Over the past few weeks I think I have been losing focus. I think that lately I have been putting my focus on snowboarding instead on the one who gave me snow, cold weather, snowboarding, and the ability to snowboard.
I knew something was wrong because I felt like my relationship with God wasn't as strong as it used to be. However, I didn't know what the root of the problem was. I did notice though that when I was talking to God I would lose focus much more often than normal. Then, once I finally came to grips of what the problem was I knew I had to change. However, without a proper definition you can't know how to or to what extent to change.
Focus definition: A center of interest or activity.
Luke 4:8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"
If we take the definition of focus and put what the Bible says together we get; God should be at the center of interest or activity. My focus was on snowboarding and not on God as it should have been.
Physically speaking when our eyes are unable to focus on certain things because out eyes are messed up we normally get corrective glasses or contacts. That's what I need. I need corrective glasses or contacts so that I can Focus on God and no other thing.
To get that clear image of God we need to completely give ourselves up to Him. Only until we surrender completely can we have a deep relationship with Him.
We cannot allow our desire or passion to do something take the front stage as the focus of our everyday lives. When we focus on God our lives have a real purpose and meaning. I have a little phrase pertaining to this subject I made up a few weeks ago.
When you look up, things will look up.
Basically what that means is when you look towards (focus on) God your life will be the best life you will ever have. Take the route of a profound Focus on God.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
What will be left when all is gone?
My favorite band for the past few years has been Switchfoot. Among their songs, "Gone" is one of my favorites. To me I guess when I think about the lyrics, what I take away from them is how at the end of our life all our money and possessions don't mean anything. How we handled our money and shared our possessions will matter, but all the money we stack and all the nice cars and houses we have has no importance.
If you look at what you buy as unimportant at the end of your life, how does that influence your buying choices? I think that we would be more focused on how what we buy can help others or be used for God's glory.
What are you going to do with that cash? Because possessions don't matter.
Gone - by Switchfoot
She told him she'd rather fix her makeup
Than try to fix what's going on
But the problem keeps on calling
Even with the cellphone gone
She told him that she believes in living
Bigger than she's living now
But her world keeps spinning backwards
And up side down
Don't say so long, and throw yourself wrong
Don't spend today away
Cuz today will soon be
Gone, like yesterday is gone,
Like history is
Gone, just trying to prove me wrong
And pretend like you're immortal
I think this verse shines a great light on how at the beginning of every year we think up a resolution that will drastically change ourselves and the world around us. We have the desire to do these things, but we all know its easier to say something than to do it. We either end up never starting our resolution or stop after a week.
Do your resolutions (not just at the beginning of the year) shout out to people around you that there is more than a promise behind your resolution? That there is someone much greater behind it all that has given you life after death.
What will be left when all is gone?
Do your actions and resolutions have true value that profoundly point to God?
If you look at what you buy as unimportant at the end of your life, how does that influence your buying choices? I think that we would be more focused on how what we buy can help others or be used for God's glory.
What are you going to do with that cash? Because possessions don't matter.
Gone - by Switchfoot
She told him she'd rather fix her makeup
Than try to fix what's going on
But the problem keeps on calling
Even with the cellphone gone
She told him that she believes in living
Bigger than she's living now
But her world keeps spinning backwards
And up side down
Don't say so long, and throw yourself wrong
Don't spend today away
Cuz today will soon be
Gone, like yesterday is gone,
Like history is
Gone, just trying to prove me wrong
And pretend like you're immortal
I think this verse shines a great light on how at the beginning of every year we think up a resolution that will drastically change ourselves and the world around us. We have the desire to do these things, but we all know its easier to say something than to do it. We either end up never starting our resolution or stop after a week.
Do your resolutions (not just at the beginning of the year) shout out to people around you that there is more than a promise behind your resolution? That there is someone much greater behind it all that has given you life after death.
What will be left when all is gone?
Do your actions and resolutions have true value that profoundly point to God?
Saturday, January 19, 2013
The Ultimate Promise
Over the years that the Bible was written God had given out many special one time gifts or promises to people. For instance when God said to Abraham that he would make his descendants as many as the stars in the sky or when God gave Salomon the choice of anything he wanted and he chose wisdom.
