I was reading this late last night and it really fired me up in a good way so I thought I would share!
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us . Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
~Hebrews 12:1-3
Happy Sunday!
-EC
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Utilize Blessings
Here is a great passage I found this morning and wanted to share. I think we can all learn from it, I know I can.
"Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it is burned." (Hebrews 6:7-8)
This passage teaches us that we must utilize the great blessings we have been given. God is constantly bringing people in our lives, giving us certain triumphs, successes, and gifts. A man that appreciates those blessings and uses them to further the mission of God is one that will be blessed. But someone that does not realize what they have around them or someone that realizes what they have and does nothing with it, is doing wrong. Please note that it does not say "will not be blessed" but "cursed" and "burned", which are pretty harsh words.
But when you stop and think about it this really makes good sense. I think many of us are very lucky to be where we are today, with the great support we have around us, the incredible talents we were given, the freedom of being an American, etc and yet we do not see these blessings as an opportunity to give back. We see this as a "right" and something that we deserve. There is a reason that you have what you have and a reason you have been blessed. That reason is not so that you will simply enjoy it. You have been hand picked for a greater purpose. Those blessings have been sent as an almost test to see how you respond. So many times we see God strip us of things for which we do not appreciate. He also rewards us when he feels we have done right but more importantly gives us blessings that he believes we can work with to further his Kingdom.
Think of these blessings as tools and not as gifts. God is equipping you for his mission with everything you need to fulfill His purpose. I know that I do not want to be someone that has been given everything and gave nothing. In fact, I want to be the most efficient with the things that I have been given so that I can fully utilize them to share the "Good News" and give back to this world that so desperately needs it!
“The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.”~Albert Einstein
While I was writing this post this morning, my best friend sent me an article about his sister's father-in-law that passed away on Tuesday after a two year battle with cancer. Biff Cook, whom I never met, was a physician. The article spoke about how this man, a true man of God, worked until the last possible day(4 weeks ago) helping his patients. This is an example of a man that is not worried about his own sickness or cancer. He was thankful for his blessings and fully utilized them to give back and help others up until the day he passed. That "giving" actually helped him in his fight and earned him a seat with the Father. I am certain Dr. Cook is singing "Hallelujah" as we speak.
Do you really think it is just a coincidence that I received an article about a man that lived as an example to this verse, while I was writing it?
Here is the article if you care to read.
#PraiseGod
~EC
"Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it is burned." (Hebrews 6:7-8)
This passage teaches us that we must utilize the great blessings we have been given. God is constantly bringing people in our lives, giving us certain triumphs, successes, and gifts. A man that appreciates those blessings and uses them to further the mission of God is one that will be blessed. But someone that does not realize what they have around them or someone that realizes what they have and does nothing with it, is doing wrong. Please note that it does not say "will not be blessed" but "cursed" and "burned", which are pretty harsh words.
But when you stop and think about it this really makes good sense. I think many of us are very lucky to be where we are today, with the great support we have around us, the incredible talents we were given, the freedom of being an American, etc and yet we do not see these blessings as an opportunity to give back. We see this as a "right" and something that we deserve. There is a reason that you have what you have and a reason you have been blessed. That reason is not so that you will simply enjoy it. You have been hand picked for a greater purpose. Those blessings have been sent as an almost test to see how you respond. So many times we see God strip us of things for which we do not appreciate. He also rewards us when he feels we have done right but more importantly gives us blessings that he believes we can work with to further his Kingdom.
Think of these blessings as tools and not as gifts. God is equipping you for his mission with everything you need to fulfill His purpose. I know that I do not want to be someone that has been given everything and gave nothing. In fact, I want to be the most efficient with the things that I have been given so that I can fully utilize them to share the "Good News" and give back to this world that so desperately needs it!
“The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.”~Albert Einstein
While I was writing this post this morning, my best friend sent me an article about his sister's father-in-law that passed away on Tuesday after a two year battle with cancer. Biff Cook, whom I never met, was a physician. The article spoke about how this man, a true man of God, worked until the last possible day(4 weeks ago) helping his patients. This is an example of a man that is not worried about his own sickness or cancer. He was thankful for his blessings and fully utilized them to give back and help others up until the day he passed. That "giving" actually helped him in his fight and earned him a seat with the Father. I am certain Dr. Cook is singing "Hallelujah" as we speak.
Do you really think it is just a coincidence that I received an article about a man that lived as an example to this verse, while I was writing it?
Here is the article if you care to read.
#PraiseGod
~EC
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Get up Stand Up.....Dont give up the fight!
Bob Marley inspired this one if you could not tell!
This world makes it way too easy to get off track! We gain a little momentum and then find ourselves losing sight of our original mission. We can easily be drawn to feeling self righteous which causes us to get lazy and pushed off path. Sometimes we encounter, what seems to be, initial failure and want to turn around. But let us not forget our intended purpose, who we are, where we came from, and what we stand for.
“The flower that follows the sun does so even in cloudy days”~RL
It is my belief that the one that makes out on top, is the one that can get through these "trying" moments and stay on course. It will be far from easy. Who is going to Get up, stand up? Are we giving up the fight because things got too hard? How about too easy?
How crazy that we can be so close, yet feel as if we are so far? If this world was one that did not reward hard work, persistence, dedication, passion and pure heart, then aren't we going to fail anyways? There is only one way to find out and I want to take the chance that His promises are true, right and real!
"Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.” ~ NG
So whether this is about your walk with God, or something totally different, this still applies. With whatever journey you are on there are hopefully certain goals you have set for yourself. Hopefully those goals are not easy to attain and are such that you will have to work hard, push from within, and persevere through good and bad times to accomplish the end result.
"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised" (Hebrews 13:35-36)
So Get Up, Stand Up. Don't give up the fight!
Jammin' Mon
~EC
“The flower that follows the sun does so even in cloudy days”~RL
It is my belief that the one that makes out on top, is the one that can get through these "trying" moments and stay on course. It will be far from easy. Who is going to Get up, stand up? Are we giving up the fight because things got too hard? How about too easy?
How crazy that we can be so close, yet feel as if we are so far? If this world was one that did not reward hard work, persistence, dedication, passion and pure heart, then aren't we going to fail anyways? There is only one way to find out and I want to take the chance that His promises are true, right and real!
"Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.” ~ NG
So whether this is about your walk with God, or something totally different, this still applies. With whatever journey you are on there are hopefully certain goals you have set for yourself. Hopefully those goals are not easy to attain and are such that you will have to work hard, push from within, and persevere through good and bad times to accomplish the end result.
"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised" (Hebrews 13:35-36)
So Get Up, Stand Up. Don't give up the fight!
Jammin' Mon
~EC
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Ready Yourself
Are you ready for the next big opportunity that presents itself, the one that could change your life forever? Are you ready to help a struggling friend get on the right path? Are you ready to answer God's call?
There is a song by Casting Crowns out titled "Until the Whole World Hears" that inspired me to write this post.
I truly believe that it is so important that we as people are constantly working to improve ourselves, to be better people in every way possible. In fact, how ignorant is the man that feels he has nothing to improve on? No one is perfect and we can all improve certain areas of our lives. It is very important that we focus on this idea and work to raise the bar.
“The best contribution one can make to humanity is to improve oneself.”
I am also a firm believer that life presents certain opportunities that we must answer to and take on; we must be ready. Some opportunities are positive, some are negative. But positive or negative, these are opportunities that not only impact our lives but could impact the lives of others. These improvements could be small or they can be great. Getting in better shape, reading your bible, joining a social group, getting back in touch with an old friend are just a few examples that may apply or they may not.
If a lost friend needs the wise words from your mouth are you ready to deliver them? If your boss asks you to take on a new leadership role within the organization that will require more of you, are you ready? If your life suddenly takes a drastic change in a new and unexpected direction, can you handle it? If your family needs a solid rock to keep them strong through a tough time, can you be that rock?
