forgive? You can't be serious????

I have really been tested the last seven days with this one.  For anyone who has ever been in this situation or situations, you get it.  Not going into details but in the last seven days, someone has hurt me and my twins (not physically, but emotionally) and made them cry; and a close friend really has crossed a line with me.  As a parent you can really understand my struggle with the first one, its one thing to upset me, but you better not make my little ones cry; and as for the other one, well probably everyone has to deal with a friend who really said some things they shouldn't have.  So what do we do?  Do we carry around this anger, this bitterness, or do we forgive and let it go.

Sure we know the thing we are supposed to do, we are supposed to let it go.  How appropriate my reading was for today:

^12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ^13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ^14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Col 3:12-14, NIV)

I began to think about this, and realize that as much as i would try not to, i know that it could have very easily been me to have crossed a line or hurt someone.  Would i want them to forgive me, yes i would.  I have determined today to begin the process of healing, and to let it go.

What about you?  Do you have someone you need to forgive?  Take the high road, You are God's chosen person so clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and choose to forgive.

the choice is yours, what will you do?

have a great weekend, go and worship the one who is worthy to worship this Sunday,

love to all, Chris

empty

^8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (Col 2:8, NIV)

It is always amazing to me how people try to say that the Bible is irrelevent to today's society.  Colossians 2:8 is a wonderful verse to show how it is applicable to today.

So what is the verse saying?  Simply it is telling us how easy it is to fall into society's definition of what is right and wrong.  Now think about this.... even when we know deep down inside that something is wrong, we still try to justify it, see list and in parenthesis you will find direct rebuttal from scripture:

• Abortion - somehow we think we have the right to choose because it's our bodies (^19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ^20 you were bought at a price. (1 Co 6:19-20, NIV)
• Living together outside of marriage - its ok because we love each other (^14 “You shall not commit adultery.Ex. 20:14) & (^2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. (1 Co 7:2)
• Sex before or outside of marriage - its ok because we love each other (^2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. (1 Co 7:2)
• Substance abuse - its ok because it feels ok and others are doing it so why not (^18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. (Eph 5:18, NIV)
• What is wrong with witchcraft movies, books, its just a book or movie (^9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. ^10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, ^11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. ^12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. ^13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God. (Dt 18:9-13, NIV)

Those are just a few, but the list could go on and on.  I know what ur thinking "Chris, your being legalistic" my point is simply this, we can try to justify anything, but scripture warns us not to do that.  There was an old saying, "when in rome do as the romans do", but if we are not careful it can and will lead us astray from God and His purpose for our life.

Have a wonderful day, Chris

Ever felt like this

Bills are late, no money in the bank, nothing seems to be going right, life is falling apart, no one seems to understand, seems like one dark day after another, after another, and after another.  Have you ever felt like this?  How do you deal with it?  How should I/you deal with it.  What stops you/me from absolutely losing it?

Don't you just hate it when people say, "when life gives you lemons make lemonade", I detest that saying, seriously i do.

Is Jesus enough?

^17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Col 1:17, NIV)

Is Jesus enough?
Is Jesus enough to hold it together?
Is Jesus enough to hold you together?
Is Jesus enough to hold your family together?
Is Jesus enough?

Life has a way of sometimes being very good, but also very bad.  In due time we figure that out.  Through this journey we learn over time that In Him (being Jesus) all things (you, your life) are held together.  When life seems to be at its worst we have to have someone bigger than ourselves to help hold things together, or we will go crazy.  I have to know that someone is

Where have you been?

Well if you read me regularly this is probably a question you are asking.  Well I don't really have a good answer or a good excuse. 

I took a family vacation from oct 9 to the 15th, other than that i really don't have an excuse, but i can try to give some:

excuse 1 - have been really really busy since got back from vac
excuse 2 - i'm all out of excuses haha

this week is about done now, so i will challenge myself to get back to writing next week, till then God bless and go and worship the KING :)

chris

How do you see me?

^21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. ^22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—  (Col 1:21-22, NIV)

Some people struggle with self image, admittedly sometimes i do as well.  My past sometimes veers it's ugly head and reminds me of the person i was (yes, was notice past tense).  Sometimes I run from that, or try to.  Sometimes i dream of it.  I used to really not like the person i was.

I didn't like how alcohol consumed my life,
I didn't like how i treated women,
I didn't like jumping from one relationship to another.
I didn't like wandering around aimlessly in this life.
I didn't like feeling like I had no purpose.
I didn't like me.....

I was an enemy of  God (vs.21)

Yes, an enemy of God.  If your not with Him, you are against Him.  If your not helping, you are hindering.

It's reality.

but then.........

Nov 30, 1997 happened, I became a Christ follower and something amazing happened (vs. 22)

I am reconciled
I am Holy
I am without blemish
I am free from accusation
In the sight of God   - and everyone else's opinion really doesn't matter.

and now

I love God
I love Me
I love my Family
I love my life

have a great day,  Chris

the phone call

^4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— ^5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel (Col 1:4-5, NIV)

As a minister to students I get alot of phone calls, the majority of them are bad. 

"you wouldn't believe what came out of one of YOUR students mouths at school today"
"my daughter has no respect for me, will YOU teach them to honor mom and dad"
"will YOU do something about that boys anger, he spun the tires leaving parking lot"
"she is always starting so much drama, will YOU do something"
"i've heard enough, so i'm not coming back, until YOU do something"
"YOU have a student causing trouble, YOU should do something"
"my children are fighting, will YOU do something"

and i could go on......

The few and far between phone calls/emails i get are about their faith, how God has moved in their lives, how they are impacting others, how impressed parents are by what their child is doing or not doing.  I know it's happening, I see it happening.

So to my students may you know that I have seen your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for one another, and it springs forth in your life.  Keep up the good work.  May others see what impact Christ is making in your life, may it be evident.

have a God filled rest of the week, Chris

random thought

ok so todays blog is just some random thoughts, or thought, i have had.  Just finished Joshua and havn't decided what NT Book i am going to begin reading, but i should have decided by tomorrow.

Passion, where is it?  what has happened to it?

ok let's start with What is Passion?

Webster's definition:  a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept

(Merriam-Webster, Inc: Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. 10th ed. Springfield, Mass., U.S.A. : Merriam-Webster, 1996, c1993)

 

I can go with that, so the better question is where is our strong liking, or desire for devotion to CHRIST?

 

Now listen, I absolutely will not say I am more passionate than others, that's not fair.  REality is some days my passion is greater than others.

 

I have some students that clearly show they have a passion for Christ, and other's well, they act like they could care less.  I struggle with this angering me, How can we act like we can care less about Christ with what He has done for us.  I struggle with watching the ungratefulness that generations both young and old have for Christ and His bride (the church).

 

So what changed?  How did we get to this point?  what do we need to do to change it?  How should we measure passion? 

 

What does God think about passion?

 

^15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ^16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

(Re 3:15-16, NIV)

 

Lord I don't want to be just luke warm.....who is with me?

 

Chris