All Good Gifts

How often have we all heard that God has given us gifts to use to glorify His name? I know I've heard it tons and tons of times. But, how often have I forgotten to give God worship through the gifts He has given me? Way too often. Why is that? I don't really know. But, I have a theory. Importance.

You see, whenever we hear that God has given us gifts, we think, "Alright! I can do things!" But we forget the biggest part of the equation - God! I may just be beating a dead horse by saying this over and over again, but ultimately we forget. It's human nature.

There was a man once who wanted to be in business. He was so gifted with numbers. He could account for just about anything. Numbers weren't difficult, in fact, he enjoyed balancing books, paying bills, managing payroll, and otherwise handling accounting duties. To us, he might sound a little strange. But, this is what he was good at! From the time he was young he dreamed of working himself up to the head of a company so that he could manage entire firms. He did, he was very successful at it. He worked his way up from the ground floor to the lavish 43rd floor office of his building. He got everything he dreamed of. Now, let me say, he would often pray about what he was doing. He was very religious, and very active in church. He knew how to balance books to make sure that God always got what was necessary, and sometimes even more. But, as the years wore on, the economy became bad. He started pulling a little out of his tithe every week, because he was making less, he had to cut back on certain things. Well, it didn't take long before he stopped paying a tithe altogether - and then, not long after that he stopped going to church. He all but forgot about God. His company was starting to fail - not because of his bookkeeping skills, but because of the economy. Eventually, his company disbanded and he was left with a small piece of the lifestyle he once had. Things became tough between him and his family, and eventually, he was divorced. It became so bad, that he was literally down to his last dollar. Then he remembered something. Something someone told him a long time ago, "God didn't just give you gifts, he entrusted you with the ability to do something so special that only you can do. God made a pair of shoes just for you, and he intends for you to wear them." That was it, that's what was missing from his life. He put one his best set of clothes - he had to sell quite a bit to make ends meet for his family recently. He got up and went to church. He took his last dollar to the office and said, "I know this isn't much, but this is my tithe for this week. It may seem like I'm giving just a small amount compared to what I might be able to give. There was a time when I could tithe enough to pay monthly electricity bill in this church. But, this is my last dollar. All I have left. God entrusted me with the ability to do with this dollar exactly what should be done with it, and all I can think is to give back to Him. I am trusting that God knows just what to do with it." And with that, he placed the dollar down and walked out.

I'm not saying that all this man's troubles were resolved, but the fact that he took everything he had left and returned to that who gave it to him - God. Why is it then, that we forget to return even the small amount that God asks us to? 

Remember, God didn't just give you gifts, he entrusted you with the ability to do something so special that only you can do. God made a pair of shoes just for you, and he intends for you to wear them. So, wear them to walk back and return what God has given you. Use those shoes to create the path He wants you to have, a path that other people can follow. 

God loves you. God trusts you. Always love God. Always trust God.

Walking the Dog

So, every week I set out to spend time with the Lord by simply walking. I leave my apartment, and simply walk until I get back to my apartment. I do this for various reasons. I being that I have such an intense work and school regiment that I need to take the time to relax. But, I've also realized that I can spend some quiet time with the Lord. Sometimes, I walk for an hour or two, other times, I walk nearly the entire day. However, through it all, I always hear something that the Lord tells me. So, from here on out, I'll listen and post what it is that he lays on my heart. That being said, let's begin.

This morning, as I was walking, I was thinking about listening to the Lord. As in, figuring out what His plans are for you. I'm not posting this to say that I know what he's saying. Nor that I even know the complete plans for my life, but ultimately, we have to listen to what He tells us. But, even more so, we have to learn to discern when God is talking to us, and when it may be some other force, or even ourselves trying to convince us of something else. I don't understand how to do this, so I can't offer much explanation on the discernment of this. However, I can say that God has made certain things in my life very clear. And He has revealed some things to me on my walk today.

