Watch this video http://www.skitguys.com/store/detail/188/ I didn’t write this post with this video in mind in fact it was pretty much done when I saw this video but I just think you should watch it.
“Temptations are chances to tell God we love Him”, that’s in insert of a spontaneous conversation struck up around two am while going to brush my teeth in the bathroom with my friend Zach. This was after an extremely blessed day. It was blessed in the most amazing way. No, I didn’t get a bunch of good grades back or, win a prize and the cafeteria wasn’t serving my favorite food. It was blessed because God was working thru me, and I was letting Him shine with minimal fleshly interference. To compare this high to any earthly thing would be, to compare the budget of a Hollywood movie to the budget of a public elementary school production.
I came in to college equipped with God's armor ready for college to put a huge strain on my faith. On the contrary it is enabling my faith to grow immensely. Wipe that confused look off your face it is true that my faith was tested, tested well and often but it’s because its tested I have so many opportunities to glorify Him, and in return be blessed with His glory. James 1:1-4. Time and time again God proves His words as truth. The time I took strengthening my faith before I left was not wasted, time devoted to the glory of His kingdom never goes in vain. It is very possible without that extra commitment to Him, I might have fallen to many of the temptations that He helped me overcome. Extra may be a grammatical mess up for there is no sufficient amount of commitment that we, as humans, are even capable of obtaining, because He deserves it all. Extra relative to what I was giving Him is another story; I can always give Him more, growing my faith and happiness.
How I prepared to stay a strong Christian in an environment I thought would be strenuous, was simply by going faith out. What I mean is let it be known you are a Christian you will get either encouragement or opposition both of which strengthens your faith. So I ask what is there to be scared of, earthly rejections which is as good as garbage compared to the Lord. I started at orientation and haven’t looked back. God even wants the little things to glorify Him. Praying for my lunch in the cafeteria with people I just met might have been out of my comfort zone but it wasn’t out of His, nothing is out of His comfort zone. It was some of these “small” things I would usually forget at home like praising God for a Lunch or breakfast, out in public that have keep my focus on Him. And I have been reading more at night, instead of usually reading two or three chapters; I am usually reading four or five. One or two in the chapter I am in, right now that’s 2 Samuel, then some Psalm and/or Proverbs, for encouragement and wisdom. My prays have also been getting longer, because I have more things to pray, praise, give thanks, and repent to Him about.
All this has to do with trusting in Him completely, which I have been trying to do since I was saved. I started with the bigger things and just worked my way to trusting the smaller things to Him as well, but just like anything else when you concentrate on one thing it is harder to maintain your faith in another. That is way I am getting involved in big things too like BCM (Baptist Campus Ministry) and IV (Inner Varsity). There are a few more ministries I am dabbling in, but these two plus my Church when I find the perfect fit is going to be a handful. I want to be able to dive in and get involved and really fellowship with my ministry groups not just participate in them. God uses other to answer you prays and vice versa. God made us to have a relationship with Him above all things but also we are made to be in relationship with each other. Adam was lonely without Eve, and that was before sin existed. But also make sure you listen to God first and do not eat the fruit that God has forbidden. So what I try to do is ask people I trust to help me with a problem than pray to see what God is putting on my heart, it might be something that you wouldn’t be able to understand at that time without the support of a friend. Be bold with your faith and your faith will stay strong
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Starting the Faith-ics (My testimony Continued)
This is the second part of my testimony to see the prequel go to “Developing the Faith-ics (My testimony)” posted 5-2-09
Thru crafty advertising on Brandon’s part and reviling knowledge by God’s grace, this next part of my saga begins inside the trusting doors of Gate City Baptist Church. The sun was closer to setting than rising; it was not a Sunday morning service, but a jaunty youth service. I remember taking surveillance, staying close to Brandon and Mike, a mutual best Friend of ours. I remember how uneasiness settled in corners of my mind where confidence usually roomed, feeling young and vulnerable. I was young and very vulnerable; every step I took towards Him was a feeble wobble at this stage, I could have easily fallen back by a breeze caused by someone whispering the devils bidding. God guarded me in this stage of weakness by surrounding me by Soulders in His arms. Gate city was not the church up the road, In-fact I had to drive past several churches to reach this particular church nestled on the outskirts of my home city of Greensboro. To a bystander the near twenty minute drive, to a church in which I only know the person who brought me, would not seem like the right church for me. On paper I would agree with this bystander but there was something alive in that room something that just felt right. Like that void in me was being filled.
