Monday, January 31, 2011
#__________
This morning I'm thinking through the things that I hold up above others [not something I do often] and as I am doing this I found something [this is for people who believe in Jesus] it's pretty hard to not place things on a throne that are truly not important. Now, if you do not believe in Jesus everything you have placed above other things is most likely what you are most interested in at the moment.
It's funny though, because as Christians [if that is what you are] I'm pretty sure we do that too. What's trending is what's important.. right? The good thing about that is it shows we are human, which means we are not better than anyone else. People who are not followers of Christ are just as important as followers of Jesus.
Though, as a follower of Jesus I have become uncomfortable with the thought that I often times place what is "#trending" in my life on a throne higher than Jesus himself. If I have truly chosen to believe in Christ than he must be my constant. The truth of that is whether I make him my constant or not, he is going to be the only thing that is constant in my life anyways. Why not take note of that and not carry around this burden of inconsistent things that keep me momentarily satisfied?
If you have stumbled upon this blog and you are not a follower of Jesus and this sounds like nonsense then I challenge you to think about the things in your life that satisfy you. Think about family, friends, school, jobs, music, hobbies, interests, etc. How long do some of these things keep you interested? Has the question come up, why can't I just find a boyfriend/girlfriend who makes me happy or completes me? Why is it no matter if I have money or don't have money I want more money? Think about what is important to you.. and never stop learning or thinking about life.
I would also like to say, that there is nothing wrong with having important things in your life at all. If you do believe in Jesus, I encourage you [and myself] to hold Jesus always above everything else.
Lord, search all of us about the things in life that we hold important. Holy Spirit teach us to root our lives in Jesus so that we may glorify you, God. Help us to dethrone idols in our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.
It's funny though, because as Christians [if that is what you are] I'm pretty sure we do that too. What's trending is what's important.. right? The good thing about that is it shows we are human, which means we are not better than anyone else. People who are not followers of Christ are just as important as followers of Jesus.
Though, as a follower of Jesus I have become uncomfortable with the thought that I often times place what is "#trending" in my life on a throne higher than Jesus himself. If I have truly chosen to believe in Christ than he must be my constant. The truth of that is whether I make him my constant or not, he is going to be the only thing that is constant in my life anyways. Why not take note of that and not carry around this burden of inconsistent things that keep me momentarily satisfied?
If you have stumbled upon this blog and you are not a follower of Jesus and this sounds like nonsense then I challenge you to think about the things in your life that satisfy you. Think about family, friends, school, jobs, music, hobbies, interests, etc. How long do some of these things keep you interested? Has the question come up, why can't I just find a boyfriend/girlfriend who makes me happy or completes me? Why is it no matter if I have money or don't have money I want more money? Think about what is important to you.. and never stop learning or thinking about life.
I would also like to say, that there is nothing wrong with having important things in your life at all. If you do believe in Jesus, I encourage you [and myself] to hold Jesus always above everything else.
Lord, search all of us about the things in life that we hold important. Holy Spirit teach us to root our lives in Jesus so that we may glorify you, God. Help us to dethrone idols in our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Friday, January 28, 2011
see the need. BE the REMEDY.
If you have not heard of beremedy you have got to start following them on Twitter and see what they are all about. Blake's [founder] vision is incredible in a culture that thrives on social networking. A lot of people ignore the need for the very people who live down the street from us; [myself included] but Blake Canterbury has found a way to make these needs known. Check out beremedy for yourself!
Click the links that follow to check out beremedy:
Thursday, January 27, 2011
learning to fall in love with the church.
nothing inspirational to say right now about this.. BUT I would like you to meet some worship leaders at my church... the church [gathering of people] that I am learning to fall in love with.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
boldness.
On top of your prayers today, ask for boldness. Boldness to make Jesus known and famous above everything else. Decide to know nothing other than Jesus and His cross.
"[God] Enable me to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Jesus."
This is a prayer shared from Andy Stanley taken from Acts 4:24-31 [Just after Peter and John were released from prison for preaching about Jesus Christ's resurrection] Instead of asking for protection [from prison and death] they ask for more boldness to continue preaching about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
God, in Jesus name, allow us to have much boldness in our community.
"[God] Enable me to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Jesus."
This is a prayer shared from Andy Stanley taken from Acts 4:24-31 [Just after Peter and John were released from prison for preaching about Jesus Christ's resurrection] Instead of asking for protection [from prison and death] they ask for more boldness to continue preaching about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
God, in Jesus name, allow us to have much boldness in our community.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
tangled.
I must be judgemental. When I sit and have "healthy" conversations with people about certain issues with a certain culture of people in Atlanta, I find it hard to believe what a majority of them are saying. I sit there and wonder; "Are you saying this to make yourself feel better rather than facing the truth?"
Some of you know what culture I am talking about and if not, it's okay. It'd be better that you didn't know. I often feel that I am the most judgmental person ever when I am sitting back in those little rooms with the others waiting to "do the deal" again. I very well may be. Yet, a lot of times it's hard to pick genuineness out of the crowd. I know what genuine people are like. And I also know what fake people are like.
So again, am I being judgemental... maybe.
Louie Giglio said, speaking about America's culture, "we can't untangle ourselves from the web we've created." I agree. But, I feel differently about this smaller culture I am speaking about, why? Because it is a Christian culture... and how does it change? With putting CHRIST into it. It would be a concept, eh?
Lord Jesus, come.
