I am going through my room packing my clothes, toiletries, blankets, hoodies, sweatpants, wool socks, and many other cold-deterring objects, but I'm super pumped about heading to the great white north. And there are a few known facts about this New Years trip in "C-eh-N-eh-D-eh"... it's gonna be cold, it's gonna be fun, and it's gonna go by really fast. I don't like that last part, but I'm tired of doing nothing! No stress, no classes to worry about, no tests to study for, no track practice... it's a whole lot of nothing! Which I didn't mind at first, and I don't really mind it too much, but I need to get up and do something. So why not go to Canada?! Perfect.
As weird as this may seem to even myself, I'm ready to be back at school. Ready for reunited friends, constant "busy"-ness, and going to track practice. While there are many other reasons too, I just want to be back to whats comfortable. As you might have read, I really don't even live at my parents house anymore. My dresser was taken out, my bed wasn't setup, my clothes weren't in my closet, and half of my clothes were put in a box and sent to Goodwill by accident. So apart from feeling really loved and missed at home, I'm ready to get back to the Liberty University bubble. But for right now, I'm headed to Canada! I leave tomorrow at around 4-5am. The schedule isn't set yet, but I know it's gonna be early because we're all anxious to get there!
I'm not sure about internet connection up there, so I'm gonna bring the computer just in case. You might hear from me, you might not. So to all 6 of you, keep checking in! haha And if I don't get a chance to write anything, I might have pictures up instead or something. Not sure, but I'll deal with it when it comes to that point in the road. Have a great New Years! Be safe! And if you get a chance, read Deuteronomy again. Just because!
Peace out America, Seeya soon Canada!!!!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Deuteronomy 6:5-9
I just read Deuteronomy 6, and it was awesome!!! It's so amazing I couldn't help but smile and laugh while I'm reading it! I just love it! But here's quickly what I think about it.
Deuteronomy Chapter 6 starts off strong. And I'm sure you've all heard this verse or some form of it somewhere, but it says in verse 5: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all you might." After the first five or six words in my head I thought, "Ok I already know this verse" so my mind shut off. But it was quickly woken up by the following verses thereafter. Verses 6-9 read:
"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
God just doesn't want us to be loving on Sunday morning when we're "supposed" to be happy and filled with God's love. He wants us to love God and show people we love God 24/7. Whether you lie down, talk, walk, sit, or wake-up! It doesn't matter what you are doing, we need to be telling and showing people God's love. And after verse 9, what does it say? Well it talks about when we are faithful in obeying his commandments, God gives us what He promises. God took care of the Egyptians by bringing them out of Egypt and he promised them that if they were to obey Moses and God's directions, that God would give them the land that they want. Not that they deserved it or that we are owed something, but that God wants us to have it. God wants us to be happy.
And what have I been struggling with lately? Reading consistently, and not just reading when I feel like. And i've been spending my time playing with games, electronics, new gadgets and gismos, but what did I get out of that? A small emptiness or boredom after a while. But after reading for 5 minutes I feel joy, I feel like I'm learning something. I hear God speaking to me through His Word. Why do I choose materialistic things when I can have joy from the Lord?!
I hope you had a great Christmas and will have a fantastic New Year!!!
Thanks for reading!
Geren
Deuteronomy Chapter 6 starts off strong. And I'm sure you've all heard this verse or some form of it somewhere, but it says in verse 5: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all you might." After the first five or six words in my head I thought, "Ok I already know this verse" so my mind shut off. But it was quickly woken up by the following verses thereafter. Verses 6-9 read:
"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
God just doesn't want us to be loving on Sunday morning when we're "supposed" to be happy and filled with God's love. He wants us to love God and show people we love God 24/7. Whether you lie down, talk, walk, sit, or wake-up! It doesn't matter what you are doing, we need to be telling and showing people God's love. And after verse 9, what does it say? Well it talks about when we are faithful in obeying his commandments, God gives us what He promises. God took care of the Egyptians by bringing them out of Egypt and he promised them that if they were to obey Moses and God's directions, that God would give them the land that they want. Not that they deserved it or that we are owed something, but that God wants us to have it. God wants us to be happy.
And what have I been struggling with lately? Reading consistently, and not just reading when I feel like. And i've been spending my time playing with games, electronics, new gadgets and gismos, but what did I get out of that? A small emptiness or boredom after a while. But after reading for 5 minutes I feel joy, I feel like I'm learning something. I hear God speaking to me through His Word. Why do I choose materialistic things when I can have joy from the Lord?!
I hope you had a great Christmas and will have a fantastic New Year!!!
Thanks for reading!
Geren
Monday, December 21, 2009
Day 5
Today is day 5 of my Christmas break. And I'm officially running out of things to do. I expected to be shadowing and doing 30 hours for one of my classes this upcoming semester, but I didn't realize I have to jump through all of these hoops. Obviously there are certain things like paperwork and background checks or whatever that needs to be done, but I didn't expect it to take this long. Right now I'm waiting to have my second Tuberculosis shot/test in order to finish my shadowing application. Well that's not for another week and I'm starting to get restless.
Allentown is great, but there's not that much to do. And having 4 inches of snow over the weekend shuts things down even more. So now I'm down to playing guitar, reading books, and running. Well I complete that cycle about 3 or 4 times a day, so even those things get old. I'm not really ever on facebook, and I don't exactly know how to "stalk" people. I just figured out that there is more to facebook than just mini-feed! But even with this breakthrough, facebook is getting old. About the only thing I could do today was clean. When I get into my cleaning mode, watch out! This whole house is practically spotless, except for rooms that I wasn't allowed to go in. And it's especially weird cleaning "my" room when it's actually my brothers now. My mom told me to put my clothes away, and I responded, "Where?! I don't have a closet or a dresser anymore!" She replied, "Oh. Right." Boy, do I feel loved! haha
Today I read the ten commandments in Deuteronomy 5, which was cool to look back on how Moses went up on the mountain by himself because everyone else was too scared too. But it was just cool to read the story again. So I'm sorry that I don't have much to say about that. I'm sure there's a ton of stuff to talk about, but God didn't bless me with skills of a biblical mastermind.
Oh wait! I just remembered what I did today! I can't believe I almost forgot! So when I was bored today and vocally expressed it, I thought about the snow. Then I realized that I still had my snowboard! It has been years since I last went snowboarding, but today was the day. In the retention pond across from the front of my house is a "big hill." Well it was big when I was younger. I remember standing at the bottom and looking all the way up to the top, which seemed to be about 50 feet. It looked scary and very dangerous, but at that age we thought we were indestructible. I remember wiping out many times and coming home almost paralyzed from the "huge bails" and "nasty wipeouts." The ramps were about 2 feet high, but when you are only 4 feet tall it's a big deal.
Going back to the "slope" today was fun! It was really small, but there was already a huge ramp built so it was perfect! My brother and I had to do a little maintenance on the run but after 5 minutes of fixing up, the jump was ready for me!
After a few jumps of solid 3 feet of air, we decided to call it a day. Bringing back some good memories. It was a blast!
And to make my day even better, Dusty Bottoms has arrived!!! We're gonna have a blast over the next few days going to my sister's new house, fixing, moving, cleaning... ya know, manly stuff! haha Can't wait to see my friends again and get this break over with!
Until next time!
Allentown is great, but there's not that much to do. And having 4 inches of snow over the weekend shuts things down even more. So now I'm down to playing guitar, reading books, and running. Well I complete that cycle about 3 or 4 times a day, so even those things get old. I'm not really ever on facebook, and I don't exactly know how to "stalk" people. I just figured out that there is more to facebook than just mini-feed! But even with this breakthrough, facebook is getting old. About the only thing I could do today was clean. When I get into my cleaning mode, watch out! This whole house is practically spotless, except for rooms that I wasn't allowed to go in. And it's especially weird cleaning "my" room when it's actually my brothers now. My mom told me to put my clothes away, and I responded, "Where?! I don't have a closet or a dresser anymore!" She replied, "Oh. Right." Boy, do I feel loved! haha
Today I read the ten commandments in Deuteronomy 5, which was cool to look back on how Moses went up on the mountain by himself because everyone else was too scared too. But it was just cool to read the story again. So I'm sorry that I don't have much to say about that. I'm sure there's a ton of stuff to talk about, but God didn't bless me with skills of a biblical mastermind.
Oh wait! I just remembered what I did today! I can't believe I almost forgot! So when I was bored today and vocally expressed it, I thought about the snow. Then I realized that I still had my snowboard! It has been years since I last went snowboarding, but today was the day. In the retention pond across from the front of my house is a "big hill." Well it was big when I was younger. I remember standing at the bottom and looking all the way up to the top, which seemed to be about 50 feet. It looked scary and very dangerous, but at that age we thought we were indestructible. I remember wiping out many times and coming home almost paralyzed from the "huge bails" and "nasty wipeouts." The ramps were about 2 feet high, but when you are only 4 feet tall it's a big deal.
Going back to the "slope" today was fun! It was really small, but there was already a huge ramp built so it was perfect! My brother and I had to do a little maintenance on the run but after 5 minutes of fixing up, the jump was ready for me!
After a few jumps of solid 3 feet of air, we decided to call it a day. Bringing back some good memories. It was a blast!
And to make my day even better, Dusty Bottoms has arrived!!! We're gonna have a blast over the next few days going to my sister's new house, fixing, moving, cleaning... ya know, manly stuff! haha Can't wait to see my friends again and get this break over with!
Until next time!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Limb-o
I know the day is just started, but I've already had a great morning! Woke up earlier than I needed to, not on purpose, because my parents told me to get up for the 9:15am service. So I got up at 8:15ish and started to get ready for the day. But as I was shaving, I was startled to see my dad all dressed up like a blizzard was going to wipe out our house. He told me that we were going to the later service because of some reason and so I decided to head on outside to help him shovel the 4-5 inches of snow we got yesterday! Well needless to say, I had a blast shoveling the snow! For some reason I really missed it. I haven't done it in probably two years, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! And it was probably the best snow I've ever seen. The snow was light and fluffy, but with one scoop into the snow, it was a perfect snowball. The best "packing" snow I have seen in combination with the lightness of it too. It was weird, but it was awesome. And there was just something about getting up early before anyone goes anywhere, shoveling the snow, listening to the sounds of nature and other men around the block scraping the driveway and sidewalks. It brought back many memories of when my dad would make two huge piles near the end of the driveway and I would make one snow fort and my sister and brother would make a snow fort and we'd have snowball fights all day. Good times =)
But another great thing about today was church. I love my church and my pastor! He is so "down-to-earth" and just speaks the truth; not always things we want to hear, but what we need to hear. But today his title was "Out no a limb." I didn't really know where he was going with that, but it seemed rather interesting. I tried to think of how this relates to a lesson, but I figured I would just let him talk to me instead of me trying to steal his thunder.
