Are You Doing Enough?

Am I Doing Enough?

Isn't that the million dollar question? Am I doing enough?...Doing enough what? Is the question how many food drives I've helped out with? Or how many times I've gone to church? How about the number of people I've brought to Christ? Is that the question? There are too many questions and not enough answers.

Maybe that’s the wrong question. The root of that question isn't based on what Jesus taught us. That question is filled with a personal history of disappointment and fear. We fear that we have not pleased God and because of past disappointment we fear that we've failed. The only time I've ever asked that question is when I was seeking approval for what I've already done. The question that's hidden under that question is, "Isn't what I'm doing enough?" Our flesh's purpose is to please and be pleased. We want to know that we're doing a good job and if we've earned a reward...that's the opposite of the Gospel! Am I doing enough? The real question we should be asking is, "Where is my faith?"

If we answered that second question honestly, even most believers would have difficulty saying their faith is in Christ alone who saved them. It would most likely be in the job they have that supports their families or their talents and skill sets that get them to a specific platform (but with no guarantee of how long). Jesus taught us that our salvation and personal relationship is not based on our works or what we've earned. If that were the case, we'd all fall short (Romans 3:23). The reason why Jesus came to save us was because we couldn't do enough in our unrighteous condition. So we should stop trying to please God with how many people we've brought to church this Sunday and how many Bibles we gave out this week, for that's only revealing where our faith is (or is not). God has given us victory in Him, so why are we still trying to win?

God is pleased by our faithfulness in Him. Our faith in Christ is enough to sustain us because with faith we can do all things! What we do for God and His people stems from our faith so we don't have to ask ourselves if we're doing enough. With that being said, God has a plan for you and me and, through our faith, He will reveal it to us. We are called to do different things for God's glory in the capacity that God sees perfect but we all need to have faith in Christ to accomplish them with satisfaction.

So where is your faith?

Your Toothbrush

By the blood of Jesus you have been sanctified! Isn't that exciting? Yes, although without context it's hard to grasp the meaning behind it. Sanctification is a lot like your toothbrush. Your toothbrush was designed and created for a specific purpose and to do it well. That job obviously would be to brush teeth, and not just anyone's teeth but yours alone. Even married couples or family members have their own toothbrush. Nobody shares toothbrushes (or shouldn't...that's just nasty). Your toothbrush was NOT designed and created to clean your armpits, feet, or to be used as a back scratcher. Your sanctification works the same way. God has set you apart from everyone else to fulfill His plan the way He designed you to.

Let's take it one step farther shall we? I go to Liberty University, home of the Christians who live in (I believe to be) a silly dress code, don't have co-ed dorms, have curfews, and are forced to go to church 3 times a week. Liberty was definitely not my first choice in schools to attend. My first choice was George Mason University and I wasn't accepted there so I had to make a decision early on: Work full-time somewhere, move out, and have to keep going to NVCC to raise my GPA so I will get accepted to Mason; OR have to go to this school that is going to try to control my life. I needed a lot of convincing from family and friends to get me here. Fast forwarding a few weeks after moving on campus, I've come to realize why I am here. I have a purpose that God has designed for me here, whether it's in my hall to disciple some of the students or it's fellowshipping with some of my friends who needed to hear my testimony to help them in their situations and trials.

Here's the point I'm trying to make: Your school is sanctified! Your school (like you and your toothbrush) was designed and created for a purpose. My school is helping me in a way that no other school could and the same goes for your school. This is not to say that our schools don't offer and provide the same services. This is to say that God's plan included for you to attend the school you are enrolled in. Allow God to work within you and the resources/environment of your school.

I see George Mason University as a school enriched with a vast number of people groups/nations that are waiting to be called! Proclaim the Gospel and love them as God penetrates their hearts to hear their calling and purpose! As I am meant to go to Liberty (even when I didn't want to go there), you were called to George Mason or the school of your current/future enrollment. God is providing for you everyday in every way. In other words, YOU HAVE BEEN SANCTIFIED!!

2 Timothy 2:21

"Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work." (NIV)

Traffic Cones

When I think of traffic cones I think of really bad traffic or inconvenient detours. Traffic cones tend to have negative connotations attached to them. Let's discuss the definition and purpose of them to see if that's a fair statement. According to Wikipedia, they're markers that are placed on roads or footpaths to temporarily redirect traffic in a safe manner. Breaking that down to mean anything significant is difficult unless you apply it to your own life. In order to do that you need to be able to see clearly. That may sound obvious...until you run into something you didn't see. How many times has God redirected you to safety from the road you chose to take? 

Even taking the right path can be dangerous when you're changing lanes without checking for impending danger. I'll see the cones keeping me down a slow but steady lane, but as soon as the cones clear I turn into that lane. It's when that happens that the cones reappear to put me back where I was. I was unfortunate to have hit one once. After I reached my destination I checked for damages to discover an imprint of the cone on my front bumper. It's a reminder to me now to stay down the path I was directed. The same way God's love and wisdom are imprints on my heart that remind me to follow God down the footpath He has created for me.

Our eyes aren't always open the way God's eyes are. Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines traffic cones as a marker used on a road or highway (as for indicating an area under repair). Although we are walking down a path of righteousness when we choose to walk with Jesus, we aren't always aware of our surroundings. We always see the cones as an area that is under repair that we need to avoid. Are there times where you can determine that maybe YOU are what is under repair? Those same traffic cones are markers that are giving you the space and time necessary to give God the authority to work on you (you being the project).

One last thought on the structure of the cones. Each cone is wrapped with reflectors that reflect light so you can see them in darkness. The proof of light in darkness can be illustrated this way. When we feel lost, confused, and broken in a dark place; God shines His light and guides us with His divine traffic cones. Every time you look at the light reflected off the cones, know that the light needs to be close and powerful enough to show it's presence. God is always close and is always present. You just need to open your eyes to see His light shining upon you every day!

Keep Going

"For He who avenges blood remembers, He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted" Psalm 9:12

As you might have read or heard about, the city of Boston is in shock after the bombings that occurred during the running of the Boston Marathon. This race I personally understand to be a race worth finishing. Unfortunately the end of this race resulted in 3+ deaths so far and countless lives have been wounded (not including those internally wounded for loved ones). This only made me think of one other passage in the New Testament where Paul was departing Timothy with "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)

Strange right? I can only explain it with the keyword "finish" because the given story. But there's two different moods and scenarios given! So why did I stumble across this in my head? This is when I heard God speak to me.

"You can make it" "Keep going"

I wasn't long until I remembered what it was like to say it myself. It was the Boston Marathon of 2006 when I couldn't have been more proud to watch my mom run it. But if any of you know what it's like to try and follow the runners through the course, it's not easy to find the runners you know running at the mile markers you plan out. So as my Aunt and I are finding shortcuts and metros we decided to make a sign while we had some time. So I made my sign and got off at mile marker 20 right before the race got bad because from there the runners had to make their way uphill to the finish line. So I found a spot in the crowd to showcase my newly developed sign when it hit me. Why don't I go "the extra mile"? So when I finally found her, I jumped into the race and ran alongside her holding my sign that said "This is my Mom!". I started to run with her while holding this sign up in the air and shouting at her to "keep going" and "you can do it" for a mile. I finally jumped out and of course I look back and I realize how weird of a sign that was but I understand God's reasoning behind the sign.

We all feel as if though we can't finish the race sometimes. But remember, God is running alongside you and telling you to "keep going" while holding His sign up that says, "This is my son/daughter" because He's proud of you and loves you for fighting the good fight.

To encourage the victims along with their friends and families, I wanted to share something extra. The finish line in the race in Boston still had Jesus there comforting and supporting those who lost and suffered, just like I did last year.

