"Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it."
(James 1:19-25, NLT)
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Doing Great Things
We just completed the 9th annual Eagles conference at church today. This was my second one to attend. Today I probably had the most fun during a church service than I have ever had before. There was great worship, great preaching, and a lot of laughs. The choir sang a song called "Come Together", which is a remake of an old rock song. I had to laugh when the worship band put their ties on their heads and posed with their guitars. It was also funny the see the congregation rocking out to the song with their arms swaying in the air.
A great message was preached by Jack Harris. It was on doing great things. Are you going to position yourself to where God can use you? So many times we go out and try to do big things when instead we should concentrate on doing great things for the kingdom. Here are the main points from the message.
1. Don't be afraid to dream about doing great things. Dream big!
2. Be prepared to go into intense learning and preparation. This doesn't always mean schooling, could be life events or training on your own.
3. You dont' have to know everything God is preparing you for to get to the next step. Be the best at what you are doing today as if you were to do it the rest of your life. I think those are great words to live by.
4. Many times you aren't going to know you are going to do something great. You do what you can with what God has given you.
5. Keep listening to the voice of God that gives directions. Don't be a cookie cutter Christian. Be yourself. Be who God designed you to be.
Think of ways to change someone's world for the better. Sometimes we think the only way we can share God is to verbally speak it(which is a great thing to do), but you can lead someone to the Lord by serving them. Find ways to help people and brighten their day.
I was very encouraged by the message today. It makes me remember to not be so self-focused and self-centered. Find ways everyday to help someone and show the love of the Lord. Be someone's friend who is lonely, pay for someone's groceries who has lost their job, mow your neighbors yard when they are not feeling well. There are countless things we can do to brighten someone's day. What are you going to do today to show God's love?
A great message was preached by Jack Harris. It was on doing great things. Are you going to position yourself to where God can use you? So many times we go out and try to do big things when instead we should concentrate on doing great things for the kingdom. Here are the main points from the message.
1. Don't be afraid to dream about doing great things. Dream big!
2. Be prepared to go into intense learning and preparation. This doesn't always mean schooling, could be life events or training on your own.
3. You dont' have to know everything God is preparing you for to get to the next step. Be the best at what you are doing today as if you were to do it the rest of your life. I think those are great words to live by.
4. Many times you aren't going to know you are going to do something great. You do what you can with what God has given you.
5. Keep listening to the voice of God that gives directions. Don't be a cookie cutter Christian. Be yourself. Be who God designed you to be.
Think of ways to change someone's world for the better. Sometimes we think the only way we can share God is to verbally speak it(which is a great thing to do), but you can lead someone to the Lord by serving them. Find ways to help people and brighten their day.
I was very encouraged by the message today. It makes me remember to not be so self-focused and self-centered. Find ways everyday to help someone and show the love of the Lord. Be someone's friend who is lonely, pay for someone's groceries who has lost their job, mow your neighbors yard when they are not feeling well. There are countless things we can do to brighten someone's day. What are you going to do today to show God's love?
Saturday, September 27, 2008
God pour your peace over me!
I can't sleep for I have too much on my mind. I have come to a few life changing crossroads in my life and I seem to be horrible at making decisions. Maybe it is a fear of commitment, fear of making the wrong choice, but none the less it is fear. Funny how fear can control your very existence. It seems to bounce in your brain like a never ending ping pong match. I feel my faith being tested. I don't like being faced with big decisions that can change my life. For sometimes I feel I have nothing to lose and only things to gain, but I still want to hold on and not make a decision. How do you ever really know that you made the right decision? Will I end up having regrets in the end and always wishing I had made a different choice? The only thing I can do is to let go of all control and trust God. Why is that so hard to do? I know He wants the best for me. I know He knows my future and it is great. I want to live by Jeremiah 29:11, but yet I find myself restless and not being able to sleep. Sometimes I wish there was a pause button for life unitl I could figure things out. Maybe I am not suppose to figure everything out? All I can do is pray for peace. I want to be overflowing with God's peace. I want to rest knowing He will show me the answers in due time and things will work out for the best.
A New Chapter
I already have a blog. It has been so long since I have written in it that I have forgotten my username and password so I had to make a new one. That's ok, I feel like I have started a new chapter in my life anyway. A lot has happened since my old blog. My boyfriend of three years and I broke up, I moved into a duplex with a roommate, I went on a journey to "find myself", trained for a half marathon, made some really great friends, rediscovered the ones I already had, and the list goes on.
After the break up I was forced to re-evaluate my life. The plans I had made for the future were thrown aside and I started asking myself a lot of questions. What do I want to do with my life? Am I who I want to be? Shortly after, I went to Branson with my parents. My mom and I were watching Oprah and on the show that day was an idea for a vision board. I thought this was a great thing and I ended up making one for myself. On the board I put my hopes and dreams. Things I want to accomplish and would love to see happen in my life. Some things I have already been able to take off the board and I have added several more. The more my dreams have come true, the more I have wanted to add. The great thing is, I have seen God work in my life. I have taken things off that board that I never even worked for, just asked for them and God blessed me. Isn't God incredible! God wants to give us the desires of our heart we just have to put them out there and not let fear get in our way of receiving them.
One of the big goals I am about to take off the board is running a half marathon. I was blessed with a running partner back in July and we have been training since. I ran my first 5k a couple of weeks ago and the half marathon is next week. Will I run all of it? Probably not. The most I have ran in the training is 8 miles, but I will give it a good shot. Wished I had a little longer to train, but I will finish and will do my best. My next goal is to learn to play guitar. This is something I have wanted to do since college and I have found someone to give me guitar lessons. I start next month! I still have a ton of things I want to accomplish and some I have no control over(have to leave those to God). I am becoming the person I have always wanted to be and doing things I have always wanted to do. This begins my new chapter.
After the break up I was forced to re-evaluate my life. The plans I had made for the future were thrown aside and I started asking myself a lot of questions. What do I want to do with my life? Am I who I want to be? Shortly after, I went to Branson with my parents. My mom and I were watching Oprah and on the show that day was an idea for a vision board. I thought this was a great thing and I ended up making one for myself. On the board I put my hopes and dreams. Things I want to accomplish and would love to see happen in my life. Some things I have already been able to take off the board and I have added several more. The more my dreams have come true, the more I have wanted to add. The great thing is, I have seen God work in my life. I have taken things off that board that I never even worked for, just asked for them and God blessed me. Isn't God incredible! God wants to give us the desires of our heart we just have to put them out there and not let fear get in our way of receiving them.
One of the big goals I am about to take off the board is running a half marathon. I was blessed with a running partner back in July and we have been training since. I ran my first 5k a couple of weeks ago and the half marathon is next week. Will I run all of it? Probably not. The most I have ran in the training is 8 miles, but I will give it a good shot. Wished I had a little longer to train, but I will finish and will do my best. My next goal is to learn to play guitar. This is something I have wanted to do since college and I have found someone to give me guitar lessons. I start next month! I still have a ton of things I want to accomplish and some I have no control over(have to leave those to God). I am becoming the person I have always wanted to be and doing things I have always wanted to do. This begins my new chapter.
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