See, I have one problem...if you ask my wife I am sure she would laugh and snort saying..."Just one?"...but I have one problem that I need to work on and I am being convicted of.
The Bible tells us in Matthew 5:16 to do things to glorify God and give glory to Heaven. I know that God has given me an amazing gift to preach and teach others, and I love it. Children and youth hold a very special place in my heart. It is amazing to see these kids grow in the Lord, and know that God used me to impact these kids. When I am approached and people say great job with the kids, I am not sure what to say..."Thank you?"
Sometimes I feel that if I say too much, I am just looking for more compliments, but I like the compliments and that is what I am being convicted of. I know I need to give that glory to Heaven. I need to step back and let God have that glory because He was the one who placed me where I am and has given me what He has.
Also, I want things to happen in my time. So I guess this is something else I am being convicted of...y wife was correct. I want soooooo much to be in these kids lives more, and to be there for them, but I just don't have the time with a more than full time job and school. I want to be with them all the time. When we are on breaks, I literally miss them so much I feel there is an empty spot in my life. But I know God has a plan for me and my family, and my that will be shown to me when the time comes. But I quote a famous line from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory; "But I want it now!" I guess I have to work on this.
Typing this blog out has helped me to realize that I need to step back and let God take over my life. I need to watch what he is planning for me. I appreciate all the leadership at my church (Pastor Jim, Jayson Combs, Ernesto Alaniz) and others, and I truly love all of you. I pray that God will bring me to be the Christian man that you are.
Thank you Lord for the blessing of being able to reach out to children, and I pray you give me the patience and guidance necessary to step back and let you take control. Help me to glorify you for the gifts you have given me.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Into the Sphere
Don't you LOVE it when God has those neon signs over people that say "Hey, talk to this person. They are ready to accept Christ! They are ready to pray right now"
I wish! This does not happen...for one that would be one really big sign. Two, God wants us to be able to influence everybody, plant the seed, God will water it.
"I believe that God holds you responsible for everyone He brings into your sphere of influence..." -Oscar Thompson
I love this quote. I truly believe that we are an influence to all around us. I know my co-workers don't like to admit it...Regina...but I give them a hard time sometimes. Not in a mean way but in a friendly way. I believe that the way we act and talk is a reflection on our lives. Who is around you and what do they see?
"Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" (John 4:35)
No, Jesus was not talking about a harvest of grain, wheat, or rice. He was talking about his people. He was talking about people that need the Lord. They are the grain that need to be harvested and brought before God. The only way for people to see God who don't know God is through His people. Are you a good reflection of the God you serve?
For me, I know that I am not always the best person to give advice on being a witness, I am even afraid of my Evangelism class assignment of sitting down with somebody and witnessing to them with the gospel. I have never done that before without prior commitment. I am afraid. But we need people to know that the God we serve is a righteous, loving God. All they ever hear about through the media is hateful spews, nutty so called Christians picketing soldiers funerals, or Assinate this person or that person. We need to show the true love of Christ through our actions and be a mirror of Jesus. When people look at us, they should see Jesus...not James, not Amanda, not Whatever your name is.
"It's so easy to be wicked without knowing it, isn't it?" - L.M. Montgomery
My challenge to you is to know you are wicked, change the way people see you. Change your appearance to a reflection of the one who saved you...Jesus Christ.
-James
I wish! This does not happen...for one that would be one really big sign. Two, God wants us to be able to influence everybody, plant the seed, God will water it.
"I believe that God holds you responsible for everyone He brings into your sphere of influence..." -Oscar Thompson
I love this quote. I truly believe that we are an influence to all around us. I know my co-workers don't like to admit it...Regina...but I give them a hard time sometimes. Not in a mean way but in a friendly way. I believe that the way we act and talk is a reflection on our lives. Who is around you and what do they see?
"Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" (John 4:35)
No, Jesus was not talking about a harvest of grain, wheat, or rice. He was talking about his people. He was talking about people that need the Lord. They are the grain that need to be harvested and brought before God. The only way for people to see God who don't know God is through His people. Are you a good reflection of the God you serve?