Coach always said, "You either get better, or you get worse, but you never stay the same." This is such a true statement because being stagnant is the worse thing one can do. Standing still means you are going backwards. We must constantly be working to be better, to give more, to fully utilize the talents and blessing of which we have been given to better the world around us. The world needs each and everyone of us to be on point, at the top of our game. The time is now to step up and be ready!
What are you doing to "Ready Yourself"?
Just askin'
~EC
There is a song by Casting Crowns out titled "Until the Whole World Hears" that inspired me to write this post.
I truly believe that it is so important that we as people are constantly working to improve ourselves, to be better people in every way possible. In fact, how ignorant is the man that feels he has nothing to improve on? No one is perfect and we can all improve certain areas of our lives. It is very important that we focus on this idea and work to raise the bar.
“The best contribution one can make to humanity is to improve oneself.”
If a lost friend needs the wise words from your mouth are you ready to deliver them? If your boss asks you to take on a new leadership role within the organization that will require more of you, are you ready? If your life suddenly takes a drastic change in a new and unexpected direction, can you handle it? If your family needs a solid rock to keep them strong through a tough time, can you be that rock?
Coach always said, "You either get better, or you get worse, but you never stay the same." This is such a true statement because being stagnant is the worse thing one can do. Standing still means you are going backwards. We must constantly be working to be better, to give more, to fully utilize the talents and blessing of which we have been given to better the world around us. The world needs each and everyone of us to be on point, at the top of our game. The time is now to step up and be ready!
What are you doing to "Ready Yourself"?
Just askin'
~EC
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Not acts but Faith
The hardest part about sharing your Faith with someone else is that humans always judge religion based on acts and how people that claim a religion behave. Many people that do not believe in God or religion see the people that practice the religion in their sin and thus do not like or appreciate religion because of the hypocrisy.
The irony of this simple idea is that the bible (word of God)actually speaks the exact opposite. God shows us that it is not about any acts or deeds that we come closer to Him, but by Faith.
"So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." (Galations 3:11)
Faith is defined on Wikipedia as "Strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof." This definition states nothing about doing, or acting a certain way. The definition is about believing.
Sin entered our world when Eve took the first bite of the forbidden fruit and forever sin will be present in every man. No man is strong enough to be without sin in some way, shape, or form. In fact, sin is present in everything we do. No matter how hard one tries, one can never be without sin.
I recently heard something very interesting that said, "as one grows stronger in their faith and religion, they will repent more." Many people would think that as you become more religious you should repent less because you are being a better person, or acting in a more "religious" way. But really, as someone becomes more faithful to God they repent more because they realize more and more how much they sin. They also start to care and understand that when they sin, they are sinning against God himself. Faith in God does not mean you will stop sinning.
I also see that many people are scared to learn about God's word because they think that by accepting God into their life that they are now required to live a certain way. When one accepts God, they are only telling God (and no one else) that they believe in Him and are asking for him to be present in their life. God works in His own ways and at His own pace. Faith in God will grow over time and so will the way one follows God. Thinking that a drastic and immediate change is necessary to accept God, is wrong.
All one needs is true Faith to be right with God!
Keepin' it real real
-EC
The irony of this simple idea is that the bible (word of God)actually speaks the exact opposite. God shows us that it is not about any acts or deeds that we come closer to Him, but by Faith.
"So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." (Galations 3:11)
Faith is defined on Wikipedia as "Strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof." This definition states nothing about doing, or acting a certain way. The definition is about believing.
Sin entered our world when Eve took the first bite of the forbidden fruit and forever sin will be present in every man. No man is strong enough to be without sin in some way, shape, or form. In fact, sin is present in everything we do. No matter how hard one tries, one can never be without sin.
