Don't Be Like Esau

"See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done." Hebrews 12:16-17 This seems pretty simple considering most of us think of Esau to be stupid in this decision, but in all honesty, are we really any different? I know i normally look down on Esau because of this decision, but we are all on the same level of stupidity. We all realize that in the story, that his inheritance would have lasted a lot longer and had more satisfaction than that bowl of soup, but in his mind, he desired immediate gratification, are we really any different? God allowed us to be part of Jesus' inheritance, eternal life, to spend with Him, but we have not received it yet so it doesnt seem as real as it will be that day when the Lord calls us home. The same goes with Esau in the sense of his inheritance didn't seem as real until the day came when his father died. So, are we really any different? We as humans, run around life trying to find immediate gratification (just like Esau, see the connection yet?). We forgo our inheritance for worldly things that will pass away with the blowing of the wind, or the passing away of time. God gives us a choice, inheritance that is eternal(which includes being with Him forever), or trying to find the happiness in this life that will satisfy you. The reason that i use trying instead of finding, is because you won't find happiness in this life that will satisfy you. Sure you'll have happiness for a temporary time, but not for long. Satisfaction that comes from God is eternal and it is always there. There's a lot to learn from the story of Jacob and Esau. The biggest lesson in my opinion though, is to not give up temporary satisfaction for your inheritance, no matter what the temporary satisfaction is. Stay true to the Lord and He will stay true to you.

My Best Friend

I don't have anything super on my mind but i like the feeling of typing a lot so i will write about my best friend. So as many of you know, it's Sam Harting. And if you didn't know, it's Sam Harting. I first met him in 7th grade when i switched churches to HHBC. I thought he was cool then, and funny, but very short tempered and cynical. Skipping ahead, we never really were super close until about 8th grade when we became good friends and i tried to help him in life situations, but he wouldn't listen but i stayed persistent and it turned out for the better. The summer between 8th and Freshman year was what really made us best friends. I spent 3 days at his house while my mom was in Florida and that was one of the best summers i've ever had. I've watched as his faith has grown over these past years and it's really been an encouragement to me to see where my faith can go. and last year i wasnt the type of friend that i should have been and ive apologized so much for it. That made me realize though, how important friends are in life. not just best friends but close friends in general really can help you get through tough situations and make life a lot easier. That's not to say that friends won't have their differences but they are truly a blessing from God. I've had so many fun times with sam and i look forward to many more (especially when we can drive!). Thanks for the great memories dude!

Maturity

I don't know if I'm the only one who has seen it, but i feel like i have matured a ton over the past year. I say this because I recently noticed that facebook has a thing that tells you your status' on this day last year. Mine a couple days ago last year was something about bush and obama and all that president stuff. My view this year on that stuff? that my King is in heaven and will return soon so i need not worry about the troubles of this life. I have also matured a ton spiritually through this past year. What makes me say that is at this time last year i was living for myself instead of living for God. Wayumi really made me think about that and what i needed to do to get back on track spiritually, but not just back on track, but exceed my previous closeness to God. And through that ive learned to not be contempt in my relationship with God and to be contempt no matter the situation in life because i realized there is always something good out of bad things and always a lesson to be learned to help me grow in my faith. None of this maturity would have been possible without God because He is the one that gave me opportunities to grow and the ways how. This summer ive been getting into the word more and that has really grown my faith to levels ive never been before because instead of feeling like i should read the bible, i have a want to read the bible and i dont feel the same without reading it. God truly has changed my life in so many ways. Legalistically, i have been saved since 3rd grade or so, but i realize know that me being saved back then was not out of faith but because i felt left out for not doing it. it wasnt a life changing thing then, just something that i thought i should do. but once i started really feeling God and knowing  Him personally, i gave my life to Him again, not out of obligation but out of wanting it. The bible puts in perfectly by saying, For God so loved the world that He sent is one and only son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. Yes, that is John 3:16, and it gets cliche a lot of times, so much that we skip over it. but look that verse, He loved us enough to die for us. What would you die for? last year i  would have said God, but i definitely didn't live my life accordingly and didn't really mean it. but this year, i do mean it. God is my creator and my savior who i owe everything to, even my life. I want to live my life for Christ. The bible also says (and i believe this with all my heart) that, "I have been crucified with Christ and i no longer lives but Christ lives in me. The life i live in the body, i live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20. and also,  "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.  I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead" Philippians 3: 7-12. And finally,  "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.  But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:1-10. Because of this i want to live my life for Christ, not out of obligation but out of faith that He has done what He promised and that i want to show others the same power of His love that He has shown me. Christ owes me nothing, I owe Him everything.

