Living as a Christ Follower

I hate when I look through my past posts an I can see which day I was more open to the Holy Spirit and the other day's when I'm not. Every day should be an active ministry an wonderful experience with my savior. But what I do is I let the events of the day swarm into my every thought an I let the urgency of God's call become more and more muffled. And this is something that I hate because after experiencing so much intimacy with our savior. Even a day where I'm not on fire for him just drives my heart down into depression. To be with God on day and then to self separate us the next, this most be a fraction of what Hell itself feels like. To be separated from God, it is a horrible horrible feeling. Live each day for our heavenly father let him fill you up with is spirit and his will. because there is nothing better then that intimacy. And nothing worse then looking back at the day and realizing we didn't make it a day for God. We can not walk with the Father and not desire him all the time. There is nothing wrong with experiencing the thing's we enjoy in this world. But if we just drown ourselves in them we make them idols this is displeasing to our Lord. God wants us to be happy an enjoy life, but he wants us to enjoy it with him and for his glory. And what is better then doing the things we love, with the one we love.

Doers not just Hearers

Today in this mornings devotional I read in James about being a doer of the word not just a hearer alone. This is a topic that many of us, including myself on many occasions, need to really apply to our lives. How often do we sit in church or listen to a speakers sermon and in the days to come forget the topics they were speaking of. Now I do mean remember what they were talking about specifically but the lessons that they taught us from the Lord's Word. We as God's servants and students most concern ourselves with not just remembering what we have been taught. But to put into practice what God's word has said, this is something we often struggle with but its something that we do need to work on.

In our weakness

So today I read about something in my devotional that was truly amazing. it talked about that in our weakness, we can take delight because God is strong. And that is something that is very encouraging to me personally, because a lot of the time I feel very weak or unable to be an effective servant for my Lord. And today's devotional reminded me of something I was thinking about yesterday night. I was thinking why are a lot of us afraid to witness or to teach and share God's word. That part is probably the easiest part of our whole ministry, why? Because all we have to do is open our mouths and God does the rest. How many times in the bible does God calm our worries by saying that you don't need to worry about what you are going to say. Because it will be me speaking through you to my people. And I thought this insight really fit with the issue of our weakness and God's strength in it. Because personally every time I teach my hear races and I feel almost faint, but then this assuredness washes over me an I know its not me speaking. The Holy spirit empowers us when we speak and witness, we needed worry about what to say. But only to make sure we open our mouths to let those word's come out.

June 27th 2010

Now I titled today's post as I did because a heck of a lot happened today and it'd take way to long to come up with a fancy titled to describe it. So this morning in my devotionals I read about showing the love of Jesus Christ and the effects of it long before we start talking about the love of Jesus. Now this is a topic that is quite eye opening when we really think about it. How often do we encounter people who are very standoffish towards what we say about Christ's love for them. But when they see it world's are opened before our eyes. And the author went into detail about a situation where those in the church in this particular area were constantly being insulted and persecuted because of their belief's. But then the Christian's did something amazing, they showed God's love in their lives and shared it with the world. They became active leaders in the town and soon that town saw what was inside of them, and they began to really wonder. Hey what did those guys say about their Jesus? An it is just something that really related back to my life because I could point out. Each time I talked about my love for Christ and what he did for me, and people's responses to that. But I also can point to where I showed an expressed God's love in my life and it really did turn some heads. So that's something to remember during our daily lives, that when we say and express God's word it has a powerful effect on this earth an in the people around us. Now I most share a praise that has shown nothing but God's amazing work in our lives today. You see in a couple of weeks I an a group of teens will be heading to Philadelphia to run a Vacation Bible School. Well something that concerned us as we made plans was, would these inner-city children even have bibles? So after a bit of thought and pray the decision was made to ask to borrow bibles from those in the church who had them. But also to ask for donations of old or spare bibles that we could bring down to the children and the Church's there. Well today when I left my house there were two bibles three new testaments. This afternoon that box was STUFFED full of bibles I couldn't fit anymore in. And that's not where it end's, today on my way home from church I stopped at the used book store in town to see if I could find some bibles I could buy and donate. Well what I found was a whole box full of bibles with this message on it "Bibles to new homes FREE." Man I loved that sentence, so that added another five or more bibles and new testaments to the bunch. AND my Pastor, and two different church members have offered to send a BOX of bibles EACH. Can this get any better I think to myself I was expecting to maybe fill the box at best but I was not expecting this. And there are still more bibles on the way via mail orders. It is just unbelievable to see how God takes care of everything that is needed. So any who after this great praise I also spent time in Sunday school discussing a very interesting topic. Especially for a modern believe living in a scientific viewed society. Well what we did was we watched a video that goes over arguments for and against intelligent design and really helps educate young believers about how even science really points to intelligent design. And arms the younger generation with information to defend itself against the scientific viewed society members. And finally, I know this post is kinda long bear with me, we get to the main service. Well besides the constant never ending love of giving praise to the Father above. But I also got to hear about a topic that isn't talked about to often in the church, anger. An I can say it was a very encouraging sermon, because it really helped bring to light some of that information that we store away about what the bible has to say about anger. That there is nothing wrong with anger, but its how we react to anger is what causes us to sin or not. And now I have a lot to remember the next time I am faced with a situation where I wish to explode in anger rather then love.

