Communication is known as one of the most essential elements to a humans life. Why do you think Facebook is infiltrated with countless numbers of people trying to stay in contact with the world? Nobody wants to fall off the map of communication. We are all talking, texting, messaging, calling people every single day. The words that come out of our mouths affect each and every person around you.
After working at a car wash for a short amount of time, I quickly realized how communication affects everything. When I have a smile on and a hop in my step, people will communicate back with a positive attitude. If I am tired and just have a bad attitude, looks like I'm not going home with much money that day. If communication affects my work life, won't it affect my Christian life? Absolutely!
The way I decide to talk to people and handle the way they talk to me is huge. I recently ventured upon a situation to where somebody was talking to a close friend of mine and about some life decisions and situations, it seemed as though the person meant very well for my friend but from my point of view, this person came off with bad communication. I later talked to my friend about and he explained that the way the person talked to him was a complete turnoff and not helpful at all BECAUSE the communication was bad.
You could be giving advice to Christians, helping non-Christians, texting a friend, selling at work for commission, or just talking to a family member. If your communication is off, then everything else will be off as well. Don't let your conversations go to waste. Just with a simple step up in your attitude you'll go more than miles in life.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger -Proverbs 15:1
Prayer:
Father, may we look to our words before we use them. May we change our heart, so that our attitudes portrayed may change. Let us be helpful, not hurtful. Let us communicate with purpose.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Are you content with your life
"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." - Romans 12:11
I've heard and seen of many people who are perfectly content with their life and what they have. I have also heard and seen of many people who are always wanting more and more. More money, more cars, more electronics, more facebook friends. How about more God? How about more blessings? How about more scripture?
I DON'T want to be content with my life nor do I want to be chasing after items. If I chase after God, the blessings will chase me! I believe God has something big in store for each of us, I honestly do. Because of this, I'm not going to be content with just being a day to day Christian that gets day to day blessings to make it by. I want God to truly bless me! I want Him to lavish things upon me that I would never dream to ask for. And whatever God pours upon me I want to pour it back upon Him. Is it wrong that I want God to bless me in extravagant ways? Absolutely not! God is a God of blessings. He wants to bless in the most amazing way possible but we just make it so incredibly hard for Him to bless us because were too worried trying to get our own worldly blessings. Were to busy saving up for that car or spending time at the movies enjoying our own time that we lost track of where our time and money needs to be. When I start directing every area of my life towards God, He is going to start directing blessings into every area of my life.
Don't be ashamed to ask God to bless you.
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." - Matthew 7:7
For the past couple months I have been asking God to always bless me with the bare minimum to get by. It is time I start asking God for some real blessings. It is time I start praising God in some serious ways. It is time I take my relationship with God to the next level. I no longer want to be content with everything in my life. I want more of God. I guarantee you you want more too! Please don't miss out on amazing extravagant opportunities and blessings from God.
I've heard and seen of many people who are perfectly content with their life and what they have. I have also heard and seen of many people who are always wanting more and more. More money, more cars, more electronics, more facebook friends. How about more God? How about more blessings? How about more scripture?
I DON'T want to be content with my life nor do I want to be chasing after items. If I chase after God, the blessings will chase me! I believe God has something big in store for each of us, I honestly do. Because of this, I'm not going to be content with just being a day to day Christian that gets day to day blessings to make it by. I want God to truly bless me! I want Him to lavish things upon me that I would never dream to ask for. And whatever God pours upon me I want to pour it back upon Him. Is it wrong that I want God to bless me in extravagant ways? Absolutely not! God is a God of blessings. He wants to bless in the most amazing way possible but we just make it so incredibly hard for Him to bless us because were too worried trying to get our own worldly blessings. Were to busy saving up for that car or spending time at the movies enjoying our own time that we lost track of where our time and money needs to be. When I start directing every area of my life towards God, He is going to start directing blessings into every area of my life.
Don't be ashamed to ask God to bless you.
