When you think of faithfulness, what do you picture? Maybe you picture friends or family members who have been married for 50 years. Maybe you imagine people in your church who have served sacrificially for years. Maybe it's someone who sticks with a sports team through years of losing. Maybe it's a friend who has stuck by your side through thick and thin. Or parents who have never wavered in their love for you. Whatever it is, it comes up short to the faithfulness of God. Maybe we know this in words, but do you truly believe this in your heart. It can be hard to see the faithfulness of God, or believe that He is always faithful because He is unseen.
Take some time though, look back on the years, and see God's faithfulness. Despite some of the decisions we make, God remains faithful. Think of the pain that God must endure with us each day. We choose to serve other things, we choose to spend time with things that are pointless, we pursue task, jobs, and people, that keep us from discovering who God is. Don't you think that must be painful? Think of the hurt Jesus must have felt as He carried the cross through crowds spitting on Him and saying nasty things to Him. These same people were those who followed Him and those He spent time with, and now they turned their back on Him. Jesus should have dropped the cross and left this world, but He remained faithful to us, not succumbing to the temptation to leave us dying to sin, but followed through, saying "I Love you!" and offering us grace! Take time to look back on God's faithfulness and His hand on your life and soon you will see the Love God has for you!
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Conflict
It's a part of daily life. So many struggle with how to deal with conflict in a healthy manner. We can blow up and get upset when something happens, or we can avoid the issue and storm away, never resolving the issue. Both of these lead to further issues of mistrust and hurt between the parties.
So how do we handle it in a positive way? It starts with honesty and talking to the other party right away. Often times, people don't do things to us to purposefully hurt us, but we make assumptions that the act was done maliciously. If we are honest with the other person, saying I felt hurt when you did this, because I felt like you meant to hurt me. Often the response back will be, oh, I didn't mean to hurt you, I didn't realize that when I did that, it hurt you. Not only does this clear up confusion and keep us from making inaccurate assumptions, but it will help down the line, now that this person knows not to do that again. When talking through conflict, always use "I" statements, stating how you feel, because it's no longer an opinion then, but truly how you feel.
This is not something that is easy, because we become vulnerable when we approach someone. We feel like we will be hurt worse if the person sees us with pain. But trust me, usually it will be a healing process. Conflict is something that will never go away, so it's important to learn how to deal with conflict and to deal with it effectively. Let's work on effectively communicating with eachother!
So how do we handle it in a positive way? It starts with honesty and talking to the other party right away. Often times, people don't do things to us to purposefully hurt us, but we make assumptions that the act was done maliciously. If we are honest with the other person, saying I felt hurt when you did this, because I felt like you meant to hurt me. Often the response back will be, oh, I didn't mean to hurt you, I didn't realize that when I did that, it hurt you. Not only does this clear up confusion and keep us from making inaccurate assumptions, but it will help down the line, now that this person knows not to do that again. When talking through conflict, always use "I" statements, stating how you feel, because it's no longer an opinion then, but truly how you feel.
This is not something that is easy, because we become vulnerable when we approach someone. We feel like we will be hurt worse if the person sees us with pain. But trust me, usually it will be a healing process. Conflict is something that will never go away, so it's important to learn how to deal with conflict and to deal with it effectively. Let's work on effectively communicating with eachother!
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Grace Not Freedom
Grace is a beautiful thing. It keeps us from being condemned to Hell. It gives us freedom from our sins. It's not something we earn, but something God has given us. It's so important to understand grace and to be able to receive it. But lately, as I have heard people talk of grace, I believe we have begun to take grace and state that because of grace we are free of God's commandments. It has become a way to excuse ourselves from things that Jesus teaches. But that is not grace!
Grace extends itself freely, granting us freedom from our sins. But it does require something from us after we accept grace.
John 8:11 says, "And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on sin no more."
We like to hear Jesus tell us that He does not condemn us. But sometimes the next part can be tough. Go, like right now, and sin no more. Jesus states here, yes I have given you grace, and you have been freed of your past sins, but go now and sin no more. How often do we read over passages and try to ignore them cause they require too much from us, or find it tough to follow follow after Christ.
1 John 5:3 - "For this is the love of god, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome."
God gives us commandments not as a way of punishment, but as a way to make our life easier. It's God's way of saying, here's how to live a joyful live and to avoid a lot of heartache. When we truly Love God and are all in for Him, we see how His commandments are not a burden, but really a blessing that He has given us these things to help us along our way.
There are many things in this world that Satan has a grasp on, things that tear us away from our Maker. God extends grace to say, I Love you, and want you, but you must die to self and come to me. Are we really excepting grace as what it is, and turning from our sins? Give it all to God, follow His commandments, and draw near to Him! May you find peace, strength, and courage, as we carry the cross!
Grace extends itself freely, granting us freedom from our sins. But it does require something from us after we accept grace.
