Discipline by Endurance

How does discipline fit into our lives?

Recently I have had difficulty keeping my eyes focused on Jesus, I am worrying too much about what is going on around me. I am worrying what people think of me when they see my short comings, and how I am supposed to be set apart from those that don't have the faith in Christ. I find myself in sins that I had conquered, but I let those things come back in, but by the Grace of God He forgave me and now I can once again have victory over it. Today, I was thinking about my current situation spiritually and God showed me to read Hebrews 12, I could not get through the whole chapter God spoke to me through those words.

vs. 1-2 "...let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne."

I have a hard time running that race because I am constantly doubting that since I am a sinful man that I can't run a race after Jesus and keeping my eyes on Him if I cant get rid of those things that hold me down. He is the source of my faith and perfects so why not focus my eyes on Him?

It takes discipline, discipline that only comes from the Father above. In verse 5 the bible tells us not to take the Lord's discipline lightly because He disciplines the one He loves and punishes everyone whom He receives.

It is hard to think about what my punishment is for my sin, because I know it keeps me farther and farther away from God. God wants us to endure through those tough times where we can't seem to do anything right whatsoever, we look to ourselves to try and solve the problem. He wants us to take His discipline so that we can change our lives, but when we don't recieve the discipline then we are illegitimate children. I don't know about you, I do not want to be one of those that does not receive discipline from God. (vs. 7-8)

"We had natural fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn't we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live?" (vs. 9)
We should respect our creator more for what He has done will do and is doing right now, because if not we are corrupting ourselves.

"...He does it for our benefit, so that we can share holiness." vs. 10

Wow! A God would want to share His holiness with me?? I would have to say you are crazy if you would try to tell me that, but He does truly want our hearts, He wants us to respond to His discipline.

"No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it." vs 11

This verse is so true to us as a human race, we face many of tragedies and rough times, but God brings the peace and righteousness we need so that we can be closer to Him.

The point of this blog is to state that we should not carry all the baggage this life brings, set it aside and begin a race after Jesus. Such a race where He will discipline you to be the man/woman of God, He longs for you to be. Since He is the one that perfects our faith because He is the source then we should just run right after Him. He endured a cross where He was despised, so why can't we endure? Keep running after Him, thats the only way to overcome the daily struggles and be holy as He is Holy.

Hope these words are an encouragement to you today.

My cup overflows...

Lord my cup overflows, with your joy!

So God has began to move in my heart this semester, I am finally beginning to walk with HIM. I have seen some awesome things happen, and I have experience much frustration, almost to the point of total burn out BUT that is no more. God has filled my heart with joy this week. He is so faithful because I have been praying for my friend all semester, that he would open his heart to Jesus instead of trying to live on his own. Those prayers were answered Wednesday night around 11:45 p.m. I was given the opportunity to share with my friend, Matt Glades, what it truly meant to give his heart to JESUS, after discussing the basics and how his life would not get better if he didn't find the Change he needed. He realized that he needed this change, needed something real within his soul. The change was that he needed a Savior, because he did not have one. He realized that God does love us and has a wonderful plan for our lives. He realized he was sinful, and his sin separated him from God. He realized that Jesus gave His life to bridge the gap between us and God. Then He finally realized that he needed to believe and accept that Jesus' sacrifice was enough, His grace is enough to save him from doom. He then said a prayer of salvation right then and there, he was for sure that he had made Jesus LORD of his life. Words cant explain the presence of joy that just swept through the room, it was something I had not experienced for a long time. God was there and was filling our hearts with Joy. He filled my heart with assurance that He truly does answer prayers, he truly does Love us and wants us to live a life full of joy no matter the trials and tribulations we face. This was absolutely the best night of the whole semester!

This was the second time I have taken the opportunity that was before me, but this was so much more special to me. It immediately filled my heart with joy and passion for Jesus. My good friend, who God burdened my heart to pray for constantly, had accepted Jesus, he no longer wanted to live like this world! From that moment he received eternal life, a life not just in eternity, but a life that Jesus gives us while we are on this earth. Praise the name of the LORD!

Many of other things have began to stir up in my Heart! We need to be serious about our FAITH in Jesus Christ, who gave His life-a life that was perfect-to die for our imperfections. I have not been as serious as I need to be, because lives are hanging in the balance of God's people sharing the good news that we have believed in our hearts. I am writing to tell everyone that this joy I recieved has renewed my soul, has made me want to tell more people that can have joy in their lives. Hope you have that joy!


