I'm currently at war against my selfish desires and God's sovereign will. I long for His will to be done. I want to content in His will. Thy way not mine own Lord; however hard, painful, and confusing it may be. Not just for this moment, but for my future; for every area of my life. I want to be like Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane saying "Not as I will, but as you will."
Whether I get married or stay single
Whether I go to college, and perhaps seminary or not
Whether I actually am sent out onto the field or I send others out
Whether I stay in Indy or eventually move to a different state
Whether my voice gets fully restored or it stays gruff & rough
And in every other area of my life. Everything big, small, and inbetween.
I want to be content with Christ, abiding in Him above all else. Not having a care about the fleeting pleasures of sin, this world and my own selfish desires. Chasing after Him, and clinging to Him. This is my prayer. This my battle. If God is for me....then who can be against me? If I delight myself in Him, then He will give me the desires of my heart; namely Himself. I want my life to be all for Christ, and all about Christ. I want to disappear, so that Christ may shine ever so brightly and radiantly. To Him be all power, wisdom, honor, glory, and praise, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Simple At Best
Making a resolution or two when the new year rolls around is just a part of American culture, and has been for some years now; whether it's wanting to stay fit or spending more time with the family, or even give as much as one can financially to good causes and charities. I know that I have made resolutions in the past (although I can't remember any of them). The funny thing is that we may commit ourselves to these resolutions for a good several week to maybe at best, two months into the new years, but then we always quit or end up forgetting about them.
This time around I'm taking it differently. I just wanna make it simple at best. What do I mean by that? Well what I mean is that I just want to keep chasing after Christ. Pretty darn simple right? Yes, it exactly is; yet at the same time isn't . The reason why it isn't simple is that I know for a fact that the Christian life is not an easy one to live. Matthew 7:14 comes to mind when I speak of this, which says; "For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life and those who find it are few." So this verse says that the way is HARD that leads to life; not easy. So despite the fact that I'm excited about 2011 already because I already see God at work in my life, and in the lives of others around me, I do know that there will time of pain, tears, confusion, disappointment, and shame, and it won't be easy and joyful. Just the reminder, though, that God is sovereign over all things is oh so comforting.
So I'm ready for it all. The joy & sorrow, happiness & joy, smiles & tears, laughter & pain, sun & rain. I'm also ready to grow & learn in ways I never have before. Dig deeper in the faith, wrestle with biblical theology and doctrine, seek after God, to grow in the relationships I have with friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ, and savor and treasure Christ and the gospel more.
Aaaah Yeeeeeaaaaaaaa!
This time around I'm taking it differently. I just wanna make it simple at best. What do I mean by that? Well what I mean is that I just want to keep chasing after Christ. Pretty darn simple right? Yes, it exactly is; yet at the same time isn't . The reason why it isn't simple is that I know for a fact that the Christian life is not an easy one to live. Matthew 7:14 comes to mind when I speak of this, which says; "For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life and those who find it are few." So this verse says that the way is HARD that leads to life; not easy. So despite the fact that I'm excited about 2011 already because I already see God at work in my life, and in the lives of others around me, I do know that there will time of pain, tears, confusion, disappointment, and shame, and it won't be easy and joyful. Just the reminder, though, that God is sovereign over all things is oh so comforting.
So I'm ready for it all. The joy & sorrow, happiness & joy, smiles & tears, laughter & pain, sun & rain. I'm also ready to grow & learn in ways I never have before. Dig deeper in the faith, wrestle with biblical theology and doctrine, seek after God, to grow in the relationships I have with friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ, and savor and treasure Christ and the gospel more.
Aaaah Yeeeeeaaaaaaaa!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Where Do I Go From Here?
Right now I'm stuck, asking myself, "Where do I go from here?" Dropping the english class I was taking through Ivy Tech was not my plan a few weeks ago. Then, I had the mentality that I had to push myself to doing the work, the research and all for the paper I would be writing, but never followed through with acting upon it. Last night I came to the point where I had to write 2 drafts of a research and argument paper that was due today, I was having trouble starting it. So I gave into the choice of dropping it, and walking away from this class, well aware that I would fail. There was nothing I could do at that point. I look at it, seeing that I no one to blame but myself. There showed to be a lack of discipline and time management, with some laziness mixed in. So with that as evidence, I know I can only point the finger at myself. Those components that hurt me in highschool, stuck with through the attempt of taking this college level writing class, which have led me to fail. Ha! Then there is this fear of what people, particularly friends, will say or think when they read this post or when I tell them. There will be quite a bit of disappointment for sure.
