Thursday, November 22, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Discipline Is Good
Not everyone likes discipline.
When you're young, the words are some of the worst to hear.
When you start getting older, you realize that maybe it's not so bad.
When you get to the age where you want to change aspects of your life, you realize that it's required. That's where I am at.
I recently turned 29, and have realized that I need some discipline in areas that I am not very strong in. I want to live a good, full life, but not one against His will. So I recently took up a gym membership, and just this week has been great. My diet is slowly changing, but it's changing. And in the 4 days I've been signed up, I've gone 3 times (they closed early one day).
But I do realize that it takes more discipline than I want to give. It takes a headstrong approach at times to continue doing an exercise I may not like (or that requires endurance I don't think I have but actually can have if I would just stick with it).
For my health, I'm working out, and trying to eat better. I'm feeling better, but slowly. I'm not huge, but I could stand to lose 30lbs.
This all reminds me of when I started serving God. The discipline I had to have just to go to services, mid-week services and special services. The discipline I had to have (and still need) to open up my Bible and to get on my knees and pray.
God was with me in that. And I know that God doesn't want me to be unhealthy if I can help it. My life has been miserable at times, my fitness level fitting in there many a times. Not that the grass is greener, but that if I can feel healthier, then I am going to. I'm not trying to keep up with someone else, I'm wanting to get out of this initial-obesity feeling I have been having lately.
I do computer programming for my day job, and at night I'm generally a couch potato or (gasp) on the computer. Not anymore.
I will still watch T.V., and play computer games, but I won't be pigging out (often) while I am doing those activities anymore. I need a healthier lifestyle, and I know that it takes work. I didn't get out of shape in a day, and I won't get in shape in a day.
Look at the discipline that is required to live a life for God. Check the Bible, there's prophets and apostles and disciples that had to have the discipline to keep at it. We still need it today. I still need it today.
When you're young, the words are some of the worst to hear.
When you start getting older, you realize that maybe it's not so bad.
When you get to the age where you want to change aspects of your life, you realize that it's required. That's where I am at.
I recently turned 29, and have realized that I need some discipline in areas that I am not very strong in. I want to live a good, full life, but not one against His will. So I recently took up a gym membership, and just this week has been great. My diet is slowly changing, but it's changing. And in the 4 days I've been signed up, I've gone 3 times (they closed early one day).
But I do realize that it takes more discipline than I want to give. It takes a headstrong approach at times to continue doing an exercise I may not like (or that requires endurance I don't think I have but actually can have if I would just stick with it).
For my health, I'm working out, and trying to eat better. I'm feeling better, but slowly. I'm not huge, but I could stand to lose 30lbs.
This all reminds me of when I started serving God. The discipline I had to have just to go to services, mid-week services and special services. The discipline I had to have (and still need) to open up my Bible and to get on my knees and pray.
God was with me in that. And I know that God doesn't want me to be unhealthy if I can help it. My life has been miserable at times, my fitness level fitting in there many a times. Not that the grass is greener, but that if I can feel healthier, then I am going to. I'm not trying to keep up with someone else, I'm wanting to get out of this initial-obesity feeling I have been having lately.
I do computer programming for my day job, and at night I'm generally a couch potato or (gasp) on the computer. Not anymore.
I will still watch T.V., and play computer games, but I won't be pigging out (often) while I am doing those activities anymore. I need a healthier lifestyle, and I know that it takes work. I didn't get out of shape in a day, and I won't get in shape in a day.
Look at the discipline that is required to live a life for God. Check the Bible, there's prophets and apostles and disciples that had to have the discipline to keep at it. We still need it today. I still need it today.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Need A Break?
I'm a huge Jennifer Knapp fan. I'm distraught that I never got to see her perform live, or even just say "Hi" at a meet & greet. So when i found the following post that she had made back in 2002, I was excited and I think you'll enjoy it. I know I did :)
I Need A Break by Jennifer Knapp.
I Need A Break by Jennifer Knapp.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Some Private Time With GOD
Last night I got the privilege of spending near 45 minutes in prayer and worship at church, alone.
I fought hard against the flesh to go, and while I was there I had to battle through some other obstacles, but I am so glad I went. I haven't got a chance to pray like that in a long time, and so I took advantage of it as best as I could.
It was the highlight of my week, that private time with God. :D
I fought hard against the flesh to go, and while I was there I had to battle through some other obstacles, but I am so glad I went. I haven't got a chance to pray like that in a long time, and so I took advantage of it as best as I could.
It was the highlight of my week, that private time with God. :D
Monday, October 29, 2007
This Week's Lesson: How To Praise God
My wife and I teach Sunday School, and this week's lesson was "How To Praise God". It referenced the following:
The story was about Paul and Silas, and how they were imprisoned for preaching Jesus Christ and for doing good works. The community of religious folk didn't like it, especially when they rebuked the spirit of seer that followed them (the one that made the religious fold rich because of her fore-knowledege).
So when Paul and Silas were in prison, after having been beaten, and they started praising God. I'm sure prison's aren't the quietest places on earth, and probably the same that night. But they still praised God in song.
When the earthquake started, I wonder who the first prisoner was that realized that the singing of the preacher was setting them free? I know it was only God that kept them there, that's for sure. The presence of God is so sweet, whether in prison or on vacation.