untitled

i know i blogged last night, but this really needed to be written down because im in the mood. So ive been thinking a lot recently of what Jesus did on the cross. I think now we dont think of it as a big deal, but it was. we see that when Jesus was in the garden praying the night of his betrayal because he was distraught. you can tell simply by his words. Anyways, i challenge you with this, would you die to save someone? not necessarily spiritually but physically as well? i honestly dont know how i would answer that, i want to say yes i would. but truthfully i really dont know. i sometimes think to myself, it depends on the person, whether i like them or not. but the selfishness in that is incredibly high because look what Jesus did, he died for everyone. even those who tortured him and mocked him and accused him. and i honestly believe that Jesus wasnt certain how things would work out but he had to trust the Father on it. now thats faith. true faith. dying for something that you believe in even though you have no clue how it works. i want to keep this short, so in conclusion i want issue a challenge. would you die to save your worst enemy or the person you dislike the most? thats all, i just felt like i needed to get that off my shoulders today.

Stained Glass Masquerade

Yes, that is the name of a casting crowns song, and yes, that did inspire me to write this. But it did more than that , it gave me a perspective on something that i never really thought of before. I'm beginning to realize first, the importance of the church as Christ body and bride, and second, im finally seeing how divided it is, but how unified it should be. Fact, as Christians, we don't believe in the same things, and we are all different. Different in how we worship God, different in how we serve Him, different in how He made us. For too long i let skin color be the first thing that came to mind when i saw someone, not, hmm, i wonder if theyre are saved or i wonder what theyre like in person. I let the beauty of God's creation be used by satan to blind me. I now see that God made people different because they fit in to His plan like a puzzle. In my opinion, the church has grown apart in recent years. And all of minor reasons like, we dont believe in the same things or other silly things like that. its beginning to frustrate me because we are of the same body and we need to work together to save the world. another thing is that when people are new to a church, they should be welcomed in the church! i know im not always the best at doing that, especially in chi alpha. but thats something that ive been praying about. i just really think that the church body needs to step up as a whole and work together to make the world a place where God is welcome and known. the thing you can do who read this is to pray, and try to step on an individual level. and live your life for God in whatever you do and make sure your testimony is heard among everyone!

Freedom

Last night when i was reading Galatians, i came across verses that i thought i already knew and read, but when i read it again, i realized that i had never really payed attention to them. The verses were Galatians 2:17-21. It read "¹⁷ “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! ¹⁸ If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.

 ¹⁹ “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹ I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”"  First off, My favorite part of that is verse 20. We are not living anymore, we are dead to our old selves. BUT, we have been made alive in Christ. and nothing can compare to the life that he gives. This world tries to tell you that you have to do certain stuff to live, to feel alive. but true life is found only in Christ. Secondly, we can not gain anything through the law. The law was made to guide people to Christ and when the messiah came, they were to follow Him. but they crucified him, and stuck with the law. The jews of that day were trying to gain righteousness through the law. But now righteousness is found through faith in Christ and no where else. the next thing that really caught my eye was galatians 5. The first verse says "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." I don't know about you, but that says to me, WE ARE FREE!!!!!!!!!  We are free of sin, and we are free from the punishment of sin. Later in the passage paul says clearly, "You my brothers were called to free, but do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather serve one another in love." We are free, and as a result of that freedom, we should serve the one who gave us that freedom, and like the verse said, serve one another in love. I challenge you to read the rest of Galatians. But those were the main things that the Lord put on my mind. 

P.S. WE ARE FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =)