motives

Ive been thinking through the concept of intentions. I think identity breeds intentionality. Wherever your identity lies you will be intentional in doing whatever it takes for your identity to be strengthened. Before I go further with this post I must specify that what we say our identity is found in and what it really is are not typically the same thing...Proverbs 20:5 says the purposes of a mans heart are deep waters; but a man of understanding draws them out. This being said i cant believe that very often we pursue drawing out our motives often. We typically just do. That said if my identity is found in how others perceive me I will stop at nothing until i promote a perception I deem worthy. If your identity is found in a boy or a girl you will stop at nothing to have a relationship you deem worthy enough to strengthen your idea of yourself. If my identity is found in Christ I would stop at nothing to know him more. The more I know what defines me the clearer the definition. Does my life reflect Christ inside and out? If not it is hard to say that I am truly found in him. If i worry and fret constantly about tests and school I can confidently say my idea of myself is wrapped up in my ability to perform. Identity breeds intentionality. What are you intentional about and why? On the surface the intentions may seem good but maybe we should find out the underlying cause for seeking out certain things. Proverbs 16:2 says all a mans ways seem innocent to him but the Lord sees the motive. I know often I want people to know how strong my walk with Christ is which plays into the way i seek out knowledge and wisdom when in reality if I were truly rooted in love I would seek God always bc he is worthy. Plain and simple he is worthy...WE often worship the things of God and forget that HE alone satisfies..May you check your heart. Test your motives. and Seek the Lord for he is good.

Man Card revoked

Ill admit it. I watched maybe 45 minutes of the Super Bowl, and the majority of that was out of obligation rather than a true desire. I actually love football and spent most of my life even in college playing this game. The truth is, though, that it is merely a game. It is an event of entertainment. I had just returned home from a Dnow weekend excited about what Christ had done in the lives of some high school kids. Did i want to be excited about the Super Bowl? Yes part of me did, but something was missing. It seemed that seeing Christ change lives was far greater than any event of entertainment and I knew that if I devoted my night to watching a game. I knew that forsaking what had just happened was not what I was created for. My life is to become a reflection of the Creators. I know people will read this and possibly say that I am putting on a front of holiness but the truth is I wrestled with the thoughts I fought comfort and not so I could wake up today and tell people about it. The struggle was so Christ would become more real to me in all things. I think the community that can be had at Super Bowl parties is incredible and a good thing. Im certainly not condemning the Super bowl I am just urging myself and my friends to not forsake the miracles God performs daily in our lives. We fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. for what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 ...I think Ill watch next years super bowl for the community and the funny commercial and for the enjoyment of an incredible game, but I know that today God says fix your eyes on me, and when i perform miracles you have a few options:
1. receive it and be changed.
2. see it, acknowledge it, be excited about it and quickly let it go and return to what it is that satisfies for a moment.
Don't stiff arm the gospel today... Receive it and be changed...

Why not be wronged?

But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers!

7The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers. 1 Cortinthians 6

As i read this passage I was struck harshly by these verses. We have been defeated so often by the desire to win an argument or be right. We so often have the right opinion or the right words or this or that to win an argument but we so often lose sight of our true purpose. It isnt to have all the right political ideas, or the best theological positioning. It is to just as Christ did humble ourselves and become servants. Why not be wronged? Why not be cheated? Is it because its not fair? Its not Just? Our views of justice are so short sided and arrogant. They typical only meet our idea of what turns out most beneficial towards our particular way of thinking. Could Jesus have risen in power and defeated all those who opposed him? Yes. Why didnt he? It would have defeated the point. It is not through position or power that love is accomplished. It is not through manipulation or coersion that love is seen. It is through vulnerability and weakness that true love is accomplished. True Love bore death on a cross, all that sin and the scorn so that we might know our God who is love. God was willing to romance us again, to woo us back to him as opposed to forcing worship. How beautiful is that? What then should we do in response? Should we push and bully and always be right? Perfect theology leads to death but the grace of God saves. Why not be wronged? Why not be abused for the sake of his glory? Let us not walk in the defeat that comes through the idea of power yet walk in the freedom Christ offers when he says "My yoke is easy and my burden is light". Stop striving to be right because if that is our aim weve already lost. Mercy triumphs over judgement(james)

Be quick to love

Its funny how even with good intentions and the right thinking my response can be so outside of the response Christ would have. The passage in James that says be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger is a very difficult one to realize through action. Earlier i found myself slow to listen, quick to speak, and shortly thereafter angered once i realized MY RIGHT opinion was being neglected. What had i failed to do? Well i had failed to take the other persons circumstance into account. Their needs and my choice to love and meet those needs versus my right opinion needing to be viewed and respected. So quickly I take right thinking and turn it into arrogant action. The Lord opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.James 4:6...We must be better prepared to meet the needs for others. In doing so my opinion takes a backseat and love can really begin to bear all things. Just be quick to listen and empathize, maybe even grieve as others grieve. Being right is overrated. Loving rightly is above all. We speak so well and have all the right words but where is the heart behind it...Mercy triumphs judgement...just as he was merciful let us be merciful and not forget the gift so freely bestowed upon us.