God has sent me a question about baptism. Someone asked me if I had been baptized. I replied, I was told I didn't have to. Then, they ask if I wanted to be baptized.
I think it just has to happen at the right time. It's not something you can just plan to do as an adult. So much has happened by now it’s hard to make that decision. It's more serious to me now than when I was a new born baby, my parents made that decision, not me. My parents chose not to baptize me because they didn't consent me in sin. Then, I have to think, did they know for sure what was right at the time, because they were friends with a family of people who called themselves Christians but do not live faithfully. But now they are becoming stronger and learning as much as they can by going to church and studying the Bible more, and so am I. So many experiences in life have changed the outcome of how I have been touched by God's grace, knowledge and love. I've learned so much from Him in the past 3 years. Would baptizing make a difference? That is the answer I need to find out for myself.
My Profile
- Michael K. Lilley
- I hope to inspire others to think more about what they believe and why they believe it.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Racism
You are an individual, and that makes you unique.
If you could just grasp who you are from God's view point
you will find the person He wants you to be.
You are a Child of God.
The Heavenly Father gave to us His only son, our Lord Jesus Christ, so that He may show us the righteous path to serve Him in His father's kingdom.
In sacrifice to all of our sins He gave His blood of life on the Calvary Cross so that we may be free of our sins.
you will find the person He wants you to be.
You are a Child of God.
The Heavenly Father gave to us His only son, our Lord Jesus Christ, so that He may show us the righteous path to serve Him in His father's kingdom.
In sacrifice to all of our sins He gave His blood of life on the Calvary Cross so that we may be free of our sins.
Racism is just another thing stopping you from living the person God wants you to be and experience the glory and love He wants us to share with each other.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
The Believer and Believing: Part 1, Strength
Anxiety isn't anything that God wants us to feel. But its something He makes us experience so that we know how it feels to disobey Him, trying to live our life our own way, making our own decisions, and living the consequences. It brings us closer to Him. When we get too driven by something and just go for our own needs, God shows us what it is like to live outside of the trust of His care and protection.
If we can experience that physically in our flesh, then we can really see the bad things in life that build us into the stronger believer. Life is longer than you think. It's a long battle once you start believing.
If we can experience that physically in our flesh, then we can really see the bad things in life that build us into the stronger believer. Life is longer than you think. It's a long battle once you start believing.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Selfishness
We live in the most selfish world today. Society has all these things to distract us from our beliefs and turn ourselves away from God. There are advertisements, movies, pornography, rap and heavy metal, tv shows that display sexual and offensive material, and even the news can put fear into our lives. All these things consume our lives. We get addicted to them and feel that we need them in order to be happy or to fill in that emptiness inside. These things would not be accepted in His Kingdom. The only thing that matters most is how you live your life according to Him and listen to what he is telling you.
We are saved by grace and not works. Everything you have possessed in this material life will not matter to God. After you die, none of these things will come with you. God does not care for these things that we hold onto in life. The only thing he is interested in is your faith and trust in Him.
I hate it when a person calls them self a Christian yet they don't even believe in God or Jesus. And God must shake his head at this. They may call themselves a Lutheran, or Catholic, or whatever it may be. It's a slap in the face for us who try so hard to be a strong, faithful Christian. They don't even realize what it is to be a Christian. If you have not surrendered your soul to Jesus Christ then you are not a Christian.
A true believer with an intimate relationship with God will only have the knowledge to learn salvation; the deliverance from the power and penalty of sin. Only then, will they understand the atonement accomplished through the life, suffering, and death of Christ. All these people who so call themselves Christians, yet do not know God or believe in him, do not have any idea what it is to be a Christian. If they don't agree with what is written in the Bible, then they just twist the words and their view of God into their own way of thinking. Believing and knowing are not the same things. When you just say you believe in Him but are still not sure what to think about Him and what might happen to you after you die. That; is not knowing the Lord. If you don't know God then you do not believe in Him. When you know God you would never think about giving up and talk about going to Hell. You will know the truth. You will feel something that you cannot describe. The truth will set you free.
One of these days you are going to die. Isn't it foolish not to know what might happen to you when you die? Wouldn't you agree it’s foolish to live your life not knowing what might happen when you die? Or say you don't believe in God and don't know what is on the other side. Not knowing any hope or assurance is a sad way to go through life. The only way you will get assurance of true peace and happiness after death is you're complete surrender to the Lord and acceptance of Jesus Christ as your saviour. Then, you are truly saved.
