Mark 8:35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
This verse is amazing, I find myself always playing it safe. I mean, I'm scared to go on missions trips cause of deadly animals and insects, that's me savoring my life. I'm scared to share with people in my community and on my sports teams and at school because I don't want them to look at me different. And because of that, I could be losing opportunities to share God's word to the lost. We need to have a reckless love for God and the people around us. That doesn't mean a stupidly dangerous love, we still need to be smart with our lives. But we need to put others lives before ours. We need to lose our lives for Jesus, cause he suffered the cross and lost his life for us! I challenge you to start living out this verse, and to read the verses Mark 8:34-38 cause all the verses around it are awesome!
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Monday, November 10, 2014
Hot, Cold or Lukewarm
Are you a lukewarm christian? You might not know what that means. I am still learning what that means. But my Dad was talking to my sister and Mom and I about this subject tonight and it really spoke to my heart. It convicted me and made me realize how much better I could be doing as a Christian. We have a hot Christian, someone who is on fire for Jesus and loves the Lord and does there best to please the Lord. Kind of like an A+ student. And then we have a cold Christian, someone who doesn't try, much like a straight F student. And then we have the lukewarm Christian, the student keeping a C grade. Not necessarily trying but not failing. God hates lukewarm. We wants us to give him our all or not at all. I want to continue to write about this subject this next few days, and I really suggest you read the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. It has some amazing stuff in it.
From this day on, I choose to be hot not lukewarm and never cold. What about you?
Revelation 3:15
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
From this day on, I choose to be hot not lukewarm and never cold. What about you?
Revelation 3:15
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
1 John 2:15-16
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Vulnerability and Trust
Who do we trust? God says that people will fail us, we need to put our trust in
him. Though it is easier to trust in people, because we can see them. We need to learn to trust the unseen, to trust God. Which means we need to have a faith that can move mountains. As someone with a stupid amount of anxiety and a person who is super paranoid, trusting in God can be a little bit of a challenge for me. It's kind of something you have to train yourself to do and then after a while it will come more naturally. You will have to get out of your comfort zone when you first start trusting God, but that's what this whole thing is about. Surrendering our lives, letting go of control, and trusting God to lead us on our journey up the mountain. And I don't know if it is like this for you but it definitely is for me, I have been let down and I have been humiliated to points where I don't want to trust anyone anymore. Because I don't want to be vulnerable. But God loves our vulnerability. And I have learned with him, I can be vulnerable. I can tell him everything, and I can lay my burdens at his feet, I mean that's why Jesus died on the cross. So we can have an intimate and vulnerable relationship with him. And unlike some people he won't betray us and he won't judge us. The more I rely on myself and keep everything boxed up inside of me, the easier I am angered or sad. We need to learn to trust Jesus, I need to learn to trust Jesus. And not this world, not just myself. But Jesus. And that doesn't mean we should shut people out, it just means we should be smart with who we open up to, we need to make sure that they are truly and genuinely there for us.
So here are some bible verses that I hope impact you to keep on keeping on and trusting the Lord, I encourage you to make sure you are giving the Lord your all and not being scared to lay down your burdens and hurts at his feet. He didn't die on the cross for himself, he did it for you.
him. Though it is easier to trust in people, because we can see them. We need to learn to trust the unseen, to trust God. Which means we need to have a faith that can move mountains. As someone with a stupid amount of anxiety and a person who is super paranoid, trusting in God can be a little bit of a challenge for me. It's kind of something you have to train yourself to do and then after a while it will come more naturally. You will have to get out of your comfort zone when you first start trusting God, but that's what this whole thing is about. Surrendering our lives, letting go of control, and trusting God to lead us on our journey up the mountain. And I don't know if it is like this for you but it definitely is for me, I have been let down and I have been humiliated to points where I don't want to trust anyone anymore. Because I don't want to be vulnerable. But God loves our vulnerability. And I have learned with him, I can be vulnerable. I can tell him everything, and I can lay my burdens at his feet, I mean that's why Jesus died on the cross. So we can have an intimate and vulnerable relationship with him. And unlike some people he won't betray us and he won't judge us. The more I rely on myself and keep everything boxed up inside of me, the easier I am angered or sad. We need to learn to trust Jesus, I need to learn to trust Jesus. And not this world, not just myself. But Jesus. And that doesn't mean we should shut people out, it just means we should be smart with who we open up to, we need to make sure that they are truly and genuinely there for us.
So here are some bible verses that I hope impact you to keep on keeping on and trusting the Lord, I encourage you to make sure you are giving the Lord your all and not being scared to lay down your burdens and hurts at his feet. He didn't die on the cross for himself, he did it for you.
