What do you want most at the moment? Is it a warm chocolate dessert? Maybe a cute dress or shirt you saw at the mall? To be rich and famous? Maybe it's even to find true love...Thanks to society, we have been shaped to believe we need to have the next fashion trends, that we need to have the latest music on itunes, that we need the best money can buy. It has left us always wanting a little bit more.
Have you ever heard those crazy, intense stories of people who felt called to go somewhere they have never been before and to share the gospel, maybe even putting themselves in danger? You think instantly, "How in the world can they go somewhere with no money, no food, no shelter, no connections, no nothing?" Well the truth is, they have everything they could possibly need, Jesus Christ.
According to the Bible, ALL we should be consumed with in this life, is wanting to show the love of our maker to others, to be compassionate and encouraging, to be positive and inspiring, to be leaders and followers and to change this world so that the children of God may experience the next, the ultimate resting place, the eternal Heaven. And when we do so, He blesses us with more than we could ever imagine. When we become so consumed with material items, we make money seem as if it reigns over God, and that is not who we are called to be. We are called to serve only one God, our Lord Jesus Christ. When we give God our lives, to be lead daily, we should not worry about worldly materials, because all we will need, God will provide.
I challenge you to walk in my shoes for a day. Do not worry about what outfit you will wear in the morning, but how you can encourage someone, and do not worry about what you look like tomorrow, but how you can compliment someone else. If you are worried about what people will think, worry that they see God working through you, not a hypocrite for the day, but a renewed person for life. If you are worried about who is looking, be true to your heart, to God, and show through your actions that God is present. Some people like attention, and for those, the people who are looking at you, should see what you believe in, what you stand for, and what you value.
You should also make a conscious effort to seek out those who are not looking. Some people do not like attention, but as Christian, we sometimes need to bring attention to ourselves, so that we can bring attention to God. Maybe those who are not looking already think they have a good relationship established, some are scared, some are hurt, and some are just refusing to make the best decision of their life. It is up to us, as the hands and feet of God, to share with others what God is doing in our lives, so that doors will be opened, and lives will be changed!
When we become consumed with ourselves, and our outward appearance, we forget to take a look at the inside and to ask ourselves where our heart is today. Are we letting God lead us daily, or are we trying to maintain control? Where is your heart? With material or worldly possessions? Or right along side the hand of God? If you have not been saved, or if you feel like you have gotten off track with God, do not hesitate to talk to the best listener I have ever met. He is always present, no matter where you think you may be in life, God has never left you, nor will he ever! Our Lord, God Almighty will always provide the very best of what we need in life, He is the ultimate supplier, He will always see us through!
.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Honest Prayer
As I sat down in chapel today, I thought to myself this would be just like any other guest speaker, trying to make himself look good while also trying to connect to the students. When he started talking to gain our attention, he was speaking about scripts, and how as humans, we like to have control of our own lives, and basically, write our own scripts for our lives. This particular speaker stated that statistics were showing that more and more students at the college age were leaving the church and becoming less involved in the word of God. It made me realize that everyone is different, in a deeper way that any of us ever think about it. I know for myself, that anytime I feel like I can't go on, if I don't understand, or if doubts are filling my mind, I go straight to God in complete selflessness and spill out everything. Like it says in the Bible, He has conquered the world, so I know that he can handle whatever I put in his hands. It all leads back to honest prayer.
What is honest prayer exactly? Take time to ask yourself, "What do I pray about?" and answer honestly. Is it basic things as far as praying for God to watch over your family and your loved ones, to be with you through the night and next day, to help you rest and to be prepared for the next day? Or are you laying your heart on the line for God, asking for things your desire, but ultimately for God to do His will in your life, to lead you and guide you, and to make it clear of which path you are supposed to chose, to give you understanding as to why He is pointing you in a certain direction?
I believe that honest prayer comes from an honest heart, and to receive God's plan, you must be open to receive it. I challenge you to be open to whatever God may throw your way. Don't be hesitant to follow Him, because He IS light, He IS the way, He IS the truth and He will NEVER steer you wrong. You cannot pick and chose what to accept from God and what to ignore. When you pick and chose you are slamming the door in God's face, to what He has planned for you, and to opportunities He has made. Stop trying to write your own script, and start helping God by living out His ultimate script. Make God's show successful, make others want to watch, and to join in and be apart of His plan! There is nothing greater than being apart of God's everlasting family for eternity.....make the choice to join me.
What is honest prayer exactly? Take time to ask yourself, "What do I pray about?" and answer honestly. Is it basic things as far as praying for God to watch over your family and your loved ones, to be with you through the night and next day, to help you rest and to be prepared for the next day? Or are you laying your heart on the line for God, asking for things your desire, but ultimately for God to do His will in your life, to lead you and guide you, and to make it clear of which path you are supposed to chose, to give you understanding as to why He is pointing you in a certain direction?
