Just letting everyone know..I apologize for not posting for a while. School has been crazy. Caleb and I have a blog we started http://thelifeofacollegechristian.blogspot.com/ so feel free to read!
<3
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Wow.
There is a time in my life where for once I can wake up in the morning and feel like I have no doubts about the decisions I am making and no regrets about how I got where I am.
We spend so much time in our lives overanalyzing, overthinking... We open ourselves up so much that we get hurt, then we keep our hearts so guarded that we block out what could be good for us. We constantly condemn ourselves for wrong, or go the opposite way and feel apathetic. Once we let that all go, and just leave it to God...everything changes.
I've always known I'll never be perfect. I've always known I cannot live up to the glory of God. I've always known that what didn't kill me gave me strength in God. But I never let myself believe it and truly realize the PEACE that God offers. If we never let His peace in, we cannot live for Him. Even when we fall, even when we aren't perfect, He still is our peace. He still gives us that UNMERITED favor, that is grace.
After I stopped agonizing over every little detail that I can't get perfect, and started just living and breathing faith and love, everything fell into place. I wake up every day and have no doubt that God loves me, and that He has blessed me abundantly! I have a family that loves me unconditionally, I have friends that are my brothers and sisters in Christ, I have learned to let go of past things/people, and I have a fiance who I have grown to love more and more each day that God has given us. If we focus on the good, and the love, and the peace in all the blessings of life, the bad can be brought to His feet and not seem all that bad.
<3
We spend so much time in our lives overanalyzing, overthinking... We open ourselves up so much that we get hurt, then we keep our hearts so guarded that we block out what could be good for us. We constantly condemn ourselves for wrong, or go the opposite way and feel apathetic. Once we let that all go, and just leave it to God...everything changes.
I've always known I'll never be perfect. I've always known I cannot live up to the glory of God. I've always known that what didn't kill me gave me strength in God. But I never let myself believe it and truly realize the PEACE that God offers. If we never let His peace in, we cannot live for Him. Even when we fall, even when we aren't perfect, He still is our peace. He still gives us that UNMERITED favor, that is grace.
After I stopped agonizing over every little detail that I can't get perfect, and started just living and breathing faith and love, everything fell into place. I wake up every day and have no doubt that God loves me, and that He has blessed me abundantly! I have a family that loves me unconditionally, I have friends that are my brothers and sisters in Christ, I have learned to let go of past things/people, and I have a fiance who I have grown to love more and more each day that God has given us. If we focus on the good, and the love, and the peace in all the blessings of life, the bad can be brought to His feet and not seem all that bad.
<3
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Let's all have some GRACE.
In his book, Sovereign Grace (you can read it online here), D.W. Moody says,
"There is probably not a word in the [english] language so little understood." So many people know God and experience His grace, yet when asked they could not explain what grace is. I think the true gravity of God's grace has really begun to hit me, and by hit me I mean: it has brought me to and understanding of what grace means, but a very limited comprehension of why or how God could ever be so, well, gracious.
Grace is defined by Moody as, "unmerited mercy--undeserved favor." That's what we receive only through Christ's death. Skeptics always try to bash Christians and label them as hypocrites, saying they don't act godly enough or biblically enough. Well, NO ONE does. NO ONE can live up to the glory of God, that's why there is grace! That's not to say that Christians don't have to worry about sin, on the contrary, they must constantly battle it. But, there is the comfort that a TRULY repentant heart who clings to Jesus with all of their being (and professes Him as their Lord and Savior first and foremost) who receives grace.
Not only does God give us grace, but we must learn to show grace to others. So many people say,
"Well what have they ever done for me? Why do I owe them anything? Why should I show them love and favor?"
Why? Because even the most rotten people will show favor to those who do them good! We see it every day. Then, as soon as someone wrongs them, they refuse to show them any favor or good. They feel as though they don't OWE them anything. Well then what is the point of forgiveness? If we can't have grace and forgive people, what kind of person does that make us? We are not any better of a person than those we see as the most evil people in the world.
I always live by this; Love and expect nothing in return. Yes, I may not OWE anyone anything by the standards of man, by by the standards of Grace and of Love, and of GOD, I do.
<3
Monday, July 19, 2010
Love is a command, not just a feeling.
I stumbled upon a really interesting concept in my reading that really hit home. In our society today, so many people dream of the "perfect love" or of "falling in love" or even of "love at first sight." However, what causes so many relationships and lives to fall apart is the fact that we treat love like a feeling. We think that in order to love, we have to have a certain feeling, and if we don't, there must not be any love there. So many people go into a relationship or a marriage and expect the "feeling" of love to be there always, and as soon as it doesn't feel present they want to call it quits. Love is NOT a feeling. There are feelings that come along with it, but love is so much more than just that.
Often times, love is confused for attraction, lust, or a feeling of giddiness... Which may explain why relationships and marriages fail... as soon as the attraction is perceived to be gone, lovers get distracted by searching for something new to satisfy their fancy. How is that love? How is that commitment? If someone cannot control their desires to be faithful and self sacrificing, what does that show about them as a person? Love is self sacrificing, not self seeking. Love is not about satisfaction...if we base love only on what made us feel good, which some people do, we ruin ourselves.
