Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Doing Everything for Him

I have been enjoying work lately. I have been doing quite a bit more programming this last week than I had in the several previous weeks. I do enjoy general computer issues and all, but programming is what I enjoy most. I was thinking about my New Year's Resolutions today... and specifically how I am failing in many of them (especially the physical ones). It's hard to believe that we are finishing off month 2 of 12! I have so much to do! God has blessed in that I have been accepted into grad school! That will start March 30th.

I read Romans 14 today and it was a great encouragement to just do whatever I'm doing for the Lord. Take a look at verses 6-9.
He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

It is important that we keep in mind that God completely controls both the time we take our first breath and the time we take our last. Having this in mind, we ought to take advantage of every moment to live for Him. The reality is that the things we do that are not for Him are not eternally valuable... life is but a vapor in comparison to eternity. Frankly, I don't understand why I don't take these things more seriously than I do. Every moment of every day is another opportunity to live for Him... are we making the most out of the time He has given us or are we living for ourselves? I'm not asking this as someone that doesn't struggle with this. Honestly, I am a selfish person. I like my certain foods a certain way, I like to have time alone, I like to have fun playing sports, I like to receive compliments, I like to be recognized. If I had it completely my way, the whole world would probably revolve around me. I am thankful that He is wise enough not to let that happen and to humble me as I become proud. He is infinitely wise. I pray that I will make good use of the time He has given me for eternally significant things.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day... kind of.

Our championship game for team handball was today. It was an exciting game... always more exciting when you win. ;) It was a lot of fun. Afterwards, we went over to Grandma & Grandpa's and went out to eat with them. There were a whole lot of couples coming in and out of the restaurant throughout our time there and I couldn't help but notice the brokenness. Sitting right across from us was a couple in their 40's, obviously unmarried... the guy trying to do everything to make the lady happy and she trying to make him like her. I'm not saying that we ought to try to figure out everything about anyone in 45 mins of observing them, but it was saddening to me. Most likely, those two represent two families that have been torn apart. Just to the left of them there were two ladies about the same age. We all know that on Valentine’s Day, the husband takes out the wife on a Valentines date. I realize their husbands could be serving in the military or something, but I think it is safe to say that they represent two more broken families. Behind me was a father with his son and his son's girlfriend. He was obviously trying to make things as good as possible... but his wife was not there... yet another broken family (most likely). As I was sitting there, I was thinking about the marriage statistics that we hear quite frequently... over 50% of marriages ending in divorce. It was quite sobering to look about the restaurant and notice all the people that really are not having a truly happy Valentine’s Day. They are playing along... trying to make the moment fun... but behind it all is a life of brokenness... a hole that only He can fill. They seek for love in another man or woman, but they will never find it until they find Him. I'll be honest... it is scary being a young man going into the marriageable age and seeing all the brokenness from families torn apart by self-centeredness. I am by no means beyond self-centeredness and my future wife will not be either. I pray that my heart will be fixed on Him and that my words and actions will reflect that within my future marriage, and I pray the same for my future wife. He is the center of marriage... without Him, marriage is nothing. We are the next generation of marriages. We must keep Him at the core of everything we do... otherwise we will fail.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Refreshing Old Truths

Our pastor's dad has been in town to do our Christian Life Conference. He really didn't have anything "new" to say, but it was such an encouragement to hear the same old truths about the gospel and the life of a Christian. We went through a while bunch of passages, but I'll mention a couple things that really stood out to me. Being a Christian means that we are vessels (2 Timothy 2:20-21).
Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

Since we are His vessels, we must live like His vessels... we must be prepared for His use at any time! There is no... "hang on, I'm not ready"... we must be ready now. The second thing that really stood out to me is 1 Corinthians 3:16-17.
Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

I'd say that most of us have heard this passage before, but one thing I never noticed is that if we destroy the temple of God (our body), He will destroy us. God's temple must be undefiled... we cannot go living in sin and then try to get back on track before church on Sunday. We must be living every moment as His temple... and keep it undefiled.

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Learning New Stuff

Work has been an interesting mix of things. The other day a dentist came over from a few offices away and told us that her internet had died for one room in her office. Little did we know what we were getting ourselves into. We ended up spending like three hours testing cables with sound testers, cutting ethernet cables and putting on new ends, making ethernet wall jacks, going up in the rafters and following the cable, etc. It was really quite fun... other than the fact that we never got it to work. haha We got some stuff to work, but not all of it. The only thing I can think of is that the wire got cut somewhere that we can't see. It's just weird. I had to work in LA today... it's always nice to see people happy with the work we do. It has been a blessed few days at work.

I am still waiting to hear the results of the interview from last Friday. If you all wouldn't mind praying for that, I would greatly appreciate it. I finished my applying process for grad school (yay!). Lord willing, I will start on March 30th! There are a few other opportunities coming up... and I really need His direction and guidance in these things. Without Him, I am nothing... and I'm not just saying that. I have seen enough of me to know that when things are left up to me, I make a mess. Please pray that His ways would be clear and that I would follow in His ways. I read Romans 8 today... and I think I'm going to read it again tomorrow. It is just so filled with content. Verses 5-10 really stuck out to me.
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you but if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

This passage is really practical for me in that I can quickly gauge where my focus is by the things I think about. If my thoughts are centered on Him, I am probably living according to the Spirit, but if my mind is set on selfish things, I am obviously not living for the fame of God! In fact, it is impossible for me to please God if I am busy pleasing myself. It is such an incredible blessing that He would indwell me and enable me to live righteously. I want to be dead to sin and alive to Him.