-Amberly Bell
http://www.askingforthenations.org/
www.igive.com/aftn
Hello God bless, U should name ur blog "Bible Buffet" I started reading it & I just couldn't stop! The tears that hadn't fallen for many years just stormed out of my eyes. The pressure that was in my heart was released. My fat is still here, lol but I'm gonna start working it off in Jesus' name. You know something sister Amber just kidding, Amberly:)...u make this world a much more beautiful place just by being in it.
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