John 8:11 says, "And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on sin no more."
We like to hear Jesus tell us that He does not condemn us. But sometimes the next part can be tough. Go, like right now, and sin no more. Jesus states here, yes I have given you grace, and you have been freed of your past sins, but go now and sin no more. How often do we read over passages and try to ignore them cause they require too much from us, or find it tough to follow follow after Christ.
1 John 5:3 - "For this is the love of god, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome."
God gives us commandments not as a way of punishment, but as a way to make our life easier. It's God's way of saying, here's how to live a joyful live and to avoid a lot of heartache. When we truly Love God and are all in for Him, we see how His commandments are not a burden, but really a blessing that He has given us these things to help us along our way.
There are many things in this world that Satan has a grasp on, things that tear us away from our Maker. God extends grace to say, I Love you, and want you, but you must die to self and come to me. Are we really excepting grace as what it is, and turning from our sins? Give it all to God, follow His commandments, and draw near to Him! May you find peace, strength, and courage, as we carry the cross!
Monday, September 24, 2012
#1 Together The Road Is Much Easier
During training, at times it was tough to finish a workout. I would get bored talking to myself and slowly become demotivated as the run or bike ride went on. But during race day there was an adrenaline that came from having fans around me for an entire day. The day did not seem that long, it did not seem that difficult, and it was definitely more enjoyable then what I expected.
Life is the same way. It is much more enjoyable and easier to navigate when we are surrounded by people who encourage us, who are driven for the same thing, and who stick around us till the very end. I'm very blessed for the people that God has surrounded me with over the years. People who have stuck by me and encouraged me.
So often we try to do things on our own. We try to overcome our struggles, addictions, and try to battle on our own. But God doesn't want us to take these things on our own. He wants us to rely on each other, to help each other, and to really seek Him in our weakness. It really is more enjoyable when we allow others to help us, to support us, and to walk through life with us.
Life is the same way. It is much more enjoyable and easier to navigate when we are surrounded by people who encourage us, who are driven for the same thing, and who stick around us till the very end. I'm very blessed for the people that God has surrounded me with over the years. People who have stuck by me and encouraged me.
So often we try to do things on our own. We try to overcome our struggles, addictions, and try to battle on our own. But God doesn't want us to take these things on our own. He wants us to rely on each other, to help each other, and to really seek Him in our weakness. It really is more enjoyable when we allow others to help us, to support us, and to walk through life with us.
Friday, September 21, 2012
#2 You'll Never Be The Best
From the time I exited the water on the swim, till I crossed the finish line, I passed almost 1,000 people, but I was still somewhere in the 600's. There was always a line of people in front of me, no matter how fast I ran. As I ran, I thought about this, how no matter what, I will never be the best. If I'm seeking significance in this, I'll always come up empty. Sometimes we strive so hard to be the best, and when this is our pursuit, we will do anything to get there. In an age where it seems every athlete is using performance enhancing drugs, it's easy to see what this mindset can do.
It's refreshing and peaceful to know that God does not ask us to be the best there is. He does not tell us that we must be #1 in order to be invited to heaven. Instead He extends grace to us and states that He wants us in a state of weakness, for when we are weak He is strong. He states that we should do the best we possibly can, to work as if working for the Lord not for man, but He does not require us to be #1. What a refreshing thought that we don't have to outdo everyone around us, that we don't have to compete with those around us, but that we can join together, encouraging each other to be the best we can be.
There was such great camaraderie among these athletes, because the goal of the Ironman is to finish. As you pass people (or get passed) they always encourage you and you encourage them. There is not the competitive side with each other, but truly a challenge to oneself to finish. And this is how the race of life should be. We should not be running to beat those around us, running solely for ourselves, but we should be encouraging of those around us, pulling them along, and striving for the finish.
It's refreshing and peaceful to know that God does not ask us to be the best there is. He does not tell us that we must be #1 in order to be invited to heaven. Instead He extends grace to us and states that He wants us in a state of weakness, for when we are weak He is strong. He states that we should do the best we possibly can, to work as if working for the Lord not for man, but He does not require us to be #1. What a refreshing thought that we don't have to outdo everyone around us, that we don't have to compete with those around us, but that we can join together, encouraging each other to be the best we can be.
There was such great camaraderie among these athletes, because the goal of the Ironman is to finish. As you pass people (or get passed) they always encourage you and you encourage them. There is not the competitive side with each other, but truly a challenge to oneself to finish. And this is how the race of life should be. We should not be running to beat those around us, running solely for ourselves, but we should be encouraging of those around us, pulling them along, and striving for the finish.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
#3 It Can Be Addicting
When I arrived to check-in on Friday morning, I received a flyer for a Fellowship of Christian Athletes prayer time later that evening. I knew I had to attend this to connect with other Christian athletes. I arrived expecting a hundred or so athletes, but was shocked when I walked into a room with about twenty athletes. I was disheartened by how few athletes were willing to join together for prayer. As the leaders talked, it was mentioned how so many of these athletes train 30-40 hours a week, and how this becomes there life. They talked about how once people do one, many of them continue to do more and begin to lose focus of other things in life.