There's also that question that I ask myself, "Where do I go from here?" I know for certain that the Lord is calling me out to the mission field to go preach to the gospel to the unreached , particularly to the muslims (unless He calls me elsewhere). I had the rough plan of taking a few classes at Crossroads, then Lord-willing go to Moody by the Fall '11 semester. Yet how can I do so if I couldn't even follow through all the way with the english class? How could it be possible that I bust out a semester at Crossroads and go onto Moody if I failed at this english class? I just wouldn't work out. There definitely needs to be a practice of discipline, time management, and the putting off of laziness and selfishness. I know the Lord will bring me to the mission field, but I know I have to do my part and work my tail off! I'm pretty sure that He's not saying, "Just sit back and relax, I'll get you through it." No! I know that He wants me to work like crazy!
As a christian I am to discipline myself in all aspects of the faith, like discipline in holiness, godliness, prayer, reading and studying the scriptures, and evangelism just to name a handful. How much more should I discipline myself with keeping my body healthy, managing my time day by day, and with my education. Discipline in the faith is crucial to the christian. Without, I believe, that there will be little growth, and open doors for sin to sneek in and attack.
So be praying for me my friends, my brothers and sisters; that I will practice discipline in every area of my life, especially in the faith. Also that the Lord will give me guidance and direction on where to go from here.
Thanks for reading. Keep chasing after Christ!
~Joshua A. Taylor
There's also that question that I ask myself, "Where do I go from here?" I know for certain that the Lord is calling me out to the mission field to go preach to the gospel to the unreached , particularly to the muslims (unless He calls me elsewhere). I had the rough plan of taking a few classes at Crossroads, then Lord-willing go to Moody by the Fall '11 semester. Yet how can I do so if I couldn't even follow through all the way with the english class? How could it be possible that I bust out a semester at Crossroads and go onto Moody if I failed at this english class? I just wouldn't work out. There definitely needs to be a practice of discipline, time management, and the putting off of laziness and selfishness. I know the Lord will bring me to the mission field, but I know I have to do my part and work my tail off! I'm pretty sure that He's not saying, "Just sit back and relax, I'll get you through it." No! I know that He wants me to work like crazy!
As a christian I am to discipline myself in all aspects of the faith, like discipline in holiness, godliness, prayer, reading and studying the scriptures, and evangelism just to name a handful. How much more should I discipline myself with keeping my body healthy, managing my time day by day, and with my education. Discipline in the faith is crucial to the christian. Without, I believe, that there will be little growth, and open doors for sin to sneek in and attack.
So be praying for me my friends, my brothers and sisters; that I will practice discipline in every area of my life, especially in the faith. Also that the Lord will give me guidance and direction on where to go from here.
Thanks for reading. Keep chasing after Christ!
~Joshua A. Taylor
Friday, November 19, 2010
The Foolishness & Weakness of God.......?
Yesterday I shared a verse through a text to about 8 to 10 people. Something I do every now and again to encourage my friends and fellow saints in the faith. The verse I shared was 1 Corinthians 1:25 which says- "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." Now that is insane to think about! When I first read that verse, I didn't understand it, but even despite my lack of understanding of it still made my heart miss a beat. Now that I understand it though it just messes me up for a couple minutes after reading it. Think about it this way: The world's most smartest man's intellectual and wisdom-filled mind doesn't even come close to comparing to the "foolishness" of God, and the world's most powerful man's strength and power doesn't even come close to the "weakness" of God! Doesn't that just blow your mind!?
To me this verse is the most impactful verse that displays man's lowly, weak, wretched, and imperfect state, and God's infinitely righteous, holy, pure, and perfect state. Chapters 1-3 in Romans Paul goes in depth in displaying man's sinful, wretched, and imperfect. For example verses 29 to 31 in chapter 1 lists some of the fruit of man's sinful nature: "They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. This is only one of the few times the Paul lists of these fruits of our sinful nature through the epistles that he's written. Then take Romans 3 for example that states clearly that "None is righteous, no not one; no one understands; no seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one (verses 10-12 in chapter 3).
The Old Testament also shows the comparison between imperfect, finite man and perfect infinite God. "for no one living is righteous before You." (Psalm 1432b). There's one verse for ya!
Take Moses's encounter with God on Mount Sinai in Exodus 33:12-23. The Lord allows Moses to see His back, but not His face, "But you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live." (vs. 20). Then we have Isaiah who says in Isaiah 6:5, "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!"
