Is who I am bringing people to Jesus or turning them away?

Well, I'm back again this Thursday. My blog is more of a weekly kind of deal now, but I guess it's all I have time for, sadly. But on to the important things in life...
Is who I am bringing people to Jesus or turning them away?
That's a pretty heavy question is it not? I think so. I'm gonna be honest, I'm not sure if I really completely understand it myself. But when I think about it, I think simply by taking it by it's face value and saying, is what I do in my everyday life something that brings people to Jesus or turns them away. More into it now, is who I am, something that really makes people want to know Jesus? I have become convinced that being a disciple isn't preaching the Word to all people all the time, but more showing the Word. Do I show God's Word in my actions, words? That is the risky part about being open about your faith. You will be scrutinized. People will put you under a magnifying glass watching your every move, recording every word, one false move and that's pretty much it, that person isn't convinced by you, or your faith.
I'm one of those people who wear christian themed tshirts, I have those fish decals and bumper stickers on my car. So, I think it's safe to say people notice me. They see when I have a bad day, and they remember that bad day when I have a good one. So I was thinking, and I thought up something similar to the WWJD thing, and it's just as impossible to remember and actually do, and alot less catchy, but BLJ..Be Like Jesus. Similar no? yeah it is, but i think alittle harder to do, yes. it is. I could probably sit here all night listing the qualities that make Jesus who He is to us as believers in Him....selfless, compassionate, caring, loves unconditionally, man the list goes on...my heads spinning! So I guess there's alittle change that needs to be made. Steven Curtis Chapmen gets it, He wrote a song called "The Change." here it is.

Well I got myself a T-shirt that says what I believe
I got letters on my bracelet to serve as my ID
I got the necklace and the key chain
And almost everything a good Christian needs, yeah
I got the little Bible magnets on my refrigerator door
And a welcome mat to bless you before you walk across my floor
I got a Jesus bumper sticker
And the outline of a fish stuck on my car
And even though this stuff's all well and good, yeah
I cannot help but ask myself--

What about the change
What about the difference
What about the grace
What about the forgiveness
What about a life that's showing
I'm undergoing the change, yeah
I'm undergoing the change
Well I've got this way of thinking that comes so naturally
Where I believe the whole world is revolving around me
And I got this way of living that I have to die to every single day
'Cause if God's Spirit lives inside of me, yeah
I'm gonna live life differently.

What about the change
What about the difference
What about the grace
What about the forgiveness
What about a life that's showing
I'm undergoing the change, yeah
I'm undergoing the change
(I got that out of a book...Speechless by Steven Curtis Chapmen and Scotty Smith)

Surmise what you will...

God's Blessing upon your "change"
Adam

Hills are for Climbing

Lately, I have had my share of "hills." As I go through my days, I find myself continually climbing hills. I usually get the feeling as though I'm never going to get ahead, or in this case, I'm never gonna make it over these stupid hills. But I know that I will, because of one specific reason...
As I'm sure all of you know, yesterday was Ash Wednesday. (REALLY!?) I had to work, but thanks be to God, I was able to get off in time to only be about 10 minutes or so late. I did miss the confession and absolution, which is a very important part in the service to become recharged in order to take on another day. But there was a lot that I didn't miss, including Holy Communion. I was so glad I made it, I knew I had to thank God. For the past few weeks, due to so much going on during the week, I was usually reduced to having to work on sunday mornings, thus missing church, of course. Well, when I got to the church last night and realized I had just made it, and especially for communion, a great feeling enveloped me, I got chills. It had been along time since I had been able to meet God at His table, and I felt Him there, waiting just for me. I knew the table was being prepared as I listened, catching my breath (I ran to the church), to the Words of Institution spoken by my Pastor. But it was then that it struck me, it was then that I realized what kept me going...me knowing that no matter how long it is since my last meeting with Him, He'll still be there. No matter how many hills I have to climb to get there, He'll be there waiting for me, encouraging me all the way. I also felt my heavy heart become light again as my realization sunk in, no need to feel guilty, He always knows when to expect me. After all, the table's always set, the food is always ready, I just have to make it there.
In the days ahead, don't fret while following the path over endless hills, because no matter what, He'll be there. Amen. Praise Jesus. Amen.

God's Love, Mercy, and Grace upon your trek,
Adam

Stand firm..on and for Christ

"By standing firm you will gain life." -Luke 21:19

You may be thinking to yourself, "hmm..stand firm for Christ..I think I got that..but on Christ..??" Well, I would say that is a valid question. What I mean is that we need to stand firm on Christ with His strength. Don't make me pull out Philippians 4:13 on you..cause I will! (I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me) Also, as the wise man puts his foundation (link to the real verses) on the rock for strength, and a foolish man puts his foundation on sand, the man receives his strength from the Rock, and I think it can go without saying that the rock is JESUS. (Just alittle food for thought) But that sand can resemble something too, I think the sand represents the strength we try to find in ourselves and from others. They can't supply the strength we need, and as the rains come the sand washes away.
Also, as the verse says, standing firm for Christ or standing up for Christ will give you life. But what you need to remember (I got this from the Life Application Bible again..) is that what Jesus means is you won't gain earthly life, you won't get 50 more years for doing really good, but you get that eternal, everlasting life, after death. Because, as we know, life is fragile and will come to end on earth, but that leads us to our eternal home.

I'm on kind of this, hymn frenzy lately. There's a hymn out there that is very fitting to this topic...so here it goes:

Stand up, Stand Up for Jesus

Stand up, stand up for Jesus as soldiers of the cross. Lift high his royal banner; it must not suffer loss. From vict'ry unto vict'ry his army he shall lead. Till ev'ry foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus; The trumpet call obey; Stand forth in mighty conflict in this his glorious day. Let all his faithful serve him against unnumbered foes; Let courage rise with danger and strength to strength oppose.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus; stand in his strength alone; the arm of flesh will fail you, you dare not trust your own. Put on the Gospel armor; each piece put on with prayer. Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus; the strife will not be long; this day the din of battle, the next the victor's song. The soldiers, overcoming, their crown of life shall see and with the King of glory shall reign eternally.
LW # 305

There it is, I hope you looked into the words. And if you're reading this right now...yes..these words right now, and you didn't read that hymn that this paragraph, yes this paragraph right here, follows...please go back and read through them, they are really good, and remember..I just took alot of time to happily type them out for you!

God's Blessings, Stand Firm,
Adam

P.S. I'd like to give credit where it's due...my pastor, Pastor Dave, gave me the idea, and much..well all of the material in a sermon last January that I actually took notes on! haha...:>