Fall break has provided a phase of rest and reflection. Reading through Romans chapter eight tonight I made some observations from the first seventeen verses. This list is not exclusive of all the truths promised in Romans eight, just some that stuck out to me, that apply to who I am in Christ (something I constantly need reminded of).
1. I have no more condemnation (to pronounce to be guilty; sentence to punishment), now that I'm in Christ.
2. Jesus Christ has set me free, through the Spirit, from the law (binds) of sin and of death!
3. Now that Christ has given me the Spirit, I am to set my mind on things of the Spirit; for this is life and peace.
4. And because of the Spirit and the Father's work through Christ, I can truly please God.
5. I must put to death the deeds of the flesh because I'm obligated (by a grace motivation, not of fear) to God for His work in my life.
6. I am a SON of God. By living by the Spirit, my motivation should never be of fear, but that of an adopted child (grace, wonder, and gratefulness)
7. I am allowed, yet He even yearns, for me to call Him: DAD
JMB
Friday, October 26, 2012
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Ever Wonderer...
It has been awhile since I have had the opportunity to sit back and ponder then write about the main issues that have made me think. As I sit here staring at this screen listening to some Country music I wonder. I wonder how many people care what I write about, how many people actually read these posts, and wonder if, yet again, I can make a difference in this world with just this one life. To me wonder is something I find myself being caught up in. My mother calls it daydreaming, my teachers call it not-paying-attention, but in my head, in my life its full fledged wonder. Wonder is a marvelously simple thing in life and a great thing; something that should be practiced often.
I pose the popular question, Have you ever? Thought just in wonder of the Creation around you, of the complexity of the small fingers, eyes, brain, cardiovascular system allowing you to read what is present on your screen at the moment? Have you ever just said "WOW" because there were no complex terms to describe your awe at that present time? Wonder drifts into my dreams, into my future aspirations, and in to my daily thinking of God.
As a college student, Christian, and human being with a nurturing personality, relationships are everything in my life and I struggle with people, especially those training for a relational based ministry or occupation, that are so focused on framing their God in a box and understanding every detail that they seemingly lose sight of their goals and intentions. This KILLS wonder. (Which can cause relational strain or harm along the way to themselves or others.) I firmly believe that this is a trust issue between God and man. Man not trusting in God to the point of having a feeling of need to learn everything about God and look good doing it I might add, granted this is a radical position. For most people, figuring out God, is just a pride issue to obtain and share information like a book, not to point to God but to point out how much he/she knows. This is not always the case either and I do not have this all figured out, that's why I write a blog not a published website, just food for thought.
Recently I finished the book titled Blue Like Jazz authored by Donald Miller. While reading through this book and spending careful time in each chapter Miller's thoughts penned on those pages felt as if they were taken from a transcript of my mind, thoughts, and ideas. One of those ideas and thoughts were captured in this quote found in chapter seventeen titled "Worship: The Mystical Wonder" saying:
"Too much of our time is spent trying to chart God on a grid, and too little is spent allowing our hearts to feel awe. By reducing Christian spirituality to formula, we deprive our hearts of wonder."
Miller then goes on to describe the complexity of the trinity and at the end he just accepts the fact that understanding all of the trinity and why its that why is too much for his brain to comprehend. This to him, and me, is a marvelous thought. Knowing that a big God came up with something so simple, complex, and profound is incredible and should allow for wonder.
Miller ends chapter seventeen with an even more profound and loud paragraph than the previous one mentioned. Right at the end of the chapter he writes this:
"At the end of the day, when I am lying in bed and I know the chances of any of our theology being exactly right are a million to one, I need to know that God has things figured out, that if my math is wrong we are still going to be okay. And wonder is that feeling we get when we let go of our silly answers, our mapped out rules that we want God to follow. I don't think there is any better worship than WONDER."
The feelings of this last semester for my life and story could not be better captured in words than in what you see above this line. I have the belief and knowledge that God is control of my life and has a plan for me (Ps. 139) and that my friends is something to just sit and wonder about.
I pose the popular question, Have you ever? Thought just in wonder of the Creation around you, of the complexity of the small fingers, eyes, brain, cardiovascular system allowing you to read what is present on your screen at the moment? Have you ever just said "WOW" because there were no complex terms to describe your awe at that present time? Wonder drifts into my dreams, into my future aspirations, and in to my daily thinking of God.