After my mom's passing I was in complete pain. Even more so as her first birthday after the fact. But instead of mourning without her I gave her the best gift ever. I gave her the gift of perseverance through running a local 5 mile race. On the front of the shirt I wore I wrote "Happy Birthday" on it and on the back wrote "This One Is For You". I'm not much of a runner so the race was really difficult to do. But what kept me going was hearing the passing runners yell "Happy Birthday Mom!" with the enthusiasm I didn't have. Even with them not knowing of my mom, it was heart warming and what I needed to keep going knowing my mom was watching and running with me like I did at her race. When I finished the race I got on my knees and cried because I felt joy that could only be described as perfect.

So to those people hurting right now, keep going because God created you to finish through and with Him.
You can make it!

Saving the Saved

I'm blessed to be a part of God's plan. I'm grateful of the things He's placed in my life. I love how He loves us. I'm proud to be a Christian. What's a Christian you ask? Well a Christian is someone who believes God and that He saved us from eternal damnation because He loves us and sent His son to die for us. What do Christians do? Oh well we go to church and sing songs about Jesus and then hear a good sermon about what we should be doing. As long as we believe then we're ok...

Does that sound like you? If not, does that resemble any of your friends? Co-workers? Family members? It did for me. Almost to the point where Christianity seemed like a 401k. I gave my life to Jesus at an early age that I wouldn't have to touch in order to gain while I continued to satisfy myself with things of the world, thinking that when the day came of passing that I would have a secured spot in heaven that had a larger portion of my life waiting for me. Why would I want the life I gave to Jesus? I gave it to Him so I could gain HIS life, not my own back! Because what we seem to forget is the life we gave was saving us from death since our old life lead straight to it. Yet some Christians believe that after your wiped clean of sin that that's a good excuse to start messing it all up with more sin.

Now don't get me wrong. Romans 10:9 states that "If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Nothing I've previously said has contradicted that. As you just read though, believing in your heart that the God of the universe raised the perfect man that Jesus was due to his sinless life that was not punishable by death has serious implications to it. This not only means that He loved us enough to paid for our rightful punishment, but that He has given us the choice of life! If we understood that, how could we NOT want to praise and thank Him everyday? He asks that we believe in Him and praise the most worthiest of names in return. Not for you to leave him unrecognized and disrespected. Think about it, if you decided that you wanted to be saved and then go and abuse your gift as an excuse to wrong; that would be disrespectful no? If I gave you a full ride to the school of your dreams and then all you do is party, get into trouble, and fail all of your classes. You never had respect of the opportunity I had given you used to gain success.

I'm happy to watch people become saved. I'll be even more delighted to watch saved people save themselves and others from disrespecting the gift of life they've been given. Jesus has invested his life into you before you did. Isn't about time to invest in Him? In order to gain everything you must first give everything. "If we die with him, we will also live with him." [Timothy 2:11] Save the saved in order to open their eyes to the canvas God is painting rather than the one that you may be trying to paint.

Your Story for His Glory

It's not easy to share the gospel. It might be prior to actually doing it, but the feeling of fear and rejection in the eyes of those we're trying to pursue end up changing the technique in which we share it. What if we don't know or forget something? What if they make me doubt? How can I get them to listen? Only from my own personal testimony have I seen countless lives desire the gospel. Our own personal testimony can create the picture that sometimes verses don't accomplish. People can relate to each other from similar events in their own lives. The rate of personal convictions help those people diagnose their own hearts and the direction that they have been going.

And what's great about having your testimony is that it's not something you've created. God created you and the plan for your life so that people will relate and be attracted to it to hear the gospel from it. Your testimony is geared to hear Jesus's testimony!

My advice is to find someone to help formulate your testimony and then pray about it. Asking God to take the story He's already created for you and help make it the perfect way to administer the gospel. Give Him credit for the amazing way He takes your sinful life before Christ and make it the tool in which people are saved. It's your story for His glory!

What to Expect When You're Expecting

If you know what the title of this blog references then you'll probably be expecting a blog about pregnancy. Well that's the beauty of this is that it's NOT. People expect the world from everyone else. Unfortunately that's the problem because we can't give each other the world.

As Valentine's Day is around this time, I was recommended to write something about this particular holiday. It made me think about the expectancy of people during holidays. What do you expect from Valentine's Day? Flowers from a loved one? Chocolates from a friend? A date with someone special to you? Are those kind of things a must for you? The expectations from this holiday versus any other one is fascinating due to the kind of emotions it comes with.

