1 Corinthians 3:16 "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"
How awesome is that... Once we have faith, God joins forces with us and places His Spirit inside of you and I. So let's quit making excuses, God placed His light inside of you and I, let it shine my friend.
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." -Jesus in Matthew 5:14-16
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Easy as One, Two, Three
Wow. I finally took the time to sit down and spend some one on one time with God.. you know that time we always say we need to do more of.. and man did it pay off. Just thought I'd share it with ya..
Larry, my campus minister spoke on temptation last night, but it didn't really click until I was reading through Titus tonight. By the way.. if you haven't read Titus, get on that. It's about a ten minute read and I can almost guarantee you it will reignite your fire for Christ and your appreciation for His perfect word.
Titus 2:6-8 "Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." then it goes on.. 2:11-14 "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope -- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."
With that in mind, if we've truly accepted the grace of God, we'd be living our lives for Christ and seeking Him in everything. That's when what Larry said really hit home for me.. basically he said, the best way to avoid temptation, is to constantly serve. If you're not serving, find fellowship. If you're not in fellowship, seek Him.
If you're always doing these things, temptations will be nonexistent! And think about it, if we're living our life for God, what else is there?! Nothing! Serving His people and spreading His love, pushing each other towards Him, or quiet time with Him. There is nothing else that matters. How convicting is that..
So a challenge for you and I.. let's fight the good fight. Let's run His race. And let's truly live for Him.
1. Serve
2. Seek Fellowship
3. Seek Him
Paul's words put it best... Philippians 3:13-14 "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold if 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."
Larry, my campus minister spoke on temptation last night, but it didn't really click until I was reading through Titus tonight. By the way.. if you haven't read Titus, get on that. It's about a ten minute read and I can almost guarantee you it will reignite your fire for Christ and your appreciation for His perfect word.
Titus 2:6-8 "Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." then it goes on.. 2:11-14 "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope -- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."
With that in mind, if we've truly accepted the grace of God, we'd be living our lives for Christ and seeking Him in everything. That's when what Larry said really hit home for me.. basically he said, the best way to avoid temptation, is to constantly serve. If you're not serving, find fellowship. If you're not in fellowship, seek Him.
If you're always doing these things, temptations will be nonexistent! And think about it, if we're living our life for God, what else is there?! Nothing! Serving His people and spreading His love, pushing each other towards Him, or quiet time with Him. There is nothing else that matters. How convicting is that..
So a challenge for you and I.. let's fight the good fight. Let's run His race. And let's truly live for Him.
1. Serve
2. Seek Fellowship
3. Seek Him
Paul's words put it best... Philippians 3:13-14 "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold if 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."
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Years!
First off, I want to apologize.. for two things. One, for stopping in the middle of the Gospels. There's nothing I can really say about that but I lost my priorities. Second, for the rambling that is about to take place. This isn't going to be the biblical based post I've been trying to stick to..
I believe the problem with this world comes down to one basic idea... we're incapable of doing the big things and we're ignorant of doing the little ones. We think of these huge ways to change the world and their just not plausible, not possible. So then, we think of the little ways we can change the world, but we decide it's not worth it. It's not worth doing the little things because we won't get awards for doing the little things. It's not worth doing the little things because it would only affect one life instead of millions. It's not worth doing the little things because little things don't get in the news, get books or scripts written about them. Therefore, we're not doing the big things, we're not doing the little things, so we do nothing. We do absolutely nothing. Our lives consist of superficial emotions, superficial relationships, and superficial spirituality.
So my challenge, quit trying to change the world. You won't. You can't. That's God's job. Change yourself. Change yourself by giving yourself to God. Change yourself by diving into His perfect Word. Change yourself by being yourself, not the person the world wants you to be.
My New Years resolution is exactly that. I'm going to quit wasting my life thinking of how to change the world, and I'm going to start giving my life to being the change.