As a college student, Christian, and human being with a nurturing personality, relationships are everything in my life and I struggle with people, especially those training for a relational based ministry or occupation, that are so focused on framing their God in a box and understanding every detail that they seemingly lose sight of their goals and intentions. This KILLS wonder. (Which can cause relational strain or harm along the way to themselves or others.) I firmly believe that this is a trust issue between God and man. Man not trusting in God to the point of having a feeling of need to learn everything about God and look good doing it I might add, granted this is a radical position. For most people, figuring out God, is just a pride issue to obtain and share information like a book, not to point to God but to point out how much he/she knows. This is not always the case either and I do not have this all figured out, that's why I write a blog not a published website, just food for thought.
Recently I finished the book titled Blue Like Jazz authored by Donald Miller. While reading through this book and spending careful time in each chapter Miller's thoughts penned on those pages felt as if they were taken from a transcript of my mind, thoughts, and ideas. One of those ideas and thoughts were captured in this quote found in chapter seventeen titled "Worship: The Mystical Wonder" saying:
"Too much of our time is spent trying to chart God on a grid, and too little is spent allowing our hearts to feel awe. By reducing Christian spirituality to formula, we deprive our hearts of wonder."
Miller then goes on to describe the complexity of the trinity and at the end he just accepts the fact that understanding all of the trinity and why its that why is too much for his brain to comprehend. This to him, and me, is a marvelous thought. Knowing that a big God came up with something so simple, complex, and profound is incredible and should allow for wonder.
Miller ends chapter seventeen with an even more profound and loud paragraph than the previous one mentioned. Right at the end of the chapter he writes this:
"At the end of the day, when I am lying in bed and I know the chances of any of our theology being exactly right are a million to one, I need to know that God has things figured out, that if my math is wrong we are still going to be okay. And wonder is that feeling we get when we let go of our silly answers, our mapped out rules that we want God to follow. I don't think there is any better worship than WONDER."
The feelings of this last semester for my life and story could not be better captured in words than in what you see above this line. I have the belief and knowledge that God is control of my life and has a plan for me (Ps. 139) and that my friends is something to just sit and wonder about.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Heart for Kids at Heart Camp
People are people... Each one the same yet incredibly different. People also desire to interact with one another to learn about themselves and others. Relationships are everything to the enjoyment of our lives on this earth. Not convinced? Then why are you reading this/a blog? How did you find the link Twitter/ Facebook? Inside of each one of us is a desire to know and be known. Pride, arrogance, and selfishness stem from this desire, but so does our salvation in Christ Jesus.
An amazing opportunity I recently had to build relationships was at a volunteer camp full of kids ages 8-16 all with some sort of congenital heart defect. Here, at Heart Camp, kids feel connected to their peers and counselors and open up relationally about all of life very quickly and comfortably. This openness is contagious and spreads like wildfire to even the shyest of attendees. To hear story after story of lives that are medically "defective" in some shape or form become successful kids and adults that contribute wonderfully to society, is extremely motivating. The relationship between the camper and counselor is immediately filled with commonalities of life. As a four year counselor and Christ follower, that understands the brutal need for male guidance and counsel, this camp is an exciting opportunity to help make a difference in at least one persons life.
Sometimes helping a camper or making a difference is along the lines of helping them improve their relationship skills with the opposite sex or learning how to listen to others stories... not just tell their own. Other times consist of more serious topics:
Why do I have to live with this problem?
What can I do to make my life matter in this life, even though I know I won't have a full life to live?
Why even live?
Building trust is imperative for the camper to break down and tell the counselor their deepest questions or fears. They want answers. For most people, one is content on finding an answer out without seeking attention or help in the process, at camp this barrier is very weak. I don't have all the answers, what I do have is a Peace that passes all understanding from God, that (hopefully) shows in my actions and words to those around me. Being one to encourage much, tear down little; remained disciplined yet approachable; showing grace, kindness, and love to all and ignore no one.
