I Love Peter

Good ol Billy Bob

I found out Eric Church is going to be at Billy Bob's on August 14 and I'm pretty pumped about seeing him. I think he has a pretty sweet sound. Gary Allan is going to be in our general vicinity. He'll be in Athens on August 17 and Thackerville August 18. He'll be at Billy Bob's on September 2 but that's for a huge concert that cost $30 and the only other person I'd want to see with him is Stoney LaRue. We'll see what happens. All I listen to is country these days and I really need to go to a concert!

The Scriptures

I wanted to start doing some extra stuff with my blog. I spend time in the mornings doing a devotion and just write some notes and thoughts about what I read. This won't be "this is what God showed me so you need to be shown the same things" it's just what God showed me. Most likely God will speak to you differently through the scriptures.

My Devotions

1 Peter 1:1-12

We believe without seeing or ever having seen. Amazing faith. We shouldn't take for granted what the disciples and apostles did after the death of Christ. This has become so prevalent in my mind when I think about how badly Paul and Peter died. All for Christ. All so we would have the books and letters we have today that are still so powerful. They spent ever ounce of their being carefully searching out the things of God and pronouncing his glory.

1 Peter 1:13-25

We fade but the Word of the Lord remains forever. It seems as if we have the Word in our hearts we will remain forever (this is just me trying to think simply and logically on how simple things work). Paul also quotes Jesus "You shall be Holy, for I am Holy". That quote really makes me think and gives me an unsettling feeling. What does this mean in my life and what actions do I need to take to get going in that direction.

1 Peter 2:13-17

The integrity that we have in the work place will prove our faith to our co-workers more than anything. More than even carrying a Bible or wearing a Christian t-shirt (which most Christian t-shirts are pointless anyway).

1 Peter 3:8-22

It is better tosuffer doing good than doing evil. But is God's will sometimes that we suffer from doing evil. Do we need the bad to help us see the good? I think a problem I've had in the past is when I care about or love someone, I tend to hold their past over their head. But if I really was so in love or blown away I'd realize that the past is what made them the person they are.

1 Peter 4:1-11

There is not a lot here in this passage and I'm not positive how to interpret it all. I do know God says don't live for the flesh but for the will of God. I think God makes it clear that He wants our actions to be distinctly different from the unsaved. You can even say the cliché, in the world not of the world. God knows we're going to be around evil things but just don't act like a worldly person. Even different situation might constitute different actions depending on who is around. Have self-control and be sober-minded and you'll be cool. Then Peter throws out the ace of spades or the trump card. Keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. God has blessed us and shown us crazy unbelievable grace and we have to turn around and do the same.

1 Peter 4:12-19 and 5: 1-14

I get a feeling God doesn't want us to follow him out of compulsion or on a whim, decide we want to lead a ministry. We should be consistent and faithful in doing the little thing and God, as long as we're ready and willing, will put us into action when he's ready for us.

Sometimes the Bible can be pretty hard hitting. God straight up opposes the proud. It's scary to think about being an enemy of God. We already know, according to the Word God, wins in the end. So if you're the enemy…you're done. But He gives grace to the humble. All we have to do is be humble, go to Him with our struggles and in his time He will exalt us (exalt: acclaim or pay tribute to). Humbleness seems so important and we need his grace so badly.

Peter

Search up the Apostle Peter or Saint Peter on Wikepdia. Learn about his and life and even his death. A lot of his death is partly speculation but supposedly he was crucified upside down and that was his idea. He didn't want his martyrdom to be equated to that of Jesus'. Check it out.

When You Come Home...I'll Be Ready

Just like the title of my blog, there is deeper meaning to the title of this entry. If you think you know, you probably don't. I feel like i'm quoting a punk song. Hahahah.

A New Home?

If you haven't heard the news, Barry and Tina are getting married at the end of this month. The crazier side of it is they are moving to Georgia because Barry recently got a big job out there. Tina decided not to sell her house but rather to rent it out to B1, B2 and me. At first it sounded like we'd be moving in at the end of August (when B1 and B2's lease would be up) but apparently it is up at the end of this month. That's a little bit sooner than I really wanted to pack up and head out. I'm paying off a big credit card on August 1 so I need a little time to recover. Who knows...we'll see what happens.

A New Job?

By this September I could easily have a new job in the company. One job I applied for is a Meter Tech or Field Service Rep. I wouldn't have to walk nearly as much and I would have an F-150 to take home. Meaning a lot less miles on my truck. This job would put me at about 50K/yr. The other job is a Coordinator in Measurement Services. This is the job I really want and my supervisor thinks I'd be the frontrunner as long as I interview well and i'm very confident in my interview skills. I interviewed for this job earlier this year and was 1 out of 3 that they called in to interview but they gave it to a Supervisor who wanted to demote. This job would score me 55k-60k/yr. Maybe it will work out for me this time around.

A New School?

When my sister goes to enroll at Richland, I am going to go with her and talk to her advisor. I'm ready to get back in school. I'm hoping to take basics and horticulture classes at Richland and then finish up at DBU to have a major in Biblical Studies and a minor in Horticulture. Easier said than done of course. The thing is I have to get this done while I'm still young.

Here it is...

The Plan

Is to change the way people look at me. I'm a pretty goofy guy these days. Not afraid of how I laugh or how dorky I may look sometimes. That kind of stuff I don't worry about but I want to be painted with a different brush as Matt Chandler might put it. My actions haven't always been the best or even well thought out but I feel like in the the last 6 months God has changed my views on certain things. I find myself being more passive and I want to be more understanding of other peoples struggles because my struggles are just as dark, difficult and overwhelming. We're all on this earth together so why not help each other through it instead of beating our peers down with religion. Which is what I for a time did. I feel like these days I look for the beauty in the heart of God's people instead of the dark parts of the soul. Lord, help to never again turn back to my old ways.

Where's My Heart?

In The Balance

There are a lot of things that confuse me. Why the highs are so high. Why the lows are so low. Why when you pour out your heart you get a slap in the face in return. I know why things happen and what got me to where I am now but one things for sure i'm longing for reconciliation. Spiritually and relationally. Until then, my heart remains in the balance. I'm on the mezzanine floor, never been here before. It's a lonely place, but a house full of grace

The Book of James

Lately i've been trying to closely examine my heart. James says "the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty and perseveres being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts." So during Dal's sermons, i've been taking notes. Key thoughts and scriptures that I can go back and review and apply to my life. Application is so critical. I guess i'm just tired of the same routine on Sunday morning/afternoon. I want to be able to reflect on what I just heard and have a sense of urgency when I leave the church for lunch. James then says later in chapter 2 that faith without works is dead. Verse 26: For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. I feel like I do good works but James also says be careful of your motivation. So I challenge myself to make sure i'm not doing just the things I want in my life. Also, James 5:16 says confess your sins one to another and pray one for another, that you may be healed. If there's one thing our heart neglects the most, it's accountability. We all need spiritual healing sometimes and it comes from a few brothers being close and lifting one another up.