Going along with the Christmas theme, we read from Luke 2 (with many other references too, but mainly in Luke). And after reading the verses, the first thing he said to us was, "Have you ever gone out on a limb for God?" Bam. Instantly I got the point of the analogy. Now send the reinforcements. Here were his examples:
Joseph and Mary -
- The Lord told both Joseph and Mary to go out on a limb by marrying being each other. Joseph would be ridiculed for marrying a women who was already pregnant. And Mary was ridiculed for being pregnant without being married.
Abram (later Abraham) -
- The Lord spoke directly to him in Genesis 12:1 - The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." A direct voice from God.
Noah -
- God asked him to build an ark, when Noah hadn't even seen a drop of rain. But... Genesis 6:22 - "Noah did everything, just as God commanded him."
Joshua -
- Joshua 6:3-5 - "March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in."
As I sat there, I thought of all of the things that I have heard God ask me to do. All of them seemed small to me. All of it seemed so weird, so non-important to my life. I would always justify it in my head, "whatever man, they're scary and they probably don't need a ride anywhere." or "I need this money right now. How am I gonna pay for food?" (meanwhile I'm wasting my money at the movies or spending it on something useless) So as I analyzed my disobedience to God, I realized that what God asked of me seemed small, weird, crazy, and pointless. And then I tuned back into what Pastor Jim was saying and I heard, "God's asking them to do something bigger than them."
Oh boy. How selfish am I? Why did I think it had anything to do with me?! God was using me, but I kept asking what I would get out of it. Well Geren, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU!!! Oh... right.
Sometimes I feel like I'm "doing a good job" as a Christian, which isn't necessarily right or wrong, but then there are times like these. All you want to do is run and hide. And I feel even worse because I realize that I have been choosing where and how God wants to use me. One of my favorite quotes I heard from Jonathan Falwell says "It's not about your abilities, it's about your availability." It's like when we fill out a job application and we tell them what our schedule is like. Are we giving God a schedule? Or are we giving God our life? Are we being "living sacrifices" when we want to be? When it's convenient? I know that's something I struggle with.
So I challenge you like I was challenged today. Don't be selective like me. I don't just want to be used by running track. I want to be used by God; wherever He takes me. And remember, it's not about you and me. It's about glorifying God!!!
When you hear God, whether it seems small or weird, think about these men and women mentioned above. Noah; building an ark when they practically live in a desert. Joshua; marching around the city walls with trumpets and an army. They sound weird, but they realized something that I've been missing. It's not about them. It's bigger than them. It's bigger than us.
Lord, help me listen to you. Help me to obey when you call. I want to be available. I want you to have faith in me, that I will have faith in you to obey. God help me. I love you, now help me show it.
But another great thing about today was church. I love my church and my pastor! He is so "down-to-earth" and just speaks the truth; not always things we want to hear, but what we need to hear. But today his title was "Out no a limb." I didn't really know where he was going with that, but it seemed rather interesting. I tried to think of how this relates to a lesson, but I figured I would just let him talk to me instead of me trying to steal his thunder.
Going along with the Christmas theme, we read from Luke 2 (with many other references too, but mainly in Luke). And after reading the verses, the first thing he said to us was, "Have you ever gone out on a limb for God?" Bam. Instantly I got the point of the analogy. Now send the reinforcements. Here were his examples:
Joseph and Mary -
- The Lord told both Joseph and Mary to go out on a limb by marrying being each other. Joseph would be ridiculed for marrying a women who was already pregnant. And Mary was ridiculed for being pregnant without being married.
Abram (later Abraham) -
- The Lord spoke directly to him in Genesis 12:1 - The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." A direct voice from God.
Noah -
- God asked him to build an ark, when Noah hadn't even seen a drop of rain. But... Genesis 6:22 - "Noah did everything, just as God commanded him."
Joshua -
- Joshua 6:3-5 - "March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in."
As I sat there, I thought of all of the things that I have heard God ask me to do. All of them seemed small to me. All of it seemed so weird, so non-important to my life. I would always justify it in my head, "whatever man, they're scary and they probably don't need a ride anywhere." or "I need this money right now. How am I gonna pay for food?" (meanwhile I'm wasting my money at the movies or spending it on something useless) So as I analyzed my disobedience to God, I realized that what God asked of me seemed small, weird, crazy, and pointless. And then I tuned back into what Pastor Jim was saying and I heard, "God's asking them to do something bigger than them."
Oh boy. How selfish am I? Why did I think it had anything to do with me?! God was using me, but I kept asking what I would get out of it. Well Geren, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU!!! Oh... right.
Sometimes I feel like I'm "doing a good job" as a Christian, which isn't necessarily right or wrong, but then there are times like these. All you want to do is run and hide. And I feel even worse because I realize that I have been choosing where and how God wants to use me. One of my favorite quotes I heard from Jonathan Falwell says "It's not about your abilities, it's about your availability." It's like when we fill out a job application and we tell them what our schedule is like. Are we giving God a schedule? Or are we giving God our life? Are we being "living sacrifices" when we want to be? When it's convenient? I know that's something I struggle with.
So I challenge you like I was challenged today. Don't be selective like me. I don't just want to be used by running track. I want to be used by God; wherever He takes me. And remember, it's not about you and me. It's about glorifying God!!!
When you hear God, whether it seems small or weird, think about these men and women mentioned above. Noah; building an ark when they practically live in a desert. Joshua; marching around the city walls with trumpets and an army. They sound weird, but they realized something that I've been missing. It's not about them. It's bigger than them. It's bigger than us.
Lord, help me listen to you. Help me to obey when you call. I want to be available. I want you to have faith in me, that I will have faith in you to obey. God help me. I love you, now help me show it.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Old Testament
A couple weeks ago, I finished 1 Corinthians and I didn't know where to go next. One would think 2 Corinthians, but I wanted to read something that I wouldn't normally read. I think many people like New Testament better because it most easily relates to us, but I decided to go "Old-School."
It's been a couple weeks since I've cracked open the book of Deuteronomy and I've been surprised at what I've been learning. It hasn't been very pertinent as far as learning about something like patience or anger or something that can be applied directly, but it has been great to look back and see how God was active in the lives of Moses and his people. I don't read regular books for personal pleasure or entertainment, but I am finding myself hooked to some of the stories. I don't have them memorized or referenced, but they are pretty basic themes. God tells Moses to tell his people something, the people don't listen, and God punishes them. Or, God tells Moses to tell his people that they will not be harmed by an army much bigger than theirs, and the people are scared, but then God protects them as he said he would.
The other day I was thinking about what it would be like to be in those times. When God's voice is audibly heard and when you have people like Moses, David, Abraham, etc. What do these great men of God look like? What's it like to be around them? Do they have this aura to them? A shining light around them? haha But in all seriousness, I wonder what it would be like to be around them. I can't help but think of my buddies that I live with or my friends that I hang around. Are we like these great men of God? I can only speak for myself, but I know I'm not at that point. I don't I know if I will ever get to that point, but it is just something that I've been thinking about. If God were to call on me to stand up like Abraham or David, would I do it? Do I have enough faith? Do I trust God completely, to the point that I would drop anything I am doing in order to follow God's path? Which brings me back to a post from a while ago. One of my best friends from home is getting surgery to remove a tumor from his sinus region which could cause damage to his sight, his brain, his hearing, and many other things. But it is a lot more complicated than that, but the main point is what he told me one day. He said, "Ya know, I've come to the point of trusting God. It doesn't matter what God takes from me. God, if you want to take me away from school, then take it. You can have school. If you want to take away soccer, go ahead, have it. If you want my sight, my hearing, my senses, take it. I trust that what will happen will glorify You."
That was one of the most real, powerful, and impacting statements I have heard in my life. A man at the age of 21, giving up his comfortable and enjoyable life in order to follow God. Now don't get me wrong, not that a comfortable and enjoyable lifestyle is bad, but just the fact that he was trusting God in what God was doing with him, is a challenge to me. Would I react the same way? What if God took track away from me? Would I be like Job saying, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Blessed be the name of the Lord."? Or would I be angry and confused with God?
Obviously, these men in the Old Testament had a very different lifestyle compared to today, but just because we can't "relate" to them doesn't mean it can't impact us. As I dive into this book, I realize the stories and the lifestyles that I'm getting into. Like a Disney movie, I'm just into the pages and seeing what it was like back then. There have been some chapters that I haven't really been able to connect with, but that's always going to happen. It was written thousands of years ago. Something is going to get lost in translation.
I don't really know what this post was for, but I just wanted to let you know what's going on in my head. Stay tuned =)
G
It's been a couple weeks since I've cracked open the book of Deuteronomy and I've been surprised at what I've been learning. It hasn't been very pertinent as far as learning about something like patience or anger or something that can be applied directly, but it has been great to look back and see how God was active in the lives of Moses and his people. I don't read regular books for personal pleasure or entertainment, but I am finding myself hooked to some of the stories. I don't have them memorized or referenced, but they are pretty basic themes. God tells Moses to tell his people something, the people don't listen, and God punishes them. Or, God tells Moses to tell his people that they will not be harmed by an army much bigger than theirs, and the people are scared, but then God protects them as he said he would.
The other day I was thinking about what it would be like to be in those times. When God's voice is audibly heard and when you have people like Moses, David, Abraham, etc. What do these great men of God look like? What's it like to be around them? Do they have this aura to them? A shining light around them? haha But in all seriousness, I wonder what it would be like to be around them. I can't help but think of my buddies that I live with or my friends that I hang around. Are we like these great men of God? I can only speak for myself, but I know I'm not at that point. I don't I know if I will ever get to that point, but it is just something that I've been thinking about. If God were to call on me to stand up like Abraham or David, would I do it? Do I have enough faith? Do I trust God completely, to the point that I would drop anything I am doing in order to follow God's path? Which brings me back to a post from a while ago. One of my best friends from home is getting surgery to remove a tumor from his sinus region which could cause damage to his sight, his brain, his hearing, and many other things. But it is a lot more complicated than that, but the main point is what he told me one day. He said, "Ya know, I've come to the point of trusting God. It doesn't matter what God takes from me. God, if you want to take me away from school, then take it. You can have school. If you want to take away soccer, go ahead, have it. If you want my sight, my hearing, my senses, take it. I trust that what will happen will glorify You."
That was one of the most real, powerful, and impacting statements I have heard in my life. A man at the age of 21, giving up his comfortable and enjoyable life in order to follow God. Now don't get me wrong, not that a comfortable and enjoyable lifestyle is bad, but just the fact that he was trusting God in what God was doing with him, is a challenge to me. Would I react the same way? What if God took track away from me? Would I be like Job saying, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Blessed be the name of the Lord."? Or would I be angry and confused with God?