Psalm 4:8
8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Joshua 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
1 Chronicles 16:11
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Jeremiah 17:5
This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Influences & Forgiveness
Influences:
What are we letting in our heads? Half of the entertainment we are
exposed to is just crap. Honestly. We don't need most of those
things in our head. It is hard to open my laptop and not see
something that is advertising sinful things. The music my sister
listens to, when you actually listen to the words. It is ridiculous.
Why would you want that in your head? Half the shows that are
streaming on cable, and netflix are showing us bad behavior.
The songs that are playing across the state on dozens of radio
stations are mostly about sex, and drinking, and living life on
the edge because YOLO, but no. Luckily there are alternatives, thank you
Jesus! We just have to choose to take them rather than listen to
things that are telling us it is okay to live a sinful lifestyle. Same
with shows, people are watching the fosters and gossip girl and
yeah, they might be entertaining but they are against the morals
of the Bible. I had to make myself stop watching a lot of shows
because they were not showing good things, and still, a whole
lot of Christians I know are watching those shows. But that doesn't
make it okay, what they are doing is a little something called
compromising. Is it okay to compromise? No, God wants us to give
him our all, compromising is not giving our all. Let's choose to surround
ourselves with good influences.
Forgiveness:
Forgiving is a very hard thing to do. Sometimes we just want to hold that grudge but eventually the bitterness will eat us up. We need to learn to let go of pride and humble ourselves and then forgive, even if the person doesn't deserve it.
Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Proverbs 11:2 ESV When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Matthew 6:15
But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Holding Our Tongue
I talk a lot. I have a very strong opinion on just about everything.
And sometimes, that can get me into trouble. I have trouble holding
my tongue, do you? Tonight my dad talked to my family about 1
Thessalonians 4: 11 "and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind
your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,
12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent
on no one. "
And then he went on to ask us what we think this means.
I think living quietly means not drawing a lot of attention to yourself,
don't always make yourself the center of attention. Mind you own affairs:
Don't gossip, if it isn't your business it is not your business to talk about.
And work with your hands: Don't be lazy. Remember this is my opinion,
this is my interpretation. I know that all these things are things that
I struggle with. I have a big mouth which makes it hard to mind my
own business and makes it hard to live quietly. I am lazy, which
kind of contradicts the whole "and work with your hands" thing.
I want to live a quieter life style where I can focus more on others
than myself. I want to live a quieter lifestyle so I can get better at
holding my tongue and not sticking my nose in other peoples business.
This is what I want. How about you?
And sometimes, that can get me into trouble. I have trouble holding
my tongue, do you? Tonight my dad talked to my family about 1
Thessalonians 4: 11 "and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind
your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,
12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent
on no one. "
And then he went on to ask us what we think this means.
I think living quietly means not drawing a lot of attention to yourself,
don't always make yourself the center of attention. Mind you own affairs:
Don't gossip, if it isn't your business it is not your business to talk about.
And work with your hands: Don't be lazy. Remember this is my opinion,
this is my interpretation. I know that all these things are things that
I struggle with. I have a big mouth which makes it hard to mind my
own business and makes it hard to live quietly. I am lazy, which
kind of contradicts the whole "and work with your hands" thing.
I want to live a quieter life style where I can focus more on others
than myself. I want to live a quieter lifestyle so I can get better at
holding my tongue and not sticking my nose in other peoples business.
This is what I want. How about you?
Hope
Hope is what we crave. In my geography lessons I have been reading about people who were being affected by terrorists and bombing and open fire attacks. These people explain how they have no hope that things will progress in a positive way. They believe things will only get worse from that point on. Being hopeless is an awful feeling, it feels like you are in a pit. And that pit feels almost impossible to get out of. When you are hopeless it may feel pointless to live. You honestly wonder why God is letting you go through all this and also why you are letting yourself. You might feel like you should just end it all. I have gotten to very hopeless times in my life, where I sit by myself and wonder why I am still alive. And now here I am, and I can tell you that I am very happy with my life. I am so happy I got out of that pit. If I would have ended my life then, I wouldn't experience the wows in life now. There is always hope. Even if we don't feel it. God, He's hope. He is our hope for tomorrow, for next week and for the rest of our lives.
He is our hope that things will get worse before they get better, we know that things eventually will get better.
He is our hope that things will get worse before they get better, we know that things eventually will get better.
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Isaiah 41:10 ESV
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Psalm 39:7 ESV
“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.
“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.
Romans 15:13 ESV
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 5:2-5 ESV
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 12:12 ESV
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
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