To reflect God's character

God has been majorly equipping me for leadership in Converge. He seems to be presenting me with points of view I have never thought of before. It is like light bulb after light bulb is coming on with different points of view. I'm realizing points of view of people I have known for years, perhaps I just never opened my mind enough to fully understand their point of view on Life, God, religion; God has no limit to this new understanding.

            In these new points of view God is showing me how important each and every point of view is; how powerful other points of view can be. This seems to help keep me humbled. To stay humbled one must be willing to listen and truly understand other points of view. 

The best thing you can do for someone is humble yourself, genuinely listen to what they have to say and honestly try to understand their point of view, situation and emotions. If makes them feel important and cared for. 

            In doing this you are reflecting God's character. I mean has God not told us to come to him with our problems weep with him and let him hold us? He doesn't tell us to do so and then turn his back and ignore us. No! He invites us to shed tears in his presence. He wants to listen, he enjoys the time we spend with him just as anyone else would, because he loves and cares for us. 

"God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted" Matthew 5:4

"Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song O mountains! For the Lord has Comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering." Isaiah 49:13

"For no one is abandoned by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love." Lamentations 3:31 &32

Depends on the Situation

Just read a chapter in Pure Life Ministries "Create in Me a Pure Life." It talked about how victory can be a vague concept to those who have been accustomed to losing. It's Almost as if they have to learn how to claim victory in different situations, such as overcoming sin. 

We all learn, but most of us see learning as a school or sport related activity, even view as subject based rather than situational. In fact learn situationally. Let me explain:

     After graduating high school most 18 years olds head off to college to continue their education. The subjects are no the only thing they are learning. College freshman are presented with new situations, ie. living in dorms, sharing a room, different campus, being away from home and family. They have to learn the environment, how to act in it. With these new situations and environment comes confusion,maybe a lost feeling. As each person lives in these new situations they learn what the best and most effective thing to do is.

This applies to religion. When overcoming temptation, a person must learn how to recognize, the sin itself and furthermore the enemies attacks. They must learn how to defend themselves, such as using scripture to sworn off the enemy. Especially a new believer will have to learn how to be a true christian. What it means to be a true christian. Maybe in a new stage in life or faith one must learn what it means and looks like to be a good/true christian in a particular situation. They must learn to repent, give up their own ways and give control over to God. All of these things never happen over night.They have to happen in steps. The length of these steps may vary. 

The point is we learn situationally. So even as we help others in their trials we must understand their situation and let them learn slowly and step by step.

On the Edge

(written way back in April 2012)

Lately, every time i begin to drift away from God, I feel scared. It used to be the other way around, i was scared to be close to God. Maybe that just shows how much I've grown in my faith. Today I feel nervous. I do have a test today, however I'm nervous about my relationship with God. In this last week I missed two religious gatherings i regularly attend. Immediately I began to feel myself slip, feeling as if there was something missing. I didnt get my usual dosage of God. It is kind of amazing and eye opening to me how surrounding myself with the people of God has strengthened me and continues to strengthen me. How much i truely need Him to remain stable throughout my days/weeks/months. It has made me realize how much I truely love God. How important it is to me to live for him.

This past wed. I was at a friendly gathering at which we were discussing what we each thought about religion. One person said that they think Christians hope to be chosen to be a beacon of God in this world. It got me thinking. A thought popped in my head. We are all already chosen by God. He made us, he wrote our story. The thing is we have to essentially choose ourselves. We have to recognize that God is knocking on our door. We have to answer God's calling for us. We have to realize that we are able through God.

I feel nervous again today, almost paranoid.It's a little odd. I think it's because i can feel myself slipping again. I 've been engaging in sexual pleasure for myself (masturbation). I try so hard to fight it off but ya know the more you try not to think about something the more you can't stop thinking about it. The feeling then becomes overwhelming. I tell myself that if i can't fight this off I'm never gonna get past this past relationship with Alex. Then because it seems overwhelming I give in and feel like a failure and definitely feel trapped by Satan. I feel the strong hold he has on me and i just want my deliverance to come faster.