Our beliefs about certain things shape our decisions. Duh.
For example...
I believe getting an education is important so naturally...I'm going to college.
I believe smoking is unhealthy so...I don't do it.
I believe family is important so...I spend time with them.
...and so on.
People tell what we believe based on what we do.
I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. God sent Him to die for us. He lived as fully man and put away His holiness so that He was able to face temptation with the same flesh that we would later face our every day challenges with. Then, He obediently went to the cross to pay for my sin along with the sin of every person who has lived and who will live. He rose from the dead, and offers us the gift of eternal life. If we accept that gift then He lives in us through the Holy Spirit and we will spend eternity with Him. If we reject that gift and deny who He is, then Hell is our reward, and we are eternally separated from God.
Do our lives, as Christians, reflect that???
If not, then do we really believe it???
This is an idea that boggles my mind!
I know my salvation is secure! That's not my issue! I don't doubt that at all. No one can pluck me from His Hand!
However, if we truly believe that Hell is what awaits those who don't accept Him then why in the world are we not telling every single soul about Him?! If we truly believe life is not even worth living without Him and know the joy and peace that He brings then why are we not doing that?!
There are countless reasons we don't.
All of which I'm sure are dumb.
I fear most the awkwardness of the conversation I guess...the initial idea of bringing it up...but isn't someone's eternity worth a little awkwardness?? Definitely!
So I challenge you to forget your feelings and live out what you believe!
(I'm challenging myself mostly btdubbs!!!)
It's not about us!
It's an eternity we're talking about.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
I've Just Been Thinkin
I was sitting in my room yesterday working on a project I had put off for weeks, and as I sat there on my bed, I felt the most alone I had felt in a while. I was in no way communicating with another person; no Facebook chat, text messages, calls, etc...I was alone.
It isn't the greatest feeling in the world by any means. I immediately started wondering what made me feel so alone. As a girl, to have a guy pursue you is one of the greatest feelings...to feel wanted and beautiful and the lack of that can often make us feel like we are not wanted and alone. I guess that was my initial reason for feeling alone, but then I realized that was an absolute ridiculous thought. My value is not found in another person. It is found in my Father. He tells me I am beautiful and that I am loved. He desires to have a relationship with me.
For so long I desired to be surrounded by tons of people because that was where I found my value and worth. However, there in my room I was surrounded by the one person who mattered; Christ. I love it when He speaks to me!!! I am never alone!
Joshua 1:9
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Just some additional thoughts...
We are learning about the Trinity in my New Testament class and its significance.
1. The Trinity first reveals the fact that God is in relationship and He desires that with us.
2. It also shows that we are not meant to be alone, we are designed to have relationship with others and Him. Loneliness is not His desire for us.
3. God in fact gives us the Holy Spirit when we are saved to be a comforter, speak to us, reveal truths to us, etc.
I guess topics have kind of changed a bit, but we should never forget the power we are given by God!
We have His living power inside of us! We are worth so much to Him. So much that He gave His only son for us.
Anywho...that's what has been on my mind for the past few days. Hope this speaks to you in some way! =)
It isn't the greatest feeling in the world by any means. I immediately started wondering what made me feel so alone. As a girl, to have a guy pursue you is one of the greatest feelings...to feel wanted and beautiful and the lack of that can often make us feel like we are not wanted and alone. I guess that was my initial reason for feeling alone, but then I realized that was an absolute ridiculous thought. My value is not found in another person. It is found in my Father. He tells me I am beautiful and that I am loved. He desires to have a relationship with me.
For so long I desired to be surrounded by tons of people because that was where I found my value and worth. However, there in my room I was surrounded by the one person who mattered; Christ. I love it when He speaks to me!!! I am never alone!
Joshua 1:9
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Just some additional thoughts...
We are learning about the Trinity in my New Testament class and its significance.
1. The Trinity first reveals the fact that God is in relationship and He desires that with us.
2. It also shows that we are not meant to be alone, we are designed to have relationship with others and Him. Loneliness is not His desire for us.
3. God in fact gives us the Holy Spirit when we are saved to be a comforter, speak to us, reveal truths to us, etc.
I guess topics have kind of changed a bit, but we should never forget the power we are given by God!
We have His living power inside of us! We are worth so much to Him. So much that He gave His only son for us.
Anywho...that's what has been on my mind for the past few days. Hope this speaks to you in some way! =)
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Forgiveness
Forgiving someone is very hard. Fact.
Like love and most other "feelings" or "ideas"...forgiveness is a choice.
We have all been hurt before. And the easiest thing to do is play the victim, and that's typically my defense system. Most of the time we are the victim, but when we hold on to angry feelings that's when it starts to effect other relationships and let it boil over.
At some point, you have to let go. Jesus Christ offers us freedom in salvation, and all we are doing by holding on to anger and hurt is putting ourselves in to a state of bondage that Jesus freed us from.
I'm so glad God doesn't work like we do. He forgives us immediately. He doesn't go around feeling sorry for himself for days and says "Gabi, I just need time. You really hurt me."
Now it's human to feel hurt or betrayed and that's fine I think, but not to the extent that it begins to control you. Maybe I'm wrong about that, but it makes sense to me.
Another thing! Realize that people have had to forgive you too and will continually need to forgive you. We aren't perfect. At some point we are all going to need forgiveness from each other.
Even on the cross, Jesus asked for forgiveness for his accusers and us.
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34
Check out these verses on forgiveness:
Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Though our hearts are filled with sins, you forgive them all Psalm 65:3
But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. Psalm 130:4
Come now, let us argue this out,’ says the LORD. ‘No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool.' Isaiah 1:18
And forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us . . . If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins” Matthew 6:12, 14-15
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Like love and most other "feelings" or "ideas"...forgiveness is a choice.
We have all been hurt before. And the easiest thing to do is play the victim, and that's typically my defense system. Most of the time we are the victim, but when we hold on to angry feelings that's when it starts to effect other relationships and let it boil over.
At some point, you have to let go. Jesus Christ offers us freedom in salvation, and all we are doing by holding on to anger and hurt is putting ourselves in to a state of bondage that Jesus freed us from.
I'm so glad God doesn't work like we do. He forgives us immediately. He doesn't go around feeling sorry for himself for days and says "Gabi, I just need time. You really hurt me."
Now it's human to feel hurt or betrayed and that's fine I think, but not to the extent that it begins to control you. Maybe I'm wrong about that, but it makes sense to me.
Another thing! Realize that people have had to forgive you too and will continually need to forgive you. We aren't perfect. At some point we are all going to need forgiveness from each other.
Even on the cross, Jesus asked for forgiveness for his accusers and us.
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34
Check out these verses on forgiveness:
Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Though our hearts are filled with sins, you forgive them all Psalm 65:3
But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. Psalm 130:4
Come now, let us argue this out,’ says the LORD. ‘No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool.' Isaiah 1:18
And forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us . . . If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins” Matthew 6:12, 14-15
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
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