"REJOICE in the Lord ALWAYS! I will say it again:
REJOICE! Let your gentleness be evident to
all. The Lord is near. "
...."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 THINGS THROUGH HIM WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH!"
-Philippians 4:4-5, 11-13
Recently God has been speaking these words into my heart each day. I don't know if it's the weather, or somethin, but it seems like most people are going through a rough time right now. But everytime I get down, God taps me on the shoulder and says hey man, REJOICE. BE THANKFUL. PRAISE GOD. and I get all choked up and fall on my knees to say, thank you Jesus. For loving me. For giving me a loving, amazing family when others have lost loved ones. For an abundance of friends when others are alone. For an education when many people cannot afford one. For a roof over my head when the homeless shiver in the cold. For food to eat when others just want a bite of what I throw away. How can we not be thankful? How dare we blame God for causing us to suffer, if he only does it for our own good? If he is doing it to grow us, and it pains him so, there must be a bigger picture that we don't see! So stop it! Stop it right now you! stop your griping and complaining. No more, Jesus. No more.
We are such circumstantial christians. We always let our circumstances define how our relationship with God is or let it define our mood. But why not let our attitudes and perspective on life impact the way we think? becuase guess what.. everyday things change. Everyday it's a rollercoaster ride up and down. If these things are out of our control and bound to happen, then what are we doing? I remember one time at the Journey, Pastor Darrin said that sometimes we listen to our hearts and think that that is what God is saying. But sometimes our hearts aren't speaking truth, and you need to speak truth to yourself. Like how David did. He said, "WHY are you downcast O my soul?? Why are you so freakn distrubed within me? Dude, put your hope in God! For I will yet praise him, my savior and my God." David has to tell himself what to think and not let his heart impact the way he thinks. and this is how we should be as well.
I have found that with this new attitude, it totalllly changes your life. It changes even the mundane things and minor details of living each day. When I pray this before I study, I learn to not study just for an A on the test, but I learn how to study the material, to learn how to help my patients in the future. I develop this attitude that I want to be the best PT there ever was, to help others around me who are suffering. If I go wherever God will send me, I will go and be like Jesus. I will have compassion for those who are lost, and touch people and heal them not only physically but spiritually, with God's help.
You want to know the secret to evangelism? It's by changing the life you live. Maybe not everything, but find that ONE thing that can make an impact in someone's life. What makes us christians different from others around us? Well, so far what I see, is nothing. You're the same. So why should people listen to you? why should they care about this God who makes them obey rules and laws and take away the fun? If you live the same vicarious life many live, but internally battle, why want this? You see, we have to find something, as small as it is to give others hope and wonder about you. For example, when i was in China studying abroad, everyone went out. Everyone pretty much drank heavily because even though we were underage, when you're outside of america, youre legal, which makes it ok.. right? I still felt convicted against drinking at that time so I pretty much stayed away from it all. isolated myself.. and lemme tell ya it was miserable. (hermiting is not the answer to evangelism). But I said, this is not the way to go, instead, Im gonna go out, but I'm gonna be aware of my actions and not drink, maybe that can be my witness, and... it sorta was. I got to know people better. Many opened up. A lot of ppl got to ask me why I did not drink, and I got to tell them of my faith, and how I wanted to live for Jesus in this way. Anyhow, this was the secret to evangelism. (I mean I was far from perfect and not saying this is the way to go please, but the key is finding what works for the place you're in and God can use that). So now, at this point in my life, it's all about school. Everyone complains, everyone is unhappy usually with our messed up schedule and overabundance of work to be done. So how can I be different? What is one thing I can do to change? Be content. Dont complain. Rejoice. Dont gripe, praise. It's a process with failures in sight cause school SUCKS AND ITS HARD (K.. im done complaining heh), but it can be done!! So let's do this! Think about it. What is one thing you can do, to live for Christ? What can you do?
