A couple days back my mom got a package in the mail. When I asked what it was she explained that it was some kind of new item that my cousin was selling.. You know those companies where they use everyday people to sell their products? (Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Advocate, etc.) Those products truly boggle my mind, maybe because I don't believe in them. Don't get me wrong they all have their benefits and they work for the people who use them, I am just skeptical. As these thoughts quickly swirled through my head it hit me! These products work for the companies and the customers because they believe..
The thought raced through my head, "How would our lives change if we believed in Jesus the way that these people believe in their products?" Throughout my life I have known people who have heard the business plan of these companies and have gone after the rewards. You know these people too! Their Facebook is full of these challenges and ideas that WILL change your life forever! "Don't have time for the gym?? No worries we will shed 57 pounds in two weeks!" So we open up our checkbooks and go after these promises. Whether these products work is not the point. The message I am going after is how faith can change mindsets and turn your life in another direction. The truth is we NEED Jesus. So as Christians are we living life to where people know that we love Jesus? Probably not. I am not saying we should completely annoy people with our lives, but the Gospel is not an accepted worldview. People will be bothered by us if we are living a life like Jesus! My message to the Christians reading this: "You are the light of the world - like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." Matthew 5: 14-16 A couple of thoughts:
My prayer is that we would burn through that basket and radiate the love of Jesus for all to see. What does your life message say to others? Do they know you're a Christ follower? I pray that the world would be radically changed by our decisions to love those around us. The truth is, Jesus is the only option that can change our lives forever!
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I went hiking yesterday, it was truly a great time! I was joined by my buddies, Aaron and Charlie. The trail honestly blew by pretty quick because we were talking and cracking jokes the whole way out! The trail wraps right along Lake Georgetown and it ends with a pretty cool natural spring! When you get to the spring you are met with a towering tree. This tree is big and you can tell it just soaks up that water. As soon as I saw it I just thought, Psalm 1!
Psalm One "Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgement. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction." I would say every person is searching for happiness. It is easy to do. I listened to a podcast yesterday where the speaker said that 1/3 of people would say that they are happy with their life... On top of that 1/4 of women use antidepressant medication. This is the world we live in. People aren't happy. That brings us back to Psalm 1, "Oh the JOYS of those..". So, who are "those people" and how do I get that joy? Follow, Stand, or Join. As I read verse one it has those three phrases to describe the actions of the wicked. So there are two paths in this story. The path of the godly. Then the path that follows the advice of the wicked, stands with sinners, and joins in with mockers. To me I think these phrases lead into one another. At first he takes some advice that he probably doesn't think is wicked. Then he just stands around with sinners. But, then he joins in with mocking. It is a slippery slope, indeed. In this story that path ends with destruction.. The Prospering Tree. The passage says that the godly delights in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. The word meditating here just means he considers it and juggles it around in his head, maybe even muttering it to himself. The law here is Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. When is the last time you muttered to yourself words from Numbers? He delights in the law, it isn't forced, he truly loves God's word. Verse 3 states that the godly are like trees along a riverbank, bearing fruit each season, their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all that they do. So check this out, what does a tree produce fruit for? A tree never indulges in the fruit it produces. When the faithful prospers it is not for himself, the prospering isn't even material, but he succeeds in bringing benefit to others! Boom! All this tree talk fits right in with Jeremiah 17: 5-8. "Thus says the LORD: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.'" I think we can both agree to which we would rather be. I would much rather be a tree that overflows with fruit than a withered shrub that sucks up salt.. God isn't placing people in that desert. Both of these options take decisions.. It says, " Cursed is the man who TRUSTS..". (emphasis mine) What is your trust in? For so long I trusted myself, and that only led to broken relationships and empty promises on my end. I am such a prideful man that needed acceptance. I didn't know I was planting myself in a barren wasteland. It took me realizing that I will always fail to come back and trust Jesus to be my spring that feeds my life. His water may enter my broken vessel and bear fruit that blesses people and I pray that they will see the water which I am fed by! Back to Psalm 1, it says the wicked are like chaff that is taken by the wind.. Chaff is the weightless husks and straw within the wheat. It has no weight to it and is swayed by everything. We have two paths. One is the wicked it leads to destruction. It is full of anxiety over money. It is fear of tomorrow and the troubles to come. There is no rest. We can choose to follow our hearts desires, but it will never fulfill. Or we can choose the deeply rooted path. I believe God has planted us with the ability to grow by the river. If you are long down the wicked path God can come into your life and replant you by the ever-flowing stream! Lets be honest. Roots take time. Let God replant you by His river and you will bear fruit in order to love others and love God. Love y'all! My whole life I have always been told I am good. Whether it was teachers, friends, or just random people that I encountered. As a child I was VERY crazy, but I still have been regarded as a good kid. This surprisingly has gotten me in more trouble! Let me explain!