Did I perfect those tasks? By no means! Was that my prayer heading into the week? ABSOLUTELY! It is encouraging to listen to others tell me that I influenced them positively or my words from years past came back to lead them to the Truth. To them, their praise is directed at me. To that i say, it's not me, but Him (the holy trinity GOD) that by His wonderful grace He has shown me in life, I may simply be able to copy that grace and love to others and show others who the original Counselor truly is.
To learn more about Dr. Bill Neches Heart Camp for Kids click below:
http://www.chp.edu/CHP/heart+camp
An amazing opportunity I recently had to build relationships was at a volunteer camp full of kids ages 8-16 all with some sort of congenital heart defect. Here, at Heart Camp, kids feel connected to their peers and counselors and open up relationally about all of life very quickly and comfortably. This openness is contagious and spreads like wildfire to even the shyest of attendees. To hear story after story of lives that are medically "defective" in some shape or form become successful kids and adults that contribute wonderfully to society, is extremely motivating. The relationship between the camper and counselor is immediately filled with commonalities of life. As a four year counselor and Christ follower, that understands the brutal need for male guidance and counsel, this camp is an exciting opportunity to help make a difference in at least one persons life.
Sometimes helping a camper or making a difference is along the lines of helping them improve their relationship skills with the opposite sex or learning how to listen to others stories... not just tell their own. Other times consist of more serious topics:
Why do I have to live with this problem?
What can I do to make my life matter in this life, even though I know I won't have a full life to live?
Why even live?
Building trust is imperative for the camper to break down and tell the counselor their deepest questions or fears. They want answers. For most people, one is content on finding an answer out without seeking attention or help in the process, at camp this barrier is very weak. I don't have all the answers, what I do have is a Peace that passes all understanding from God, that (hopefully) shows in my actions and words to those around me. Being one to encourage much, tear down little; remained disciplined yet approachable; showing grace, kindness, and love to all and ignore no one.
Did I perfect those tasks? By no means! Was that my prayer heading into the week? ABSOLUTELY! It is encouraging to listen to others tell me that I influenced them positively or my words from years past came back to lead them to the Truth. To them, their praise is directed at me. To that i say, it's not me, but Him (the holy trinity GOD) that by His wonderful grace He has shown me in life, I may simply be able to copy that grace and love to others and show others who the original Counselor truly is.
To learn more about Dr. Bill Neches Heart Camp for Kids click below:
http://www.chp.edu/CHP/heart+camp
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
'11 Summer Reading List
Throughout the Summer while I am at home in western PA, there come a lot of rainy days and or days not fit to mow the grass or help around the house. When those days arrive, I like to have at least a couple books on hand to read and learn from. For some this list will be short, others it will long. Nevertheless, here is the Summer of 2011 reading list!
1. Radical, David Platt
2. Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller
3. Respectable Sins, Jerry Bridges
4. Forgotten God, Francis Chan
5. Making Disciples: One Conversation at a Time, D. Michael Henderson
6. No More Bullies: For Those Who Wound or Are Wounded, Frank Peretti
1. Radical, David Platt
2. Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller
3. Respectable Sins, Jerry Bridges
4. Forgotten God, Francis Chan
5. Making Disciples: One Conversation at a Time, D. Michael Henderson
6. No More Bullies: For Those Who Wound or Are Wounded, Frank Peretti
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Meanings
Have you ever met that one person that you look at, talk to, or interact with that is just a complete "downer"? The cynical person in all of us can at times understand where this one person is coming from. Why though are we, as humans, in life always experiencing ups & downs, mountains & valleys; and is it easier just to dwell in the valley where we force ourselves to think that "I am the only one who experiences this" or "there is no use in telling someone because no one cares"?
A great source for solutions to these questions that we face frequently are found in the Bible. Now whether you believe the Bible is just a book full of good stories and morals or you believe that the Bible is the holy, inspired, Word of God, one thing is clear, it has applicable material on every page that fits even our busy 21st century lives. One particular book in the Bible that has really opened my eyes to life and its meaning is Ecclesiastes. In the beginning of this book the author, presumably Israel's King Solomon, starts out by stating these words:
The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:
“Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.”
What do people gain from all their labors
at which they toil under the sun?
Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises.
The wind blows to the south
and turns to the north;
round and round it goes,
ever returning on its course.