For me, I know that I am not always the best person to give advice on being a witness, I am even afraid of my Evangelism class assignment of sitting down with somebody and witnessing to them with the gospel. I have never done that before without prior commitment. I am afraid. But we need people to know that the God we serve is a righteous, loving God. All they ever hear about through the media is hateful spews, nutty so called Christians picketing soldiers funerals, or Assinate this person or that person. We need to show the true love of Christ through our actions and be a mirror of Jesus. When people look at us, they should see Jesus...not James, not Amanda, not Whatever your name is.
"It's so easy to be wicked without knowing it, isn't it?" - L.M. Montgomery
My challenge to you is to know you are wicked, change the way people see you. Change your appearance to a reflection of the one who saved you...Jesus Christ.
-James
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Caught, not Taught
Was reading my Youth book last night and the Chapter was on Teaching. I came across a saying that said that Youth learn more from what is "Caught, and not what is taught." It said that, even when you don't think anybody is watching, youth are.
In Matthew 23 Jesus talks about saying and not doing. Jesus speaks on how the Pharisees preach but do not practice. I was thinking about how I am acting around the Middle School group and hope that I am always acting in a honorable way. I pray that the group sees the best in me and that I am always acting on what I teach.
When I read this quote about what the youth "catch" I thought to myself about how much they see and hear from the leaders. How can we be better youth leaders? By what we teach them in Sunday school and in Small groups? NO! The youth will listen to what we teach them and might be able to remember it when a circumstance comes around, but what they learn more from is the way Leaders act in a paticular situation. They learn from example. We need to remember that these kids are always watching us to be a good example to them. They learn what is right and wrong from their spiritual guidance counselors.
I love that I have been given by God the gift of love towards the Middle School group, but it is a HUGE responsibility of any youth leader to remember that wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you are being watched.
In Matthew 23 Jesus talks about saying and not doing. Jesus speaks on how the Pharisees preach but do not practice. I was thinking about how I am acting around the Middle School group and hope that I am always acting in a honorable way. I pray that the group sees the best in me and that I am always acting on what I teach.
When I read this quote about what the youth "catch" I thought to myself about how much they see and hear from the leaders. How can we be better youth leaders? By what we teach them in Sunday school and in Small groups? NO! The youth will listen to what we teach them and might be able to remember it when a circumstance comes around, but what they learn more from is the way Leaders act in a paticular situation. They learn from example. We need to remember that these kids are always watching us to be a good example to them. They learn what is right and wrong from their spiritual guidance counselors.
I love that I have been given by God the gift of love towards the Middle School group, but it is a HUGE responsibility of any youth leader to remember that wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you are being watched.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Witnessing
"Being an extrovert isn't essential to evangelism...Obedience and love are." -Rebecca Manley Pippert
Today I am reading about the Great Commission. The Great Commission are the last words and instructions of Jesus to His apostles and to us as Christians. As I was reading, a very interesting fact came up. "In the final giving of the Great Commission, Jesus does not tell them what to do (evangelize) but what to be (witness.)
Here is the verse: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the Earth." (Acts 1:8 NKJV)
Jesus never said to go out and evangelize, He said to go out and be witnesses. People often say; "Well, he was speaking to the apostles here, right? I mean, I am just an ordinary person, not a preacher or evangelist." But I like to point out the last point of this verse, and I know Jesus was looking right into our eyes when he said the last part; "...and to the ends of the Earth."
Do you know that in the legal sense, the word witness means "telling what you have seen and heard with consuming passion." It is from the Greek word "martus" which is where we get our word for martyr. We should be delighted and ecstatic on telling the word of God, and go so far as dying to do it. God told us to be witnesses to people. Through our actions, our words, our ways.
Tell what you have heard people. Show people what you have experienced. When you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you might have gone through an emotional experience, or maybe not. Not everybody shows emotion after becoming a Christian, but I do know one thing you experienced...the entering of the Holy Spirit. Everybody feels it when they become a Christian. Why not share this with everybody? Why do we not go out and PROCLAIM from the mountain tops what we have done?
My goal is to be a "witness" for God through my actions and my words. God has called me to be a witness in Acts 1:8 and I want to be obedient to Him.
