Stand Firm and Live it Out

A lot of people talk about how firm their beliefs are, then later let them fade away. This has lead to the issue that no matter how much you TALK about your beliefs, no one will really believe you. It's one of the largest reasons Christians are so rejected in the world today. Now most people think standing firm means when you get into a 'debate' (really just an argument) with someone about what you believe you don't waver at all and never admit to them having the slightest idea what they're talking about. Or at least, that's what a lot of people do. Really it shouldn't be like that at all. It shouldn't matter what other people think or do, only what you do. If you want to get people to believe that there may actually be something to this whole Jesus thing then live it out. Don't settle, don't make a compromise on something because it's not the 'cool' thing to do. Two compromises people make all the time are gossip and swearing. Those are things you can be firm about and just not do, but you have to try. Just because everyone else does it or thinks it's cool or okay doesn't mean it is and that you have to. Moreover, it sends the wrong message. You should always be telling people about God's word, but that doesn't mean you have to talk. Show instead. Strive to be a better person. Live like you are a child of God, someone that he thought was worth saving, and did save. Died, in fact, to take the punishment for all the stupid things we do on a daily basis. Living out God's teachings is THE most important thing you can do if you want to tell people about him. Why was Christianity such a big thing in the past? Because they lived it out, and wouldn't waver even when threatened with death and torture because of it. They weren't brainwashed people brought up from birth to do that, so they would have no reason unless there was truth in it. This is what drew people by the thousands to them. This is what draws people to it now. Unfortunately too few Christians actually live this way, and instead live a life of offence and a lot of the time have a massive superiority complex. How do we live in a way that really grabs peoples attention though? A way that's different, but not something bad, and actually something better? Here's a few things:
    Don't get offended- People today take offence at so many things it's almost sickening. Like "Oh you're gay? I'm not going to socialize, speak to, or even look at you, except to point you out to everyone else so they know  not to do the same." That is the WRONG WAY TO DO THINGS!! Stop getting so offended at everyone and love them instead, which leads to the next thing;
    Love others- Just because they don't share your beliefs or aren't like you, or maybe even get on your nerves at times doesn't make them any worse a person than you are, any less deserving of love, or give you the right to put them down. You really want to change peoples hearts? Impact their lives? Show them love and it'll do that better than anything else.
    Don't make compromises- Like I said before, it'll draw peoples attention, and they'll start asking why you don't do any of those things despite all the pressure.
    Stop settling for good enough- Most people just settle for being 'good enough' because they don't want to work to be better. But that's something you should always be doing. You should always be striving to resolve issues and shortcomings in yourself. It'll help with everything in your life as well as bringing attention to your morals.
    Don't get in people's faces- If you wonder why people avoid Christians or always talk badly about them, this is one of the biggest reasons. They're always getting in peoples faces about things when they have no business doing so. If everyone would just love other people instead it would create a lot less of an issue.
    Learn when to walk away- Some people are hurting and just looking for a fight or argument or some kind of trouble. You need to learn when to walk away, even if you're doing everything else on this list, people can still take it and try to get you into an argument. Instead just drop it and go about your life. It'll also make them wonder why you do that.

I could go on, but I figured this post is long enough and you all would want to get back to your lives. I'm sorry it was late getting out, but I hope you enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to whatever feedback you may have. Until next week-

~SoR

Rain Conferece

Here's a link to the site which has a live stream webcast on it and will be live streaming tomorrow. I hope you all get a chance to watch.

http://therainconference.com/

Past, Present, Future

Time is an interesting concept. It flows by in a seemingly endless stream where we were thrown and are now dragged along by the current. So why is it that so many people choose to stare back at something that they simply can't reach? Because the truth is we can't go back, only forward. There is no way for us to change the past. It already happened. However there is a reason to look back, but not with longing and wishes for a way to go back and change it all. The past is something to learn from, and as such should be looked at through a lens of study. Every mistake has a lesson in it to be learned from, and insight into yourself. The past can be painful, but where does that pain come from? Usually from a wound that was caused that you never let heal. Even though it can take a long time, it's the best choice to make, because there really is no point in holding onto the past. It's gone and nothing can change that. If you let go of it and look back to learn, you'll realize that there is a lot of things that happened that you can make sure don't happen later, and a lot of things you'll learn to do better. You have to remember that the best things are always to come. If you let them. If you learn then the future will be better. Here in the present is where you do that. Don't push it off until later, learn now. It's a tough process, but well worth it in the long run.
    Time isn't something we can control, only flow with. If we worry too much about the future or focus too much on the past it can mess a lot of things up. You have to balance on the three focus points to make sure that you don't go in the wrong direction. Learn how to do that and you may find a lot of things will change.

So I'm putting this post out early because this coming weekend I will be helping out with the Rain Conference.  I won't have time to put it up on Friday, so I'm doing it now. Also as a side note there WILL be live streaming of the conference, and as I said in my previous post I'll put a link up as soon as I have one to give to you. Thank you all for reading, and I hope the rest of your week is a good one.

~SoR

Rain Conference

The Rain Conference is a youth conference that is being put on by my church and youth group here in CA, and it starts next weekend. There's more information here  http://www.facebook.com/therainconference?ref=ts on their facebook page. We'll be recording a CD from the worship sets which some of you may be interested in buying later. However the main reason I'm posting this is I've heard people talking about doing a free online web stream of the conference. So if you guys want to tune in and watch, I'm sure you all would be really blessed by it. There's a lot going to be happening, and some really great messages are going to be shared, one of which by a 17 year old who is part of the youth group. All in all it's going to be really cool. So I encourage you all to check it out, and if there is online streaming I'll post a link to it here on the blog.

Announcment

Due to how busy I've been today and will be the next few days I'm not going to have time to finish my post this week, so it'll have to wait until later. I'm sorry if you were looking forward to one, and I hope you all have a good week. God bless.

Strength

Our own strength is something every human being relies on. If we're strong enough to do something we do it. If not then we don't. Yet some people become stronger. How is that? It isn't anything they did because no one just gets stronger by themselves. But maybe it is something they did. A simple choice. Because the fact is people are weak. We don't have a lot of strength in us to overcome things without help. But what help is there? God tells us that he will give us the strength we need. It sounds simple because it is simple. You just have to ask and rely on him and he'll give you the strength to overcome things. However what he never said was that it would be easy. It's never an easy thing to be strong. It's always a fight, a struggle. Something you have to work hard for. That's the only way to truly be strong. But as you fight and struggle, as you climb that mountain inch by inch, you become stronger. Things that might have seemed hard before cease to be so. There are things that will come up again that will take another fight though. That's just the way the world works, and people are too weak to deal with it, which is why so many fall. But God is strong enough for everyone, all you need to do is trust and rely on him. It isn't easy, but it's possible. Once you do you'll see a whole new world open up to you. A world where dreams can happen, and things you never thought were possible fall out in front of you. So why don't we all take some time and just get ourselves in a position to receive from God and see what he's got planned for us. Listen to what he's saying and lean into him through whatever is going on right now. Because any time is a time for change. You could change things later today, or tomorrow, or a week from now, or a year from now. But why not change them right now and lean into true strength? 

I hope you enjoyed the post this week and that it made sense and I wasn't rambling too much.

~SoR