It's been a really long time since I've updated this blog. Wow, it's been a really long time. I'll get back to it soon, I promise. There's definitely a lot on my mind. You want a glimpse into what's goin on?
Well.....................
Compassion is definitely a hot topic. I've been thinking deeply on that the past few days, and what it really means, how I'm living compassionately in my life, and what I can do better to be more biblically accurate in how I show compassion to people.
Another thing that has been brewing in my mind...mostly since last night, has been the idea of dreams. Having dreams in my life. I've sat and thought about it and realized I don't have any solid dreams for my life. How pathetic is that. I know I want to go to UNCC for school, I know I really like Spanish, among other foreign languages, and I know I want to serve God in whatever I do. But, for now, that's all there is. I don't have any dreams for anything right now. That is definitely gonna change soon tho, I know. Nobody can live for very long with no dreams.
So yeah...that and a lot more, is on the way lol...thank you if you are still following this blog, visiting the site every once in a while to see if it's still up and running lol...it is. I've just been very lazy about it lately. But I'm gonna try to change that. My summer is up to nothing but work, church, and hanging out. I get a lot of free time in between those "topics of activity," i guess you could call them. So i should be back soon. Stay tuned!!
Peace and love from God!!!!!!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Learn to be weak
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, i delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.--2 Corinthians 12:9-10
I can do all everything through him who gives me strength.--Philippians 4:13
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.--Ephesians 1:4-6
The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.--Matthew 26:41
For about the past week, I've been focusing on learning how to be completely weak. To submit to this fact that I'm weak, and to know that it's impossible for me to get anywhere on my own. In this weakness, I've been learning to discover that I am truly nothing without God's help. I can do nothing without God's help. Trying to do things on my own, or depending on logical thinking to get me through will NOT provide me the answer I need to have to get through anything.
That's the problem with the human creation. We have free will, and a brain that has the capacity to process complex situations and come to a conclusion. And we think that 's enough. We think we have things under control because we know how to think about stuff to find an answer. Yeah, it may be an answer, but is it THE answer?
Another thing humans like to do is find justification in everything. Why the earth turns, why the sun is hot, why we're attracted to each other...what's really out there? Even the natural inclination to believe that there's something bigger than us that is "in control." The ideal definition of control is making sure everything works in harmony and doesn't collide into a big disaster.
However, God is not just "in control," but he's IN CONTROL. You waking up in the morning? Yeah, you could explain that in science class, but God allowed you to wake up. We're not guaranteed tomorrow. Who knows? you could just have heart failure in your sleep and die. Or you could be bitten by a deadly spider in your sleep. So waking up is a gift from God. Or how about this? Your car starting? Yeah, that's God. Sure, mechanics could explain why a car starts, but what about those times when a spark plug or something sits beautifully in place and then randomly decides to pop out one afternoon as you're pulling into a certain neighborhood, and then you go knock on the door of someone that could very possibly change your life forever--or even you could change their life.
There are too many unexplained variables in life to think that we're all there is. You can call it luck, fate, karma, lucky underwear--whatever it is, it's nothing compared to God. GOD IS IN CONTROL.
Mark 10:27--With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.
The context of this scripture is salvation. A rich young man couldn't sell his possessions to follow Jesus. Jesus's point was to store treasure in heaven, not on earth. Hope and wait for something more than this earth could offer.
But this scripture is relevant for everything. Because salvation is just the start. It doesn't end there. If anything, things get harder. Because there was a war in heaven, once upon a time. Jesus decked the heaven out of Satan, and threw him and his croonies out of heaven. Now, in anger, jealousy, and what-have-you, Satan wants to do everything he can to get you away from God.
But there is hope. There is always hope. Trust in God, depend on God, live for Him and fight to stay living for Him, and you can grow. That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger. You don't grow by picking dasies. You grow by chucking rocks across a river--while standing waist-deep in it. It's gonna be rough trying to get it across, but after you do it a few times, it'll be "nothin but a thing" as my dad likes to put it. Why? Because you've been growing in strength, getting that rock across the river.
Just admit you're weak and you can't do it alone. Admit you need God. Do whatever you need to, talk to whoever you need to (including me if you would like) to come to that full realization. From the biggest decision of your life, to even deciding what to eat for lunch--you need God's help. Yeah, you laugh at deciding on lunch, but you never know. Try it sometime. You may just be surprised.
But take a look at Ephesians 1. My bible titles it as "Spiritual Blessings in Christ." Everything under that section is what you can achieve by admitting you're weak and depending fully on God. It may seem impossible--being created to be holy and blameless...can we as humans ever really achieve that? Mark 10:27--it's possible with God.
To anyone who reads this: I love you, and my prayer and wish is that if you don't know God, don't know Jesus and what he did for YOU on the Cross, don't appreciate it, don't live for him, to live to your fullest....my prayer is that you will come to know him some day.
To God be the Glory.
Amen
I can do all everything through him who gives me strength.--Philippians 4:13
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.--Ephesians 1:4-6
The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.--Matthew 26:41
For about the past week, I've been focusing on learning how to be completely weak. To submit to this fact that I'm weak, and to know that it's impossible for me to get anywhere on my own. In this weakness, I've been learning to discover that I am truly nothing without God's help. I can do nothing without God's help. Trying to do things on my own, or depending on logical thinking to get me through will NOT provide me the answer I need to have to get through anything.
That's the problem with the human creation. We have free will, and a brain that has the capacity to process complex situations and come to a conclusion. And we think that 's enough. We think we have things under control because we know how to think about stuff to find an answer. Yeah, it may be an answer, but is it THE answer?
Another thing humans like to do is find justification in everything. Why the earth turns, why the sun is hot, why we're attracted to each other...what's really out there? Even the natural inclination to believe that there's something bigger than us that is "in control." The ideal definition of control is making sure everything works in harmony and doesn't collide into a big disaster.
However, God is not just "in control," but he's IN CONTROL. You waking up in the morning? Yeah, you could explain that in science class, but God allowed you to wake up. We're not guaranteed tomorrow. Who knows? you could just have heart failure in your sleep and die. Or you could be bitten by a deadly spider in your sleep. So waking up is a gift from God. Or how about this? Your car starting? Yeah, that's God. Sure, mechanics could explain why a car starts, but what about those times when a spark plug or something sits beautifully in place and then randomly decides to pop out one afternoon as you're pulling into a certain neighborhood, and then you go knock on the door of someone that could very possibly change your life forever--or even you could change their life.
There are too many unexplained variables in life to think that we're all there is. You can call it luck, fate, karma, lucky underwear--whatever it is, it's nothing compared to God. GOD IS IN CONTROL.
Mark 10:27--With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.
The context of this scripture is salvation. A rich young man couldn't sell his possessions to follow Jesus. Jesus's point was to store treasure in heaven, not on earth. Hope and wait for something more than this earth could offer.
But this scripture is relevant for everything. Because salvation is just the start. It doesn't end there. If anything, things get harder. Because there was a war in heaven, once upon a time. Jesus decked the heaven out of Satan, and threw him and his croonies out of heaven. Now, in anger, jealousy, and what-have-you, Satan wants to do everything he can to get you away from God.
But there is hope. There is always hope. Trust in God, depend on God, live for Him and fight to stay living for Him, and you can grow. That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger. You don't grow by picking dasies. You grow by chucking rocks across a river--while standing waist-deep in it. It's gonna be rough trying to get it across, but after you do it a few times, it'll be "nothin but a thing" as my dad likes to put it. Why? Because you've been growing in strength, getting that rock across the river.
Just admit you're weak and you can't do it alone. Admit you need God. Do whatever you need to, talk to whoever you need to (including me if you would like) to come to that full realization. From the biggest decision of your life, to even deciding what to eat for lunch--you need God's help. Yeah, you laugh at deciding on lunch, but you never know. Try it sometime. You may just be surprised.
But take a look at Ephesians 1. My bible titles it as "Spiritual Blessings in Christ." Everything under that section is what you can achieve by admitting you're weak and depending fully on God. It may seem impossible--being created to be holy and blameless...can we as humans ever really achieve that? Mark 10:27--it's possible with God.
To anyone who reads this: I love you, and my prayer and wish is that if you don't know God, don't know Jesus and what he did for YOU on the Cross, don't appreciate it, don't live for him, to live to your fullest....my prayer is that you will come to know him some day.
To God be the Glory.