When I leave for my walk - or even when I leave for school everyday - my dog stands next to me the entire time. She follows me around my apartment as I get ready, waiting for me to pet her. She watches me brush my teeth. Then, when I start to leave, she bombards the door. I have to pet her, then rush out of the door so that she doesn't escape. I feel bad for leaving her, but she can't come with me. I've realized that we need to act like my dog in regards to our relationship with God. We must actively follow Him from the time we wake up until we go to bed each night. We have to make it our duty to actively search for Him and stay by His side. Sometimes, it might seem like He has left us, but He hasn't. Sometimes, when my dog starts playing with one of her toys I'll go into a different room and then a few minutes later, she'll run in clearly worried that I left her without her knowing. But, I was still there. In the same way, we sometimes take our time and play with something we have. Or veering off to do something else. God's purpose is always moving forward, whether we stop to do something on our own, we just have to take time to find our way back to Him.

But, there's another side to this. How we often treat God. You see, often times, when we leave for our daily lives, we treat God more like my dog. We wake up with Him at our side. We get ready for our day with Him. We may even spend time with Him in the morning before we leave. However, when we close our front, we sometimes leave Him behind. Why? Why don't we take the time to put Him in our backpack, or our purse, or our mind? Why don't we offer Him to answer the questions that come up in our daily life? I can't honestly say that I do this. Nor can I say why I don't. But, I am learning more and more how to do this. And I hope that I can become better at this, and I pray that God will be with me always.

In God's name I pray. Amen.

A Surrender

I heard a worship song that goes, "I'm coming back to the heart of worship. It's all about you. It's all about you, Jesus." It's not about us. It's not about what we want or what we think we want. Nor is it about what we think God will provide us. It's simply about what God does for us. He gives us life, opportunity, love, compassion, will, and everything else that makes us human. He has given us everything. What can we possibly do to return the favor? Give Him everything in return.

How many songs are there about surrender? So many! One of my favorite lines is, "All to Jesus, I surrender. I surrender all." All - everything, completely, totally surrendered to Him. Another line in the same song says, "All to Him I freely give." Freely. God doesn't make us do anything. God doesn't dictate that we worship Him. He doesn't turn us into slaves, nor does He want to. There was a woman and a man once who were having issues in their marriage. The wife wanted to go to a dinner thing, and the husband did not want to join her. Finally, after days of talking about it, the husband finally said, "Okay. Fine, I'll go." The wife said, "You don't have to." The husband, confused, looks at his wife and says, "I thought you wanted me to go." To which the wife replies, "I want you to want to go." I realize there's some faulty logic in there, but that's how God feels about us. He wants us to want to worship Him. He wants us to want to surrender to Him. He realizes, that if we we forced to surrender to Him, it would only be done to win some glory or favor in His eye. Now, don't mistake me, surrendering everything you have to the Lord will win favor in His eye. But, that's not what it's about. Our desires are what make us human - and they differ, greatly, for each person. But, it takes strong faith to surrender our entire will to God. And, it's not a simple one time act. It's a lifetime of recommitting to God. This may happen fifty or even a hundred times throughout the day. That's the dedication it takes. 

Think about the most prime example of surrendering your life to the Lord. Jesus. See, Jesus spent his life constantly recommitting his life. This may not have seemed hard for Him in our eyes. But, this was incredibly difficult - to the extent that Jesus actually sweat blood because of it. And even in his final moments on this earth he asked God if there may be another way. But, he didn't ask to be withdrawn from God's plan. He asked God,if it be possible to let this cup pass him by without his drinking from it, yet not as he willed, but as God willed. As God willed. God's will is almighty, sovereign, good, pleasing, and ultimately overwhelmingly great that we cannot simply deny it's existence. But, to think that there's another way, and actively pursue it, is a denial of God's will. To try and take another way, is a denial of his plan.

