Unfortunately I will stop blogging until next semester because I am overwhelmed right now with final assignments and papers. Also during the christmas break I will not be always able to access a computer all the time let alone the internet. See you next semester.
Merry Christmas
Jon
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Friday: What Are We Living For?
Just a short thought for today:
Three years ago this winter I was on a snowboard trip with some of my buddies to a big mountain in Quebec, Canada. One morning before we hit the slopes everyone was running around getting things ready for a long day on the mountain when I picked up a well-known book called Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper. I quickly flipped through the book hoping to land on a page and get something out of it that I could meditate on for the day. I found a page and slid my finger down about halfway and landed on these words:
Three years ago this winter I was on a snowboard trip with some of my buddies to a big mountain in Quebec, Canada. One morning before we hit the slopes everyone was running around getting things ready for a long day on the mountain when I picked up a well-known book called Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper. I quickly flipped through the book hoping to land on a page and get something out of it that I could meditate on for the day. I found a page and slid my finger down about halfway and landed on these words:
"Life on earth will soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last."
Talk about God giving me something to meditate on! I read this phrase over two times and set the book back down to grab my board and went out to ride some powder! Funny thing is that I not only thought about those words all day, but even to this very day I am reminded of these words and I continue to wrestle with this very truth: My life is a vapor, only a short breath and then it will be gone. When I die all my possessions are gone and it's only a matter of time till the things I have done and who I am will be forgotten. The only things that will last are the things I have done for the glory of God. Nothing else will even be remembered. We need to live each day with the purpose of glorifying Christ and store up treasures in heaven where nothing will ever fade.
You Are a Vapor
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Thursday: Pass the Salt Please!
Matthew 5: 23- "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt looses its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet."
As Christians we are called to be like salt in this world, meaning we are to have an influence in this world and on those around us. If we are Christians yet we aren't impacting those around us by what we say and how we live then we have lost our flavor. Matthew says that salt without flavor is worthless and should be thrown in the dirt. If we have no influence in our world today then what purpose do we have of following Christ. Or are we even following him by this point? Christ called us to go unto the ends of the earth proclaiming the good news, making disciples and baptizing them. If we aren't doing this then we aren't following Christ! We have lost our flavor.
Make a Difference!
As Christians we are called to be like salt in this world, meaning we are to have an influence in this world and on those around us. If we are Christians yet we aren't impacting those around us by what we say and how we live then we have lost our flavor. Matthew says that salt without flavor is worthless and should be thrown in the dirt. If we have no influence in our world today then what purpose do we have of following Christ. Or are we even following him by this point? Christ called us to go unto the ends of the earth proclaiming the good news, making disciples and baptizing them. If we aren't doing this then we aren't following Christ! We have lost our flavor.
Make a Difference!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Wednesday: Accepted
Today I just want you to stop and meditate on the following passage:
Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the wonderful kindness he has poured out on us because we belong to his dearly loved Son. He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
Ephesians 1:4-8
God loved you before he even made the world! YOU!
Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the wonderful kindness he has poured out on us because we belong to his dearly loved Son. He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
Ephesians 1:4-8
God loved you before he even made the world! YOU!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Tuesday: Am I Lukewarm?
Revelation 3:15-16 "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."
We have all heard this verse before and thought to ourselves that we're not lukewarm because we're not on the fence. We have chosen to follow God. However, what many people can miss is that these verses are found in a letter in Revelation that was written to the church in Laodicea. Yes, indeed this is written to Christians such as you and me. God calls us to be either hot or cold, to be either for him or against him, there is no in between. See Francis Chan writes, "Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives. But only a part."Yes I know that Jesus may be a part of your life but is it just that, only a part? See a relationship with Christ is all you are for all he is! You cannot give him a part of your life and expect all he has to offer, it's a straight up trade.
God says that he would rather you be cold then lukewarm. This is not a figure of speech, God would seriously rather you be cold then lukewarm. If you aren't following God whole heartedly and you don't plan on changing then you are simply an imposter! Get in or get out! This is a difficult truth to swallow sometimes but we must make a decision. Give God ALL that you are!
Hot or Cold?
Choose.
Live it!
We have all heard this verse before and thought to ourselves that we're not lukewarm because we're not on the fence. We have chosen to follow God. However, what many people can miss is that these verses are found in a letter in Revelation that was written to the church in Laodicea. Yes, indeed this is written to Christians such as you and me. God calls us to be either hot or cold, to be either for him or against him, there is no in between. See Francis Chan writes, "Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives. But only a part."Yes I know that Jesus may be a part of your life but is it just that, only a part? See a relationship with Christ is all you are for all he is! You cannot give him a part of your life and expect all he has to offer, it's a straight up trade.
God says that he would rather you be cold then lukewarm. This is not a figure of speech, God would seriously rather you be cold then lukewarm. If you aren't following God whole heartedly and you don't plan on changing then you are simply an imposter! Get in or get out! This is a difficult truth to swallow sometimes but we must make a decision. Give God ALL that you are!
Hot or Cold?
Choose.
Live it!
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