All streams flow into the sea,
yet the sea is never full. (NIV)
He has a very depressing point. People come and people go. Death is inevitable yet so is life. There is no clear distinction of life, except for its meaninglessness. By seeing this and trying to grasp this idea of our "busy" , "important" lives being essentially meaningless, it does not intend to set our goals, hopes, and aspirations up well. I think the wrong response to this is that one would say "well, I will make my life meaningful to ME..." That is rather narcissistic and illogical, because when life has run its course, in the scheme of eternity, things are still meaningless.
So now that everyone is thoroughly depressed, is there any true motivation we can take from life?
YES!
It would be foolish of me to end the thoughts on life at the end of the above passage. The next may sound contradictory, but if studied out and really pondered on will make sense to those really searching for the meaning of life. At the end of the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon writes this:
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
In this verse lies our source of motivation to continue on in life, and enjoy it. In our lives it is crucial that we see the work of God in our lives. It is all around us. The trees, rolling hills, beating of hearts, harmony of city life, the chords of beautiful music, the paintings and sculptures of hard working artists, the advancements of modern technology and modern medicine. The answer: "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." The Creator God, who I am fearfully and wonderfully created in the image of, gave us the blessing to enjoy a life full of amazing creations. To fear, stand in awe or reverence of this God and what he has done for me to make life enjoyable and mean something along the way is worthy of His praise, and is our full duty of life. This should please us.
It does not though. We are reminded of this daily through sufferings, trials, and problems. This is the part of the writing where we go back to the person mentioned in the first sentence. Is it profitable to our lives that we dwell in cynicism, depression, or anger over circumstances that are out of our control? NO! Even in trials we can find the gracious motivation of God, this is done by ACCEPTING the situations we are put in and realizing that these situations in life are "learning experiences". When we come out of those hard days we can be more grateful of what we have been given, and realize that the next time we encounter a hardship we can look back on our past to grow further into our walk of life.
To even further explain this let's look at the Gospel (Good News) of Christ. We have already discussed and reveled at the Creator God, who made man kind with a purpose, to glorify Him. Man, blew this purpose by going against the will of God and choosing sin over glorifying God. Because of this sin God had the right and used the right to condemn man to sufferings, trials, and hardships... (the things we battle through daily.) To add to the awe of God is that He gives all mankind a second chance through His son and the power of sovereign grace. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died blameless on a wretched cross to spill out the Father's wrath and give all of humanity a chance to accept the gift of true Love and Grace. By accepting this true gift, you find more than just a temporary meaning for life, you will find that your life will be eternal and that you are able to access the throne of God whenever to give Him glory or ask for guidance in life's hard times.
The most comforting part of all of this is that you will never be alone, stranded, or left without answers for the rest of your life.
The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:
“Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.”
What do people gain from all their labors
at which they toil under the sun?
Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises.
The wind blows to the south
and turns to the north;
round and round it goes,
ever returning on its course.
All streams flow into the sea,
yet the sea is never full. (NIV)
He has a very depressing point. People come and people go. Death is inevitable yet so is life. There is no clear distinction of life, except for its meaninglessness. By seeing this and trying to grasp this idea of our "busy" , "important" lives being essentially meaningless, it does not intend to set our goals, hopes, and aspirations up well. I think the wrong response to this is that one would say "well, I will make my life meaningful to ME..." That is rather narcissistic and illogical, because when life has run its course, in the scheme of eternity, things are still meaningless.
So now that everyone is thoroughly depressed, is there any true motivation we can take from life?
YES!
It would be foolish of me to end the thoughts on life at the end of the above passage. The next may sound contradictory, but if studied out and really pondered on will make sense to those really searching for the meaning of life. At the end of the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon writes this:
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
In this verse lies our source of motivation to continue on in life, and enjoy it. In our lives it is crucial that we see the work of God in our lives. It is all around us. The trees, rolling hills, beating of hearts, harmony of city life, the chords of beautiful music, the paintings and sculptures of hard working artists, the advancements of modern technology and modern medicine. The answer: "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." The Creator God, who I am fearfully and wonderfully created in the image of, gave us the blessing to enjoy a life full of amazing creations. To fear, stand in awe or reverence of this God and what he has done for me to make life enjoyable and mean something along the way is worthy of His praise, and is our full duty of life. This should please us.
