If your life was a book and each day a page what would your life convey to the world? Sometimes I feel like this chapter in my life would be titled the monotonous mundanes (and no this is not a form of reacquiring diarrhea) Life just seems like a repeat of the day before and no big surprises. I feel like God has me in this place to remind me of what its all about. We can get stuck in these trends of rinse and repeat days or we can choose to seek God and make him apart of these days. I am learning that the longer I go with out God the less life there is in living. There always seems to be a deep seeded hunger that comes out in a person when they have put God on the back burner or have become so tired and weary that they lose sight of what they were working for.
For me the past 6 months have been a real rollercoaster as i have had to face many challenges and plans that i have made be forced to a different direction. Having to adjust to different situations and struggles. Often not ending up on top and living in the victory God has given but cowering in defeat. That is sometimes the place God wants us! WHAT GOD WANTS US TO COWER!?!?!? YES! Sometimes to reach a place of defeat and lowliness is the only way for us to truly lower our wall, pride, insecurities, our agendas and truly let God step in and work his truth and direction in.
I am still learning and having to be the one to beat my head against the rocks and try things my way i am learning that isnt always smart. But I feel that this chapter in my life where i had to battle through many things (still am) has come to an end and I feel like the beginning of a new chapter, is about to start in my life. One of seclusion and intimacy with my maker. My heart has been aching recently as the stress of doing it my way has been building up. And as I have been becoming aware of my state of thinking and how my way though it may be good isn't as good as the fathers way. i realize that God wants me. and I have to make room for him in my busy life.
So I choose to write a new chapter today page 1 is now and how I decide to live love and serve those around me.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Randomness and God's love.
I got off work at 5am and begun to think man i would love some Krispy Kreme donuts. I flashed back to the Time that Brady, Moody and I went to get some fresh Krispy Kreme donuts. I instantly thought geeze this is going to be awesome. Donuts hot and fresh and I get to explore Austin cause I have somewhat of an idea as to where the store is. I began to drive and filled with excitment listening to Black Mirror by Arcade Fire I went the wrong way and wound up in the domain when it hit me. This is where i would have been working if I got the job at apple.
I thought man God you are so Good. I have an awesome job that pays well and no worries in my life, I am completely content. I have the ability to chase a craving for Krispy Kreme in a car that God provided. His faithfulness and goodness is beyond my own. I look back and see that I have not been very faithful in my tithing or giving I have not been faithful in my relationships, or in ministry as I should have been. I thought about all these things that moment and knew that there is nothing I can do to ever earn or deserve God's goodness and blessings on my life to compare to God's goodness and faithfulness. Sure there are things that we do and are faithful in that reap benefits. But when you look at your goodness in comparison it is but filthy rags. To know that God is so in love with us that our failures and mistakes are always covered by how good he is put a smile on my face.
I know that it is all not about how good I am but how good he is. It is my responsibility to share Gods goodness and what he has done in my life with others. Driving to Krispy Kreme with a stupid smile on my face and an even bigger one when I discovered I was up before they were even open :). Finding joy in hardships and difficulties is all about perspective and God gives us a good perspective.
I thought man God you are so Good. I have an awesome job that pays well and no worries in my life, I am completely content. I have the ability to chase a craving for Krispy Kreme in a car that God provided. His faithfulness and goodness is beyond my own. I look back and see that I have not been very faithful in my tithing or giving I have not been faithful in my relationships, or in ministry as I should have been. I thought about all these things that moment and knew that there is nothing I can do to ever earn or deserve God's goodness and blessings on my life to compare to God's goodness and faithfulness. Sure there are things that we do and are faithful in that reap benefits. But when you look at your goodness in comparison it is but filthy rags. To know that God is so in love with us that our failures and mistakes are always covered by how good he is put a smile on my face.
I know that it is all not about how good I am but how good he is. It is my responsibility to share Gods goodness and what he has done in my life with others. Driving to Krispy Kreme with a stupid smile on my face and an even bigger one when I discovered I was up before they were even open :). Finding joy in hardships and difficulties is all about perspective and God gives us a good perspective.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Living it
I was just being challenge this week to be more like Christ in the way i think about situation and the way I focus my efforts toward others. I often ask myself is what I do going to draw people closer to God or is it going to draw them further from God. In 2 Corinthians 6:3-4 Paul says "We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault in our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind."
