Ever complained about something? I know I have. I can be a really whinny person. But God calls us to do all things without grumbling or complaining. It's hard, believe me I know it's hard. It helps me to stop and think about all the good things that I do have to be thankful for, God is so good. That means that when you really just want to complain about that project you have to do that you need to have a positive attitude instead of a negative one. This week I'm challenging myself and you as well to hold your tongue when you feel like complaining.
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I'm going to be honest with you. I am a very selfish person; I am. I struggle with "looking into the interests of others", because frankly I'm so caught up in myself I forget that their are other people out there besides myself. It's terrible isn't it.
Some of you reading this can relate to me, you face the same struggle as I do, caring for other people above yourself. So how can we defeat selfishness? We can't, but God can. Pray for him to help you overcome selfishness. He's helping me overcome my struggles and he can help you too. This week I challenge you as I am challenging myself to "look into the interest of others". Let's see what great things happen when we do. I start a lot of projects; scrape booking, re-organizing, painting, exercising plans, and even baking. I finish most of my projects, but sometimes I can't because I'm simply to busy. I am always so frustrated that I couldn't manage to finish what I started. I'm thankful God always finishes what He starts, and that He is never to busy. The good work He began in me he will finish. He doesn't give up or quit, He finishes what He starts.
It is so easy to tear people down, it really is. Your words can hurt a person more than atomic bomb (metaphorically speaking). You literally have the power to build up or tear down a person every time you open your mouth. What do you say about your friends when their not there? What do you say about others in general? I'm guilty of tearing others down, I'm embarrassed to say. It's so easy to say mean and hurtful things about a person after they have hurt you, but that is definitely not the right response. As a Christian we need to handle a situation based off of God's word, not human logic. When your hurt and you feel the need to let out every ounce of frustration, stop and pray. You're probably thinking well duh, but in a moment of anger my first thought most of the time is not to cry out to God even though I need his help. Once I do pray and fully give God my burdens, I always have peace. I know He is in control and its going to be ok. So the challenge for you (and myself as well) is the next time you feel like tearing someone down and letting all those emotions lose stop and pray.
I've been reading in the book of Ephesians lately and today I was reading in chapter 3. In the chapter Paul talked about how God had been so gracious and loving and how because of God's grace were able to come to him. In verse 12 it says "In him and through faith we may approach God with freedom and confidence." Before Jesus died on the cross there was a barrier between God and man. Jesus destroyed that barrier and made it possible for us to have a relationship with him. We're able to bring whatever is going on in our lives to him. That's such a great comfort to me, because God completely understands everyone of my problems even better than I do. He is in control and will take care of me. We are safe in his care. Verses 17- 18 say "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,". God loves us and wants us. His love is bigger than me and you, that's hard to understand. How could a perfect God love sinners like us? His love is wider and longer and higher and deeper than our sins. Isn't that amazing?
Hey guys! This is one of my favorite worship songs, enjoy! Once you accept Jesus in to your heart you are one with Christ. There is longer anything that separates you from the love of Christ, your sins are forgiven. Ephesians 2:14 says "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the diving all of hostility". Then it continues a few verses later to say in Ephesians 2:16 " and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God though the cross, by which he put to death their hostility." When Christ died on the cross the final sacrifice was made. I think a lot of times Christians think that they still are some how separated from God. They think there sins are to horrible for them to be completely forgiven by God. That's not at all true! God has forgiven us, we are apart of him now. In Ephesians 2:19 it says "Consequently you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household." You are one with Christ and apart of his kingdom if you have give your life to him. It's the best thing in world to know that are forgiven and one with Christ.
In case you haven't noticed people die. In my English class we have been analyzing a piece of literature by Edgar Allen Poe called "The Masque of the Red Death". The entire story is about a Prince who thinks his wealth will save him and his friends from dying, but in the end they all die, and taste the bitterness of death. Without Christ you are already dead in your sins. It says in Ephesians 2:1 "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins". Before you become a Christian your dead in your sins. Your life is empty and your without a purpose. God makes us alive. In him we won't have to taste the bitterness of death, because we know we're not going to die. We're really just finally going home to live forever in heaven. And the only reason we get to go to heaven is because of God's mercy. It says in Ephesians 2:4-5 "but because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved". We're not saved by good works, there is nothing we can do or could ever do that would save us from our sins. We are saved because Jesus laid down his life for us. That's how much the King of the universe loves you. He died for you! You can be made alive through him. It's up to you. In 1 Timothy 4:12 it says "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity". This verse really challenged me. I am surrounded by Christians most of time. It's really easy to settle in and get comfortable where I am. This verse made me think about the expectations that I set for myself and others set for me. I can be making a difference now. Who says I have to wait to be useful for Christ. God wants me to be active in my faith now, everyday. So how can I do this? In speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. What on earth does that mean to me? Let's look. In speech, what we say says a lot about us. What are you talking about? Are you gossiping? Are you cussing? Or are you encouraging others? In life, in your everyday life do you reflect Christ? In love, do your actions show others the love of Christ? In faith, do you put your trust in him when life doesn't make sense? And last but certainly not least in purity. God calls us to be set apart. We need to be pure in our relationships. God's way may not go by what society says, but its the right way and the way by which he has called us to go.
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AuthorHi! My name is Leah. I'm seventeen years old and a senior in high school. Archives
August 2015
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