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." - Matthew 7:7
For the past couple months I have been asking God to always bless me with the bare minimum to get by. It is time I start asking God for some real blessings. It is time I start praising God in some serious ways. It is time I take my relationship with God to the next level. I no longer want to be content with everything in my life. I want more of God. I guarantee you you want more too! Please don't miss out on amazing extravagant opportunities and blessings from God.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
The Roots of Your Heart
"But each of you had better tremble and turn from your sins. Silently search your heart as you lie in bed." -Psalm 4:4
How many have you said "That wasn't like me to say" or "That was definitely out of the ordinary coming from me"? We have moments in this way where we have acted "out of the ordinary" or said something that we did not filter before it came out of our mouth. Each of us have a beating heart that is deeper than we think. That goes deeper than our mind. Many times we use our minds to filter out our actions or our words so the people around us don't really notice what our heart is really like. Sometimes we tend to explode out of nowhere and use the phrases "that wasn't like me".
When our true heart shows how do we react? Do we just cut off the branches or do we go deep to the roots? 99% guaranteed just cut off the branches. I'm guilty of it, your guilty of it. If our true heart shows we swear that we will never act that way again. And we mean it. Then we repeat our mistake. You can't approach your heart and your life with just cutting off the branches and leaving the roots. We must dig deep and realize what is deep inside our heart that is slowly making it rot. We must admit that we have heart problems, even if it doesn't seem like it we do, and cut away the roots. It's time to pull out the tree and throw it away. Let God plant the seeds of your heart this time and let His seeds grow. Forget your old ways. Be done with them. Be done with the controlling, the swearing, the rudeness, the foul mouth, the sexual desires, the lies.
I have a hunger to change and I pray that God puts this hunger in each and every person because the only way to change is to indulge in that hunger for Christ. Fill your heart with His Word and He will plant beautiful seeds that will grow and flourish. Let Christ's heart be your heart.
How many have you said "That wasn't like me to say" or "That was definitely out of the ordinary coming from me"? We have moments in this way where we have acted "out of the ordinary" or said something that we did not filter before it came out of our mouth. Each of us have a beating heart that is deeper than we think. That goes deeper than our mind. Many times we use our minds to filter out our actions or our words so the people around us don't really notice what our heart is really like. Sometimes we tend to explode out of nowhere and use the phrases "that wasn't like me".
When our true heart shows how do we react? Do we just cut off the branches or do we go deep to the roots? 99% guaranteed just cut off the branches. I'm guilty of it, your guilty of it. If our true heart shows we swear that we will never act that way again. And we mean it. Then we repeat our mistake. You can't approach your heart and your life with just cutting off the branches and leaving the roots. We must dig deep and realize what is deep inside our heart that is slowly making it rot. We must admit that we have heart problems, even if it doesn't seem like it we do, and cut away the roots. It's time to pull out the tree and throw it away. Let God plant the seeds of your heart this time and let His seeds grow. Forget your old ways. Be done with them. Be done with the controlling, the swearing, the rudeness, the foul mouth, the sexual desires, the lies.
I have a hunger to change and I pray that God puts this hunger in each and every person because the only way to change is to indulge in that hunger for Christ. Fill your heart with His Word and He will plant beautiful seeds that will grow and flourish. Let Christ's heart be your heart.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Putting On The New You
"... you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self.." -Colossians 3: 9-10
When I became a Christian I was always taught that my life was about to change drastically. My actions would change, my words would change and my heart would beat a different beat. This is all by far extremely truthful and accurate. I did change drastically but in no way shape or form is changing easy. Putting on the new self and putting away the old self and your old fleshly desires is definitely a process. A never ending process to be more specific. We will never reach the state of perfection but we should always strive to become better for the Glory of God. Now that we are the body of Christ we have to represent in the most honorable fashion. When you become a Christian, unlike the rumors, you will not automatically become a great loving person. It takes time and true effort. I have been a follower of Christ for about five years now and it has never been harder. I am constantly messing up. I could always be giving more time to the Lord and reading His word. I am always looking out for ways to benefit me rather than God.
No matter what you hear, say or think, no one is a good person compared to Christ but do not let that get you down! It is time we look at what we can do to really make big changes. I am going to write out a list of qualities that we need to remove and a list of qualities that we need to put on. I am striving to work on this list myself and am examining myself constantly.
