Relationship or Religious

Substitute the word religious with the word relationship. Are you religious or do you have a relationship to God?

God is my father. He loves me unconditionally. He loves me more than I love Him. He takes care of me. He listens to my concerns.  My father gives me gifts, good gifts! (blessings)  He always answers my prayers.     Because he knows my future, sometimes God fulfills my requests differently (better) than the way that I ask.  He has a good plan for me.  I trust Him in all circumstances.

I feel God's smiles.  He makes me joyful. He carries my burdens which gives me peace in stressful situations. He is with me always. He gives me guidance with convictions.  I feel his warm presence. I love Him. I desire to make Him happy because He loves me so much. I want my children and friends to experience this same love relationship with God.

The Bible says that non believers see this as foolishness. It is true. Unless you also have a relationship with God, you will not understand it. Acknowledge that God is God and that you need him and you also can have this same joyful, loving relationship. Only then you will understand my joy. 

I feel praise welling up inside me as I write this. Oh, oh..... here comes a song......   :D

Born Again Believer

(I decided that I want to be prepared with verses when someone asks me why I believe what I do.)

I am a "Born Again" Believer because the Bible says:

John 3:3 ESV
Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

John 3:5-7 ESV
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again."

In plain words it means that first I was born (flesh from flesh) then when I started a personal relationship with Jesus, I was given the Holy Spirit to live in me. (Born of the Spirit is spirit.) Now I will see the kingdom of God.... Heaven.

By the way did you know that believing that God is God won't get you into Heaven? There is another Bible verse (that I have to look up) that states that even the demons know that God is God and they shudder. The key is the personal relationship that you have when you acknowledge that you are a sinner and you accept Jesus is YOUR savior to save you from those sins. Then you are "Born Again."

Here's that verse:

James 2:19 NIV
"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder."