This week it seems that everything I have read, listened to and written all asks the same question, that question is: Does my light shine in the darkness, can people tell I am a Christian by my actions, by the way I conduct myself, by the words I speak or just what I profess. When I hear something like this once it makes me think, but when I hear it 3 times, I have to wonder what God is saying to me.
I want the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart to be pleasing to God. I have failed in the past to be the man of God in which He called me to be. I have failed to allow Him to work and in doing so I have failed God. I don't like admitting that, but if I don't learn from my mistakes what kind of man am I. Please don't answer that. I want to be who God wants me to be at work, at home, to my fiance, to my son.
I don't know if this sounds crazy, but have you ever dealt with someone and said there is something different about them? I want God to continue to change me from the inside out, to make me a mirror of Himself so I may be able to be known that I am a Christian by being vigilant to make sure the mirror is clean, make sure I do not hide the Light of Jesus under a bushel.
My prayer today is that my actions profess the love of Christ, that I do not hide who I am because of fear or because of the fear of rejection, but I stand and I stand not for myself, but for Jesus.
Lord Help me to be the man that you call me to be, help me to continue to learn from my past so that I may continue to learn to be the man You call me to be. May I not be swayed, but transformed by the renewing of my mind every day, every moment. Thank you for loving me and teaching me even when I have failed you and when I did not live according to you. Thank you for washing my sins away and giving me a chance to love again, to walk the way you will have me walk. May I continue to seek you in all I do and may I put you first and continue to surrender all to you. Thank you Lord for the life you have given me and thank you for a new chapter that is based on your love, your instructions and your way.
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
The Fruits of the Spirit
The Evidence
I was doing some reading on the fruits of the spirit sometime ago and I came across one sermon, but today I located all of them and I wanted to include in here. They are not my writing, but I am thankful I found them and wanted to share them as well. There is a link above to those sermons. "The Evidence".
Each one starts off The Evidence...
Years ago a sermon was preached. The speaker asked this question of the congregation, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” One young man was deeply affected by that question that day. As a result, he put his faith in Jesus Christ. His name was Jimmy Carter and he grew up to become the 39th President of our country. “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Today we start a new messages series. I’ve changed the wording of that question just a bit, but the meaning is still the same: “If you’re accused of being a Christian, what evidence will convict you?” Imagine living in a country where it’s illegal to be a follower of Jesus. If you were arrested and accused of being a Christian, could a court of law find enough evidence to convict you? Is your life different enough from those who don’t follow Jesus that people can tell the difference? Would anyone say of you, “Oh, he’s obviously a Christian” or “Well, of course, she’s a follower of Jesus”? What kind of evidence would be brought against you in such a country? Your church attendance? Your Bible knowledge? Someone catching you praying to Jesus? A specific political or social philosophy that you proclaim? What evidence would convict you?
Thanks to the Karl Road Baptist Church for posting there sermons in text form so they can be read by all.
I was doing some reading on the fruits of the spirit sometime ago and I came across one sermon, but today I located all of them and I wanted to include in here. They are not my writing, but I am thankful I found them and wanted to share them as well. There is a link above to those sermons. "The Evidence".
Each one starts off The Evidence...
Years ago a sermon was preached. The speaker asked this question of the congregation, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” One young man was deeply affected by that question that day. As a result, he put his faith in Jesus Christ. His name was Jimmy Carter and he grew up to become the 39th President of our country. “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Today we start a new messages series. I’ve changed the wording of that question just a bit, but the meaning is still the same: “If you’re accused of being a Christian, what evidence will convict you?” Imagine living in a country where it’s illegal to be a follower of Jesus. If you were arrested and accused of being a Christian, could a court of law find enough evidence to convict you? Is your life different enough from those who don’t follow Jesus that people can tell the difference? Would anyone say of you, “Oh, he’s obviously a Christian” or “Well, of course, she’s a follower of Jesus”? What kind of evidence would be brought against you in such a country? Your church attendance? Your Bible knowledge? Someone catching you praying to Jesus? A specific political or social philosophy that you proclaim? What evidence would convict you?
Thanks to the Karl Road Baptist Church for posting there sermons in text form so they can be read by all.
Monday, January 5, 2015
Thoughts From My Life
I was thinking about my life, I am back to writing not just a blog, but the things that I have learned through life.
God has taught me so much. When I first started writing this blog I wrote it without God and then I realized that He is the only way I am who I am today. I needed to give Him the glory and the credit for the man I am. I don't want to hide His light from affecting others, I need to allow Him to shine brighter for me to be a mirror and reflect His Love and reflect Him.
God has taught me so much. When I first started writing this blog I wrote it without God and then I realized that He is the only way I am who I am today. I needed to give Him the glory and the credit for the man I am. I don't want to hide His light from affecting others, I need to allow Him to shine brighter for me to be a mirror and reflect His Love and reflect Him.
He has changed me. Yes, I had to make the choices to allow Him to do it, but He has made me new. I have been a Christian my entire life, but I didn't really make the connection of what it meant until about 3 plus years ago. It is through this time that I have seen Him move mountains and really become real to me in all that He has done and just to think He is not done with me yet, He continues to change me. I am a work in progress, I am a painting and yet I don't know what the painting is, He is making me who I need to be and in that yes it is scary, but I am trusting Him and in due time He will reveal who I am to be, but right now I write to express what He is doing and has done.
When I look back over the last 3 years and all I have learned. I asked God why He taught me so much about love, so much about loving the way He wants us to love. I asked Him what is the use if I am to walk this world alone. He brought me the love of my life. I didn't think I would find her and I wouldn't have, but God. I am excited that He continues to teach me about loving His way. I continue to fall in love with my fiance and allowing God to teach me about His love. I have my human struggles, but God has been faithful to remind me of His love for me and His love for her. We continue to walk closer together and God reveals Himself to us both.
I have had to make some choices and one of them is complete surrender to His will. Saying Lord this relationship is yours, just like Abraham did with Isaac, starting in Genesis 22. I need to allow Him to work and allow Him to continue to show me the man I need to be, the fiance, the future husband, the father and the future step father. I need to allow God to work in me in doing all of that. I know that He continues to change me and in that I am encouraged to be the man of God I need to be.
Thank you for joining me on this journey as I share it with you. I don't know what it looks like to you, but I am excited to see what He will continue to do. I am excited that He is in control and that He will open doors and close the one that need to be closed.
I have had to make some choices and one of them is complete surrender to His will. Saying Lord this relationship is yours, just like Abraham did with Isaac, starting in Genesis 22. I need to allow Him to work and allow Him to continue to show me the man I need to be, the fiance, the future husband, the father and the future step father. I need to allow God to work in me in doing all of that. I know that He continues to change me and in that I am encouraged to be the man of God I need to be.
Thank you for joining me on this journey as I share it with you. I don't know what it looks like to you, but I am excited to see what He will continue to do. I am excited that He is in control and that He will open doors and close the one that need to be closed.
I came across this song this morning and I wanted to share it with you.
Keith Green – Oh Lord, You're Beautiful
Oh Lord You are Beautiful
Your face is all I see
For when Your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds to me
Oh Lord, please light the fire
That once burned bright and clean
Replace the lamp of my first love
That burns with holy fear
I want to take Your Word and shine it all around
But first help me just ot live it, Lord
And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown
For my reward is giving glory to You
Oh Lord You are Beautiful
Your face is all I see
For when Your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds to me
Oh Lord, please light the fire
That once burned bright and clean
Replace the lamp of my first love
That burns with holy fear
I want to take Your Word and shine it all around
But first help me just ot live it, Lord
And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown
For my reward is giving glory to You
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