Rooted in Christ

In youth the other night we had the topic “Rooted in Christ”.

By identifying winds of our christian walk, we could find ways to deal with them.  Winds such as worldly influences, doubts, temptations, peer pressure, seeing others blown over and not getting up, media, consumerism and other discouragements.

These winds can destroy our roots in Christ, namely our faith.  We need to be mindful of our doctrine. (“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.”-Ephesians 4:14)  We are constantly bombarded with information, theories and ideas.  We need to sift through what is true.  (“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” – Colossians 2:6-8 )

What can i do to become more rooted and established in the faith??  I can excersize applying what i believe.  I can know my Bible, grow in knowledge of God’s word.  I can spend time with other christians.  I can be watchful, be careful who teaches me, what i read, and go back to the standard of God’s word.  I can learn from mistakes.  I can read and pray.

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. -James 1:6

i heard this song…

es kann nicht immer nur die Sonne scheinen,

es muss auch ab und zu der Himmel weinen…

It was a german song by a german folk singer Heintje.  It was all about how we can’t enjoy the sunshine if we never experience rain.  This gave me some answers to why i often wonder why i don’t ‘feel’ saved, and why sometimes i feel as though i could burst with love for my Saviour.

I came to the conclusion that the reason i have mountain top experiences is because i spend time in the valleys.  If i never had hard times, then i couldn’t truly feel so complete at other times.  I used to wonder why, but now i know.  Praise God!

I will not waste time on anything that i can’t change anyway.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Worrying about things that i can’t change anyway, is one thing i need to change.  There always will be things i can’t change.  There always will be people i can’t change.  Not that they can’t change, but that they don’t want to.  Can i let them steal my inner peace?

Only God can change things.  And God can also help me to accept things that won’t be changed.  This seems like a hard task.  I need to pray for grace to understand.  I need to remember that i can always find something good about everyone.

More times than not, I am the one who needs to change.  It may be how i look at the situation or the situation is there to change me.  I need to accept what the Lord wants me too.  If i give everything to the Lord, i can watch as He takes care of everything.

Complaining while serving God?

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does. – Ephesians 6:7-8

This something that i need to be reminded of daily.  Whether it is cleaning up the dishes, or doing school work, it is so easy to complain.  But why complain, when what i do is all for God?  How can i complain to the God who sent his only Son to die so that i could live eternally with Him?

If we realized that absolutely everything we do is for the Lord, would we do it differently?  Would our attitude change?  Even while singing congregational hymns and when working with people we don’t like?

God will reward us.  God can’t reward us for more than we do.  Not only can we do good, but we can do it with all of our hearts only for God.

Thanks for the food.

Whenever i eat something that tastes good, i wonder why i was not only blessed with food, but with food that tastes good.  There are so many people who starve, while i get a different variety of food every day.

I want to thank you God that i have it soo good.  I don’t understand why you would give me the good tasting food.  I want to let you know that i appreciate it.  With each bite, i look to you in thanksgiving.  Lord, you are soo good to me.

Redeem the time

When life gets busy it is easy to waste time on things that don’t really matter.  Wasting time is when nothing beneficial comes from the time spent, and in our christian walk, anything that doesn’t get us in the direction of our Goal.

Among many time wasters, the worst would be surfing the Internet without purpose (facebook…), electronics (TV, Movies, & Video games), media  (texting…), pointless conversations, lounging and daydreaming/worrying.  Some of these past times don’t interest me, some do.  By identifying what tempts me most, i can have the power the fight the temptation of wasting time when i could be focusing on growing closer to God.

I can’t expect to use my time wisely if i don’t prioritize.  If i make myself a schedule, i can make conscience decisions on how to spend my time.  I also need to practise self-control, so that i can limit my time.  By concentrating on what i do and multi-tasking at the same time, i will have more time for God.  When i have time to wait, I have time to pray.

I can redeem the time of my youth years by doing as much as possible for the ministry.  That is something that i will never forget.  I can also make wise decisions for the future such as health, education, career,  and who i am friends with.

Therefore He says:  “ Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. –Ephesians 5: 14-17

That Sister of Mine.

“Inspiredbrioooooo??”

“…yeah?”

“I loooooove you!”

“Well, I love you more!!”

“NO. I LOVE YOU THE MOST!!!”

My sister may be exaggerating when she vows her love to me, but one thing i know for sure.  I know that God loves me.  God has always loved me and always will.  No matter how far away i might be separated with Him, He will always give me an opportunity to begin pleasing Him.  We never know how long we have until we will be separated from God’s love through death.  My prayer is that i may never be separated from the love of God.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: 
      “ For Your sake we are killed all day long;
       We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – (Romans 8:35-39)

My Motto – Pleasing God

In a sermon today, I was reminded of what my motto is.  Sometimes distractions are appealing, and the focus starts sliding off of the motive.  If the only life that with fulfillment and true joy is one that pleases God, how do we know what pleases Him?  By reading the Bible.  The more we read, the more we know.

Areas in my life where i need to please God:

• In my personal life.  With my priorities and past times.
• In my family life.  Me and my house will serve the Lord.
• In my school life.  Serve as serving the Lord, not men.
• In my church life.  In all, to please you only.

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way.  (Colossians 1:10)

We were not worthy of the lamb that was sacrificed for us, but God is worthy enough that we should please Him in everything that we do.