Fast forward a few years to the time when Jesus was on earth. Jesus is there on the cross in between two criminals and these events and conversation occurred.
Luke 23:35-43
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
One of the things I took from this section of verse was that Jesus gave a promise just like he did to Abraham and to Salomon. However, this promise isn't just given to the criminal that was stated, this promise is offered to everyone.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
We can all live with God in paradise! To me thats a better promise than any other promise here on earth. Life with God forever is something that I would say is one of the most profound things, ever.
Fast forward a few years to the time when Jesus was on earth. Jesus is there on the cross in between two criminals and these events and conversation occurred.
Luke 23:35-43
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
One of the things I took from this section of verse was that Jesus gave a promise just like he did to Abraham and to Salomon. However, this promise isn't just given to the criminal that was stated, this promise is offered to everyone.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
We can all live with God in paradise! To me thats a better promise than any other promise here on earth. Life with God forever is something that I would say is one of the most profound things, ever.
Friday, January 11, 2013
From Writer's block to the glue of the Church
So considering how I sorta have writers block right now, I thought it would be a good idea to write about writers block. For starters there are many ways that people try to cope with writers block. Some look at inspirational pictures or videos, others just wait it out. Even though I haven't had to deal with writers block much, just recently I realized that when I listen to violin based orchestra music I can write and think better.
This gets me thinking about how we all react differently to different things, such as writers block. I guess this just goes to show that everybody is different with different personalities, and different things that inspire them to write.
It is really an odd thing how we are made with such diversity, but we all have the same few relations.
We are all created by God in His image, we are all descendants of Adam and Eve, and we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. However, despite all these similar beginnings we all are uniquely and largely different. We are either Asian, European, African, Latino, or some other race/race-mix. However, that is only the beginning of our differences.
This scale of different and similar things can fall back towards similar again though. This is because almost all of us have two eyes, ears, legs, arms, a head, nose, chin, and main body section.
Lets look back over what I said. When I looked at how we are similar, at first I only looked at complete deffinites and the same was true when I switched to our differences. However, when I switched back to similarities I looked at things that should be definite, but are not always because of sin.
I think what this difference in thinking or perception of similarities shows that perspective on something greatly affects your opinion. When you get different perspectives in a church (and your bound to find many) arguing and eventually separation and loss of church members can easily happen. So what is that "glue" that somehow keeps the Church together? Some might say its love and compromise, but I think there is a greater glue that keeps the church together. I think God is the one who holds the church together in unison. If we are all the children of God doesn't that make us brothers and sisters? And if we are family with a Holy and perfect Father, that's a genetic "glue" like no other. How can a city with a corrupt leader ever survive?
Each person's perception of something is different, but being children of God relates us together in harmony despite our profound differing perceptions.
This gets me thinking about how we all react differently to different things, such as writers block. I guess this just goes to show that everybody is different with different personalities, and different things that inspire them to write.
It is really an odd thing how we are made with such diversity, but we all have the same few relations.
We are all created by God in His image, we are all descendants of Adam and Eve, and we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. However, despite all these similar beginnings we all are uniquely and largely different. We are either Asian, European, African, Latino, or some other race/race-mix. However, that is only the beginning of our differences.
This scale of different and similar things can fall back towards similar again though. This is because almost all of us have two eyes, ears, legs, arms, a head, nose, chin, and main body section.
Lets look back over what I said. When I looked at how we are similar, at first I only looked at complete deffinites and the same was true when I switched to our differences. However, when I switched back to similarities I looked at things that should be definite, but are not always because of sin.
I think what this difference in thinking or perception of similarities shows that perspective on something greatly affects your opinion. When you get different perspectives in a church (and your bound to find many) arguing and eventually separation and loss of church members can easily happen. So what is that "glue" that somehow keeps the Church together? Some might say its love and compromise, but I think there is a greater glue that keeps the church together. I think God is the one who holds the church together in unison. If we are all the children of God doesn't that make us brothers and sisters? And if we are family with a Holy and perfect Father, that's a genetic "glue" like no other. How can a city with a corrupt leader ever survive?
Each person's perception of something is different, but being children of God relates us together in harmony despite our profound differing perceptions.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Commitment
As I was snowboarding one day I was working on a pretty hard trick combo. Each time the first trick
I would land, but I would fail to look for my landing to be able to start the next trick. Each time I kept on saying to myself to commit to it and I will land the trick. Every time I didn't commit I would miss spotting my landing and then the next feature.
Now switch that over to my life with God. Each time I don't fully commit to following God with all I have I fail. I know that if I commit fully all will be good. Just like when snowboarding I know that if I focus and commit to the subject I will land the trick and be alright. Every time I get scared by the speed and danger of the trick and don't commit. Why is it so hard to commit to God and my snowboarding trick? I get scared, I don't trust God or myself. When snowboarding it is so hard for me to forget that my mind is saying that there is danger and let my body do what it knows it can do. I know that my body can do it and that I will be ok, however my mind gets in the way and says; Wait, there is a chance you could hurt yourself. Its the same with God. I know that God will take care of me and that if I commit to follow him completely I will be alright. However, again my mind gets in the way and says; how can you trust this guy? something bad could happen. Now of course I know thats not the truth, but its a whole mind over matter thing. Its the war between ourselves. We just can't let the wrong side win.
It was the last shot of the day because of the fading light, the camera was rolling, I was in pain, and I was tired. However, the desire inside of me put into place by God that pushed me to keep snowboarding stayed around just until the end. It basically was all on the line. I dropped in telling myself to commit, just commit that was all I needed to do. At the lip of the ramp my mind was telling me to not commit, to not do it, and that I could hurt myself.
Its all about the commitment, I had to push past the dumb fear in my mind, and do what I knew I could and should do. I popped off the lip with my mind telling me to not commit, but my body telling me to commit. My body won and I nailed the trick.
All of this shows how if I just commit to God fully all of the time I will get the best ride of my life. I will nail things right and left. I will be happy, content, and have a great life.
So what is the goal? To step across that line, jump in, and commit fully to life with God. Take the new profound life waiting for you to commit to. Commit to God and all will right itself.
I would land, but I would fail to look for my landing to be able to start the next trick. Each time I kept on saying to myself to commit to it and I will land the trick. Every time I didn't commit I would miss spotting my landing and then the next feature.
Now switch that over to my life with God. Each time I don't fully commit to following God with all I have I fail. I know that if I commit fully all will be good. Just like when snowboarding I know that if I focus and commit to the subject I will land the trick and be alright. Every time I get scared by the speed and danger of the trick and don't commit. Why is it so hard to commit to God and my snowboarding trick? I get scared, I don't trust God or myself. When snowboarding it is so hard for me to forget that my mind is saying that there is danger and let my body do what it knows it can do. I know that my body can do it and that I will be ok, however my mind gets in the way and says; Wait, there is a chance you could hurt yourself. Its the same with God. I know that God will take care of me and that if I commit to follow him completely I will be alright. However, again my mind gets in the way and says; how can you trust this guy? something bad could happen. Now of course I know thats not the truth, but its a whole mind over matter thing. Its the war between ourselves. We just can't let the wrong side win.
It was the last shot of the day because of the fading light, the camera was rolling, I was in pain, and I was tired. However, the desire inside of me put into place by God that pushed me to keep snowboarding stayed around just until the end. It basically was all on the line. I dropped in telling myself to commit, just commit that was all I needed to do. At the lip of the ramp my mind was telling me to not commit, to not do it, and that I could hurt myself.
Its all about the commitment, I had to push past the dumb fear in my mind, and do what I knew I could and should do. I popped off the lip with my mind telling me to not commit, but my body telling me to commit. My body won and I nailed the trick.
All of this shows how if I just commit to God fully all of the time I will get the best ride of my life. I will nail things right and left. I will be happy, content, and have a great life.
So what is the goal? To step across that line, jump in, and commit fully to life with God. Take the new profound life waiting for you to commit to. Commit to God and all will right itself.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)