Obviously, these men in the Old Testament had a very different lifestyle compared to today, but just because we can't "relate" to them doesn't mean it can't impact us. As I dive into this book, I realize the stories and the lifestyles that I'm getting into. Like a Disney movie, I'm just into the pages and seeing what it was like back then. There have been some chapters that I haven't really been able to connect with, but that's always going to happen. It was written thousands of years ago. Something is going to get lost in translation.
I don't really know what this post was for, but I just wanted to let you know what's going on in my head. Stay tuned =)
G
Home Sweet Home
well ladies and gentlemen, at last I have made it home for another Christmas break! it was a lonely 5 and a half hour drive home, but I made the most of it! Ya know... breakin out the stanky legg dance, screaming at the top of my lungs, screaming at the terrible New Jersey and Virginia drivers, ya know, good stuff. but it feels good to be back. I just finished a paper for one of my online classes and so I am officially done with school for the semester! which feels great!!! all that studying and test taking has wiped me out. But I feel myself slowly moving into the next stage of my life. I feel like God is really teaching me things that I will be learning for the next 3-4 years of my life. most of it will be spent in the classroom or diving into books, but it's all because I love what I do. right now that's being a student. It feels weird to say that God is making me realize that, because i've never really been a great "student." I've always done "OK" in school, but never really well. But now I'm starting to see the benefits of really putting my hard work into everything. With a help of some of my friends to really motivate me, I found myself studying for hours on end, not realizing it. My first exam totaled 7 hours of studying. That may not seem like a lot, but when you realize that I used to study for 7 minutes right before I walk into the classroom, it's a big step for me. But it's amazing how God has helped me through it. I've been praying for two things- faith and focus. I pray that God will strengthen my faith, challenge my faith, and through it all I will be faithful. I want God to be able to test me and no matter what, I want to have the faith to believe that He will pull me through it, unharmed, smarter, and more ready for the next challenge. And I also pray for focus. I pray God will give me the right mind when I'm praying or studying or just talking with someone. I constantly find my mind wandering off into other things, so I've been praying for God to help me focus and to snap out of it, recognize when I'm not focusing or losing track, and then to help me stay focused once I get back on track. Also, I've been praying for focus in a different way. I pray that when I do certain things, that I have the correct motives, that I don't lose focus of what the ultimate goal is: glorifying God in all I do.
As I sit here in my old room, which is now vacated by my brother and his two bearded dragons, I realize the stages of life I'm going through. As I was talking to my buddy today, I realized that life is changing and I'm noticing the changes. Some good changes, some bad. But life is definitely changing. I mean, I don't have a room at my house anymore, my extra clothes are in a box in the basement, and my bed is never made. I don't care because I'm never here anymore, but it makes me think about the next stage of my life. Now I have to make my home. My home is where I am at. So right now, I'm visiting my parents at there house. I'll be here for a couple weeks, and then back to my house in Lynchburg, Virginia, where my boys from "The Border" will be waiting.
What's the next stage of your life?
Just a thought...
G
As I sit here in my old room, which is now vacated by my brother and his two bearded dragons, I realize the stages of life I'm going through. As I was talking to my buddy today, I realized that life is changing and I'm noticing the changes. Some good changes, some bad. But life is definitely changing. I mean, I don't have a room at my house anymore, my extra clothes are in a box in the basement, and my bed is never made. I don't care because I'm never here anymore, but it makes me think about the next stage of my life. Now I have to make my home. My home is where I am at. So right now, I'm visiting my parents at there house. I'll be here for a couple weeks, and then back to my house in Lynchburg, Virginia, where my boys from "The Border" will be waiting.
What's the next stage of your life?
Just a thought...
G
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
One more to go!
As I sit here and try to justify that I don't need to be using this time to study for my exam at 10:30, I decided to open up my devotional "My Utmost For His Highest." It is a great devotional for me personally, and it seems to always speak the truth that I usually describe as "daggers" or a "slap in the face." Those types of truths. Well today I got stabbed again with another dagger.
Romans 8:28 - "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God..."
Many of you have heard this verse or probably have it memorized, but for some reason the last part of the verse stood out. "...to those who love God." Well I love God. Don't you?! The very next line reads, "-to those who remain true to God's perfect will..." Obviously it's hard to be perfect. If you don't believe me, try taking 5 finals. But we are humans so duhh, we're not perfect. But the very next line in the devotional said this: "God's permissive will is the testing He uses to reveal His true sons and daughters." I don't know if it hit you, but it hit me. When I see that word "testing" I think about all the times where God has challenged and tested my patience, my anger, my words, my heart, my desires, my love, my actions, my faith. I wish I could say to you that I'm successful at following God's perfect will every day in every way, but there's no need to lie. And when I read "the testing He uses to reveal His true sons and daughters" I think about what God would consider me. Am I and are you, one of his TRUE sons? His TRUE daughters? When trials and testing come my way, do I stand strong in the firm foundation of my faith in Jesus Christ, or do I rely on earthly, imperfect, uncertain, physically attainable matters?
I heard a story once, don't really remember the details, but it's about a group of Christians that were meetings in a small house in China, and all of a sudden, someone barged in and waved his AK-47 around and yelled, "Who here will say that they love Jesus? If you don't want to say it, I'm giving you a chance to live." After a few people ran out of the room and out the door, the man with the mask dropped his gun and said, "Ok, I wanna worship with real Christians."
Are you one of God's TRUE sons and daughters?
When I am having trouble, or a bad day, or am in a bad mood, who do I run to? Do I go to my friends? Do I call my parents? siblings? And then finally God? Why is God my last resort? I've done it so many times to God, yet He still loves me and cares for me. How would you feel if you were a last resort? Someone only came to you because no one else was available? Now I have to be careful with examples because I'm not saying that anything should go to me before God or that I am pretending to be God, I'm just trying to say that I need to go to my heavenly Father before anyone else. He made me. He knows me better than I know myself. Why not go to him?
"We don't have to wrestle with God, but we must wrestle before God with things. Beware of lazily giving up. Instead, put up a glorious fight and you will find yourself empowered with His strength."
Psalm 105:4 - Look to the Lord and his strength, seek his face always."
I hope some of that made sense. Let me know if it didn't. I always love comments! =)
Well... back to studying for my LAST FINAL!!!! Can't wait to go home!
Have a great day! Remember to SMILE =)
Romans 8:28 - "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God..."
Many of you have heard this verse or probably have it memorized, but for some reason the last part of the verse stood out. "...to those who love God." Well I love God. Don't you?! The very next line reads, "-to those who remain true to God's perfect will..." Obviously it's hard to be perfect. If you don't believe me, try taking 5 finals. But we are humans so duhh, we're not perfect. But the very next line in the devotional said this: "God's permissive will is the testing He uses to reveal His true sons and daughters." I don't know if it hit you, but it hit me. When I see that word "testing" I think about all the times where God has challenged and tested my patience, my anger, my words, my heart, my desires, my love, my actions, my faith. I wish I could say to you that I'm successful at following God's perfect will every day in every way, but there's no need to lie. And when I read "the testing He uses to reveal His true sons and daughters" I think about what God would consider me. Am I and are you, one of his TRUE sons? His TRUE daughters? When trials and testing come my way, do I stand strong in the firm foundation of my faith in Jesus Christ, or do I rely on earthly, imperfect, uncertain, physically attainable matters?
I heard a story once, don't really remember the details, but it's about a group of Christians that were meetings in a small house in China, and all of a sudden, someone barged in and waved his AK-47 around and yelled, "Who here will say that they love Jesus? If you don't want to say it, I'm giving you a chance to live." After a few people ran out of the room and out the door, the man with the mask dropped his gun and said, "Ok, I wanna worship with real Christians."
Are you one of God's TRUE sons and daughters?
When I am having trouble, or a bad day, or am in a bad mood, who do I run to? Do I go to my friends? Do I call my parents? siblings? And then finally God? Why is God my last resort? I've done it so many times to God, yet He still loves me and cares for me. How would you feel if you were a last resort? Someone only came to you because no one else was available? Now I have to be careful with examples because I'm not saying that anything should go to me before God or that I am pretending to be God, I'm just trying to say that I need to go to my heavenly Father before anyone else. He made me. He knows me better than I know myself. Why not go to him?
"We don't have to wrestle with God, but we must wrestle before God with things. Beware of lazily giving up. Instead, put up a glorious fight and you will find yourself empowered with His strength."
Psalm 105:4 - Look to the Lord and his strength, seek his face always."
I hope some of that made sense. Let me know if it didn't. I always love comments! =)
Well... back to studying for my LAST FINAL!!!! Can't wait to go home!
Have a great day! Remember to SMILE =)
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Operation Starvation
Please check this out and pass it around! This is no joke. Maybe it will touch you like it touched me.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
FINALS!!!!
I haven't posted in awhile, but it's because of this massive load of finals this semester. 5 finals. very little time. and to all my fellow final-studying-students... GOOD LUCK! STUDY HARD!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Life or Death - You Choose
I don't know how this post is going to turn out because it is so raw to me, my mind hasn't wrapped around it yet. But this post needs an introduction...
Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma - a rare disease that is only found in 3-4 cases per year, is a histologically benign but locally aggressive vascular tumor that grows in the back of the nasal cavity. (wikipedia)
My best friend from back in Allentown, PA was just diagnosed with this rare, but potentially life-threatening disease. He told me about this diagnosis a couple weeks ago and I have been praying for his health and his trust and strength in God in this situation. But it seemed like a very vague prayer because I didn't know exactly what was going on. I still don't know all of the "specs" but I sat down with him at lunch today and he told me about it. Basically it boils down to this. The 8 hour surgery to remove the tumor behind his right cheek is dangerously close to his interior carotid artery. For those who don't know what is, basically it's a very very important artery in your head and if it is damaged or touched, it usually only ends in a fatality. So this surgery is very dangerous. My friend will be going to see a specialist at the University of Pennsylvania in December in order to see what the doctor says and if he trusts the doctor to do the surgery. As I was sitting there and listening to him talk about this whole situation, it occurred to me. My friend has to make a decision that could change his life... or take it. If he does go ahead and decide to do the surgery, he could wake up, or he could not wake up. I am paralyzed by this thought. As a 22 year old "kid", I am baffled by that decision he has to make. I'm sitting there thinking, (if this was me) "I have to make a decision that could possibly kill me."
Put yourself in his shoes if you haven't already. I love this guy so much, I want to be selfish and say, don't do it, I want you here on this Earth. I want to hang out. I want to go to the mall and eat Sesame chicken like we always do when we come home. Or go to Chris' Diner at 2am and play photohunt, or go to Applebee's after 9 to get half-price appetizers, or the countless other things we do. But then he said this... "But i've surrendered everything to God. God, You want me to stop going to school? Ok, you can have school. You want me to stop playing soccer? Ok, you can have soccer. You want me to potentially give up my life God? Ok Lord, you can have my life." In Mat Kearney's song "All I Have" it says, "All I have, all I have, all I have, well, you know it's yours..." Can you sing that song... and MEAN IT?! I'm just not gonna answer that question myself right now...
