I woke up in a great mood today. It's sunny,I feel great,but there's still a lot of bad things going on. Today,I'm choosing to dwell on only positive things and immediately forgetting any negative.
In Philippians 4:8,Paul says,"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." He pretty much is telling us to only dwell on good. If you notice in life,if you think about negative things you'll probably be a negative person. If you think about positive things,you'll become optimistic and you'll learn to milk all the good and happiness you can out of life.
Ecclesiastes 3:12 pretty much says the same thing,"So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can." So why not do that today? We all have so much to be thankful for,even if we don't see it. You have to believe that God only has the greatest plans for you and that every little thing that happens eventually works out for your good:)
Friday, April 8, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
P1717
These days,genuine people are hard to come by. People that will stick through anything with you,or even be there in an instant if you ever need them are rare.
I'm an only child,so growing up was kinda quiet and at sometimes boring. I've known people my entire life that are family-ish,but few that feel like family. I've only met a few people who I fully trust and that kinda bums me out. Proverbs has a lot of great verses on friendship and brotherhood.Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loves at all times,and a brother is born for adversity." When I read that,I think back to the times in life when I was in trouble and remember those few people who were there for me. My two closest guy friends feel like brothers. They've helped me out in the hardest of times and I love them to death for it. I'm truly blessed.
I truly believe God puts people in our lives to help us out each day. Whether it be financially,spiritually or physically. God lines up people to come across our path or even walk it with us at just the right times. Make sure you appreciate those who stick by you and do the same for them,they might need you someday too.
I'm an only child,so growing up was kinda quiet and at sometimes boring. I've known people my entire life that are family-ish,but few that feel like family. I've only met a few people who I fully trust and that kinda bums me out. Proverbs has a lot of great verses on friendship and brotherhood.Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loves at all times,and a brother is born for adversity." When I read that,I think back to the times in life when I was in trouble and remember those few people who were there for me. My two closest guy friends feel like brothers. They've helped me out in the hardest of times and I love them to death for it. I'm truly blessed.
I truly believe God puts people in our lives to help us out each day. Whether it be financially,spiritually or physically. God lines up people to come across our path or even walk it with us at just the right times. Make sure you appreciate those who stick by you and do the same for them,they might need you someday too.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
L631
I'm no saint,but one thing I've always remembered was to treat other people the way I wanted to be treated. It's a sad day when you realize the world doesn't see it the same.
I'm extremely tired,but I can't sleep. I've got so much crud on my mind that I'll never doze off. I normally write in the morning,but this is something that's just rattling my mind straight. Why don't people follow that rule anymore? Like I said,I'm far from anything close to perfect,but the last thing I ever do is treat someone poorly. Luke 6:31 is where that motto came from,seeing as the verse clearly says,"Do to others as you would have them do to you."
Now,I'm pretty sure you and I both want to be treated good,right? So this verse says to treat other people,like you want to be treated. If you want to be treated like a king,treat other people the same way. Now,where's the hard part in all of this? I feel like a rocket scientist being able to comprehend it. I guess I'm just angry with how people have been towards me lately when all I do is treat people better than they deserve. It's something God and I have been battling for I guess. It's hard to let go of someone being mean or rude to you,but as followers of Jesus,it's out duty to turn the other cheek. To still treat them the way you'd expect to be,even if that's not what they're giving you.
I'm going to spend my night praying for this garbage to go away. It's really been taking a toll on me emotionally and physically. If you have something similar going on,release it to God. Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for us:)
I'm extremely tired,but I can't sleep. I've got so much crud on my mind that I'll never doze off. I normally write in the morning,but this is something that's just rattling my mind straight. Why don't people follow that rule anymore? Like I said,I'm far from anything close to perfect,but the last thing I ever do is treat someone poorly. Luke 6:31 is where that motto came from,seeing as the verse clearly says,"Do to others as you would have them do to you."