The other day I listened to podcast that was talking about the prodigal son.(Luke 15: 11-32) He asked if we were typically rule followers, or a rule breakers? (Go ahead and answer in your head) So the story starts with this, "Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man (Jesus) receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1-2) When the pastor asked the question I really couldn't decide what I was, so I chose to sit in the middle. I know I look good and play nice but I know my thoughts and motives. And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Wow!! What a beautiful story! It should end right there!! But, it doesn't. Read on! “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’” This story ends so abruptly. There is no redemption at the end for the older brother..? It just ends with the younger brother in the midst of an awesome party. The older brother is left outside pouting. So there a couple of things I would like to point out in this story! The Young Son. So jump back a bit to the younger son. He is just done, and decides to leave the father's house. He takes his money and runs! Things did not work out for this guy. He ends up out of money and in the midst of a famine. But, he remembers his father and chooses to go back and ask to just be a servant to his father. He was making some poor decisions but he sees the wake of his decisions and goes back to his father, not knowing what will happen. The Father. His youngest son had left and taken what wasn't his yet. His father let him go and didn't hold it against him! One day the father was at his home and in the distance he sees a filthy, tired, and poor representation of what was once his son. It says the son was far off and the father RUNS to him! He ran all out to embrace his loved child. The father goes on to kill one of his most prized possessions, the fattened calf. The whole community would have been invited to this special occasion! The Older Son. If the whole community knew.. Why didn't he?? It says he was in the field. He was working. This shows that you can be connected to the father's rules and not be connected to father. You see the older son is the rule follower, he is the "good" kid. He stayed and through working for his dad he attempted to manipulate the father. He tells his dad all that he has done and believes he has earned some sort of special ranking. The Father can not be manipulated! This story really sunk in for me this week. You see, I have always been "good".. I have been told I was good and I followed the rules in order to earn something. But this story is told by Jesus to the Pharisees, to the "good" guys. I have played the good role on the outside but my inner thoughts and motives have rotted away the interior. You see the Father in this story is obviously God. We must admit that we are not good. We never will be and never have been. Only God is good!! The story ends with the younger son partying and the older son on the outside.. The father didn't choose favorites. The older son had everything he needed, but he let himself believe he had earned something with his father. The other son just saw the mess he had made and made a change in his life to go back. Just like the younger son, I am broken and I will run back to my father for I know He is my only hope. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." Matthew 23: 27-28 Yes Lord, that is me. I admit that I am not good. But you alone are! Through the life of Jesus I can now run home! Thank you!! If I were capable to see a print out of porn's cost on my life it would wreck me. I think if I could actually see the wake of my mess I would be done for. Porn and lust controlled my actions for almost 10 years! That is almost half of my life.. I have finally tasted freedom and I never want to go back. So I just want to list out some real areas that porn, and I am sure most addictions, take from us.