You have forever been a child of God. He has always loved you. You have everything to gain with God, and everything to lose. If death is inevitable and if you have no assurance at all, then you are truly lost. If you know the truth and cleanse yourself with His words, you will not have to worry because God has a plan for you.
We are saved by grace and not works. Everything you have possessed in this material life will not matter to God. After you die, none of these things will come with you. God does not care for these things that we hold onto in life. The only thing he is interested in is your faith and trust in Him.
I hate it when a person calls them self a Christian yet they don't even believe in God or Jesus. And God must shake his head at this. They may call themselves a Lutheran, or Catholic, or whatever it may be. It's a slap in the face for us who try so hard to be a strong, faithful Christian. They don't even realize what it is to be a Christian. If you have not surrendered your soul to Jesus Christ then you are not a Christian.
A true believer with an intimate relationship with God will only have the knowledge to learn salvation; the deliverance from the power and penalty of sin. Only then, will they understand the atonement accomplished through the life, suffering, and death of Christ. All these people who so call themselves Christians, yet do not know God or believe in him, do not have any idea what it is to be a Christian. If they don't agree with what is written in the Bible, then they just twist the words and their view of God into their own way of thinking. Believing and knowing are not the same things. When you just say you believe in Him but are still not sure what to think about Him and what might happen to you after you die. That; is not knowing the Lord. If you don't know God then you do not believe in Him. When you know God you would never think about giving up and talk about going to Hell. You will know the truth. You will feel something that you cannot describe. The truth will set you free.
One of these days you are going to die. Isn't it foolish not to know what might happen to you when you die? Wouldn't you agree it’s foolish to live your life not knowing what might happen when you die? Or say you don't believe in God and don't know what is on the other side. Not knowing any hope or assurance is a sad way to go through life. The only way you will get assurance of true peace and happiness after death is you're complete surrender to the Lord and acceptance of Jesus Christ as your saviour. Then, you are truly saved.
You have forever been a child of God. He has always loved you. You have everything to gain with God, and everything to lose. If death is inevitable and if you have no assurance at all, then you are truly lost. If you know the truth and cleanse yourself with His words, you will not have to worry because God has a plan for you.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
The Power of Solitude
I haven't always been a strong believer in the Lord. I had my own thoughts on Jesus and my life. I was naive and listened to whatever the TV told me. When I was a teenager I finally started seeing the lies from the media and society's look on life. I knew I was wiser than the other kids. I just didn't know how to find more people who thought like me. But since I devoted myself to the Lord I have found a few and I'm still searching for more now!
When I was in Grade 8, I began to realize how immature the other students were in my grade. I started to become friends with people I never thought of talking to. My school was bilingual, so half the students were French speaking. Which I like to call Canadiens(French speaking Canadians).
I began to hang out with just a select few of friends. I used to be part of the "popular" group of kids. And I like to say "i used to be" because I was blinded by thinking that its important to be the "coolest."
After school was over I had a more open mind on life. I haven't been Christian all my life but I knew there was something wrong with the world I lived in. People were just interested in what society has lied to them for being lawfully right and just.
After that summer from my trip to Finland I decided to try out the Virtual School, and for the rest of the high school years I stayed in it. It gave me a lot of time to think to myself and get to know myself. When I was in Grade 10 I finally picked up the Bible one day out of curiosity. I saw the goodness it brought out of my Dad, and I wanted to achieve this goodness and joy that this so called 'God' person gives.
I kept reading little bits and hearing from the word-of-mouth instead of the Word of God. I was getting more in touch with the beauty in life, especially music by Frank Sinatra. The love he sang about is what I was feeling deep inside. I wanted to find that love. After dating and breaking hearts I still felt I needed to find the right kind of love for me. No one was good enough.
It was not until I was 18 I began to read more. I began to relate to the stories and understand proverbs written. I was feeling closer to the Lord. It was the most fantastic feeling of joy. One summer I went down to California with my brother and my best friend. We went surfing four hours straight all day long. The first time we took our boogie boards into the ocean we headed straight out to the ocean to the biggest waves we could swim to. We were laughing and charging each other up about the waves, those we got closer to, yelling "are you ready?" As soon as we could look up to see if another wave was coming it was too late. All I could see was a 5 to 8 foot wall of water slamming against my face. I barely got any air in my lungs, just a gasp and mostly salt water. An awful taste so I had to spit it out while I was pulled straight under the wave. I was tumbling around in the water and the first thing I remembered from my Scuba diving course was to not fight the wave but to relax and let it pull you back up. So I relaxed and I remember hitting the bottom of the sea bed. Then it felt like eternity after a while. I thought there is no way of getting back up for air. I was calm and had no worries. I said to God this is alright. If you want me now I'm happy dying like this. Then all of a sudden I was shot up to the surface. So I pointed my face up feeling the buoyancy of my body push up. My head barely broke through the water. I just got another small gasp of air but enough to keep me going longer than before. I tumbled around and came back to the surface with my boogie board still strapped to my ankle and my best friend calling out to me asking if I was alright. I was coughing and gasping for more air. Frightened, I just walked back to the shore. All of us did. But they went back out as I stayed practicing on the smaller waves. That taught me a lesson about nature. I was told to dive into the wave to avoid it. But I was too afraid to go back.
