Salt and Light

I love fall. The changes that take place like the chill in the air and the leaves turning colors make me so excited. There’s nothing better than curling up with a good book and a blanket, maybe with some cocoa, and just enjoying life, you know? The other day I was talking to my roommate and we agreed that it was definitely time to turn off the air conditioning and start stopping at Starbucks before class in the morning.

I like my roommate a lot. For the sake of her privacy, I’ll call her Jane. We get along really well and have lots of similar qualities. At first I was surprised that we hit it off because she is not a Christian, but after a while I realized that I had to start reshaping the way I view people who don’t have the same faith as myself. I’m pretty sure you know exactly what I mean. When we (Christians) tend to think of atheists or people of other religions, we sort of shift them to a lesser level than us, incapable of having the same morals or standards or lifestyles. However, I’ve learned that this idea is the exact thing that makes Christianity so unappealing to other people—we come off as stuck-up, rude, and hypocritical. How can we show the love of Christ when we are so condescending? It’s something God has definitely been showing me as I’ve been here at Carolina, where almost everyone has a different worldview and probably some sort of liberal background. It’s important that we, as disciples of Christ, make ourselves approachable. What were the two greatest commandments? To love God, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Truthfully, the majority of my friends here do not know the Father. They are all “good people”, nice and friendly, who think they are living their life as best they can and that’s all there is to it. What they don’t realize is that they are living it for themselves, and that sort of lifestyle leads ultimately to destruction. While Jesus doesn’t call us to judge them or think lesser of them, He does call us to share Him with them. That alone is a life-changing event, and one that is a necessity in our walk. How can we claim to love Him if we are ashamed to speak His Name? And if you don’t like asking yourself that question, how can you claim to love your friends, and yet let them lead lives that are far, far below the Father’s standard? Maybe, if I may be so bold as to say, there is a heart issue going on here— I know there was for me. God has been breaking the pride in me, and showing me that all peoples are worthy of the Gospel; I am no more important to Him than the homeless man on Franklin Street, using dog tricks to beg for money. Once I realize who I am in relation to who He is, it is so much easier to share Him with my unsaved friends, who need a Savior just as much as me.

The Father calls us to be holy. In Hebrew, the word for “holy” is qadosh; it means, “to be set apart.” It’s interesting— so many times I think we struggle to find a way to evangelize or talk about God, when really, it is very simple. Set yourself apart. You don’t have to run screaming from people who don’t believe; you don’t have to wither underneath someone’s stare if they ask you to explain God to them. The best way, I’ve found, to share Jesus with people is to let them see Him in my life. Believe it or not, others do notice. This requires being intimate with Jesus, which may be far harder than simply telling your friend a Bible story. As you walk with Him, you’ll find Him challenging you to be more and more qadosh every day.
-Kristina

Being Refined

There was a group of women in a Bible study of the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three (3) which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.
That week this woman called up a silver smith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silver smith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot - then she thought again about the verse, that he sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.
She asked the silver smith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silver smith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"
He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy - It's finished when I can see my image in it."

Matthew 7:13-14

Recently I was at a youth event and one of those “put up or shut up” moments occurred.
I wont get into the details but it was a reminder that most christians (intentional lower c) are born into their faith instead of walking in it personally. You know the ole “My mom is saved, my dad is saved; I must be saved”! The more appropriate saying should be "Doesn’t talk like he is saved, doesn’t walk like he is saved; must not be saved!"

Jesus said “You will know them by their fruits” and James said “Faith without works is dead.” I say if the trumpets blow tomorrow America is in big trouble.

Where does the responsibility fall? Pastors? Youth Pastors? Parents? I think somehow the message has become weakened and distorted. People really think it's not going to cost them anything; Jesus loves them just the way they are...on Sunday. If that was true the Father would have never sacrificed/slaughtered His Son. Do you belong to Him?

The path is narrow and few find it!

What is the Reason?

So today I finished reading the book of Revelations. I have read it before but it was refreshing to dive back into it. *Before we go much further I would like to share with you a study tip on reading the Bible that has helped me out a lot. Always answer these three questions. Who wrote it? Who did they write it to? And when was it written? This approach has helped me to retain a lot of what I read by placing the message with the messenger. The time reference helps me map out the events as they happened and to whom they wrote it to defines the character of the author. For this book the info is as follows:
Who wrote it? Apostle John
Who was it written to? Seven Asian churches and believers everywhere.
When was it written? About 95 A.D. (A.D means Ano Domini=year of our Lord, not After Death)

Where was I? Oh! So as I finished reading Revelations today it hit me that no one preaches out of this book. What I mean is verses are used to make additional points to their sermon but rarely used for the sole purpose of a direct study. Why do you think that is? As a Christian I think the vision John received is the very hope Peter referrers to in 1 Peter 3:15-16.