-James
Today I am reading about the Great Commission. The Great Commission are the last words and instructions of Jesus to His apostles and to us as Christians. As I was reading, a very interesting fact came up. "In the final giving of the Great Commission, Jesus does not tell them what to do (evangelize) but what to be (witness.)
Here is the verse: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the Earth." (Acts 1:8 NKJV)
Jesus never said to go out and evangelize, He said to go out and be witnesses. People often say; "Well, he was speaking to the apostles here, right? I mean, I am just an ordinary person, not a preacher or evangelist." But I like to point out the last point of this verse, and I know Jesus was looking right into our eyes when he said the last part; "...and to the ends of the Earth."
Do you know that in the legal sense, the word witness means "telling what you have seen and heard with consuming passion." It is from the Greek word "martus" which is where we get our word for martyr. We should be delighted and ecstatic on telling the word of God, and go so far as dying to do it. God told us to be witnesses to people. Through our actions, our words, our ways.
Tell what you have heard people. Show people what you have experienced. When you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you might have gone through an emotional experience, or maybe not. Not everybody shows emotion after becoming a Christian, but I do know one thing you experienced...the entering of the Holy Spirit. Everybody feels it when they become a Christian. Why not share this with everybody? Why do we not go out and PROCLAIM from the mountain tops what we have done?
My goal is to be a "witness" for God through my actions and my words. God has called me to be a witness in Acts 1:8 and I want to be obedient to Him.
-James
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
True Happiness
This week I am starting my next 2 classes: Evangelism and Youth Ministry! I am extremely excited to start these next 2 classes, and I am just happy that I don't have to take any more math. One of my assignments for Evangelism is to Witness to a unbeliever and write about the experience and outcome. One of my assignments for Youth is to go to a Youth secular "hot-spot" and write about their interaction and the experience. I am SOOOOO excited to get started with these classes.
While beginning to read through my evangelism course, I read a sentence that says: "Deep happiness never comes through focusing on yourself. It is the result of living a life centered on God and directed toward others." Reading through this I think to myself if I am directing my life toward others. God has placed me in a secular workplace for a reason, and am I placing my direction in the right place or am I doing what I need to do to squeak by?
Also, I am wondering to myself the last time I have led someone to the Lord. It has been such a long time. It is the most awesome feeling when you get to lead someone to the Lord. You feel exhilerated, joyous and excited. The Bible even says in Luke 15:10 that the angels rejoice when one sinner has repented. I want to feel that happiness and rejoicing again.
Where is my focus? What direction am I going and how can I change that direction to better other peoples lives? My prayer is that my focus will change to other people. Less about me and more about the people around me. Where is your focus? Where is your direction?
-James
While beginning to read through my evangelism course, I read a sentence that says: "Deep happiness never comes through focusing on yourself. It is the result of living a life centered on God and directed toward others." Reading through this I think to myself if I am directing my life toward others. God has placed me in a secular workplace for a reason, and am I placing my direction in the right place or am I doing what I need to do to squeak by?
Also, I am wondering to myself the last time I have led someone to the Lord. It has been such a long time. It is the most awesome feeling when you get to lead someone to the Lord. You feel exhilerated, joyous and excited. The Bible even says in Luke 15:10 that the angels rejoice when one sinner has repented. I want to feel that happiness and rejoicing again.
Where is my focus? What direction am I going and how can I change that direction to better other peoples lives? My prayer is that my focus will change to other people. Less about me and more about the people around me. Where is your focus? Where is your direction?
-James
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Dross
As I am reading in my Old Testament Survey book, I come across the story of Ezekiel. Ezekiel and Jeremiah are such sad stories because it tells of the history of the failing Jerusalem. God tries and tries again to have His people repent of their sins, stop worshiping false idols and give themselves to Him, but they don't listen. They even get captured, put into captivity and die before the listen to God's prophets.
I was reading about Ezekiel and right before God's judgement on Judah, he presents 3 oracles to the people. One of those speaks of "dross." Now, for you machine and metal workers, you probably know what this is. Dross is the material that is in metal and floats to the top when you are refining metal, to make the metal pure metal. The dross is all the material that is lighter and unpure, and it floats to the top. It is worth nothing and gets skimmed out and thrown away.
