Enjoyable, and The "I'm gonna throw up" Feeling

Somethings in life should make us happy. Somethings in life should make us smile. Lots of things in life should cause us to laugh, and enjoy life. But, other things have an opposite effect.

This post is to encourage you to enjoy the things that God has made for you to enjoy. Enjoy good friends, enjoy good food, enjoy His word, and enjoy His creation. When we do this, let's enjoy Him. Let's enjoy all He has given us and turn back to Him the praise for it. God loves you, and has given you gifts to enjoy. Eat those things up. Bathe in God's grace to you.

But, because we love God, and praise Him for what He has done, we are to be disgusted with everything else outside of that. Our view of God defines our view of the world, sin, and everything that makes up who we are. If we have a big view of God, we see sin as serious and destructive. If we love God, we hate our sin. If we are running towards God, we are running away from everything else that is not headed in that direction.

Enjoy God, and cringe at everything outside of Him. We are in a battle. Life and death. We are supposed to be the outsiders of this world. The bible actually calls those who belong to Jesus foreigners of this land. Everything you post, say, do, and wear will be analyzed. Make sure you reflect Christ by enjoying Him, and pushing away everything else.

Remember that the King loves you, and live by His grace today.

Good, Pleasing, and Perfect.

We spend our whole lives searching. We search for something solid. We look for something steady. We look for something that stands up when others sit down. We live our journey focused on something that will make us happy. We pour energy into finding something that works. We have sleepless nights and stressful days while striving to find that perfect path...or one that at least works half of the time.

Search no longer.

If someone has ever told you that the Word of God isn't true that person is a liar. If someone has told you that the Word of God is not applicable don't listen to another word they have to say on the subject.

Romans 12:1-2 has been on my heart big time the last 2 weeks.

Romans 12:1-2
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

In a world full of uncertainty, this passage tells us that we can be certain. As the world rushes around searching without a clue, the Word says that we can have much more than a clue. God has HUGE plans for your life. He has a plan for your life that leads to good things. A plan that is pleasing to you, and Himself. This plan is perfect, unlike any other plan. But, none of that matters unless we respond correctly to God's grace.

The way to respond to God's grace is to offer ourselves back to Him. The bible says that by God's grace we were bought at a high price. Therefore, we no longer belong to ourselves. As believers, we have been made a new creature by belonging to Jesus. He deserves us. He is worthy of our lives. He is calling us to give up our life so that we may live a life that glorifies Him, but one that also satisfies us.

How awesome is that? God has our best interests in mind. Though He wants our life, He wants to give us one that is worth living. God loves you so much that He wants to give you something that will be good, and that will last forever. This is the calling that you have been searching for!

Turn it over. Don't debate if it's worth it or not. Jesus is better. I can tell you from being in the will of God and not being in the will of God, that following Jesus is much better than not. That doing what God has called me to do has been much more pleasing than living a life full of lust and sin. Knowing God's plan for my life by giving it to Him has been far more peaceful than living on the edge and not knowing what will come next.

You may be looking at what you will lose, but you will get so much more in return. Something that is good, pleasing, and perfect.

Jesus is better.

Shoes to Fill...

This week has been a good week. Jesus keeps on blessing. I've needed some new shoes for a while. This week Christ blessed with not only one new pair, but two. As I was looking in the store, I was having a little trouble finding my size. My feet are not huge. So I tried on several pairs that didnt fit just right. My heel would slide when I stepped, my toe would bend at the end, or the shoe was just plain uncomfortable. But, when I found the right shoe with the right fit, I knew it. There was no need for me to look at any other shoe similar to it. No need to consult an employee there at the store. When it fits, it fits.

Sometimes life is like this. I know sometimes I feel like I just haven't found my place. From time to time I will get the feeling that my life and I just don't fit.

What do you do when the shoe doesn't fit? You don't quit. You pick up another shoe, knowing that you will eventually find your size. In life we have to keep trying. We have to keep searching. We have to know that Christ has a plan for us, and that He will help us find it, to live it.

This can get dangerous. Sometimes we get fustrated and look elsewhere. We forget the best source, and settle for something that seems to work temporarily. But, when we do that with shoes we end up with blisters and ugly toes. That's gross. Don't settle for a plan that doesn't fit. God's is the only plan that will. Don't settle for something that seems alright now, but will leave you sore after walking in it a few days. Don't get frustrated with your faith, and settle for living in doubt of the fact that God loves you. Don't change stores by buying crap like alcohol, sex, and pride from the world. That things are not in your best interest. And, your best interest is in God's plan.

Know that God chose you. He chose you for a purpose. He chose you for a life. He chose to have His Son crucified so that you could live that life. Don't settle. Find the shoe that fits and wear the bottoms out.

What I'm Gonna Do When I Grow Up

When I was a kid, believe it or not, I wanted to be an artist. That's right, an artist. I loved to draw. One my favorite movies ever, even now, is the Lion King. When I was a kid I would spend all day drawing lions. Looking back my lion looked like a moose, but I had my mind set on being an artist. But, as you can see, my dreams changed.