Amen
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
1 Peter 4:1-8
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do--living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Amen. This is a rather large scripture, and there's a lot to dig through, but we can do it :)
So, to start off, let's talk about suffering. A very interesting concept in and of itself, but when combined with the context of this scripture, it takes on a deeper meaning. Jesus Christ--God in the flesh--came down to earth so that we--frail human beings--might have the chance at salvation. He taught us a new way to live, with some non-traditional actions, and then was arrested for teaching these things and performing the miracles he did. He was flogged--39 lashes of a cat-of-nine-tails; a whip with shards of metal and glass and bone at the end of it. He wore a crown of thorns on his head--which caused rather a lot of bleeding: the head is the most vascular part of the body, so bleeds really easily. He had huge nails drove through his hands and feet. And, what I think is the worst kind of suffering he could go through: being separated from his Abba Father, with whom he was very close, because he took on the sin of the world. And Isaiah 59:2 says that our sin separates us from God.
Why did he suffer so? Because he loves us, and because it says in 1 Peter 2: 18-22 that slaves (in essence, us before our supreme master, God) should submit to their masters with all respect--and that goes for the masters who are harsh as well as those who are just. Because (vv19) "it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God." And in the second half of verse 20, it says "But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God." So Jesus' suffering for us on that cross, and in the beating of his mortal body for us, is commendable before God, and thus he rose on the 3rd day, becoming one with God yet again.
And it is the same with us. We as Christians will suffer abuse--as it says in verse 4--for being different than the worldly people around us. But if we stand up under the abuse and the unjust suffering that will come from the persecution we receive--(2 Timothy 3:12--In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted)--we will stand commendable before God, and as a result, we will live a life free from sin.
And not only that. Verse 2 says that as we suffer and live a life free from sin, we will be living for the will of God, and not the evil desires that so plague this world today. What exactly are the evil desires? Well, in verse 3 it says that the pagans--those who are not Christians--chose to live in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. Yep, I can definitely see the non-Christians of today still doing those things. And even today they too think it's strange that Christians don't "plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation." Just the other week this drunk guy came into the dorm building, boasting about some sketch bar of some sort, where the women degraded themselves by barely wearing clothes and served the guys hot wings. He had asked us (a couple of friends of mine and me) if we would go to that sort of thing--even for just the wings--and was astonished at how we all answered no. Granted, at that point there was no abuse going on, but it is the same principle in effect--he thought us strange and, if he were a little more sober or drunk--you can never tell who's more violent these days--he most likely would have heaped insults at us, and attempted to make fools of us for choosing such a lifestyle.
But hey, verse 5 says that people like him will have to give account to "him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." All we can do as disciples is live out John 13:34 and love him as Jesus loved us.
Verse 7 changes gears a little bit and starts talking about the urgency of living a godly live here and now. "The end of all things is near," it says. Not even Jesus knows the day or the hour (Mark 13:32), but we have to be prepared for when it does come, so we can be presented pure and blameless before God. So, to do this, we need to be clear minded and self-controlled to be able to pray--and the importance of prayer is an entirely other can of worms--but the focus here is to be clear minded and self-controlled. The way to do that is to repent of whatever sin that is in your life (and you will receive times of refreshing--Acts 3:19) and to live out God's commands, so you can have control over your mortal body, and you won't give in to its evil desires.
And of course, verse 8 is an echo of John 13:34 when it says "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins." Love is another one of those big subjects that is way too big to explain fully in the midst of another focus. But love--especially love like that which God has for us--is much, much stronger than anything creation could possibly come up with (Romans 8:38).
So what have we learned? Suffering in your body--fighting sin--helps you to overcome that sin and helps you to live the rest of your life for the will of God.
Non-Christians live crazy, out-of-control lives and think it's strange that you, a Christian, don't join in, and will sometimes "heap abuse" on you for it. But they will be held accountable for that too--just as we will be held accountable for living lives unlike those that "pagans" are living.
The end is coming. We don't know when it is, but we wanna be ready, so we're gonna be clear minded and self-controlled so that we can pray--which can help in all situations.
Let's love. It's stronger than anything the enemy can devise, so let's use it to drown out his attacks.
I love you all, I hope you got something out of this--I certainly did.
To God be the Glory.
Amen.
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Amen. This is a rather large scripture, and there's a lot to dig through, but we can do it :)
So, to start off, let's talk about suffering. A very interesting concept in and of itself, but when combined with the context of this scripture, it takes on a deeper meaning. Jesus Christ--God in the flesh--came down to earth so that we--frail human beings--might have the chance at salvation. He taught us a new way to live, with some non-traditional actions, and then was arrested for teaching these things and performing the miracles he did. He was flogged--39 lashes of a cat-of-nine-tails; a whip with shards of metal and glass and bone at the end of it. He wore a crown of thorns on his head--which caused rather a lot of bleeding: the head is the most vascular part of the body, so bleeds really easily. He had huge nails drove through his hands and feet. And, what I think is the worst kind of suffering he could go through: being separated from his Abba Father, with whom he was very close, because he took on the sin of the world. And Isaiah 59:2 says that our sin separates us from God.
Why did he suffer so? Because he loves us, and because it says in 1 Peter 2: 18-22 that slaves (in essence, us before our supreme master, God) should submit to their masters with all respect--and that goes for the masters who are harsh as well as those who are just. Because (vv19) "it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God." And in the second half of verse 20, it says "But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God." So Jesus' suffering for us on that cross, and in the beating of his mortal body for us, is commendable before God, and thus he rose on the 3rd day, becoming one with God yet again.
And it is the same with us. We as Christians will suffer abuse--as it says in verse 4--for being different than the worldly people around us. But if we stand up under the abuse and the unjust suffering that will come from the persecution we receive--(2 Timothy 3:12--In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted)--we will stand commendable before God, and as a result, we will live a life free from sin.
And not only that. Verse 2 says that as we suffer and live a life free from sin, we will be living for the will of God, and not the evil desires that so plague this world today. What exactly are the evil desires? Well, in verse 3 it says that the pagans--those who are not Christians--chose to live in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. Yep, I can definitely see the non-Christians of today still doing those things. And even today they too think it's strange that Christians don't "plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation." Just the other week this drunk guy came into the dorm building, boasting about some sketch bar of some sort, where the women degraded themselves by barely wearing clothes and served the guys hot wings. He had asked us (a couple of friends of mine and me) if we would go to that sort of thing--even for just the wings--and was astonished at how we all answered no. Granted, at that point there was no abuse going on, but it is the same principle in effect--he thought us strange and, if he were a little more sober or drunk--you can never tell who's more violent these days--he most likely would have heaped insults at us, and attempted to make fools of us for choosing such a lifestyle.
But hey, verse 5 says that people like him will have to give account to "him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." All we can do as disciples is live out John 13:34 and love him as Jesus loved us.
Verse 7 changes gears a little bit and starts talking about the urgency of living a godly live here and now. "The end of all things is near," it says. Not even Jesus knows the day or the hour (Mark 13:32), but we have to be prepared for when it does come, so we can be presented pure and blameless before God. So, to do this, we need to be clear minded and self-controlled to be able to pray--and the importance of prayer is an entirely other can of worms--but the focus here is to be clear minded and self-controlled. The way to do that is to repent of whatever sin that is in your life (and you will receive times of refreshing--Acts 3:19) and to live out God's commands, so you can have control over your mortal body, and you won't give in to its evil desires.
And of course, verse 8 is an echo of John 13:34 when it says "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins." Love is another one of those big subjects that is way too big to explain fully in the midst of another focus. But love--especially love like that which God has for us--is much, much stronger than anything creation could possibly come up with (Romans 8:38).
So what have we learned? Suffering in your body--fighting sin--helps you to overcome that sin and helps you to live the rest of your life for the will of God.
Non-Christians live crazy, out-of-control lives and think it's strange that you, a Christian, don't join in, and will sometimes "heap abuse" on you for it. But they will be held accountable for that too--just as we will be held accountable for living lives unlike those that "pagans" are living.
The end is coming. We don't know when it is, but we wanna be ready, so we're gonna be clear minded and self-controlled so that we can pray--which can help in all situations.
Let's love. It's stronger than anything the enemy can devise, so let's use it to drown out his attacks.
I love you all, I hope you got something out of this--I certainly did.
To God be the Glory.
Amen.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
My friend Gideon and I have decided that we are going to start getting radical about boasting about our weaknesses--as 2 Corinthians 12:8 talks about. Part of that, we have decided, is reflecting for about 24 hours on a certain scripture. And this is our first one.
And this is my preliminary reflection.
