I'll warn you first before you start to read this... If you want to keep whatever image you have of me now don't read any further. My suggestion though is that you do. Why? Because I think it's about time you see all of me.
For some reason after the new year I have run into many blog posts, books and scripture that has all talked about living with integrity, living every part of your life the same no matter where you might be or who you might be with. In other words, don't have multiple personalities or lives. Acting one way with your coworkers, another way with your family, a different way with your buddies, another way with your spiritual family and so on. Let's face it, I'm sure most of us can agree that we act or have acted different in different situations and around different people at some point in our lives, whether we want to admit it or not. Or maybe we say we believe one thing and then do another. Sound familiar? It does to me....I know I have and still do.
My question is why? Why do we act differently in one situation than another and why do we act one way around some people and a different way around others? My answer is that it's a learned behavior. We are born not knowing anything, but trusting everything. A child cries out whenever they are upset, hungry, tired, sick, etc. without any reservations and they trust that their needs will be met. They don't need to be taught to say whatever they think or to do the wrong thing, they do that all on their own without looking for approval.
What they then are taught is how to behave. What is wrong and what is right. How they are supposed to act in certain situations; at the grocery store, with family, at school, at daycare, with other kids, etc. Then they learn by other peoples reactions what they can do or say around them with or without judgment. They start to learn that that judgment matters and they should care about what others think of them and what they say. Then it turns into a game, a competition. Seeing who has the best things and who has nothing, who does the most good and who does the worst. How they can get back at each other and how they can look better than someone else. They start to compare themselves and give themselves excuses, as a way out. Well at least I haven't done what he has? I have done way more good deeds than she has? That person did the same thing, so it must be OK.
Somewhere between a child and becoming an adult are views become skewed.
Matthew 18:1
About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven."
Even Jesus disciples, his followers and grown men, were arguing over who was the best among them, fighting for a position of advantage. Sound familiar yet? Oh and did I mention these were followers of Jesus? Remember that part.
Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said,"I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven."
Hold up! So Jesus is saying that the men that have been following him around, traveling with him and assisting him when he reaches out to the poor, the hurting, the sick, the weak, the troubled, the sinners aren't good enough to get into the Kingdom of Heaven?! What is this?!
The disciples were so preoccupied with looking good outwardly that they forgot about seeking a place of service in their hearts. They were more occupied competing with each other to gain a status of importance, than they were with looking on the inside and become devoted to the changing of their hearts. They depended on themselves (their actions, their outward deeds) to get into heaven rather than depending on Jesus and letting him change them and meet their needs.
"So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven."
Children are weak and dependent upon their caregivers as we should be with God. They are not competing to gain any sort of status and have not yet been influenced by the world. They are humble and their hearts are sincere. They have not yet been taught to act as we do...
Like these disciples I myself have been guilty of doing the same things. Comparing myself to others when I have done wrong thinking, "Well at least I haven't gone that far, or haven't done those things." and also in the other direction, "I am doing more good things than some people, so I must be doing a good job." It's shameful, I know that. I'm not proud of any of it. The worst is when people tell me I am doing great things and it starts to get to my head. I have always loved to know when I am doing a good job or a bad job, so that way I know what I need to do to change, but sometimes that pride creeps in and I let it get to my head. That's when I have to remind myself of the many things that I have done, that are equally as sinful as anyone else in this world. I don't deserve anything more than anyone else and I definitely do not deserve God's mercy and grace.
Many of you may know my name and a part of me, some of you may not know anything about me and most of you don't know all of me. As a start striving to live my life with integrity and letting God change my heart, I have decided to lay out all of my sins out on the table for all of you to see. Some of you may not care, some of you may be appalled and not look at me the same way again, but it has been laid on my heart for a while and I think it's a bout time a christian takes of their mask and costume and lets the whole world see that we are just as sinful as anyone else in this world. It's hard to admit out loud, and as messed up as this sounds I think its harder to admit them to the people around us than it is to God, when it should be the opposite. We are no better than the person standing next to us, we are no better than the corporate owner swimming in his greed, we are no better than the murderer in jail for the second or third time, we are no better than the prostitute working out on the street to make a living, we are no better than the drug cartels, the cheaters, the thieves, the molesters, the terrorists, etc we are these people. The only difference is in knowing that everything I have done is wrong and acceptance of God's gift that was given for everyone.