Now,I'm pretty sure you and I both want to be treated good,right? So this verse says to treat other people,like you want to be treated. If you want to be treated like a king,treat other people the same way. Now,where's the hard part in all of this? I feel like a rocket scientist being able to comprehend it. I guess I'm just angry with how people have been towards me lately when all I do is treat people better than they deserve. It's something God and I have been battling for I guess. It's hard to let go of someone being mean or rude to you,but as followers of Jesus,it's out duty to turn the other cheek. To still treat them the way you'd expect to be,even if that's not what they're giving you.
I'm going to spend my night praying for this garbage to go away. It's really been taking a toll on me emotionally and physically. If you have something similar going on,release it to God. Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for us:)
M73
I'm being tested a lot lately,mostly with people. I just don't care for a lot lately. I'm tired of them,to be honest.
Last night was quite the evening,and I was reminded of a lot of things in the midst of some drama. Some people are on high horses and it's kind of ridiculous. I don't get how people can talk down to others because they think they're high,mighty and perfect. While this was going on last night,I was reminded of an awesome verse in Matthew 7. In verse 3,Jesus simply says,"Why are you worried about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?" That verse is so true. We have no right to cast a stone while we're just as wrong if not even more.
I've had a lot of chances to argue lately,but I've been passing on most. I see no point in it. I'd rather live,I want to say harmoniously,but I'm not a hippie...I just don't like fighting. I can't stand when people have nothing better to do than to try and bring people down. All I know is that God allows it to strengthen us and make us more reliant on Him during the not so pleasant times.
Last night was quite the evening,and I was reminded of a lot of things in the midst of some drama. Some people are on high horses and it's kind of ridiculous. I don't get how people can talk down to others because they think they're high,mighty and perfect. While this was going on last night,I was reminded of an awesome verse in Matthew 7. In verse 3,Jesus simply says,"Why are you worried about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?" That verse is so true. We have no right to cast a stone while we're just as wrong if not even more.
I've had a lot of chances to argue lately,but I've been passing on most. I see no point in it. I'd rather live,I want to say harmoniously,but I'm not a hippie...I just don't like fighting. I can't stand when people have nothing better to do than to try and bring people down. All I know is that God allows it to strengthen us and make us more reliant on Him during the not so pleasant times.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
P1052
As I sit outside in the warm sunshine,I'm reading and listening to Five Iron Frenzy,just dwelling on how blessed I am. I don't have a lot of money,I don't have a fancy car,and my health lacks in a lot of categories. But I realize something,I have a roof over my head. I don't miss meals. I have clothes,television,people who love me and a Savior...I'm the richest guy in the world in my own mind.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,praise Him all creatures here below,praise Him above ye heavenly host,praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
That's been on repeat in my head all morning. I have so many reasons to praise God today and everyday. I take everything He's given me for granted and the thought kinda kills me,but I realize it now more than ever. People are dying of cancer,people don't have heat or food to eat...and I'm complaining over a kidney stone? I really feel like kicking my own butt today.
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
tell of all His wondrous works!
-Psalm 105:2
That's what I'm doing today,and I'm going to try my hardest to do everyday. We are all so blessed,even in ways we can't see it. Forget the bad and dwell on the good today. God is working out everything for good in your life at this moment,so give Him some praise.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,praise Him all creatures here below,praise Him above ye heavenly host,praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
That's been on repeat in my head all morning. I have so many reasons to praise God today and everyday. I take everything He's given me for granted and the thought kinda kills me,but I realize it now more than ever. People are dying of cancer,people don't have heat or food to eat...and I'm complaining over a kidney stone? I really feel like kicking my own butt today.
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
tell of all His wondrous works!
-Psalm 105:2
That's what I'm doing today,and I'm going to try my hardest to do everyday. We are all so blessed,even in ways we can't see it. Forget the bad and dwell on the good today. God is working out everything for good in your life at this moment,so give Him some praise.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
D327
I go through so many seemingly pointless trials and afflictions in my life. At first,I'm usually pretty upset over what's going on because I see no good,just something bringing me down,we're all like that at some point.