"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth" -1 John 3:18-19a
I believe the problem with this world comes down to one basic idea... we're incapable of doing the big things and we're ignorant of doing the little ones. We think of these huge ways to change the world and their just not plausible, not possible. So then, we think of the little ways we can change the world, but we decide it's not worth it. It's not worth doing the little things because we won't get awards for doing the little things. It's not worth doing the little things because it would only affect one life instead of millions. It's not worth doing the little things because little things don't get in the news, get books or scripts written about them. Therefore, we're not doing the big things, we're not doing the little things, so we do nothing. We do absolutely nothing. Our lives consist of superficial emotions, superficial relationships, and superficial spirituality.
So my challenge, quit trying to change the world. You won't. You can't. That's God's job. Change yourself. Change yourself by giving yourself to God. Change yourself by diving into His perfect Word. Change yourself by being yourself, not the person the world wants you to be.
My New Years resolution is exactly that. I'm going to quit wasting my life thinking of how to change the world, and I'm going to start giving my life to being the change.
"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth" -1 John 3:18-19a
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Matthew 20-23
Jesus entered the temple area and rove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changes and the benches of those selling doves. -21:12
I love what my Pastor pointed out one time, emotions comes from combining e, which means out, and motion, so emotions are supposed to make us go out and do something. Therefore, a righteous anger is one that will make us do something to fix the problem. Angry with the state of the world? Do something about it.
"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went ot the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go."
-21:28-30
Too many of us are the second son, we can talk the talk so well, but we're not walking the walk. I'll write more on that later..
" 'Love the Lord your God will all your heart and will all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." -22:37-40
Pretty straightforward.. but think about this. One of my favorite songs right now, "Awaken my Soul" sung by Mumford & Sons says, where you invest your love, you invest your life. Want to give your life to Christ? Give your love to Christ.
"But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach." -23:3
When we talk the talk without walking the walk, we're Pharisees; plain and simple.
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." -23:25-28
And again.. talking the talk. Another verse to think about..
"All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weights the heart." -Proverbs 21:2
I love what my Pastor pointed out one time, emotions comes from combining e, which means out, and motion, so emotions are supposed to make us go out and do something. Therefore, a righteous anger is one that will make us do something to fix the problem. Angry with the state of the world? Do something about it.
"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went ot the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go."
-21:28-30
Too many of us are the second son, we can talk the talk so well, but we're not walking the walk. I'll write more on that later..
" 'Love the Lord your God will all your heart and will all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." -22:37-40
Pretty straightforward.. but think about this. One of my favorite songs right now, "Awaken my Soul" sung by Mumford & Sons says, where you invest your love, you invest your life. Want to give your life to Christ? Give your love to Christ.
"But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach." -23:3
When we talk the talk without walking the walk, we're Pharisees; plain and simple.
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." -23:25-28
And again.. talking the talk. Another verse to think about..
"All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weights the heart." -Proverbs 21:2
Friday, December 17, 2010
Next Read
Next read... Matthew 24-26. Sorry I didn't get to 20-23 today :( I'll double up tomorrow!
Until then... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt59GR64Ivk
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Matthew 15-19
Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?" -15:3
This reminds me of a verse Paul wrote that really stuck out to me in Colossians 2:8, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." That's why I want to challenge you, don't take anything for granted. All the traditions that we practice as Christians, explore the motivation behind them. Are they glorifying Christ or are there ulterior motives?
He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."
"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted."
-15:26-28
I've never really understood this passage, if you understand I'd appreciate your explanation!
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done." -16:24-27
A really important passage to pray about.. I'd like to point out one thing. Jesus says, "reward each person according to what he has done." At first I was going to talk about the importance of this verse because it says what he has done and not what he has believed; because it's not just enough to believe, if someone truly believes their life will show it in what they have done. But looking at it again, maybe it could be taken another way... maybe Jesus meant he to be the Son of Man(himself), because essentially, their is nothing we can do to be worthy of Christ's love and forgiveness except one thing: accept it. Let me know what you think.
"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." -17:20-21
Such a powerful verse...
"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." -18:19-20
Don't forget the importance of fellowship and group prayer, you can't do it on your own; trust me, I've tried.