I recently heard something very interesting that said, "as one grows stronger in their faith and religion, they will repent more." Many people would think that as you become more religious you should repent less because you are being a better person, or acting in a more "religious" way. But really, as someone becomes more faithful to God they repent more because they realize more and more how much they sin. They also start to care and understand that when they sin, they are sinning against God himself. Faith in God does not mean you will stop sinning.
I also see that many people are scared to learn about God's word because they think that by accepting God into their life that they are now required to live a certain way. When one accepts God, they are only telling God (and no one else) that they believe in Him and are asking for him to be present in their life. God works in His own ways and at His own pace. Faith in God will grow over time and so will the way one follows God. Thinking that a drastic and immediate change is necessary to accept God, is wrong.
All one needs is true Faith to be right with God!
Keepin' it real real
-EC
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Talking about God is cool
Ever since I can last remember I have always been taught that the two things you never talk about are religion and politics. Over the past few weeks and even months I have had many encounters with people where the topic of God or religion came up. The person on the other end of the conversation seemed pleasantly surprised and even shocked that I would bring up such a thing. It feels as if there are many people out there that do not talk about God or their beliefs because they feel it is not okay or socially unacceptable.
If you pay attention to the news in our country you will see a strong fascination with things like "sexting" or scandalous marriages. We often learn about corporate greed, horrendous crimes and drug abuse/addiction by famous cultural figures through the news. With the current divorce rate in our country around 50% one cannot help but at least think about the possibility that we as a nation are doing some things wrong. As we have fallen to consumerism we have lost site of who we are as a people and a country and what we stand for.
Today's society has given us a need to "fit in" and be socially accepted. This society has clued us to the fact that talking about faith and religion are not okay unless you are "bible beater" or a "Jesus Hustler". In fact it is so socially unacceptable to talk about these things that other people are immediately turned off to the conversation, shut their ears and walk away.
I have been thinking and praying alot lately about this idea of how "talking about God is cool". In my opinion it is actually the coolest thing to talk about yet so many people stay quiet on this front. With the many social media outlets available to us today, there has never been a better opportunity to share thoughts and ideas. There is so much "conversation" taking place online at every moment of the day. People share where they eat, who they are hanging with, what has their attention at any given moment or the concert they just showed up at. But why aren't we sharing what we believe in or don't believe in?
This idea of "talking about God is cool" is not just for Christians but for everyone. No where in this blog did I say that we should only talk about how great God is. No where did I mention that we can only talk about my God or your God. I actually believe that it is beneficial to our society for everyone to talk about all faiths and religions, in a civilized and respectful way with an open mind and heart. Conversations about anything important are always fruitful and will always create learning to anyone involved. As a Christ follower I am always open to learning about what other people believe. If someone is truly passionate about something different than me, I want to know what it is, why they believe the way they do so that I can learn and understand. If there is information out there that you are unaware of, don't you want to know about it?
“The greatest ignorance is to reject something you know nothing about”
When two or more people engage in an intelligent conversation without intentions of changing the other's opinion but rather with the mindset that they could actually learn something, great things happen. You see so many conversations about religion are about convincing, changing or saving and rather about teaching and learning from one another. People will learn on their own and will make their own decisions about what they believe or don't believe. They will gather information and form opinions on their own time, when the time is right. No matter what you believe, knowing how and why other people believe differently will only help you understand your beliefs more or even form new beliefs.
“The true spirit of conversation consists in building on another man's observation, not overturning it”~ Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton
Talking about God is cool! It's actually the coolest thing to talk about.
Just Sayin'
-EC
If you pay attention to the news in our country you will see a strong fascination with things like "sexting" or scandalous marriages. We often learn about corporate greed, horrendous crimes and drug abuse/addiction by famous cultural figures through the news. With the current divorce rate in our country around 50% one cannot help but at least think about the possibility that we as a nation are doing some things wrong. As we have fallen to consumerism we have lost site of who we are as a people and a country and what we stand for.
