Well it's been a while since I blogged. I wanted to put the Christmas story on here, but I never got around to it. But it's high time I put up a new post. 

I have been reading in psalms lately, and in many of those psalms, David is intent on living wholeheartedly for God. As I read these, I think about my life and what I have been doing about this. And I realized that I haven't given my whole self to Him. I have given parts of it, but that's not enough. There are some things that I have done well in giving to Him, and some that I haven't given at all, like my time. I have not given Him my time. I wasted a lot of time last semester, and I don't think that's what God has called me to do. He wants us to not waste a minute, but give glory to Him always. There is no describing what He has done for us, so to give Him this life is nothing. 

So when you are thinking about giving yourself to God, remember that He was the one who gave you life, and He was the one who sacrificed His son so that you could be saved, and He is the one who loves us no matter what we do. So wherever you are in your life, just think about what God has done in your life and what you have given to Him. If He is worthy and you believe that with all your heart and soul, then give Him everything. Don't waste a second doing something that won't honor Him. Cause He does deserve it!

Psalm 3

O Lord, how many are my foes! 

How many rise up against me!

Many are saying of me, 

"God will not deliver him."

But you are a shield around me, O Lord;

you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

To the Lord I cry aloud, 

and he answers me from his holy hill.

I lie down and sleep;

I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.

I will not fear the tens of thousands 

drawn up against me on every side.

Arise, O Lord! 

Deliver me, O my God!

Strike all my enemies on the jaw;

bread the teeth of the wicked.

From the Lord comes deliverance.

May your blessing be on your people.

This is psalm 3. "The Lord sustains me." He is all that David needs according to this. This is how we should be. I know right now I'm not like that. I don't focus on him as much as I should. God is the only thing that we really need. He is the bread that we eat and the water we drink. He provides for us, and He is the only thing we need. 

During the Christmas season, we tend to forget about the One who we really need. We focus on the music and the lights and the presents, even if we are giving them. We do everything for us, not for Him. I know that sometimes even when I give others presents, it's about me and how I feel after. The Lord should be our passion. So this season, when your thinking about all those things, stop and ask yourself how you can be like Christ, and serve Him.

bread of life

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 

"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never grow hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

 

Life is so difficult sometimes. We get all caught up in being busy and trying to get everything done, especially around Christmas and finals time. We just go and go and go and go. We go out trying to find the perfect gift or get the perfect grade on that test. But we go right past the truth of the matter. The truth is that God doesn't care about that one gift or that one grade. He cares about our heart. He cares if we believe in what He says. He is the bread of life. He says that anyone who believes in Him and lives to serve Him will never go hungry or thirsty. This is such a great feeling! To know that God doesn't care about how well we do on a test or how perfect that gift is! He is awesome! If we give it all our effort and do it by honoring Him, He couldn't care less about how good it looks to everyone else.

So in this season, don't be looking to impress anyone. Look to impress the one who can give us life! Now I don't mean that you shouldn't spend a little extra to get a good gift for someone or spend more time studying; these are very good things. Just don't overlook the thing that really matters.

Today is December 7. This is the anniversary of Pearl Harbor. This is the day that men at Pearl Harbor were attacked without warning and died because of it. These men are the reason that we are here now. They are heroes. I believe they should never be forgotten because they deserve to be remembered. 

This country is changing from its roots. The Founding Fathers built it based on equality and liberty, and the way we are heading, we will soon lose those. The government will take them away from us. It was also founded with God at its base. This is being lost as we continue in this direction. We are losing sight of the original goals, and it's not a good thing. We need to keep in mind those who serve us every day, whether that be the troops in Afghanistan or our family members that do their best to make our lives better. 

So as you reflect today or this week or this holiday season, think about those who have made your life better and who love you. Think about those who you love. And think about those in need of God's love. Think about how you can make a difference in their life, because we are all called to do this. 

This video is crazy awesome! God is amazing and His love is unending! Just think about that.

http://www.crazylovebook.com/videos_stop.html

It was just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." "Then, Lord." Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well." Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightfully so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

Is this amazing or what? God, Lord of the heavens strips himself of all His authority to become like a servant. He washes his disciples' feet! Back in that day, this was the dirtiest thing to. Yet, God himself was willing to serve us. This is the extent of His love for us. He loves us in spite of our sinful ways. We are all imperfect, yet He forgives us each and every day when we ask for it. Then He tells us to be a light. To go out and do the same thing to our brothers. I know at least in my life, I don't do enough of loving. I need to take care of others and go out and love them even though they might be dirty. 

Love is the best way to witness, so go out and love on others because God was willing to do it, so we should too. The best way to change the world isn't by doing everything yourself, but to give the gift of love to someone around you. 

Well, today was such a fun day! Our pledge class went out and serenaded many of the sororities and girl's cooperative houses. It was very tiring, but it was great! We pretty much melted their hearts! 

But, on another topic, I have been reading a lot in Job, and I was thinking about perseverance. At this point in the year, we just have to keep persevering to the finish. We don't have very much left, so we just need to continue to persevere. 

Then Job replied: "How long will you torment me and crush me with words? Ten times now you have reproached me; shamelessly you attack me. If it is true that I have gone astray, my error remains my concern alone. If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and use my humiliation against me, then know that God has wronged me and drawn his net around me. Though I cry, 'I have been wronged!' I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice. He has blocked my way so I cannot pass; he has shrouded my paths in darkness. He has stripped me of my honor and removed the crown from my head. He tears me down on every side till I am gone; he uproots my hope like a tree. His anger burns against me; he counts me among his enemies. His troops advance in force; they build a siege ramp against me and encamp around my tent. He has alienated my brothers from me;my acquaintances are completely estranged from me. My kinsmen have gone away; my friends have forgotten me. My guests and my maidservants count me a stranger; they look upon me as an alien. I summon my servant, but he does not answer, though I beg him with my own mouth. My breath is offensive to my wife; I am loathsome to my own brothers. Even the little boys scorn me; when I appear, they ridicule me. All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me. I am nothing but skin and bones; I have escaped with only the skin of my teeth. Have pity on me, my friends, have pity, for the hand of God has struck me." Job 19:1-21 

Job was in the worst circumstance anyone could ever give him. Yet, he didn't give up. He wanted to with all his heart, but he loved the Lord even more. Yearn for God, and desire Him in all you do! And He will bless you.