I finally am beginning to understand something that God has been trying to teach me. So, two blogs in one day, but I'm posting it anyway. Partially to maybe teach others, and partially so I can sort through and organize my thoughts.
In a way, it reminds me of James 1:2, a verse I have read many, many times. The verse talks about being thankful for trials, for trials lead to perseverence, which leads to wisdom. I'm finally finding the heart knowledge to go along with the head knowledge.
I've had an interesting history, especially with my family. The main thing I'm talking about is my older brother (middle brother, that is). He's been in and out of juvi, jail, and prison since I was born. And I've finally quit letting it get to me, in a way. But for a long time, I wished there was someone who actually understood, who I could talk to and they could talk back and know what it's like to have family in prison and such.
Then last night some and even more during Sunday School this morning, I realized something. Maybe God gave me these situations so that I can be that someone for another person and use that experience to help someone else through a hard time.
And as I realized that, I learned what it mean to be thankful for your trials. Because I truly am. Don't get me wrong; if I could do it all again, I would not want these things to have happened, but since they did, I'm thankful, because God used them to change who I am, and I hope that he will use them so that I might be a tool, his tool, in reaching others for him, for his glory.
So now I'm finally starting to understand, and I'm praying that learning to be thankful for those struggles he's given me will lead me to perseverence and wisdom.
And I am so thankful for all he's done, even with the trials that come, because God gives me my strength, my every breath, and no matter what life throws at me, for "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Mission Trip Moment #1
I'm probably going to post more of these, hence the number, but I just feel the need to tell what God did in me when I was in St. Louis three weeks ago. I'll also post other things about what God's doing- and some random stuff- in between.
Anyway, here goes:
On mission trip, I think it was Sunday night, and one of the speakers talked about pride.
I never realized a prideful person. It didn't feel like it, and I wasn't one of those people who went, "The whole world revolves around me." My pride was me saying, "I can handle it. No, really. I got it," when someone offered to help. I considered it independence, which it was, to a point. But at the same time, I was refusing help and a lot of the time I really did need it.
When he told a story of how he would refuse help, because he was trying to be independent, and he didn't want to accept help because he didn't want to have to take anything out of someone else's hands.
Finally, someone told him exactly what he told us. That it was pride. That he was too prideful, to sure of his own abilities, to accept help from others. And that's EXACTLY how it was for me.
God really spoke to my heart that night. But I have more to say, and please don't be too hard on me for this, because I really am ashamed of it.
I was praying, begging God to take my pride and wash it all away, and I could feel him telling me to get on my knees, to humble myself like I was asking him to do.
And I couldn't do it. We stood up to worship, the alter was open, and I refused to get on my knees, even in my seat, to do what he was asking, because I didn't want to try to draw attention to myself (I'm a wallflower and happy to be). So I tried to sing, to worship him, but I felt unclean, like I couldn't go in his presence knowing that I was disobeying him as I stood there. So I sat down, still praying and near tears. I tried to ease myself forward on to the floor, but my knees stopped three inches before hitting the ground. I did this several times, and then pulled myself back up in the seat. I still just couldn't do it.
So I stood back up, silently, still praying, telling him I was sorry. And my knees were shaking, almost so badly that I couldn't stand up. And I was asking myself, "What am I doing? I'm asking him to humble me, to show me what he wants with my life, and then I can't even do the one simple thing he's asking me to do, because I'm embarassed of drawing attention to myself. How can I ask him to do it and say I am willing, but refuse to listen when he tells me what to do?"
So finally, I hit the ground, my head bowed, and I begged him, telling him how sorry I was for not listening, and that I wanted to listen and that I had humbled myself and was ready to hear where he wanted me to do. And when I got back up and began worshipping, I knew that it was true and that I was going to do everything I could to stay close to him and to listen.
I still struggle, every day with this, and sometimes it's hard to find the line between the two (independence and pride). So sometimes, probably often, it gets the better of me, but when I catch it, I find myself begging God to wash it away, to keep humbling me with every step I take.
My point in this was not only to add a memory, but to hopefully allow God to speak through me and maybe reach other Christians with my testimony.
So I ask you:
^Are you telling God, "I've got it. No, really, I can manage, but thanks for offering. I'll let you know next time I need help"?
^Are you listening to what God wants you to do or letting your own plans in the way?
^Are you willing to humble yourself and do his will over your own?
That's all. Hopefully, you're thinking now.
Anyway, here goes:
On mission trip, I think it was Sunday night, and one of the speakers talked about pride.
I never realized a prideful person. It didn't feel like it, and I wasn't one of those people who went, "The whole world revolves around me." My pride was me saying, "I can handle it. No, really. I got it," when someone offered to help. I considered it independence, which it was, to a point. But at the same time, I was refusing help and a lot of the time I really did need it.
When he told a story of how he would refuse help, because he was trying to be independent, and he didn't want to accept help because he didn't want to have to take anything out of someone else's hands.