TIME: This one is probably pretty obvious. Porn stole my childhood, my teenage years, and really bled into adulthood. Lust whispers to us that it will only be this one time or that it will be quick. I have news, Satan is a liar, always was and always will be. Your worldly cravings always need just a little more from you. With those small little cravings they add up quick to one large sum. Really the best time to kill it is right now!! CREATIVITY: I enjoy writing, I may not be the best at it, but it allows me to express my thoughts. When porn consumes your time and stains your thoughts it is impossible to be creative. I even think art whether it is music, painting, poetry, or writing can help you fight the temptations. I have no clue what I could have created by now if porn wasn't there, but now is the time to find out. REAL RELATIONSHIPS: Porn has been the sole murderer of every relationship I have been in. It has wedged me from friends and it led me directly to isolation. Not cool. In all honestly I hate the sin that has stolen from me. Porn gives you false hope and leads you to see people as objects. Not only has my relationships with people been hurt, but with God I ran directly away from the freedom He had for me! Porn will wreck your character and steal your integrity. It isn't easy to get back, but we must turn away and go towards Jesus! SELF CONFIDENCE: It is very hard to fight an addiction without confidence. Porn creates a cycle of curiosity, indulgence, and shame upon shame. Porn will steal your time, it will steal who you really are, and take your friends. That leaves you in a lonely pity party where there is no hope.. Even after everything porn has taken away, it has given me one unique thing. It has given me a testimony. Jesus called me out of the darkness when I was 16 and on a mission trip. He showed me that I am not perfect and that He so deeply loves me. Even after experiencing that I believed the lies of lust. But lust never gives what it promises, it actually never gives you anything. The only one who is trustworthy is Jesus. If you are reading this today and you don't have a relationship with Jesus, please ask questions you do not want to miss that opportunity. But if you are reading this and you do have Jesus know that He still loves you. The way that porn became a thing of my past is through me being honest with myself and with others. Jesus must be greater than all things in your life. He is better! "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." Romans 8: 1-6 Praying for y'all! So I recently packed up and went back to Malawi, Africa. Malawi is a beautiful place full of warm smiles, lots of laughing, and some of the most gracious and loving people I know. It was pleasant. Things are obviously so different from here, and I enjoy it! This was my second time back and I just fell deeper in love with this country! I went with Drops of Grace ministries and we partner with Somebody Cares in Malawi. The ministry in Malawi is probably the healthiest and most effective ministry I have ever seen! They go into communities and truly build them up from the inside, it is so harmonious! Much of my brief time there was spent playing. I pretty much get off the bus make some noises and the kids laugh at me. It is honestly a humbling experience to have 30 little kids laugh and point at your face. Going in I didn't think I was taking any tangible skills or anything, boy was I wrong! Soccer and giggles can break any language barrier. This is true. I am glad that I serve a God who sends a tall white boy just to laugh with kids in Malawi. While I was in Malawi I was super attacked by just thoughts of being inadequate. I mean I was only playing around and failing at speaking Chichewa. But again I was wrong, I am pretty good at that. The majority of Malawi is under the age of 20.. These kiddos have to grow up quick. There are children who are taking care of their sick parent. Or some don't have their parents around anymore and they're now the head of house. These kids don't get to just play. When I am in Malawi I get to do what I love and that is giggling and playing! The kids have absolutely no problem joining in with me either! As soon as I got off the bus this year I recognized a familiar face in Kalimbira. His name is David and he is different from the other kids! Most kids usually run up and just get to playing, but David likes to sit back and observe. I respect that. I know in my life I like to sit back and observe and just scope it all out. I can always look up and see David watching, he follows. One of the days we were driving over to a neighboring community for like 10 minutes and then heading right back to Kalimbira. So we went over there I made the kids laugh and we picked one of our teammates up, we started to head back and we passed by David on the way. The only thing is David lives in Kalimbira not Kasakula where we were leaving. As we arrived back I got out and David was there! This dude ran all the way back! David was running to simply play with me.. That changed everything for me. I am nothing special in worldly terms, but David ran for me.. I don't even know the last time I literally ran towards something! Do you? I am a sinner. My choices hung Jesus on the cross. But Jesus chose to give His life for us and die on the cross. Three days later He rose victorious and beat death and whoever put their faith in Him will be cleansed. That is my only hope! So as David ran to me I hope I show that type of faith in Jesus. And I hope as I chase Jesus, David can chase me and see Jesus through me. "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3: 12-14 Our world is a crazy place. Growing up in Texas it seems we often experience a whirlwind of weather changes. Our seasons consist of really hot, and then two really perfect days, 25 rain days, then maybe one ice day. Now, I didn't look up these stats, this is just how it feels at times. If I am being completely honest, my life can sometimes feel like Texas weather. I have seasons of joy, boredom, loneliness, and just plain confusion! I mean, why have I left home a couple of times to only come running home with my tail between my legs like a cold puppy? Why at times have I been so blessed to travel and really see God's work live? What about now?! I am at a university, I feel like I am sinking in loans, and this place pretty much laughs at the existence of God.. What is even the point of this? Why do we have winters of loneliness, or even a summer full of just pure pain? Why do we need seasons?