I believe that honest prayer comes from an honest heart, and to receive God's plan, you must be open to receive it. I challenge you to be open to whatever God may throw your way. Don't be hesitant to follow Him, because He IS light, He IS the way, He IS the truth and He will NEVER steer you wrong. You cannot pick and chose what to accept from God and what to ignore. When you pick and chose you are slamming the door in God's face, to what He has planned for you, and to opportunities He has made. Stop trying to write your own script, and start helping God by living out His ultimate script. Make God's show successful, make others want to watch, and to join in and be apart of His plan! There is nothing greater than being apart of God's everlasting family for eternity.....make the choice to join me.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Amazing Grace
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
It is Christmas Eve Dinner and you have prepared all the fixings (turkey, stuffing, greens beans, potatoes, and more). It is just you and and your spouse, and possible children and you are not expecting anyone else, but you hear a knock at the door. When you open the door, you see a man in poor shape, he is wearing tattered clothing, has an unkept beard, and is covered in filth from head to toe. All he asks is if you could spare a plate of food. So, you go and make him a plate of food, and send him on his way.
Most Christians would say that this was a sufficient act of kindness, but it falls short of illustrating true grace. What if the story went a little differently? Let's say that it is still Christmas Eve Dinner and still have all the fixings, and there is a knock at the door. It is the same man, in tattered clothing, still filthy and clearly in need. You notice that he has a clear trash bag thrown over his shoulder, and as you look closer, you notice that they are your presents. This man has stolen your gifts and now has the nerve to ask you if you can spare some food? Going to the kitchen and making him a plate of food and letting him be on his way illustrates true grace, giving someone the opposite of what they deserve. To God, we are all like this man.
According to the Bible we are all sinners and fall short of God's standards. So God told Mary that His spirit had laid upon her and that she would have his son, and that she shall name is Jesus. Jesus lived a perfect life and always did what was right. He lived a life that no human possibly could. Jesus then died and shed His blood on the cross for our sins. The Bible tells us that on the cross, God treated Jesus as if He had lived our lives, so that we may be treated as if we had lived His. Jesus was dead for three days, and on the third day, He rose from the dead!
It was once asked of Martin Luther, why he always preached the gospel of grace every Sunday, and Luther replied, "Because every week you forget it".
I challenge you to not forget the grace of God for one minute, thank Him for the reality that because of His grace, you are now fully acceptable in his sight and forgiven completely of all past, present and future sins. THAT is amazing grace!
It is Christmas Eve Dinner and you have prepared all the fixings (turkey, stuffing, greens beans, potatoes, and more). It is just you and and your spouse, and possible children and you are not expecting anyone else, but you hear a knock at the door. When you open the door, you see a man in poor shape, he is wearing tattered clothing, has an unkept beard, and is covered in filth from head to toe. All he asks is if you could spare a plate of food. So, you go and make him a plate of food, and send him on his way.
Most Christians would say that this was a sufficient act of kindness, but it falls short of illustrating true grace. What if the story went a little differently? Let's say that it is still Christmas Eve Dinner and still have all the fixings, and there is a knock at the door. It is the same man, in tattered clothing, still filthy and clearly in need. You notice that he has a clear trash bag thrown over his shoulder, and as you look closer, you notice that they are your presents. This man has stolen your gifts and now has the nerve to ask you if you can spare some food? Going to the kitchen and making him a plate of food and letting him be on his way illustrates true grace, giving someone the opposite of what they deserve. To God, we are all like this man.
According to the Bible we are all sinners and fall short of God's standards. So God told Mary that His spirit had laid upon her and that she would have his son, and that she shall name is Jesus. Jesus lived a perfect life and always did what was right. He lived a life that no human possibly could. Jesus then died and shed His blood on the cross for our sins. The Bible tells us that on the cross, God treated Jesus as if He had lived our lives, so that we may be treated as if we had lived His. Jesus was dead for three days, and on the third day, He rose from the dead!
It was once asked of Martin Luther, why he always preached the gospel of grace every Sunday, and Luther replied, "Because every week you forget it".
I challenge you to not forget the grace of God for one minute, thank Him for the reality that because of His grace, you are now fully acceptable in his sight and forgiven completely of all past, present and future sins. THAT is amazing grace!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Serious Diagnosis
"There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." -Romans 3:22-23
Have you ever been advised by someone to see a doctor for something that you thought was perfectly fine? Something you thought you already had control over? Something that was already good enough? Maybe you have misdiagnosed your own condition. I myself believe a lot of Christians struggle with having this same attitude when it comes to their spiritual condition. When you go to church, participate in worship, read your Bible, pray, watch your language, don't drink alcohol, or maybe not even smoke, you may feel like you are living a good Christian life. What most people forget is that there is a difference between what society views as a Christian life and what God knows is a Christian Life.