I don't sit here as someone who feels like they have done everything in their power to actively surrender and relent to the Lord. On the contrary, I think I need to do SO much more. How miraculous it might be to one day see God's plan actively working through my life. But, I can only truly see that when I separate myself from the glory that man wants. From the praise that embodies our present lives. I must seek God's will for myself. I must surrender everything I have for his glory.

There will be a time when I will no longer be present on this earth. When everything I have gathered in my lifetime will no longer be around me. A lifetime of greed, want, and other material things, will not die with me. When I parish, I will be born into a new life. A life, that hopefully has a treasure waiting on me. But, I cannot even begin to hope for that treasure without first surrendering my life to the Lord. The Bible says, wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also. So, if I plan on acquiring success and riches in this life, my treasure will be here, on earth. I will spend eternity poor, baron. But, if I put my entire life in God's hands. If I surrender everything I am, everything I do, everything I have to work toward His great purpose - then, maybe I will have a chance at even having a morsel of treasure after I leave this earth. Man is greedy, he wants riches. Our greed should allow us to surrender our lives, in hopes of acquiring that bountiful, beautiful treasure God has so richly promised us. 

I hope that I can inherit even a morsel of what God has in store for me. I hope that my life will be filled with his glory, and his work. I pray that I can surrender my life, every moment, toward His purpose. I'm coming back to the heart of worship - surrender.

A Worship

What do you think of when you hear 'worship'? Do you think of music - maybe a specific kind? Or do you think about a particularly vivid sermon? Maybe you think of prayer, missionary work, or another act of charity?

What if I said it was time for you to think of worship as all of that and so much more? See, to God, worship is any act that glorifies Him! And you can make any act glorifying to Him!

I once heard a quote that says, "If you catch on fire with enough enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn!" This is how we should worship the Lord - with enough enthusiasm to come for miles! Now, we often make the mistake of thinking that worship is about them - it's not. Worship is about God - and any worship that glorifies Him is pleasing to Him.

I have heard fights about what worship 'should' or what is or isn't Christian music - but, ultimately, the only things that makes something worship is the lyrics. God created all types of music, and we return thanks by worshipping Him using them!

So, when you go to work this morning, don't think about going to work for money, for your boss, for routine, for for your family. When you go to work, think that you are going to glorify God! In EVERY act you perform today, do it for God!

In His name I pray!

A Day

Today is the day! The day to start to remove the barriers in your life as you try to trust the Lord. The day to exemplify His glory in everything you do. The day to be glad simply because He woke you up (and maybe even on time to get to work). A lot of people (including me) have this problem with seeing the storms in our lives and wondering "Why would God allow this to happen?" We think that because we go to church, or we pray, or we tithe, or we are good that everything should be okay. Why? The bible doesn't say that there is a formula to your relationship with the Lord - there is no clever addition or subtraction that you can see to weigh our struggles.

Joseph was beaten and sold by His brothers. Then enslaved for a crime he didn't commit. It was then that the Lord started to make Himself apparent to Joseph, and started using him.Why is it, when we have storms in our life, we start to ask, "Why would God allow this to happen?" What distinction do we have to say that this is not something important that is incredibly necessary for out spiritual growth?

In Mark 4, Jesus and the Apostles were out on the sea. All of a sudden a raging storm hit. Some of the men went and found Jesus asleep and woke Him up saying, "Jesus do you not care that we are going to die?" Jesus walked out of the room and onto the ship and rebuked the storm saying, "Peace! Be still!" And the storm stopped.

Why do we encounter storms and go straight to asking, "Do you not care that I am [dying, suffering, bleeding, in agony, in pain]?" Have we not learned that He will not take care of it? And why do we put ourselves at the center of the universe in our trials? Well, simply, we're human. We can't really help it. Even Jesus, even in this parable, fell to His human side. We see Him sleeping in a room as the storm rages on.