The first thing I notice about this scripture when I read it, is God's mercy. Unfathomable. We as humans screw up sooooo often, many times having to do with the same subject sooooo repeatedly, it's a wonder God doesn't just get rid of us immediately. But he doesn't. He has mercy on us. Or, to make it personal, he has mercy on ME. My life is so screwed up, just because of the fact that I'm human, and God still gives me yet another chance, and then another, and YET another. Why? Because he loves me. He knows I'm trying with my entire being to live for him, and that I have a much larger purpose than wallowing in the everyday mistakes I make, so he sets me up for another chance to do something to show my love.
Which is what he does in this scripture. He sets it up by telling Paul to give this command: be a living sacrifice. But not only be a sacrifice, but offer yourself as a living sacrifice. I don't know about you, but it helps me understand the content better if I know the actual definition of different words that have specific meanings. Like, for instance, sacrifice. To sacrifice means to give up or surrender something for the sake of something else. In this case, you're giving up your body--as the scripture says--for the sake of being holy and pleasing to God. That means that whatever your body feels at any point in time--fill in the blank--it doesn't matter. Because God has mercy on you, you should want to show your gratitude by striving for holiness as best you can. And you know that can't be accomplished on your own--as humans, like I said, we are ridiculously weak. We can't swat a fly without the help of a plastic device to squash it for us. So what we need to do is sacrifice ourselves completely to God--surrender ourselves, give our carnal desires up--to show our gratitude--our worship--to God. Because of what God has done for us, we need to show gratitude. I know I can't help but do that. I know what he brought me from.
Verse 2 goes on to say that we shouldn't blend in with the standards set by the world, and follow its patterns--and by that I mean that anything that separates a true Christian/disciple from anything they would consider "the world"; instead, we should be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Go back and read that last part again. Transformed. Renewing. I'm gonna be a stickler again and give definitions for each of these words.
Transformed: "To change the nature, function, or condition of."
Renewing: "reviving, restablishing."
Okay, let's put that into context: Change the nature, the function, the condition of your mind by reviving and restablishing it.
Alright. Now what does that mean? Well, it's not put after verse one for nothing. Sacrificing yourself, your body, to God, and living for him will alone transform your mind, and renew it. When I say "living for him" however, I mean truly living for him. Not just saying that you live for him. Nothing transforms if there's only half a plan, or half a heart behind the plan. You can plan to change the nature of the economy, President Obama, but unless your entire heart is behind it, it's never gonna happen. (Disclaimer: I am not making a political statement. I am stating an example of a decision that truly needs a full heart--that needs sacrifice, in order to be accomplished. And for the record, there is no authority on earth that hasn't been established by God, so President Obama, I pray that your plan for the economy is seen through to fruition.)
So anyway, truly living for God, truly sacrificing yourself to be holy and pleasing before your Eternal Father, will find your mind transformed. It will find your mind renewed in its habits, in the normal thought patterns that are formed throughout the day, consciously and unconsciously.
Hmm...interesting thought. Gideon, if you're reading this, you're hitting the nail on the head today with this scripture. Amen.
The rest of the verse goes on to say "Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."
So after you sacrifice your desires/feelings to be holy and pleasing before God, and after your mind is transformed and renewed as a result of truly living for Him, you will be able to know what to do to, and you'll know how to challenge the knowledge you have and are presented to discern whether or not it is truly God's will. What is God's will though? It's whatever God wants from us--what he wants us to do, where he wants us to go, what he wants us to say...the list of the question words is limitless. As we continue in God's word, studying it out, getting deep to the heart of the matter, the Spirit reveals to us what God wants from us at that time--whether it be more humility, more strength, more trust...it's what God wants from us. Plain and simple.
So amen. Who knew 2 verses could say so much? I certainly never thought about this verse to that extent before...even though I've read it countless times. But God's will is for me to get something from this verse. And amen, I certainly did. There is definitely much to think about, to mull over...to meditate on. So as I meditate on this scripture, and what exactly God wants from me from this verse, here's a challenge. You do it too. Really think deeply about this verse, and what God could possibly want you to hear from the words written on that page. Even if you've read that very verse a hundred times a thousand. I'm sure there's something new there. God still reveals stuff like this to me in verses I've read and even thought deeply about before. But the season is different for every situation. So I have to be prepared, and be able to test and approve what exactly God wants from me.
To God be the Glory!!! and May his grace be enough for you!!!
I love you all <3
My friend Gideon and I have decided that we are going to start getting radical about boasting about our weaknesses--as 2 Corinthians 12:8 talks about. Part of that, we have decided, is reflecting for about 24 hours on a certain scripture. And this is our first one.
And this is my preliminary reflection.
The first thing I notice about this scripture when I read it, is God's mercy. Unfathomable. We as humans screw up sooooo often, many times having to do with the same subject sooooo repeatedly, it's a wonder God doesn't just get rid of us immediately. But he doesn't. He has mercy on us. Or, to make it personal, he has mercy on ME. My life is so screwed up, just because of the fact that I'm human, and God still gives me yet another chance, and then another, and YET another. Why? Because he loves me. He knows I'm trying with my entire being to live for him, and that I have a much larger purpose than wallowing in the everyday mistakes I make, so he sets me up for another chance to do something to show my love.
Which is what he does in this scripture. He sets it up by telling Paul to give this command: be a living sacrifice. But not only be a sacrifice, but offer yourself as a living sacrifice. I don't know about you, but it helps me understand the content better if I know the actual definition of different words that have specific meanings. Like, for instance, sacrifice. To sacrifice means to give up or surrender something for the sake of something else. In this case, you're giving up your body--as the scripture says--for the sake of being holy and pleasing to God. That means that whatever your body feels at any point in time--fill in the blank--it doesn't matter. Because God has mercy on you, you should want to show your gratitude by striving for holiness as best you can. And you know that can't be accomplished on your own--as humans, like I said, we are ridiculously weak. We can't swat a fly without the help of a plastic device to squash it for us. So what we need to do is sacrifice ourselves completely to God--surrender ourselves, give our carnal desires up--to show our gratitude--our worship--to God. Because of what God has done for us, we need to show gratitude. I know I can't help but do that. I know what he brought me from.
Verse 2 goes on to say that we shouldn't blend in with the standards set by the world, and follow its patterns--and by that I mean that anything that separates a true Christian/disciple from anything they would consider "the world"; instead, we should be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Go back and read that last part again. Transformed. Renewing. I'm gonna be a stickler again and give definitions for each of these words.
Transformed: "To change the nature, function, or condition of."
Renewing: "reviving, restablishing."
Okay, let's put that into context: Change the nature, the function, the condition of your mind by reviving and restablishing it.
Alright. Now what does that mean? Well, it's not put after verse one for nothing. Sacrificing yourself, your body, to God, and living for him will alone transform your mind, and renew it. When I say "living for him" however, I mean truly living for him. Not just saying that you live for him. Nothing transforms if there's only half a plan, or half a heart behind the plan. You can plan to change the nature of the economy, President Obama, but unless your entire heart is behind it, it's never gonna happen. (Disclaimer: I am not making a political statement. I am stating an example of a decision that truly needs a full heart--that needs sacrifice, in order to be accomplished. And for the record, there is no authority on earth that hasn't been established by God, so President Obama, I pray that your plan for the economy is seen through to fruition.)
So anyway, truly living for God, truly sacrificing yourself to be holy and pleasing before your Eternal Father, will find your mind transformed. It will find your mind renewed in its habits, in the normal thought patterns that are formed throughout the day, consciously and unconsciously.
Hmm...interesting thought. Gideon, if you're reading this, you're hitting the nail on the head today with this scripture. Amen.
The rest of the verse goes on to say "Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."
So after you sacrifice your desires/feelings to be holy and pleasing before God, and after your mind is transformed and renewed as a result of truly living for Him, you will be able to know what to do to, and you'll know how to challenge the knowledge you have and are presented to discern whether or not it is truly God's will. What is God's will though? It's whatever God wants from us--what he wants us to do, where he wants us to go, what he wants us to say...the list of the question words is limitless. As we continue in God's word, studying it out, getting deep to the heart of the matter, the Spirit reveals to us what God wants from us at that time--whether it be more humility, more strength, more trust...it's what God wants from us. Plain and simple.