The first few times I was there I kinda kept to myself, I wasn’t quiet by any means I don’t know if I know how to be quiet but I was not as out going around “them” as I usually am. I felt like I hypocrite like I was not worthy to clam to be as holy as my fellow beings in that youth room. I sort of felt like a wretch among some of God’s people. That I believe is one of the ways God humbled me into admitting that for the first 18 years of my life I did not have life. Which was hard to do considering 99% of my youth got saved by the age of like 7 (SF). I latter found out the only reason it was hard was because I was tiring to find the strength to become a Christian on my own. All I had to do was trust in the Lord and give my life to Him.
I don't remember all that was said that faithful day I said the pray of salvation, I couldn't tell you what I was wearing or even if it was a Sunday or a Wednesday night, but I do remember how alive the Holy Spirit felt inside me. I also remember Jay, my youth minster, talking about the time we have left on this earth. He was talking how we are not even guaranteed to arrive home when we left church that night [He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!”] Job 1:21. He talked about how some people think they will “live life up” and form a relationship later in life, but there might not be a later. Why wait you can have the saving joy of the Lord right now! This was not a scar-tactic, you can’t scare someone into a personal relationship with Christ it was simply a true observational fact.
After service that day I came up to Jay with the encouragement of Brandon and the three of us went to a side room held hands and I repeated the pray of salvation Jay had me recite. I remember at the time I was so worried I would mess up and not be saved. Good thing accepting Christ is not like getting accepted to college no one is turned down and you don’t have to fill out an application all that is required is you follow Him. [If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.] Romans 10:9, and there is no wrong way to do that as long as your heart is true.
That is not the end of my testimony it’s nearly the first notable water marker, one’s testimony is never ending, for once your saved you are a walking breathing testimony in all you do.
Thru crafty advertising on Brandon’s part and reviling knowledge by God’s grace, this next part of my saga begins inside the trusting doors of Gate City Baptist Church. The sun was closer to setting than rising; it was not a Sunday morning service, but a jaunty youth service. I remember taking surveillance, staying close to Brandon and Mike, a mutual best Friend of ours. I remember how uneasiness settled in corners of my mind where confidence usually roomed, feeling young and vulnerable. I was young and very vulnerable; every step I took towards Him was a feeble wobble at this stage, I could have easily fallen back by a breeze caused by someone whispering the devils bidding. God guarded me in this stage of weakness by surrounding me by Soulders in His arms. Gate city was not the church up the road, In-fact I had to drive past several churches to reach this particular church nestled on the outskirts of my home city of Greensboro. To a bystander the near twenty minute drive, to a church in which I only know the person who brought me, would not seem like the right church for me. On paper I would agree with this bystander but there was something alive in that room something that just felt right. Like that void in me was being filled.
The first few times I was there I kinda kept to myself, I wasn’t quiet by any means I don’t know if I know how to be quiet but I was not as out going around “them” as I usually am. I felt like I hypocrite like I was not worthy to clam to be as holy as my fellow beings in that youth room. I sort of felt like a wretch among some of God’s people. That I believe is one of the ways God humbled me into admitting that for the first 18 years of my life I did not have life. Which was hard to do considering 99% of my youth got saved by the age of like 7 (SF). I latter found out the only reason it was hard was because I was tiring to find the strength to become a Christian on my own. All I had to do was trust in the Lord and give my life to Him.
I don't remember all that was said that faithful day I said the pray of salvation, I couldn't tell you what I was wearing or even if it was a Sunday or a Wednesday night, but I do remember how alive the Holy Spirit felt inside me. I also remember Jay, my youth minster, talking about the time we have left on this earth. He was talking how we are not even guaranteed to arrive home when we left church that night [He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!”] Job 1:21. He talked about how some people think they will “live life up” and form a relationship later in life, but there might not be a later. Why wait you can have the saving joy of the Lord right now! This was not a scar-tactic, you can’t scare someone into a personal relationship with Christ it was simply a true observational fact.