Through this we can see also, His faith in God. As the storm was raging - He was SLEEPING. Now, I'm a pretty heavy sleeper. I can sleep through many things - even thunderstorms. But, I can't imagine being on the sea, in the midst of a turbulent storm - the ship being tossed this way and that way - and not waking up. That must be pretty powerful faith. Faith that I strive for.

After Jesus calmed the storm He looked at the and said, "Why were you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Wow. Deep, Jesus.

Do you not have any faith? Do we not have the faith to say that we are okay? I long for a day when a storm comes into my life and instead of asking, "Why would you allow this to happen, God?" I ask, "How are you going to use this storm in my life, God?"

Today is the day when I strive to allow my faith to go far beyond what is has in the past. To allow myself to see a storm in my life and wonder how God is going to use it, instead of wondering why God allowed it to happen. I long for the day when I can see problems in my life, and instead of feeling burdened by them, allow myself to feel happy knowing that God is using me in His plans. How great that must be.

A Fall

So, I forgot to update this bog yesterday. Or, rather, I ended up falling asleep before I got a chance to update it.

We all fall short of our promises to God. He understands this. But that doesn't mean we should be okay with it, but it does happen. God is merciful and forgiving, and wants us to keep our promises as He keeps all the promises He has for us.

A Trust

Job lost everything he had. Abraham was asked to kill his son, Isaac. We see it all through the Bible: Joseph, Esther, Daniel, even Jesus. God gives us tests throughout our entire lives. After all, this life is a temporary assignment to prepare us for a much richer existence. Sometimes we fail these tests and sometimes we pass them. Look at Adam and Eve, they were given a task not to eat the fruit from the knowledge of good and evil. And that's just what they did.

Now, I know you're saying that Satan tempted them. The serpent talked them into it - now, first of all, how common was it for serpents to talk then? Didn't Eve say, "Hold on - that's talking, that's not right!" Anyway, our lives will be filled with Satan lurking around the corner - the Bible tells us that! It's these moments that we must remember our lives - instead of lives lets say 'training.' It's these moments when we must remember our training will have tests throughout it - and Satan wants nothing more than to deter us from our mission.

Now I don't say all this simply to warn you - I say this to remind you that if we put our trust in the Lord, if we lay all of our faith in God, these tests will be simple. It is our trust in the Lord that we need to strengthen.

I know I do! Certainly, I want to control of every bit of my life. And there are certainly moments when I should take control, but I need to relinquish so much more! I've often said, "Maybe if I stop looking at this. Maybe is I stop reading that. Maybe if I stop doing this. Maybe if I get this." Well, you know what? Maybe if I stop making excuses. Maybe if I just drop everything and say I'll try. I won't justify anymore. I won't postpone anymore. I find it easier to trust that God has control when everything is going great in my life, but when I start to loose the great feeling in my life I want to immediately try and grab the reigns of my life. When it's not even my life.

God trusted me with this life - I can equally return that trust and give back the life He gave me.


Sorry for the stringent seriousness, and lack of comedy. I just felt this is something I needed to say - and something I needed to hear.

Hope you have a great day!

A Direction

I have often heard a saying that goes 'Direction Determines Destination.' Now, what that means is where you're going is where you'll end up. It doesn't matter where you intend to go - if you're not headed in that direction you'll never get there. Say you're in Dallas, and you want to get to Houston. First you have to decide how you'll get there - the quickest way being 45. But, if you get on 45 going North - you'll never get there, no matter how far you go or how fast.

It's the same with our journey with God. Regardless of where we want to end up with God, we will never end up there if you don't make active choices that lead you there.

So, think about the spiritual journey you want to take - then think about the direction you're going. Does your direction equate to your destination?

A Beginning Quest

So, I must admit, resolving to write everyday is kinda hard! I mean, coming up with something to say - everyday - is a bit of a challenge. Luckily, the Lord, once again, popped into my head with something to say!