.............
Ya know folks. I wish I could say that is how I would react, or how I would handle that. Now I'm not here to boast about my best friend or about how spiritual he is. Galatians 6:14 tells me to boast in one thing... the Cross of Christ. But use it as a way to measure where you're at.
I can only think about when God told Abraham to sacrifice his son. I can't even imagine hearing that from God. I know God speaks to me in a small voice, but if I were to hear God say that to me now, I would laugh and think that I'm hearing voices. Well... what if you were listening to God and he said, "hey buddy. I want you to sacrifice your life. Ok? Ok thanks." Hmmm... how would you react. I know I would immediately be thinking selfish thoughts. All MY plans, "My ways are not your ways" God says, all my things, "everything you have I have given to you" God says, all my family members, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
I feel like my mind is in Iraq right now... mind grenades going off everywhere in my head. This hasn't even soaked in yet. Prolly won't for awhile.
Lord, Thank you for the many blessings you've given me. Thank you for safety. But if I do face something like this in the future, give me the strength to step up and be the man of God you want me to be. Blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen.
Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma - a rare disease that is only found in 3-4 cases per year, is a histologically benign but locally aggressive vascular tumor that grows in the back of the nasal cavity. (wikipedia)
My best friend from back in Allentown, PA was just diagnosed with this rare, but potentially life-threatening disease. He told me about this diagnosis a couple weeks ago and I have been praying for his health and his trust and strength in God in this situation. But it seemed like a very vague prayer because I didn't know exactly what was going on. I still don't know all of the "specs" but I sat down with him at lunch today and he told me about it. Basically it boils down to this. The 8 hour surgery to remove the tumor behind his right cheek is dangerously close to his interior carotid artery. For those who don't know what is, basically it's a very very important artery in your head and if it is damaged or touched, it usually only ends in a fatality. So this surgery is very dangerous. My friend will be going to see a specialist at the University of Pennsylvania in December in order to see what the doctor says and if he trusts the doctor to do the surgery. As I was sitting there and listening to him talk about this whole situation, it occurred to me. My friend has to make a decision that could change his life... or take it. If he does go ahead and decide to do the surgery, he could wake up, or he could not wake up. I am paralyzed by this thought. As a 22 year old "kid", I am baffled by that decision he has to make. I'm sitting there thinking, (if this was me) "I have to make a decision that could possibly kill me."
Put yourself in his shoes if you haven't already. I love this guy so much, I want to be selfish and say, don't do it, I want you here on this Earth. I want to hang out. I want to go to the mall and eat Sesame chicken like we always do when we come home. Or go to Chris' Diner at 2am and play photohunt, or go to Applebee's after 9 to get half-price appetizers, or the countless other things we do. But then he said this... "But i've surrendered everything to God. God, You want me to stop going to school? Ok, you can have school. You want me to stop playing soccer? Ok, you can have soccer. You want me to potentially give up my life God? Ok Lord, you can have my life." In Mat Kearney's song "All I Have" it says, "All I have, all I have, all I have, well, you know it's yours..." Can you sing that song... and MEAN IT?! I'm just not gonna answer that question myself right now...
.............
Ya know folks. I wish I could say that is how I would react, or how I would handle that. Now I'm not here to boast about my best friend or about how spiritual he is. Galatians 6:14 tells me to boast in one thing... the Cross of Christ. But use it as a way to measure where you're at.
I can only think about when God told Abraham to sacrifice his son. I can't even imagine hearing that from God. I know God speaks to me in a small voice, but if I were to hear God say that to me now, I would laugh and think that I'm hearing voices. Well... what if you were listening to God and he said, "hey buddy. I want you to sacrifice your life. Ok? Ok thanks." Hmmm... how would you react. I know I would immediately be thinking selfish thoughts. All MY plans, "My ways are not your ways" God says, all my things, "everything you have I have given to you" God says, all my family members, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
I feel like my mind is in Iraq right now... mind grenades going off everywhere in my head. This hasn't even soaked in yet. Prolly won't for awhile.
Lord, Thank you for the many blessings you've given me. Thank you for safety. But if I do face something like this in the future, give me the strength to step up and be the man of God you want me to be. Blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
"The Secret of Spiritual Consistency"
I was reading this morning from Oswald Chambers "My Utmost For His Highest" and this was the entry for today. Consistency is something that I always struggle with, occasionally. I am pretty good with being consistent, but I'm also consistently missing a day or two here and there. Not very good. But today's entry talked about the how to fix it or to find what we need to find in order to be spiritually consistent...
"Most of us are not consistent spiritually because we are more concerned about being consistent externally. In the external expression of things, Paul lived in the basement, while his critics lived on the upper level. And these two levels do not begin to touch each other. But Paul's consistency was the agony of God in the redemption of the world, namely, the Cross of Christ."
When I read that, I think about all of the times that I am inconsistent externally and that directly correlates to my spiritual consistency. And then I look at Paul. He lived in a basement, he wasn't treated the best lets just say. Yet he was so solid. Now obviously that's a huge understatement but I know I will remember this part about Paul living in the basement. His external wasn't the best, but that doesn't mean his internal can't be phenomenal or rather, consistent. I also think back to a post I did a little while ago about emotions. Just because I don't feel like doing something doesn't mean I shouldn't do it. I think back to the times when I wasn't allowed to get out of my room until it was clean. Sometimes I don't feel like loving my mom or dad or I didn't feel like cleaning, but ya know what? My mom didn't care how I felt. I was cleaning my room whether I wanted to or not. And I will never forget when my mom would tell me all the time, "I know you don't feel like doing it, but those are the hardest times and the times you need to do it the most." And now being 22, a soon-to-be college graduate, I realize all of the things I will have to do when I don't "feel like it." It's crazy to even think about the next phase of life that I'm in, but I'm ready for the challenge. My parents and life experiences have taught me well, so I'm ready.
So here's to the challenge of spiritual consistency. It's a fight; a fight we can win, if we just look to the foundation of our beliefs - the Cross of Christ.
"God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..."
Galatians 6:14
To God be the Glory
"Most of us are not consistent spiritually because we are more concerned about being consistent externally. In the external expression of things, Paul lived in the basement, while his critics lived on the upper level. And these two levels do not begin to touch each other. But Paul's consistency was the agony of God in the redemption of the world, namely, the Cross of Christ."
When I read that, I think about all of the times that I am inconsistent externally and that directly correlates to my spiritual consistency. And then I look at Paul. He lived in a basement, he wasn't treated the best lets just say. Yet he was so solid. Now obviously that's a huge understatement but I know I will remember this part about Paul living in the basement. His external wasn't the best, but that doesn't mean his internal can't be phenomenal or rather, consistent. I also think back to a post I did a little while ago about emotions. Just because I don't feel like doing something doesn't mean I shouldn't do it. I think back to the times when I wasn't allowed to get out of my room until it was clean. Sometimes I don't feel like loving my mom or dad or I didn't feel like cleaning, but ya know what? My mom didn't care how I felt. I was cleaning my room whether I wanted to or not. And I will never forget when my mom would tell me all the time, "I know you don't feel like doing it, but those are the hardest times and the times you need to do it the most." And now being 22, a soon-to-be college graduate, I realize all of the things I will have to do when I don't "feel like it." It's crazy to even think about the next phase of life that I'm in, but I'm ready for the challenge. My parents and life experiences have taught me well, so I'm ready.
So here's to the challenge of spiritual consistency. It's a fight; a fight we can win, if we just look to the foundation of our beliefs - the Cross of Christ.
"God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..."
Galatians 6:14
To God be the Glory
Monday, November 23, 2009
More Than a Song
Last night I had the privilege of being in a talent show with my little sister and one of my buddies was also in it. He was playing a song that I had heard of, but never really taken the time to listen to or to check out. After he played it, I knew that was the next song that I needed to learn. And as I was reading the words, it suddenly became more than a song, more than a melody, but rather a cry to God. Have you ever seen a dog getting disciplined? The sad face they have. Have you had that terrible all-i-want-to-do-is-hide-my-face-in-my-hands-feeling? Well that was me. I completely overlooked the words of the song, all because it "sounded good." I was offended by myself because I realized that, as a musician myself, I want people to hear my lyrics in the songs I write. Yes of course the song is supposed to sound good, but I would rather have a song that speaks to someone and sound terrible than have it sound good and mean nothing. And this song means something to me and it doesn't necessarily sound amazing, but it means more to me than the best song ever written. Here is the chorus of the song, but I recommend that you listen to the song... and LISTEN to it. There is a difference. Don't just listen to it, LISTEN TO IT. Soak it up.
"Give Me Your Eyes"
by Brandon Heath
Chorus:
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
Lord,
I pray that I will have this heart for people. And if I can only affect one person out of the 6 BILLION people in the world, it's still worth it. But I can only do it with your help. Lord, give me your strength. Give me your heart. Give me your eyes.
"Give Me Your Eyes"
by Brandon Heath
Chorus:
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
Lord,
I pray that I will have this heart for people. And if I can only affect one person out of the 6 BILLION people in the world, it's still worth it. But I can only do it with your help. Lord, give me your strength. Give me your heart. Give me your eyes.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Home At Last
It's been the first time i've stepped foot inside my house since August 12th. For all ye fellow college students, this situation is probably similar. It may "hit home" to some of you, but not to others. But as I sit in my lazy-boy-chair in my old room which is now infested by my brother and his bearded dragons and 300 cockroaches, I think about what it means to live in this home -- this family. And sadly, when I say the word "family" or "home,"some of you cringe, get angery or feel resentment and hostility, or even worse, hatred. But some of you might laugh, smile, feel anxious, get happy and bounce off the walls, and all of the in between. And yesterday it hit me.
It all started when I parked the car in the driveway, and then before you know it, my mom, dad, sister and myself were headed out the door to help my sister paint the walls inside her knew home an hour and some change away. I didn't even get a chance to sit in my house to soak in all the scents, the views, the slow walk around the house, the new decorations, moved furniture, and now to my surprise, my brothers new room...not mine. I love to just check out what's new or what's changed. And it's weird to think all of this stuff is going on without me knowing, but I guess that's just the phase of life us college kid's are going through. For example, we got a new dishwasher. For a split second, I got upset because no one told me. I quickly realized that if my dad had called me to tell me about a new dishwasher, I would have laughed and thought, "Why would he call me just to tell me about a new dishwasher?!" But back to the story... So i'm in my sister's new house and we are eating some subs before we start working and my lil bro started telling a story of how my sister was being clumsy and tripping over something. Now the story doesn't necessarily matter, but in that moment of laughter I realized how much I miss my family. I don't get to laugh with them, or tell stories about stupid things, or crack inside jokes with them, or wrestle with my younger and much weaker brother ;). Wow. I have never missed them that much. It put it all into perspective. I love my brother. Always will...even if he does eventually beat me in wrestling one day. (probably around the time when I need a new walker or a cane haha) And I love my lil sister mackenzie. She's always singing, dancing, txting her high school friends, and just a blast to be around. And my mom and dad... I wish I could say how much I love them, but it's not possible. From the countless wooden spoon beatings to the proudest parents in the stands watching me jump 15'5" at IC4A's, they have been there through and through... They've kept a roof over my head, amazing food on the table, the house warm (or my dad telling me to put more layers on), and directed me to put God first in all I do. Whether directly or indirectly, they've been there for me my entire life.