Cover via Amazon

Plans change with time. We grow, and we take steps back. One day we want to be an astronaut and one day we want be the next Brett Favre. One day we want to get the job, and the next we're looking for a new one. Oh, one day we are sold out to serving Christ, and the next we allow our plans get in the way.

We must remember, as believers, we live according to the Lordship of Christ. We must keep in mind that Christ has a plan for us, and it is better than any dream that we could ever dream up.

This gets tough. But, from the very beginning of our Christian walk we are made into a new creation. This new creation is one with a new mind, a new heart, and a new life with new plans. All of those new things are made new not only to clean our slate, but to focus us fully on Christ. We are made new so that we can be who Christ wants us to be, and so that we may live the life that He has called us to live.

Sometimes we look at this and we get discouraged, but it should give us great joy. Living for the plans of Christ, we cannot fail. He will not let us fail. Living for Christ, we do not have to meet the expectations of others. But, God's expectations are being met by what Christ is doing through you.

Here are some verses to help remind you that Jesus and His plans for your life are superior to any fantasy.


Jeremiah 29:11

"11 For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Romans 12:1-2
"1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

Psalm 32:8
 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”

Psalm 118:8
 “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”

Proverbs 3:5-6
 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path.”

Psalm 121:3
 “He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.”
1 Corinthians6: 19-20


1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“19 Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”

Proverbs 16:9
“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

Matthew 6:33
 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

The Green Mile

What does the color Green remind you of? March maybe, because of St. Patty's day. Maybe Spring because of the new life. Maybe you're a fan of the Packers. What about allergy season? Or, infection.

Green is also associated with ENVY. We talked about envy last night in our youth Bible study. One youth reminded us of the synonym, JEALOUSY. To, in other words, want what you don't have. You envy others who have it, and you become jealous because you don't. We talked about people that we are envious of. On the list were the rich. Athletes were mentioned.Others among the many were pretty girls, people with good parents, and those with power. It was obvious to us that we all have envious hearts, but we seemed to all agree on another point as well:

What Christ Has For Us Is Better.

We looked at our lives. We saw instances where we were given what we had asked for and it usually didn't turn out like we had planned. The stuff that we so desired usually came up short. It wouldn't be enough once we had it. Or, it would make us miserable. The bad relationship or big house would leave us with more cleaning up to do than we had in the first place. This conversation echoed the statement: What Christ has for us is so much better than anything this world can offer us.

But, life gets hard. Our desires run wild. And, sometimes we forget what God has promised us while we look at what our neighbor has. Here are some verses to help you not turn green:

Romans 12:2

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Hebrews 13:5"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
 

John 10:28-30

"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”

Luke 22:25-3025 Jesus told them, "In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called 'friends of the people.'26 But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.27 Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves. 28 "You have stayed with me in my time of trial.29 And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right30 to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

"Shhhh, You Shouldn't Say That In Church."

Work was somewhat fun tonight. I'm a waiter. I am the only male waiter, so you can only imagine what the atmosphere is like. Well, it's always interesting when Jesus and other sensitive subjects as such come up.

Tonight a conversation was occurring and someone looked at me and said, "You don't mention that in your sermons do ya?"

The conversation didn't go much further. No one got angry. And, no heated discussion broke out. No real story to tell. But, it did leave me thinking. I was left asking myself questions. What needs to be discussed in church, and what is appropriate to be discussed in church?

My thought:

Everything that effects the believer and the world that believer lives in should be addressed, by the church, for the benefit of the church and the furthering of the Gospel.


Some believe that cultural, political, and somewhat personal topics should be left undiscussed inside of the church. I would disagree. I am strong believer in the idea that many of the churches issues today stem from undiscussed, therefore unresolved, topics and sins of yesterday.

Many topics seem to be "hush-hush" in the church. Like, why do some people see the need to whisper the word "sex" in church. We treat this and other terms like homosexuality, alcohol, and politics like curse words. In many situations, some churches refuse to address sin by not discussing topics like divorce, homosexuality, and modern day idolatry. When we do this we run from ruffling others' feathers by discomfort and awkwardness, but we also run from discipleship and growth.

I strongly believe that the church is called to be much more than just a place of weekly worship. It is a great responsibility of good biblical churches to teach and educate. Not only on Genesis and the Ten Commandments, but on tough topics that it's members will face day to day. We must know where Jesus stands, so we will know where to stand.

We, as the church, must also know the culture of the people in which we are trying to reach with the truth of Gods love. We must know who we are talking to so that we may effectively approach them with the gospel. As disciples, we are called to be doctors. We must know sickness when we see it. We must know how to treat the sickness. When we refuse to discuss and be educated on our culture, we are like a man who calls himself a doctor but refuses to treat patients and refuses to treat them correctly.

It is important for these issues to be first discussed in the church so we do not create for ourselves a view that is incorrect. We need to learn about these things as a congregation and by studying the Word. The way we view God determines the way we view everything else. They are not separate views, but one runs in correlation with the other. Listen to what C.S. Lewis said:

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”