So what is it that I have done through out my life? I won't go into details, think the worst if you'd like or the least, either way its all the same... I have stolen, I have cheated in more than one way, I have had sex before marriage, I've been drunk, I have cussed, I have made fun of people behind their backs and in front of their face, I have thought about myself before others buying useless things when their are people in need (greed), I have thought very highly of myself (Pride), I have been wasteful, I have passed up opportunities to help someone, I have tried drugs, I have watched porn, I have wanted what other people have (jealousy), I have passed up opportunities to show God's love.
Corinthians 5:14-17
"Either way Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"
Some people use the excuse that God forgives and since they are saved and are a "Christian" they just keep repeating the same sins over and over again, but that's not true. If we are a follower of Christ we will be changed from the inside out. Does it mean that we will never sin again? No, what it means is that we understand God's love for us and open our hearts to let him change it and our thoughts. We continue to work towards living right in God's eyes and continue to love the people of this world in every aspect of our life. Does that mean what you do gets you into Heaven? No, Jesus already saved us from our sins when he died on the cross and once we truly realize that we are sinners and truly accept his gift we decide to put him at the center of our lives, let him change us and strive towards living like Jesus did.
Ephesians 5:1-8
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God's people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes-these are not for you. Instead let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don't participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the lord. So live as people from the light! For this light within you only produces what is good and right and true.
My advice to those who don't know Jesus as their personal lord and savior is this, do not look to Christians as how Jesus lived and what Christianity is all about. Look at what Jesus did and said. Start with John and read the new testament. Humans are natural sinners we do not always do the right thing, so looking to us for what Jesus is all about would be very foolish. To those of you who do know Jesus as your personal lord and savior I pray that you take this challenge along with me to live every part of your life for God and keep him at the center of it all changing your heart and mind.
P.S. Sorry this one is so long!! There are so many paths you can take with this and there are a lot of areas in which people can get the wrong idea so I didn't want to skip out too much on anything.
My question is why? Why do we act differently in one situation than another and why do we act one way around some people and a different way around others? My answer is that it's a learned behavior. We are born not knowing anything, but trusting everything. A child cries out whenever they are upset, hungry, tired, sick, etc. without any reservations and they trust that their needs will be met. They don't need to be taught to say whatever they think or to do the wrong thing, they do that all on their own without looking for approval.
What they then are taught is how to behave. What is wrong and what is right. How they are supposed to act in certain situations; at the grocery store, with family, at school, at daycare, with other kids, etc. Then they learn by other peoples reactions what they can do or say around them with or without judgment. They start to learn that that judgment matters and they should care about what others think of them and what they say. Then it turns into a game, a competition. Seeing who has the best things and who has nothing, who does the most good and who does the worst. How they can get back at each other and how they can look better than someone else. They start to compare themselves and give themselves excuses, as a way out. Well at least I haven't done what he has? I have done way more good deeds than she has? That person did the same thing, so it must be OK.
Somewhere between a child and becoming an adult are views become skewed.
Matthew 18:1
About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven."
Even Jesus disciples, his followers and grown men, were arguing over who was the best among them, fighting for a position of advantage. Sound familiar yet? Oh and did I mention these were followers of Jesus? Remember that part.
Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said,"I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven."
Hold up! So Jesus is saying that the men that have been following him around, traveling with him and assisting him when he reaches out to the poor, the hurting, the sick, the weak, the troubled, the sinners aren't good enough to get into the Kingdom of Heaven?! What is this?!
