Celebrate the wins!!

Okay so I was just thinking how when often times we make resolutions and don't keep them. I thought one way I could keep going with them is to make sure to celebrate those moments when you actually see the fruit of your labor.

So the other day I totally reacted in a calm way to a situation that I would have normally became angry. And it made me think that all the work and prayer I have been putting into not getting angry about stupid things has actually started to pay off in small ways. Praise God, he does answer prayer and changes you through it.

So I am gonna take this moment and thank Jesus for once again reaching into my life and changing me for the better.

I think it is really important to celebrate when we see God working in our lives. So many times I get caught up in how crappy I can be, that I forget that Jesus says I am forgiven and when he looks at me he sees a child who he loves and is good.

Stop believing the lies!! Celebrate the good things, and do away with the bad. God will change you, just make sure when he does you notice and thank him, and then celebrate!! I think it is amazing that over the course of a Christian's life God changes you to be more and more like Him.

So don't give up, celebrate the wins - even if they seem small, and keep pushing yourself to be more like Christ. Follow his example, read the bible and pray that he changes you.

My verse for the last week that has really spoken to me is Luke 6: 46-49 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord," and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

What have you built your house on? When times get hard do you fall apart? Make sure if you say you follow Christ you read his word, and then do what it says. Life is hard make sure you build a good foundation!! Let Christ be your rock.

That's all I got!! God is good!!

Refuse To Have Enemies.

So one of the big things I am working on in 2010 is not getting angry, in a bad, not so useful way. One of the biggest wastes of my time is when I let what other people do bother me. Seriously, think of how many times a day you let people make you upset. Someone says an off handed comment about you, a tailgater in traffic, sometimes even your family does it, for example there have been several times when my kids have said less than kind statements about me. And we let it all ruin our day.

What if in 2010 we followed the advice of scripture? What if we prayed for our enemies? What if we forgave people immediately without hesitation or even a reason to? What if we put others before ourselves?

I think a lot of times we are so prideful that we forget that God calls us to love our enemies, pray for them, and think of others as better than ourselves.

Colossians 3:8-10 'But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.'

If you have said yes to Jesus, then you have a responsibility to work hard at not getting angry, to not saying bad stuff about other people. We are called to put on the "new self", that is who we are in Christ - NEW!! Don't do the old stuff that revolves around yourself, strive to become who God wants you to be.

There are things that we should get angry about: poverty, starving children, victims of injustice, bullys, domestic violence, drunk driving, the list could go on forever. I've made a decision to not get angry about stupid stuff while the rest of the world literally goes to hell.

I am challenging myself to let go of stupid anger, and to make a difference in the world. I want to challenge everyone else to get angry the right way. Give to the poor, help earthquake victims, give a homeless guy a sandwich and a Coke rather than shaking your head at him. Life is so short and I don't want to waste another minute of it cursing the guy out who just cut me off in traffic. Refuse to have enemies, instead of finding ways to have them.

Witness Protection Program.

Did you ever see one of those movies where someone goes into the Witness Protection Program because they testified against organized crime? The whole deal is this, you fear for your life and you won't say anything unless the government gives you a new identity and starts your life over again in a different state with a new house and job.

So let me ask you this: Are you in the Witness Protection Program?

I was reading Genesis Ch. 20 today and Abraham did this thing where because his wife is good looking and they are going somewhere they have never been before around people they don't know he tells everyone that his wife is his sister. What, really? And not only that, it's not the first time he's done it.

Ok, so my first inclination is to say he is just dumb. But then I think, I do this all the time. I tend to kind of lay low and feel out a situation and make sure I feel real comfy before I ever reveal that I follow God. Why? Same reason that Abraham gives to Abimelech: "I said to myself, 'There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.'"... (Gen. 20:11). I think often times we jump to conclusions about people, like they will think I'm crazy, or weird, they will make fun of me, so we don't truthfully, fully represent who we are.

Peter did the same thing. About 5 minutes (give or take) after he told Jesus he would never deny him, he's going Jesus who? Not sure who you mean, you must have me confused with someone else!! I think we all go through this, especially as new christians. There is good news though. Peter went on to become one of the greatest leaders in the history of the church. No he wasn't perfect and he still screwed up, but he learned it is better to not pretend.

You see we are all called to be witnesses. But if we put ourselves in the Witness Protection Program and people find out who we are in a different way other then from our own mouths we are not very good witnesses at all. Be brave, take a risk!! In the end, when Abraham came clean about who his wife really was, things went much better for him. Read the story!! Don't jump to conclusions about how you think people will react, you just never really know. God will not let your life get wrecked because you stand up for who he is and for who you are.

Learn from Abraham and Peter, God can do awesome things through you, but it will never happen unless you check out of the Witness Protection Program and be yourself!!

New Year Resolutions

Okay so I'm not much for New Year resolutions. In fact I don't think I've ever done them in any sort of earnesty. Here it goes though:

• I am going to spend more quiet time with God. Time spent alone, away from distractions, just talking and listening
• This one is linked to the previous one, I will spend more time listening to God. This has always been one of the hardest things for me. I will try to just concentrate on hearing his voice and not get distracted by my brain. Gotta pray more for that one!!
• I will let go of un-righteous anger. There is a right way to be angry and a wrong way to be angry. I will get angry at the things I should and not at the things I shouldn't.
• I will not let fear rule in my decision making.
• I will take more risks in 2010. Jeremiah 29:11; "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Well there it is, I could sit here and think of a million more things but those are the main four I will concentrate on for the next year.

Gonna keep this blog post short and sweet, hope you all have a great year!!