John 1

I have been reading in John the past few days, and have been completely enthralled by the first few chapters. John talks a lot about John the Baptist and what his job is, but he also uses this to show us who God is, and what He is like. 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it... He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. WE have seen his glory, the glory of the One and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." This is up through verse 14. He later goes on to tell about Jesus' first disciples, starting in verse 35. "The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "look the Lamb of God!" When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi, where are you staying?" "Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour... The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me." Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida... When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Now I don't presume to know what all of this means, but there are a few parts that stick out to me. He says that those who received Jesus and believed His name, he gave the right to become children of God, not born of natural descent but born of God. Born of God!! How amazing is that?!?! We can be born of God. That in itself is amazing. He says that there was nothing before God and that from Him all has been created. He then goes on to talk about what it means to have faith, and what this faith will do. These three disciples gave up everything to go with Jesus. All they had was their fishing and their families, yet they were willing to drop it all for Jesus. Are we willing to do that? I know I'm not most of the time. I don't give Him everything. They are a great example of having the faith of a child. Children have no care in the world, but they have faith that their parents will take care of them. We need to believe in what our God can do and is doing. We need to understand that through God we can do anything. We don't need anything else! 

Just think about this passage, and reflect about what God is doing in your life. It's amazing!

Titus 3

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned." Titus 3:1-11 

This is what we should be doing. We are justified by grace alone, by Jesus Christ's sacrifice only! We used to be involved in pleasures of the flesh, but now that we are in Christ, we are to be lights to the rest of the world. 

What are you doing to be a light to the dark world? Just think about that for a while.  God loves us even though we are sinners. Why can't we do the same for others?

Our God is greater

Last night, at our house devos, the worship band played Chris Tomlin's song "Our God is Greater". Those of us who were there were in awe of the lyrics and what he was saying about our God.

Water you turned into wine;
Opened the eyes of the blind
There's no one like you
None like you

Into the darkness you shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There is no one like you
None like you

Our God is greater
Our God is stronger
God you are higher than any other
Our God is Healer
Awesome in power
Our God, Our God

Into the darkness you shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There is no one like you
None like you

Our God is greater
Our God is stronger
God you are higher than any other
Our God is Healer
Awesome in power
Our God, Our God

And if our God is for us
Then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us
Then what could stand against

The first part of this song shows the miracles of God, and what He can do. It goes on to talk about how we are saved. He shined into the darkness, and he brought us up out of the ashes. There is no one like our God. The chorus echoes that and it shows just how great He is. He is amazing; no one can compare! And then the bridge says if our God is for us who could stop us and if He is with us who can stand against us. How amazing is our God? Nobody can stand against Him.
Recently I have been overlooking the fact that I'm a sinner. Yeah, I say that I am, but do I really know that? I haven't really realized it until I failed big time. I failed in an important relationship and friendship. Up until now, I didn't understand just how big of a sinner I am and how much I need God. He really hasn't been the center of my life. I've been pushing Him away, and thinking that I'm good enough that I don't need Him. This isn't the man I was born to be. I wasn't born to be someone who pushes God out of my life. I was born to worship Him. I was born to praise my God, the one who gave me life, the one who created the heavens and the earth, the one who is more powerful than anybody on this earth, the one who no man can rightly deny, the one from whom demons run. That is the God who I serve. He doesn't deserve to be shoved off to the side. He deserves to be put on a pedestal and worshipped because He is the King of Kings.
I have been looking at my life, and I have realized that I can't do this on my own. I need my God. This doesn't mean that I will not sin anymore, but it wipes the slate clean. I am forgiven for my flaws. But the bad habits are still here. Just because I have the Lord in my heart doesn't mean those old worldly habits are gone; in fact after a spiritual high, they tend to come back. I think the definition of Godly manhood is being able to fight those habits and being able to give them to God and let Him heal them.

If you haven't realized how sinful you are, take a look in the mirror and ask yourself if God would accept you into His kingdom just based on your actions. Nobody can say that God would. But we have Jesus, who makes it so that we don't have to. He paid the price on the cross, and we are free. Use that freedom to praise God! Use your gifts to glorify the greatest God we could ever ask for!

In Christ,
Brian

I am a failure. I have failed many times this year already, and I continue to daily. Today I slept through my two hour class even though it was at 11:30. And I slept in much later than I should have. I have a test tonight that I need to study for, but I lost an opportunity for that. I also lost an opportunity to witness to my engineering group. They are non-Christians, and today could have been the best opportunity to witness to them. But I missed it. I let life slip by me, and that is a failure. I realize it now, and it doesn't feel good. I think the reason I continue to fail and not manage my time well is because I keep trying to do it myself instead of giving control to God. He is the only one who can help me because He is the only one who has ever been perfect. A great example is King David. He sinned against the Lord when he slept with Bathsheba and killed her husband. Because of this the God killed David and Bathseba's baby. Yet through all of this David praises the Lord. When he realizes he has sinned, he worships God. And David is still considered having a heart for God.

There are repercussions for the sins we commit, but the Lord loves us no matter what. We need to praise Him because He deserves it. Our mindset needs to be like David's after he sinned when he praised the Lord and fasted. He knew it was useless, but he wanted to give God credit. And even though this son died, he had another one with Bathsheba, one named Solomon. And we know about Solomon. He was loved by the Lord and he was given supernatural wisdom. 

So, good can come from our mistakes. Without this mistake, Solomon might not have been born. We don't know God's plan; we can only try to understand it when it happens. 

When I am in a time of trouble and failure, I will seek to praise the One who gives me life. Like Psalms 62 says, "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." Trust in the Lord because he will lead you out of this failure. Persevere because He makes it worth it in the end.

Love,

Brian

My God

What does your god look like? Is he powerful beyond measure? Can he move mountains with his pinky? Can he create the heavens and the earth? Does he know every thought of every person? Does he know what's best for you and me? Is he merciful and loving? Does he love you when you don't deserve it? 

My God is. He is more powerful than anything on this earth. He made the heavens and the earth. He is merciful enough to love us when we don't deserve it. He loved us enough to send His son to die on the cross and forgive us our sins. My God is the healer of nations. He is the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. He came to this earth as a humble servant and He will return as the majestic king He is. I don't know if you believe in my God, but I believe that He is the only God and He is the only thing that matters. What I do for this world makes no difference if not for Him. He has given me a life to live, and I mean to live it for Him. 

Yesterday at church we listened to a song called You Never Let Go. This is a song about my God. It is a song that says that He never lets go. He will never let go of us no matter how far we stray from His path. It's like a never-ending bear hug. If you've ever been in a bear hug with many people, you know that it's nearly impossible to get out. No matter how hard you push Him away, His arms just keep holding you. 

So continue to live for Him because He deserves it. He deserves our everything because He's given us everything we have.

Here are the lyrics to You Never Let Go. Reflect on what God has done in your life, and how you have tried to get away from his arms and had him pull you back to Him.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

Your perfect love is casting out fear

And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life

I won't turn back

I know you are near

 

And I will fear no evil

For my God is with me

And if my God is with me

Whom then shall I fear?

Whom then shall I fear?

 

(Chorus:)

Oh no, You never let go

Through the calm and through the storm

Oh no, You never let go

In every high and every low

Oh no, You never let go

Lord, You never let go of me

 

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on

A glorious light beyond all compare

And there will be an end to these troubles

But until that day comes

We'll live to know You here on the earth

 

(Chorus)

 

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on

And there will be an end to these troubles

But until that day comes

Still I will praise You, still I will praise You