Bike riding

I love riding my bike. I don't do it much, in fact it's very rare to ever see me riding it. Yet every once in a while I can't help but jump on top and explore the neighborhood. We have a large neighborhood that is loaded with big curves and hills. From my driveway all the way around the main stretch (one of many roads) and back again to my driveway is exactly one mile. I enjoy following the road.

Today as I rode I began to notice every change that the road had. I would ride straight for a few consecutive seconds and then without warning or notice, the road would curve left and I would be forced to correct my direction or I would end up in a person's yard. 

The road, a non living, motionless thing controlled my choices and direction. If not I would quickly lose the comfort of asphalt and trade it with the discomfort of dirt and grass. It was so easy to stay on the path. It was so easy to drive the way everybody else drove. At one time the road declined so greatly with so much distance that I didn't even have to pedal. For at least a mile and a half, I let the road drive my bike. I went faster, stronger, easier. I became used to the way the road drove. Yet as I neared the end, I quickly realized that the road deserted me when it came to the ride back up. The road didn't help me when I had to return up the incline. It had its fun with me until I reached the bottom. At the bottom, I was left to drive back home alone. 

I realized then that although the path maybe easy, and sometimes even done without any effort, it does not--in any way--have my best interest at heart. 

Don't waste your time with the "comfort" of the wide, paved road. Get your knees dirty as you pray in the midst of dirt and grass. The normal path that everyone follows in this world leads nowhere but down. It's the "uncomfortable" and sometimes hard road that leads you to God.

P.S.: If you get tired on the way, God is a great cyclist. 

Who will you blame?

I just got back from a short bike ride. Three miles, up and down, curves, etc. It was great. A great time to just talk to God, and actually listen. It's so hard to listen to God now a days. During my "trek" however, I was able to truly listen to what he would tell me. 

I wasn't expecting this.

There are many references to the bible that show  us that we are truly without excuse before God. Romans chapter 1 tells us that because Jesus has come to us on our level, it leaves us without excuse before God. John chapter 15 tells us the exact same thing. The bible basically rips apart any and every excuse to having excuses. We realize that God knows all, and that because of that our sins lay bare before him.

However, as I was riding my bike God birthed this thought into my mind: who will we blame for our sins? It's so easy to pin point someone else for our mishaps. 

"Well he did it, therefore I should be able to do it!"

"She said it and wasn't reprimanded! Why should I be in trouble?"

"He lives this way and he has a wonderful life! Why should I be any different?"

We hinge our actions and choices on others so easily. We might as well live their lives instead of ours. God said very plainly that our decisions, actions, beliefs, and sins are our entire responsibility. It's time that we face our own identity crisis and take the blame for our problems. Once we realize that we are at fault, then our healing will come.

Life-Song

 This is a new message I am working on. Please give me your feedback.
We were created to Worship. Case and Point. Our purpose on this Earth is to simply live a life that pleases God. If we amuse the angels and liv e according to His plans, then we live on a daily basis in the midst of praise to God. My proof is this:

Hebrews 3: 11-12 "Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 12 He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises,"

This scripture tells me that God sent His son to form in assembly with his creation, us. In doing so, Jesus praised God. This tells me that Jesus was sent to inform us of our purpose in life---to praise the Name of God. To call Him father and to live according to His word.

So there's your purpose, to praise God.

Psalm 96: 1-2 "Sing the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day."

Now that we know our purpose, to worship, I must ask my main question,

what song are you singing to God?

We all know the wonderful song written and performed by Casting Crowns,

"Lifesong". It states to "let my lifesong sing to you." ALthough it is a great song with great lyrics, the

thing that I must bring to account is that we really do have a life song. Everything that we do is considered praise.

So what kind of praise are you giving to God? The Psalmist tells us that we should sing a new song to God. He literally

compares the day-to-day actions and thoughts that we have to the worship we give to God. We often feel that what we do alone, is done in complete privacy.

That not even God knows what we did alone. Yet, if we were to realize that that "private action" is actually a form of praise to God,

then maybe we would realize what were handing to God. Everything.

So next time you decide to live against the things of God, remember, your still praising Him. No matter what.

Give Him a new song. A worthy song of Praise.

Hmm...

Life is like a curvy pathway. Somedays you'll be going one way, and then the next a curve. Then your faced with all new directions--all new scenery. I just recently underwent new changes to my way of thinking. Here i am, feeling like I have it all figured out and then God changes the plans. According to this world's standards, I should be upset. yet, I am not. Not at all. Because I firmly believe that if God is the director of my steps, then why should I be upset if He decides to change my direction? He is obviously just adjusting my step. I'm cool with that. :-)

Who's the boss?

Isn't amazing how we contrast so greatly between the media and God? How we'll say "I'm my own man! No God or deity will control me!" Yet out of the other side of our mouth we say, "Hurry, quick, so and so television show is on! I'm not going to read the Bible right now, my favorite movie just started!"

Who really is controlling us? What we don't realize is that our life is not our own. We were created for one purpose, and that is to worship God. However, our purpose--to worship--can be turned against us.

So the verdict is: Worship God or Worship Satan.

Who is our boss? Who do we care more about? Enough about trying to balance our lives between the world and God. There is no balance. There is no connection. God is so badly wanting to see a generation that is not afraid to say, "Put the magazine down. Turn the television off. It's time to worship my God."

Let this world know who your boss is!

Man...

You know, everybody told me that this day (last of Highschool, beginning of the rest of my life) would be a bittersweet event. They, couldn't have hit it more on the head. I am so excited about starting the rest of my life, yet I am dreading the last day that I say goodbye to all of my friends. Friends that I have been with for years. Some for over a decade. 

God reigns through everything, and I know that HE will help me through it all.

Hmm...

So what do I say? Today I spoke my heart about to my class about the touchy subject Abortion. Being a strictly conservative christian, and complete pro-life advocate it was rather interesting in a college class that is split down the middle with left and right wingers. I must say that when I opened my mouth to speak, God took control. It felt...right. 

To God Be the Glory, let us open our mouth more and you never know what response you may just get.

Ahh...Fine Arts

It's about that time of the year when I go and dramatize my heart out for the sake of God and a high score. It's quite a comical scene to watch my parents scrambling to get the house clean before we go. I once asked them why they took so much time to clean the house when no one--not even us for that matter--would be there to see it. I even made the comment that it's like we're cleaning it so that if it's robbed, the thieves will have something nice and clean to rob, versus the slums that they may have in the past. 

My parents didn't find the humor in that. Yet, when my mom explained her reasoning behind it, it sort of hit home. She told me that it didn't matter what other people thought, as long as when we returned, our house would be awaiting us, clean and spotless. 

Sometimes when we get so dirty with this world, we often push God out the front door for a small time and focus on our own dirt and grime. So I say to you today, clean your heart. Not for the sake of others, but simply... give your God something clean to come home to.

My First One...

I have always wondered truly what these things were, and when I saw that my friend had one, I decided to tell myself, "Self! It is time to try one out!". I don't really know who would be as interested as to subscribe to my thoughts and ideas, but honestly I don't care, because this is pretty cool. 

A little inside on me: I tend to think way too much. I like to compare my thought patterns to that of Hamlet's in Shakespeare. I think way too much, yet when it comes time to act upon which I am thinking about, I fail to think. I know, it sounds a little funny, but that's pretty much me in a nutshell. 

So read me if you like...or if you dare. Ha!