Then the guard charged in, thought the prisoners had escaped, and was ready to take his own life. This was common back then, as you would have to forfeit your life for the one who kept his. At that moment, Paul and Silas let him know that they were all still there - a miracle in and of itself. The guard was baptized that night, and if I am not mistaken, received the Holy Ghost as well.
The whole moral of the story is that, while most of us would whine and groan when in that same predicament, whether it be because of doing bad or doing good. Paul and Silas chose to praise God, and not just worry about themselves. Because they chose to do so, an entire prison got to experience God's awesome power (not only were Paul & Silas set free, the entire prison was), and at the very least, the guard came to the knowledge of Christ.
What a blessing we can be if we would just be more concerned with God than our own selves.
Psalm 34:1
"I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth."
The story was about Paul and Silas, and how they were imprisoned for preaching Jesus Christ and for doing good works. The community of religious folk didn't like it, especially when they rebuked the spirit of seer that followed them (the one that made the religious fold rich because of her fore-knowledege).
So when Paul and Silas were in prison, after having been beaten, and they started praising God. I'm sure prison's aren't the quietest places on earth, and probably the same that night. But they still praised God in song.
When the earthquake started, I wonder who the first prisoner was that realized that the singing of the preacher was setting them free? I know it was only God that kept them there, that's for sure. The presence of God is so sweet, whether in prison or on vacation.
Then the guard charged in, thought the prisoners had escaped, and was ready to take his own life. This was common back then, as you would have to forfeit your life for the one who kept his. At that moment, Paul and Silas let him know that they were all still there - a miracle in and of itself. The guard was baptized that night, and if I am not mistaken, received the Holy Ghost as well.
The whole moral of the story is that, while most of us would whine and groan when in that same predicament, whether it be because of doing bad or doing good. Paul and Silas chose to praise God, and not just worry about themselves. Because they chose to do so, an entire prison got to experience God's awesome power (not only were Paul & Silas set free, the entire prison was), and at the very least, the guard came to the knowledge of Christ.
What a blessing we can be if we would just be more concerned with God than our own selves.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
A Long Time Coming
I finally got a chance to get back to my home state, Maine.
My gram passed away last Tuesday at a ripe old age of 82, and was serving the Lord. So I got a chance to see my family that hasn't seen me in 7-10 years or more, and I am so thankful for that.
He will take you where He wants you to go, you just need to be willing to move.
My gram passed away last Tuesday at a ripe old age of 82, and was serving the Lord. So I got a chance to see my family that hasn't seen me in 7-10 years or more, and I am so thankful for that.
He will take you where He wants you to go, you just need to be willing to move.
Friday, July 06, 2007
A Month Already?
I left my old job on the 8th of June. That's 4 weeks today!
Wow, has it already been a month?
It's been so great not being at that old job anymore. Sure, I've done some side-work for them, but nothing even remotely close as to what I had to manage before I left. Life has slowed down some, I've done some great things around the house, like... being nicer!
Not having the influence of that man in my life anymore sure has made a difference. I know that the new job won't always make me happy, as there have been days and there will be days where I struggle, but that not-withstanding, I'm certainly a cheerier person as of late!
I read something that has been helping too. It was a description of what a seasoned sailer vs a novice sailer could do, or so I believe. That a novice sailor can be pushed around by the storms on the sea and hopefully get where he's going, but will be blown about a whole lot. The seasoned sailor, though, knows where he's going and doesn't worry about the storms, because even in the storms he knows how to keep his ship going in the right direction, even if it's against the wind.
The novice sailor gets distracted by the storm. The seasoned sailor focuses on the destination.
That's how I want to be. It won't happen overnight, but over time, I hope to change my attitude towards certain things and my personality during others. Slowly but surely, I desire to be experienced in this life for the Lord. But you don't understand how to steer during a storm until you experience them, and I hope that I can make it to the destination I've chosen.
Lord, help me to be a seasoned sailor that I will make it to where You are.
Wow, has it already been a month?
It's been so great not being at that old job anymore. Sure, I've done some side-work for them, but nothing even remotely close as to what I had to manage before I left. Life has slowed down some, I've done some great things around the house, like... being nicer!
Not having the influence of that man in my life anymore sure has made a difference. I know that the new job won't always make me happy, as there have been days and there will be days where I struggle, but that not-withstanding, I'm certainly a cheerier person as of late!
I read something that has been helping too. It was a description of what a seasoned sailer vs a novice sailer could do, or so I believe. That a novice sailor can be pushed around by the storms on the sea and hopefully get where he's going, but will be blown about a whole lot. The seasoned sailor, though, knows where he's going and doesn't worry about the storms, because even in the storms he knows how to keep his ship going in the right direction, even if it's against the wind.
The novice sailor gets distracted by the storm. The seasoned sailor focuses on the destination.
That's how I want to be. It won't happen overnight, but over time, I hope to change my attitude towards certain things and my personality during others. Slowly but surely, I desire to be experienced in this life for the Lord. But you don't understand how to steer during a storm until you experience them, and I hope that I can make it to the destination I've chosen.
Lord, help me to be a seasoned sailor that I will make it to where You are.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
