Where is my life going?
Because I have nowhere to put thoughts like this, I think I have decided to keep this journal, but don't expect updates very often...With that said, my latest thoughts.
I've been thinking about this since Sunday, and have made a decision....a "New year's resolution" so to speak. First off, I went to church at Germantown Baptist Church in Germantown, TN (suburb of Memphis) this weekend. The sermon from Sunday was on the Marks of a Christian. Taken from 1 John. The lesson was "How to know you are a Christian." Here are the main points:
1. The Doctrinal Test. Do I believe Jesus is the Savior and Son of God?
2. The Moral Test. Do I obey the commands of God?
3. The Love Test. Do I love the people of God the way God loves me?
For me, number 1 was pretty easy....a definite yes. #2 was a little more challenging. I try to obey Him, but I know I slip up occassionally. More often than I should. #3 was really hard for me. Dr. Shaw started talking about the characteristics of people you dislike. " What if God has the same characteristics as the person you don't love? How can you love God if you can't love that person? Christian love is loving people you disagree with." (I write down random things during the sermons, and that was one to think about). I was disappointed in myself that I was able to name one person off the bat who irritates the crap out of me, and who I avoid at all costs. God wouldn't do that. God would take the time to listen to that person and help them in any way. He also said to consider the love Christ has for us and consider who is hardest to love, and make a conscious effort to love them. So,that leads me to my "resolution." Something I am really going to work hard at this year, is to love people and not turn my nose up at and ignore people who irritate me. I know it is going to be hard, but I think it is really something I need to work on.
A friend of mine heard a similar sermon this weekend at his church. They talked about "the perserverance of the saints, or the preservation of God's people. And about the ideas that once a Christian always a Christian, and if you don't bear fruit, then it is worth seriously considering whether you did choose Christ. One of the ways he discussed looking at our lives as Christians is to see if there is an upward pattern of growth. And that even at times, we may slip, we may stumble, we may fall, but overall, our growth in God should always be rising." My friend also said that "If anything, being in college and seeing our peers, we can not justly say we weren't be just like them if it were not for the Grace of God.
You know, I have also been thinking lately, if I had gone with my first decision on college, I have been wondering where I would be right now. My first decision, a decision I made in 7th grade, was to go to Wayland Baptist University. I know I would be doing something for God right now, but I also would not have met all the amazing people I have met. I wouldn't have met Neddy, one of the most amazing women in the world...But I also have to consider, I may not have learned some of the things I have learned, and may not have had some of the life-changing experiences I have had so far. So, I guess I will just see what God has in store for me next.
I've been thinking about this since Sunday, and have made a decision....a "New year's resolution" so to speak. First off, I went to church at Germantown Baptist Church in Germantown, TN (suburb of Memphis) this weekend. The sermon from Sunday was on the Marks of a Christian. Taken from 1 John. The lesson was "How to know you are a Christian." Here are the main points:
1. The Doctrinal Test. Do I believe Jesus is the Savior and Son of God?
2. The Moral Test. Do I obey the commands of God?
3. The Love Test. Do I love the people of God the way God loves me?
For me, number 1 was pretty easy....a definite yes. #2 was a little more challenging. I try to obey Him, but I know I slip up occassionally. More often than I should. #3 was really hard for me. Dr. Shaw started talking about the characteristics of people you dislike. " What if God has the same characteristics as the person you don't love? How can you love God if you can't love that person? Christian love is loving people you disagree with." (I write down random things during the sermons, and that was one to think about). I was disappointed in myself that I was able to name one person off the bat who irritates the crap out of me, and who I avoid at all costs. God wouldn't do that. God would take the time to listen to that person and help them in any way. He also said to consider the love Christ has for us and consider who is hardest to love, and make a conscious effort to love them. So,that leads me to my "resolution." Something I am really going to work hard at this year, is to love people and not turn my nose up at and ignore people who irritate me. I know it is going to be hard, but I think it is really something I need to work on.
A friend of mine heard a similar sermon this weekend at his church. They talked about "the perserverance of the saints, or the preservation of God's people. And about the ideas that once a Christian always a Christian, and if you don't bear fruit, then it is worth seriously considering whether you did choose Christ. One of the ways he discussed looking at our lives as Christians is to see if there is an upward pattern of growth. And that even at times, we may slip, we may stumble, we may fall, but overall, our growth in God should always be rising." My friend also said that "If anything, being in college and seeing our peers, we can not justly say we weren't be just like them if it were not for the Grace of God.
You know, I have also been thinking lately, if I had gone with my first decision on college, I have been wondering where I would be right now. My first decision, a decision I made in 7th grade, was to go to Wayland Baptist University. I know I would be doing something for God right now, but I also would not have met all the amazing people I have met. I wouldn't have met Neddy, one of the most amazing women in the world...But I also have to consider, I may not have learned some of the things I have learned, and may not have had some of the life-changing experiences I have had so far. So, I guess I will just see what God has in store for me next.