Managing Time

   We are called not to be weary in our well doing. When I think of this, I cannot help but get the image of going to a place where help is needed, say where a crisis has occurred, and helping them so much that I become extremely fatigued, to the point in fact, to where my help is then ineffective.
   When time is managed poorly, it opens the door for disappointing someone by not being able to fulfill your promises, not being able to do the works in which the Lord calls your to do, or not being effective in what you do. Therefore, managing time is an absolute necessity in the Christian life!
   Saying no to those non essential tasks, breaking large tasks into smaller ones, planning each day or week, limiting distraction, taking breaks are all helping in managing time so that you are able to keep promises, do the works in which you are called to do, and do them effectively! Its Biblical, manage your time!

To the Core

   As a Chemistry major, I can attest to what happens as you advance in knowledge of something. For example, I took Chemistry in high school. The first time I had ever taken a class that specifically taught Chemistry. Therefore, needless to say, I learned a lot of fundamental chemistry that I did not know before.
   However, I have also taken Chemistry in college, which is a whole other animal but that is beside the point. When I took it here, I realized quickly that even though we were learning advanced things about the subject, they were absolutely meaning without the fundamentals of chemistry, what I had learned in high school. Without those fundamentals, nothing else really mattered.
   Sometimes seasoned Christians get so caught up in higher level thinking about Christianity, that we forget the fundamental, which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I pray that we NEVER forget that Jesus died on the Cross so that we would have life eternal with the Father in Heaven!
 

Sowing

   Most of people have heard the phrase, "you reap what you sow" before. So let us dive into the true meaning of the phrase. Its quite simple, you get out what you put in. For example, if you decided that you wanted to plant watermelons, and you put apple seeds in the soil, you will not get watermelons, but instead apples.
   So, how often do we ask the question of what we are sowing? I find that I do not ask myself this question often enough. For example, laughing at that inappropriate joke or joining in in an act that causes someone else any kind of harm, physical or emotional, is sowing the wrong things for my life.
   So I encourage you, since you do reap what you sow, sow encouragement and the things of the Lord, for then you will reap encouragement and the things of the Lord!

Those who Love the Lord...

Romans 8.28- And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
   ^{This almost seems like a staple verse for Christianity. The verse that picks us up when we are feeling down, and gives us hope when it seems that we have none. For those purposes this verse is absolutely excellent. However, there are two prerequisites to this verse. 
   The first is, for those who love God. Since Sunday school, everyone has known that Jesus loves them. Hence the nursery rhyme, Jesus Loves Me. But it means something else for someone to Love the Lord. To love the Lord means that you live your life completely for Him, because He died to save you, and He abides with you and you in Him, therefore you are sold out for and to Him. 
   Without loving Him, I know this may step on some toes, but Romans 8.28 does not apply to you. The other part of this verse, being called according to His Purpose, will be covered later but again, without it, this promise does not apply to you. Love the Lord, for He loves you.} 

Unconditional

   There are many reasons why people do particular things. For example, the reason that I wash the dishes is so that I may eat off of them later. The reason that I play frisbee is because I enjoy it and it helps me to stay in shape. The reason that I call someone is because I have something to say.
   There are people that commit their entire lives to studying the reasoning behind the actions of people. They study people hard, attempting to learn why the action they did happened. However, there is an incredible fact about reasoning and Christianity that you should know.
   God does not love us because of something that we did. We did not, could not, do good enough to earn that, but God loves us simply because He loves us, unconditionally, no matter what, that simple. That is worth rejoicing. There is no prerequisite. God loves you and I, unconditionally!

Stand Firm

   There are two types of concepts in the Christian Faith, negotiables and non- negotiables. The essence of a sound faith is the analyzation of the difference between the two. The negotiables are things that do not compromise the basis of Christianity.
   For example, it is completely negotiable to debate whether or not Paul used his right hand or his left hand to write his letters. That issue does not compromise Christianity to the core. However, whether or not Christ died on the Cross is non- negotiable. As a Christian, you can not negotiate whether or not that happened.
   We have to live our life carrying out these non- negotiables. If have to show what we believe and not negotiate doing so. We must carry the Faith with courage, not negotiating with the enemy that we will live for Christ. Stand firm in the Faith, and live your life like a non negotiable.