The disciples were so preoccupied with looking good outwardly that they forgot about seeking a place of service in their hearts. They were more occupied competing with each other to gain a status of importance, than they were with looking on the inside and become devoted to the changing of their hearts. They depended on themselves (their actions, their outward deeds) to get into heaven rather than depending on Jesus and letting him change them and meet their needs.
"So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven."
Children are weak and dependent upon their caregivers as we should be with God. They are not competing to gain any sort of status and have not yet been influenced by the world. They are humble and their hearts are sincere. They have not yet been taught to act as we do...
Like these disciples I myself have been guilty of doing the same things. Comparing myself to others when I have done wrong thinking, "Well at least I haven't gone that far, or haven't done those things." and also in the other direction, "I am doing more good things than some people, so I must be doing a good job." It's shameful, I know that. I'm not proud of any of it. The worst is when people tell me I am doing great things and it starts to get to my head. I have always loved to know when I am doing a good job or a bad job, so that way I know what I need to do to change, but sometimes that pride creeps in and I let it get to my head. That's when I have to remind myself of the many things that I have done, that are equally as sinful as anyone else in this world. I don't deserve anything more than anyone else and I definitely do not deserve God's mercy and grace.
Many of you may know my name and a part of me, some of you may not know anything about me and most of you don't know all of me. As a start striving to live my life with integrity and letting God change my heart, I have decided to lay out all of my sins out on the table for all of you to see. Some of you may not care, some of you may be appalled and not look at me the same way again, but it has been laid on my heart for a while and I think it's a bout time a christian takes of their mask and costume and lets the whole world see that we are just as sinful as anyone else in this world. It's hard to admit out loud, and as messed up as this sounds I think its harder to admit them to the people around us than it is to God, when it should be the opposite. We are no better than the person standing next to us, we are no better than the corporate owner swimming in his greed, we are no better than the murderer in jail for the second or third time, we are no better than the prostitute working out on the street to make a living, we are no better than the drug cartels, the cheaters, the thieves, the molesters, the terrorists, etc we are these people. The only difference is in knowing that everything I have done is wrong and acceptance of God's gift that was given for everyone.
So what is it that I have done through out my life? I won't go into details, think the worst if you'd like or the least, either way its all the same... I have stolen, I have cheated in more than one way, I have had sex before marriage, I've been drunk, I have cussed, I have made fun of people behind their backs and in front of their face, I have thought about myself before others buying useless things when their are people in need (greed), I have thought very highly of myself (Pride), I have been wasteful, I have passed up opportunities to help someone, I have tried drugs, I have watched porn, I have wanted what other people have (jealousy), I have passed up opportunities to show God's love.
Corinthians 5:14-17
"Either way Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"
Some people use the excuse that God forgives and since they are saved and are a "Christian" they just keep repeating the same sins over and over again, but that's not true. If we are a follower of Christ we will be changed from the inside out. Does it mean that we will never sin again? No, what it means is that we understand God's love for us and open our hearts to let him change it and our thoughts. We continue to work towards living right in God's eyes and continue to love the people of this world in every aspect of our life. Does that mean what you do gets you into Heaven? No, Jesus already saved us from our sins when he died on the cross and once we truly realize that we are sinners and truly accept his gift we decide to put him at the center of our lives, let him change us and strive towards living like Jesus did.
Ephesians 5:1-8
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God's people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes-these are not for you. Instead let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don't participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the lord. So live as people from the light! For this light within you only produces what is good and right and true.
My advice to those who don't know Jesus as their personal lord and savior is this, do not look to Christians as how Jesus lived and what Christianity is all about. Look at what Jesus did and said. Start with John and read the new testament. Humans are natural sinners we do not always do the right thing, so looking to us for what Jesus is all about would be very foolish. To those of you who do know Jesus as your personal lord and savior I pray that you take this challenge along with me to live every part of your life for God and keep him at the center of it all changing your heart and mind.
P.S. Sorry this one is so long!! There are so many paths you can take with this and there are a lot of areas in which people can get the wrong idea so I didn't want to skip out too much on anything.