According to the Bible, there is no difference between the religious and the irreligious. It does not matter whether you are a missionary or a murderer, a preacher or a prostitute, we are all equally guilty and contaminated before God. We are sinners not only by choice but by birth alone. We are born enemies of God, spiritually dead. Until we know the seriousness of our diagnosis, it is impossible to appreciate the cure. Unless we are willing to admit that we are sick, guilty, and separated from God, we will never experience the power of God's miraculous cure- grace.
By condemning the human race through one man, Adam, God was able to save those who received His grace through one man, Jesus Christ! We need to be reminded of the value of God's grace because it alone gives us ongoing, intimate access to Him, even on our most spiritual highs, we are still in desperate need of God's grace. Embracing God's diagnosis and cure can radically change your life forever.
I challenge you today to reflect on your relationship with God and make a diagnosis. Is it really all that it could be? I want you to experience the grace of God to its full extent. If your heart and spirit are not completely open for God to move in, you will feel stuck, never moving forward. Your relationship with God should be ever growing, so much that you are constantly amazed by His grace.
Have you ever been advised by someone to see a doctor for something that you thought was perfectly fine? Something you thought you already had control over? Something that was already good enough? Maybe you have misdiagnosed your own condition. I myself believe a lot of Christians struggle with having this same attitude when it comes to their spiritual condition. When you go to church, participate in worship, read your Bible, pray, watch your language, don't drink alcohol, or maybe not even smoke, you may feel like you are living a good Christian life. What most people forget is that there is a difference between what society views as a Christian life and what God knows is a Christian Life.
According to the Bible, there is no difference between the religious and the irreligious. It does not matter whether you are a missionary or a murderer, a preacher or a prostitute, we are all equally guilty and contaminated before God. We are sinners not only by choice but by birth alone. We are born enemies of God, spiritually dead. Until we know the seriousness of our diagnosis, it is impossible to appreciate the cure. Unless we are willing to admit that we are sick, guilty, and separated from God, we will never experience the power of God's miraculous cure- grace.
By condemning the human race through one man, Adam, God was able to save those who received His grace through one man, Jesus Christ! We need to be reminded of the value of God's grace because it alone gives us ongoing, intimate access to Him, even on our most spiritual highs, we are still in desperate need of God's grace. Embracing God's diagnosis and cure can radically change your life forever.
I challenge you today to reflect on your relationship with God and make a diagnosis. Is it really all that it could be? I want you to experience the grace of God to its full extent. If your heart and spirit are not completely open for God to move in, you will feel stuck, never moving forward. Your relationship with God should be ever growing, so much that you are constantly amazed by His grace.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Cheap Grace
"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin, how can we live in it any longer?" Romans 6:1-2
"Once saved, always saved" is one of the most abused statements in Christianity. You know the ones who have said the prayer, but still chose to live a sinful life? German martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer calls this "Cheap Grace".
All too often I find myself struggling because I am striving for something that does not exist, perfection, instead of striving for excellence. When I take time to realize that I have sinned, I believe it is safe to say, and it hurts to know, that I will do it again in the future. But because I am a believer in the power of Jesus Christ, I know I can cast all my cares upon Him, and He will guide me in His light. That I can confess, ask for forgiveness, pray, and continue to passionately follow Him. It is said that your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace, and your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace. Sometimes it may be hard to see God's grace in a situation, or even to try and see it in every aspect of your life, but I challenge you to even look for God's grace in the walk from your front door to your car, or in the drive through of McDonald's. The grace of God is merely looked over, instead of appreciated for everything it is. Appreciate our Lord for everything He is and everything He has provided.
If you are struggling with taking the grace of God for granted, it is never to late to let Jesus take the reigns on your life. I hope that in some way, you are blessed by knowing amazing grace really does exist and that you can experience it on your own in so many wonderful ways. Just let God show you....
"Once saved, always saved" is one of the most abused statements in Christianity. You know the ones who have said the prayer, but still chose to live a sinful life? German martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer calls this "Cheap Grace".
All too often I find myself struggling because I am striving for something that does not exist, perfection, instead of striving for excellence. When I take time to realize that I have sinned, I believe it is safe to say, and it hurts to know, that I will do it again in the future. But because I am a believer in the power of Jesus Christ, I know I can cast all my cares upon Him, and He will guide me in His light. That I can confess, ask for forgiveness, pray, and continue to passionately follow Him. It is said that your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace, and your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace. Sometimes it may be hard to see God's grace in a situation, or even to try and see it in every aspect of your life, but I challenge you to even look for God's grace in the walk from your front door to your car, or in the drive through of McDonald's. The grace of God is merely looked over, instead of appreciated for everything it is. Appreciate our Lord for everything He is and everything He has provided.
If you are struggling with taking the grace of God for granted, it is never to late to let Jesus take the reigns on your life. I hope that in some way, you are blessed by knowing amazing grace really does exist and that you can experience it on your own in so many wonderful ways. Just let God show you....
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)