The spring break after I had turned 19 I went camping with all my good friends. But one night I hadn't eaten enough food and drank too much liquor. I started to act without control of myself and ended up in the Hospital with an IV in my right arm and a $215 Ambulance bill from a drive across the street from the Hospital.
My biggest fear is not being in control of what I'm doing. That’s why I don't like rides. They are unpredictably dangerous and just make me sick. I have now learned to overcome my fears, especially after almost drowning. And God helped me battle my demons that haunted me. I still had the thoughts at night haunting me of the Ghost I saw in the Balzac house. I'll never forget that night and many nights being tormented by him. But I have conquered the fear of all the demons that want me to be afraid every night. I gave that fear to God. He worries about it now. While I was lying in that ambulance I made a pact with the Lord and surrendered myself to the way of Jesus Christ. I told Him that I did not want to die like this and waste the life he has given to me. I asked Him to give me another chance to make my life right and live it for Him. My rebellion against God came to an end.
Sometimes what we think in our minds so much can change our bodies physically. You can become weak and sick. By learning the Word of God it has changed me in my mind, my soul, and physically. It has made me worry free about my life and made me a happier, stronger individual. My father has always loved me and showed goodness even when he might have sinned. He has grown stronger each day. I am glad and truly blessed that I have a father who has shown me the love of God through him and everlasting love even through my sins and never pressuring me. I am also blessed to be given a Mother who understands me and listens to me and wants to worry and look after me.
Some people wanted me to be like them or like something else. I had to separate myself from them and decide what is most important in my life. Being alone has made me a stronger believer and I am committed to the Father. I am learning and listening. And i will continue. Learning solitude was worth it and fulfilling. He decides the circumstances in my life. The flame he lit inside me from the discipline of solitude. Its the most effective way of taking my loneliness away with His presence. My relationship with God took my stress away, empowered me, and cleansed me.
It was something I got to choose that changed my way of life. I was saved from fear, stress, and the evil in the world. I now have the power to overcome the landmines Satan has laid out in my path to the Holy Spirit that is anchored inside me and the straight path God has already made for me. He has given me the sight to see the consequences of stepping on one of those landmines. But before His guidance I never knew before what the consequences would be. I have always heard His voice but not very loudly. Now I can listen clearly and choose to follow Him without thinking twice to be closer with our Saviour Jesus Christ the Lord.
When I was in Grade 8, I began to realize how immature the other students were in my grade. I started to become friends with people I never thought of talking to. My school was bilingual, so half the students were French speaking. Which I like to call Canadiens(French speaking Canadians).
I began to hang out with just a select few of friends. I used to be part of the "popular" group of kids. And I like to say "i used to be" because I was blinded by thinking that its important to be the "coolest."
After school was over I had a more open mind on life. I haven't been Christian all my life but I knew there was something wrong with the world I lived in. People were just interested in what society has lied to them for being lawfully right and just.
After that summer from my trip to Finland I decided to try out the Virtual School, and for the rest of the high school years I stayed in it. It gave me a lot of time to think to myself and get to know myself. When I was in Grade 10 I finally picked up the Bible one day out of curiosity. I saw the goodness it brought out of my Dad, and I wanted to achieve this goodness and joy that this so called 'God' person gives.
I kept reading little bits and hearing from the word-of-mouth instead of the Word of God. I was getting more in touch with the beauty in life, especially music by Frank Sinatra. The love he sang about is what I was feeling deep inside. I wanted to find that love. After dating and breaking hearts I still felt I needed to find the right kind of love for me. No one was good enough.