So amen. Who knew 2 verses could say so much? I certainly never thought about this verse to that extent before...even though I've read it countless times. But God's will is for me to get something from this verse. And amen, I certainly did. There is definitely much to think about, to mull over...to meditate on. So as I meditate on this scripture, and what exactly God wants from me from this verse, here's a challenge. You do it too. Really think deeply about this verse, and what God could possibly want you to hear from the words written on that page. Even if you've read that very verse a hundred times a thousand. I'm sure there's something new there. God still reveals stuff like this to me in verses I've read and even thought deeply about before. But the season is different for every situation. So I have to be prepared, and be able to test and approve what exactly God wants from me.
To God be the Glory!!! and May his grace be enough for you!!!
I love you all <3
Monday, February 16, 2009
Amen!!!
Okay, so quick update: Jonathan is now out of the hospital and back at his apartment. And apparently he's going to be going back to classes starting tomorrow!! Dude's a trooper, that's for sure.
So it seems the big conversation-starter of late is the subject of love. The way we show love for each other--disciples and non-disciples. God's love in general, God's love for each of us, Christ's love on the Cross...the list just keeps expanding. And honestly, it's a good thing to touch on. Because as humans, we are born with the deep, innate, almost primal need to be loved, and to love. Whether it be in the form of a person or even an object, we all search for love in something. And with Valentine's day having just passed, the focus on relationships and what they mean for people is intensified. Those with boyfriends or girlfriends are appreciative of their significant other, and choose this time of year to show this appreciation in the best way they know how. The single people of this world are a little more on the lonely side of the playing field--they see the couples around them loving each other, and openly showing that love, and they want someone to love them like that; they want to love someone like that.
Well amen. There IS someone who loves you like that, whether you're single or taken. He loves you so much, he's even made the decision to die for you. You were sentenced to a fate that means you would have to be tortured for eternity--try to imagine that--and this person loves you so much, he decided to die so you wouldn't have to go through all that. He took all the blame, and all the wrong things you've done or been, and was tortured, so you would have a chance at life.
His name is Jesus Christ. And he wants you to know him, he wants you to know what he did for you. He wants you to live for him, since he died for you. He can guarantee you life--more than you could ever imagine now--and prosperity in life, and all you have to do is make the decision to live for him, and then follow him with all your heart--make him the Lord of your life--the most important thing you will ever live for.
If that's not love, please tell me what is. And in coming to die for you, he decided to impart some knowledge before he left, so you can get the most out of this decision to live for him. And the second greatest commandment he gave while walking on this earth was to love your neighbor as yourself. Show others you love them, just as Jesus loved you. Be an example for Christ. Love him with all your heart, and love others around you to show that you reflect the love that he was able to show to you.
There is also a model, of sorts, to let you in on how you can truly love others. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Think on that a little bit. Let love guide your actions. Let it be who you are. You will get along with more people--a lot less arguing will be involved, lemme tell you.
At bible talk today at CPCC, Harmony brought up this perfect example. Be Love, as you go throughout the day. Not loving, but rather Love. Personify this perfect example of God's reason for creating us. A lot more will be accomplished, and you will find not only your life improving, but also the lives of those around you. Try it, see what happens :D
Here's a few love scriptures:
John 13:34--A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
John 3:16--For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.
1 John 3:1--How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
1 John 2:10--Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.
Galatians 5:6--The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Galatians 5:13--...serve one another in love.
John 14:21--Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.
I love you guys--lemme know what you think.
So it seems the big conversation-starter of late is the subject of love. The way we show love for each other--disciples and non-disciples. God's love in general, God's love for each of us, Christ's love on the Cross...the list just keeps expanding. And honestly, it's a good thing to touch on. Because as humans, we are born with the deep, innate, almost primal need to be loved, and to love. Whether it be in the form of a person or even an object, we all search for love in something. And with Valentine's day having just passed, the focus on relationships and what they mean for people is intensified. Those with boyfriends or girlfriends are appreciative of their significant other, and choose this time of year to show this appreciation in the best way they know how. The single people of this world are a little more on the lonely side of the playing field--they see the couples around them loving each other, and openly showing that love, and they want someone to love them like that; they want to love someone like that.
Well amen. There IS someone who loves you like that, whether you're single or taken. He loves you so much, he's even made the decision to die for you. You were sentenced to a fate that means you would have to be tortured for eternity--try to imagine that--and this person loves you so much, he decided to die so you wouldn't have to go through all that. He took all the blame, and all the wrong things you've done or been, and was tortured, so you would have a chance at life.
His name is Jesus Christ. And he wants you to know him, he wants you to know what he did for you. He wants you to live for him, since he died for you. He can guarantee you life--more than you could ever imagine now--and prosperity in life, and all you have to do is make the decision to live for him, and then follow him with all your heart--make him the Lord of your life--the most important thing you will ever live for.
If that's not love, please tell me what is. And in coming to die for you, he decided to impart some knowledge before he left, so you can get the most out of this decision to live for him. And the second greatest commandment he gave while walking on this earth was to love your neighbor as yourself. Show others you love them, just as Jesus loved you. Be an example for Christ. Love him with all your heart, and love others around you to show that you reflect the love that he was able to show to you.
There is also a model, of sorts, to let you in on how you can truly love others. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Think on that a little bit. Let love guide your actions. Let it be who you are. You will get along with more people--a lot less arguing will be involved, lemme tell you.
At bible talk today at CPCC, Harmony brought up this perfect example. Be Love, as you go throughout the day. Not loving, but rather Love. Personify this perfect example of God's reason for creating us. A lot more will be accomplished, and you will find not only your life improving, but also the lives of those around you. Try it, see what happens :D
Here's a few love scriptures:
John 13:34--A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
John 3:16--For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.
1 John 3:1--How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
1 John 2:10--Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.
Galatians 5:6--The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Galatians 5:13--...serve one another in love.
John 14:21--Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.
I love you guys--lemme know what you think.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Amen
There's something people who don't follow Jesus as the One true Way need to understand: God is real. He knows everything about you, even the stuff you don't tell him. And if you're distressed and you cry out to him for help, for peace, for comfort...he'll give it to you. Granted, not many times will you see him come down from the clouds himself, since he's a spirit, but he does a lot of other things in your life to show you he's listening and does really care about you.
I hope this is encouraging for you.
My brother, Jonathan Luu, was recently admitted into Carolina Medical Center at University due to a collapsed lung, caused by a rupture in the organ that caused air to leak into his chest cavity. I went to see him today, and he is doing amazing, considering his condition. He is sitting up, eating and drinking--more than he normally does in a day--and is interacting with the many, many people who come to see him; still making less movement than he's ever made in his life. According to the doctors and nurses, he is recovering rapidly. The nurse said there's dramatic improvment in the second x-ray, and the surgeon that put the tube in his chest to vacuum out the oxygen in his chest cavity said that he is one of the best conditioned patients he's ever had in his entire practice; there is no reason to worry about his other organs failing; they are very, very strong. Jonathan himself said he's doing pretty good, despite the conditions.
I, however, had a little bit of a harder time accepting all this good news. All i heard was "Jonathan's in the hospital"...which meant he was bad enough so that he wouldn't be doing okay outside the hospital room. I don't know how you would react to it, but it scared the life out of me. I cried a lot yesterday, so much fear running through my mind. But I did what I've been trained to do--pray. I prayed like crazy. I prayed that Jonathan would be alright, that he would make a fast and favorable recovery, and that I would have peace and comfort in my heart about the situation. I prayed for a peace of mind, so that my day entirely wasn't thrown off by this news. God calmed my mind a lil bit, and then used a couple indirect things to help things ago. One of the things came in the form of York Brady. He has his quiet times, and then sends out a mass text of a scripture he looked at during the quiet time. Usually they come at 6:45 in the morning. This time tho, it decided to arrive at 10:30 at night. God planned it that way so I would have some comfort--I believe it with everything in me.
Revalation 7:17--For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
That encouraged me so much. It helped bring peace to my mind. And then today, when I went to visit him, at one point it was just me, him and his girlfriend, Niki, in the room, and Jonathan suggested that someone find an encouraging scripture to read, since he hadnt had a chance to have his quiet time yet. Niki looked at me, implying that I should do it. So I picked up his bible and opened it, just trying to find a starting point for where to look. The page it happened to settle on, and the verse my eyes just happened to see first, was Jeramiah 30:17.
'But I will restore you to health, and heal your wounds,' declares the Lord.
If that isn't direct encouragement that everything'll be okay, I honestly don't know what is. So here I am, getting encouraged out the wazoo, yet still stressing about Jonathan being in the hospital. It just didn't settle well with me that one of the guys I considered invincible was lying in a hospital bed.