QUALITIES WE NEED TO REMOVE:
-Sexual Immorality
-Impurity
-Passion
-Evil Desire
-Covetousness
-Anger
-Wrath
-Malice
-Slander
-Obscene Talk from your Mouth
QUALITIES WE NEED TO PUT ON:
-Compassionate Hearts
-Kindness
-Humility
-Meekness
-Patience
-Bearing with one another
-Forgiveness
-LOVE!!
*Colossians 3
Take a look at this list constantly to examine yourself, as I will do with same. Stay in constant prayer and I know the Lord will change our hearts!
When I became a Christian I was always taught that my life was about to change drastically. My actions would change, my words would change and my heart would beat a different beat. This is all by far extremely truthful and accurate. I did change drastically but in no way shape or form is changing easy. Putting on the new self and putting away the old self and your old fleshly desires is definitely a process. A never ending process to be more specific. We will never reach the state of perfection but we should always strive to become better for the Glory of God. Now that we are the body of Christ we have to represent in the most honorable fashion. When you become a Christian, unlike the rumors, you will not automatically become a great loving person. It takes time and true effort. I have been a follower of Christ for about five years now and it has never been harder. I am constantly messing up. I could always be giving more time to the Lord and reading His word. I am always looking out for ways to benefit me rather than God.
No matter what you hear, say or think, no one is a good person compared to Christ but do not let that get you down! It is time we look at what we can do to really make big changes. I am going to write out a list of qualities that we need to remove and a list of qualities that we need to put on. I am striving to work on this list myself and am examining myself constantly.
QUALITIES WE NEED TO REMOVE:
-Sexual Immorality
-Impurity
-Passion
-Evil Desire
-Covetousness
-Anger
-Wrath
-Malice
-Slander
-Obscene Talk from your Mouth
QUALITIES WE NEED TO PUT ON:
-Compassionate Hearts
-Kindness
-Humility
-Meekness
-Patience
-Bearing with one another
-Forgiveness
-LOVE!!
*Colossians 3
Take a look at this list constantly to examine yourself, as I will do with same. Stay in constant prayer and I know the Lord will change our hearts!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
God Wants His Money Back
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”
- Malachi 3:10
Tithing has always been one of those topics that whenever I hear it come up in church the first thought that comes to my head is "The pastor just wants more money from us" Ha ha. Now in some cases that is probably true, unfortunately, but in other cases I do not think so. The verse up above clearly explains that you can NOT out-bless God. No matter how much you put in that bowl on Sundays, how much you give you the homeless or how many sacks of clothes you give away. God will ALWAYS out-bless you!
How do I know God will always out-bless me? He says "Test me in this". Put Him to the test. Put some more money in that bowl, put some more clothes in that sack. The Lord will put more money in your bank account and put more clothes on your back. What do we do with the extravagant amount of blessings the Lord is bestowing upon us? Give them back :)
The more you give back to God, what you do for a brother you do for the Lord, the more He gives back to you. It is a beautiful cycle that has never failed. When we start trusting God with our money, there will be no where else in our lives to where we don't trust God and that I can guarantee. We are so clinched to our money living in a consumer based society that we always feel like we just need more and more. The thought of giving to God seems outrageous because "we need it more than God". God does not need a dime from you, that is why He gives it back! But by giving to the Lord, not only do you give your money, but you give Him trust.
- Malachi 3:10
Tithing has always been one of those topics that whenever I hear it come up in church the first thought that comes to my head is "The pastor just wants more money from us" Ha ha. Now in some cases that is probably true, unfortunately, but in other cases I do not think so. The verse up above clearly explains that you can NOT out-bless God. No matter how much you put in that bowl on Sundays, how much you give you the homeless or how many sacks of clothes you give away. God will ALWAYS out-bless you!
