I am writing this post after an amazing 24 hour period of watching God completely orchestrate the day and seeing so many things come together, not just for me, but for nearly everyone that I came in contact with today. God is good!!!
This morning, sitting in class, I finally understood what it meant to submit and give myself over to Christ. I have said the words so many times: "God take my life, make me a new creation... etc." the prayer goes on and on. But today, God showed me his true colors. Finally once I started listening to that little voice telling me what I should or should not do He led me down a path that opened my eyes to seeing His love for me, His mercy for me, and His never ending grace in my life. It's so much easier when you just listen! "I have ways to prosper you and not to harm you." (Jeremiah 29: 11) When you finally understand that Christ is a reality, when you stop looking because He's been there, right in front of you the whole time! Gosh I can't believe the realness I've seen today. God is good!!!
The Lord has brought so many great people into my life and lately the struggles of myself and another brother in Christ of mine have really shown me the meaning of giving my heart to Christ. "Christ has been telling me the whole time I just didn't want to listen - when are you going to stop giving your heart to the things of this world and start giving it to me?" That just breaks my heart knowing that whatever pain you've ever gone through, I mean really just think of the worst moment in your life, that's how Christ feels about you every second that you aren't living for Him. He's just broken, on His knees waiting for you to open your eyes and see that He loves you with everything He is. "He humbled Himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2: 8) He did that for us!
At 9:11 A.M. on May 19, 2009 I put myself in God's hands, I'm His forever. I can finally say that I am a doer of the Word (James 1: 22-25) I can't wait to see what He has in store for me tomorrow! I pray for everyone who will read this and who won't that you would "find the joy in your life" if you haven't already - Jesus Christ. And may God bless you. God is good!!!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
"Everything begins with choice"
Tonight, I sit and ponder about God, His creation and His plan for everything. I'm not meaning this post to cause any doubt, just simply to think critically and ask questions about why we are here and the choices that we are able to make.
First of all, as I was walking on campus today I started to think: why does sin come so easy to all and why would God make it so fun to rebel against His word? Maybe I shouldn't say fun all of the time, but it happens on a daily basis to everyone; we all sin... a lot and often times in the same areas repeatedly. In the beginning God gave Adam and Eve a choice. There was only one thing they could not do, but they were deceived by Satin and the inevitable and long-lasting string of sin began.
God allowed Adam and Eve to decide for themselves whether they thought God's word (in the literal sense at that point) was enough, or if they wanted to try things for themselves. That's love, unforced - letting us all be who we want to be. Often times God gives us what we pray for or wish for even if He knows it isn't best for us at the time or even at all, hence the phrase: "be careful what you wish for."
When you take the focus off of yourself it's much easier to have a heart for other people, thus teaching you selflessness and the meaning of being humble and content. My point is Americans in general are already set up in a me society. For example: how can I get what I want out of this situation? (That really encompasses a lot of different questions). This sense of selfishness may be more unconscious than not, but we are always wondering how we are going to save ourselves in sticky situations by the end before we even stop to think of how the other people involved are feeling. Tomorrow try and keep that sense of self on your mind so you can be conscious of it, and realize where your heart truly is: is it for yourself or for other people?
You know there's a great saying that goes something like this: if everyone prayed for other people then you wouldn't have to pray for yourself near as much. Pray for other people tomorrow and see where that takes you, see how your heart feels at the end of the day.
Back to my original question but rephrased a little bit: Why does God allow sin to be so easy, or fun to do? The answer isn't hard when you think about it. Along with sin, even though it's fun, you feel it in your heart after it's done that something is wrong, that you aren't meant to feel that way. Sin is only a temporary fix, but God is everlasting. Suffering, it's a word I bring up often, but for good reason. It's through our suffering that God shows us His beauty, grace, glory, love and mercy. Without suffering we couldn't possibly know the meaning of grace. And it is through the easiness of being deceived by Satin's lies that we understand how magnificent a life it is to follow Jesus Christ. In Him all things are made new, there is no death or pain, no suffering or loss, only gain. You have nothing to lose by submitting to the creator of existence; "Who am I that Lord of all the Earth would care to know my name, would care to know my hurt? Still you hear me when I'm calling, Lord you catch me when I'm falling, who am I?" - Casting Crowns
"God desires no man to perish, but for all men to come to repentance" 2 Peter 3:9
First of all, as I was walking on campus today I started to think: why does sin come so easy to all and why would God make it so fun to rebel against His word? Maybe I shouldn't say fun all of the time, but it happens on a daily basis to everyone; we all sin... a lot and often times in the same areas repeatedly. In the beginning God gave Adam and Eve a choice. There was only one thing they could not do, but they were deceived by Satin and the inevitable and long-lasting string of sin began.
