Being a Gentleman

I feel like this topic is a universal one that isn't taught as much as it should to guys and it is really showing in the way they treat girls. First of all, girls are NOT property, they are a prize, a treasure that should be treated with an utmost respect, sincerity and kindness. Secondly, do the little things. If a girl is walking into a building that has a door, open it for her. Yes, she is perfectly capable of doing said action, but you should still do it out of respect and being nice. Also, it doesn't matter what age the girl is, she could be 45 and married and you should still open the door for her, or she could be your age and the one you like (in this case, you should definitely be a gentleman). Either way, be polite. Another thing is that if you as a guy have a jacket and a girl is freezing to death, give it to her because like I said earlier, they should be treasured and that means keeping them comfortable. Obviously there are many things that guys should do for girls, and I don't have time to mention them all. But the overlapping message here is that guys should treat girls with respect and not as a lesser being. Sure guys and girls don't see eye to eye on things (height or opinions) but that doesn't mean that we as guys are always right or that girls are always right. Back to my original point, I honestly think that guys should be like shepherds to girls. Before you start making assumptions, I am in no way saying that girls are mindless creatures wandering around. Rather I am saying the opposite. Guys should be willing to fight to protect girls in the face of all adversities, and it shouldn't matter if they're fat, skinny, pretty, or ugly, but that they're a girl. And God, in my opinion, poured out His beauty and grace into this gender. All girls have some sort of beauty in them and if they try even the slightest bit. So to all the girls reading, you're beautiful in God's eyes as well as in mine. This leads me to another point, girls should be treated as princesses by guys. And no, I am not saying as in Disney movies, but as in real life princesses. I say this because girls are beautiful as mentioned before, and they are also elegant and noble in heart (girls, don't forget this and make sure you try your best to live up to that). All in all, guys, yo need to step it up in being gentlemen, because unfortunately I am seeing way to many girls being treated harshly and badly. This doesn't let girls off the hook though, because we as guys may not always be perfect in treating girls right but some of us do make an effort and girls, just keep on being beautiful. Also, girls, don't take this as me saying girls are better, because we are equal overall and better than the other at certain things. 

Love

So i just finished a Ted Dekker book that really emphasizes love and it really made me realize how messed up love is in our culture today. Nothing is so important as love. And love has a faulty definition in our world today. Love is just a kissing show, a sexual lust for another that is usually done outside of marriage. But the true definition lies in the bible. Obviously, 1 Corinthians 13 is one of them. But also theres the fact that God sent his son to die on the cross for you. Think about how much that really is for a second. He gave His son, to die for us, who had sinned against Him. That is love folks! Plain and simple. Those 2 things define love. Now how does this affect us today? I would just say, keep a leveled head view of love. A biblical view of love. No doubt love comes in many ways, whether it be in marriage, dating, friendships, or just in random acts of kindness. Don't love out of obligation. And also, especially in the dating, the kissing and hugging and such should be a result of the love you have for one another. I see so many couples in the hallways kissing and hugging and what i always want to ask them is this the only love their showing each other? Because unfortunately thats how it goes. The original love is based off of physical attraction and the only love they show each other is physical. I'm not saying that kissing and hugging and such are bad but just make sure they don't become the relationship. Love is one of the most truest passions and it is also one of the funnest but it is also the most dangerous. I know i'm kind of rambling on and like a circle this is kind of pointless. But i just felt like saying some of this stuff. Don't ever let the cross become a symbol of religion, instead, let it become a symbol of love. ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Making an Impact

I feel that recently God has really laid it on my heart to make an impact to the area around me, and that doesnt mean that im going to get fat. Ok, so enough with the humor, if it was humorous as most of my jokes arent. But in all seriousness, i feel like im not being enough of an influence to fellow Christians and to non-Christians alike. I want to be more outgoing about Christ and more of an encouragement in my faith in Christ and really set example for all who are around me, especially the younger generation. But unfortunately ive wasted so many opportunities to share Christ and what He's done for me in my life. I know that God has blessed me with an amazing testimony thats unique to me and that can really change lives if God wants that to happen, but im too shy to share it sometimes and i know thats wrong. Im trying to make the right moves when i step out to share my faith but i dont feel like im succeeding because im a failure at it so many times. Thankfully it is by grace i haved been saved and not by works so i can boast. Recently i shared my testimony at my schools FCA (fellowship of Christian athletes) and i honestly dont know how many peoples lives i affected. I know a few people said that it was encouraging and that was a blessing to me. And in a few weeks im sharing the gospel at a bonfire my youth group is having. But i feel like thats not enough. I know God can do major things through me but im always preventing Him from working because of my stubbornness and laziness and having too big of an ego, even though i should have no boast except that of which is in the cross. All in all im just struggling with being an impact for God and really living up to all that God made me to be. My daily walk has been better and im hoping that will help me reach out to others more. i want to ask for prayer in being bold and growing a passion for the Lord and for advancing His kingdom. Another thing im struggling with personally, and yes i know im kind of venting now and i apologize but bear with me, is what God's plans are for me in the here and now. Whether it be about getting a job, girl situations, or just my daily walk and where i plan on going with it and where i want it to reach and so on. the list is ever long. i just need prayer for that as well. sorry for the venting, i just needed to get it out and also ask for prayer on it as well. Thanks for bearing with me!