Ezekiel told the people that as God refined His people that he found a lot of spiritual dross in their lives. He would remove it through the fires of judgment. This got me thinking about my own spiritual dross. What are the unpure things in my life that I need to remove and let God throw away in my life?
Unlike that time, God has given us direct access to Him through Jesus Christ. We can come to God, and He will remove the spiritual dross from our lives, as long as we repent and mean it. We need to repent and let God remove all the spiritual dross in our lives so that we can be more pure and serve Him with a pure heart!
Will you let God refine you and remove the spiritual dross in your lives, or will you serve the Lord your God with an unpure heart?
I was reading about Ezekiel and right before God's judgement on Judah, he presents 3 oracles to the people. One of those speaks of "dross." Now, for you machine and metal workers, you probably know what this is. Dross is the material that is in metal and floats to the top when you are refining metal, to make the metal pure metal. The dross is all the material that is lighter and unpure, and it floats to the top. It is worth nothing and gets skimmed out and thrown away.
Ezekiel told the people that as God refined His people that he found a lot of spiritual dross in their lives. He would remove it through the fires of judgment. This got me thinking about my own spiritual dross. What are the unpure things in my life that I need to remove and let God throw away in my life?
Unlike that time, God has given us direct access to Him through Jesus Christ. We can come to God, and He will remove the spiritual dross from our lives, as long as we repent and mean it. We need to repent and let God remove all the spiritual dross in our lives so that we can be more pure and serve Him with a pure heart!
Will you let God refine you and remove the spiritual dross in your lives, or will you serve the Lord your God with an unpure heart?
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Friendship
"Friends realize the right to criticize must be earned even if their advice is constructive in nature." - James Dobson
As I am reading about friendship in my Old Testament Survey book, Encountering the Old Testament, this chapter really struck out to me. It is called Developing Lasting Relationships.
It started off with saying how we often talk about the same things with people.
-"How are you?"
-"Great, how are you?"
-"Fantastic, how is the family?"
-"Doing well, how bout them Tigers huh?"
-"Wow, am I excited for next year!"
-"Yeah...well, gotta go. Have a good day."
-"Yeah, you too."
I do this more often than I really thought about. In church, work, etc. I can carry on a short conversation with someone, Amanda will ask me what their name is, and I have no idea. I think I am missing out on some lasting relationships by not spending the time to get to know some people. Here are some examples of lasting relationships that have been built and are now ones we cherish.
-Greg and Crystal Cromp (and girls): We coached Camisha Cromp is Softball and we had no idea who her parents were. Amanda got up to chatting with Crystal and soon they started to build a relationship. We would come over and I remember one time Camisha actually saying "These are my friends" and Crystal said "Well, honey, they are now ours too." This to this day makes me laugh. But the problem was Greg and I had nothing in common. Greg is an outdoorsman...a hunter, fisher and all around fixer upper. Me...the closest thing I ever shot was clay skeet. Ask me to fix something, give me about a couple months and then I will call Greg. But we ended up spending time together and chatting and getting to know each other. I now consider this man a brother. Someone I trust and count on and one of the only people in my life that I will tell anything. They now live in New York, which is sad, but it has not stopped our friendship.
-John and Lorna Lyman (and girls): So Greg and Crystal move to New York, what do they try and do...pawn us off to a new couple to hang out with so they don't feel they left us high and dry. One of these couples is the Lyman's. We didn't know the Lyman's too well, except that we taught Jordyn in Middle School and would chat with them at Jr. High events. But, eventually we started spending a little more time with them. We now meet them for Bible Studies and can sit down with them and have a converstaion. 3 hours can pass by and we will be like...."Where did that time go?" (And for those of you who know me well, I HATE just sitting around and talking) This is one couple who I can actually sit down with and feel comfortable enough to tell them anything. Now, John is almost like a second dad to Lorelai. He loves her so much and I can tell she loves him back. John and I have a lot in common and I can see that we will be great friends. The relationship between their family and ours is still growing, and i am excited to what this relationship will bring.
There are not many people out there that I can call family, but these two families are like our family. I care for each of them as much as I care for my own. God has blessed us with these amazing people in our lives. But, if we didn't try to build that relationship, we could have missed out. How many relationships are we missing out on because we don't try to build it?
