We're all someone. We all have likes and dislikes and types of clothing we like to wear and music we like to listen to. We each have a unique personality that allows our friends to go, "I saw these shoes at the mall that looked so totally you."
We all enjoy being 'ourselves."
Last Sunday the pastor of my church preached a sermon that I liked a lot. In it, he compared our personalities, our likes and dislikes, who we are as people inside and out to being our "houses." As humans, we like to think we own our houses. We like to think we sit on a big fat piece of land in a nice house and say, "I own this, this is me." But, as my pastor said, we don't actually own any of it.
God has the keys to your heart if you've accept Him as your Lord and Savior, but God also wants the keys to your house. He wants every bit of furniture in every room. And, myself included, when you hear this you don't like it. I like being myself, I'm me, this is my house, I built it.
But none of us built our own houses. God did, from the foundation to the chimney. We don't have a right to throw Him out the front door and say, "I built this, get out." He wants His keys back, and things get so much easier when you hand them over, because He'll help you with the upkeep. When your house starts falling apart, when a storm comes, God'll be there to help you with repairs. But first, you have to surrender your housekeys and let God into every room. Every closet. Every cupboard. Don't close any doors, don't go, "Oh, not that closet, that's my stuff." Or, "Please don't go in there, I'm ashamed of what's inside." Those latter doors are the one that you should leave wide open for God, for He's the only one who can clean out and remodel it. It may be embarrassing and shameful, but don't worry, God understands. It may hurt to show Him these private rooms, but it will hurt only as thorn hurts as it being pulled out.
It's hard to give up control of things, we as humans like to be in charge of ourselves. But, if you think about it, this isn't even our permanent house. Soon it would will crumble and rust away and we'll move into a perfect mansion in Heaven, and since that's eternal, how much do our earthly dwellings really matter?
God wants every part of us. All of it. He wants every door wide open. He gave you a wonderful house to live in it, so live in it, don't try to own it. Really, so much stress goes away when you give Him everything. He wants to fill your house with peace and joy, so why not let him?
Giving up control is hard, but things get easier after that. So try it. I have faith that you'll see the blessings immediately.
^(OvO)^
“Never regret thy fall, O Icarus of the fearless flight, For the greatest tragedy of them all, Is never to feel the burning light”
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Reflections for the End of the World
Everyone knows about the Mayan prediction of end of world, etc, etc, but of course no one really believes it. There is, however, that little voice that whispers, "What if?"
I've noticed lately, in a lot of radio-pop songs, they feature lines such as, "Live like you're dying," and, "Party like we've got one night left." It seems like our culture is bombarding us with these messages to party now and forget the consequences. And with this prediction, and that little voice, I find myself examining my life like, "Is this the note I want everything to end on?"
Thinking that is useless, because the answer will always be a big fat resounding, "NO!" We will never be happy with our lives, up 'til the very end, and when we realize that things get easier. Humans have always reached for the unattainable goal of being "happy" in life, and you can never be happy when you're searching to be happy, because being happy is almost an illusion. There is just to much sadness in this fallen world.
To slip in a Doctor Who quote, "The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things, the good things don't always soften the bad things, but vice versa the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things or make them unimportant." You will have good days, but you'll have just as many bad days, and it's separating them that's the key.
To "live like you're dying" is wrong, it just leads to dissatisfaction and unfulfillment, and in truth we can't live like we're dying because we aren't dying.
We have to live like we're living.
The surest way to be unhappy is to go looking for happiness. Accept the bad days, enjoy the good days, live for God, serve others, and happiness should follow.
Another thing I find myself is thinking, "Did I make a big enough difference? Did I matter?"
The answer, really, depends on your definition of "mattering." Because, in the scope of all things human, we don't really matter at all. Even someone like Socrates, someone who's been remembered for generations and shaped human history (if that can be considered "mattering") will one day be entirely forgotten.
On our own, we don't matter, we're just small and helpless and clinging onto the skin of this tiny little world.
The way I see it, there are two levels of mattering: the earthly level and the heavenly level. Earthly levels is your day to day life "matterings" - you matter to your parents, to your friends, to the people you help and guide through life. Then there is the heavenly level of mattering - everyone you've directly or indirectly brought to knowledge and Saving Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, this is the only way you'll truly mattering, and it's the most wonderful way to matter.
So don't worry about mattering on an earthly level, worry about mattering on that heavenly level, and that's the only way you'll ever feel fulfilled.
The world could end on December 21st, the world could end any day really, but most likely it won't end for a long while yet. But still, don't beat around the bush, stop looking for happiness, stop trying to matter materialistically, and start telling people a very good piece of news.
The news that one man died for the sins of all mankind.
^(OvO)^
I've noticed lately, in a lot of radio-pop songs, they feature lines such as, "Live like you're dying," and, "Party like we've got one night left." It seems like our culture is bombarding us with these messages to party now and forget the consequences. And with this prediction, and that little voice, I find myself examining my life like, "Is this the note I want everything to end on?"
Thinking that is useless, because the answer will always be a big fat resounding, "NO!" We will never be happy with our lives, up 'til the very end, and when we realize that things get easier. Humans have always reached for the unattainable goal of being "happy" in life, and you can never be happy when you're searching to be happy, because being happy is almost an illusion. There is just to much sadness in this fallen world.
To slip in a Doctor Who quote, "The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things, the good things don't always soften the bad things, but vice versa the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things or make them unimportant." You will have good days, but you'll have just as many bad days, and it's separating them that's the key.
To "live like you're dying" is wrong, it just leads to dissatisfaction and unfulfillment, and in truth we can't live like we're dying because we aren't dying.
We have to live like we're living.
The surest way to be unhappy is to go looking for happiness. Accept the bad days, enjoy the good days, live for God, serve others, and happiness should follow.
Another thing I find myself is thinking, "Did I make a big enough difference? Did I matter?"
The answer, really, depends on your definition of "mattering." Because, in the scope of all things human, we don't really matter at all. Even someone like Socrates, someone who's been remembered for generations and shaped human history (if that can be considered "mattering") will one day be entirely forgotten.
On our own, we don't matter, we're just small and helpless and clinging onto the skin of this tiny little world.
The way I see it, there are two levels of mattering: the earthly level and the heavenly level. Earthly levels is your day to day life "matterings" - you matter to your parents, to your friends, to the people you help and guide through life. Then there is the heavenly level of mattering - everyone you've directly or indirectly brought to knowledge and Saving Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, this is the only way you'll truly mattering, and it's the most wonderful way to matter.
So don't worry about mattering on an earthly level, worry about mattering on that heavenly level, and that's the only way you'll ever feel fulfilled.
The world could end on December 21st, the world could end any day really, but most likely it won't end for a long while yet. But still, don't beat around the bush, stop looking for happiness, stop trying to matter materialistically, and start telling people a very good piece of news.
The news that one man died for the sins of all mankind.
^(OvO)^
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