God allowed Adam and Eve to decide for themselves whether they thought God's word (in the literal sense at that point) was enough, or if they wanted to try things for themselves. That's love, unforced - letting us all be who we want to be. Often times God gives us what we pray for or wish for even if He knows it isn't best for us at the time or even at all, hence the phrase: "be careful what you wish for."
When you take the focus off of yourself it's much easier to have a heart for other people, thus teaching you selflessness and the meaning of being humble and content. My point is Americans in general are already set up in a me society. For example: how can I get what I want out of this situation? (That really encompasses a lot of different questions). This sense of selfishness may be more unconscious than not, but we are always wondering how we are going to save ourselves in sticky situations by the end before we even stop to think of how the other people involved are feeling. Tomorrow try and keep that sense of self on your mind so you can be conscious of it, and realize where your heart truly is: is it for yourself or for other people?
You know there's a great saying that goes something like this: if everyone prayed for other people then you wouldn't have to pray for yourself near as much. Pray for other people tomorrow and see where that takes you, see how your heart feels at the end of the day.
Back to my original question but rephrased a little bit: Why does God allow sin to be so easy, or fun to do? The answer isn't hard when you think about it. Along with sin, even though it's fun, you feel it in your heart after it's done that something is wrong, that you aren't meant to feel that way. Sin is only a temporary fix, but God is everlasting. Suffering, it's a word I bring up often, but for good reason. It's through our suffering that God shows us His beauty, grace, glory, love and mercy. Without suffering we couldn't possibly know the meaning of grace. And it is through the easiness of being deceived by Satin's lies that we understand how magnificent a life it is to follow Jesus Christ. In Him all things are made new, there is no death or pain, no suffering or loss, only gain. You have nothing to lose by submitting to the creator of existence; "Who am I that Lord of all the Earth would care to know my name, would care to know my hurt? Still you hear me when I'm calling, Lord you catch me when I'm falling, who am I?" - Casting Crowns
"God desires no man to perish, but for all men to come to repentance" 2 Peter 3:9
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Where do you stand?
Tonight has been a night of introspection; introspection with where I stand. I don't have these nights often, but when I do they're good. I normally see something on TV, or in a film, or read something somewhere that just really gets me thinking. Tonight I saw the new documentary show of Steve-o on MTV and his addiction to numerous drugs and alcohol. I found myself in shock of what I saw: sometimes we are reminded of just how fragile life can be, but then you can also be reminded just how inspiring the essence of the human heart really is. I found myself relating to Steve-o, not in the sense of alcohol or drugs, but just the downward spiral that you can get caught in. We all have our vices - sin, it's learning to control those vices and not have them control you that is key.
Now, my normal thoughts when I used to ask myself the question: where do I stand? I would compare myself would other people and inevitably get depressed because there is always someone who seems to be doing better than me in some apsect of life. But, tonight, I know where I stand and I'm content with it. My answer tonight was to compare myself with God. At first when you hear that you would think it would be more depressing because how could you ever get any happiness by comparing yourself with something perfect? My answer is that I draw my worth from the Lord now and not from others. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I don't care about what people think, but I know how my Father in heaven feels about me and ultimately, that's all I need. I also know how that same Father in heaven feels about every person on this earth: 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." He loves each one of us.
If you find that you are in the midst of a downward spiral and can't seem to draw your worth from anything, don't wait, just surrender yourself and His holy spirit will do the rest. I promise there is worth and healing at the cross. People will always have the ability to let you down, but God doesn't have that ability. He's faithful 'til the very end and desires a personal, honest, and open relationship with each of us. "Even through the eye of the storm, you are never alone." He's waiting for you...
Now, my normal thoughts when I used to ask myself the question: where do I stand? I would compare myself would other people and inevitably get depressed because there is always someone who seems to be doing better than me in some apsect of life. But, tonight, I know where I stand and I'm content with it. My answer tonight was to compare myself with God. At first when you hear that you would think it would be more depressing because how could you ever get any happiness by comparing yourself with something perfect? My answer is that I draw my worth from the Lord now and not from others. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I don't care about what people think, but I know how my Father in heaven feels about me and ultimately, that's all I need. I also know how that same Father in heaven feels about every person on this earth: 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." He loves each one of us.
If you find that you are in the midst of a downward spiral and can't seem to draw your worth from anything, don't wait, just surrender yourself and His holy spirit will do the rest. I promise there is worth and healing at the cross. People will always have the ability to let you down, but God doesn't have that ability. He's faithful 'til the very end and desires a personal, honest, and open relationship with each of us. "Even through the eye of the storm, you are never alone." He's waiting for you...
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