So as you can see the Bible is filled with stories like these. A sinful, wretched man cannot see the Lord and live. See that contrast between us and God!? Think about what happens though, when 1 Cor 1:25 collides with the Gospel! Wretched sinners who deserve hell for eternity, namely the wrath of God almighty, actually receive His grace and mercy through the blood of Christ! This is how God, the Father showed His infinitely great love toward us! Christ took our place on the cross, bearing our sins, and drinking the cup of the wrath of God. This was done so that we may be forgiven, and be reconciled to God. We don't deserve heaven, nor do we deserve to seek after Him in His Word, and in prayer. We only deserve hell for eternity! So here, in the gospel, we see God's great love displayed. Think about His love! Oh what a marvelous love! Here's how I can put His unfathomable love on display see: My love for my friends and family is like hatred compared to God's love for them! Wow!
There we have it! God's character and attributes are unfathomable compared to ours! We don't even come close actually! We not even close to be on the chart! From 1 Cor 1:25 I went stemmed it to many different directions. I challenge to to meditate upon that verse throughout the rest of the day. You might be like me, of how every time I read it I stop breathing for a second or 2, or my heart misses a beat, or....I get twitchy for a couple minutes. May every time we read 1 Corinthians 1:25 make us tremble in fear before the Lord, our God!
To me this verse is the most impactful verse that displays man's lowly, weak, wretched, and imperfect state, and God's infinitely righteous, holy, pure, and perfect state. Chapters 1-3 in Romans Paul goes in depth in displaying man's sinful, wretched, and imperfect. For example verses 29 to 31 in chapter 1 lists some of the fruit of man's sinful nature: "They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. This is only one of the few times the Paul lists of these fruits of our sinful nature through the epistles that he's written. Then take Romans 3 for example that states clearly that "None is righteous, no not one; no one understands; no seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one (verses 10-12 in chapter 3).
The Old Testament also shows the comparison between imperfect, finite man and perfect infinite God. "for no one living is righteous before You." (Psalm 1432b). There's one verse for ya!
Take Moses's encounter with God on Mount Sinai in Exodus 33:12-23. The Lord allows Moses to see His back, but not His face, "But you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live." (vs. 20). Then we have Isaiah who says in Isaiah 6:5, "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!"
So as you can see the Bible is filled with stories like these. A sinful, wretched man cannot see the Lord and live. See that contrast between us and God!? Think about what happens though, when 1 Cor 1:25 collides with the Gospel! Wretched sinners who deserve hell for eternity, namely the wrath of God almighty, actually receive His grace and mercy through the blood of Christ! This is how God, the Father showed His infinitely great love toward us! Christ took our place on the cross, bearing our sins, and drinking the cup of the wrath of God. This was done so that we may be forgiven, and be reconciled to God. We don't deserve heaven, nor do we deserve to seek after Him in His Word, and in prayer. We only deserve hell for eternity! So here, in the gospel, we see God's great love displayed. Think about His love! Oh what a marvelous love! Here's how I can put His unfathomable love on display see: My love for my friends and family is like hatred compared to God's love for them! Wow!
There we have it! God's character and attributes are unfathomable compared to ours! We don't even come close actually! We not even close to be on the chart! From 1 Cor 1:25 I went stemmed it to many different directions. I challenge to to meditate upon that verse throughout the rest of the day. You might be like me, of how every time I read it I stop breathing for a second or 2, or my heart misses a beat, or....I get twitchy for a couple minutes. May every time we read 1 Corinthians 1:25 make us tremble in fear before the Lord, our God!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Dear X (You Don't Own Me) -From Slaves to sin to Slaves to Christ!
A while back I met up with a good friend to catch up. We had a good time with good discussion about a number of things. No sure how it came about, but we started to talk about slavery in the context of biblical times, and transitioned over to how we were once slaves to sin, but now are slaves to Christ.
This is something that I have recently been thinking about, and rejoicing over. I thank the Christian hard rock band Disciple for this! Their current single "Dear X (You Don't Own Me)" for their latest album talks about this very thing of going form being slaves to sin to being slaves to Christ.
The 1st verse I don't believe is relevant to the message the song is getting across. It talks about how were enslaved to shame and pain, which are effects of sin which we still experience to this day, but I don't believe the Bible talks about being slave to those things. Though there is the simple truth that even though we now belong to Christ, we will still experience the effects like pain, sorrow, and shame among others, till the day we die. This is what the 1st verse of song reminds me of, even though it's irrelavant to what the song is talking about.