Friendships are built and developed around certain key ingredients:
1. Common Interests
2. Personal Significance: "You are important to me."
3. Honest Communication
4. Unconditional Love
5. Genuine Concern
6. Personal Encouragement
7. Long-Term commitment
It is not easy for me to make lifelong friends, but then again, I don't try hard enough. I encourage not only myself, but you, to reach out to someone you know and strengthen a relationship with someone by meeting them for lunch or get together as couples for coffee. Try Harder, because you never know what you might be missing out on.
Love,
James
As I am reading about friendship in my Old Testament Survey book, Encountering the Old Testament, this chapter really struck out to me. It is called Developing Lasting Relationships.
It started off with saying how we often talk about the same things with people.
-"How are you?"
-"Great, how are you?"
-"Fantastic, how is the family?"
-"Doing well, how bout them Tigers huh?"
-"Wow, am I excited for next year!"
-"Yeah...well, gotta go. Have a good day."
-"Yeah, you too."
I do this more often than I really thought about. In church, work, etc. I can carry on a short conversation with someone, Amanda will ask me what their name is, and I have no idea. I think I am missing out on some lasting relationships by not spending the time to get to know some people. Here are some examples of lasting relationships that have been built and are now ones we cherish.
-Greg and Crystal Cromp (and girls): We coached Camisha Cromp is Softball and we had no idea who her parents were. Amanda got up to chatting with Crystal and soon they started to build a relationship. We would come over and I remember one time Camisha actually saying "These are my friends" and Crystal said "Well, honey, they are now ours too." This to this day makes me laugh. But the problem was Greg and I had nothing in common. Greg is an outdoorsman...a hunter, fisher and all around fixer upper. Me...the closest thing I ever shot was clay skeet. Ask me to fix something, give me about a couple months and then I will call Greg. But we ended up spending time together and chatting and getting to know each other. I now consider this man a brother. Someone I trust and count on and one of the only people in my life that I will tell anything. They now live in New York, which is sad, but it has not stopped our friendship.
-John and Lorna Lyman (and girls): So Greg and Crystal move to New York, what do they try and do...pawn us off to a new couple to hang out with so they don't feel they left us high and dry. One of these couples is the Lyman's. We didn't know the Lyman's too well, except that we taught Jordyn in Middle School and would chat with them at Jr. High events. But, eventually we started spending a little more time with them. We now meet them for Bible Studies and can sit down with them and have a converstaion. 3 hours can pass by and we will be like...."Where did that time go?" (And for those of you who know me well, I HATE just sitting around and talking) This is one couple who I can actually sit down with and feel comfortable enough to tell them anything. Now, John is almost like a second dad to Lorelai. He loves her so much and I can tell she loves him back. John and I have a lot in common and I can see that we will be great friends. The relationship between their family and ours is still growing, and i am excited to what this relationship will bring.
There are not many people out there that I can call family, but these two families are like our family. I care for each of them as much as I care for my own. God has blessed us with these amazing people in our lives. But, if we didn't try to build that relationship, we could have missed out. How many relationships are we missing out on because we don't try to build it?
Friendships are built and developed around certain key ingredients:
1. Common Interests
2. Personal Significance: "You are important to me."
3. Honest Communication
4. Unconditional Love
5. Genuine Concern
6. Personal Encouragement
7. Long-Term commitment
It is not easy for me to make lifelong friends, but then again, I don't try hard enough. I encourage not only myself, but you, to reach out to someone you know and strengthen a relationship with someone by meeting them for lunch or get together as couples for coffee. Try Harder, because you never know what you might be missing out on.
Love,
James
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
What do I do?
I read an interesting sentence in my Old Testament Survey textbook "Encountering the Old Testament." It says "The closer we draw to God, the less we ask what is permissable (What I can get away with and still be a Christian) and the more we think about what pleases God." WOW, this struck a cord in me.
Backround to this sentence is the story of Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a personal servant to the Persian King. He asked the Persian King to go home to Jerusalem and help rebuild his peoples city. The king granted him his request (which is something only the Lord can do) and Nehemiah went home. When he got there, his people were being forced into slavery and had debts to people. Their children were being kidnapped to pay for past debt. A little further into the book, Nehemiah is offered money from the governor to help re-build the city but he refuses the money, because it was taken from his people unfairly and didn't believe it should be used for this purpose. He saw that taking this money is wrong.