15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

I've noticed in the modern church movement that it is no longer politically correct to imply that there is a Hell and that majority of people are going there. Not my words; His! "Narrow is the path and very few find it." Even just having typed it, I feel as if I might have crossed the line. Did I? He also said "They hated Me first!" and last

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Matthew 10:34, NLT

I must admit it was not the fear of hell that brought me to the Lord, but the realization of His love for me. I have met Christians though that said that the thought of hell scared them to death and that was why they came to Christ. I don't have an agenda, I was just making an observation.

What do you think?

Have You Ever?

HAVE YOU EVER?

Have you ever had a time in your Christian walk like this. Your spending time with God daily. You are reading His word and having devotions, praying and putting all at the feet of Jesus; so that He will direct your ways. You are praying for wisdom and that you “through Christ” will begin to carry on the attributes of Christ. Your prayer time and quite time with your Savior is up to par and it seems that things are for the most part going good. You are listening to Christian music on the radio and turning the T.V. channel when you see that something is on that may cause your mind to wander into things that you know does not honor the Father.
Things are going “GREAT”. Your happy and upbeat most of the day. Work or school is not as bad as you have made it out to be in the past. You have shared your Faith with unbelievers and have made it known that you are a Christian. You begin to puff yourself up a bit. “I’m doing good” “I can resist temptation” “No Problem”.
During the good times you start to become a little comfortable with letting your “Walk” slip a little bit. You start listening to secular music. “Just a little isn’t going to hurt”. You begin getting drawn in by the “Reality” T.V shows, the Drama’s etc. “Not going to hurt” “I am human”. You start to not spend quite as much time as you were with Jesus. Your everyday trials begin to bother you more and more. The radio is not on the Christian channels as much; if at all. Television becomes a way for you to detach yourself from reality. You get drawn into that pretty girl or handsome guy on the shows.
I think you know where I am going with this. You have allowed yourself to open the door to sin. That is all it takes. Sin can start small and it will begin to grow and grow and grow until you become numb to it. It will overtake your life. Your decisions. Your relationships. Your soul. The Devil does not need you to become the scum of the earth to get you away from Christ. All he needs is for you to take your eyes off the Father. All he needs is for you to take hold of the reins of “Your life”.

Proverbs 3: 5-7

5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

“With all your heart”. This is speaking of deep reliance on the Lord. A settled confidence in Him and faithfulness to His Word.

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

“Thine own understanding”. Don’t put what you think is right or good above what the Lord himself declares. Go to the scriptures. See what god says.

In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

“Acknowledge Him, He shall direct”. Praise God for what he has provided and done in your life. Give Him the Glory. Let it be known to Him that you are grateful and that you lift Him up as Lord of Lords. Do this and He says that He will Direct your paths..........

Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Don’t get comfortable and think that you can do it alone. Wisdom comes from walking in Christ. Not getting to know a little and hit the ground running. Fear the Lord. This doesn’t mean be “scared to death of Him” Respect Him, Honor Him, Love Him, Confide in Him, Worship Him, Trust in Him and Acknowledge Him.

and depart from evil.

“Depart” Remove yourselves. Do not let the devil even think about waiting at your door.


I hope this is an encouragement to your soul. Jesus loves you. Lay all things before Him and stay behind Him. He is the Shepherd and He will guide your paths..........

Let God take the reins of your life...............

Brandon

Are you following Him?

There are only two animals in the Bible that relate directly to people. Sheep and Goats....

Sheep follow the Shepard but goats just walk around and say, " i could do that, but" or "I would tithe , but" or "I would come to prayer meeting, but" or " I have a great voice and I could sing with the worship group, but"..... so on and so on..... "BEFORE YOU CAN BE A SHEEP YOU GOT TO GET YOUR BUTT OUT OF THE WAY."

I believe that God's sheep are His top priority. He is the Great Shepherd...

Psalms 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

What I shall not want means to me is.
I shall not want for love because God is Love
I shall not want for peace because He is the Prince of Peace.
I shall not want for joy because His presence is the fullness of Joy.
I shall not want for healing for He is the Great Physician.
I shall not want for forgiveness for He restores my soul.
I shall not want for rest for He makes me lie down in green pastures.
I shall not want for confidence because I fear no evil.
WHY?

Because He is with me. His rod and staff comforts me.

Read Psalms 23

CHRISTIANS.... HAVE YOU ADMITTED THAT YOU ARE SHEEP?

Sheep do stupid things. Therefore it is very humbling to admit you are like a sheep. Sheep are near sighted. They follow what ever is in front of them. They can and will lead themselves right off the edge of a cliff or mountain to there death. An entire herd can be lost and doomed without direction. Sheep have no defense either. No claws, fangs or horns. They do not have a strong roar to scare potential predators away. Sheep are dumb and defenseless.

So God calls us sheep. Are you getting the picture yet?

To recognize that you are a sheep you need to start by admitting that you are completely 100% dependent on the Shepherd. (GOD)...

Isaiah 53:6 says - All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

All we have to do as sheep is follow our Shepherd... Lay our cares at His feet and have Him guide our paths.....

You won't receive the blessings of God until you understand, recognize and acknowledge that you are sheep.....

THERE IS ROOM AT THE CROSS FOR YOU.


Brandon