Let's Get Random

Definitely expect a whole lot of random thoughts on this entry. I haven't written much lately but i've also been working an insane amount of overtime and at night, i'm just super exhausted. And to warn you...this will be random.

Hebrews 8:9-11

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9 Not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord:I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts,and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,'for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.

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I really, really like this passage of scripture. Sometimes we feel like once a new believer or a non-believer comes to the church they have to start immediately living just as we do. But I think if we simply love and reach out to those people, God will take care of the rest. He will write His laws on their heart. We have do not have the ability to change the hearts of people. Too many times we force change upon them and in the end, it's not true change because it was on our time and not God's.

I Guess I Need to be More Careful

Apparently there is a consensus among girls that I am a huge flirt. I remember in high school I was probably one of the shyest and to myself guys. Even after I graduated I was still like that to a certain extent. I won't name names because of flack I would catch, but I met a certain person that taught me how to JUST BE MYSELF. I know i'm not perfect at this and am trying to improve daily but I want to be who I am all the time and not be ashamed of that. I think a lot of people would call me random, at times REALLY goofy and even sometimes like I am seemingly on crack! ha! I just want to be myself around people, including girls. Now if that comes across as flirting I guess that's the way it's gonna be. But I will pledge to keep an eye on myself and make sure I don't cross a line that some people think I am crossing.

Proud

So i'm super proud of Courtney. I know we broke up and all but I still wish the best for her. She has a group of 4 year old boys that she leads for Awana's. I think she always had faith that she'd get plugged into something eventually and now it's happened (all in God's perfect timing). It's really cool to hear stories about her going to elementary schools for her classes at A & M. It's not student teaching but something like that. Pray for her. God's really working.

Salvation

The past few months I started realizing my walk wasn't that of a follower of Jesus. If I really was, i'd be getting off my butt and doing something and I feel like that is starting to happen. Which leads me to wonder...did I receive some sort of regeneration or salvation in the past few months? I feel a radical change in me and it makes me wonder. Either way...i'm going to get baptized soon. Dal mentioned it Sunday morning and I know it's super important that I get it done.

Homeless

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Matthew 25:31-46

31 “But when the Son of Man[d] comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations[e] will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[f] you were doing it to me!’
41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.[g] 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

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Now correct me if i'm out of context but it seems like what we do for those who are in need, we are doing for Jesus. Now what if we say refuse to help them because of a biased we have against them? For instance, the idea that a homeless person doesn't want to help himself so we won't help them or the idea of "do not cast your pearls before swine". So does that mean that we are telling Jesus "You don't deserve my pearls". What are our pearls? Money? Stuff that we've bought for ourselves? When did those things become our treasure? Somehow we've forgotten those things were blessings from God. They are NOT ours.

Prayer Request

Pray for Phillip and Andrea Brewer. They just had a little boy and we got to see them at church Sunday morning. I got to talk to Phillip after church and the next day on the phone for about 30 minutes. Amazing guy. No matter what....I really like Phillip. And if you try to add any "but's" to that...consider yourself adding to the cross. Thank you Lord for the cross. Thank you for your Grace.

Hypocrite

I really have to find a good balance in proclaiming the Gospel and humbleness in the fact I don't have everything figured out and often reach back with my gangly arms for the same sin over and over again. I don't want to be considered a hypocrite. I need to learn how to live without deservingly earning that label. Lord please save me from MYSELF.

Depression

I was really glad the other day when Dal admitted his struggle with depression. In the past few years it's something I have fought week after week. The ups and downs and the low points that seem unbearable. It's nice to know you're not alone. Big time props to Dal on this one.