But I went to Bible Talk tonight, and Jeff did a message based off the scripture in Matthew 7.
vv13--Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Basically, what the point of that lesson amounted to, was that God needs to be the focal point, the complete Lord of my life. We can't try to squeeze God into our standards; it won't work. You're not close to God by doing that. We have to submit ourselves over to God. Everything. Not just what's convenient.
I felt kinda out of it during Bible Talk, so all of that didn't impact me immediately. But once I returned to my room, I began to feel overheated. Something in me told me that it was God telling me to go outside to pray--I would feel cooled off, and closer to God all at the same time. So I did that. And in my prayer, I realized what Jeff was talking about during his lesson, and gave everything over to God. Including my nagging anxiety at Jonathan being confined to a hospital bed. I gave it over to God and told him to deal with it, because there is more I need to do with my life, than worry about something I already know is okay.
Lemme tell ya--doing that did numbers to my mind and heart. I felt peace, I felt joy. Jonathan is in good hands--both with God on his side and with the excellent doctors and nurses taking care of him. I have no reason to worry. God is awesome, and can do anything he pleases. I just gave it to him, and let him have it, and then thanked him for everything he had done in my life--from letting me see Jonathan, to letting me wake up that morning, to saving me from the darkness I was covered in.
And now, here I sit. At peace with the situation, and joyful that it'll get better. And my thoughts are focused on God--I am applying the scriptures I have heard and absorbed to my life, to get rid of the earthly nature that threatens to destroy me, and to get closer to God with all of my being.
God is amazing. If you don't believe, look again. Ask him to meet you where you are. There's no harm in doing that--and you never know just how astonishing the results actually may be.
I love you all!!!!!
I hope this is encouraging for you.
My brother, Jonathan Luu, was recently admitted into Carolina Medical Center at University due to a collapsed lung, caused by a rupture in the organ that caused air to leak into his chest cavity. I went to see him today, and he is doing amazing, considering his condition. He is sitting up, eating and drinking--more than he normally does in a day--and is interacting with the many, many people who come to see him; still making less movement than he's ever made in his life. According to the doctors and nurses, he is recovering rapidly. The nurse said there's dramatic improvment in the second x-ray, and the surgeon that put the tube in his chest to vacuum out the oxygen in his chest cavity said that he is one of the best conditioned patients he's ever had in his entire practice; there is no reason to worry about his other organs failing; they are very, very strong. Jonathan himself said he's doing pretty good, despite the conditions.
I, however, had a little bit of a harder time accepting all this good news. All i heard was "Jonathan's in the hospital"...which meant he was bad enough so that he wouldn't be doing okay outside the hospital room. I don't know how you would react to it, but it scared the life out of me. I cried a lot yesterday, so much fear running through my mind. But I did what I've been trained to do--pray. I prayed like crazy. I prayed that Jonathan would be alright, that he would make a fast and favorable recovery, and that I would have peace and comfort in my heart about the situation. I prayed for a peace of mind, so that my day entirely wasn't thrown off by this news. God calmed my mind a lil bit, and then used a couple indirect things to help things ago. One of the things came in the form of York Brady. He has his quiet times, and then sends out a mass text of a scripture he looked at during the quiet time. Usually they come at 6:45 in the morning. This time tho, it decided to arrive at 10:30 at night. God planned it that way so I would have some comfort--I believe it with everything in me.
Revalation 7:17--For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
That encouraged me so much. It helped bring peace to my mind. And then today, when I went to visit him, at one point it was just me, him and his girlfriend, Niki, in the room, and Jonathan suggested that someone find an encouraging scripture to read, since he hadnt had a chance to have his quiet time yet. Niki looked at me, implying that I should do it. So I picked up his bible and opened it, just trying to find a starting point for where to look. The page it happened to settle on, and the verse my eyes just happened to see first, was Jeramiah 30:17.
'But I will restore you to health, and heal your wounds,' declares the Lord.
If that isn't direct encouragement that everything'll be okay, I honestly don't know what is. So here I am, getting encouraged out the wazoo, yet still stressing about Jonathan being in the hospital. It just didn't settle well with me that one of the guys I considered invincible was lying in a hospital bed.
But I went to Bible Talk tonight, and Jeff did a message based off the scripture in Matthew 7.
vv13--Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Basically, what the point of that lesson amounted to, was that God needs to be the focal point, the complete Lord of my life. We can't try to squeeze God into our standards; it won't work. You're not close to God by doing that. We have to submit ourselves over to God. Everything. Not just what's convenient.
I felt kinda out of it during Bible Talk, so all of that didn't impact me immediately. But once I returned to my room, I began to feel overheated. Something in me told me that it was God telling me to go outside to pray--I would feel cooled off, and closer to God all at the same time. So I did that. And in my prayer, I realized what Jeff was talking about during his lesson, and gave everything over to God. Including my nagging anxiety at Jonathan being confined to a hospital bed. I gave it over to God and told him to deal with it, because there is more I need to do with my life, than worry about something I already know is okay.
Lemme tell ya--doing that did numbers to my mind and heart. I felt peace, I felt joy. Jonathan is in good hands--both with God on his side and with the excellent doctors and nurses taking care of him. I have no reason to worry. God is awesome, and can do anything he pleases. I just gave it to him, and let him have it, and then thanked him for everything he had done in my life--from letting me see Jonathan, to letting me wake up that morning, to saving me from the darkness I was covered in.
And now, here I sit. At peace with the situation, and joyful that it'll get better. And my thoughts are focused on God--I am applying the scriptures I have heard and absorbed to my life, to get rid of the earthly nature that threatens to destroy me, and to get closer to God with all of my being.
God is amazing. If you don't believe, look again. Ask him to meet you where you are. There's no harm in doing that--and you never know just how astonishing the results actually may be.
I love you all!!!!!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
A reiterated point
Don't you just love it when people harp on a point you try to make once or twice? That's pretty much what happened at bible talk tonight. The usual bible talk leader--Edgardo Mejia--wonderful friend and awesome roommate--was out of town visiting family. So the equally wonderful and awesome brother-of-mine Jonathan Luu led bible talk. He talked about a different angle of the same thing I posted here not too long ago. Love.
Love is a rather vast point, is it not? Very complicated, very hard to understand, almost impossible to take control of. However, there is one avenue that can be mastered, if taken on in the right manner.
Matthew 22:37-39 says this: Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all you mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."
In one of my earlier posts I briefly mentioned Luke 13:26, which--paraphrased--says that in order to be a true disciple of Christ you must love God soo much, it can be like you hate everyone and everything around you in comparison. This verse--Matthew 22--kinda reiterates that a little bit. But then it goes on and says to love your neighbor as yourself. Everyone can admit they love themselves just a little bit--the overexaggeration of that is selfishness. So to love your neighbor is the opposite of that--complete selflessness. Some other people in the bible talk, when asked, said that what it means to love your neighbor--love others, essentially--is to be thoughtful of them, to think about them all the time, and to let them know that. Another person said that it means being sacrificial--that you would do anything for that person to let them know how much you really care. Amen to that one.
1 Corinthians 13:13--And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Why does it say that the greatest is love? What makes love so great? Think about it--can there be faith or hope without love? Can faith or hope do anything without love putting it into action? Love is the action behind it all. You show your faith by your deeds--love. You show there is hope by loving. It's glue.
To help bring that point home, is 1 John 3:18--Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
aka--you can say wat u want all day, but in the end, what are you really doing? are you living what you're saying? You can say you really love somone, but are you really showing them that love in what you do with them? Are you giving to them, are you sacrificing for them, are you thinking about them? Are you going out of your way to make their day better?
And no, I'm not even talking about a special someone--someone you would call "pookie." This can be a complete stranger even, depending on your heart and mind are. So next time you have the opportunity to show someone that love that never gets shown--the ultimate love--God love--are you going to let it shine, or are you going to be too afraid that they might think you're weird or crazy?
Luckily there's a remedy for that! 1 John 4:18--There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.
If you love God, as Jesus commanded, and you love your neighbor--others--as Jesus commanded multiple times--then you don't have to worry about fear. Talking to someone and letting them know what that love is really like shouldn't be based on the fear of rejection or a fallen reputation.
1 John 2:10--Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.
This is even more emphasis on the point that if you truly love God, you'll love others, because he commanded it--and because you love him. John 14:21--Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. So now it's even clearer than before! If you truly love God, you'll obey his commands, which is to love others!! This is soo awesome to me!
