Humility

I do not think I have ever written about humility before. I know what it is, and I know what it means. However, it is very hard to show humility when around other people. Being humble is difficult to do for everyone including myself, but God calls us to be humble. No matter the type of people we hang around or the environment in which we live and work, God wants each one of us to be humble because God sent his only Son into this world not to be served but to graciously and humbly serve those around him. Jesus is the ultimate example of what humility truly is. As Christians, we are followers of Jesus Christ. If we consider ourselves to be followers of Christ, we walk in Jesus' footsteps and show humility. It does not matter how much we are persecuted by others. It does not matter if the people around us are constantly getting the attention, the praise, and are being exalted. Trials and tribulations are inevitable in this life. If Jesus can be humble and go through persecutions, then so can we if we place our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Bottom line is that in due time, those who are humbled will be exalted eventually (if not on Earth, for sure in Heaven). Those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted some day by Jesus Christ.

Rediscover

What is your purpose here on this Earth? What has God been calling you to do? Sometimes, as humans, we lose track of what is really important in this short life. We take our eyes off what really matters, and we start focusing on little, insignificant things that waste our lives away. When we start doing things that we want to do instead of doing the things that God wants, life can go down hill very quickly. No matter where you are in this world today, there is always a point of return to God's amazing grace and love. There is always a time to rediscover who you are and your identity in Jesus Christ. There is always a time to redefine who you are and to rediscover the purpose God has for you because each one of us has a God-given gift or talent. Our job is to use our gifts to further the kingdom and to serve because God did not put us on this Earth to be served by others, but instead, God has a significant purpose for each person to serve one another.

Instead of doing the insignificant things that you have been doing in the past, look to God for hope in the future because he does have a magnificent plan for you. In order to see this plan, you must acknowledge that God is in control of your life. Once you acknowledge that God is behind the wheel, you can trust God that He will get you through anything in your life. Come back to what really matters in this world. In reality, there is only one thing that really, truly matters: a relationship with Jesus Christ. Do not forget who you are because you, individually, matter. You matter to God. Rediscover yourself, and follow the plan God has for you.

Do not get discouraged when someone tells you are not good enough. Do not worry when you feel lost or lonely. Do not stress over the little things. Let God lead you through the anxious, challenging moments, but you should never give up.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we should not only rediscover our identity and calling, we should rediscover our individual relationships with God and our hearts of worship. If you feel lost in this world, ask yourself one question: Am I living for God? Live inside out for God. Part of being a Christian means spending quiet time with God by reading the Bible, worshipping, and praying. However, there is another part that gets overlooked by many. This part is taking the individual time with God and turning it inside out for Jesus. Live out loud for Jesus with your actions and words when you are with friends, families, and strangers.

Whenever you feel down, discouraged, afraid, insignificant, lost, unimportant, or depressed, rediscover who you are because who you are makes you beautiful from the point of view of Jesus.

Comeback Stories

Who does not like a good comeback story? These stories are pretty much what make the news of this world exciting, and these stories help make people optimistic about the future. Hearing about a comeback usually gives a person a sense of joy, excitement, and hope for the future. It is always intriguing to hear about the small, 5'7" baseball player from Arizona State make it to the big leagues as an all-star, MVP, Gold Glove winner, and Rookie of the Year for the Boston Red Sox. It is powerful to hear and see the men and women of the armed forces return home after years of fighting for their country. It is amazing when millions of people around the world are fighting life-threatening diseases, and they are persevering. The world is filled with miracles and second chances because we have a God who is so merciful. He has the power to do good in your life when you place your trust and eternal hope in Jesus Christ. Before you knew God, you were sinner, but after coming to the realization that you needed Jesus in your life, God turned your life upside down and gave you your own personal comeback story for the ages. This story is so powerful that even the angels are rejoicing and getting excited about. Even after being in a relationship with Jesus my entire life, I still screw up, make mistakes, and need the tremendous grace and mercy that God has to offer to me and everyone in this world. If you need God's mercy today, just ask Him. God will forgive you, and he will give you a comeback story that you can share with the people around you. Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the greatest and most powerful comeback story a person can ever have because your story will aid you on your difficult, yet rewarding walk with God. This story is your way of witnessing to the world. It is your way of letting people know that there is optimism, peace, and hope in this world for those who comeback and place their trust in Jesus. I know I have had several opportunities that God has given to me in order to share my comeback story and witness to friends and strangers. Despite not taking full advantage of those opportunities like I should, God still gives me hope. He still gives me comfort and strength, so I can be fully equipped and ready to take advantage of the opportunities to witness today and in the future. In the end, God has a comeback story for each one of us. Follow Him, and He will use you and your story for the good of His Kingdom.

Taking the Back Road

Do you ever wish you had more time throughout the day to accomplish tasks that must get done? Do you ever feel stressed from the busyness ans the chaos of this world? Do you feel like you are alone, you are drowning, and you are about to give up because there are so many things happening out there that it is hard to keep up? I know I can answer yes to all of those questions, and I bet you can too. It is so easy to get caught up in all that the world has to offer, so we forget the truly important and special things in life. We forget why we are here. We forget our purpose. Life is so short. There is no reason to get caught up in a world of troubles. If we get caught up in the stresses and the chaos of this life, how are we supposed to fulfill a purpose that God has for each and every one of us? How are we supposed to enjoy life? If you are struggling to answer these questions like I am, think about this next thought. Someone once told me that you are not truly living until you are absolutely ready to die. I think this idea is so true because it reminds us why we are here on Earth. We are on Earth for God to further the Kingdom. You are not here for yourself. You are here for service to others and obedience to God and his amazing will. So, it is important to take time off from the world. Each day, it is important to shut your brain off from the things happening around you and take time to talk to your Creator, listen to what He has to say, and act on what he tells you. Enjoy this life while you can because death is near for us all. I used to be afraid of death and even talking about it was somewhat scary, but I realized that I do not have anything to be scared of because I know where I am going when my time comes. I know life is a climb, but every once in awhile, I like to drive down the back road, listen to some country music, relax, and I have a wonderful time talking and listening to God. Taking the back road does not mean taking a shortcut. It means taking time out of your busy schedule to enjoy the life you have and to dig deeper in your relationship with Jesus Christ.