What is Passion?

         I honestly don't know how to start this blog entry, so I'm just going to jump right into it.  Here goes: What is passion?  I honestly don't know how this title goes with this blog entry, it just came to me last night as I was praying, reading, and reflecting on my devotional for the night.  I'm going to base this blog entry on Genesis 49:4-28, I know I know, this is quite the long Bible verse, but I'll try to explain it as best as I can okay? "Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it; he went up to thy couch."  Now you're all probably thinking, what on earth is this verse supposed to be telling us?  "The oldest son was supposed to receive a double inheritance, but Reuben lost this special honor.  He was very unruly and untrustworthy, especially during his younger days, he had gone so far as to sleep with one of his father's concubines.  Jacob could not and would not give the birthright blessing to such a dishonorable son."

         To me, the above verse means that the decisions, that were made in your past will become what might or might not happen in your present and also in your future.  If God is not pleased with what you have done in the past, he will try to redirect you to your present and future decisions, but before this happens, you have to come to him and repent and turn completely away from what was your past.  If you still live in the past, then you cannot move ahead to the future, your past is what will hold you back in all choices you make, you need to take a very bold step ahead.  If God wants you to do it, then you better obey and do it.  You need to be ready to say yes and leave everything that you have behind, so that your future can be full of blessings and rewards.  If God is all you have, then you have all that you need, Amen?  

        " I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord."  "In the middle of his prophecy to Dan, Jacob had exclaimed, " I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord."  He was emphasizing to Dan that he would be a strong leader only if he trusted in God, and not in his own natural strength or ability.  Those who are strong, attractive, or talented often find it much easier to trust in themselves rather than in God, who was the one who gave them these gifts.  You must always remember to thank God for what you are and have, so that your trust does not become misplaced."  Know what I mean?  Anyway, my opinion of this above verse is the fact that you cannot be selfish, and give yourself all the Glory, because it is not all about you, it's all about God, it always has been and always will be exactly like that.So, let's keep it that way, got it?!? I certainly hope so.  

           Let's move on to verses 23 and 24: "The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him.  But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel)."  These verses express God's repeated rescues of Joseph when his enemies were attacking him.  So often we struggle without thinking that God is able to fight our battles, whether they are against people with weapons or against spiritual forces.  Joseph was able to draw closer to God as adversity had mounted.  To trust God to rescue you shows that you have great faith.  Can you trust him when injury or persecution is being directed at you? Such spiritual battles require teamwork between courageous, faithful people, and a great and mighty God." Amen?!? Amen!
      
            My thoughts on the above verses are this: In these past few months,I've been facing a difficult decision about what I should do next in my career path.  I've been praying about it every night, and I still can't figure out what to do next.  I'm not entirely sure what my next step should be after this.  I know I should probably learn how to drive and such, but I feel like there's no time and money in order to do that.  Since I don't drive, I'm very limited in what I can do and where I can go in order to find a new job.  I'm getting older, we're all getting older, so now would be the time to start changing things for the better.  I can't work part-time for the rest of my life, it's not getting me anywhere.  I need health insurance and I need to be able to save up for a future wedding, house, and family.  But I can't do any of that until I get driving and get my own car, because of my accident back in 2008, I really hate cars, money, and driving, none of those are fun at all.  It just seems to get me into more trouble, which I'm trying to avoid.  What I mean by that is no more accidents, and no more stupidity.  I need to start making a lot wiser decisions.  I hate feeling useless and helpless, it's really dragging me down.  There's so much that I could be doing if I only had a full-time job, a car, and I know how to drive.  It gets really old having to rely on everyone else around you to get you to the places that you need to go.  

           You can call me a hypocrite, I don't even care anymore, I'm letting this fear stand in the way of my life.  I need to stop that right away, but it's not easy to just change in the blink of an eye.  These changes take a whole lot of time to start working in this life I'm supposed to be living for God, but let's be honest here, am I really living the way that God wants me to live my life? Somehow, I doubt it.  I feel like I'm trying so hard, but it's not getting me anywhere fast any time soon.  I as well as the rest of you reading this, wants to see the Church grow and revive, and we also want to see all of these changes in America.  We need God in America again.  We always will be and always have been "One nation under God, not One nation under man."  This world is just a mess, and something good better come out of this soon, or else this world will be going to "hell in a hand basket."  Are you catching my drift here? I do hope so. God Bless America! Amen!!!
~Emily