Finally, someone told him exactly what he told us. That it was pride. That he was too prideful, to sure of his own abilities, to accept help from others. And that's EXACTLY how it was for me.
God really spoke to my heart that night. But I have more to say, and please don't be too hard on me for this, because I really am ashamed of it.
I was praying, begging God to take my pride and wash it all away, and I could feel him telling me to get on my knees, to humble myself like I was asking him to do.
And I couldn't do it. We stood up to worship, the alter was open, and I refused to get on my knees, even in my seat, to do what he was asking, because I didn't want to try to draw attention to myself (I'm a wallflower and happy to be). So I tried to sing, to worship him, but I felt unclean, like I couldn't go in his presence knowing that I was disobeying him as I stood there. So I sat down, still praying and near tears. I tried to ease myself forward on to the floor, but my knees stopped three inches before hitting the ground. I did this several times, and then pulled myself back up in the seat. I still just couldn't do it.
So I stood back up, silently, still praying, telling him I was sorry. And my knees were shaking, almost so badly that I couldn't stand up. And I was asking myself, "What am I doing? I'm asking him to humble me, to show me what he wants with my life, and then I can't even do the one simple thing he's asking me to do, because I'm embarassed of drawing attention to myself. How can I ask him to do it and say I am willing, but refuse to listen when he tells me what to do?"
So finally, I hit the ground, my head bowed, and I begged him, telling him how sorry I was for not listening, and that I wanted to listen and that I had humbled myself and was ready to hear where he wanted me to do. And when I got back up and began worshipping, I knew that it was true and that I was going to do everything I could to stay close to him and to listen.
I still struggle, every day with this, and sometimes it's hard to find the line between the two (independence and pride). So sometimes, probably often, it gets the better of me, but when I catch it, I find myself begging God to wash it away, to keep humbling me with every step I take.
My point in this was not only to add a memory, but to hopefully allow God to speak through me and maybe reach other Christians with my testimony.
So I ask you:
^Are you telling God, "I've got it. No, really, I can manage, but thanks for offering. I'll let you know next time I need help"?
^Are you listening to what God wants you to do or letting your own plans in the way?
^Are you willing to humble yourself and do his will over your own?
That's all. Hopefully, you're thinking now.
G.O.S.P.E.L.
The Gospel Message
G.od created us to be with Him.
O.ur sin separates us from God.
S.in cannot be removed by good deeds.
P.aying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again!
E.veryone who trusts in Him alone will have eternal life.
L.ife that's eternal means that we'll be with Jesus forever.
God created us to be with him. In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve to be in a relationship with Him. That's why we're here! He's our creator, and He loves us.
Our sin separates us from God. Adam and Eve started out perfect. They had everything. They were spiritually close to God, literally walking and talking with him, they were physically in shape (even after being told he was going to die, Adam lived over a hundred years), they had nothing to fear (death didn't exist at first), and life was perfect. Then Satan came into the picture and tempted Eve, making her doubt God and eat the forbidden fruit and persuade Adam to do the same. This started sin, and since then, it has been passed down to every human to ever walk this earth aside from Jesus Himself. And God can't be around imperfection, so we were separated...
Sins cannot be removed by good deeds. We can't do anything to correct what we've done wrong. It's already there. And doing something good, no matter what it is, will never be good enough! Imagine it like a cake. When you bake it, you burn it beyone recognition. It could be mistaken for a tire. But, in an attempt to fix it, you put icing all over it, hiding the awful interior. When you cut into the cake, the bad parts are still there and the icing didn't change that. It's the same with you and sin. Your good deeds are like the icing. They try to hide your mistakes, but in the end, the bad things you've done aren't gone.
Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again! Jesus, God's one and only son, came down to earth for us! He came, and durning His life on earth, He was perfect; He committed no sins physically or in his heart. But He died. He was punished, beaten nearly to death, and then nailed to a cross, where he hung for hours. And He did this for us! For a moment, He felt the fullness of God's hatred of sin as God turned his back and Jesus absorbed all of that sin and died for it.
Why'd he have to do that? Well, when you do something wrong, it has to be punished, right? In the Bible, it says, "For the wages of sin is death." That means that the price for doing something wrong is death, but not only physical death here on earth, but spiritual death in Hell. Jesus died so that those who trust in Him will not face God's wrath.
What's even more amazing? He didn't stay dead! Three days after dying on the cross, He rose from the grave. And He didn't die again! He ascended to heaven and He's coming back again!
Imagine this. There's a truck coming at you, and you, absorbed by everything else in life, don't notice. Just as it nears you, a total stranger pushes you out of the way and takes the full impact of the hit, dying for you. That's what Jesus did!!