But this also makes me think about those people who hate their parents, those people who hate their families, or don't feel comfortable around them. It breaks my heart to even think about not having and seeing the love that my family has for me and each other. My heart hurts for those who have been bruised physically, verbally, or by neglect. I wish I could do something about it. Because sometimes it's impossible to control your own household, so how could anyone control another? But I wish some people could have experienced what I experienced. Love, faith, and security.
I was talking to my buddy the other day about seeing abusive parents beating up their kids. First of all, my mind can't even comprehend that, but I tried to grab a rough idea of what it would be like. I don't know what goes on in some of those parent's heads who beat their children, but the scary part is... that's probably how they grew up. But I also think, if they experienced that in their childhood, they should know better! They should know how NOT to treat their children. That only makes sense to me. If you know someone hurt you, you know how to NOT hurt someone else. But that's a whole other topic...
So basically, I want to challenge you to think about your family. Think about life with and without them. I find it difficult to think about life without them, but I know life would be a lot different. So this thanksgiving, really take a look at what you have. Look at the love that surrounds the table, in friends, family members, food, and smiles. Be a sponge this thanksgiving. Soak up all the love. Realize what you have, and thank God for it. Because we know that's the only one who gave you everything you have. And remember the love that you have for your family and friends, God has so much more for you. And if we love God in return, we will obey him. God is talking. Listen.
Have a happy, loving, comforting, and stomach-filling Thanksgiving!!!
It all started when I parked the car in the driveway, and then before you know it, my mom, dad, sister and myself were headed out the door to help my sister paint the walls inside her knew home an hour and some change away. I didn't even get a chance to sit in my house to soak in all the scents, the views, the slow walk around the house, the new decorations, moved furniture, and now to my surprise, my brothers new room...not mine. I love to just check out what's new or what's changed. And it's weird to think all of this stuff is going on without me knowing, but I guess that's just the phase of life us college kid's are going through. For example, we got a new dishwasher. For a split second, I got upset because no one told me. I quickly realized that if my dad had called me to tell me about a new dishwasher, I would have laughed and thought, "Why would he call me just to tell me about a new dishwasher?!" But back to the story... So i'm in my sister's new house and we are eating some subs before we start working and my lil bro started telling a story of how my sister was being clumsy and tripping over something. Now the story doesn't necessarily matter, but in that moment of laughter I realized how much I miss my family. I don't get to laugh with them, or tell stories about stupid things, or crack inside jokes with them, or wrestle with my younger and much weaker brother ;). Wow. I have never missed them that much. It put it all into perspective. I love my brother. Always will...even if he does eventually beat me in wrestling one day. (probably around the time when I need a new walker or a cane haha) And I love my lil sister mackenzie. She's always singing, dancing, txting her high school friends, and just a blast to be around. And my mom and dad... I wish I could say how much I love them, but it's not possible. From the countless wooden spoon beatings to the proudest parents in the stands watching me jump 15'5" at IC4A's, they have been there through and through... They've kept a roof over my head, amazing food on the table, the house warm (or my dad telling me to put more layers on), and directed me to put God first in all I do. Whether directly or indirectly, they've been there for me my entire life.
But this also makes me think about those people who hate their parents, those people who hate their families, or don't feel comfortable around them. It breaks my heart to even think about not having and seeing the love that my family has for me and each other. My heart hurts for those who have been bruised physically, verbally, or by neglect. I wish I could do something about it. Because sometimes it's impossible to control your own household, so how could anyone control another? But I wish some people could have experienced what I experienced. Love, faith, and security.
I was talking to my buddy the other day about seeing abusive parents beating up their kids. First of all, my mind can't even comprehend that, but I tried to grab a rough idea of what it would be like. I don't know what goes on in some of those parent's heads who beat their children, but the scary part is... that's probably how they grew up. But I also think, if they experienced that in their childhood, they should know better! They should know how NOT to treat their children. That only makes sense to me. If you know someone hurt you, you know how to NOT hurt someone else. But that's a whole other topic...
So basically, I want to challenge you to think about your family. Think about life with and without them. I find it difficult to think about life without them, but I know life would be a lot different. So this thanksgiving, really take a look at what you have. Look at the love that surrounds the table, in friends, family members, food, and smiles. Be a sponge this thanksgiving. Soak up all the love. Realize what you have, and thank God for it. Because we know that's the only one who gave you everything you have. And remember the love that you have for your family and friends, God has so much more for you. And if we love God in return, we will obey him. God is talking. Listen.
Have a happy, loving, comforting, and stomach-filling Thanksgiving!!!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
God Chose You
26For consider your calling, brothers:(A) not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,[a] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But(B) God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise;(C) God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, even(D) things that are not, to(E) bring to nothing things that are, 29so(F) that no human being[b] might boast in the presence of God. 30And because of him[c] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us(G) wisdom from God,(H) righteousness and(I) sanctification and(J) redemption, 31so that, as it is written,(K) "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
I read this first passage and it was a huge encouragement to me. To me it said, "God doesn't care about how much you know, how strong you think you are, or how popular you are... God still wants you." What an ecouragement! Just look at some of the lines... "God chose what is foolish [...] to shame the wise." or "God chose what is weak to shame the strong." What I got from that is that God CAN and WILL use you... IF you let him. God can do so many great things with so many people that wouldn't be qualified as "great" by our society. God will use you so be available for him!
The verse right before this one also rattled me. It was nothing theologically mind-boggling, but it struck me instantly when I read it. Verse 25 says:
"For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength."
As I was reading it, I was thinking, "Is this possible? God's foolishness? God's weakness? Does he have those? But really, that's not the purpose of this verse. To me, it's a verse that puts me in my place. Sometimes I think about how good i'm doing or how I've been consistent in my reading, but then after reading this verse, I don't measure up. The strongest I will ever be is not even close to God's lowest weakness. No matter what I do, I will never measure up to God's worst weakness. Now you have to be careful not to be discouraged because it seems like we can never live up to God, but I think we can take it as a challenge to at least try. We're never going to be perfect, but why not try to be?
Hope that made sense. Have a great day!
LU vs. #24 Clemson: 22-5 in the 1st half. Oh dear. LET'S GO LIBERTY!!!
I read this first passage and it was a huge encouragement to me. To me it said, "God doesn't care about how much you know, how strong you think you are, or how popular you are... God still wants you." What an ecouragement! Just look at some of the lines... "God chose what is foolish [...] to shame the wise." or "God chose what is weak to shame the strong." What I got from that is that God CAN and WILL use you... IF you let him. God can do so many great things with so many people that wouldn't be qualified as "great" by our society. God will use you so be available for him!
The verse right before this one also rattled me. It was nothing theologically mind-boggling, but it struck me instantly when I read it. Verse 25 says:
"For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength."
As I was reading it, I was thinking, "Is this possible? God's foolishness? God's weakness? Does he have those? But really, that's not the purpose of this verse. To me, it's a verse that puts me in my place. Sometimes I think about how good i'm doing or how I've been consistent in my reading, but then after reading this verse, I don't measure up. The strongest I will ever be is not even close to God's lowest weakness. No matter what I do, I will never measure up to God's worst weakness. Now you have to be careful not to be discouraged because it seems like we can never live up to God, but I think we can take it as a challenge to at least try. We're never going to be perfect, but why not try to be?
Hope that made sense. Have a great day!
LU vs. #24 Clemson: 22-5 in the 1st half. Oh dear. LET'S GO LIBERTY!!!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
emotions
Over the past couple of days, I have been thinking about my walk with God and lately its been geared towards emotions. I don't like admitting it, but it has been. I find myself only doing somethings because I feel like doing it. I feel like loving people today. I feel like serving people today. I feel like reading today. I feel like doing nothing today. I don't feel like doing homework. I don't feel like going to practice. I don't feel like ______. Now you might be thinking, "Ok Geren, thats just random stuff. I don't feel like doing things sometimes", and it might be out of context, but I remember back to when I was younger and my mom always said, "I know you don't want to do it, but you have to. I don't want to do certain things, but I know I have to do them anyways." And it may be ridiculous to some people, but I have noticed that I'm going off of my emotions. Sometimes I don't want to do something so I don't do it. I don't feel like it. But for me, those times are the hardest, but can be the easiest. In those tough times, it seems like a hard decision, but really it's an easy decision. Shout out to Nike - "Just do it." When I go to practice and I struggle through the tough times, God blesses me and I truly see his blessings.
This post might have no Biblical evidence or whatever, but I just felt like encouraging you to do the things that are hard, do them even when you don't feel like it. If that means going to church when you don't feel like it, or doing homework when you have 10 other things in your head that you could do, or loving someone when they're hating you. It's not about emotions. It's not always about what you feel like doing. It's about doing whats hard, or doing whats not normal. God will bless your hard work and diligence.
Don't know if that made any sense, but to me it did. And i'm not an english major, so my apologies for improper grammar, bad wording, etc. I just hope you learned something. Thanks for reading!
This post might have no Biblical evidence or whatever, but I just felt like encouraging you to do the things that are hard, do them even when you don't feel like it. If that means going to church when you don't feel like it, or doing homework when you have 10 other things in your head that you could do, or loving someone when they're hating you. It's not about emotions. It's not always about what you feel like doing. It's about doing whats hard, or doing whats not normal. God will bless your hard work and diligence.
Don't know if that made any sense, but to me it did. And i'm not an english major, so my apologies for improper grammar, bad wording, etc. I just hope you learned something. Thanks for reading!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
On A Night Like This
it's late at night, and after hearing this song, I just got pumped for you. to the greatest woman i've never met.
meet me soon?! k thanks =)
meet me soon?! k thanks =)
Friday, November 6, 2009
Ignite
In a few hours I will be participating in a weekend retreat for high school guys and gals called "Ignite." I have no idea what to expect from this experience, except that I will be used by God. I have been learning and praying that God will use me. I am not perfect, I don't always know what I am doing, I don't always find the time to read the Bible, I don't pray to God everyday, I don't always sing worship songs, I don't always help people out, I don't always listen to God when he speaks to me... but for the next 3 days, I'm available for God. I will never forget when Jonathan Falwell said, "It's not about your ability, it's about your availability." When I hear that, I think about how many times I've been UNavailable for God - when I heard him say "Go" and I stayed. Or even the times when I just didn't give God any of my time or any of me in order to be used. I'm tired of that. I want God to use me. I want to be the Isaiah 6... "Here am I, Lord! Send me!" I want to have that confidence and faith that he will respond to my request and say "Now's your time to shine! Get out there!"