The next part Paul talks about all the different hardships he had faced. I look at them in conparison and realize I think that maybe one or two of the things he had to endure daily I have had to endure once or twice in my whole life. Yet I think we today have a harder time especially in America living a life that would not cause anyone to stumble. I know that when ever i say something that could be offensive or I say something that might be out of character I always feel like dang that is ground loss. My ministry at work is completely relational I am just trying to represent Christ in me through my life. Sometimes I don't let him shine. I sometimes would rather put in my headphones and work. But Paul continues after the list of hardships and says 1 Cor 6:6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love." I think for me the patience is the hardest one for me. When you are working and just want to get through your shift it is easy to isolate yourself and not pay attention to the others around you. I have tried to make it a point to get to know everyone in my work place. I ask them questions and I try not to stay away from sensitive Christian topics like relationships and lifestyle.
So I know that we don't have to endure persecution in the U.S. anywhere close to what Christ and the apostles faced but we still have to stand and live a life that will help people walk with Christ in love. For me its laying down my comforts and my rights so that God can have his way. Easy is often not the best and is almost least rewarding. So try something hard.
The next part Paul talks about all the different hardships he had faced. I look at them in conparison and realize I think that maybe one or two of the things he had to endure daily I have had to endure once or twice in my whole life. Yet I think we today have a harder time especially in America living a life that would not cause anyone to stumble. I know that when ever i say something that could be offensive or I say something that might be out of character I always feel like dang that is ground loss. My ministry at work is completely relational I am just trying to represent Christ in me through my life. Sometimes I don't let him shine. I sometimes would rather put in my headphones and work. But Paul continues after the list of hardships and says 1 Cor 6:6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love." I think for me the patience is the hardest one for me. When you are working and just want to get through your shift it is easy to isolate yourself and not pay attention to the others around you. I have tried to make it a point to get to know everyone in my work place. I ask them questions and I try not to stay away from sensitive Christian topics like relationships and lifestyle.
So I know that we don't have to endure persecution in the U.S. anywhere close to what Christ and the apostles faced but we still have to stand and live a life that will help people walk with Christ in love. For me its laying down my comforts and my rights so that God can have his way. Easy is often not the best and is almost least rewarding. So try something hard.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The Veil
Well I started this on Twitter with a really vague start. I started reading 2 Corinthians not knowing really much about it. I have found myself getting a greater understanding for it as I live my life in the world but set apart from it.
Recently I got an awesome job for an awesome company but soon felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. I am very open about my faith and what I believe. I dont try to hide it or pretend to be someone I am not. All of the people I work with know I am a christian and I went to some sort of bible school and I am a credentialed minister. What I found was if you say you are a christian people brush it off as just what ever like he goes to church and stuff, but when you tell them that you are real and it is not just something you say you are but it is who you are peoples attitudes change. At work I have experience different responses to this one guy a loving father remembers being a kid and growing up in the church and credits God for not having getting into alot of trouble as a kid. One guy is into existentialist thought and we have had some very interesting talks concerning morals, God, spirituality and the supernatural. None the less we have these talks and have agreed to disagree. The third co-worker is a different story I watched his attitude change when he found out I was a christian. We were pretty cool before and he joked with me because I dont cuss or drink. But when he found out I was a christian and went to school for it; it was as if he shifted. He would be like God isnt real Aaron wake up. He would yell things like the Christ is a story Jesus wasn't real...etc.
In my mind i was think dude just let me talk and there was another voice being Aaron dont say anything. Slightly irritated I kept my mouth shut. I thought to myself Aaron you know Christ died for him and what Christ suffered in ridicule and torture was far greater then anything you will ever have to face. This was probably a daily occurrence for the early followers of Christ and i am getting bent out of shape about it.