The 2nd verse though hits home.It talk about hate and anger. Ha there we go! Both anger and hate go hand in hand in with the 6th commandment , you shall not murder. How? Well rember Jesus' word in Matthew 5. "You have heard it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement; whoever insults his brother will be liable to council; and whoever says,'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire. (Matthew 5:22). To me personally, anger was one of the big sins that owned me. I was selfish in my anger; wanting this or that, or wanting things to go my way. Yet, thankfully I am no longer a slave to anger, and to all the other sins the I was enslaved to.
The prechorus is short, yet rings true. "I've let you go, but you're still chasing!" The scripture that comes to mind is Genesis 4:7, which says, "And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. It's desire is for you, but you must rule over it." So there is that truth that sin is still there. Just because we are no longer enslaved to sin, and now God's chosen, doesn't mean the sin can't touch us. It's not like once we become converted, we instantly become perfectly holy and righteous, with out sin. 1 John 1:8 makes it clear, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
Let me make it clear that even though we will still be sinning until the day we die, doesn't mean that we should be sinning of our own will. 1 john talks about this, in how if we keep on sinning then we don't abide in Him; and are of the devil (1 john 3:6; 8). This is what Paul says later in chapter 7, vs 24 of Romans "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death!" Of course that answer is Christ. Paul longs to be ridden of sin for good, as do all believers! Son until the Lord calls us home, or retuns to take His bride away; we'll still be at war against sin. In the words of a reformed rapper, "I aint gonna lie, I'll still be sinning until the day I die, but I'm also fighting like a titan trying to stay alive!"
Then there's the chorus. "Gonna ahead but you're never take me/You can bend, but you're never gonna break me/ I was yours, but I'm not yours anymore/Oh, you don't own me" This is pretty much God's chosen saying to sin, in the face go ahead try to take me back! Go ahead give it all you got! Yea, I may fall into your traps, but you don't own me anymore! I've been bough with a price, by the blood of Christ! I bleong to Him now!
Finally the bridge comes saying, "You're tempting me to look back, but everything we had together was a lie!" So true! Right!? Our relationship that we had with sin was nothing but a lie. It would only end us up in hell for eternity; drinking the cup of God's divine wrath forever and ever! Thanks be to God that by the death and resurrection of Christ we have been transferred from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13. No longer having that relationship with sin that leads to death, but now have that relationship with Christ that leads to life! From being slaves to sin to being slave to righteousness. We are not our own, we have been brought with a price. That price was that in love Christ took our place on the cross, bearing our sin, taking the wrath of God that was reserved for us; then after being in the tomb for 3 days, resurrected defeating sin! In response we have given our live to Him. Dying to ourselves, to be found alive in Christ! To Him who has delivered us from the bondage of sin, be honor, majesty, and glory forever amen!
This is something that I have recently been thinking about, and rejoicing over. I thank the Christian hard rock band Disciple for this! Their current single "Dear X (You Don't Own Me)" for their latest album talks about this very thing of going form being slaves to sin to being slaves to Christ.
The 1st verse I don't believe is relevant to the message the song is getting across. It talks about how were enslaved to shame and pain, which are effects of sin which we still experience to this day, but I don't believe the Bible talks about being slave to those things. Though there is the simple truth that even though we now belong to Christ, we will still experience the effects like pain, sorrow, and shame among others, till the day we die. This is what the 1st verse of song reminds me of, even though it's irrelavant to what the song is talking about.
The 2nd verse though hits home.It talk about hate and anger. Ha there we go! Both anger and hate go hand in hand in with the 6th commandment , you shall not murder. How? Well rember Jesus' word in Matthew 5. "You have heard it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement; whoever insults his brother will be liable to council; and whoever says,'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire. (Matthew 5:22). To me personally, anger was one of the big sins that owned me. I was selfish in my anger; wanting this or that, or wanting things to go my way. Yet, thankfully I am no longer a slave to anger, and to all the other sins the I was enslaved to.