Currently I am enrolled in an Astronomy class, and I honestly thought it would be a pretty easy class.. I was wrong. It's is so vast out there and we really don't even know how far space goes.. (God is cool like that) But one thing I have picked up on is earths tilt in relation to the sun and how that creates our seasons. When the northern hemisphere tilts toward the sun we experience summer, and a tilt in the other direction gives us freaky ice, closed schools, and random sleet. (AKA Winter in Central Texas) What season are you experiencing? One of doubt, worry, and fear? Or one of joyous praise, repentance, and happiness? I think if we sit back and take a break from the business of life, we can pretty quickly determine where we are.. When we look at our lives, the season we are in is directly related to our tilt towards the SON.
Like I said, it gets really hot here. I walk to my car and soak through my shirt, it gets that hot... About once I year I experience an incredible phenomena that comes along with summer, I get a sunburn. Sun burn is so bad. Sunburn is what I experience when I go out for an extended period of time and ignore the burning sun for a couple of hours. (Isn't that crazy? A huge burning ball really far away burns my skin? COOL!) But let us step back for a bit. As we tilt towards Jesus, the sustainer of life, He will expose areas that hurt. The areas that are so dark and they just hurt to think of. Spots where even when I think of them in secret I push it away and pretend it didn't happen.. God wants to expose these areas so that true healing will come. He isn't doing this out of anger or pride, but out of pure love. Trust God and lean in, you won't regret it.
Today it snowed in Denton.. Like I mean real snow! It was cool and all but.. I had plans. Didn't God know that I was driving to a discipleship now today? This was my thought. If I am being real, thoughts like this go through my mind, but you know what? This isn't God's voice talking to me. In order to constantly lean in to God we must lean all the way in.. Including my mind. My thoughts must be taken captive and pressed on to see if they're God's voice. He finally came in, when I threw those thoughts out. That is another area when I lean in, that God exposes. So this week class has been cancelled three times. You know what I experienced? Boredom.. I enjoyed the sledding, snow ball fights, and yes, I even made a snow angel! (You can't judge me) But after that I had all that I needed out of the white cold stuff. To be honest I wrote out this blog and I knew it was missing something more, but God gave us so much snow today! So weather you're in a season of anger and snow... A season of boredom and summer. Wherever you may be, God is there. You know what will happen in a couple of days? This snow will melt. I will run free and experience the sun. This may seem crazy but I want you to experience the same thing! So evaluate where you are, lean in, let God bring healing into your life, and I guarantee you will run free with the Son! "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36 I pray that we will lean in. That God will give us people, if He hasn't already, who we can share things with. If anyone ever wants to talk or anything I am always here. God will bring this season to an end but I pray that through all we can lean to Him! Love you guys! "This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than we first believed." Romans 14:11
Do you think Paul annoyed his friends? I have been tossing this question around for a couple of weeks and I am sure he did.. I mean just think about the people who knew him as Saul. They killed christians together. Then all of the sudden he is for God and he even changed his name.. I'm sure those "friends" were weirded out by him, maybe even furious. But I also am starting to think he started to annoy some "lukewarm" christians. In America today, he would straight up bug the christian out of some people. Today if this dude came around telling us to live our lives as if Jesus is coming today, we would unfollow his Instagram and block his phone number. I want to just highlight why we may have stopped waiting on God. Are we even waiting on God..?Hopefully I can shed some light on this area and throw some steps out there!
