how do i grow?

Regardless of where you are in the spiritual growth process there is probably some worry/anxiety about being able to get the place you desire to be.

I remember when I wanted to begin to grow in my walk and even had a feeling that I was called to serve God in some capacity vocationally, I had no idea how in the world I would ever get to the point where I could lead people to Him.

2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

It is by His power that we are equipped with everything we need for life and for living like Him. We are not the ones who make life change possible, it is Him!

He does this through our knowledge of Him. That word knowledge is actually a greek word which literally means - recognition -.

So God's divine power gives us everything we need for life and for carrying out His will simply by our recognition of who He is!

Amazing!

you should be careful around them, they............

It is really interesting to me how people try to convince others on their opinion of someone. We make a lot of judgments of people purely based on someone else's opinion of them without taking the time to truly get to know them. If we make friends or get along with that new person then the person who told us about them tends to get upset or feel betrayed. Why is this?

INSECURITY!

I think that we when we meet someone new and don't know any of the things that they have done wrong in the past towards others we are almost able to see people as God sees them. He looks at the heart of that person and who they are striving to be now, without holding their past mistakes against them (even though He can see them clearly).

We must also be willing to look past people's shortcomings and the way they have hurt us and give them second, third, fourth, and so on chances. We must show each other the kindness/grace that God shows to us!

Usually we judge like this because we are insecure about ourselves!

lyrics to surely we can change

And the problem is this, We were bought with a kiss
But the cheek still turned, Even when it wasn't hit

And I don't know, What to do with a love like that
And I don't know, How to be a love like that

When all the love in the world, Is right here among us
And hatred too, And so we must choose
What our hands will do

Where there is pain, Let there be grace
Where there is suffering, Bring serenity
For those afraid, Help them be brave
Where there is misery, Bring expectancy
And surely we can change, Surely we can change Something

And the problem it seems, Is with you and me
Not the Love Who came, To repair everything

Where there is pain, Let us bring grace
Where there is suffering, Bring serenity
For those afraid, Let us be brave
Where there is misery, Let us bring them relief
And surely we can change Oh, surely we can change Something
Oh, the world's about to change
The whole world's about to change

you can check out this song and more at www.davidcrowderband.com

good stuff

self-control

Without boundaries it is easy to get hurt.

It is ridiculous how we live our life as if there are no boundaries for anything. We eat as much as we want, drink as much as we want, have sex with whomover we want, buy whatever we want, and so on and so on.

God says that when we do not have self control we are setting ourselves up for destruction. (Proverbs 25:28).

As Christians we have to realize that God's boudaries for our life are to protect us. When I was young we had several dogs and we urged them to not cross the road. However there were things that they desired across the road and even though they had it good, they had to go for what they wanted. The result of them living their life in a way that constantly crossed the boundaries ended up being harmful and sometimes fatal.

We become like animals when we lose self control. When we live our lives in this way the result is harmful and somtimes fatal.

but the fruit of the spirit is..................self control

faithfulness

Beginning this week I will put follow up thoughts on the message from the previous Sunday.

We tend to wonder why things in our life are the way they are or how we got ourselves into this mess. The bible clearly teaches that we reap what we sow (Gal 6:7). The reason that we see our selves in financial, marital, work trouble is usually because of the things that we have planted in our life; selfishness, pride, laziness, etc. WE ALWAYS REAP WHAT WE SOW.

But what about when it seems like people are living their life the way they want and there is no consequences? It also seems like i try to do right and then things bad happen. Farmers don't plant seeds and expect to see vegetables come up that day. When you plant seeds (good or bad) the results come later. I got my life right, I quit my job, moved to bible college, got engaged to an amazing girl, and then.................found out I had some debt. I had to pay that debt off at a time that I was planning to get married and money was tight. That was not cool! My first inclination, was to question God why He would let that happen and then I was slapped back into the reality that I was just having to deal with a consequence from something that I had done in my life. WE ALWAYS REAP LATER THAN WE SOW.

I will admit that it sometimes seem that "punishments are harsher than the crime." But I also see God do way more than I deserve when I try to do something for Him. When we give God the best portion of our crop, he takes that and plants seeds from it in our lives which reap an amazing blessing. WE ALWAYS REAP MORE THAN WE SOW.

everyone has to follow their own morals?

If there is no common moral authority then many people can justify outrageous behaviors.

I trust in God

I hear people say this statement a lot. However, I wonder how many of those people truly trust God.

I know it is an overused analogy but someone who says they have faith that a chair will not break but is not willing to sit in it, does not really have faith in it.

If you trust in God financially but do not sacrifice finances for his sake; you don't actually trust in him financially.
If you trust in him with your finding the right person but will not look for the criteria he sets for your spouse; you don't actually trust him to give you the right person.
If you trust in his direction but will not follow unless everything makes sense; you don't actually trust in his direction.
If you trust in him for eternal life but do not give your life to him; you don't actually trust in him for eternal life.
If you don't trust in him......etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.......................................................................

Let's stop praying - God take all I have and do what you will - and start giving all we have so that He can do as he wills!

normal week

It has been a pretty normal week. I have been training at Starbucks and I have been preparing for Sunday.

I am really excited about this Sunday. There is no special reason for this Sunday to stand out. I am just excited about being part of a church that honestly is trying to pursue Jesus.

He has really melted my heart a lot this week and I am excited to share how great Phil 4:4-7 is with others!