The Comfort Of Sacrifice (Beautiful Exchange)

"This is how we've come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear." 1 John 3:16-17 _ The Message.

I think everyone would agree that putting Sacrifice and Comfort together is kind of like making a peanut butter and sardine sandwich – the two just don’t go together. There’s a reason for that – Sacrifice is supposed to be UNcomfortable. It’s supposed to make you twist in your seat at least a little bit. It should cause you to second guess and question your sanity. Sacrifice is supposed to be somewhat painful because it is stretching and pulling you out of your comfort zone while you’re going through it, but the rewards will make you soar.

We don’t like to be uncomfortable do we? We’ve even taken something as life-changing as sacrifice and we've turned it into something that is a bit easier for us to deal with. What do I mean? Well let’s take an example of someone standing with a sign asking for help at an intersection. We all see them and we all try to avoid eye contact as much as possible (come on admit it – I’ve done it too). One day you decide to reach in your pocket and pull out $5 and you hand it to the invisible person behind the sign – you feel a little uncomfortable because you you’re not sure if he is going to buy food or alcohol with the money; you feel at least a little bit good about yourself because of your act of kindness . . . and your “sacrifice.”

But was that $5 really a sacrifice? I mean, did it mean being able to pay your rent or car payment? That’s what I’m talking about, we’ve changed the meaning of sacrifice from something that is meant to take us beyond our means and capabilities, to more of a slight inconvenience. To most of us, $5 is nothing – it’s the cost of a double latte (with tip). It’s not a sacrifice at all.

What if Christ had taken the same attitude with us? 


We’d ALL be in a lot of trouble!

The Bible say that the ONLY reason we are able to understand and experience the true love of Christ is because He sacrificed His very life for us. He gave all He had so that we could have life. His only condition was that we come to Him. He did the rest –He took care of all the details – He paid the entire price for you and for me.

Lately, this song has become my favorite worship song and the message of 1 John 3:16-17 are rooted within this song and I think that's why I am drawn to this song. Give it a listen and reflect on the words and the Scripture.

Beautiful Exchange by Hillsong United

True Worship

     Paul described true worship perfectly in Romans 12:1-2 “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable, or well pleasing and perfect.”
     
     True worship is God-centered worship. People tend to get caught up in where they should worship, what music they should sing in worship, and how the worship looks to other people. Focusing on these things completely misses the point. Jesus tells us that true worshipers will worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). This means we worship from the heart and the way God has designed. Worship can include praying, reading God's Word with an open heart, singing, participating in communion, and serving others. It is not limited to one act, but is done properly when the heart and attitude of the person are in the right place.


     It’s also important to know that worship is reserved only for God. Only He is worthy and not any of His servants. We also should not be worshiping for the expectation of something in return, such as a miraculous healing. Worship is done for God—because He deserves it—and for His pleasure alone.True worship is not confined to what we do in church or open praise (although these things are both good and we are told in the Bible to do them). It is the acknowledgment of God and all His power and glory in everything we do. The highest form of praise and worship is obedience to Him and His Word. To do this, we must know God; we cannot be ignorant of Him. Worship is to glorify and exalt God—to show our loyalty and admiration to our Father.

Roman's Revenge feat. Eminem (Romans 2:4)

Catchy title? I thought so... And sorry to disappoint everyone but this post is not about Nicki Minaj... But I figured everything that Nicki Minaj is featured on becomes a hit (The Midas Tou... well... let's try The Minaj Touch), so I'm trying that 2010 mentality out for my blog.

I really enjoy reading Romans in the Message and this is how Eugene Peterson translates 2:4, “Or did you think that because he's such a nice God, he'd let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.” 

God's kindness is meant to cause us to change. Often we use nagging, threats, or punishment as a way to change behavior. While these may bring temporary change they will not change someone’s attitude and therefore will not bring lasting change. God wants lasting change. He wants to change our hearts, knowing that once our hearts are right our behavior will follow. 

Jesus was very hard on the Pharisees because they only cared about outward appearances and he had this to say about them: “In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” (Matthew 23:28).

God’s way of changing people is to show them kindness when they have done nothing to merit it. We cannot justify ourselves before a holy God, not with our penance, or our performance, or our sacrifice. When we are confronted with God’s amazing grace and fully realize that we are recipients of the most undeserved mercy, we are humbled. Humbled because we know we have not done anything that is worthy of God’s favour and then…we change. Change because we are so grateful and want to please the One who has shown us such great love.

My Biggest Weakness

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:19-20


Generally we become angry when we are blocked from obtaining something that is important to us. To hold onto our peace and avoid getting angry it is helpful to think about where we feel we are being blocked. If we have unreasonable expectations, we set ourselves up to have these expectations blocked. If we take on responsibilities that belong to other people, we won’t be able to control the outcome and our desires will be blocked. If we don’t listen to others we may find our plans blocked. 

Spiritually, by having a strong belief that God is in control, we know that nothing happens to us without his permission. Even when our desires are blocked, we know God’s are not. We can hold our peace because God’s purposes are bigger than our inconveniences.

its about to get ugly

as the title says.... this blog will be ugly...
this blog wont be doctored up like my other ones, and it wont be proofread like the other ones either.  this blog is just me writing myself down on "paper"/

i had a rough week. the idea that Gods plans for me are Soooooooooo much greater than my plans is the stupidest idea ever.  i think if God made me, then he made me to know what makes me happy, right? so why arent my plans and His plans the same/.? that is the stupidest....... it just pisses me off to no end.. God made me and knows my heart, he knows everything about me.... and im pretty sure that i know a lot about myself too... so why isnt my plan good enough for Him? and another thing, well nevermind, forget that..

i just dont understand this bullsh............. whatever. its not worth it,

Consider The Birds...

What does it take to make you content? What allows you to go to bed at night and not worry about tomorrow? Jesus does not want us overly concerned with things that are not of ultimate value to God. In fact, he wants us to know that we are of ultimate value to our Father, so we can trust him for the basics. We shouldn't be overly troubled with the basic needs of life. This doesn't mean we're to be irresponsible or freeloaders, it does mean that we should develop our sense of values so that the focus of our life is not on material needs. As God has declared us of ultimate value by sending his Son to redeem us, we commit to pursue what is of ultimate value -- the Father and his Kingdom. When we do that, the necessities will fall into place. Want proof? Look at the birds which regularly receive God's care and we're worth a whole lot more to him than they are!

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" - Matthew 6:26 

Define The Great Line

Want to be great? Want to do something great? Want to be remembered? Want to be a legend? Want to be the best? 

He must become greater; I must become less. 

John 3:30

Want to be great? Want to do something great? 


Then live so that others will live and know more of Jesus and less of you.