In the Bible,a lot of people suffered some majorly huge trials. Daniel in the lions den,and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace. I want to talk about those three guys. Now,their trial is pretty different,but it just shows what amazing faith really is. If you don't know,they were just three young guys who loved God. They were told to bow down to a huge gold idol and they said "heck no,we serve the Lord and no one else",so the king at the time ordered them to be burned in a furnace for their disobedience. These three guys were tied up with rope and thrown into pretty much an oven that was heated seven times the normal temperature. Their faith in God saved them. God was with them during this. Daniel 3:25 even says."Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." They were able to walk out of the furnace and( 3:27,"They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them").
Now,what I like about this story is a cool kind of analogy. They went in there bound by ropes and came out walking free. Think about this,if we're bound by sin of some sort and we get thrown into a furnace of trials...we can walk out free. The fire burned the ropes off of them and actually freed them. Whatever that trial is in your life,it can help us if we keep our faith strong.
So the next time you find yourself in a furnace of trial,think that God might be using it to burn your ropes off. He does work everything together for good,remember that.
In the Bible,a lot of people suffered some majorly huge trials. Daniel in the lions den,and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace. I want to talk about those three guys. Now,their trial is pretty different,but it just shows what amazing faith really is. If you don't know,they were just three young guys who loved God. They were told to bow down to a huge gold idol and they said "heck no,we serve the Lord and no one else",so the king at the time ordered them to be burned in a furnace for their disobedience. These three guys were tied up with rope and thrown into pretty much an oven that was heated seven times the normal temperature. Their faith in God saved them. God was with them during this. Daniel 3:25 even says."Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." They were able to walk out of the furnace and( 3:27,"They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them").
Now,what I like about this story is a cool kind of analogy. They went in there bound by ropes and came out walking free. Think about this,if we're bound by sin of some sort and we get thrown into a furnace of trials...we can walk out free. The fire burned the ropes off of them and actually freed them. Whatever that trial is in your life,it can help us if we keep our faith strong.
So the next time you find yourself in a furnace of trial,think that God might be using it to burn your ropes off. He does work everything together for good,remember that.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
M183
"You'll never see the sunrise if you're always looking to the west."-Japanese Proverb
I love that because life is pretty simple;it's so simple that by simply looking the wrong way you can miss something. I apply that to everything from the sun rising,to God. I'm a realist,I don't believe a lot of crap and normally have to have proof before I believe something...I don't know how I have faith sometimes.
Jesus says it in an awesome way. You gotta believe like a kid. You could tell a kid that the moon is made of cheese and they'd believe it. God and His infinite plans are the same. They aren't a lie,we just can't physically comprehend it at a mature age,so we have to think like a child. Matthew 18:3 simply says,"And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
I never had problems with it as a kid,but as I grew up,I didn't doubt it...but I was confused. Confusion led to anger,anger led to fear,and so on. Lately though,my faith has surpassed my own thinking and led to me a form of peace that I don't ever remember. My thinking is going back to that of when I was a child. I still take everything literally,but I don't put any limits on God. It's that simple now,fact only can go so far,then faith kicks in.
If you ever have a problem with believing God for something,change for your faith to what a child believes...you'll see God do things you could never have imagined.
I love that because life is pretty simple;it's so simple that by simply looking the wrong way you can miss something. I apply that to everything from the sun rising,to God. I'm a realist,I don't believe a lot of crap and normally have to have proof before I believe something...I don't know how I have faith sometimes.
Jesus says it in an awesome way. You gotta believe like a kid. You could tell a kid that the moon is made of cheese and they'd believe it. God and His infinite plans are the same. They aren't a lie,we just can't physically comprehend it at a mature age,so we have to think like a child. Matthew 18:3 simply says,"And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
I never had problems with it as a kid,but as I grew up,I didn't doubt it...but I was confused. Confusion led to anger,anger led to fear,and so on. Lately though,my faith has surpassed my own thinking and led to me a form of peace that I don't ever remember. My thinking is going back to that of when I was a child. I still take everything literally,but I don't put any limits on God. It's that simple now,fact only can go so far,then faith kicks in.
If you ever have a problem with believing God for something,change for your faith to what a child believes...you'll see God do things you could never have imagined.
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