As I'm sitting here in my Psychology class, not listening to the professor, I am thinking and praying about the 9th and 10th grade guys that I will be teaching to. I've never lead a Bible study before. I've never really been in a Bible study before, so this will be interesting. Immediately when my buddy asked me to teach with him this weekend, Satan put thoughts in my head... "You're not smart enough" or "You don't know anything about the Bible" or "You aren't perfect, how are you supposed to teach these kids when you're sinning yourself?" So after literally pausing for 15-20 seconds after Matt asked me to do it, I told him to sign me up. I don't care that I have 2 tests to do this weekend. I don't care that I could probably stay home and do work and have fun. What I do care is that when I have an opportunity to be available for God, that I say to myself, "Now's your time to shine! Get out there!" So here's to doing what Satan doesn't want you to do. Here's to listening to God out of faith.
And I hope this doesn't come off as "oh hey look at how holy I am. i'm leading a bible study!" I don't know what I'm doing!!! This is to glorify God and only God. I can't do this on my own. I'm not perfect. I hardly know anything about the Bible, but I know that if I'm willing to give God my weekend and "my time," he will bless it. I'm not going to regret this weekend. My only regret is that I haven't done this more!
This is just a initial post about whats going to happen, and I'm sure there will be more posts to come, but if you can only take one thing from this, take this... Be available for God. I dare you. Just try it once and get back to me. See if it doesn't change you or help you grow.
I'm doing what Satan doesn't want me to do... boo-yah! How about them apples?! I hope you have a great weekend! I know I will (and you'll be hearing about it soon!)
"Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, the man you teach from your law."
Psalm 94:12
G
As I'm sitting here in my Psychology class, not listening to the professor, I am thinking and praying about the 9th and 10th grade guys that I will be teaching to. I've never lead a Bible study before. I've never really been in a Bible study before, so this will be interesting. Immediately when my buddy asked me to teach with him this weekend, Satan put thoughts in my head... "You're not smart enough" or "You don't know anything about the Bible" or "You aren't perfect, how are you supposed to teach these kids when you're sinning yourself?" So after literally pausing for 15-20 seconds after Matt asked me to do it, I told him to sign me up. I don't care that I have 2 tests to do this weekend. I don't care that I could probably stay home and do work and have fun. What I do care is that when I have an opportunity to be available for God, that I say to myself, "Now's your time to shine! Get out there!" So here's to doing what Satan doesn't want you to do. Here's to listening to God out of faith.
And I hope this doesn't come off as "oh hey look at how holy I am. i'm leading a bible study!" I don't know what I'm doing!!! This is to glorify God and only God. I can't do this on my own. I'm not perfect. I hardly know anything about the Bible, but I know that if I'm willing to give God my weekend and "my time," he will bless it. I'm not going to regret this weekend. My only regret is that I haven't done this more!
This is just a initial post about whats going to happen, and I'm sure there will be more posts to come, but if you can only take one thing from this, take this... Be available for God. I dare you. Just try it once and get back to me. See if it doesn't change you or help you grow.
I'm doing what Satan doesn't want me to do... boo-yah! How about them apples?! I hope you have a great weekend! I know I will (and you'll be hearing about it soon!)
"Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, the man you teach from your law."
Psalm 94:12
G
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Center
Oh Christ, be the center of our life
Be the place we fix our eyes
Be the center of our lives
We lift our eyes to heaven,
We wrap our lives around your life.
We lift our eyes to heaven,
to you.
I pray that today you and I will focus on God, keep him at the center of your life. I pray that you would take things that you put before God, and put them BEFORE God. Lay it all down at his feet. We are nothing without him. Lord, help me completely surrender to you.
"I never knew surrender could feel so free"
I love you Lord.
Be the place we fix our eyes
Be the center of our lives
We lift our eyes to heaven,
We wrap our lives around your life.
We lift our eyes to heaven,
to you.
I pray that today you and I will focus on God, keep him at the center of your life. I pray that you would take things that you put before God, and put them BEFORE God. Lay it all down at his feet. We are nothing without him. Lord, help me completely surrender to you.
"I never knew surrender could feel so free"
I love you Lord.
Monday, October 19, 2009
3 Questions
Sorry for the lack of updates... life's been a lil crazy and posting hasn't been on my priority lately. But i'm gonna try to fix that.
Over the past few weeks, after going to my coach's house for Bible study, he started it off with his infamous 3 questions. So today I just want you to think about these questions...
1. Who are you? (what defines you?)
2. Where are you going?
3. How are you gonna get there?
Have a great day!
Over the past few weeks, after going to my coach's house for Bible study, he started it off with his infamous 3 questions. So today I just want you to think about these questions...
1. Who are you? (what defines you?)
2. Where are you going?
3. How are you gonna get there?
Have a great day!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Man Weekend
This past weekend I had the privilege of going to my buddy's house and we got to do a lot of manly things- riding 4-wheelers, riding bareback on horses, working on cars, tearing off and re-shingling a roof, and many other things that got dirt on our hands, clothes, and between our fingernails. The weekend involved many kinds of tools, nails, vehicles, and cool man stuff. But even after those 5 days of pure manliness, only one of those days I read my Bible. It didn't hit me until now how UN-manly I was the entire weekend. What kind of man was I pretending to be? “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and thieves break in and steal… for where your treasure is, your heart will be also.” What is my heart interested in? Where is my heart?
Do I think there is anything wrong with having 4-wheelers and horses and working on cars? Not at all, unless it gets in the way of God. When I go 5 days without really thinking about reading my Bible or talking to God, what kind of relationship is that? If I had a girlfriend and I decided to call her once out of 5 days, I think she would be pretty mad, and I would probably end up where I am now... Single. I don’t want God to be a convenience for me when I need Him. I want to want him ALWAYS. Why don’t I think about reading my Bible when I have free time? Why not stop watching the Phillies for 30 minutes and talk to God for awhile? Why not wake up 15 minutes earlier just to say good morning to God? If my friends would ask me to wake up a little earlier to talk or help them with something, I wouldn’t hesitate. So why do I hesitate with the Almighty God, Creator of all things, Savior of all?!
Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
So Geren, what are your desires? Do you desire to speak to God everyday? To hear what he has to tell you everyday? “Give us today our daily bread” Do you ask and SEEK for your daily bread?
Psalm 27:4 “One thing I have asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire (meditate) in his temple.”
Hey Geren, are you seeking to dwell in the house of the Lord ALL the days of your life? Can I not be asked that question? Let’s talk about something else please. Can I pick and choose what I want to?
If you haven’t seen the clip called “We are God’s Masterpiece,” then you need to.
I’m not very diligent right now. But I want to be. I hope and pray that you will desire to follow God all the days of your life. Sorry it’s been awhile. I was busy desiring materialistic things. Sorry.
More posts to come… stay tuned!
Much love, GFriday, October 2, 2009
Colossians 1:11-14
I've had the best two days of my life. You're about to find out just a part of why i'm having such amazing days... And before I talk about Colossians 1:11-14, I wanna talk about verses 3 and 4. It says, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you..." Even though Paul is writing this to the Colossians, I feel like it can be applied to my prayer life. I've always thought, "it's so cliche to thank God for dying on the cross." I don't really know why I've thought that, and I know it's the basis of our salvation, but I've always felt people said it to get an "Amen" or "mmhmmm." But after reading this verse, I feel like God was telling me that I was wrong all along. IT'S OUR BASIS FOR OUR SALVATION! I guess I just needed to break that thought out of my head. Sorry for the rabbit trail...
So I just started reading Colossians and I came across verses 11-14:
"(11)May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, (12)giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (13) He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, (14) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
This verse has a lot of power behind it. And you could probably break this down verse by verse, but I just want to quickly look at the first verse that is pretty powerful. "May you be strengthened with all power..." How much power? "...according to his glorious might..." Ohhh. That much!"...for all endurance and patience with joy..." So whenever you feel like you can't go on, God will provide you with patience and endurance... WITH JOY! What a powerful statement.
And another verse I've had on my mind is John 16:33... "But take heart; I have overcome the world." THE WORLD!!! God has our backs and we need to trust Him. He's the only one we can truly trust! Have a great day!
G
So I just started reading Colossians and I came across verses 11-14:
"(11)May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, (12)giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (13) He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, (14) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
This verse has a lot of power behind it. And you could probably break this down verse by verse, but I just want to quickly look at the first verse that is pretty powerful. "May you be strengthened with all power..." How much power? "...according to his glorious might..." Ohhh. That much!"...for all endurance and patience with joy..." So whenever you feel like you can't go on, God will provide you with patience and endurance... WITH JOY! What a powerful statement.
And another verse I've had on my mind is John 16:33... "But take heart; I have overcome the world." THE WORLD!!! God has our backs and we need to trust Him. He's the only one we can truly trust! Have a great day!
G
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Matthew 28:19-20
This past Tuesday, I came to the conclusion that I am not a missionary. I've never been on a missions trip, I've never attempted to go on a missions trip, I've never tried to witness to someone. Do I want to be a missionary? Of course! Not only am I called to be a missionary, but I truly want to be a missionary. Now let me clarify... when I say "missionary" I don't necessarily mean someone who travels to another country. While that is one definition of a missionary, to me it is someone who travels outside their front door. I don't feel God calling me to go to another country right now, but I'm not saying I won't happen in the future. I always want to be available to God if he wants me to go somewhere. But I heard a story once that someone came to America from another country and was asked why he came. His response: "I am here to share the gospel. America is my mission field." It made me think... Why leave America when we have a mission field once we leave out door?!
So I made a decision. I decided that I am going to go to downtown Lynchburg, Virginia just to talk to people. I'm not exactly sure what about, but I'm just going to talk and share with them. But today is Sunday, and I didn't go yesterday. Why? A couple reasons... After talking to friends and getting any ideas, I really had no clue what to do. I didn't have a plan. And you all know the famous quote: "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail." When I do this, not if, I want to be prepared, I want to be ready. Being a college student, it is like taking a test, and not studying. I need to be prepared, I need to put on the full armor of God. It's going to be tough. I don't really know what to expect, but I'm going into this with a willing heart. I know the Lord will protect me, guide me, and use me. Again, I don't know how but it's not really my job to know what or who i'm affecting. I want to be like Isaiah. "Here am I! Send me!"
