A new year brings new resolutions. But you hear it all the time how your buddy who started his gym membership in January has quit by the beginning of February. Why does that happen? How come we set goals and never follow through?
I’ve thought about this and have tried to be creative about setting goals, and being prepared. But in the end, the same excuses, and same problems prevent us from moving forward with a change we actually want in our lives. Sometimes the simple answer is to go back to the basics. Why do you want to go to the gym this year? Why do you want to cut out some of the bad influences in your life starting this January? Why do you want to spend more time with God THIS year?
As with any change in your life...It’s got to be a personal reason. I’m not talking about that fake, general answer we all lie to ourselves with.
“I’m gonna starting hanging around good people.” Uh huh....I’ll believe it when I see it.
“I wanna lose weight because its just the right thing to do.” Sure.
“I want to read the Bible every day so I can be a better Christian.” Yeah right.
Don’t get me wrong....the reasons above can be legitimate. But most of the time, they fade away quickly. Try digging a little deeper with your family/friend/yourself and you’ll find a rooted, personal reason for the wish to change.
“I found those negative influences hurting my relationships”
“I lost a family member to health reasons so it inspired me”
“My life is out of control without God so I need to get closer”
If you set a goal, there has to be a burden or passion behind it. It can’t be a goal/change just because its New Years Day. It has to be a change that has a root cause. It has to be personal. With that, I encourage you to get closer with God this year. Not because you read it on a blog, but because having Jesus as your personal Savior must be just that. It’s got to be personal.
God bless,
Jobbin
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Hey guys,
So as I was driving to work, I heard a song on the radio, called When did you fall – By Chris Rice, (I think this song is to his wife or something like that (it’s definitely to a girl though)). The artist questions “when did you fall in love with me?” and goes on to ask whether it was at certain places or stages in their relationship, but it got me thinking and relating it back to our TRUE Love, God. I was thinking of when DID God fall in love with us? …Fall in love with me? I knew the answer right away of course (thank you Sunday School!!) and it’s that He loved me before I was even born, before time even began, before… well, before anything even came into existence! Amazing, isn’t it? That our God knew us before we even had a chance to know Him? That our God LOVED us before we ever had a chance to even love Him back?
I must say, this year has been tough. You may say, oh 2009? NO. I mean 2010. Yes, all 14 days of it has been the craziest emotional roller coaster yet, possibly because I’ve been facing struggles and risks in all aspects of my life, pretty much back-to-back, since several days before 2010 had even begun. It was honestly very weird how things just kept popping up one after another, and I was even thinking “What is going on here!?!?” Because things just needed to stop!!!! You know how that feeling you get when you feel dizzy and the room around you keeps spinning? Yeah, that’s exactly how things kept feeling. I didn’t know what was going on, with school, work, family, friends… just ALL of life… it was just really weird how it was happening all at once. And then last week, I was about to take a shower (getting ready for work) and it hit me! Something I said at my church struck me and I knew it was God revealing it to me.
You may remember, but before leaving to Dallas (at the end of December) for my sister’s wedding, we had a worship meeting at my church, which I was able to share some things I have been meditating on, and things God wanted to share with His people that night. And the same words I spoke came to my mind. That Saturday night we sang the song Open up the Sky – By Deluge, in which the chorus reads: “We don’t want blessings, we want You”. That same night, the words God spoke through me, even made me shake for a second as I said them. God was saying, “if we ONLY knew the meaning of those words, of which we were singing, we would probably never sing them again!!! Why?? Because they meant that even if we had lost everything (the blessings God has provided us), then we would still be OKAY because we have God. This means that even if we lost our car, our house, our expensive clothing, our favorite relationships… etc… we would be OKAY because those are JUST blessings that God has provided for us in life, and since we still have not lost our relationship with God, (ideally) that should be enough for us.”
And since that day, all HELL broke loose in my life. (LOL) Or at least it felt like it did, and I didn’t have a clue as to why!! But even throughout all of the ‘random’ struggles and risks I was facing, there was one verse that kept going through my head, and I knew it was the Holy Sprit providing that comfort, just like He promised, and the verse is:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
God loves me. And God has a plan and a purpose for my life. Just like He has for YOU. Never doubt it. His ways are always best and always work out for His people. His promises are always ever-lasting, and remember that when things don’t look like they’re going “according to plan”, just remember that it’s not our plan, it’s His. He knows your struggles, and He obviously knows His promises over your life, so don’t worry because He has a plan and a purpose for them, as well.
After being pleasantly reminded by God of those words I had spoken that night, I laughed because I realized that Satan has just been extremely busy at trying to make me fail in my faith. And that’s when I prayed this: “God, I’d rather have a “risk” in Your hands, than assurance in this world.”
And with that said, Satan has no grip on my life, nor yours. Take God’s promises and trust in Him. He knows the plans He has for you, plans only to prosper you, and not to harm you. Better yet, plans to give you hope, and a future. Our God is amazing, and is victorious in everything, we have not need to grow weary or faint; rather, we are able to stand victorious in Him through all of what life throws at us.
