Changing

There will be no picture, or in depth verse today. It has been a while from the last I has shared anything on here. I felt like I had to much to do and that no one was reading this blog anyways so I gave up. That is just my problem. It is in the giving up. I originally started my blog with a post about a pendulum. It was a good message, I am even shocked that I wrote something that well. Now I see that I am not only still on the pendulum, but I am the pendulum. I do change bits and pieces here and there, but in all, I am still totally out of control of my own life. Upon my most recent failure as a person, a failure to find out who I am and influence instead of influencing I learned something that I may have forsaken. Maybe life is not in the cleaning up and controlling, but it is in the surrendering and in the influences encountered daily. It is just possible that I am not meant to be in control. Not only is this thought freeing, and every hard to fully give in to, but it is also the most biblical thought I think I have written honestly and without reserve about in a while. I give up. I am not learned in finances, nor am I a leader of "talented" people. And no, I am not sure how tomorrow will go, or if tomorrow even exists. I give up. I am tired of trying and failing. Really. I am done. I am just tired. I want what God has. I want my passion for life back. I want to have a relationship with music again. I want what I have been trying to be, but this time I am letting it take me instead of me taking it. Pray for me if you decide to read this. I am just finished with life as I know it.

Time For Everything

Waiting for things can be very difficult, especially if what you are waiting for is a change, or and ending to hard situation. Waiting can also test your patience. It drives a person mad with anxiety and can even cause digestive problems and sleep depravation.  


Waiting is not all bad either. Besides all the negative emotions we as people are prone to focus on, there an equal number of positive side effects. Through hard times we learn our strength, and gain confidence when we have finished the peril. Learning patience is not fun, but necessary and to gain a very long type of patience will allow you to keep you mind and body at peace for far longer than an inpatient person. Waiting provides opportunities to exercise hope, faith, creativity, and even can cause a person to learn how to remain positive despite a negative situation. 


The Bible has a few things to say about waiting, and in particular seasons.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build...

This Passage is saying that things happen in their due times. There is no rush to life. You can't make a tree grow faster just because you want to. Also, no one can change the seasons because they are tired of one type of season. It is just not possible. Putting this concept into real life could look like; not being able to have a baby until it is time for you too; not getting a raise until the time arises; being unable to force someone to mature before they are able to; and dealing with the untimely death of a loved one, even though it really was their time to go. 

This passage is also offering a great deal of comfort in that it gives a glimpse of God being in total control. The phrase is "every activity under the heavens" which implies that in the heavens it is different and that God has it under control. To believe in God is to yield to God and to say something along the lines of; I believe and trust you God and what you choose for my life and what you allow me to go through is exactly what I need to grow closer to you and to effect others for you.  

Here are Three simple suggestions to help you through the times while you are waiting.

Be Patient 

The concept in the scripture above says there is a time for everything. That means that whatever you are going through will end or at least change. Some one had once told me that to get through a difficult situation she had learned to say to herself "I can do anything for a time." As you go through the difficult task of waiting for the next part of life to come remind yourself that this situation is for a time. It is not for the rest of your life, and that things can and will change.

Trust God

God will not leave us in a situation to our own devices. He is always there with us as we go through life. 

No matter how hard the situation, or how much better the next situation may be, it is important to remember that nothing can separate us from God's love. Remembering His love and staying connected to him will help you to trust Him more and make the times in life much easier to live through.

^{Romans 8:38-39} For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Learn To Be Content

Near the end of Paul's ministry Paul make a very bold statement. He says that he has learned to be content in all things and it is through this that he is able to do all things through Christ. It is amazing to learn to be content. It means that you are able to be satisfied and be at peace with every situation in life. I can admit that as a person I am far from coming anywhere near mastering this concept. From reading about Paul's life in the Bible and from some studies done on Paul's life by historians, I learned that mastering the art of being content is a consistent denial and braking of one's own will and ambition, and allowing God's will and ambition in your life to take over. It is one probably one of the most powerful tools a person can wield. This does not mean you do not feel emotions or that you become a robotic person, but it does mean that you learn to see the silver lining, and you except what is happening for what it is. 