Now what happened?? Why as believers have we become way too patient for Christ's return..? We think "if they really believed He would come soon then 'soon' is gone.." It is sad to me that we don't believe God can return today.. Honestly we may say He could but we still have our birthday coming up, or a big promotion, or we are making brisket for dinner. These things are too important and He can wait.. As believers we need to see patience as an act, not an excuse to be lazy or watch another episode of Breaking Bad on Netflix. I am not saying you can't do things you enjoy, but I think we need to constantly have a Kingdom Mindset and look to spread the gospel daily. Yes.. Daily! Like, every single day. "You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near." James 5:8
They said soon over 2,000 years ago. To me when people say 2,000 years I am like "sheesh what a long time!" But honestly I can't even imagine 100 years ago. So when they said the word "soon" what did they mean. I don't think they knew exactly and I know that no one knows the exact date, except God alone. But these dudes lived as if Christ was coming back that day. For my birthday I watched one of my favorite movies, I am Legend, in the movie Will Smith quotes Bob Marley and says "there are those who plan evil and they don't take a day off, so how can I?" Now I know Bob Marley may not be the most christian source but he was definitely on to something. Paul and these men believed that God was coming soon, because He is, and because we cannot stay stagnant!
I think sometimes we view God as a tow truck driver.. Just waiting for us to park in the wrong spot so he can drag us away. God isn't mad at us, and He has given us freewill. In fact He so loves us! (See John 3:16) But it is up to us to respond to His love and His calling in our lives. God is calling us closer today and bringing us near to Him. So get up for our Father is coming very soon now. My prayer is that this may spark something in you. So don't lose hope, just because they said "soon" in the 1st century doesn't mean God won't come back today. Have faith and believe. Christ will come back when His message has reached all of His people. You may ask, "well how can that be true with ISIS and Boko Haram around?" It is up to us to pray and seek God so we may overflow Him into our world! How do you know you won't meet an unreached person at the mailbox or at the DPS? The next person to receive Christ may even be your waitress! Walk with faith today and believe that God will use you in big ways! (Read that last sentence again. I am talking to YOU!) He is calling, all we need is obedience and courage! Love you guys!! The past couple of months I have been captivated by this thought. It is the thought of light. I mean it is such a common "Christian word", right? His word is a light to our path. (Ps. 119:105) You are the light to the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:14) I could go on!
I think so often we throw these phrases around and never truly give it a second thought. I hope to just share what I have been processing, and we will see where it leads. So what does light do? Warms us: Have you ever been camping? Or close to a bonfire? You can just feel the heat, it is pretty nice. My favorite place to be while camping is by the fire. For some reason it seems I am always camping on the coldest weekends. So I wake up probably laying on a rock that has lodged into my side. And immediately I am so cold and I want to rebuild the fire and just let it warm me. Safety: Light is safe.. Isn't that crazy? Well lit parking lots and buildings just seem safe. Why?? Because nothing can hide there. I don't think that is a coincidence that we see this word "light" in God's word. I remember as a child refusing to go to my room because it was dark. The darkness was unknown and terrifying. Shows us: They put lights on our phones now! We flip those babies on so we can see in dark areas. Can you imagine the darkest place you have ever been? The darkest place I have experienced is Longhorn Caverns when they shut the lights off. They say that if you stay down there you will eventually go blind. Blind.. from lack of light..! I can't imagine how awful that would be to find yourself fumbling around in a place like that. The thing is we are so often in places like that. We stumble somewhere we shouldn't be. Then the lights are switched off and if we don't get out it will blind us. Our bodies yearn for warmth, security, and guidance. And I believe so do our souls. My prayer today is that we can see the light. That Jesus will make himself clear to us and we can put the distractions aside and focus on Him. To sit by the campfire, so to say, and communicate with Jesus. "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." John 8:12 We all have it. It comes and weighs us down and begins to tighten our muscles.. We never asked for it, but we are the only one who can control it. For most of us it is as if we cannot live without it.