How often do we give in because it is the easy thing to do? How often do we push our standards to provide the comforts and luxuries in our lives? It might not be necessarily wrong to do certain things, but is it Christlike?
As an example:
I walk into a store and only have enough money for the essentials (milk, bread, etc.) and nothing more. None of those Double Stuffed Oreos that I enjoy so much. But then I find a $50 bill on the floor or in the parking lot. I pick it up. The first thought that would come into my head is "Wow, Double Stuffed Oreo's, here I come!" It is not necessarily wrong to take the money...I found it and the person who dropped it may not even know it is missing. But is it right? I don't think so.
1 John 3:18 says; "Dear Children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth"
I know there are so many times in the past I have skimmed the truth to get away with things that were not necessarily wrong, but I know my actions were not truthful and a good action.
My prayer today is "Lord, help me to know your truth. Lord, help me to realize what is right and wrong and to follow you fully and to be a good steward for you. I want to be more like Nehemiah Lord, when he refused the money from the Governor to help re-build the city because he knew it was not right to take his peoples tax money. Lord, help me to follow you more closely with my actions."
-James
Backround to this sentence is the story of Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a personal servant to the Persian King. He asked the Persian King to go home to Jerusalem and help rebuild his peoples city. The king granted him his request (which is something only the Lord can do) and Nehemiah went home. When he got there, his people were being forced into slavery and had debts to people. Their children were being kidnapped to pay for past debt. A little further into the book, Nehemiah is offered money from the governor to help re-build the city but he refuses the money, because it was taken from his people unfairly and didn't believe it should be used for this purpose. He saw that taking this money is wrong.
How often do we give in because it is the easy thing to do? How often do we push our standards to provide the comforts and luxuries in our lives? It might not be necessarily wrong to do certain things, but is it Christlike?
As an example:
I walk into a store and only have enough money for the essentials (milk, bread, etc.) and nothing more. None of those Double Stuffed Oreos that I enjoy so much. But then I find a $50 bill on the floor or in the parking lot. I pick it up. The first thought that would come into my head is "Wow, Double Stuffed Oreo's, here I come!" It is not necessarily wrong to take the money...I found it and the person who dropped it may not even know it is missing. But is it right? I don't think so.
1 John 3:18 says; "Dear Children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth"
I know there are so many times in the past I have skimmed the truth to get away with things that were not necessarily wrong, but I know my actions were not truthful and a good action.
My prayer today is "Lord, help me to know your truth. Lord, help me to realize what is right and wrong and to follow you fully and to be a good steward for you. I want to be more like Nehemiah Lord, when he refused the money from the Governor to help re-build the city because he knew it was not right to take his peoples tax money. Lord, help me to follow you more closely with my actions."
-James
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Old Testament Lesson
So, right now in school I am learning a lot about Old Testament heros such as Moses and Joshua. There was a line in my book that really seemed to strike out at me and speak to me. "Moses reminded Israel that God's blessings are often directly related to submission to His will." Read Deuteronomy 3:23-29 to see how Moses' consequences of his own for not submitting to God.
I have to ask myself DAILY, "Lord, am I submitting to your will?" Am I following God's will and submitting myself to Him or am I being greedy and doing what I want to do. This post directly relates to a couple of other posts, but I had to share this line.
If you go on to read the rest of the story of Moses, he travelled for 40 years in the desert, had to listen to grumbling and complaining of the Israelite people, and fight the Pharaoh and because he didn't submit to God and His will, he was not able to enter the Promised Land. How often do we miss out on blessings from God because we are not submitting to Him.
I do know that sometimes it is not so easy to know what God's will is. Sometimes you ask yourself; "Lord, how do I know if this is your will?" Well, I ask you...
1) Have you prayed about it?
2) Here is a BIG one that I will do a blog about later but, Have you fasted about it?
3) Have you seeked Christian Counsel?
If you still feel like God is pressing on your heart to do something after doing the things above, than most likely it is God and not the Mexican food you ate earlier.