So now that that's settled...what do you think you could do to "infuse,"--as my brother put it--the light into your relationships? What will be your anchor for being that example to others, for showing the light in your relationships?
I don't know about you, but I'm going to be showing hope for what I live for in how I interact with other people--1 Peter 3:15 says to always be prepared to answer for the hope you have--I'm going to live that out. And James 1:2--i'm going to be joyful, even through trials, because they produce perseverance, which leads to maturity, which will help me in the end be in the light and help me to be motivated to show others the love that I have for God and for everyone i talk to as a result! I could also take the route of my best friend--which is parallel to James 1:2--I could just be hyper and happy and "full of sunshine." I can be positive in everything. I can sacrifice myself for my friends--and do it with a smile on my face.
Live every day in love. There's no need to hate poeple or hold grudges against them. Especially if they're in the Kingdom. We need to be unified, guys!
I love all of you--and this is the absolute truth! Any of you can ask me to do something in all seriousness, and I'll do it for you.
Disclaimer: this point and explanations were taken from Bible Talk earlier tonight, and the subject came from Jonathan Luu--I did not make any of this up. I put my opinions in and among the points, but I give credit where credit is due.
Love is a rather vast point, is it not? Very complicated, very hard to understand, almost impossible to take control of. However, there is one avenue that can be mastered, if taken on in the right manner.
Matthew 22:37-39 says this: Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all you mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."
In one of my earlier posts I briefly mentioned Luke 13:26, which--paraphrased--says that in order to be a true disciple of Christ you must love God soo much, it can be like you hate everyone and everything around you in comparison. This verse--Matthew 22--kinda reiterates that a little bit. But then it goes on and says to love your neighbor as yourself. Everyone can admit they love themselves just a little bit--the overexaggeration of that is selfishness. So to love your neighbor is the opposite of that--complete selflessness. Some other people in the bible talk, when asked, said that what it means to love your neighbor--love others, essentially--is to be thoughtful of them, to think about them all the time, and to let them know that. Another person said that it means being sacrificial--that you would do anything for that person to let them know how much you really care. Amen to that one.
1 Corinthians 13:13--And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Why does it say that the greatest is love? What makes love so great? Think about it--can there be faith or hope without love? Can faith or hope do anything without love putting it into action? Love is the action behind it all. You show your faith by your deeds--love. You show there is hope by loving. It's glue.
To help bring that point home, is 1 John 3:18--Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
aka--you can say wat u want all day, but in the end, what are you really doing? are you living what you're saying? You can say you really love somone, but are you really showing them that love in what you do with them? Are you giving to them, are you sacrificing for them, are you thinking about them? Are you going out of your way to make their day better?
And no, I'm not even talking about a special someone--someone you would call "pookie." This can be a complete stranger even, depending on your heart and mind are. So next time you have the opportunity to show someone that love that never gets shown--the ultimate love--God love--are you going to let it shine, or are you going to be too afraid that they might think you're weird or crazy?
Luckily there's a remedy for that! 1 John 4:18--There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.
If you love God, as Jesus commanded, and you love your neighbor--others--as Jesus commanded multiple times--then you don't have to worry about fear. Talking to someone and letting them know what that love is really like shouldn't be based on the fear of rejection or a fallen reputation.
1 John 2:10--Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.
This is even more emphasis on the point that if you truly love God, you'll love others, because he commanded it--and because you love him. John 14:21--Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. So now it's even clearer than before! If you truly love God, you'll obey his commands, which is to love others!! This is soo awesome to me!
So now that that's settled...what do you think you could do to "infuse,"--as my brother put it--the light into your relationships? What will be your anchor for being that example to others, for showing the light in your relationships?
I don't know about you, but I'm going to be showing hope for what I live for in how I interact with other people--1 Peter 3:15 says to always be prepared to answer for the hope you have--I'm going to live that out. And James 1:2--i'm going to be joyful, even through trials, because they produce perseverance, which leads to maturity, which will help me in the end be in the light and help me to be motivated to show others the love that I have for God and for everyone i talk to as a result! I could also take the route of my best friend--which is parallel to James 1:2--I could just be hyper and happy and "full of sunshine." I can be positive in everything. I can sacrifice myself for my friends--and do it with a smile on my face.
Live every day in love. There's no need to hate poeple or hold grudges against them. Especially if they're in the Kingdom. We need to be unified, guys!
I love all of you--and this is the absolute truth! Any of you can ask me to do something in all seriousness, and I'll do it for you.
Disclaimer: this point and explanations were taken from Bible Talk earlier tonight, and the subject came from Jonathan Luu--I did not make any of this up. I put my opinions in and among the points, but I give credit where credit is due.
Monday, February 2, 2009
I've been thinking for a while now what I wanna write next on this blog. There is so much that is going on all at one time, it's hard to try and think about everything individually. However, the biggest thing that has happened--which in itself encompasses a lot of what I'm thinking about--has been the Useful to the Master Southeast Campus Retreat 2009.
If there has ever been a life-changing experience I've had in my life, this event comes close to the top of the list. Three days of intense bible studies, singing, devos, more bible studies, and being around 450 other college students with like-minded beliefs and convictions is almost to intense to recount. The bible studies alone were numerous, but very insightful, completely scripture-based, and convicting to the core of my very being. Eight sheets of paper, 16 pages in essence, of notes I took while on this retreat. Preachers from all over the southeast spoke on a variety of subjects, from making an immediate impact on the world and in the Kingdom, even as a new disciple, to analyzing II Timothy to find out exactly what Paul was saying and what he wanted to get across to Timothy, to a study on how to correctly handle the Word of Truth, complete with 21 scriptures in the hour and a half the class lasted. It was very interesting to see how these different campus leaders saw the campus ministries today, and what they each felt needed to be improved--which is indeed a lot.
To make it even cooler, I could see specific changes in other people as the weekend progressed. Some came out of their shells to be more open, goofy, and comfortable around all these other amazing people. Others realized just how crazy their lives were getting, and began making changes, getting things in order, and taking the role of an active diciple of Christ as we were called to be.
It was an amazing weekend, and now the Charlotte Church Campus Ministry returns to its home, fired up like never before, and ready for the next thing that comes our way. And since I've traded in the freshman housing for the slightly more appealing Holshouser Hall, there is a very significant amount of guys in the campus ministry. One of the guys decided he wanted to put into motion the idea of bible studies, multiple times a week, for us to grow closer to each other and be able to build each other up, as well as share in each other's lives. It's gonna be an amazing semester, i do believe.
Another thing I've noticed about the campus ministry since returning from the retreat is that many of us are making significant changes in our lives, trying to improve where we are lacking. I'm personally trying to get my tongue back in control. Lately I've been really sarcastic with some people, and while it was just fun entertainment to begin with, I've lost control of it, and I began to make comments that were hurting people and giving the wrong impression. So to counter the damage, I've begun apologizing to the people I've hurt, and I've made sure that the words coming out of my mouth--especially around them--has been encouraging and uplifting. I want to make sure, in this case, that I make sure to follow what Ephesians 4:29 says. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
And i don't want any careless word to come out of my mouth that can be held against me on Judegment Day. Matthew 12:36: "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." I would definitely rather be acquitted rather than condemned. So I need to watch what words come out of my mouth, and how I say them, and who I say them to. This is part of an even bigger issue, which has to do with total dependency on God.
2 Corinthians 5:15: "And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised again." This means I must no longer just let my flesh and emotions decide what I do, when I do it, and how I do it. I need to follow God, and follow his Word, and be the disciple of Christ that I was called to be at my baptism. I need to trust him fully, to put all of my life into following him, not just parts of it that are convenient for me to hand over at the time. That being said, I need to be able to "step aside" as it were and let God do the talking for me when I'm in a tough position. So that it's not me and my opinions that are talking to someone, but God through me.
I know this might have been kinda erratic in some ways--like I said, there was, and still is, a lot on my mind. But let me know how you liked it and if it makes you think about some things you never considered before. This year is gonna be great, I can feel it. Stay open to what God may want to tell you, and be willing to be taught to grow and fix some of the not-so-great areas in your life.
I love you all!!!
If there has ever been a life-changing experience I've had in my life, this event comes close to the top of the list. Three days of intense bible studies, singing, devos, more bible studies, and being around 450 other college students with like-minded beliefs and convictions is almost to intense to recount. The bible studies alone were numerous, but very insightful, completely scripture-based, and convicting to the core of my very being. Eight sheets of paper, 16 pages in essence, of notes I took while on this retreat. Preachers from all over the southeast spoke on a variety of subjects, from making an immediate impact on the world and in the Kingdom, even as a new disciple, to analyzing II Timothy to find out exactly what Paul was saying and what he wanted to get across to Timothy, to a study on how to correctly handle the Word of Truth, complete with 21 scriptures in the hour and a half the class lasted. It was very interesting to see how these different campus leaders saw the campus ministries today, and what they each felt needed to be improved--which is indeed a lot.