Healer

   Back in His days on Earth, for many different reasons in which I will not get into right now, Jesus would heal. He would heal from one to entire crowds of people. However, one thing was in common in these healings that some may look over, and that is faith.
   Jesus was in a crowd of people once and everyone was bumping into Him. They were that close. However in the midst of all of that, Jesus asked (paraphrasing), "who Just touched Me, I felt power leave from me, who just touched me?"
   When He found out who the woman was, who had been suffering with issues of blood for many years, He said, woman, thy FAITH has healed you! Go in peace. This story should encourage the fact that Healing and Faith coexist. If you are expecting Healing of any sort, do not lack in Faith!

Forever and Always

   Have you ever met a person that, over time, with things that happen in life good or bad, they seem to change? Not judging the change as good or bad, but just realizing that it is a change? Things are not exactly the same with them as they used to be.
   Imagine that you confided in this person. You basically shared your life with this person. Therefore, when they changed, it kind of scared you. You did not really know what to think or how to react. You felt as if you put all your chips on the line and you may have just lost them.
   However, there is something that you should know. When it comes to God, you can put all of your chips on the line a million times and never lose them, for God never ever ever ever changes. You may always confide in Him! Be encouraged.

No Parking

   Have you ever been walking in a big crowd and suddenly thought that it would be a good idea to stop in the middle of that crowd, clogging everyone? Or how about driving on the interstate and deciding that it would be a fantastic idea to just stop right there in the middle of the interstate?
   Or course not! You are probably think that would be crazy, and youre right. But if we think to why, we realize that the interstate is not the place to suddenly stop, but a place of continual forward progress.
   The Christian race is like that interstate. Not in the sense that our destination is reached fast, for as long as we are alive, we shall never "arrive", but in the since that it is continual forward progress. There is no place to stop and park and quit and give up, for through Christ, all things are possible! There is no parking! Only forward progress!

Never Giving Up

   Recently I started back, after a moderate break, working out again to stay in shape. Therefore, as one can probably imagine, working hard on the arms and chest followed by a three mile run after one hadnt really ran in months, came with some challenges.
   In fact, the only thing on my mind was quitting, Finishing early. After all, I had already worked enough, why not stop early instead of finishing the battle? But there was a still small voice that said quitting is not worth it. You have come entirely too far to give up.
   The reason that I am sharing this story is because it is incredibly easy to give up on the Christian fight. To say, I have fought hard enough, and give up early. Giving up is NOT an option. Any one can give up, but a righteous man perseveres. Yes, the battle is already won, but one still has to fight! As Christians, we are to never give up, for quitting is not an option!

Protector

   It is a mans desire, and even calling to protect his family, whatever the meaning and whatever the cost. This means that when his family is under attack, he is the first line of defense. At any cost, he will do what it takes to make sure that his family is safe and secure.
   As the church, we are the bride of Christ. Which, as you can imagine, puts us in the Family of God. As the Head of that Family, this means that Christ protects us at all cost, the Ultimate cost in fact, to make sure that we are safe and secure. He died for His Bride, so that we may be protected from the penalty of our sin.
   Therefore, fear not, for Christ has already died to protect you. Abide in Him and enjoy the Ultimate protection against eternal death! Christ died for the Bride, and in turn the Bride lives from Him, in Ultimate protection!

Trying Hard Enough

Have you ever heard that person who said Christianity is impossible to live because it is impossible to sin? Well part of what they are saying is correct, even though they are wrong. What I mean by that is that it is absolutely impossible for someone not to sin, but not impossible for someone to be a follower of Jesus.
   A follower of Jesus does not mean that they do not sin. In fact, it is quite the opposite in the sense that Jesus became sin so that we could become His Righteousness. That is why we are His Righteousness. For what we consider our righteousness by works is like filthy rags, literally translated to the culture of that time, menstrual rags.
   So the point is, Christianity doesnt come by trying hard enough not to sin, for it is impossible not to sin. But it does come from the forgiveness that has already been attained, true Righteousness, not what we consider to be righteous. You are the True Righteousness of God!