Matthew 28:19-20
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
So I made a decision. I decided that I am going to go to downtown Lynchburg, Virginia just to talk to people. I'm not exactly sure what about, but I'm just going to talk and share with them. But today is Sunday, and I didn't go yesterday. Why? A couple reasons... After talking to friends and getting any ideas, I really had no clue what to do. I didn't have a plan. And you all know the famous quote: "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail." When I do this, not if, I want to be prepared, I want to be ready. Being a college student, it is like taking a test, and not studying. I need to be prepared, I need to put on the full armor of God. It's going to be tough. I don't really know what to expect, but I'm going into this with a willing heart. I know the Lord will protect me, guide me, and use me. Again, I don't know how but it's not really my job to know what or who i'm affecting. I want to be like Isaiah. "Here am I! Send me!"
Matthew 28:19-20
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
"You were never holding me up"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyOIBnExlrw
please watch this... a post will be coming soon, i'm not done digesting it.
have a great day, and remember... BE INTENTIONAL!!!
G
please watch this... a post will be coming soon, i'm not done digesting it.
have a great day, and remember... BE INTENTIONAL!!!
G
Monday, September 21, 2009
Garden- Needtobreathe
I've been listening to this song all day now, and it's my prayer for my life, especially being a musician. If you don't own Needtobreathe's new CD, why not?! Go get it now. Thanks. haha
Enjoy... God Bless
Won't you take this cup from me?
because fear has stolen all my sleep.
If tomorrow means my death
pray you'll save their souls with it.
Let the songs I sing bring joy to you.
Let the words I say confess my love.
Let the notes I choose be your favorite tune.
Father let my heart be after you.
In this hour of doubt I see
who I am is not just me
so give me strength to die myself
so love can live to tell the tale.
Let the songs I sing bring joy to you.
Let the words I say confess my love.
Let the notes I choose be your favorite tune.
Father let my heart be after you.
Father let my heart be for you
For you
For you
For you
Let the songs I sing bring joy to you.
Let the words I say confess my love.
Let the notes I choose be your favorite tune.
Father let my heart be after you.
...Amen.
Enjoy... God Bless
Won't you take this cup from me?
because fear has stolen all my sleep.
If tomorrow means my death
pray you'll save their souls with it.
Let the songs I sing bring joy to you.
Let the words I say confess my love.
Let the notes I choose be your favorite tune.
Father let my heart be after you.
In this hour of doubt I see
who I am is not just me
so give me strength to die myself
so love can live to tell the tale.
Let the songs I sing bring joy to you.
Let the words I say confess my love.
Let the notes I choose be your favorite tune.
Father let my heart be after you.
Father let my heart be for you
For you
For you
For you
Let the songs I sing bring joy to you.
Let the words I say confess my love.
Let the notes I choose be your favorite tune.
Father let my heart be after you.
...Amen.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
I Met My Wife Today
As I finished up Proverbs today, I got to the part where God talks about my wife. I didn't know she was that famous, but God wrote a whole chapter about her!!! It's crazy how God knew exactly who my wife is gonna be, exactly how she is going to be, and how beautiful she is. But then again, He knows everything so it doesn't surprise me. I'm kind of jealous tho... I wanna meet her!!! But seriously, I want to know her. I can't wait to meet her. Or have I met her already? Who knows...
Proverbs 31:29 "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."
I can't wait to meet you... and I'm sorry if I'll be speechless the first time I see you. So to whom this may concern, wherever you are... I love you, I need you, and you're always in my thoughts and prayers. Seeya soon =)
Geren
Proverbs 31:29 "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."
I can't wait to meet you... and I'm sorry if I'll be speechless the first time I see you. So to whom this may concern, wherever you are... I love you, I need you, and you're always in my thoughts and prayers. Seeya soon =)
Geren
Monday, September 14, 2009
Since I Have My Life Before Me”
By Brooke Bronkowski
I’ll live my life to the fullest. I’ll be happy. I’ll brighten up. I will be more joyful than I have ever been. I will be kind to others. I will loosen up. I will tell others about Christ. I will go on adventures and change the world. I will be bold and not change who I really am. I will have no troubles but instead help others with their troubles.
You see, I’ll be one of those people who live to be history makers at a young age. Oh, I’ll have moments, good and bad, but I’ll wipe away the bad and only remember the good. In fact that’s all I remember, just good moments, nothing in between, just living my life to the fullest. I’ll be one of those people who go somewhere with a mission, an awesome plan, a world-changing plan, and nothing will hold me back. I’ll set an example for others, I will pray for direction.
I have my life before me. I will give others the joy I have and God will give me more joy. I will do everything God tells me to do. I will follow the footsteps of God. I will do my best!!!
"To be simple is to be great"
Ralph Waldo Emerson
It's been a couple days since I've last posted, but there really hasn't been that much on my mind to write something. And I don't want these posts to be lame, so I decided to wait until something hit me pretty hard. However, on Friday Liberty had the privilege to hear from Sujo John, who talked about his experience on September 11th, 2001. His message was great, and his illustrations/imagery was phenomenal. He talked about how we put our "glossy trash on the old rugged cross." BAM! Not much more you can say about that... well there is, but that's not what today's post is about. But there is one thing that Sujo John did say that is relevant... He argued at one point that Christianity is simple and Johnnie Moore agreed in Campus Church yesterday saying that being a Christian is simple if we follow the two rules - Put God first, and love one another.
This morning I read about simplicity. Ironic how I've slowly been learning this idea of simplicity over the past couple of days. When I read, I don't always pick things up right away. It's not always a swift "smack in the face" or "running into a brick wall" moments. Sometimes God reveals things to me slowly. Sometimes it seems simpler when God slows it down so I can soak it in. I can even look back on the past couple of hours and see what God has taught me. It blows my mind how God teaches me.
"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." 2 Corinthians 11:3
I am guilty of complicating things or rationalizing with God. I can think of countless times when I tried reasoning with God for my actions. It's so easy to become so legalistic and try to deceive our minds about things we want to do or sins we want to commit. But I need to realize that what God has for me is greater than what Satan wants for me. God cares about me. God loves me. God knows what I need. So why do I go to the one who lies, cheats, deceives, kills, angers, defiles and destroys? Because Satan has the "sweets." He has the candy jar, and what we need is solid food. We want the quick fix for our hunger or sweet tooth. That five or ten minutes of rich, milky, chocolaty "goodness." Whether its a snickers bar or a jolly rancher, we go for the quick fix. But once that's over with, we see our longing for the good food. I want that juicy steak, or that ample supply of fruit. "...as the serpent deceived Eve..." We know that Eve went through it, and I know I go through it daily. Just as we go to the Dentist to get our teeth removed, we need to ask God to remove our "sweet tooth" that will draw us into the hands of the devil. We need to think simple. I know that Satan is going to try to destroy me. Nothing he has is of eternal significance. WHY DO I GO BACK TO HIM?!?!?! I fall back to sin when I need to fall to my knees. Simplicity.
We hear it all the time, but it is the truth - we need to be like Children. One thing did hit me like a kick in the face - Matthew 11:25. "At that time Jesus declared, 'I thank you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children." How many times have we learned from a little kid. We don't realize that sometimes we need the perspective of a 9 year old. Their minds are so simple and basic. They don't rationalize, they don't argue, they don't reason, they're just kids. They don't know any better, but that's why God is calling us to be like children. I feel like it's the moments of those little kids when they ask a million questions, or keep asking "WHY?!" They don't know any better. They're clueless to Satan and his tactics. That verse says God hides things from the wise and understanding. Wise and understanding = you and me. We need to be simpler. We need to be like children. Why? Verse 28 - "Come to me... I will give you rest."
He's got our backs?! John 16:33 "But take heart, I have overcome the world." Oh just the world.. no big deal... ummm.... THE WORLD!!!! HELLO! It actually upsets me that I go to anyone else BUT God! He is the only one who will satisfy our needs, not our wants or cravings, our needs.
So today, I want to be simple. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "To be simple is to be great." I don't know about you, but I want to be great. I want to get to Heaven and hear God say, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant."
In His Name,
Geren
It's been a couple days since I've last posted, but there really hasn't been that much on my mind to write something. And I don't want these posts to be lame, so I decided to wait until something hit me pretty hard. However, on Friday Liberty had the privilege to hear from Sujo John, who talked about his experience on September 11th, 2001. His message was great, and his illustrations/imagery was phenomenal. He talked about how we put our "glossy trash on the old rugged cross." BAM! Not much more you can say about that... well there is, but that's not what today's post is about. But there is one thing that Sujo John did say that is relevant... He argued at one point that Christianity is simple and Johnnie Moore agreed in Campus Church yesterday saying that being a Christian is simple if we follow the two rules - Put God first, and love one another.
This morning I read about simplicity. Ironic how I've slowly been learning this idea of simplicity over the past couple of days. When I read, I don't always pick things up right away. It's not always a swift "smack in the face" or "running into a brick wall" moments. Sometimes God reveals things to me slowly. Sometimes it seems simpler when God slows it down so I can soak it in. I can even look back on the past couple of hours and see what God has taught me. It blows my mind how God teaches me.
"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." 2 Corinthians 11:3
I am guilty of complicating things or rationalizing with God. I can think of countless times when I tried reasoning with God for my actions. It's so easy to become so legalistic and try to deceive our minds about things we want to do or sins we want to commit. But I need to realize that what God has for me is greater than what Satan wants for me. God cares about me. God loves me. God knows what I need. So why do I go to the one who lies, cheats, deceives, kills, angers, defiles and destroys? Because Satan has the "sweets." He has the candy jar, and what we need is solid food. We want the quick fix for our hunger or sweet tooth. That five or ten minutes of rich, milky, chocolaty "goodness." Whether its a snickers bar or a jolly rancher, we go for the quick fix. But once that's over with, we see our longing for the good food. I want that juicy steak, or that ample supply of fruit. "...as the serpent deceived Eve..." We know that Eve went through it, and I know I go through it daily. Just as we go to the Dentist to get our teeth removed, we need to ask God to remove our "sweet tooth" that will draw us into the hands of the devil. We need to think simple. I know that Satan is going to try to destroy me. Nothing he has is of eternal significance. WHY DO I GO BACK TO HIM?!?!?! I fall back to sin when I need to fall to my knees. Simplicity.
We hear it all the time, but it is the truth - we need to be like Children. One thing did hit me like a kick in the face - Matthew 11:25. "At that time Jesus declared, 'I thank you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children." How many times have we learned from a little kid. We don't realize that sometimes we need the perspective of a 9 year old. Their minds are so simple and basic. They don't rationalize, they don't argue, they don't reason, they're just kids. They don't know any better, but that's why God is calling us to be like children. I feel like it's the moments of those little kids when they ask a million questions, or keep asking "WHY?!" They don't know any better. They're clueless to Satan and his tactics. That verse says God hides things from the wise and understanding. Wise and understanding = you and me. We need to be simpler. We need to be like children. Why? Verse 28 - "Come to me... I will give you rest."