The prechorus is short, yet rings true. "I've let you go, but you're still chasing!" The scripture that comes to mind is Genesis 4:7, which says, "And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. It's desire is for you, but you must rule over it." So there is that truth that sin is still there. Just because we are no longer enslaved to sin, and now God's chosen, doesn't mean the sin can't touch us. It's not like once we become converted, we instantly become perfectly holy and righteous, with out sin. 1 John 1:8 makes it clear, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
Let me make it clear that even though we will still be sinning until the day we die, doesn't mean that we should be sinning of our own will. 1 john talks about this, in how if we keep on sinning then we don't abide in Him; and are of the devil (1 john 3:6; 8). This is what Paul says later in chapter 7, vs 24 of Romans "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death!" Of course that answer is Christ. Paul longs to be ridden of sin for good, as do all believers! Son until the Lord calls us home, or retuns to take His bride away; we'll still be at war against sin. In the words of a reformed rapper, "I aint gonna lie, I'll still be sinning until the day I die, but I'm also fighting like a titan trying to stay alive!"
Then there's the chorus. "Gonna ahead but you're never take me/You can bend, but you're never gonna break me/ I was yours, but I'm not yours anymore/Oh, you don't own me" This is pretty much God's chosen saying to sin, in the face go ahead try to take me back! Go ahead give it all you got! Yea, I may fall into your traps, but you don't own me anymore! I've been bough with a price, by the blood of Christ! I bleong to Him now!
Finally the bridge comes saying, "You're tempting me to look back, but everything we had together was a lie!" So true! Right!? Our relationship that we had with sin was nothing but a lie. It would only end us up in hell for eternity; drinking the cup of God's divine wrath forever and ever! Thanks be to God that by the death and resurrection of Christ we have been transferred from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13. No longer having that relationship with sin that leads to death, but now have that relationship with Christ that leads to life! From being slaves to sin to being slave to righteousness. We are not our own, we have been brought with a price. That price was that in love Christ took our place on the cross, bearing our sin, taking the wrath of God that was reserved for us; then after being in the tomb for 3 days, resurrected defeating sin! In response we have given our live to Him. Dying to ourselves, to be found alive in Christ! To Him who has delivered us from the bondage of sin, be honor, majesty, and glory forever amen!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
To Magnify & Exalt Christ
It's day 4 after surgery, and I seem to be making unexpected progress in recovering. The pain has diminished, but still can blindside me on rare occasions. Then the discomfort is still there, but it's presence isn't as strong as it was from the beginning. I'm still unable to talk, or least I still shouldn't talk. So ny vocalizing has been at a minimum. All in all I'm feeling not too bad right now. Day by day I get better. God is good,and continues to display His steadfast love and faithfulness (Psalm 86:15)
So I am without a doubt eager to get talking so I can know how much my voice has changed. I still ask the question:Will it be loud and clear? The day is drawing near when I will no for sure. Just thinking about rounding up a band, if my vocal are astounding, to tour the world a share the gospel is very convincing. Yet I know that that is not what God has for me. He's calling me out to the mission field to share the gospel with the unreached. So let me get to the point here. Regardless of how it all conclude, you know with my voice and all, I want to display the lovely and glorious name of Christ. May the Christ be magnified and exalted in all His glory through it all!
So I am without a doubt eager to get talking so I can know how much my voice has changed. I still ask the question:Will it be loud and clear? The day is drawing near when I will no for sure. Just thinking about rounding up a band, if my vocal are astounding, to tour the world a share the gospel is very convincing. Yet I know that that is not what God has for me. He's calling me out to the mission field to share the gospel with the unreached. So let me get to the point here. Regardless of how it all conclude, you know with my voice and all, I want to display the lovely and glorious name of Christ. May the Christ be magnified and exalted in all His glory through it all!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The End I'll Never See
About this time a year ago I was stepping out into the unknown. That is I was unsure about what I would accomplish by taking a year off of school. Quite uncertain of where God was gonna take me, what He would show me, and what He would teach me. As I recall my original plan was to go to Crossroads Bible College to study theology; yet God, over time changed that. I never really did see myself becoming, or more so becoming a missionary, yet alas that what God has laid on my mind and heart. Now I just have yet to get there, to get to the people group wants me to preach the gospel to. For sometime the people of Somalia have been on my heart ever since I heard of situation they're dealing with in their country, their bitterness & hostility to Christianity, and hard hearts towards Christ (I guess it's safe to say). Who knows though, whether the Somalis or some other unreached people group; I want obey the Lord.
God has also taught me a lot about myself during me year off. One thing is pride. I now see pride as a serious deal due to the awakening I had of how pride has sneaked it's way in many areas of my life, especially through evangelism. Pride did hidden work among my evangelistic lifestyle to gradually give me a prideful heart and even a judgmental mindset. I was thinking of myself more highly than I ought (which Paul says in Romans 12 that we shouldn't). Looking down on other whether they were Christian or not,and putting myself a step higher then them (which in reality I am just like them, a sinner). Yet, God revealed my pride to me, one night, and I became sick of what I saw, so I without hesitation, repented. Do I still deal with pride? Yes! I do on a regular basis. I'm always sure to be on guard against it, because I know it can blindside me at any moment! Lord fill my heart with humility!