To make it even cooler, I could see specific changes in other people as the weekend progressed. Some came out of their shells to be more open, goofy, and comfortable around all these other amazing people. Others realized just how crazy their lives were getting, and began making changes, getting things in order, and taking the role of an active diciple of Christ as we were called to be.
It was an amazing weekend, and now the Charlotte Church Campus Ministry returns to its home, fired up like never before, and ready for the next thing that comes our way. And since I've traded in the freshman housing for the slightly more appealing Holshouser Hall, there is a very significant amount of guys in the campus ministry. One of the guys decided he wanted to put into motion the idea of bible studies, multiple times a week, for us to grow closer to each other and be able to build each other up, as well as share in each other's lives. It's gonna be an amazing semester, i do believe.
Another thing I've noticed about the campus ministry since returning from the retreat is that many of us are making significant changes in our lives, trying to improve where we are lacking. I'm personally trying to get my tongue back in control. Lately I've been really sarcastic with some people, and while it was just fun entertainment to begin with, I've lost control of it, and I began to make comments that were hurting people and giving the wrong impression. So to counter the damage, I've begun apologizing to the people I've hurt, and I've made sure that the words coming out of my mouth--especially around them--has been encouraging and uplifting. I want to make sure, in this case, that I make sure to follow what Ephesians 4:29 says. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
And i don't want any careless word to come out of my mouth that can be held against me on Judegment Day. Matthew 12:36: "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." I would definitely rather be acquitted rather than condemned. So I need to watch what words come out of my mouth, and how I say them, and who I say them to. This is part of an even bigger issue, which has to do with total dependency on God.
2 Corinthians 5:15: "And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised again." This means I must no longer just let my flesh and emotions decide what I do, when I do it, and how I do it. I need to follow God, and follow his Word, and be the disciple of Christ that I was called to be at my baptism. I need to trust him fully, to put all of my life into following him, not just parts of it that are convenient for me to hand over at the time. That being said, I need to be able to "step aside" as it were and let God do the talking for me when I'm in a tough position. So that it's not me and my opinions that are talking to someone, but God through me.
I know this might have been kinda erratic in some ways--like I said, there was, and still is, a lot on my mind. But let me know how you liked it and if it makes you think about some things you never considered before. This year is gonna be great, I can feel it. Stay open to what God may want to tell you, and be willing to be taught to grow and fix some of the not-so-great areas in your life.
I love you all!!!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Reason For Living
John 13:34--A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
What does that mean? Pretty simple, isn't it? Love others, like Jesus loved us.
John 14:21--Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.
Also simple, no? If we love Jesus, we follow his commands. Okay, easy enough. Let's keep going.
Luke 9:26--If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Alright, alright. All this sounds pretty elementary. Nothing complicated to read into. Don't be ashamed of Jesus and the words he spoke--the words above, included. Alright. I'm sure you're asking yourself if there's a point in all this. There is, trust me. I'm just layin all the cards on the table.
Two more verses:
Mark 1:14-18--After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fisherman. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and i will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.
Matthew 28:18-20--Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
Okay, now to the juicy stuff. Tonight was midweek, and we went over the discipleship study, and what it really meant. So that's where all these scriptures came from. Now, as for the emphasis to it all: We love Jesus. That is why we do all of this stuff. That is why we love others, and obey his commands, and--as the first part of Luke 9 said--deny ourselves and take up our crosses daily. Because we love Jesus.
Again, easy stuff, right? That's what I thought too. But we also went over Luke 13:25-33, which basically says that we have to love Jesus soooo much, it's as if we hate the people in our lives in comparison, in order to be His disciple. And if we really love Jesus, we'll want to be his disciple, and obey all his commands.
Obeying all his commands include Matthew 28:20--teaching others to obey Jesus' commands, and making them disciples. And if we are truly not ashamed of Jesus, as Luke 9:26 says we shouldn't be, we should be more than eager to go make disciples; all because we love Jesus.
The crunch lies in this: we're human. We don't take too easily to something or someone intangible, and it takes a lot of faith to do that. It's hard to love someone that you can't see. For me it shouldn't be that hard, especially considering where this intangible being brought me from. For those of you who know my story, you would think I wouldn't know what to do but love God more than anything on earth. Yeah, about that...
My brother and my best friend are both awesome guys. I love them to death--like no other. My flaw, however, comes from the fact that I talk about them a lot more openly and a lot more often than I talk about the one that saved my life from physical, emotional, and spiritual death--literally. If I really loved Jesus that much, I should have absolutely no shame in talking about him, like there was no other person on the earth that ever mattered to me or would ever matter to me again. I would want others to know what he did for me, and I would want others to know the love, peace, and joy that can only come from this great God. But the truth of the matter, is that my brother and my best friend are coming first in my life, even above God. Listen to me for five minutes and you'll hear it.
I openly apologize to God and to my brother and best friend for doing this to them. I have realized my sin, and I now repent from it. My life is not one I live for myself anymore--why I keep trying is a mystery to me. And I am trying to live my life for God, not for human beings as as small and insignificant my brother and best friend are in comparison to this almighty, powerful, loving, merciful, graceful God has been to me. God has to be the complete and total focus of my life, way above anything anyone else can be in my life. I will follow his commands, and love others like he has loved me, but I will love others because my God loved me--and still loves me.
And for you: is God the complete and total central focus of your life? If not, why isn't he? And do you love Him enough to make him the center? Think about where he brought you from, and where you could possibly go to. And then think about if you could have gotten where you are now without him; likewise, if you could possibly get where you're wanting to go, on your own. If you realize God's true power, you would know your answer is that no, you can't do any of it on your own, without God's help. He knows what he's doing, and he's there to lend a helping, saving hand anytime you ask. So just call to him. Ask, and you will receive.
Keep in the Word, keep praying, and keep in Step with the Spirit. I love you all, as Jesus has loved me!!
What does that mean? Pretty simple, isn't it? Love others, like Jesus loved us.
John 14:21--Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.
Also simple, no? If we love Jesus, we follow his commands. Okay, easy enough. Let's keep going.
Luke 9:26--If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Alright, alright. All this sounds pretty elementary. Nothing complicated to read into. Don't be ashamed of Jesus and the words he spoke--the words above, included. Alright. I'm sure you're asking yourself if there's a point in all this. There is, trust me. I'm just layin all the cards on the table.
Two more verses:
Mark 1:14-18--After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fisherman. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and i will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.
Matthew 28:18-20--Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
Okay, now to the juicy stuff. Tonight was midweek, and we went over the discipleship study, and what it really meant. So that's where all these scriptures came from. Now, as for the emphasis to it all: We love Jesus. That is why we do all of this stuff. That is why we love others, and obey his commands, and--as the first part of Luke 9 said--deny ourselves and take up our crosses daily. Because we love Jesus.
Again, easy stuff, right? That's what I thought too. But we also went over Luke 13:25-33, which basically says that we have to love Jesus soooo much, it's as if we hate the people in our lives in comparison, in order to be His disciple. And if we really love Jesus, we'll want to be his disciple, and obey all his commands.
Obeying all his commands include Matthew 28:20--teaching others to obey Jesus' commands, and making them disciples. And if we are truly not ashamed of Jesus, as Luke 9:26 says we shouldn't be, we should be more than eager to go make disciples; all because we love Jesus.
The crunch lies in this: we're human. We don't take too easily to something or someone intangible, and it takes a lot of faith to do that. It's hard to love someone that you can't see. For me it shouldn't be that hard, especially considering where this intangible being brought me from. For those of you who know my story, you would think I wouldn't know what to do but love God more than anything on earth. Yeah, about that...
My brother and my best friend are both awesome guys. I love them to death--like no other. My flaw, however, comes from the fact that I talk about them a lot more openly and a lot more often than I talk about the one that saved my life from physical, emotional, and spiritual death--literally. If I really loved Jesus that much, I should have absolutely no shame in talking about him, like there was no other person on the earth that ever mattered to me or would ever matter to me again. I would want others to know what he did for me, and I would want others to know the love, peace, and joy that can only come from this great God. But the truth of the matter, is that my brother and my best friend are coming first in my life, even above God. Listen to me for five minutes and you'll hear it.
