Glory to God, Forever!~

Upon receiving an award, winning a competitive sports game, or reaching a goal that's been high on your list for a long while, what is the first thing you do? Many, including myself, choose to run to our parents or faithful friends and tell them the good news.  What are we hoping for here? Maybe a compliment...a congratulations? Do you think this is the right approach to take?

People crave attention and recognition, and often, they are willing to put that before God.  It often seems that you get so much more recognition when you tell a group of friends, rather than God, but as Christians, all of our victory actually belongs to God, working through us with the Holy Spirit.  He should be the first one you give the glory to. 1 Peter 10-11

says this:

"10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

11 Whoever speaks, let it be with God's words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen."

So next time you accomplish something and feel the urge to spread the news to others with the desire of getting praised, take a moment, and let God know how thankful you are for his movement in you.

His Handiwork~

These are some recent pictures I took using an old Nikon camera and my iPhone. I kinda fell in love with each image. Of course editing was involved in a few of them, but do these images not capture the wide spectrum of elements hidden in God's creation? Today, let's just gently reflect on this insanely awesome world we live in. Wow...

~Eric

Linking Arms~

I was looking for some inspirational teaching from Paul, or an ineffable action of Christ that showed the importance of this idea I've been wanting to blog on, but I've struggled to find an instance in the bible that worked well...that is, until I used the power of Google. I was able to use some of Paul's teachings and some internet research to determine one thing for certain~as American Christians today, we lack uniformity. This is an ever-growing problem in today's society, that is starting to hinder Christians ability to reach out to those who don't yet know Christ. Allow me to explain.

1 Corinthians 1:10

"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought."

Paul continues teaching on the importnace of Christian and Church uniformity in the book of Romans.

Romans 12:16

"Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited."

 

Romans 12:4

"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function..."

www.redletterchristians.org says, and I quote, "American Christians have forgotten how to dialogue and respectfully disagree. We've abandoned concepts like grace, humility and love and have developed into critics instead of encouragers, instigators instead of peacemakers, debaters instead of friends, and reactionists instead of innovators."

Are you a peacemaker? Showing mercy? Willing to go the extra mile for your faith?

Many Christians today are critical towards those who aren't Christian, or believe an aspect of the bible differently. If we could set aside minor differences, and find glory in the simple fact that OUR biggest commonality is our belief in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, we would all be much more versatile tools, right at God's fingertips. It's just taking that step to turn a blind eye to our denominational differences. Taking steps toward a more united Church will better allow us to be the Hope of the World we are called to be. It's time to amalgamate the seemingly seperate entities of the Christian Church, and accept that when it comes down to it, we are all Christians.

Made New~

Breaking an addiction can be tough. I have many people in my life who have sought help in breaking their specific addiction, but it seems like whether it's a counseler, or another family member, the addiction is never completely broken. But is it possible to completely break an addiction? I'm going to tell you that the remnants of broken addictions will still leave lasting impacts on your life, no matter how harmless the addiction initially seemed.  But did you know that our greatest addiction as humans is conquerable? Sin is an addiction every single human battles daily.  Sin's grip on us may seem overpowering, and difficult to bear on our own, however, in Romans 6, we see hope unfold.  Romans 6:4 says this, "therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life." Verse 12: "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body..." Verse 14: "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are but under law but under grace."  So our old self was buried with Christ, and just as Jesus came back glorious, our newness in Christ is glorious too! So why not live like it?! Many Christians I know still let sin have dominion over them, and don't seek to put end to it's reign.  Shouldn't we seek to produce fruits of Holiness, and part ways with the curse that has ruled over us for years, as Jesus has told us to? Verse 7: "For he who has died has been freed from sin." You're made new! Celebrate! Your spirit cleansed.

Love, Love, Love~

I guess I never understood the importance of love before reading the book of John. John is transformative, as it speaks right to the heart with the words of Jesus Christ.  I was so overwhelmed with all of Jesus' teachings from the moment I embarked on my journey through John. Soon to be finished, I want to share one of many very powerful passages sharing the importance of love.

JOHN 15:

12 My commandment is this - to love one another just as I have loved you.

13 No one has greater love than this - that one lays down his life for his friends.

14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.

15 I no longer call you slaves, because the slave does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have revealed to you everything I heard from my Father.

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.

17 This I command you - to love one another.                                                       As Christians, we were appointed to bear fruit that remains, and to follow the commands of Christ.  Jesus stresses love in this chapter, and how we should love one another. Even if we are of difference of opinion with someone, or we have completely different religious/political views...love still applies. Have an awesome day everyone!