I am sure that in my life I have probably missed out on some of God's blessings like Moses missed out by not being able to enter the Promised Land. I pray Lord that I will be more submissive to your will in my life and that I follow your counsel. Thank you Lord for the blessings you have given me.
-James
I have to ask myself DAILY, "Lord, am I submitting to your will?" Am I following God's will and submitting myself to Him or am I being greedy and doing what I want to do. This post directly relates to a couple of other posts, but I had to share this line.
If you go on to read the rest of the story of Moses, he travelled for 40 years in the desert, had to listen to grumbling and complaining of the Israelite people, and fight the Pharaoh and because he didn't submit to God and His will, he was not able to enter the Promised Land. How often do we miss out on blessings from God because we are not submitting to Him.
I do know that sometimes it is not so easy to know what God's will is. Sometimes you ask yourself; "Lord, how do I know if this is your will?" Well, I ask you...
1) Have you prayed about it?
2) Here is a BIG one that I will do a blog about later but, Have you fasted about it?
3) Have you seeked Christian Counsel?
If you still feel like God is pressing on your heart to do something after doing the things above, than most likely it is God and not the Mexican food you ate earlier.
I am sure that in my life I have probably missed out on some of God's blessings like Moses missed out by not being able to enter the Promised Land. I pray Lord that I will be more submissive to your will in my life and that I follow your counsel. Thank you Lord for the blessings you have given me.
-James
Saturday, January 28, 2012
For the Love of Life
For those of you who know me well, I have been through many jobs. I have been a Fast Food Worker, Restaurants, Retail. Movie Theater, Movie Store, Youth Development Worker, Hotel Sales and Car Sales....Phew! WOW, just typing it made my head hurt. I went to Amanda the other day and said "Hun, I like my job." Going in I told my managers, this is just temporary for me. I want to be a Pastor...so they know. My job gives me plenty of opportunity to work on school stuff, and in the meantime I get to speak with a lot of different people. I know God has put me here for a purpose, and I love seeing Him work.
Each customer I speak with I have been able to talk to them and let them know what I am doing with school. They may see my textbook on my desk and ask about it, or they may just strike up conversation. It gives me a great opportunity to spread the Word. Also, I have coworkers that I have come to care for and I can only hope that I am making a difference in their lives. (You know who you are.) :)
God has purpose in our lives no matter where we are. When I started working here, I was a little leery because it was yet another job that I was not going to stay at for a while. But I have said numerous times that this is my last job before I become a Pastor...God willing.
This made me start thinking...God has a purpose for everything! I hope that I am able to be used as a tool for Him. I pray that God uses me in circumstances that I have yet to see. But I wanted to bring up that no matter what circumstance you are in (Health, Employment, Life) that God is going to use you.
Ephesians 2:10 says: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Each customer I speak with I have been able to talk to them and let them know what I am doing with school. They may see my textbook on my desk and ask about it, or they may just strike up conversation. It gives me a great opportunity to spread the Word. Also, I have coworkers that I have come to care for and I can only hope that I am making a difference in their lives. (You know who you are.) :)
God has purpose in our lives no matter where we are. When I started working here, I was a little leery because it was yet another job that I was not going to stay at for a while. But I have said numerous times that this is my last job before I become a Pastor...God willing.
This made me start thinking...God has a purpose for everything! I hope that I am able to be used as a tool for Him. I pray that God uses me in circumstances that I have yet to see. But I wanted to bring up that no matter what circumstance you are in (Health, Employment, Life) that God is going to use you.
Ephesians 2:10 says: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
How are we going to let God use us? I think sometimes we IGNORE the ways that God wants to use us. As Christians we are to be used by God here on this Earth, but yet we often ignore the calling by our Master to go here or go there. God, how are you going to use me as a Husband, a Father, a Friend, a Car Salesman, a Youth Worker....God where do you want me? I think that we often forget to ask God where He wants to use us and completely ignore God's calling.
"God, is that you talking?" How often have you asked yourself that when you see a car on the side of the road and you are deciding to stop or not, or you see a stranger in need or you need to talk to someone that may have hurt you? How often have we asked ourselves "Why me?" Well, because God has a plan to use you through your circumstance...no matter where you are. Remember that we are where we are because God wants us there.
Love,
The Clouses
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