- Stress - Stress is one of the biggest lies that the enemy whispers to us. We often believe the enemy because he often uses our own voice in our thoughts. He makes things that really have no importance a top priority in our mind. Take Thanksgiving day for instance.. Most of us stress over preparing the meal.. Or for a vast majority down south they stress over whether or not the beloved Cowboys will fail them. If we are honest about this, those things mean absolutely nothing. We forget to spend time with the loved ones around us. When the holidays roll through we often forget the loved ones around us and we lock in on the stressful tasks. Once we wake up from the Stress Fest our family has returned to their homes and their day to day lives. So how shall we handle this weight we place on our shoulders?? I truly believe stress is nothing but a trigger to push us a certain way. I have recently been reading some books and the podcasts I listen to have brought up the same topic. When pressure comes in to our lives there are two types of people. Worshipers and Complainers. For complainers, the stress comes in and we seek absolutely everything except Christ. We turn to drinking, TV, masturbation, porn, excessive eating, anger, and anything to dull the pain or push it off. Worshipers are the ones who seek God and even in the tough times find a way to break through and worship. "Worship is forgetting what is wrong with us and remembering what is right with God!" I believe that today, as the holiday season is now gone. We need to turn our eyes to Jesus. This is a constant battle. We must constantly call out to God, in the good and the bad. Talk to our Father. He truly loves to help us and listen to us! I am praying today that we will see through the distractions out there and truly follow Jesus. We may have fallen away from seeking Him during the busyness of the holidays.. That is okay. It is about today and the choice you make right now! Love y'all! Christmas is different now. I mean I truly enjoy it and I love just enjoying it. But as a kid and thinking about how joyous it was I can't help but see the opposite around me. If you choose to go out and brave the crowds this time of year you most likely won't see joy.. But maybe frustration, stress, and just anger..
Now I am not here to point out everyones flaws. I am in the same boat as you all. I just hope to walk through this season with you and maybe shed some light on these areas. So where do we begin? Presents.. Of course, people love presents. I mean that is what we get all giddy about if we are being completely honest. We love stuff.. This year I don't want you to focus all on presents but maybe presence. I think too often we are too glued to a screen to even see our family that is around us.. Put down the phone, play some games or something with actual people. Your video game can wait, sharing your year story on Facebook can just be ignored.. See the things that matter and instead of stressing over the "perfect" present, how about be present. Money.. Oh great another thing everyone is crazy about. Money is the single thing that stresses everyone out. Around this time of year we spend money we don't actually have. Causing more stress on the 26th. I think this year we need to worry less about spending money and spend time together. I promise you and others will be blessed by this. The LIGHTS! yay. For the past 3 or 4 days I have packed up in a car to go watch lights flash in different colors that just scream CHRISTMAS! It was lovely. But are these lights distracting us from the Light. I know I know.. I am being a lame christian who doesn't let people enjoy christmas, without talking about Christ. Well I am not sorry. What is the reason we dress up our houses? I mean like the original meaning? As far as I have read it started in Germany when upper-class homes would get christmas trees and put candles on them. And of course America took that on and made it bigger and brighter and just crazier.. Don't get me wrong. The lights are cool. But just don't forget the Light. Thanks guys for sticking through with me. I am praying for you all and I hope you truly have a great Christmas with family and friends. Love y'all! "The light shines in darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5 |
AuthorMy name is Andrew Berry! I am just living my life chasing after Jesus and trying to point others to Him. Archives
January 2017
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