So my real question is: What do you expect love to look like? Is it in a box? Is it desirable words? When someone says "I Love You" does it mean anything? Well let's take a step back and think. Love is either conditional or unconditional. Which is an oxymoron if you ask me because if love is conditional then it isn't love. Should you expect anything from conditional love? Isn't that what we all struggle with? Expecting love? Well there's nothing wrong with that given that you understand unconditional love. Love that's given from sacrifice is a love worth sharing. That kind of love is a promise to you that it will do anything to extend love to you and those you love.

That love can only given by Jesus who was perfect and loving. So loving that He wanted us to have the gift of a relationship with the Father in heaven through His sacrifice. His death and resurrection was the only example of unconditional love. A love that promises truth and peace.

So since Valentine's day is celebrated to those we love and care for, go out expecting that God's love is all you need through His promises written by His blood on the cross. Expect love to be shared through something bigger than us.

Keep to the Script

No good stories this time, just truth from what God has given me through others. As followers of Jesus we have to know the right direction to guide us alongside Him. The Bible guides us with perfection. The revelation in your life through the Bible doesn't change because of the generation we're apart of or the society we live in now. Keep to the script!  "Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard" (1 John 2:7)

Your unique circumstances doesn't have a Bible with your name on it. It's universal truth, not a personal truth. If God put you in charge of a task and you do what He says with a personal touch, then you've disobeyed Him.

The Bible wasn't made as a basis for generational change but as a guide for what was told prior, when written, and for evermore. Time doesn't create reason to change people but proof that His word is truth. If we start making or interpreting it to be relevant to how we want it then it will be as corrupt and broken as us. Taking the script and trying to make it your own completely disgraces the name of God by rejecting His word. Follow the script knowing that it's right in every and any point in your life...and your friend's and family's lives. Don't try and take what you do like out of His commands thinking that you're doing His work but take it all knowing that it's going to take the hand that God extends to guide us with and pursue Him and what He's called us to do through the gospel and teachings.

Man Up!

I guess the title of this blog says it all. Man up guys. Go and do manly things. I even have the shirt that says “Man Up” on the front. I wear it to sleep some nights and stop thinking much of it. Although my little sister is still learning how to read and every time she reads one of my shirts she’ll ask me what it says.

This time was a little different. She was able to read my shirt but she asked me why my shirt said “Man Up”. For the oddest reason I couldn't give her an instant answer. It took me a few seconds to give her a proper reason. “Man Up means that men need to act more like mature adults”.

“Oh...MAN UP!” She yelled and went back to playing. The fact that she yelled it to me reminded me of the men that train and equip me to serve Jesus. Anytime they told me to “man up” was to tell me to start acting like one. Not as an obnoxious manly man who does whatever he wants. I’m talking about a man who takes on responsibility with courage and faith. The kind of man who respects women and humbles himself to the greatest man we call LORD. Anyone can be mature and strong, but not everyone is strong as a result of their loyalty and foundation on the rock.

A man role is important. It’s so important that the only way to succeed is with the right and just role model with find in Jesus. This all can be said for women, but men are called to be leaders of a different magnitude. The same way my unassuming little sister called out “Man Up” is the same way God calls on us (all) to take on His word as truth and get equipped to protect yourself and others. As fathers, men are called to raise and protect their families just as the Father does. Men call and challenge other men to what they were born to be; just how Jesus calls us up to be like Him.

You've Been Served

Nobody wants a ticket; especially a speeding ticket that was given in a district 3 hours from where you live. I didn't know what the speed limit was when I was driving down the highway. Apparently it dropped 10 mph where I got pulled over. Anyways I got my ticket and court date and moved on.

The day before my court date I had to work really late, so I had a decision to make. I decided to drive down that night and check into a hotel close by so all I had to do was drive ten minutes when I woke up instead of 3 hours. Prior to leaving I went to the gas station and bought what seemed like enough food to feed a small army (I like to eat a lot...don’t judge). Needless to say I had plenty to satisfy me for the duration of the trip there and with some to spare. I checked in the hotel and was able to get about 4-5 hours of sleep before “judgement day”. Even though my plan to be there on time was a success, there was no getting around the sleep deprivation. I wasn’t in the best of moods and felt like the most unlucky kid in the world. It wasn’t until I got to the courthouse that everything changed for the better.

I got out of the car and had to walk nearly a quarter mile to the courthouse from their parking lot. When I got inside I had to go through the security line. I gave them my belongings to look through and gave me the worst attitude about my cell phone (didn't know it was a problem SORRY). So I had to walk ALL the way back (still tired and cranky mind you) to put it in my car. While I was closing the car door I notice an older man walking towards me. After he approached me I found out that he was homeless. He was trying to ask me something but he was very hard to understand.  He mumbled to me for a little bit I assumed he wanted some change but then I heard him say “and I’m hungry” at the end of his request while rubbing his belly.

I’m about to go into court and plead guilty for speeding, probably get a hefty fine, and then get some unneeded points on my license and all this homeless man wants is some food. I didn’t think much of it. So I gave him a few bags of chips and a soda from the remaining supply of food in my car. He gave me the biggest smile that showed the limited amount of teeth in his mouth and went on.

Afterwards I went through the torturous process of waiting for your name to be called before the judge so they can decide your fate. 45 minutes later I was the last person in the courtroom, but they never called my name. The judge finally looks at me confusingly and says “state your name and business”. I gave them my ticket expecting the worst.

With no prior knowledge, the judge took his time with the ticket and then looked at me and said “consider this your lucky day” and voided my violation! Shocked in the moment I realized that this was no coincidence. I was meant to learn from this day. I believe with all my heart that God was testing my willingness to serve. With the fate of the world coming down God gave me the opportunity to give graciously to His people and by doing so serving God. After that day I understood how rewarding serving an almighty and merciful God like ours. It just goes to show that God can use anything or anyone...like a homeless man to give food to.

The moral of this long but very true story is underlined in 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. Once you read it you’ll understand how God is fulfilling another one of His gracious promises to us. The “judge” could have easily convicted me of the charges against me but He decided to cut me a break. 

When we serve God, He will do so to us more than we deserve...because He loves us so!

The Cure

Hospitals can be very depressing. Whether you’re a patient, visitor, or doctor hospitals play the game of life and death. If you've ever walked around one and peek inside the rooms you’ll see people crying and patients suffering or with little hope. After my last admission into one my perception of them has changed forever. During my stay I was told to walk around in order for my body to aid in the healing process. Luckily I had a visitor to talk to when it hit me.

My friend looked into a few rooms almost naturally. She couldn’t bear to watch the people in pain, wanting life over death. She turned and told me how much this place depressed her and how she only came to visit. That made me discover the meaning behind our faith! “The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.” Psalm 41:3. That hospital, like many others, is the symbol of those who are yearning for life and to be free of sickness. God is the cure to all sickness! He gave life to all who want it. He sent his one and only son to die on the cross so He knew and understood our suffering so He could provide us with the the cure for it!

Although when you think of a hospital you may, like I mentioned, think of negative annotations there are also many positive ones too. My visitors during my visit were there to cheer me up and wish for my good health. Even though I may have life I still will become sick and endure hardship. That is why I have people to support and help me along the way, my visitors and doctors, as I continue to use the ultimate resource to conquer any illness. What I love about doctors is that they have to go through an extensive amount of teaching, training, and hardship that only so many people can do in order to become God’s healers. They’re not the cure but they’re His tools so He can administer the cure.

The church is the perfect example of a hospital full of broken and sick people. People come for life and healing. We take our medicine and come back next week. Some need more medical attention than others. But just like any severity of pain it will take time and will become a process of healing. Other than the symbolism that came out of a simple walk, the actual experience of watching people from the outside their rooms felt unimaginable knowing that their pain can result in death if not treated properly. 

So after the doctor examines you will they find out that YOU are sick?