It was not until I was 18 I began to read more. I began to relate to the stories and understand proverbs written. I was feeling closer to the Lord. It was the most fantastic feeling of joy. One summer I went down to California with my brother and my best friend. We went surfing four hours straight all day long. The first time we took our boogie boards into the ocean we headed straight out to the ocean to the biggest waves we could swim to. We were laughing and charging each other up about the waves, those we got closer to, yelling "are you ready?" As soon as we could look up to see if another wave was coming it was too late. All I could see was a 5 to 8 foot wall of water slamming against my face. I barely got any air in my lungs, just a gasp and mostly salt water. An awful taste so I had to spit it out while I was pulled straight under the wave. I was tumbling around in the water and the first thing I remembered from my Scuba diving course was to not fight the wave but to relax and let it pull you back up. So I relaxed and I remember hitting the bottom of the sea bed. Then it felt like eternity after a while. I thought there is no way of getting back up for air. I was calm and had no worries. I said to God this is alright. If you want me now I'm happy dying like this. Then all of a sudden I was shot up to the surface. So I pointed my face up feeling the buoyancy of my body push up. My head barely broke through the water. I just got another small gasp of air but enough to keep me going longer than before. I tumbled around and came back to the surface with my boogie board still strapped to my ankle and my best friend calling out to me asking if I was alright. I was coughing and gasping for more air. Frightened, I just walked back to the shore. All of us did. But they went back out as I stayed practicing on the smaller waves. That taught me a lesson about nature. I was told to dive into the wave to avoid it. But I was too afraid to go back.
The spring break after I had turned 19 I went camping with all my good friends. But one night I hadn't eaten enough food and drank too much liquor. I started to act without control of myself and ended up in the Hospital with an IV in my right arm and a $215 Ambulance bill from a drive across the street from the Hospital.
My biggest fear is not being in control of what I'm doing. That’s why I don't like rides. They are unpredictably dangerous and just make me sick. I have now learned to overcome my fears, especially after almost drowning. And God helped me battle my demons that haunted me. I still had the thoughts at night haunting me of the Ghost I saw in the Balzac house. I'll never forget that night and many nights being tormented by him. But I have conquered the fear of all the demons that want me to be afraid every night. I gave that fear to God. He worries about it now. While I was lying in that ambulance I made a pact with the Lord and surrendered myself to the way of Jesus Christ. I told Him that I did not want to die like this and waste the life he has given to me. I asked Him to give me another chance to make my life right and live it for Him. My rebellion against God came to an end.
Sometimes what we think in our minds so much can change our bodies physically. You can become weak and sick. By learning the Word of God it has changed me in my mind, my soul, and physically. It has made me worry free about my life and made me a happier, stronger individual. My father has always loved me and showed goodness even when he might have sinned. He has grown stronger each day. I am glad and truly blessed that I have a father who has shown me the love of God through him and everlasting love even through my sins and never pressuring me. I am also blessed to be given a Mother who understands me and listens to me and wants to worry and look after me.
Some people wanted me to be like them or like something else. I had to separate myself from them and decide what is most important in my life. Being alone has made me a stronger believer and I am committed to the Father. I am learning and listening. And i will continue. Learning solitude was worth it and fulfilling. He decides the circumstances in my life. The flame he lit inside me from the discipline of solitude. Its the most effective way of taking my loneliness away with His presence. My relationship with God took my stress away, empowered me, and cleansed me.
It was something I got to choose that changed my way of life. I was saved from fear, stress, and the evil in the world. I now have the power to overcome the landmines Satan has laid out in my path to the Holy Spirit that is anchored inside me and the straight path God has already made for me. He has given me the sight to see the consequences of stepping on one of those landmines. But before His guidance I never knew before what the consequences would be. I have always heard His voice but not very loudly. Now I can listen clearly and choose to follow Him without thinking twice to be closer with our Saviour Jesus Christ the Lord.
How to Stay Young All of Your Life
- Keep on learning! - Watch God's workings in life. Learn the Word of God. Keep challenging yourself.
- Keep on laughing! - You will feel like the child you have inside. Feel the joy and energy that God wants us to feel every day.
- Keep on working! - Change jobs, keep busy even after retirement. Motivate yourself through God. Expect God to surprise you in the day to do something absolutely fantastic.
- Keep on planning! - Dream. Make goals in life. Life is not over, you have a wonderful reason to be alive. Keep yourself challenged. Don't ever give up. God likes a working man.
- Keep on leaning on God! - Always acknowledge Him. Lean on Him for your dreams, goals and desires of your heart. He will give you a reason to stay alive and stay young all your life.
Keep on leaning on God means:
- Keep listening to Him
- Keep talking to Him
- Keep trusting in Him
- Keep believing in Him
- Keep praying to Him
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