Everyone who trusts in Him alone will have eternal life.That's all Jesus asks: that we trust and believe in Him alone for salvation. And He wants us to serve him, and tell people about him. When you accept what He did for you, the Holy Spirit enters into you, and your wishes change. You'll be tempted to do earthly things, but you'll WANT to do what is right. Is that to say that you'll always want to do what He wants you to or that it'll be fun or easy? No! Anyway, I digress. All He wants is for us to honor and come to Him. If we do, then we'll get to spend eternity, as in FOREVER, with Him, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. Can you say amazing?
Life that's eternal means we'll be with Jesus forever. Life that's eternal means just that. And it doesn't start when we die. Our new life begins the moment you trust in Christ as your savior and lord.
Guys, being saved happens in the heart, and no one can tell you whether you're saved or not. It's between you and God. I just want you to know. And guys, there's no other way to get to Heaven. Jesus says in the Bible (John 14:6) that he is "the way, the truth, and the light." Not A way, but THE way. He wants you to come to him so badly; He LOVES you!
Last thing. Christ is coming back! And no one knows when. He promises that it is soon. To God, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day. He's not being slow, though. He's being PATIENT! He's giving us a chance to know him, because He loves us! You never know when that will be, and you don't know how long you have left! You could die tomorrow, and then it could be too late, if you don't know him. I hope you will come to know Christ today, before it's too late!
That's all. Bye!
G.od created us to be with Him.
O.ur sin separates us from God.
S.in cannot be removed by good deeds.
P.aying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again!
E.veryone who trusts in Him alone will have eternal life.
L.ife that's eternal means that we'll be with Jesus forever.
God created us to be with him. In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve to be in a relationship with Him. That's why we're here! He's our creator, and He loves us.
Our sin separates us from God. Adam and Eve started out perfect. They had everything. They were spiritually close to God, literally walking and talking with him, they were physically in shape (even after being told he was going to die, Adam lived over a hundred years), they had nothing to fear (death didn't exist at first), and life was perfect. Then Satan came into the picture and tempted Eve, making her doubt God and eat the forbidden fruit and persuade Adam to do the same. This started sin, and since then, it has been passed down to every human to ever walk this earth aside from Jesus Himself. And God can't be around imperfection, so we were separated...
Sins cannot be removed by good deeds. We can't do anything to correct what we've done wrong. It's already there. And doing something good, no matter what it is, will never be good enough! Imagine it like a cake. When you bake it, you burn it beyone recognition. It could be mistaken for a tire. But, in an attempt to fix it, you put icing all over it, hiding the awful interior. When you cut into the cake, the bad parts are still there and the icing didn't change that. It's the same with you and sin. Your good deeds are like the icing. They try to hide your mistakes, but in the end, the bad things you've done aren't gone.
Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again! Jesus, God's one and only son, came down to earth for us! He came, and durning His life on earth, He was perfect; He committed no sins physically or in his heart. But He died. He was punished, beaten nearly to death, and then nailed to a cross, where he hung for hours. And He did this for us! For a moment, He felt the fullness of God's hatred of sin as God turned his back and Jesus absorbed all of that sin and died for it.
Why'd he have to do that? Well, when you do something wrong, it has to be punished, right? In the Bible, it says, "For the wages of sin is death." That means that the price for doing something wrong is death, but not only physical death here on earth, but spiritual death in Hell. Jesus died so that those who trust in Him will not face God's wrath.
What's even more amazing? He didn't stay dead! Three days after dying on the cross, He rose from the grave. And He didn't die again! He ascended to heaven and He's coming back again!
Imagine this. There's a truck coming at you, and you, absorbed by everything else in life, don't notice. Just as it nears you, a total stranger pushes you out of the way and takes the full impact of the hit, dying for you. That's what Jesus did!!
Everyone who trusts in Him alone will have eternal life.That's all Jesus asks: that we trust and believe in Him alone for salvation. And He wants us to serve him, and tell people about him. When you accept what He did for you, the Holy Spirit enters into you, and your wishes change. You'll be tempted to do earthly things, but you'll WANT to do what is right. Is that to say that you'll always want to do what He wants you to or that it'll be fun or easy? No! Anyway, I digress. All He wants is for us to honor and come to Him. If we do, then we'll get to spend eternity, as in FOREVER, with Him, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. Can you say amazing?
Life that's eternal means we'll be with Jesus forever. Life that's eternal means just that. And it doesn't start when we die. Our new life begins the moment you trust in Christ as your savior and lord.
Guys, being saved happens in the heart, and no one can tell you whether you're saved or not. It's between you and God. I just want you to know. And guys, there's no other way to get to Heaven. Jesus says in the Bible (John 14:6) that he is "the way, the truth, and the light." Not A way, but THE way. He wants you to come to him so badly; He LOVES you!
Last thing. Christ is coming back! And no one knows when. He promises that it is soon. To God, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day. He's not being slow, though. He's being PATIENT! He's giving us a chance to know him, because He loves us! You never know when that will be, and you don't know how long you have left! You could die tomorrow, and then it could be too late, if you don't know him. I hope you will come to know Christ today, before it's too late!
That's all. Bye!
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