Another common problem is anger. When we are angry at someone, we like to hold it against them and use it as "evidence" against them every chance we get. However, Love does not keep a list of wrongs... a great part of love is forgiveness. If you are a Christian, you believe in the fact that love is a COMMAND from God. We are to love all people, even those who do us wrong. Sure, it might not feel great, but we must know that love is good, and that we CANNOT always base it on how we feel. We must love our enemies, forgive them, and pray that they see that their ways are not right.
Christians and non-Christians alike will use 1 Corinthians 13 to describe love. But how many times do we truly follow it or apply it to our lives?
Something to think about.
--
Recommended reading-
Edwin Louis Cole- "Maximized Manhood- A Guide to Family Survival." (Christian view on changing gender roles in our society.)
Often times, love is confused for attraction, lust, or a feeling of giddiness... Which may explain why relationships and marriages fail... as soon as the attraction is perceived to be gone, lovers get distracted by searching for something new to satisfy their fancy. How is that love? How is that commitment? If someone cannot control their desires to be faithful and self sacrificing, what does that show about them as a person? Love is self sacrificing, not self seeking. Love is not about satisfaction...if we base love only on what made us feel good, which some people do, we ruin ourselves.
Another common problem is anger. When we are angry at someone, we like to hold it against them and use it as "evidence" against them every chance we get. However, Love does not keep a list of wrongs... a great part of love is forgiveness. If you are a Christian, you believe in the fact that love is a COMMAND from God. We are to love all people, even those who do us wrong. Sure, it might not feel great, but we must know that love is good, and that we CANNOT always base it on how we feel. We must love our enemies, forgive them, and pray that they see that their ways are not right.
Christians and non-Christians alike will use 1 Corinthians 13 to describe love. But how many times do we truly follow it or apply it to our lives?
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; [2] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Something to think about.
--
Recommended reading-
Edwin Louis Cole- "Maximized Manhood- A Guide to Family Survival." (Christian view on changing gender roles in our society.)
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Learning to Let Go
I had an interesting experience this morning. God taught me to let go of some people in my past. One of them in particular wrote to me saying that this is what they felt was right. And I might have to agree.
Though I can forgive them and pray that they are well, at the same juncture I must realize why God has separated me from my hometown and high school, and why I must put those years and many of those people in the past. It is the only way that I can fully let go and focus on what future He has in store for me.
Fortunately, for those who did not have to experience the weight of my past self, I can continue learning from them and maintaining some sort of friendship or acquaintance with them in this new life and journey I have embarked on. Praise God for enabling us to change, and for making the past truly the past.
<3
Though I can forgive them and pray that they are well, at the same juncture I must realize why God has separated me from my hometown and high school, and why I must put those years and many of those people in the past. It is the only way that I can fully let go and focus on what future He has in store for me.
Fortunately, for those who did not have to experience the weight of my past self, I can continue learning from them and maintaining some sort of friendship or acquaintance with them in this new life and journey I have embarked on. Praise God for enabling us to change, and for making the past truly the past.
<3
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Love for God=our love for our greatest enemy
I read this quote on the E-word email devotion a while back, and I just so happened to stumble upon it in my journal today. It reads:"Love for God can be measured by the love we show for our worst enemy."
Lately I have struggled with ill feelings towards select people in my past. God has reminded me of this quote, and He has reminded me how I should love Him. If I keep harboring ill will towards my "worst enemies," how am I loving and honoring Him? For He so clearly told us to love our brother as ourself, and yet, am I doing so? I think not. I am not only harboring ill will towards others, I am harboring ill will towards God.
I encourage anyone who reads this to LOVE their enemies. Not tolerate them. Not think they are okay. Love them. Pity them if they are doing wrong. Pray that they find peace and love.
Lately I have struggled with ill feelings towards select people in my past. God has reminded me of this quote, and He has reminded me how I should love Him. If I keep harboring ill will towards my "worst enemies," how am I loving and honoring Him? For He so clearly told us to love our brother as ourself, and yet, am I doing so? I think not. I am not only harboring ill will towards others, I am harboring ill will towards God.
I encourage anyone who reads this to LOVE their enemies. Not tolerate them. Not think they are okay. Love them. Pity them if they are doing wrong. Pray that they find peace and love.
You made a way when there was no way...
One of my favorite bands is Shane and Shane. I was listening to their song, "Everything is Different," one of my favorite songs of all time. It always reminds me of God's absolute grace and love and how blessed we are that He would even consider saving such broken and oblivious mortals. The line that ALWAYS gets me is when they say.. "You made a way when there was no way...You covered heaviness with garments of praise...You wrote a song and you're singing it over me."
It's so crazy how when you're stuck in a rut in your life and you think there is no way out and everything has gone to crap...Jesus makes a way. He always makes a way. He will always work all things out for our good, as Paul said in his letter to the Romans:
Romans 8:28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
He knows us better than we know ourselves, and because we were made to glorify Him, He always works everything out so we can best glorify and be a testimony to His love.