Philippians 4:11-13 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Learning how to handle stress is an important part of life. Keeping in mind that everything lasts for a time and that God is in control is the best way to handle life. When time are tough, be patient, trust God, and learn to be content is all situations. 

Habits

Habits are an interesting thing. I find that the more you become aware of your own habits, the more you find you need to change. In general most habits have a very strange lifespan. To stop a bad habit can take months, but to stop a good habit takes about two days. Even stranger, to start a bad habit can take as little time as five minutes (example: smoking a cigarette for the first time), but starting a good habit take conscious effort for two weeks (example: running a mile or two).

There are some habits we are prone to as people. In some cases, the habits are terrible. I know many people  in my life who have natural tendencies that ruin their lives. I have met Alcoholics, who really have no clue that they have a drinking problem. I have met people who are married that cannot seem to keep their eyes off of the opposite sex. There are some people who also can't seem to control their desire for the same sex as well. I am fully aware some of what I just wrote will offend someone, but in all cases there are very strong biblical stances against them all. In others they are wonderful inspirations that changes peoples lives. I know people who naturally have the desire to help homeless people and people in hospitals. I know others, like myself, who love to sing and dance and naturally have a habit of making the mood lighter. These habits should be cultivated.

As I have clearly mentioned before I am indeed a Christian and I would like to share a few things from the bible about habits. It is really interesting how something simple like habits can have huge amounts of scriptural guidance.

Pray
Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
This verse shows that Jesus did something that most of us never find time to do. He found time to go off alone and pray. Prayer can change lives. It is when we pray alone that we commune with God and can be changed. 


Bring it to Light

Matthew 10:27 

What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.

This verse is simply saying that if God told you that something will happen, then proclaim it. Take that idea and apply it to escaping a bad habit.

John 3:20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
This verse is simple to understand. If you want to hide something than you wont bring it to light. If you don't want help than you hide it. The problem with this is that if you ever step in the light, even if it is about something else, your bad habits will come to light and chase after you.


New Creation

2 Corinthians 5:17 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here!

The last point I want to make is that you are a new creation. You no longer are ruled by carnality, meaning that your spiritual life is now active. You don't need to give anything power over you unless you want it to rule you. With Christ as your savior, all things are possible.

No matter how you look at it, habits have a definite effect on your life. You may need to change some, and some habits you may want to cultivate. Remember God is on the side of all those who believe, as long as they function in His will. Push past the pain and you can live the life you want, bad habit free. 

Snow

Snow is a great thing. It is a signifier of winter and it is one of the most under appreciated creations of God. One of the best things about snow is that it is white. I know it seems like a common sense thing to say, but it really has a significant use for a visual explanation of sin.
Have you seen a fresh white glistening snow? In essence that is how we, human kind, were created.
Then sin came, and made the snow different colors. Have you seen yellow, brown, or red snow? That happens when the snow is contaminated by a substance after it has accumulated on the ground. You will never see a yellow snow storm. This coloration reminds me of sin because it is impossible to remove on our own. You could put more snow on top, but eventually that too will turn yellow.
It is only when the snow is melted away and new snow falls that it is clean and white again. This to me signifies salvation. The old man dies in a sense that what was once a man's personality and demeanor is now gone a passed away. After that a new creation, or a new outlook on life and way of living comes to the person. It is so radically different that you really could not tell that they are indeed the same man appearance wise, but completely different inside and mentally.
All things considered snow is beautiful and can really be helpful in explaining things here and there.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here!

One Day At A Time

Have you ever worried about the future, or the way things are going to turn out? I do sometimes. Especially the immediate future. It sounds strange, but I don't mind thinking of five or ten years from today because I have a plan, goals to get there, and a vision for my life. It is my immediate future, what will be happen in a week or two, or a month,or within the current year, that I find myself full of worry. I am a performer and worry about how a concert will go, and how a rehearsal will go. I am a senior and college and I worry about how my classes will end and what graduation will entail. Even my job can give me stress because soon I will need to transfer to another state and that is scary. The immediate future is just full of things that make me worry.