So, I was making dinner tonight for me and a friend. She went to get a glass from my cabinet. She opened a cabinet and I said, "It's in the last one." She opened the last one, and I said, "The other last one." She finally got a glass (hooray!) and went to sit down to eat. I looked up and said, "If you turn the switch on the lamp toward the wall, it'll turn on." So, she turned the switch a couple of times and she said, "The other towards the wall." She finally got the light on.

I learned something from this - be specific! This is when God jumped in, "It's the same with me!" God is so specific about His plans for us. Down to our last breathe - His plans are laid for us with such specificity that we cannot deny it! Even more, we need to be specific about what we ask the Lord! Of course, He knows what we seek, but we need to have the courage to ask for specifics of whatever it is we are seeking!

However brief this is, God wanted me to say this (or maybe He wants you to hear it (or maybe both)). Let's be open to receiving and giving more specifics in the future. And, remember, everything that applies to our spiritual lives can be applied to our earthly lives. They should be so in tune, that what effects one, should effect the other.

Have a great day!

A Connection

So, I had a hard time thinking of what to write tonight in the blog. After a serious bout of the lazies, followed by a severe case of nap time, I almost didn't want to write anything. But, I made a promise to myself - and to YOU! I can't not write a blog entry - I just can't! Luckily, I have the app - and I, once again, am updating from my phone (love this app)!

So, I was thinking about something I had often thought over Christmas! As some of you know (and by some, I mean the one person who actually reads this) I have quite a beautiful view of the stars from my backyard. I have often sat under the stars and just reveled in the vastness, the complexity, and the pure beauty of God! That's what stars are to me, a portrait of the Lord - beautiful to think about, isn't it?

Well, over Christmas, I did the same thing once again. Then, I started thinking about the wise men, going to see Jesus at his birth. Those are the same stars! Think about that for a minute - we walk, sit, ponder, think, love, murder, anything done at night, is done underneath these same stars.

How often have you felt distant from God? How often has the Lord seemed too far away from you? Well, as I sat under the stars, I thought of how connected I felt to the Lord in that moment! The stars - I has never really thought about it before. I have sat under those stars and felt a sense of who the Lord is, but, suddenly, I felt a strong connection with who He is!

My connection didn't stop when I couldn't see the stars - on the contrary, it was enhanced! Knowing the stars where there made me feel God's presence around me. Sitting under the stars I see how distant they seem, but when I can no longer see them - I can imagine that they're much closer!

So, if you feel a sense of distance from the Lord - remember, the stars. The same stars the wise men followed to to find Jesus. Search under those stars, and you can find Him too!

A Silent Repose

So, it's day two of this year - and I almost forgot to write a blog post! However, I found a blogger app - so I can now blog from my phone (easily)! Yay!!

Anyway, I was just reminded of John 3:16 - and I thought, what a remarkable thing for Jesus to have known exactly what was meant for His life and what was expected of Him. Whether he liked what it was, or anything, it must have been remarkable to have that clarity about His life.

I can only pray that one day, I will see that clarity for my life - hopefully, by the end of the year, I will be close to that clarity. Not clarity about what I want with my life - but what is meant for my life! How remarkable that would! Amen :-D

Good night, catch ya tomorrow!

An Introduction

So, I am, by no means, a newcomer to blogging. Though, in many ways, I could be considered so. I have a few blogs (some of which were just assignments for classes) and I really don't update them that much.

I have a few New Year's resolutions this year: 1) Write more. This means updating this blog everyday. As well as writing in a private journal I now have! 2) Live this year not for me - but for God! At least, do my best to create a closer relationship with God - focus on this one before others. and 3) Have to make no resolutions in 2013!

Yes, you (all 2 of you who read this (one of them being me)) heard me - I want to spend 2012 becoming someone that I have absolutely no qualms about - nor do I want to have to worry about making drastic changes by the end of the year.

This is not a very long post, but if you join me on my journey, I hope that you can bear with me. Pray for me. And simply take your own journey.

I will see you soon!