Some of you know what culture I am talking about and if not, it's okay. It'd be better that you didn't know. I often feel that I am the most judgmental person ever when I am sitting back in those little rooms with the others waiting to "do the deal" again. I very well may be. Yet, a lot of times it's hard to pick genuineness out of the crowd. I know what genuine people are like. And I also know what fake people are like.
So again, am I being judgemental... maybe.
Louie Giglio said, speaking about America's culture, "we can't untangle ourselves from the web we've created." I agree. But, I feel differently about this smaller culture I am speaking about, why? Because it is a Christian culture... and how does it change? With putting CHRIST into it. It would be a concept, eh?
Lord Jesus, come.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
choice.
To intro this "new" blog I have nothing fancy to say other than, I got tired of the old one.
I'm not going to try and woo you with the best things to say at the right time. I'm really just going to type out my thoughts and hope to bring glory to the name of Jesus. Just to let you know, He is going to receive all glory for all things anyway. I would like to team up with the angels, fields, rocks, trees and other things to help do that.
With that said, here's where I am at:
I've come to a place where I recognize my insufficiency and humaness [if I could use that word]. It's a slightly painful process to see yourself for what you truly are sometimes. Painful to realize this war you are born into, that is between Heavenly and Earthly things and painful to know that either side you sit on, you are not in control of the situation.
Understanding you are not in control is a good place to start. Now, I am speaking to myself. I'm not sure If I have "given up" control. I sometimes like to think that I can control my life and that I am the master over what happens and what doesn't happen. It's the side of me I like to call, selfish. How can I mold a situation to make it more comfortable for me?
This is where the painful realization of WHO I really am comes into play. Me? I'm a selfish, prideful, ego-hungry being. I want, want, want and take, take, take. I fill voids with more voids and then sprinkle a little void on top of that.
What happens when I see all of this void going on in my life? I make a choice, heavenly side or earthly side.
Heavenly side: This is the side that is knowing a man named Jesus came, oh not only is he Jesus but also he is God, to bring a hope to all who believe in who he is. A hope which is a covering over all the things that I described earlier that I don't like about myself. A hope that is a filter to which when God looks down at me from Heaven he sees a holy and glorious child. A hope that allows me to call the God of all things, father. A perfect father at that.
Earthly side: This side is a cycle of void and more void with some.. do I need to go back into that again? It's about stuffing your face with all things that we have here on Earth and nothing you can take with you when you die. Also, if you do believe in eternity after death, then trust me this isn't the side you want to buddy up with. It has nothing good to offer you for eternity.
Each day is a struggle but with that struggle is this choice as well. Paul [who wrote many books in the Bible] said he wanted to know nothing other than Jesus Christ. This was something that he took into eternity with him. He is spending eternity joining in with the angels, rocks, birds and plants bringing glory to Jesus. He chose the heavenly side.
Everyday, we have a choice.
I'll leave you with something I read today:
"What if God in all of his grace is radically committed to showing himself strong on behalf of a people who express their need for him so their lives might make much of him?"
- David Platt from Radical
------------
older posts [previous blog]
------------
I'm not going to try and woo you with the best things to say at the right time. I'm really just going to type out my thoughts and hope to bring glory to the name of Jesus. Just to let you know, He is going to receive all glory for all things anyway. I would like to team up with the angels, fields, rocks, trees and other things to help do that.
With that said, here's where I am at:
I've come to a place where I recognize my insufficiency and humaness [if I could use that word]. It's a slightly painful process to see yourself for what you truly are sometimes. Painful to realize this war you are born into, that is between Heavenly and Earthly things and painful to know that either side you sit on, you are not in control of the situation.
Understanding you are not in control is a good place to start. Now, I am speaking to myself. I'm not sure If I have "given up" control. I sometimes like to think that I can control my life and that I am the master over what happens and what doesn't happen. It's the side of me I like to call, selfish. How can I mold a situation to make it more comfortable for me?
This is where the painful realization of WHO I really am comes into play. Me? I'm a selfish, prideful, ego-hungry being. I want, want, want and take, take, take. I fill voids with more voids and then sprinkle a little void on top of that.
What happens when I see all of this void going on in my life? I make a choice, heavenly side or earthly side.
Heavenly side: This is the side that is knowing a man named Jesus came, oh not only is he Jesus but also he is God, to bring a hope to all who believe in who he is. A hope which is a covering over all the things that I described earlier that I don't like about myself. A hope that is a filter to which when God looks down at me from Heaven he sees a holy and glorious child. A hope that allows me to call the God of all things, father. A perfect father at that.
Earthly side: This side is a cycle of void and more void with some.. do I need to go back into that again? It's about stuffing your face with all things that we have here on Earth and nothing you can take with you when you die. Also, if you do believe in eternity after death, then trust me this isn't the side you want to buddy up with. It has nothing good to offer you for eternity.
Each day is a struggle but with that struggle is this choice as well. Paul [who wrote many books in the Bible] said he wanted to know nothing other than Jesus Christ. This was something that he took into eternity with him. He is spending eternity joining in with the angels, rocks, birds and plants bringing glory to Jesus. He chose the heavenly side.
Everyday, we have a choice.
I'll leave you with something I read today:
"What if God in all of his grace is radically committed to showing himself strong on behalf of a people who express their need for him so their lives might make much of him?"
- David Platt from Radical
------------
older posts [previous blog]
------------
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