Today's society has given us a need to "fit in" and be socially accepted. This society has clued us to the fact that talking about faith and religion are not okay unless you are "bible beater" or a "Jesus Hustler". In fact it is so socially unacceptable to talk about these things that other people are immediately turned off to the conversation, shut their ears and walk away.
I have been thinking and praying alot lately about this idea of how "talking about God is cool". In my opinion it is actually the coolest thing to talk about yet so many people stay quiet on this front. With the many social media outlets available to us today, there has never been a better opportunity to share thoughts and ideas. There is so much "conversation" taking place online at every moment of the day. People share where they eat, who they are hanging with, what has their attention at any given moment or the concert they just showed up at. But why aren't we sharing what we believe in or don't believe in?
This idea of "talking about God is cool" is not just for Christians but for everyone. No where in this blog did I say that we should only talk about how great God is. No where did I mention that we can only talk about my God or your God. I actually believe that it is beneficial to our society for everyone to talk about all faiths and religions, in a civilized and respectful way with an open mind and heart. Conversations about anything important are always fruitful and will always create learning to anyone involved. As a Christ follower I am always open to learning about what other people believe. If someone is truly passionate about something different than me, I want to know what it is, why they believe the way they do so that I can learn and understand. If there is information out there that you are unaware of, don't you want to know about it?
“The greatest ignorance is to reject something you know nothing about”
When two or more people engage in an intelligent conversation without intentions of changing the other's opinion but rather with the mindset that they could actually learn something, great things happen. You see so many conversations about religion are about convincing, changing or saving and rather about teaching and learning from one another. People will learn on their own and will make their own decisions about what they believe or don't believe. They will gather information and form opinions on their own time, when the time is right. No matter what you believe, knowing how and why other people believe differently will only help you understand your beliefs more or even form new beliefs.
“The true spirit of conversation consists in building on another man's observation, not overturning it”~ Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton
Talking about God is cool! It's actually the coolest thing to talk about.
Just Sayin'
-EC
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Excerpts from "Have a little faith" by Mitch Albom worth sharing
Here are a few excerpts that caught my attention while reading this fantastic book. I strongly recommend everyone check it out when you have a chance. Quick and easy read!
"There is a salesman, and he knocks on the door. The man who answers says 'I don't need anything today'.
The next day the salesman returns, 'Stay away', he is told.
The very next day the salesman is back. The man yells 'You again! I warned you!' He gets so angry that he spits in the salesman's face.
The salesman smiles, wipes the spit with a handkerchief, then looks to the skies and says, 'Must be raining.'"
*There are a few things that we can learn from this. First, no matter how many times you get rejected, persistence is key! Get back on the horse and try it again. The second thing I think that sticks out here is an attitude of positivity. This man takes a terrible circumstance and makes it not terrible at all which allows him to continue on. Lastly, the book explained this story as faith. They will spit in your face so do you have the ability to respond with "it must be raining' and still come back tomorrow?
"A man seeks employment on a farm. He hands his letter of recommendation to his new employer. Its reads simply, 'He sleeps in a storm.'
The owner is desperate for help, so he hires the man.
Several weeks pass, and suddenly, in the middle of the night, a powerful storm rips through the valley.
Awakened by the swirling rain and howling wind, the owner leaps out of bed. He calls for his new hired hand, but the man is sleeping soundly.
So he dashes off to the barn. He sees, to his amazement, that the animals are secure with plenty of feed.
He runs out to the field. He sees the bales of wheat have been bound and are wrapped in tarpaulins.
He races to the silo. The doors are latched, and the grain is dry.
And then he understands. 'He sleeps in a storm.'"
*I thought this was such a great story because at first "he sleeps in a storm" is not understood and almost mistaken for a bad quality. When things are tough, I would not want someone on my team sleeping through it and not accessible. However what we come to find out is that this is actually a wonderful quality because this man actually takes care of all his responsibilities before the storm ever comes (and without knowing the storm is coming) which allows him to sleep comfortably through the storm. You see if we take care of the things we are supposed to, if we live our lives doing things right, as the bible teach, when the storm comes our faith in all we have invested will allow us to lay calm and "sleep through the storm'.