God has also revealed to me that idolatry is a big deal as well. He has shown me idols in my life that never really look at as idols. Like, people for an example. Yes, I love my friends, but there's a fine line between love and obsession. I'm not saying that I have made any of my friends to be an obsession in my life, but I will be honest to say that worry & concern, trying to be on good terms, gaining approval, etc. has dominated quite a few days of my life. It sure hard to have Christlike, godly relationships with others, and I would have to say that it'll take a lifetime. I would never have the perfect Christ-like, and godly relationship with a friend, but it's something spending a lifetime working on. God, sure has revealed quite a few other idols in m life, and He continues to. Idolatry is another sin that I need to be on guard against daily. Lord rid my heart of all idols, for my heart is yours to own!
The Church, the body of Christ is beautiful beyond my understanding, cause it was founded by Christ, the Cornerstone. God has displayed to me time and time again it's beauty that it beholds. Through times of praise & prayer, fellowship, unity, love, unifying passion & desire etc. God has captivate my heart by the beauty of His people! Yes, we aren't all lovey dovey toward one another, yes there may be disagreements, and little disputes like the one Paul and Barnabas had over John Mark, but all in all we're one body bound by the blood of Christ abiding. Pressing on together towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). The Gates of hell shall not prevail against us. For who dare come against us; for we are His!
These are a few things that have stuck out during my year off, and I assure you that God has taught me a lot more about myself and Him, about Christ,and about living a life worthy of Christ! I feel like I've grown quite a bit, that I've grown closer my Savior & God, but yet I still have much more to learn and much farther to go! I still not anywhere near to being like Christ, but He still conform me to the image of His son day by day. I move on one day at a time, continuing to trust in Him, and looking to Him. My Savior & God.
God has also taught me a lot about myself during me year off. One thing is pride. I now see pride as a serious deal due to the awakening I had of how pride has sneaked it's way in many areas of my life, especially through evangelism. Pride did hidden work among my evangelistic lifestyle to gradually give me a prideful heart and even a judgmental mindset. I was thinking of myself more highly than I ought (which Paul says in Romans 12 that we shouldn't). Looking down on other whether they were Christian or not,and putting myself a step higher then them (which in reality I am just like them, a sinner). Yet, God revealed my pride to me, one night, and I became sick of what I saw, so I without hesitation, repented. Do I still deal with pride? Yes! I do on a regular basis. I'm always sure to be on guard against it, because I know it can blindside me at any moment! Lord fill my heart with humility!
God has also revealed to me that idolatry is a big deal as well. He has shown me idols in my life that never really look at as idols. Like, people for an example. Yes, I love my friends, but there's a fine line between love and obsession. I'm not saying that I have made any of my friends to be an obsession in my life, but I will be honest to say that worry & concern, trying to be on good terms, gaining approval, etc. has dominated quite a few days of my life. It sure hard to have Christlike, godly relationships with others, and I would have to say that it'll take a lifetime. I would never have the perfect Christ-like, and godly relationship with a friend, but it's something spending a lifetime working on. God, sure has revealed quite a few other idols in m life, and He continues to. Idolatry is another sin that I need to be on guard against daily. Lord rid my heart of all idols, for my heart is yours to own!
The Church, the body of Christ is beautiful beyond my understanding, cause it was founded by Christ, the Cornerstone. God has displayed to me time and time again it's beauty that it beholds. Through times of praise & prayer, fellowship, unity, love, unifying passion & desire etc. God has captivate my heart by the beauty of His people! Yes, we aren't all lovey dovey toward one another, yes there may be disagreements, and little disputes like the one Paul and Barnabas had over John Mark, but all in all we're one body bound by the blood of Christ abiding. Pressing on together towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). The Gates of hell shall not prevail against us. For who dare come against us; for we are His!
These are a few things that have stuck out during my year off, and I assure you that God has taught me a lot more about myself and Him, about Christ,and about living a life worthy of Christ! I feel like I've grown quite a bit, that I've grown closer my Savior & God, but yet I still have much more to learn and much farther to go! I still not anywhere near to being like Christ, but He still conform me to the image of His son day by day. I move on one day at a time, continuing to trust in Him, and looking to Him. My Savior & God.
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