There is a ton going on at any given moment in this world today. There are plenty of countries in political battles, wars, and even economic downfalls. In the midst of all of this, there are alot of people who seek peace, for their souls, their countries, and this world.
For the past few days, we have been discussing the subject of patience. We have said that practice basically makes patience, but lets go deeper. Why do we want patience? Being patience brings and maintains peace. If there is anything that we can learn from the life of Jesus is peace.
The Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, loved all of us better than we could ever love each other or ourselves. And one of the greatest things that He showed us was peace. Jesus was absolutely and perfectly truthful all of the time, for the opening of spiritual eyes of people on life. Sometimes He was dissapointed by the actions of those who claim to follow His Father in Heaven. Yet even in this Truth, Jesus still had both patience and peace beyond belief. So my challenge for this week and this new year, find new ways to work peace and patience in your life, so that the year of 2012 will be one of the most growing and fulfilling years in your life. Remember: The Best is Yet to Come! Happy New Year from H.O.P.E. Ministries of the Upstate! God Bless!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Practice Makes Perfect
Today I went out to a golf course with a very close friend to the family and started on the driving range, then I moved on to the course itself. We played around six holes. On the driving range, my swing was corrected, as well as my contact, and things went great.
I learned how to take a much better shot with a much better approach, and general things to make me a much better golfer as a whole. My grip was altered, and my swing relaxed. Now the practice that needs to take place is consistency.
In life, practice on the small things also makes a much stronger person. For example, lets take patience. In this subject of patience, practice really does help. For example, if one has worked up the patience to not get angry or frustrated over the small things, like spilled milk or something small of those sorts, then when we have big tests in life, like when our boss really tests all of our patience and we have to use all within us to control our emotions, we will have the practice to deal with it. In life, practice reflecting the image of Christ so that at all times, we will show it the most consistent and strongest way possible.
I learned how to take a much better shot with a much better approach, and general things to make me a much better golfer as a whole. My grip was altered, and my swing relaxed. Now the practice that needs to take place is consistency.
In life, practice on the small things also makes a much stronger person. For example, lets take patience. In this subject of patience, practice really does help. For example, if one has worked up the patience to not get angry or frustrated over the small things, like spilled milk or something small of those sorts, then when we have big tests in life, like when our boss really tests all of our patience and we have to use all within us to control our emotions, we will have the practice to deal with it. In life, practice reflecting the image of Christ so that at all times, we will show it the most consistent and strongest way possible.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Always Be There
Have you ever seen the super ironed TV shows about the spies of the CIA tailing someone? You see them in their extremely fast car chasing their target but trying not to be seen by them so somehow they can retrieve some very valuable information that they need.
So they follow the person for hours, days, weeks, and even months until that very valuable information is found. But the person that they are following never knows that they are there, and that is the key.
The person that they are following feels all alone and unsuspecting, not knowing that they are being followed or tailed, but instead going through their life as normal, but they were never really alone.
I know that sometimes, that is how the Christian can feel. We at times feel as if we are just going through our everyday lives alone, sometimes even lonely. But we should know that we are never alone.
God promises that He will never leave us or forsake us, and that He lives within us, always being there right beside us, no matter where we go. So in those times in this life and this spiritual battle when you feel completely alone, always remember that God is right there by your side.
So they follow the person for hours, days, weeks, and even months until that very valuable information is found. But the person that they are following never knows that they are there, and that is the key.
The person that they are following feels all alone and unsuspecting, not knowing that they are being followed or tailed, but instead going through their life as normal, but they were never really alone.
I know that sometimes, that is how the Christian can feel. We at times feel as if we are just going through our everyday lives alone, sometimes even lonely. But we should know that we are never alone.
God promises that He will never leave us or forsake us, and that He lives within us, always being there right beside us, no matter where we go. So in those times in this life and this spiritual battle when you feel completely alone, always remember that God is right there by your side.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Greater than Money
This Christmas, I received many various large and small gifts. Some of them were clothing apparel, which i thoroughly enjoyed, and I also get to go to Passion 2012 in Atlanta as part of a Christmas present.
I also got my parents some neat little random nick nacks this year. Just little somethings of little monetary value to put smiles on faces. After all, that was the goal of the Christmas presents anyways.
But even after all of that, those would have meant nothing if we only spoke that day when we were giving each other gifts, and the rest of the day, we barely realized that each of us was there.
My point is, sometimes the greatest gift of all is shared time. God did not just create this beautiful Earth and walk away for eternity for us humans to figure everything out so that He may one day return, but God sent His Son Jesus so that we may come to Him, and He be a part of our everyday lives, sharing time as we know it with us.
God knew the importance of time building relationships, that is why Jesus did not leave us alone, but the Holy Spirit came on Earth. God wants to be with us, not just give us creation, because we need to understand that one of the most important aspects of life is our time.
I also got my parents some neat little random nick nacks this year. Just little somethings of little monetary value to put smiles on faces. After all, that was the goal of the Christmas presents anyways.
But even after all of that, those would have meant nothing if we only spoke that day when we were giving each other gifts, and the rest of the day, we barely realized that each of us was there.