Not a Drill

   Have you ever seen the person that goes through Christianity like it is a game, or a drill? I like to look at it like this. They go through Christianity like it is a practice quiz of some sort, not really thinking that it matters. For example, we just had a fire drill here at my school.
   During the drill, everyone got out of the building as if there were a fire, but because no one actually saw flames, no true urgency was detected. It was relatively relaxed in fact. Sure, everyone still made it out in a timely fashion, but there wasnt a huge urgency.
   Christianity is not something to be treated as a drill. Its not a practice test. Jesus was not tortured so that you could treat life a practice test, but so that you could go through the REAL test with Him as your guide and help! Its not a drill. Live life as if it is a real test, everyday, with God as your guide!

Gather

   Matthew 12.30- ""He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." The words of Jesus as He is talking to the Pharisees. This is an astounding statement, two in fact. However, I would like to focus on the second part of this statement. "He who does not gather with me, scatters."
   It is a necessity to gather with Christ, both privately and publically. In fact, without it, scattering is promised. Scattering from the foundation of Christ, the Solid Foundation. So what does that mean for us?
   Privatley we must seek Him. We must stay in His Word, following the guidance of His Statutes and the leading of the Holy Spirit. We must meet with Him daily and continue in a pure relationship with the Living God. Pubilically we must gather with others, with the same goal as to reaching and abiding in Him. These are necessities, commands even! Gather!

Never Changing

   Have you ever tried to grow a flower in a pot without soil? Just putting the seeds into a pot full of water and hoping for the best? Im assuming the answer to that question is probably not. Have you ever thought as to why that is the case?
   Well, among many other obvious reasons, there is one that stands out to me. The position of the soil never changes, but water moves freely about in the pot alone. A plant can grow in soil because it is rooted to something, something nutrient rich that remains the same.
   We are rooted in Christ and He is not as weak and fragile as water, but He is full of all that we need, and remains constant to dwell in like the soil. God is a Rock and He is never changing. His Word remains constant and His promises True! Rejoice, for our God will always be God!

In His Grip

   You know, at the church that we attend, there is a minister there that likes to use the phrase "In His Grip" after his text messages and emails. At first, some may think it is a tad bid over zealous as a way to spread Faith and such, but if we actually take time to analyze, it is a remarkable phrase.
   As we know, we all have sinned. I have probably sinned at some point already this morning or am close to it. However, even though the wages of sin is death, because of Christ, I am not kicked out of the Kingdom.
   You see, even though we may let go of Him at times, through our sin and shame, He never lets go of us. He doesnt let us fall by the wayside because of our mistakes, for they have all already been paid for! Praise be to God, for we are in His Grip!

Power Not to Sin

   In recent posts, I have talked about encouragement when it comes to our sin. Not encouragement to sin of course, but encouragement that it is not the end of \the world once a sin is committed, because all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.
   Another in that was this not being a way to get away with sinning. It is not. In fact, when we read the Word of God, we know that we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us. That means that from Him comes POWER to follow His ways and not sin against His Word.
   Does it mean we are perfect? No. But it does mean that we are not in this battle alone, and that through Christ, we have strength, both not to sin and to get back up and follow Him after we have sinned. For our strength in this battle comes from Him!

Winner

   I know from personal experience, sometimes it may seem as if you have failed. As if no matter how hard you try, no matter what you decide to do in life, sin is always present. It may seem as if all you are trying to do is serve the Lord, full steam ahead, but yet in something you do, you sin and feel as you have failed.
   But I have some news for you, ALL have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. This is no excuse for sin but because of Jesus, you have already been forgiven. EVEN MORE, you are more than conquerors in Christ. You have already overcome, because Jesus did.
   Even though you may sin, for we all do, I encourage you to press forward proclaiming His Name and serving His purpose! You are such a winner and more than a conqueror, for you have overcome!