A Bit Apathic

I'm not sure what I've been learning.  Mostly because I've been feeling a bit apathetic lately.  Half the time I find that I don't want to go to church on Saturday nights and I find some excuse to not have to go, or just stay home and watch the millions of hours of TV shows I have saved on my DVR.  The other half I'm forcing myself to go, to make an appearance, and than leave early.

I know that this period of apathy won't last forever and I just need to push through.  But I feel that my biggest problem is if I continue to not go to church that eventually I'll stop altogether, and I know that would be terrible.  Not just for me socially, cause the majority of my friends are my church family, but spiritually as well.

I'm not sure what it is I need to do to get me back into going, but I know that I need to.  Because I know that it's what I want, even if I don't feel it, but it's what God wants.  He knows, just like I do, that I'm never going to beat the apathy if I'm sitting in front of my TV every Saturday night.

TNT (Till Next Time),
Words by Ali

God's Joy

The joy that we receive from God is truly a unique thing.  In the book I've been reading it talks about how God's joy isn't just something that we have when things are going perfect in our life.  Even when we are having hard times, and going through the lows in our lives, we are still able to receive God's joy.  We just need to trust in God, and seek Him, with praise and love.

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord
I will be joyful in the God
Of my salvation (Habakkuk 3:18)

Our joy in God comes from our salvation in Him.  For that is the most joyous thing that we as Christians could ever receive.   Praise God.

TNT,
Words by Ali

Hearing God No Matter Where You Are

Today as a Birthday treat I thought I would splurge a little and buy myself a book or two.  So, I went around to the books, one of them twice as a matter of fact.  On my way home I heard on the radio the new Imagine Dragons single 'I Bet My Life.'  

The song was written about on of the relationship one of the band members has with his parents.  But as I was sitting in my car listening to this song I couldn't help but think that this was my relationship with God.  One of the verse's says:

I've been around the world but never in my wildest dreams
Would I come running home to you
I've told a million lies
But now I tell a single truth
There's you  in everything I do
Now remember when I told you that's the last you'll see of me
Remember when I broke you down to tears
I know I took the path that you would never want for me
I gave you hell through all the years

Listening to these words I felt God pulling at my heart.  He was saying, "This is you.  Running away from Me, saying you won't ever come back.  But I know you're heart, and here I am when you need me."  When the chorus played, "I bet my life on you."  I thought to myself the person I bet my life on now and forever is God.  I do now, and I will till the day I see Him in Heaven.

Praise God

TNT,
Words by Ali

Are We Running After God?

If you were asked this question you would probably be saying yes.  Or at least that you want to be running after God.

I would say that that's incorrect.  For we as sinful human beings are constantly running from God.  It is God that is running after us.  He chases us even when we don't want him to.  All we have to do is stop running and wait for Him.

We aren't running towards but away from.  If we don't stop than we will never have the chance to truly get to know God. God chases us, but we have to stop long enough to listen to what He has to say to us.

So, stop running and let God tell us what He wants us to know.

TNT,

Words by Ali

In What We Do

Not only has it been a while since I've posted anything on my blog, but it's been just as long that I've had anything to really say.  I've felt that if I don't have anything real to say then I probably should refrain from saying things that don't really mean much.

But here I am, back.  I want what I have to say to mean something.  It doesn't necessarily have to mean anything to you the reader, but for me personally.  Of course I'm not saying I don't want it to mean anything to you, in fact I hope it does.  But I know that not everyone will feel the same way about the same things, because we are all different and unique people.


Last night was the first time I had stayed through the whole message at church in I don't remember how long.  The message was about those who heard Jesus' message and found it too hard to follow.  They heard something they didn't like and left.  Or, they pretended to believe but they didn't really believe.

I found myself listening to the message last night and wondering if I had been one of those who went through the motions, but didn't actually have my heart in it.  I may have been that person, but I don't want to be that person.

I want God to make me a better disciple.  To make me into what He wants me to be.  Do you feel that way too?  Unmotivated and lost?  Well you're not alone, and that doesn't mean God isn't there.  He is, and waiting for us to come back to him.

TNT,
Words by Ali

Jesus Prayed For Us

"I am praying for them. I am not praying for the people in the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours," (John 17:9).


So, I read this verse and I thought if Jesus would pray for us than we should be praying for each other.  We should be doing the things that Jesus did, because we should be striving to be like Jesus.  He was perfect in every way, and even though we can't be perfect we should try to be more like Jesus.

That clearly includes praying not just for ourselves, but for those around us.  And that includes both the unbeliever as well as the believer.  Jesus prayed for the believer because we belong to God, so we should also be praying for those who believe in God as well.

I'm not the best at pray.  I know that, I procrastinate and put it off to do other things.  I know that it is an important part of my relationship with God, and I know that I want to become better at my pray life.  I think if I start slowly it will become more natural.

TNT,
Words by Ali

What Prayer Is and Isn't

"And when you pray, don't be like those people who don't know God. They continue saying things that mean nothing, thinking that God will hear them because of their many words." (Matthew 6:7).

When you really stop to think about what prayer is it's a conversation with God. If you wish to grow a relationship with anyone an essential part of that is honest and open connversation. Without that the relationship is doomed to fail. So, why should it be any different in our relationships with God. Is He any less important then our best friends? Our family? Or other relationships? The answer to these questions is no. In fact our relationship with God is even more important. So, than we need to come to God with our prayers to further that relationship.

Also, prayer is much more than just asking God for things. About praise and thanksgiving for all the things that God has blessed us with in our lives. It's about adoration and worship for who God is. It's about council and wisdom for the events and problems in our lives. Of course a part of prayer is still about petition, and asking for things. But it is only one portion of prayer and not the whole thing.

Prayer can be a solitary act between just you and God, or it can be communal with the fellowship of other believers. What the above passage is saying is that prayer should come from the heart. Even if all you can find to say is a few sentence of prayer than you should leave it at that, and not continue to ramble just to fill the silence or to appear to be more prayerful. It's not about how much you say, but the content and quantity of the prayer.

TNT,
Words by Ali


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad