Be a Doer

Often you will hear people say "get with the times" or "It's 2014!". All these comments are indicating you need to let loose, adapt to fit into society... their personal notion of society.

Do you?

No.

Let society adapt to fit in with you. That is, if you are a true Christian and striving to live the life of one.

The amount of years I've been on this world is nothing compared to the amount of years since the beginning of time. And yet, the amount of change I've seen over those short amount of years seems like a lot, and not in a good way.

As the years go on, people get further and further away from the truth. Yes, things change, but where we are grounded should remain the same. Why? Because God does not change as times go on. God does not say "oh it's 2014, better let go of that now." Absolutely not. And if we are grounded in faith, remain close to God, we should not change either. I'm talking in reference to morals.

The Bible tells all we need to know. The Bible should be our guide for life. Not other people, not society as a whole, not what year it is.

If we allow one thing to change this year, and another the next, where are we going to be in 20 years? I mean goodness, look where we are already. If you have kids, don't you want them to have a good grounding? Good morals? And wouldn't you want their kids the same? So why do allow such adaptation in the wrong direction? Why do we permit lying, cheating, stealing, so on and so forth? Why do we say it's ok to do something that 50 years ago would have been frowned strongly against? Just because it's 2014? That really doesn't make a lot of sense if you really think about it.

So many people lack commitment. So many people lack strong values. So many people lack morals. And as we are lacking, we are allowing the bad to get in, the evil, the temptation, straying away from the truth. Stop. Stop right now and reformulate who you are and who you are meant to be in Christ Jesus. And lead others to do the same. You want to make a difference? Do it. If you've got Christ in you, you've got the power to make a difference in you. Be the change you want to see, and make sure that change is in the right direction.

 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25

John 14

Life is hard. Obstacles will always get in the way. Things as well as people will try to hold you back, to detour you, to go against you. Life really is hard.

Many people, probably most people if not all, including myself, often react to these obstacles in life. We react with emotions, with worry, with more struggles. We almost act as if these things shouldn't be happening. Why us? Why now? Why this? But that's life. If life were placed out on a game board, it wouldn't be a flat straight line from one side to the other. It would be a mix of twists and turns and tons of obstacles that you never saw coming. There would be set backs, go back 5 spaces. But there would also be the good spaces, the great moves. We get excited for the good parts and disappointed with the bad.

What if we didn't react? How do you not react to what is happening in life? Well, a reaction means you are focused on that obstacle, thing or person. Is that what you should be focused on?

What if instead you always kept your focus on Jesus, on His Word, on the way, the truth, the life? In doing so, you keep in mind those obstacles are going to happen. It's not a maybe, a possibility. It's a given. No one's life is a flat straight line to the finish. So you hang tight to Him and His promise. You surround yourself with His light as you make your way through. And you yourself radiate and reflect Him from your words and your actions.

Do not react but rather reflect. Take a moment, take a pause, reflect, and continue on your journey.

I'm going through some VERY difficult times in life and I have been for quite some time. I've heard such amazing compliments given to me and others asking how I do it. My answer- God. Jesus. Anything good is not from me, it is from God. As long as I keep my focus on Him, I know I will be ok regardless of any of the issues surrounding me. It is when I lose that focus and start straying from His word and the truth when I struggle. Then I start second guessing everything, worrying, fearing the worst. That leads to a worse and worse place.

Stop. Pause. Reflect. Read His Word. Learn His Word. Live His Word. Find comfort in the peace that surrounds you as His light shines upon you. It is the brightest light, the light that leads the way. The only light.

Jesus truly is the answer to everything. Seek and you will find. Ask and you shall receive. Stay close to Jesus. If God is with you it doesn't matter who is against you. God overcomes it all.

I feel the need to mention John 14 here... here is a link to read it if you want to. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14&version=NIV

God bless!

Journey or Destination

They say it's not about the destination, it's about the journey. I've pondered this before. But at this very moment, I'm going to say that is false. It's absolutely about the destination. Bare with me here...

Why? Why is it about the destination? What about all those moments along the way?

I think we need to back up even further and ask, what is your destination? Do you know? If you don't know then how can you possibly decide- is it about the journey or the destination? If you do know your destination, perhaps the answer of what your destination is will help clarify this.

My destination is Heaven. Heaven is where I will spend all eternity. This life, even if I live to somehow be 100, is so short compared to eternity. It's about my destination. It's about Heaven. It's about Jesus.

When that is clarified, this makes more sense. Life makes more sense. And it comes about full circle where in fact since it's about the destination, which ultimately is Jesus, it's also about the journey, still Jesus.

Why? Because I am a Christian. I'm not a Christian because I say that is my "religion." I am not a Christian because I go to church. I am a Christian because I am saved and I have a relationship with Christ Jesus. My entire life is lived for Him, because He died for us. I strive to do what is good, what is right what is true. I strive to be the best version of myself, following God's will. That's not to say I don't fail, I do. But Jesus remains in my heart.

If you have the same destination, does how you are living clearly tell others that's your destination?

So does it really matter? Is it the journey or the destination or both? And if you don't know your destination can you truly answer this question? And if you can't answer this question, what in fact are you living for and how does that define you? Is it worth it? Is living your life for anything other than the One who died for you to be here really worth it?

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me. Philippians 1:21-26