It does not though. We are reminded of this daily through sufferings, trials, and problems. This is the part of the writing where we go back to the person mentioned in the first sentence. Is it profitable to our lives that we dwell in cynicism, depression, or anger over circumstances that are out of our control? NO! Even in trials we can find the gracious motivation of God, this is done by ACCEPTING the situations we are put in and realizing that these situations in life are "learning experiences". When we come out of those hard days we can be more grateful of what we have been given, and realize that the next time we encounter a hardship we can look back on our past to grow further into our walk of life.
To even further explain this let's look at the Gospel (Good News) of Christ. We have already discussed and reveled at the Creator God, who made man kind with a purpose, to glorify Him. Man, blew this purpose by going against the will of God and choosing sin over glorifying God. Because of this sin God had the right and used the right to condemn man to sufferings, trials, and hardships... (the things we battle through daily.) To add to the awe of God is that He gives all mankind a second chance through His son and the power of sovereign grace. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died blameless on a wretched cross to spill out the Father's wrath and give all of humanity a chance to accept the gift of true Love and Grace. By accepting this true gift, you find more than just a temporary meaning for life, you will find that your life will be eternal and that you are able to access the throne of God whenever to give Him glory or ask for guidance in life's hard times.
The most comforting part of all of this is that you will never be alone, stranded, or left without answers for the rest of your life.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Selfishness: How God Handles It
So as I take these moments to reflect back on this summer and early fall I am reminded of one true thing. God is BIG, i am small. Coming out of a great school year last year I had everything. A great God, a girlfriend, great parents and grandparents, friends who cared and laughed all at the same time. But isn’t it funny that when you seem to have it all together, you knock yourself down because you think you could always use more, have more, or do more with life and it’s materialistic possessions and relationships of the great folks around you.
This early summer I became selfish (you’re sitting there thinking “ya we all are”) but this type of selfishness controlled me, my relationships, and my attitude in life. I was living a great Christian life all for myself. When God finally got through to me it was through reading His word and a book penned by Francis Chan titled Crazy Love. This title was recommended to me by two friends and mentors at BBC. Before I bought the book I was not looking forward to reading it because 1. I am not a huge fan of reading at all (ask my mother) 2. I was in fear of being convicted about my lifestyle (not that it was bad, but my attitude stunk). Then I started reading… and I got convicted immediately. Francis Chan writes about “lukewarm” Christians and if 1. They are even considered followers of Christ biblically and 2. What an individual’s heart/attitude looks like when that individual’s attitude is not focused on God. These next sayings rocked my life.
“Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure you that they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion isn’t really possible for the average person; it’s only for pastors and missionaries and radicals.”
“Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love of others is typically focused on those who them in return, like family, friends, and others they know they connect with…”
Hit any buttons in your life yet? Those quotes and truths still convict me. Reading on in the book Francis Chan makes it clear and impressible to those “average people” that loving God to the fullest extent is not only achievable but highly recommended. Yes it includes giving things up. In my case it was ending a great, long relationship with my girlfriend. I was being selfish in the relationship and not being the Godly leader I was supposed to be; those two things in turn drew me away from God more and more. Ending an earthly dating relationship, though rough emotionally, is not the end of the world. For me it has MADE me rely more on God when those “bad” days hit. I now focus my attention and lay out my attitude of life towards him first then my family. Through all of my selfishness times this summer, God has prepared and re-molded my heart to reflect His glory to the rest of the people I come in contact with, Christ followers and non. As I continue in the calling of God in my life as a student, leader, and mentor at Baptist Bible College I will do as Paul says in Philippians 3:13- 14: Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
What a great goal and reminder that is to me and to you! May God bless!
Thoughts on Life
Many things run through my mind daily. Tonight however I have been brought to a cross road. Do I choose success or service, apathy or the Almighty, pride or the Pardoner of my sins?
Looking at today’s culture, folks would rather choose success over serving others. People today just do not care about life in general, let alone the absolute truth that actually exists. Human beings are so wrapped up in what they can do and how well they can do it that it drives some to an extreme life of control and power. So to wrap up the typical American person, he/she cares only how they can control their situations and successes, and does not care about others or even themselves in a life that has no purpose.