B

All for Love

Love is the only thing that will change this country, the only thing that will change this world. What love can do that??? The love of Jesus that lives within those that Love God and keep and his commandments such as loving People. As Christians we are called to Love People, such as loving our enemies!!!!!! If we can't love our enemies then how can we Love Jesus? Thats right, you CANT! The Great Commission tells us "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to OBSERVE everything I have commanded you." If we can't carry out this simple mission that Jesus gave us, then all I gotta say is Check yourself before you wreck yourself!

I believe in the Love of Jesus and I believe that its my MISSION, no my DUTY as a Follower of Jesus to OBEY Him by reaching out to people who are lost. My Mission field is Missouri Western State University, where God has placed me it was not on accident that I left my home which 600 miles away. He has brought me here for the reason of Obeying and Trusting in Him. I don't know if I would have discovered how much He trully loves me until I got here 4 years. Praise be to God for his Love and patience with me!!

I am writing this to encourage anyone if they are not sure what God has planned for their life, to people that don't know what we are supposed to do as Christians. It is simple: Love God, Love People by serving the world, making disiciples (not just converts) and teaching people how to Love God.

B

Entertainment or Jesus?

Random thought of the day:

Does your heart desire the entertainment of this world or the fellowship with Jesus Christ?

I asked myself that question today while I was driving up to a football game with a friend. In our society today we thrive off entertainment, what catches our eye on tv or other sources of entertainment. For example: We spend alot of time going to football games, keeping up with all the players, and acting crazy while cheering on our favorite team. We put alot ofenergy into the game and sometimes can become very angry over things that should not have any meaning in life whatsoever. We waste our time focusing on sports, TV, gadgets (computer, cell phones, ipods, etc.) and other entertainment. The question is: are these things really making us happy or is it leaving our hearts void? So I myself had to question myself when going to a football game; wondering if I was going to get more excited about a football game and not focus on what really matters, what truly can fill my heart. Jesus is the only one that can fill the void in our hearts, give us happiness which is why we should be more excited about Him more than entertainment of this world. We should all ask ourselves are we putting in the time and energy in having fellowship with Jesus as much or even more time than we do filling up our time with worldy entertainment, such as in my life football becomes the distraction.

Pastor Deaton always says: "Live for Jesus, because thats all that matters." I truly believe He is what we should focus on and not get wrapped up in useless entertainment. Simple: be more energic about Jesus and less energic about other things.

Bought at a Price

Have you ever thought, how much does my life cost? I'm not trying to put a money value on human life, but aren't you curious to how much your life would cost? Well then you should ask Jesus, he is the one that paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we can know him. So the value of our life is a price that is absolutely beyond the value of money or anything else here on Earth. The price for our life required someone to die a brutal death with the only thing on His mind, to save those who which are lost.

In 1 Corinthians Chapter 7 verses 22-23 Paul states that we belong to Christ, not to man. In those days some of the church were slaves, but Paul made it clear to them that they are free from the power of sin in their lives. 22 "For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ's slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men."

When it says we are bought a price, it literally means we were bought a price which was death for the Creator of the universe. We were all once slaves to sin, but with Jesus paying a price we have freedom from the slavery. If there was never a time in your life where you were from slavery of sin then its simple: call on Jesus and He will set you free

God at work

In the last month, I've seen God everywhere in my life and I have never have experienced this much at one time ever in my life. HE has helped me through the tough times I have had recently with the passing of my grandmother. I have seen God work through people to encourage me and to comfort me when I was at my lowest points. I am overwhelmed by how awesome it will be to see HIS face once I go to Heaven and just having that thought makes it easier to know that my grandmother is with Jesus and not suffering. In fact, I am jealous of her, that she is praising THE KING right now at his feet and I am praising him with faith but not sight.

Through Youth camp then the Mission Trip God has shown himself to me in ways I have never seen before. God has spoken through my Dad, assuring me that my trip to Connecticut was not going to be a mistake, but an opportunity to seek God's face and share hope to those without hope. For example: I was given the opportunity to share Jesus with someone on the trip. We where at a mall in Waterbury, Connecticut when a couple of us decided to talk with people, asking the Holy Spirit to send us someone. Sure enough the Holy Spirit sent a guy to us and it was clear to me that I should talk to him. I began to ask him who Jesus meant to him and if he was sure he would go to Heaven. When I asked him why he could go to Heaven thats when he realized he didn't know and thats when I shared how Jesus paid a price for our sins so that we can know Him personally and know without a doubt we will see Him in Heaven. I lead him in a prayer and because I was not afraid to share Jesus someone else can be with Jesus. How awesome is that? God can use anyone, heck he used me as a tool and he can use you!