It's a Heart Thing

Ok, so my youth pastor talked about this tonight at my youth group. But i was actually planning on writing something tonight about it beforehand. Anyways, the heart is the center of your being. It affects your life, your spiritual desires, your everything. I've been struggling with this with God the past few nights. Is my heart where it should be? Am I really giving Him my all, or is it just topical? Is my heart filled with God, and not me? And what God has really shown me out of this, is that my heart always has room to grow, but also that giving my all looks so different than what I've been doing. I need passion. Passion to read His word, to fellowship, to worship, to praise Him, to grow in Him. So I am pretty much saying i need passion to do everything. I realized through my wrestling with God, that I have been too prideful, looking too much at the outside things, instead of becoming like God and focusing on the heart. Let me ask you this, is your heart where it should be? where it can grow? I know mine hasn't been. Tonight at my youth group, we sang here i am to worship. I love that song, and it really impacted me because of the bridge at the end, "I'll never know how much it cost, to see my sin upon that cross." My heart, IS NOT MINE! I never had to pay anything to save it. My heart BELONGS to Jesus! No one else, no matter how many things around me try to tempt me and take my heart away from Him, I will not give in. Because I have the Lord's strength in me. Because ever since that blood dripped from his skin, blood that should have never been on this earth in physical form. Ever since that blood hit the ground. It was over. Over, for sin, for Satan, for my heart. He had won my heart. He saved me from the clutches of the abyss to raise me up higher than the mountains. My heart is not my heart any longer, but belongs to Him. And since it belongs to Him, I want to fight for it so that it stays that way. Because if you change your heart, you change your actions. And you have two choices, choose to give your heart to sin that only leads you on a downward spiral, or choose to give it to Christ, who formed you. Who bled for you, who put his passion and love and life into us, so that we may be saved. I know I'm jumping around a lot here, but what I'm trying to get at is that we owe Christ everything, and it starts with your hearts. I dont know who you will give your life to, but I'm choosing to give my heart to Christ. And pour my passion out on those around me. So that they may see my good deeds and praise our Father in Heaven. Be passionate about the Lord. Because He gave His passion for you. I want to leave you with this, "What am I without God? Who am I without God?" Surrender your heart to God, not just topically, but to your very core, surrender it to Him, and live your life for your savior. Sorry for the disorganization, i just felt like pouring out my heart.

Hopeless

I was just thinking of how people can go through struggles where they feel like they can't get back up, and no one can help. They make you feel broken, defeated, hopeless Thinking of this made me think of Jesus in his last days on this earth in physical form. He was unjustly accused, slandered, tortured, pierced, hung, and to this earth, defeated. One thing happen that neither the devil nor us could imagine. When all hope was lost, Jesus sprang up from the grave which concealed him and there He stood, victorious. He conquered the once unconquerable, made possible the impossible. And there was hope. There still is hope because He is coming back soon. Jesus gave hope to the hopeless and gave strength to the weak. When we lose hope in life, go to God because there is always hope in Him. ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

What's been on my mind...

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, especially after the fall retreat, of how am i leader now, and how i should be a leader. First of all, being a leader is something i strove for especially in regards to the younger kids, in Chi Alpha or in school. I try to lead by example, because as it's said, "actions speak louder than words." Then it hit me hard on the fall retreat of how much better of a leader i am if i really do stand up for what's right and use words to portray the message im trying to get across along with using my actions. Like i said earlier, I strove to be a Godly leader, solid young man in Christ and to be courageous, showing no fear in the face of my enemies, whether it be the devil or myself or someone else, to never falter in my belief of God and my relationship with Him, and keep Him first. But as ive matured, ive realized not all of those are always going to be there, I may struggle with my belief for a time or my relationship with Him, or give in to sin or to do things i shouldnt, that doesnt mean i still cant be a leader during those trials. We all know how it goes, our relationship with God goes up and down, from mountains to valleys and back up again on and on and on. But who's to say i cant lead someone while im in a valley, to set an example for someone else when there in the same situation. That is my goal.
I also feel like i havent been the leader i should be, whether it be in Chi Alpha or FCA or wherever. I sit back too often and watch things happen but im always too afraid to jump in the fray and stand up for what's right. The fall retreat made me realize that all too much. I know that God has a plan for me in my life, and i need to not be afraid to jump out of my shell that ive been hiding behind too long and follow that plan. I want to know God, and walk closely with Him as David did, I want to know God like that. Too often in this culture do we get sidetracked by stupid things, and get held back from sharing the name of Jesus because of our ego's, i need to lego my ego. God is the most important thing in my life and i need to start living my life that way, not in the silent Christian lifestyle (which isn't bad, it's just not for me) but in the radical, "wow, that kids got something that i want" way of following God. I know God has something in plan for me, what it is exactly i dont know, but i trust God will reveal it to me in time. I want to be radical, to rebel, to have my life revolve around Him. If you were wondering how you could pray for me, this is it. Pray for me that i will God to whatever end and to stand strong and be courageous. "Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love." Ephesians 6:23-24