How do I know God will always out-bless me? He says "Test me in this". Put Him to the test. Put some more money in that bowl, put some more clothes in that sack. The Lord will put more money in your bank account and put more clothes on your back. What do we do with the extravagant amount of blessings the Lord is bestowing upon us? Give them back :)
The more you give back to God, what you do for a brother you do for the Lord, the more He gives back to you. It is a beautiful cycle that has never failed. When we start trusting God with our money, there will be no where else in our lives to where we don't trust God and that I can guarantee. We are so clinched to our money living in a consumer based society that we always feel like we just need more and more. The thought of giving to God seems outrageous because "we need it more than God". God does not need a dime from you, that is why He gives it back! But by giving to the Lord, not only do you give your money, but you give Him trust.
Friday, May 20, 2011
LAST OFFICIAL FRIDAY FIVE!! CONGRATS SENIORS!
FAVORITE BALL WAR
FAVORITE MENTOS & COKE
FAVORITE FISH
FAVORITE LASER DEFENSE
FAVORITE CHARLIE SHEEN QUOTES
FAVORITE BICYCLE
FAVORITE WATER TRANSPORTATION
CLASSIC FRIDAY FIVE FAIL!
BEST LAUGH EVER CLASSIC FRIDAY FIVE!
Best Laugh Ever - Watch more Funny Videos
BEST FRIDAY FIVE VIDEO EVER!
HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE! ENJOY!
TO EVERETT & EVERYONE IN BIBLE CLASS:
I WILL GREATLY MISS YOU ALL AND ALL THE GREAT MEMORIES, I LOVE YOU ALL!!
=]
FAVORITE MENTOS & COKE
FAVORITE FISH
FAVORITE LASER DEFENSE
FAVORITE CHARLIE SHEEN QUOTES
FAVORITE BICYCLE
FAVORITE WATER TRANSPORTATION
CLASSIC FRIDAY FIVE FAIL!
BEST LAUGH EVER CLASSIC FRIDAY FIVE!
Best Laugh Ever - Watch more Funny Videos
BEST FRIDAY FIVE VIDEO EVER!
HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE! ENJOY!
TO EVERETT & EVERYONE IN BIBLE CLASS:
I WILL GREATLY MISS YOU ALL AND ALL THE GREAT MEMORIES, I LOVE YOU ALL!!
=]
Thursday, May 19, 2011
It Is Time For A Heart Transplant
"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”
- Jeremiah 17:9-10(NLT)
There's not much to say after reading a verse like that. You can't say much after this verse because you are sitting in silence examining your heart. Or at least that is exactly what I did and am still doing. "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things.." Wow. To think that supposedly the most important organ in our body is the most deceitful and desperately wicked. It is true though. Our hearts crave the sins of this world. Our hearts want what it should not have. Our hearts hurt more than it helps. The more our hearts indulge in the sins of this world the faster it will die. Our hearts are stone.
I do not want to take my heart of stone and polish it up, make it look nice and stick it back in. I want this evil heart gone. I was my sins gone. I want purity. I need a heart transplant.
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16(NLT)
The Lord our God sent His one and only son to die for us so that His heart will be available for us. Since Christ died, His heart can now be transplanted into our bodies. We can throw away our old hearts and live to the new rhythm that our new heart beats. No more living according to our old ways, we are putting on a new self with a new heart!
"You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins." - Colossians 2:13(NLT)
- Jeremiah 17:9-10(NLT)
There's not much to say after reading a verse like that. You can't say much after this verse because you are sitting in silence examining your heart. Or at least that is exactly what I did and am still doing. "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things.." Wow. To think that supposedly the most important organ in our body is the most deceitful and desperately wicked. It is true though. Our hearts crave the sins of this world. Our hearts want what it should not have. Our hearts hurt more than it helps. The more our hearts indulge in the sins of this world the faster it will die. Our hearts are stone.
I do not want to take my heart of stone and polish it up, make it look nice and stick it back in. I want this evil heart gone. I was my sins gone. I want purity. I need a heart transplant.
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16(NLT)
The Lord our God sent His one and only son to die for us so that His heart will be available for us. Since Christ died, His heart can now be transplanted into our bodies. We can throw away our old hearts and live to the new rhythm that our new heart beats. No more living according to our old ways, we are putting on a new self with a new heart!
"You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins." - Colossians 2:13(NLT)
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