"There was a farmer that wakes up to find that his horse has run off.
The neighbors come by and say, 'Too bad, Such awful luck'
The farmer says, 'maybe.'
The next day, the horse returns with a few other horses. The neighbors congratulate the farmer on his reversal of fortune.
'Maybe," the farmer says.
When his son tries to ride one of the new horses, he breaks his leg, and the neighbors offer condolences.
"Maybe," the farmer says.
And the next day, when army officials come to draft the son- and don't take him because of his broken leg-everyone is happy.
'Maybe,' the farmer says."
*No matter what you are going through or what is happening in your life, good or bad, you never know the final outcome. Many things that happen may seem good today but end up being bad tomorrow or the opposite, what seems bad is actually great. Everything takes time and is part of God's plan. God is a faithful God and loves you and I dearly. Faith that he will guide you in the right direction is a must!
~Super Tuesday
EC
"There is a salesman, and he knocks on the door. The man who answers says 'I don't need anything today'.
The next day the salesman returns, 'Stay away', he is told.
The very next day the salesman is back. The man yells 'You again! I warned you!' He gets so angry that he spits in the salesman's face.
The salesman smiles, wipes the spit with a handkerchief, then looks to the skies and says, 'Must be raining.'"
*There are a few things that we can learn from this. First, no matter how many times you get rejected, persistence is key! Get back on the horse and try it again. The second thing I think that sticks out here is an attitude of positivity. This man takes a terrible circumstance and makes it not terrible at all which allows him to continue on. Lastly, the book explained this story as faith. They will spit in your face so do you have the ability to respond with "it must be raining' and still come back tomorrow?
"A man seeks employment on a farm. He hands his letter of recommendation to his new employer. Its reads simply, 'He sleeps in a storm.'
The owner is desperate for help, so he hires the man.
Several weeks pass, and suddenly, in the middle of the night, a powerful storm rips through the valley.
Awakened by the swirling rain and howling wind, the owner leaps out of bed. He calls for his new hired hand, but the man is sleeping soundly.
So he dashes off to the barn. He sees, to his amazement, that the animals are secure with plenty of feed.
He runs out to the field. He sees the bales of wheat have been bound and are wrapped in tarpaulins.
He races to the silo. The doors are latched, and the grain is dry.
And then he understands. 'He sleeps in a storm.'"
*I thought this was such a great story because at first "he sleeps in a storm" is not understood and almost mistaken for a bad quality. When things are tough, I would not want someone on my team sleeping through it and not accessible. However what we come to find out is that this is actually a wonderful quality because this man actually takes care of all his responsibilities before the storm ever comes (and without knowing the storm is coming) which allows him to sleep comfortably through the storm. You see if we take care of the things we are supposed to, if we live our lives doing things right, as the bible teach, when the storm comes our faith in all we have invested will allow us to lay calm and "sleep through the storm'.
"There was a farmer that wakes up to find that his horse has run off.
The neighbors come by and say, 'Too bad, Such awful luck'
The farmer says, 'maybe.'
The next day, the horse returns with a few other horses. The neighbors congratulate the farmer on his reversal of fortune.
'Maybe," the farmer says.
When his son tries to ride one of the new horses, he breaks his leg, and the neighbors offer condolences.
"Maybe," the farmer says.
And the next day, when army officials come to draft the son- and don't take him because of his broken leg-everyone is happy.
'Maybe,' the farmer says."
*No matter what you are going through or what is happening in your life, good or bad, you never know the final outcome. Many things that happen may seem good today but end up being bad tomorrow or the opposite, what seems bad is actually great. Everything takes time and is part of God's plan. God is a faithful God and loves you and I dearly. Faith that he will guide you in the right direction is a must!
~Super Tuesday
EC
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