Make sure you take time to understand the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (18:21-35) and remember how insignificant the things that we struggle to forgive are compared to the forgiveness God has given us through our Savior, Jesus Christ.
"I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." -19:23-24
Notice He doesn't say relatively rich to the rest of America... we tend to use Bill Gates and Donald Trump as excuses for ourselves. Before we can truly live our lives for Christ, we have to come to terms with this concept, we have so much more than we need. We spend so much time and money worrying about meeting our wants, we forget that there are those out there that can't even meet the bare minimum of their needs. I love how Dave Matthews put it in his song "Seek Up," for the price of a coke or a smoke, I could keep alive those hungry eyes.
"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." -19:26
Wow.
Next read: Matthew 20-23
This reminds me of a verse Paul wrote that really stuck out to me in Colossians 2:8, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." That's why I want to challenge you, don't take anything for granted. All the traditions that we practice as Christians, explore the motivation behind them. Are they glorifying Christ or are there ulterior motives?
He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."
"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted."
-15:26-28
I've never really understood this passage, if you understand I'd appreciate your explanation!
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done." -16:24-27
A really important passage to pray about.. I'd like to point out one thing. Jesus says, "reward each person according to what he has done." At first I was going to talk about the importance of this verse because it says what he has done and not what he has believed; because it's not just enough to believe, if someone truly believes their life will show it in what they have done. But looking at it again, maybe it could be taken another way... maybe Jesus meant he to be the Son of Man(himself), because essentially, their is nothing we can do to be worthy of Christ's love and forgiveness except one thing: accept it. Let me know what you think.
"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." -17:20-21
Such a powerful verse...
"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." -18:19-20
Don't forget the importance of fellowship and group prayer, you can't do it on your own; trust me, I've tried.
Make sure you take time to understand the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (18:21-35) and remember how insignificant the things that we struggle to forgive are compared to the forgiveness God has given us through our Savior, Jesus Christ.
"I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." -19:23-24
Notice He doesn't say relatively rich to the rest of America... we tend to use Bill Gates and Donald Trump as excuses for ourselves. Before we can truly live our lives for Christ, we have to come to terms with this concept, we have so much more than we need. We spend so much time and money worrying about meeting our wants, we forget that there are those out there that can't even meet the bare minimum of their needs. I love how Dave Matthews put it in his song "Seek Up," for the price of a coke or a smoke, I could keep alive those hungry eyes.
"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." -19:26
Wow.
Next read: Matthew 20-23
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Matthew 11-14
"You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." -12:34-37
You know the saying... would you say that in front of your grandmother? How about a new one.. would you say that in front of God, the creator of the universe?
"For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." -12:49-50
I love this.. Jesus is the Son of God; therefore He is saying that anyone who does the will of God is one of God's children.
"But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." -13:16-17
Our knowledge of God and His perfect love is the greatest gift we could have, don't waste it.
"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." -13:18-23
You've heard the good news, which seed will you be?
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it." -13:45-46
Would you do anything for God's kingdom?
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. -14:29-30
Imagine your life if God didn't exist, would anything change? So many Christians today, if we took the time to truly evaluate our lives, we'd realize we live inside of the boat. We don't actually trust God with any part of our lives. Take time some time to pray today, what would your life look like if you stepped out of the boat?
Next read: Matthew 15-19
You know the saying... would you say that in front of your grandmother? How about a new one.. would you say that in front of God, the creator of the universe?
"For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." -12:49-50
I love this.. Jesus is the Son of God; therefore He is saying that anyone who does the will of God is one of God's children.
"But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." -13:16-17
Our knowledge of God and His perfect love is the greatest gift we could have, don't waste it.
"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." -13:18-23
You've heard the good news, which seed will you be?
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it." -13:45-46
Would you do anything for God's kingdom?
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. -14:29-30
Imagine your life if God didn't exist, would anything change? So many Christians today, if we took the time to truly evaluate our lives, we'd realize we live inside of the boat. We don't actually trust God with any part of our lives. Take time some time to pray today, what would your life look like if you stepped out of the boat?
Next read: Matthew 15-19
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