Talk about how we are in everyday life. Many times we make decisions based on serving God and where He is leading us, only to quickly lose sight of why we are doing what we are doing. We quickly make these opportunities into our god, throwing ourselves into what we are doing. So many of these athletes are addicted to doing Ironman events. They seek for significance in this event, using the event as a way to have people appreciate them. Every person has a void in their hearts, a longing for something. The only difference between people is what they fill this void with. And at the Ironman, I could tell, many of these people filled this void with triathlons.
This event was a great accomplishment for me and something I can cross off my bucket list. After I finished, I did and still do have a desire to do another one. But as I sat in the FCA meeting, I heard a fellow athlete who was crying, as he shared that this was his 8th and last one, because this event had turned into an addiction for him, something that stole time from his wife, kids, and God. Anything can become an addiction. We want to do things that makes us feel significant, but we must find our significance in God!
Talk about how we are in everyday life. Many times we make decisions based on serving God and where He is leading us, only to quickly lose sight of why we are doing what we are doing. We quickly make these opportunities into our god, throwing ourselves into what we are doing. So many of these athletes are addicted to doing Ironman events. They seek for significance in this event, using the event as a way to have people appreciate them. Every person has a void in their hearts, a longing for something. The only difference between people is what they fill this void with. And at the Ironman, I could tell, many of these people filled this void with triathlons.
This event was a great accomplishment for me and something I can cross off my bucket list. After I finished, I did and still do have a desire to do another one. But as I sat in the FCA meeting, I heard a fellow athlete who was crying, as he shared that this was his 8th and last one, because this event had turned into an addiction for him, something that stole time from his wife, kids, and God. Anything can become an addiction. We want to do things that makes us feel significant, but we must find our significance in God!
Monday, September 17, 2012
#4 Goals Require Sacrifice
Each day is filled with thousands of choices. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we all prioritize our lives by the choices we make. Everything we do is prioritized. When we are striving to achieve a goal, that goal is placed near or at the top of the list. Everything we do focuses on the top. When I signed up for the Ironman, immediately this became a top priority. I had to sacrifice time with friends (so I could get rest), I had to sacrifice certain eating habits (although I didn't sacrifice as much as I probably should have:), and at times I even sacrificed my relationship with God.
Daily we make decisions that reflect what our priorities are. Too often we do not stay focused on our goal, which should be to know Christ and to make Christ known. When we are not focused on this, we waste hours of our day on meaningless things. We can sit down in front of the tv for hours and watch pointless shows or spend countless hours on facebook, where we compare our lives with others. We tend to waste lots of time. We waste money trying to improve our self-esteem or on the latest 'thing'. When we stop striving to become more like Christ, we lose focus and become poor stewards of what God has given us.
As I trained, I never listened to music. Before training started I told myself I would use this time to talk with God and to listen, making sure that He would stay #1 on my priority list. There were times were I lost focus of why I was doing this event. At times, becoming an Ironman was selfish, a goal to gain significance in the world and in the eyes of those I love. And it was in those times where God lost priority that I struggled, that I wanted to stop training, and where I felt weak. But when we are weak, God is strong, and as race day came closer, I refocused, knowing that the only way I could complete this task, is with God's help.
I have learned that no matter what our goals in life are, God MUST be #1 on our priority list. It's not so much about what we are doing, but about why we are doing it. Make God #1, and never sacrifice this!
Daily we make decisions that reflect what our priorities are. Too often we do not stay focused on our goal, which should be to know Christ and to make Christ known. When we are not focused on this, we waste hours of our day on meaningless things. We can sit down in front of the tv for hours and watch pointless shows or spend countless hours on facebook, where we compare our lives with others. We tend to waste lots of time. We waste money trying to improve our self-esteem or on the latest 'thing'. When we stop striving to become more like Christ, we lose focus and become poor stewards of what God has given us.
As I trained, I never listened to music. Before training started I told myself I would use this time to talk with God and to listen, making sure that He would stay #1 on my priority list. There were times were I lost focus of why I was doing this event. At times, becoming an Ironman was selfish, a goal to gain significance in the world and in the eyes of those I love. And it was in those times where God lost priority that I struggled, that I wanted to stop training, and where I felt weak. But when we are weak, God is strong, and as race day came closer, I refocused, knowing that the only way I could complete this task, is with God's help.
I have learned that no matter what our goals in life are, God MUST be #1 on our priority list. It's not so much about what we are doing, but about why we are doing it. Make God #1, and never sacrifice this!
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