I openly apologize to God and to my brother and best friend for doing this to them. I have realized my sin, and I now repent from it. My life is not one I live for myself anymore--why I keep trying is a mystery to me. And I am trying to live my life for God, not for human beings as as small and insignificant my brother and best friend are in comparison to this almighty, powerful, loving, merciful, graceful God has been to me. God has to be the complete and total focus of my life, way above anything anyone else can be in my life. I will follow his commands, and love others like he has loved me, but I will love others because my God loved me--and still loves me.
And for you: is God the complete and total central focus of your life? If not, why isn't he? And do you love Him enough to make him the center? Think about where he brought you from, and where you could possibly go to. And then think about if you could have gotten where you are now without him; likewise, if you could possibly get where you're wanting to go, on your own. If you realize God's true power, you would know your answer is that no, you can't do any of it on your own, without God's help. He knows what he's doing, and he's there to lend a helping, saving hand anytime you ask. So just call to him. Ask, and you will receive.
Keep in the Word, keep praying, and keep in Step with the Spirit. I love you all, as Jesus has loved me!!
Monday, January 26, 2009
The people in your life
Today has been focused, for me at least, on people that are put in my life. I've been thinking about it a lot lately. Are my friends there by coincidence, or is there some bigger purpose to it? Even the people that are constantly in my life that I don't necessarily get along with; why are they still here?
At first I just assume God has a funny sense of humor. But you know what happens when you assume wrongly. So I looked at it again. And this is what I found:
John 13:34--A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
And this:
Phillipians 2:1-4--If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than youselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
This is a theme for my week: love and humility. I am a disciple of Christ--I do my best to follow his commands and live as he did, which was, and still is, in love and humility. He loved every single person he came in contact with, from the "disciple whom Jesus loved" (John) to the blind beggar on the side of the street, to the Pharisees in the temples that wanted him arrested. And to top it all off, he humbled himself with all of them. He allowed himself to become nothing, even as he was essentially EVERYTHING, to fall under arrest at the arms of the Pharisees, to fall to his knees and wash the feet of the very disciples that followed him.
So, in order to keep in order with the role of a disciple, I need to take on this sackcloth, as it were, of humility and deep unconditional love, and I need to be living every moment I can loving everyone as Jesus himself loved me, and giving to everyone I can, looking at others as better than myself, and giving to them as if they more-than-deserve that title. This means making time, no matter what I would rather do, to be there for someone else, to find any way I can to affect their lives and build them up as God wants me to. This means not getting into the incessant arguments that I'm prone to get in, but rather loving someone to death to silence the conflict.
And since I'm not the only seeing this blog, I extend the challenge to you: What are you going to do this week to show yourself loving and humble? What parts of your life could you change or tweak to go that extra step to build someone else up?
Remember: "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." --John 8:31-32
I love you all!!!
At first I just assume God has a funny sense of humor. But you know what happens when you assume wrongly. So I looked at it again. And this is what I found:
John 13:34--A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
And this:
Phillipians 2:1-4--If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than youselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
This is a theme for my week: love and humility. I am a disciple of Christ--I do my best to follow his commands and live as he did, which was, and still is, in love and humility. He loved every single person he came in contact with, from the "disciple whom Jesus loved" (John) to the blind beggar on the side of the street, to the Pharisees in the temples that wanted him arrested. And to top it all off, he humbled himself with all of them. He allowed himself to become nothing, even as he was essentially EVERYTHING, to fall under arrest at the arms of the Pharisees, to fall to his knees and wash the feet of the very disciples that followed him.
So, in order to keep in order with the role of a disciple, I need to take on this sackcloth, as it were, of humility and deep unconditional love, and I need to be living every moment I can loving everyone as Jesus himself loved me, and giving to everyone I can, looking at others as better than myself, and giving to them as if they more-than-deserve that title. This means making time, no matter what I would rather do, to be there for someone else, to find any way I can to affect their lives and build them up as God wants me to. This means not getting into the incessant arguments that I'm prone to get in, but rather loving someone to death to silence the conflict.
And since I'm not the only seeing this blog, I extend the challenge to you: What are you going to do this week to show yourself loving and humble? What parts of your life could you change or tweak to go that extra step to build someone else up?
Remember: "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." --John 8:31-32
I love you all!!!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Matthew 6: 27 says do not worry. How many times is that heard throughout the day? "Don't worry about it. It'll be ok." How many times is it believed? Don't lie...not often, right? Well God is definitely showing me these days how much I need to really actually listen to that command. Here's how it went.
There's a retreat coming up this weekend that I'm going to, and am really, really excited to go. I had written a note to my boss at work, telling her that I needed that weekend off, because I would be out of town. However, I look at the schedule when it comes out, and it says I'm working 7 hours, on both Friday and Saturday. And my boss is not one to be lenient when it comes to scheduling conflicts. And yet, one more simple note to remind her what I've already told her causes her to redo the entire schedule. Something I never would have guessed she would do for me. So I thank her and God. A lot.
Another thing that's been on my mind a lot lately has been the concept of servitude. The greatest impact that's affected on this earth is when someone is seen as a servant to others, even when they don't have to be. Even in everyday situations, when hanging out with friends, are you serving each other? Are you giving your all to everyone you possibly can, to see their lives affected, or are you there to enjoy it for yourself, to suck up as much out of it as pleases you?
Honestly, I can say I've been slipping on that point. I love hanging out with friends; ask anyone I know, they'll tell you the same thing. But I'm there cause I don't wanna miss anything; I wanna be part of everything that happens with my friends. I wanna be in on it.
My viewpoint really needs to change in that regard. I need to give to everyone, to make sure I'm doing everything I can to lift everyone up, not thinking about myself. I need to be humble.
This reminds me of my friend Taylor. He is the perfect example of a servant. He is the most selfless person I've ever met in my life. Seeing that example helps me out in a way by partly giving back to him--since he definitely needs it, doing all that giving he does; and partly making me see that it's all about other people. Their needs come first. It's kinda like love. Jesus said that the world would know that we are His disciples by our love. And 1 Corinthians 13 says that love is patient and kind...is not proud...is not self-seeking. The stereotypical definition for a servant is one who exudes all of those qualities.
So for me, the next time I'm hangin out with a group of people, or even just one-on-one with someone else, I'm definitely gonna be doing all I can to make sure the other person feels the love. What are you going to do?
Yeah, I ramble, so what? Leave comments if you like it, or even if you don't. I wanna know your thoughts :D
There's a retreat coming up this weekend that I'm going to, and am really, really excited to go. I had written a note to my boss at work, telling her that I needed that weekend off, because I would be out of town. However, I look at the schedule when it comes out, and it says I'm working 7 hours, on both Friday and Saturday. And my boss is not one to be lenient when it comes to scheduling conflicts. And yet, one more simple note to remind her what I've already told her causes her to redo the entire schedule. Something I never would have guessed she would do for me. So I thank her and God. A lot.
Another thing that's been on my mind a lot lately has been the concept of servitude. The greatest impact that's affected on this earth is when someone is seen as a servant to others, even when they don't have to be. Even in everyday situations, when hanging out with friends, are you serving each other? Are you giving your all to everyone you possibly can, to see their lives affected, or are you there to enjoy it for yourself, to suck up as much out of it as pleases you?
Honestly, I can say I've been slipping on that point. I love hanging out with friends; ask anyone I know, they'll tell you the same thing. But I'm there cause I don't wanna miss anything; I wanna be part of everything that happens with my friends. I wanna be in on it.
My viewpoint really needs to change in that regard. I need to give to everyone, to make sure I'm doing everything I can to lift everyone up, not thinking about myself. I need to be humble.
This reminds me of my friend Taylor. He is the perfect example of a servant. He is the most selfless person I've ever met in my life. Seeing that example helps me out in a way by partly giving back to him--since he definitely needs it, doing all that giving he does; and partly making me see that it's all about other people. Their needs come first. It's kinda like love. Jesus said that the world would know that we are His disciples by our love. And 1 Corinthians 13 says that love is patient and kind...is not proud...is not self-seeking. The stereotypical definition for a servant is one who exudes all of those qualities.
So for me, the next time I'm hangin out with a group of people, or even just one-on-one with someone else, I'm definitely gonna be doing all I can to make sure the other person feels the love. What are you going to do?
Yeah, I ramble, so what? Leave comments if you like it, or even if you don't. I wanna know your thoughts :D
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
