Saturday, January 31, 2015

Do Your Research

I find it's the ones you love the most that are the hardest to share your faith with. Strangers, acquaintances, colleagues, neighbors; they all aren't in our right social circles. They don't hurt our feelings as much when they reject our values and beliefs. Maybe that's just me being emotional, but that's how I see it. 

I think everyone has a right to their own belief. To hear all of the options and choose the one that's best for them. Kind of like how one would choose a spouse or life partner. Take any religion and share the history, core values, expectations, etc. and analyze it. Once you've done that with any one that is relative to you, then decide what is right. 

As a creation-believing, Christian, I already believe that there's part of our human nature that cause us to crave worship. That we were created with a desire to bring honor and glory to someone, something. So as we ponder religion in any regard, we are digging into that innate nature from within us. That core desire to worship directs our life whether we are willing to admit it or not. 

So when presented with the facts of Christianity, it's a simple choice for me. I didn't say easy, just simple. 

Like running a marathon. It's simple. Just run. But it's hard, takes training, perseverance, and passion. Nobody is going to sign up for a race without researching and weighing the costs. Discipline is a big part of being successful in this mission. Sacrificing daily will be expected. Determination will be mandatory. 

Christianity is simple. But hard. If it was easy everyone would do it. Jesus coming to earth to die for us was hard. But it was simple. He loves us and was willing to pay the price to achieve his goal of having relationship with us. That was his goal. Because we want to have relationship. We want to "do life" with those we love. 

So I encourage you to do the research. Count the costs. And just like runners train together. I'd love to train in our faith together. I've been running this race with passion and perseverance for 3 years now. Jesus is meant to be shared. So if you learn about him and want a relationship with him. Ask me about it! Every "race" begins somewhere. 

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Respect

Tonight I'm praying that the Holy Spirit will direct me as to how to talk to my 8th grade boys about respect and honor. Both for themselves and for others. These kids have an incredible amount of potential and I want them to succeed in everything they do. I only have 20 weeks left till summer. I need to reach 2 kids per week. Lord help me. 😁

Friday, January 23, 2015

Discernment

If I knew what today had in store beforehand I would have fully understood why I said what I said in devotions this morning. Our verse for the week is proverbs 1:7 which says "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools dispise wisdom and discipline." 

I was challenging my kids this morning to make decisions that honor God and are pleasing to Him. There were so many opportunities during the day today for the kids to step up and do the right thing and they just didn't. It's discouraging but I'm not willing to let it remain. I'm going to keep stretching them. Asking more of them. Forcing if I have to in order to set the pace for what I expect of them. 

I believe that as I go deeper in my faith the battle for my students is only going to intensify. If God is for me, who can stand against me? 

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Prayer

 Prayer has always been a struggle for me. I've never been tested, but I'm pretty sure I've developed some sort of high functioning  ADD. My brain is always processing at least 3 things at the same time and focus on one thing for an extended period of time is near torture. 

Last April I was able to participate in an Ann Arbor stay-cation for spring break. The trip was about getting closer to God. Our leader, Kyle, taught us how to pray like the Monks pray. Monotonous repetition of scripture as a prayer. I found this so much better than my own efforts of prayer because it was specific and directed. When I try to pray at random I find myself daydreaming and thinking rather than praying. 

As I stretch to go deeper with God I hope to come to a place where I enjoy praying. I mean how awesome is it that I get to have a conversation with my creator and the lover of my soul anytime I want. That's truly a beautiful thing! 

I'm ready to take the leap into deeper water. To become deeper rooted. To seek Gods face rather than His hand because I love him and I want to know him.