What a sad story that would be if I were to put “THE END” after that last sentence. Thankfully the typical American person asks questions about life; “what is my purpose?” “why should I care?” “who cares if I do not?” “should I not be happy in my successes?”. There are multiple resources that can give a current reason or theory to answer those previous questions, but what if we changed our mindset on life? (There’s a radical thought. Refer to the lives of- MLK, George Washington, or Abe Lincoln.) This change in mindset would change the way we look at government, society, and individualism. Something different in life takes some time to get used to and something life altering takes some hard work to obtain, but do we not get used to a new rule or work hard to get something we want? The answer is yes.
Deep down inside each and every human being is there not a yearning for acceptance, comfort, and love? Yes. (be brutally honest with yourself if you disagree) Do acceptance, comfort, and love fall into the three original categories of success, apathy, or pride? Yes. (acceptance = success, if one does not experience true love then what will he/she care about in life? So lack of love = apathy, and comfort = pride).
Not knowing how you feel at this point, I am feeling curious and thirsty for knowledge and understanding of this new mindset. How can I obtain this? I believe through the knowledge and understanding of an amazing being that loves and cares for your soul. (I’m talking about one who cares for the doubter, someone that’s lonely, one that’s fighting an addiction) That something has characteristics such as: powerful yet full of grace, judgmental but even more merciful, powerless in the mind of today’s society yet still Almighty. God is “the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6), he is the Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8), yet God sent His only son to this earth to bear the sins of the drunkard, murderer, liar, coveter, the hurting and weary, the wonderer and doubter (John 3:16), that I believe covers all of us at some point in life. We have but one simple action to do, to receive a gift beyond gifts, which is pardon of our sins to God for all of eternity. Receive it and truly believe in the change that has just occurred inside of you.
Looking at today’s culture, folks would rather choose success over serving others. People today just do not care about life in general, let alone the absolute truth that actually exists. Human beings are so wrapped up in what they can do and how well they can do it that it drives some to an extreme life of control and power. So to wrap up the typical American person, he/she cares only how they can control their situations and successes, and does not care about others or even themselves in a life that has no purpose.
What a sad story that would be if I were to put “THE END” after that last sentence. Thankfully the typical American person asks questions about life; “what is my purpose?” “why should I care?” “who cares if I do not?” “should I not be happy in my successes?”. There are multiple resources that can give a current reason or theory to answer those previous questions, but what if we changed our mindset on life? (There’s a radical thought. Refer to the lives of- MLK, George Washington, or Abe Lincoln.) This change in mindset would change the way we look at government, society, and individualism. Something different in life takes some time to get used to and something life altering takes some hard work to obtain, but do we not get used to a new rule or work hard to get something we want? The answer is yes.
Deep down inside each and every human being is there not a yearning for acceptance, comfort, and love? Yes. (be brutally honest with yourself if you disagree) Do acceptance, comfort, and love fall into the three original categories of success, apathy, or pride? Yes. (acceptance = success, if one does not experience true love then what will he/she care about in life? So lack of love = apathy, and comfort = pride).
Not knowing how you feel at this point, I am feeling curious and thirsty for knowledge and understanding of this new mindset. How can I obtain this? I believe through the knowledge and understanding of an amazing being that loves and cares for your soul. (I’m talking about one who cares for the doubter, someone that’s lonely, one that’s fighting an addiction) That something has characteristics such as: powerful yet full of grace, judgmental but even more merciful, powerless in the mind of today’s society yet still Almighty. God is “the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6), he is the Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8), yet God sent His only son to this earth to bear the sins of the drunkard, murderer, liar, coveter, the hurting and weary, the wonderer and doubter (John 3:16), that I believe covers all of us at some point in life. We have but one simple action to do, to receive a gift beyond gifts, which is pardon of our sins to God for all of eternity. Receive it and truly believe in the change that has just occurred inside of you.
Hold on God’s grace gets even better, God not only gives you pardon from all your sins, he builds you a mansion (John 14:2) to dwell with Him for eternity. One who dies for you deserves worthy praise from you and that is the beautiful thing of Heaven. A place where pride, apathy, and success, the things we that we chase after in this life, will longer even be in our minds or on our agendas; as we will devout our eternity to praising a worthy Savior.
WARNING!!! This new mindset of repenting of sins, and accepting of Christ is life changing and will bring you overwhelming joy! Use this new change of life and spread it to others you know need it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)