God Bless!
So as I was driving to work, I heard a song on the radio, called When did you fall – By Chris Rice, (I think this song is to his wife or something like that (it’s definitely to a girl though)). The artist questions “when did you fall in love with me?” and goes on to ask whether it was at certain places or stages in their relationship, but it got me thinking and relating it back to our TRUE Love, God. I was thinking of when DID God fall in love with us? …Fall in love with me? I knew the answer right away of course (thank you Sunday School!!) and it’s that He loved me before I was even born, before time even began, before… well, before anything even came into existence! Amazing, isn’t it? That our God knew us before we even had a chance to know Him? That our God LOVED us before we ever had a chance to even love Him back?
I must say, this year has been tough. You may say, oh 2009? NO. I mean 2010. Yes, all 14 days of it has been the craziest emotional roller coaster yet, possibly because I’ve been facing struggles and risks in all aspects of my life, pretty much back-to-back, since several days before 2010 had even begun. It was honestly very weird how things just kept popping up one after another, and I was even thinking “What is going on here!?!?” Because things just needed to stop!!!! You know how that feeling you get when you feel dizzy and the room around you keeps spinning? Yeah, that’s exactly how things kept feeling. I didn’t know what was going on, with school, work, family, friends… just ALL of life… it was just really weird how it was happening all at once. And then last week, I was about to take a shower (getting ready for work) and it hit me! Something I said at my church struck me and I knew it was God revealing it to me.
You may remember, but before leaving to Dallas (at the end of December) for my sister’s wedding, we had a worship meeting at my church, which I was able to share some things I have been meditating on, and things God wanted to share with His people that night. And the same words I spoke came to my mind. That Saturday night we sang the song Open up the Sky – By Deluge, in which the chorus reads: “We don’t want blessings, we want You”. That same night, the words God spoke through me, even made me shake for a second as I said them. God was saying, “if we ONLY knew the meaning of those words, of which we were singing, we would probably never sing them again!!! Why?? Because they meant that even if we had lost everything (the blessings God has provided us), then we would still be OKAY because we have God. This means that even if we lost our car, our house, our expensive clothing, our favorite relationships… etc… we would be OKAY because those are JUST blessings that God has provided for us in life, and since we still have not lost our relationship with God, (ideally) that should be enough for us.”
And since that day, all HELL broke loose in my life. (LOL) Or at least it felt like it did, and I didn’t have a clue as to why!! But even throughout all of the ‘random’ struggles and risks I was facing, there was one verse that kept going through my head, and I knew it was the Holy Sprit providing that comfort, just like He promised, and the verse is:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
God loves me. And God has a plan and a purpose for my life. Just like He has for YOU. Never doubt it. His ways are always best and always work out for His people. His promises are always ever-lasting, and remember that when things don’t look like they’re going “according to plan”, just remember that it’s not our plan, it’s His. He knows your struggles, and He obviously knows His promises over your life, so don’t worry because He has a plan and a purpose for them, as well.
After being pleasantly reminded by God of those words I had spoken that night, I laughed because I realized that Satan has just been extremely busy at trying to make me fail in my faith. And that’s when I prayed this: “God, I’d rather have a “risk” in Your hands, than assurance in this world.”
And with that said, Satan has no grip on my life, nor yours. Take God’s promises and trust in Him. He knows the plans He has for you, plans only to prosper you, and not to harm you. Better yet, plans to give you hope, and a future. Our God is amazing, and is victorious in everything, we have not need to grow weary or faint; rather, we are able to stand victorious in Him through all of what life throws at us.
God Bless!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
I Called And He Answered
Hey guys,
I was sitting in from of my lap top wondering what to write and nothing came to me. I asked the Holy Spirit to give me inspiration and then I remember the song " He came to my rescue" by Hillsong. I remember this past year as a total life transformation as I was lost and now I'm found. I was living life without Jesus as a friend and I remember how hard life was. I had sleeping problems, addictions, and a void in my heart. I found Jesus and he took care of all my problems, addictions and filled that void with his love. Paranoia became everlasting peace, addictions were gone, and an unconditional love was given. When you come to Jesus genuinely, he gives more than you can understand and comprehend. I came to my knees, bowed down and I called him and he rescued me. Don't ever think there's no way out...there is and its Jesus. I hope this song blesses you as it does to me. Enjoy!
I was sitting in from of my lap top wondering what to write and nothing came to me. I asked the Holy Spirit to give me inspiration and then I remember the song " He came to my rescue" by Hillsong. I remember this past year as a total life transformation as I was lost and now I'm found. I was living life without Jesus as a friend and I remember how hard life was. I had sleeping problems, addictions, and a void in my heart. I found Jesus and he took care of all my problems, addictions and filled that void with his love. Paranoia became everlasting peace, addictions were gone, and an unconditional love was given. When you come to Jesus genuinely, he gives more than you can understand and comprehend. I came to my knees, bowed down and I called him and he rescued me. Don't ever think there's no way out...there is and its Jesus. I hope this song blesses you as it does to me. Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)