Today in my morning devotion, God had to remind me that I was designed by Him and that He is the reason I shouldn't worry. I am a good performer, student, and employee so things will be fine. Not only that, but I am reaching my goals and stretching out for the future. Things will work out because I am following the path given to me by God.

I was then reminded of my life verse. I call it my life verse because it is the grouping of verses that I want to strive to live my life by. When I am not around, or have finally passed away I want people to say something about me that is similar to these verses. Having a life verse/verses/passage is a very good thing. If you are goal oriented, it gives you a life long goal to take steps toward. If you are emotionally motivated it gives you something to care deep down about and can give you a deep charge of joy when you get closer to becoming like it. It doesn't have to be something like turning water to wine, or striving to do the humanly impossible. It should be a simple verse, something so simple that it seems like it should be easy, and yet so profound that it is almost impossible to achieve. A verse to carry you through a lifetime.

My Life Verse(s):
Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understandings. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes, but fear the Lord and shun evil.


For me this verse has taken me so many places. Trusting God is hard because sometimes He doesn't make sense. Being a performer I want to take full credit for my performance, but without God I'd be no where. He has really made my path straight. He lead me to a college, where I met my wife and where I could get the tools I will need when I start to become a professional performer and need to take firm moral stands. He has allowed my to trip a little on the last one and He has shown me great blessings when I obey the last part. There are things that seem ok and right to do by people's standards, but they are nothing that will be helpful in the long run. I found myself displeased and depressed when I did not head the last verse. When I did follow it and stand up for what I felt God had said was right in His word and/or His personal instructions to me, I saw great growth as a person and as a man in Christ.

All of this can be summed up in a single phrase. Plans are great, goals are important, and visions will take you far through life, but what counts most is taking life and living it one day at a time.

Swinging Out Of Control

Have you ever felt like you are stuck on a pendulum? One day you swing forward, you make the right decisions, exercise, eat right, say the right things, and you have a great attitude on life.  Then the next day you go back to doing what feels right, sitting around, eating whatever is laying around (if you eat at all), and you become the most sour person around. This is all due to the same problem. The problem of being unbalanced in life.


So how do we become off balance. Sometimes it is because we allow people to tell us who we are instead of discovering it for ourselves. Other times it is because our perception of reality becomes shattered by the simple facts and truths about the reality around us. Some people experienced pain in the past and are just trying to find a way to coupe. Still others allow their ambition to turn to obsession and no matter what goal they achieve they will always crave more.


So how do we become balanced again? I am Christian and I believe whole-heartedly that the Word of God has the answers to all of life's situations and that if we believe in God and the words written in his book that we can overcome great obstacles. It is my belief that Jesus is the true answer for everything and has the power to change lives in any magnitude if we will simple believe in him. Here is a list of things that I have felt lead to examine in my life to help me overcome being off balanced.


Contentment
To be content is to be satisfied with everything that comes our way in life. It doesn't always mean being happy, or being sad. It simply means that whatever comes our way we simply except it for what it is and do not complain about its arrival. To put it simply it is to not worry and freak out about losing a job, but rather excepting it as a job lost and going from there. The idea cuts the extreme emotional crisis altogether in most cases.

Philippians 4:11-13 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Moderation

Moderation is the concept of doing things just enough. To be put simply it is to have one soda and then drink water for the rest of the day instead of drinking soda all day. 

Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Discipline

Discipline is a very much hated word, but it is the best cure for almost everything. It is the idea of training yourself to do, or not do a task. It is like going for a run every day for ten minutes. You may want to quit, but if you keep doing it, you'll reap the benefits.

Proverbs 12:1-3 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. Good people obtain favor from the LORD, but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes. No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

Seek Peace

This is a type of combined topic. Seek implies looking for diligently without ceasing. Peace is not having any type of quarrel, or struggle between people, and sometimes objects. So the idea I am suggesting here is to look for peace in every situation. It may be backing down from a fight that would only increase your ego, or accepting a compliment you feel you don't deserve, but it will keep you in balance. 

1 Peter 3:10-12 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

Finding balance in an unbalanced world is hard, but if you believe that God will help you and pray, He will. Now it is time to stop swinging back and forth and to for once be in the center of who you want to be!