Both Jews & Gentiles prapare for the theif in the night

Today in my morning devotionals I read of being prepared for the day that Jesus will come to earth in the second coming. And not to follow those making predictions of his coming or the end of the World. For the bible clearly states that only God the Father knows the day and the hour. So we as Christians most live Godly lives so that we will always be prepared for the second coming. Also today I read of Peter explaining to the fellow believing Jews the importance of witnessing to gentiles. And that God loves all of humanity and we most share our love to them all. Very important reminders to us in our daily walks with Christ. Live EVERY day for God's glory and honor, and that EVERY human being is God's creation. he loves them so we most to.

Fellowship with Fellow Believers

So I just came home from another bible study. An its really starting to dawn on me how high of an opinion I have of myself. Since I spend every morning in God's word an in prayer I have come to think of myself as something as a spiritual prodigy. But what I have come to see more and more often as I am around my fellow believers. Is that I have so much to learn an I am far from this mass of wisdom an insight I for some reason feel that I am. Which really goes back to what we were talking about in lesson, a lot of it was about humility. An I'm so glad that God has shown me my faulted thinking and has humbled me. And more so that he has given me many friend's in him as well as teacher's an example's I can look towards. As the bible says never deny correction but be happy for it. An all I can say is that I am so happy that God is raising a powerful force in this generation's believers. And that he is giving me many wiser men to turn to for wisdom and Godly council.

Covetousness and the 'Unclean'

So today in my devotional I was reading about an interesting topic that I honestly have never thought of before. The author talked about the tenth commandment "Do not covet..."Exodus 20:17. Now its a commandment we all understand but don't give a lot of thought to unless we're having a difficult time with envy. But the author went into more detail and explained that as the tenth commandment we really don't give it a lot of thought. But its actually the desire for what isn't ours that lead to the fall of man. Eve desired the apple, but more so that knowledge, she coveted what wasn't hers and sin entered the world. An I'm sitting reading this and I'm amazed because I hadn't thought of that as a specific example. But the author goes into more detail and he talks about the tenth commandment being the commandment that if broken leads to all others. Now I really stepped back from the reading at this point, because I couldn't wrap my mind around it. I'm thinking okay sure adultery,murder,and stealing I can understand that but the other commandments? I didn't see it, so I stopped and I prayed and asked God for some insight and wisdom in my confusion. So I started thinking about how covetousness could be the straw that broke the camel's back in the world of sin. An it slowly began to make sense, well we make idols because we covet our 'freedom of belief' over desiring our God. We covet our desires and our will's over the respect and honor we most show our parents. We covet our time instead of giving it to God on the day of rest. We covet our anger rather then God's peace and that's why we use his name in anger. An it hit me, we covet what WAS ours but is now God's. What we're coveting is our old lives. When we accept Christ as our savior and give our lives to him that's the thing. We give OUR lives to him, they are no longer ours. Our time is now God's,our respect is now God's,our anger is now God's, our worship is now God's. See we're coveting something that is no longer ours and that's were it becomes sin.So today's devotional really did give me an interesting insight I have never had before. Let us not covet our old lives, but let us desire God an his glory.So the second part of today's post has to do with Peter's vision of the unclean animal's. Now maybe you know the story maybe you don't, well its found in Acts 10. Any who it gives us the reminder that everyone is God's creation. And that means we are to love them and to witness to them. which a lot of the time is difficult because you take one look at them and your afraid or look down on them.But we are given a calling of loving other's an I know that's hard because of the surface but God sees into their hearts. An if God could forgive them and love them, how can we not.