He's got our backs?! John 16:33 "But take heart, I have overcome the world." Oh just the world.. no big deal... ummm.... THE WORLD!!!! HELLO! It actually upsets me that I go to anyone else BUT God! He is the only one who will satisfy our needs, not our wants or cravings, our needs.
So today, I want to be simple. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "To be simple is to be great." I don't know about you, but I want to be great. I want to get to Heaven and hear God say, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant."
In His Name,
Geren
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Hate it, Starve it, Outsmart it!
Over the past couple of days, it's been a struggle to fight. Last week, Clayton King talked about the three things we need to do in order to overcome temptations - "Hate it, Starve it, Outsmart it!" And I've realized that it is not easy nor fun. Learning to hate what you're used to is not an easy task. And then you have to starve it. Possibly the "easier" step, but all of these steps are still very difficult. This step is just to say "no." Don't surround yourself with it, don't think about it. Don't do it. Simple directions, difficult response. But if it were only as easy to just say no. It can only get you so far. This summer I read "Pleasures Evermore: The Life Changing Power of Enjoying God" by Sam Storms, and within the first couple of chapters he talked about how saying "no" will only get you so far. It's only the short-term solution to the problem. The long-term solution is to find pleasure and satisfaction in our Lord and Savior. And not just in his name, but our relationship with him. We can admire him and look at him as a symbol or figure, or we can look at him as God and Savior who wants a personal, daily relationship with us. This relationship is where we find our eternal pleasures, our everlasting peace and joy. So while saying "no" helps for a short term, it's easy to fall back into sin once that effect wears off. I encourage you to read the book and to fall in love with God.
Church today was exactly what I needed to hear, especially the praise and worship. The last song we sang hit the bulls-eye on my heart. While I love when these moments happen, I hate realizing that I have grown away from God in that particular area. Obviously, I wish I was were perfect, but I hate disappointing people. Today's song was "Search Me, Know Me" and it really hit home for me... I leave you with the words from the song as a prayer for you...
Search Me, Know Me - Kathryn Scott
"Search me, know me, try me and see
Every worthless affection hidden in me
All I'm asking for, is that you cleanse me Lord,
Create in me a heart that's clean
Conquer the power of secrets shame
Come wash away the guilty shame all of my sin
Clothe me in robes of righteousness
Cover my nakedness with grace
All of my life before you now I humbly bring"
- G
Church today was exactly what I needed to hear, especially the praise and worship. The last song we sang hit the bulls-eye on my heart. While I love when these moments happen, I hate realizing that I have grown away from God in that particular area. Obviously, I wish I was were perfect, but I hate disappointing people. Today's song was "Search Me, Know Me" and it really hit home for me... I leave you with the words from the song as a prayer for you...
Search Me, Know Me - Kathryn Scott
"Search me, know me, try me and see
Every worthless affection hidden in me
All I'm asking for, is that you cleanse me Lord,
Create in me a heart that's clean
Conquer the power of secrets shame
Come wash away the guilty shame all of my sin
Clothe me in robes of righteousness
Cover my nakedness with grace
All of my life before you now I humbly bring"
- G
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Class Begins!
It's official... classes have begun for me. I'm sitting in the bookstore and I just finished studying for my first quiz of the year. It's real now. The first week didn't really count because we didn't have homework and most of my classes consisted of reading the syllabus and doing icebreakers the whole class. But now it begins! First quiz, first grade, first class today!
On a more serious note, Clayton King has been speaking the last couple of days for Spiritual Emphasis Week and the Holy Spirit is sweeping through this campus! With almost 200 new salvations and many other commitments made, God has really spoken to us through Clayton. Over the past three days Clayton has spoken to us about true conversion, making faith your own, challenging your walk with temptation and relationships, and the way to break away from sin and temptation--fleeing not fighting! These messages have truly struck my heart to increase my faith and challenge my walk, and I know many of my friends have been touched as well.
I could go further into detail about what he's talked about, but it's difficult to sum up 4 or 5 messages without writing a book! And with classes finally "beginning," time is of the essence and I won't have much of it to waste or re-manage. Overall, Clayton really influenced a lot of people's minds and hearts. He had some great things to say, he had some tough things to say, and he was real about it all. He even said some things he probably wasn't supposed to. But with a public apology and repentance of those things, we forgave him and he moved on. God did wonders through Clayton King this Spiritual Emphasis Week. I'm always excited to hear him speak and to go to Spiritual Emphasis Week. If you haven't heard of Clayton King or Clayton King Ministries, I encourage you to check him out at claytonking.com.
Thanks for looking! Have a blessed day!
"This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!"
Psalm 118:24
Geren
On a more serious note, Clayton King has been speaking the last couple of days for Spiritual Emphasis Week and the Holy Spirit is sweeping through this campus! With almost 200 new salvations and many other commitments made, God has really spoken to us through Clayton. Over the past three days Clayton has spoken to us about true conversion, making faith your own, challenging your walk with temptation and relationships, and the way to break away from sin and temptation--fleeing not fighting! These messages have truly struck my heart to increase my faith and challenge my walk, and I know many of my friends have been touched as well.
I could go further into detail about what he's talked about, but it's difficult to sum up 4 or 5 messages without writing a book! And with classes finally "beginning," time is of the essence and I won't have much of it to waste or re-manage. Overall, Clayton really influenced a lot of people's minds and hearts. He had some great things to say, he had some tough things to say, and he was real about it all. He even said some things he probably wasn't supposed to. But with a public apology and repentance of those things, we forgave him and he moved on. God did wonders through Clayton King this Spiritual Emphasis Week. I'm always excited to hear him speak and to go to Spiritual Emphasis Week. If you haven't heard of Clayton King or Clayton King Ministries, I encourage you to check him out at claytonking.com.
Thanks for looking! Have a blessed day!
"This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!"
Psalm 118:24
Geren
Monday, August 31, 2009
Impossible?
Over the past couple of weeks, I've been praying for things I thought were "impossible," but after a discussion last night, I've realized I didn't have any real impossible things. Sure, some of the things seemed impossible to me at the time I wrote them down, but nothing IMPOSSIBLE. My buddy Eric used a great example that rocked me... "What about praying that I can meet a random person and lead them to Christ?" Hmmm... I then remembered what I had on my list of impossibles.... Almost every single one was about me or for me. Wow. Can I get any more selfish? Not one thing about anybody else. Wake up call. So now i'm rethinking my impossible list. So my question to you... What does your list look like? Selfish or self-less? I know what mine was. If you can, please pray that God will speak to me about so-called "impossible" things. And this goes both ways... anything you want me to pray for you about? If it's private, you can send me an email if you want... gerenwoodbridge@yahoo.com
And this is just an idea. I'm just speaking out loud. I don't know what I'm doing yet. I'm still learning. Stay tuned!
Geren
Sunday, August 30, 2009
SUNDAY BRUNCH!!!!
Over the past couple of years, a bunch of my friends and I found ourselves going to breakfast/lunch or "brunch" after church every Sunday. While the Rot food is alright for typical cafeteria food, we were just looking for something more. It's hard to find an open table for 35 people at the Rot let alone any restaurant nearby. Since there was no place off campus to go, we were stuck with the Rot. We handled it pretty well, finding the same "accountability" section at the far end of the cafeteria every week, open for our dining pleasures. Being so secluded and set up for 3 to 4 people at each table, we decided to break the norm and combine enough tables to accommodate 30+ people. I should probably apologize for interrupting all of the accountability times, but I'm not sorry for the countless memories made back in no-man's-land.
As the days and weeks came closer to the end of the year, myself and 5 buddies decided to consider moving off campus. After many discussions of pro's and con's, the decision was made to move off! One of the first topics we discussed and were so pumped about was Sunday Brunch! With a house, we could comfortably have every one of our friends over and cook brunch for everyone! Now the only problem was... finding a house!
One of the guys on our hall (pause for a shout out to dorm 18-2, best dorm on campus!!!) has a sister who has a house off campus and we've visited her occasionally. One night we were over there, we joked around saying that we would take her house. She laughed for a second and then said, "Well wait... we're all seniors, and we're all moving out!" Instantly, I glanced over and Dusty, and Dusty looked at me. BINGO! And the house was officially, but unofficially, ours!!!
So fast forward to a couple weeks ago, the opening night of our house, "The Border." It was about 7 or 8, and I think we had about 42 people over at one time. 26 people sitting in our living room comfortably. Perfect for a Sunday Brunch! With 3 couches and 2 chairs, and plenty of standing room, now Sunday Brunch had switched from "Tim-buck-two" to "bring two bucks." As you enter the house, put your $2 in the engraved "College Fund" jar and eat away!
Today's Sunday Brunch was the first trial run even though last Sunday was the first accidental Sunday Brunch. Last week we decided not to do it because we didn't really have everything set up, but we just started cooking and all of a sudden, people started showing up! And of course, I don't want people to go hungry, so just like my mother, I just started making pancakes until people stopped eating! Either way, it was still a blast and we love having people over! And after reading a great called "The Five Love Languages", I realized that I love to serve people. “For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served, but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.” ~ Matt. 20:28
Today's Sunday Brunch was a great first run! We learned what we needed to do, get, and how to efficiently serve everyone! And we realized everyone loves eggs! While shopping yesterday we had to make a decision about how many eggs to get... but after today we realized that 5 dozen wasn't enough (not to mention the 2 dozen or so pancakes)!!! I officially realize what its like being a parent with a couple kids and shopping. GOD BLESS YOU PARENTS!!!
Overall, today was a success! And I can't wait for future sunday afternoons!!! ESPECIALLY when there will be 6 families coming down one weekend, September 18th-20th!!! Huge Sunday Brunch that weekend! But don't worry... the Hotel Border will be fully stocked, sheets washed, bathrooms cleaned, rooms tidied, and beds made!
Oh yeah... classes went well this week. (That's for you mom and dad!) haha
May His light shine through you!
-Geren
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Greetings!
So i'm new to this... and i'm not exactly sure how this is going to turn out, but i just wanna try it. it seems fun, and i'm always checking visiting other blogs, so i think it will keep me busy, and i'm curious to see how it goes. i want this to be something i like to do. Maybe to keep people informed of things going on in my life, or to even share things i normally wouldn't. Who knows... but i'm looking forward to it!
i find myself thinking about a lot of things and usually never getting the chance to say them out loud. and i think a lot. sometimes weird things like not stepping on cracks, or making sure i always land on a step with a pole on my way up the princess stairs (liberty people know what i'm talking about), or thinking about ways to jump higher in the pole vault. my brain is always going. i'm a good thinker and problem solver, so my mind is always going. anyways, somedays might seem random, and thats prolly the wheels turning in my head. somedays might be about girls, others about guitars, and prolly a lot about track stuff. but whatever. i can't promise that i'm gonna write about one specific thing...just gonna wing it. besides, nothing in life is "geren-teed" =) i'm just gonna try it and see what its like... care to join me?! sweet! ttys
Geren
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