Well this brings me to 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:12 Paul is talking about the veil of the glory of God and when you are saved the veil is removed. (2 Cor 3:7-15)This veil that blocks people from fully understanding truth and the new covenant that Christ has made with us. But when we accept Christ the veil is removed and we have freedom and we can now reflect the glory of the Lord and we become more and more like Christ (2 Cor 3:16-18). It goes on to say because of this mercy we have been given we then now give up the shameful deeds we did in the past. This is the transformation and sanctification of followers of Christ. the veil still exists on those who are perishing. The truth is hidden behind it, so those who are still behind the veil can not see or understand the word and its truths if they have not excepted Christ and let his glory and light into their life. The rest talks about how we do not do not harbor this glory by our own strength beacuse we are like fragile clay pots but by the strength of God. We are pressed persecuted struck down but not destroyed.
To sum this up. I didn't stop being a light or a witness because I was quiet or people dont understand why I am a Christian so I fight to make them understand. No I live my life as an example of Christ. I later found out a couple days later that the guy that had been rude and mean to me was raised in the Baptist Church. I am still in the process of finding out more about him as I continue to develope a friendship. But I know that I have to live what I say I have set myself up to be a light in a dark place and my hope is that my life will shine a light and help those remove their veil and step into freedom. Sorry if this is confusing or really vague. But I am learning still and Gods word has great advice to strengthen you when you are stuck in a hard place. I guess my challenge and what I hope any Christ followers get out of this is dont hide. Let people know who you are. You dont have to have all the answers or all the right words. Just live your life and think that if you never tell someone about Jesus with words you are telling them with your life.
Thank you for taking the time to read that AMO haha
Recently I got an awesome job for an awesome company but soon felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. I am very open about my faith and what I believe. I dont try to hide it or pretend to be someone I am not. All of the people I work with know I am a christian and I went to some sort of bible school and I am a credentialed minister. What I found was if you say you are a christian people brush it off as just what ever like he goes to church and stuff, but when you tell them that you are real and it is not just something you say you are but it is who you are peoples attitudes change. At work I have experience different responses to this one guy a loving father remembers being a kid and growing up in the church and credits God for not having getting into alot of trouble as a kid. One guy is into existentialist thought and we have had some very interesting talks concerning morals, God, spirituality and the supernatural. None the less we have these talks and have agreed to disagree. The third co-worker is a different story I watched his attitude change when he found out I was a christian. We were pretty cool before and he joked with me because I dont cuss or drink. But when he found out I was a christian and went to school for it; it was as if he shifted. He would be like God isnt real Aaron wake up. He would yell things like the Christ is a story Jesus wasn't real...etc.
In my mind i was think dude just let me talk and there was another voice being Aaron dont say anything. Slightly irritated I kept my mouth shut. I thought to myself Aaron you know Christ died for him and what Christ suffered in ridicule and torture was far greater then anything you will ever have to face. This was probably a daily occurrence for the early followers of Christ and i am getting bent out of shape about it.
Well this brings me to 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:12 Paul is talking about the veil of the glory of God and when you are saved the veil is removed. (2 Cor 3:7-15)This veil that blocks people from fully understanding truth and the new covenant that Christ has made with us. But when we accept Christ the veil is removed and we have freedom and we can now reflect the glory of the Lord and we become more and more like Christ (2 Cor 3:16-18). It goes on to say because of this mercy we have been given we then now give up the shameful deeds we did in the past. This is the transformation and sanctification of followers of Christ. the veil still exists on those who are perishing. The truth is hidden behind it, so those who are still behind the veil can not see or understand the word and its truths if they have not excepted Christ and let his glory and light into their life. The rest talks about how we do not do not harbor this glory by our own strength beacuse we are like fragile clay pots but by the strength of God. We are pressed persecuted struck down but not destroyed.
To sum this up. I didn't stop being a light or a witness because I was quiet or people dont understand why I am a Christian so I fight to make them understand. No I live my life as an example of Christ. I later found out a couple days later that the guy that had been rude and mean to me was raised in the Baptist Church. I am still in the process of finding out more about him as I continue to develope a friendship. But I know that I have to live what I say I have set myself up to be a light in a dark place and my hope is that my life will shine a light and help those remove their veil and step into freedom. Sorry if this is confusing or really vague. But I am learning still and Gods word has great advice to strengthen you when you are stuck in a hard place. I guess my challenge and what I hope any Christ followers get out of this is dont hide. Let people know who you are. You dont have to have all the answers or all the right words. Just live your life and think that if you never tell someone about Jesus with words you are telling them with your life.
Thank you for taking the time to read that AMO haha
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