Given a choice/ Stopping or coasting

So I got back from a bible study tonight, which is always fun love talking with my fellow believers and growing spiritually. But there was something that really stuck with me as I was there. one of the speakers we were listening to talked about our lives being like a vapor. An I'm amazed thinking "I could die tonight." An I felt something that kinda frightened me, that part of me WAS frightened. Now I know a christian afraid of death whats up with that? But what was happening was I realized that one I have honestly no clue what death is like, an a lot of the time when we are scared of something its because we don't understand it. But then I thought well I know where I'm going does it matter. Then I realized, it does very much. Because we are given a choice on this earth whether we go to Heaven or Hell. An its just kinda awe inspiring to think that we who have no control of our existence on this earth. Have been given control of how we'll spend the next.So I sat for a bit and thought about this an I realize that why so many people are afraid of death is because we feel like we don't have control. And their half right, we have no control of how long we spend on this earth. But we have been given a choice to determine where we spend the next. And while I'll admit I'm nervous about the lack of control I have on this earth. I know I don't need to worry because I've been given control to make a choice. An I made mine and his name in Jesus. Which brings me to the next section of this post. Another topic was weighting on my heart as I left the bible study. For the speaker had been talking about giving your everything to God. Which is a great topic to speak on no doubt, but it was something I thought about on the ride home was. Not just that we give our everything, but the way we give it. See while i was driving home I noticed the posted speed limit and I checked my dashboard and saw I was going over so I took my foot off the gas. And you know what I did, nothing, i just coasted till I was at the appropriate speed. Now how many of us Christian's do this in our relationships with God. We look at what we're doing and check to see what's 'posted' in the bible. And we realize we need to make some changes. So we stop going forward with what is wrong, but we just coast through it. No what is wrong with that picture in your opinion. If a cop had noticed my speed and decided to pull me over I wouldn't coast to a stop, NO. I'd have my foot on that brake and be pulling over. Well God tells us specifically to STOP and we slow down, we coast. See there is a reason that God tells us not to do something because its harmful to us and our relationship with God. We are called to stop, to get out of whatever we're doing in our lives that is displeasing to God. Not to slow down till it ends, but to make ourselves right in our relationship with Christ. We need to obey his commandments, so remember God's 'Rules of Life's Road' and stop coasting through sin.

Nick's personal challenge

So today I will also be starting a self set challenge of mine. To daily read a bible verse from a verse pack I got from my youth group but never used during the year. And by the end of the week have it memorized. Lets see how this works folks cause my memory is awful.

The 'Hard road' and the road to Damascus

So this will be the first of hopefully many posts of my daily experiences in God's word. Now today in my devotional I read of something it when we think about it is quite frightening for us believers. As followers of Christ we aren't assured greatness and fame on this earth. In fact the Bible talks about the fact multiple times that we will be hated and peresecuted. Now this could be veiwed as some what depressing. Our actions for the Lord may not get noticed and we could DIE. Well yes there is that possibilty, but I thought about something when i was reading those verses. Who cares if my works bring ME greatness or bring me harm. Jesus says in Matthew 5:11 "Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me." We are suppose to take delight when we persecuted, why? Because it shows we're getting God's message out there and what is better then that. Let's not care about pain or fortune, but only for our Lord's glory. Then second part of today's post comes from Acts 9. now if your big on or good at scripture memorizing you may remember that this is the chapter of Saul's conversion. An I just love this chapter because it reminds me that God can touch the hearts of even the most unsuspecting people. In fact I knew a man who before he found the Lord had a lot of issues. He was very drowning in the world but then something amazing happened, he found the Lord. And those who knew him before his conversion were just in shock at the change in this man's life. He lived everyday for his Lord and savior, and he truly was a great example to our church. He recently passed away, but the extraordinary thing was you could easily see that God had a plan an a reason for his passing. Because after his death I have seen so much more real praise. I see more and more people not just singing the songs, but singing praise to their God. An I think he would be happy to see that his last action on earth, could be used for God's glory. so let's remember this, that when God is in some one's heart there can be nothing but true change. So don't judge by worldly appearances but by their love for God.

This is a link to a great man of God who i can call a friend of mine. What this man is doing is amazing and really makes the heart yearn for this kind of passion for God in our live's.Why not take a similair journey. Start your odyssey today, check this out.http://adamsodyssey.wordpress.com/

If you are interested to hear what I have to say you may listen to some topics i've discussed. Please ignore how awfully made they are and how very badly my teaching is i'm fairly new at this.http://www.youtube.com/user/TheWatchman127

Greetings

Greetings, now there are thousands of blog sites out there. And to be honest I have a few on other sites. But I wished to do something special with this blog. I wanted it to be a place where i can talk about my daily struggle's with temptation and my relationship with Christ. This is also were i intend to add links to my favorite men and women, as well as organizations, of God. I'll also throw in a link to my Youtube posts once in a while for some feedback on what i'm talking about. I hope that this blog with be a useful tool and a way to sharpen my faith against other believers. But to warn you i'm not sure how much you'll enjoy my ramblings. But hey i warned you.