After service that day I came up to Jay with the encouragement of Brandon and the three of us went to a side room held hands and I repeated the pray of salvation Jay had me recite. I remember at the time I was so worried I would mess up and not be saved. Good thing accepting Christ is not like getting accepted to college no one is turned down and you don’t have to fill out an application all that is required is you follow Him. [If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.] Romans 10:9, and there is no wrong way to do that as long as your heart is true.
That is not the end of my testimony it’s nearly the first notable water marker, one’s testimony is never ending, for once your saved you are a walking breathing testimony in all you do.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Things, Small N’ Large
College is defiantly not what I thought it was going to be, mostly because I didn’t think much about it. I am the kinda guy who takes stuff as it comes what will happen, will happen. [You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.] –Proverbs 19:21-. I wish God was the sole reason that I just live in there here and now but it’s not, I just do (SF). With that said I still don’t think anyone every pegs exactly how college will feel, how they will adjust, or how it will be. There are so many little things that people just don’t think about and other indescribable things you just have to experience for yourself and even than what you experience will be different than what I or anyone else did. Not too different from the way God works in your life unique to each person. I am hoping my posts might give you a heads up about college but more importantly exemplify the fact that your faith is a HUGE part of your life and you should let it be known.
Small things I probably wouldn’t understand before I personally experienced them myself, even if I had this same exact post to read before hand, and this is in my own words. Things like the added hassle involved in taking a shower, and getting ready in general. No longer can I just pop out of bed go downstairs eat food that resupplies itself (it’s really my mommy) then brush my teeth and go straight to the shower. Now it’s a pop tart and a chewy bar with water, and when I go back home I gatta bring a lot of food back (SF). Then it’s to the dreaded shower shoes a necessary evil, to brush my teeth, only to walk back to my room to get my shower supplies. Before I continue note that the showers are set up two in a row, so although I have been fortunate enough not to walk through some ones shower yet the possibility is great considering there is only two sets of showers. At this point in the morning I walk in the shower with a rather hard spraying shower that the head does not detach, a luxury I grow accustomed to. I am not saying all this to deter you form higher education I absolutely Love College, I simply want to point out the small things that may be over looked. Speaking of over looked in the first two weeks I accumulated a decent sized list of things I “needed” to bring back when I went home for labor day. I think I left the list at home but it included, a three plug outlet, batteries a scientific calculator (I had a graphing one), DVDs, gum, trimmer, trash can, fabric softener microwavable bowls and a lot of breakfast food (I don’t want to wake up early enough to make it to a dining hall before class), and church shoes. I brought back more than that like Pac-man, and Sega retro rocks.
I am really hoping that the church shoes will come in handy this Sunday, I haven’t been to a Sunday service in Greenville yet. I moved in on a Saturday and couldn’t find one by Sunday, the next week I was at Ncsu for my best friend, Mike’s birthday and this last weekend I was back home. Which btb was so great I really missed my church home at Gate City. We didn’t have youth though (UF). Still even though I am going to BCM and YL and stuff nothing replaces a good church home, and although I am going to Church this Sunday it won’t be a home not yet, but I will find the right home for me if I just let the holy spirit lead me to it. I will say that was the hardest change I didn’t think about before hand, I was praying to find a good church home in Greenville since I got the acceptance letter, but I didn’t think about how much I will/am miss/ing my family at GCBC it will take a while to make a bound comparable to the one I have at GCBC, and even then it won’t be the same but, if I keep Him my focus I and my walk will be blessed in and out of Church. [For you bless the godly, O LORD; you surround them with your shield of love] -Psalm 5:12-
I didn’t cover everything I wanted to but, the post is getting kinda lengthy and I don’t want to post something too large or rush my other points, they will be covered eventually. Two things I do want to mention real quick though is the ordeal it is to go to the bathroom, be sure to bring you own toilet paper you don’t want to have to use the schools one ply card board and secondly Dinning Halls are sweet it’s a all you can eat verity buffet every day, you can even get chick-fla and other restaurants with your meal plan (it's a little extra and not unlimited but it’s a nice change). I mention more things I missed than enjoyed that’s not a fair representation of how my experience is going I just had a outline in my head that didn’t take me so long to explain what I missed but as I say “they(the points) will be covered eventually.”
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