This is my purpose in life. I want to stand on judgment day and be able to say, "God, I am, and always will be a sinner. But my heart's deepest desire was always to glorify Your son's name in Word, action, and deed. My life was never my own, though often times I forgot that. And I thank You for Your unending love, that He died to be the propitiation for my sins on judgment day."
I John 2:2 "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."
Though this world is a dark and unjust place, let us never be unaware of this truth:
1 Peter 2:15-16 "For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God."
I challenge the reader to really reflect on this passage from Peter. Are you truly doing good in this world? And if yes, is it selflessly, or is it to further yourself so you have bragging rights? Really consider this. We want to silence the evil in this world by ONLY doing good. Note that the passage reads "by doing good." Not by doing good and speaking of it in excess. Not by doing good, then turning your back and doing evil. Remember that old saying "actions speak louder than words?" I implore you to live that out.
Because, lets face it, no matter what people don't see you doing, God sees it. He knows our thoughts, actions, and hearts, no matter how much we cover it up to the world. He sees and hears. I freaked myself out a bit yesterday with the realization that, "Wow. God hears my EVERY thought and desire, and He sees my every move and breath. I've got lots of work to do." And don't we all.
<3
It's so crazy how when you're stuck in a rut in your life and you think there is no way out and everything has gone to crap...Jesus makes a way. He always makes a way. He will always work all things out for our good, as Paul said in his letter to the Romans:
Romans 8:28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
He knows us better than we know ourselves, and because we were made to glorify Him, He always works everything out so we can best glorify and be a testimony to His love.
This is my purpose in life. I want to stand on judgment day and be able to say, "God, I am, and always will be a sinner. But my heart's deepest desire was always to glorify Your son's name in Word, action, and deed. My life was never my own, though often times I forgot that. And I thank You for Your unending love, that He died to be the propitiation for my sins on judgment day."
I John 2:2 "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."
Though this world is a dark and unjust place, let us never be unaware of this truth:
1 Peter 2:15-16 "For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God."
I challenge the reader to really reflect on this passage from Peter. Are you truly doing good in this world? And if yes, is it selflessly, or is it to further yourself so you have bragging rights? Really consider this. We want to silence the evil in this world by ONLY doing good. Note that the passage reads "by doing good." Not by doing good and speaking of it in excess. Not by doing good, then turning your back and doing evil. Remember that old saying "actions speak louder than words?" I implore you to live that out.
Because, lets face it, no matter what people don't see you doing, God sees it. He knows our thoughts, actions, and hearts, no matter how much we cover it up to the world. He sees and hears. I freaked myself out a bit yesterday with the realization that, "Wow. God hears my EVERY thought and desire, and He sees my every move and breath. I've got lots of work to do." And don't we all.
<3
Sunday, July 11, 2010
in a world of brokenness we reside
Why is it that we make a home for ourselves in a world of hunger, thirst, poverty, tragedy, hatred, murder, abuse, perversion, deceit, slander...?
Why should we love a world that loves to slander the innocent and make a fortune off others' misfortune?
Why should we want to be a part of a people who see sex as a handshake and make an idol of material, fame, and social status?
Why do we ascribe to a nation full of government workers who revel in their riches while 40% of their people have fallen below the poverty line; while their lax laws allow criminals to walk the street; while they entangle themselves in other nations as our own women are brought into sex slavery...A nation where no pure justice exists?
Why do we hang onto a place filled with war-torn streets, bombed cities, and wounded people?
There is a freedom from all of this in Heaven. If we make that the permanent home we look toward, we have the knowledge and hope that all of these things will one day pass away, and a new earth will be formed under perfect Truth, Justice, Peace, and LOVE. Until then, we are sent as messengers of this hope in order to make this earth just a little less dim.
"Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world...."
Philippians 2:14-15
Why should we love a world that loves to slander the innocent and make a fortune off others' misfortune?
Why should we want to be a part of a people who see sex as a handshake and make an idol of material, fame, and social status?
Why do we ascribe to a nation full of government workers who revel in their riches while 40% of their people have fallen below the poverty line; while their lax laws allow criminals to walk the street; while they entangle themselves in other nations as our own women are brought into sex slavery...A nation where no pure justice exists?
Why do we hang onto a place filled with war-torn streets, bombed cities, and wounded people?
There is a freedom from all of this in Heaven. If we make that the permanent home we look toward, we have the knowledge and hope that all of these things will one day pass away, and a new earth will be formed under perfect Truth, Justice, Peace, and LOVE. Until then, we are sent as messengers of this hope in order to make this earth just a little less dim.
"Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world...."
Philippians 2:14-15
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Welcome to the New Blog!
I made the decision to switch from tumblr to here because I was disliking much of the excess crap that is posted on tumblr. It wasn't anything to do with who I was following, it just had to do with other tumblr content in general that disturbed me. thus, here is my new blog.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)