My point is, sometimes the greatest gift of all is shared time. God did not just create this beautiful Earth and walk away for eternity for us humans to figure everything out so that He may one day return, but God sent His Son Jesus so that we may come to Him, and He be a part of our everyday lives, sharing time as we know it with us.
God knew the importance of time building relationships, that is why Jesus did not leave us alone, but the Holy Spirit came on Earth. God wants to be with us, not just give us creation, because we need to understand that one of the most important aspects of life is our time.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Savior in a Manger
I really hope that this Christmas was great for everyone! I hope that you all got to spend great time with family and friends, and even maybe enjoy a few gifts. But when we think back on this day, and let us not only remember the family, friends, and gifts, but the reason for the day in the first place, to celebrate the birth of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Born of a virgin impregnated by the Holy Spirit, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords was born in a manger. That is why we celebrate, the sweet child, you was born to die, was now on the Earth. The Messiah had then been born.
He would go through His ministry with the trade of a carpenter and eventually be put on a cross, better yet, nailed to the cross, and crucified, all so that we could be saved from our sins. So that we may come to God without blemish for eternity.
The One and Only God and man who came to die was born and we celebrate that very special birth on this day called Christmas. As we think back, let us remember that Jesus is the True Reason for that day!
Born of a virgin impregnated by the Holy Spirit, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords was born in a manger. That is why we celebrate, the sweet child, you was born to die, was now on the Earth. The Messiah had then been born.
He would go through His ministry with the trade of a carpenter and eventually be put on a cross, better yet, nailed to the cross, and crucified, all so that we could be saved from our sins. So that we may come to God without blemish for eternity.
The One and Only God and man who came to die was born and we celebrate that very special birth on this day called Christmas. As we think back, let us remember that Jesus is the True Reason for that day!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Light
It is our calling from the Great Commission to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others, that is the wonderful news of Christ dying on a cross and being Resurrected from the dead so that our sins may be given and we may be with the Father in the end.
It is also our calling to be holy, that is different in pursuit of the life of Christ, which was Holy and sinless. This is what I want to focus on. In our pursuit of holiness, it is great to tell people why we choose to live a life that is Holy unto God, but saying that alone is quite powerless without a life that is actually Holy.
What if one day, God decided to take your lips away from you forever? What if He decided to take your tongue out of your mouth so that you could no longer speak? Would people around you still say that there was something different and Christ like about you? Would Christ still say that your life models His?
The Light of Christ should shine in your life whether you have words to say or not. You wont get a chance to talk to every person you see at your local Walmart, but you can show all of them an example of the Heart of Christ in your actions. Let the Light of Christ shine through your richly!
It is also our calling to be holy, that is different in pursuit of the life of Christ, which was Holy and sinless. This is what I want to focus on. In our pursuit of holiness, it is great to tell people why we choose to live a life that is Holy unto God, but saying that alone is quite powerless without a life that is actually Holy.
What if one day, God decided to take your lips away from you forever? What if He decided to take your tongue out of your mouth so that you could no longer speak? Would people around you still say that there was something different and Christ like about you? Would Christ still say that your life models His?
The Light of Christ should shine in your life whether you have words to say or not. You wont get a chance to talk to every person you see at your local Walmart, but you can show all of them an example of the Heart of Christ in your actions. Let the Light of Christ shine through your richly!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Strength
In the eighth grade, I progressed like any other middle school boy back then. That was the year that I started being interested in females, and started wanting to be a big superhero type macho man. I started wanting to have the coolest clothes and the most popular friends. And like the cooled and most popular back then, a guy named Matthew, I wanted to be physically big and strong.
So I started lifting weights for the first time. I was naturally a little strong but not nearly as strong as the ones who had been lifting weights for two or three years. The first time we were in the weight room, our quarterback lifted about 150, and matt was at around 275. Our principal was still over 300 as far as bench press goes. Big man.
After a few days, I quit lifting and just thought I would do it later or at home. I got no bigger and by the end of the year I had joined the wrestling team the same size as I was on the football team. I depended on genetics alone for my strength.
I know some may think that idea was crazy, but its what we all do sometimes. We forget that the Joy of the Lord is our strength, and depend on ourselves for strength to conquer the world, but its the Lord where our help comes from. Depend on the Lord in All of our ways, for His Joy is our strength!
So I started lifting weights for the first time. I was naturally a little strong but not nearly as strong as the ones who had been lifting weights for two or three years. The first time we were in the weight room, our quarterback lifted about 150, and matt was at around 275. Our principal was still over 300 as far as bench press goes. Big man.
After a few days, I quit lifting and just thought I would do it later or at home. I got no bigger and by the end of the year I had joined the wrestling team the same size as I was on the football team. I depended on genetics alone for my strength.
I know some may think that idea was crazy, but its what we all do sometimes. We forget that the Joy of the Lord is our strength, and depend on ourselves for strength to conquer the world, but its the Lord where our help comes from. Depend on the Lord in All of our ways, for His Joy is our strength!
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