It’s a crazy thing, no matter how much stuff I have, how many friends I have, how much goof-off time I have, I still think sometimes that I need more to be happy. I’m not really thankful, content, with what I have. Whacked huh? Like just the other day I thought: "I need a new surfboard. THEN I’ll be set! I’ll really be happy then. I’m not happy now, not with only the three surfboards I’ve already got. I need another one." Its foolishness really, because I have so much. I’ve got friends, a loving wife, two great kids, and most importantly I have an eternity with God in Heaven to look forward to. Yet there I was, feeling down because I don’t have a killer new long board like I see other guys riding. Silly huh? But don’t we all find ourselves feeling un-thankful?
Check it, the bible tells us:
"give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
In ALL circumstances give thanks it says. Not just when you’ve got everything you want, and its all going your way. In All circumstances! Even when I feel rejected by others? Even when I can’t have what I want? Even when I’m sick, hurt, or lonely; I’m supposed to give thanks?!!!
Our Heavenly Father desires us to live each moment with a thankful heart, full of joy - regardless of our circumstances. Why? Because this reveals our trust in Him, in Jesus. How? It’s all a matter of perspective. When you discover a relationship with Jesus, the King of Kings, the Lord of all, the Creator, the giver of eternal life and happiness, then and only then will you be stoked no matter what this earthly life brings your way. Jesus promises us a life everlasting. And a life where ALL of our needs are met and taken care of by the same God who created us and wants nothing but the best for us! God became a man in Jesus and went to the cross to die for our wrong doings to make it possible for us to spend eternity with him! This may not mean you get the killer new video game system that just came out, or the coolest deck and the fastest wheels at the skate shop, but you will have joy and happiness. Eternal life, forgiveness of sins, and relationship with God are things the Christian has to be thankful for in ALL circumstances. These other things just are not that important in comparison.
Here are some awesome verses:
"For the joy of the Lord is our strength." Nehemiah 8:10
"God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble." Psalm 46:1
"Then I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be glad because he rescues me." Psalm 35:9
Jesus said: " My purpose is to give life in all its fullness." John 10:10
Accept today what Jesus came to give: "life in all its fullness". Ask him to be your Lord and Savior, you will be thankful for all eternity!
Sk8 4 God’s three core values: Courage, Wisdom, and Honor!
God is the source of all wisdom. Pray to him for understanding, read the bible, and he will guide you to a life of thankfulness. You can have so much in Him, nothing else really matters!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
-RC
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Does God know you?
Does God know you? Do you really know God?
How many times a day do you pray?
Do you try to follow his commandments?
In Matthew Chapter 7:21 Jesus points out that not every one who claims to know him really does. Jesus told this parable to explain to us that we need a personal relationship with him.
The best way I can think of to explain to you about how to keep a relationship with Jesus is to think as Him as your best friend. Talk to him by praying as much as you can. You can tell Him all of your problems and stuff that you have to deal with. He is your heavenly Father. He can help you. He wants to help you obey his commandments. He wants you to live a good life. He has plans to bless you and to prosper you. You just need to reach out to him. You need to talk to him. He is your best friend and he is always there for you. One of the worst things that could possibly happen to you is described by Jesus in Matthew Chapter 7. None of us wants to hear these words from the Lord after we have passed away: “I never knew you. Away from me,”
Matthew chapter 7:21-29
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Sk8 4 God has three core values: courage wisdom and honor. This week’s core value is Honor:
We need to Honor the Lord above all else. We need to honor him for being our heavenly Father who provides for us. We need to honor him for being our best friend who is there for us at all times. Reach out to Him today! Get to know Him! The rewards of having a relationship with our Lord Jesus are everlasting...
-Caleb
How many times a day do you pray?
Do you try to follow his commandments?
In Matthew Chapter 7:21 Jesus points out that not every one who claims to know him really does. Jesus told this parable to explain to us that we need a personal relationship with him.
The best way I can think of to explain to you about how to keep a relationship with Jesus is to think as Him as your best friend. Talk to him by praying as much as you can. You can tell Him all of your problems and stuff that you have to deal with. He is your heavenly Father. He can help you. He wants to help you obey his commandments. He wants you to live a good life. He has plans to bless you and to prosper you. You just need to reach out to him. You need to talk to him. He is your best friend and he is always there for you. One of the worst things that could possibly happen to you is described by Jesus in Matthew Chapter 7. None of us wants to hear these words from the Lord after we have passed away: “I never knew you. Away from me,”
Matthew chapter 7:21-29
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Sk8 4 God has three core values: courage wisdom and honor. This week’s core value is Honor:
We need to Honor the Lord above all else. We need to honor him for being our heavenly Father who provides for us. We need to honor him for being our best friend who is there for us at all times. Reach out to Him today! Get to know Him! The rewards of having a relationship with our Lord Jesus are everlasting...
-Caleb
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Perseverance.....
Why is perseverance such a cool word? Well I really like it because it builds character in who you are. We all go through tough times in our life. We all go through persecution when we stand up for what we believe in (Jesus for example). The world that we live in today does not follow the truth. It encourages secularism and the ways of the world. It encourages gnarly things.
As believers in Jesus Christ we need to persevere through the temptations of the world. We need to stand up for what we believe and not be ashamed. The world, TV, and your peers may try to influence you to not believe in the Lord. But by keeping your faith, spending time in prayer and going to church, you can persevere through the gnarly attacks against your faith.
In the bibleit says:
"Count it all a joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." James 1:2-3
OK, so the bible is telling you to be stoked when you are going through tough times because you are being built into something awesome. God is molding you into the person he wants you to be. He lets us go through these times so we can persevere. He wants you to learn. He is our father. He allows us to go through these times so that we can grow spiritually. Read James chapter 1 verses 1 through 8 sometime.
Perseverance as defined in the dictionary:
1. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.
As believers in Jesus Christ we need to persevere through the temptations of the world. We need to stand up for what we believe and not be ashamed. The world, TV, and your peers may try to influence you to not believe in the Lord. But by keeping your faith, spending time in prayer and going to church, you can persevere through the gnarly attacks against your faith.
In the bibleit says:
"Count it all a joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." James 1:2-3
OK, so the bible is telling you to be stoked when you are going through tough times because you are being built into something awesome. God is molding you into the person he wants you to be. He lets us go through these times so we can persevere. He wants you to learn. He is our father. He allows us to go through these times so that we can grow spiritually. Read James chapter 1 verses 1 through 8 sometime.
Perseverance as defined in the dictionary:
1. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.
Peace!
-Caleb
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
I'm not perfect, not even close.....
Check it, I want to live a life pleasing to God, but everyday I blow it in one way or another. A godly man, a hero of the Christian faith, the apostle Paul had the same problem and he put it this way:
“I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate.” Romans 7:15.
Can you relate? Do you want to do good but sometimes blow it? Don’t feel bad about it, you’ve got a lot of company: everyone else! God tells us in the bible:
“There is no one righteous, not even one.” Romans 3:10
We are totally powerless to do what is right all of the time, as a matter of fact we do wrong a lot! We were born this way. The bad news is this separates us from God who IS perfect. The good news is that God loves us anyway and had a plan from the beginning for taking care of this problem: sending Jesus to help us. Jesus, being fully God came into the world as a man to rescue us from our less than righteous nature which traps us:
“God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.” John 3:17
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8
You see, Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty, death, of our less than perfect nature.
The only thing God requires us to do is believe:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Are you still going to do things that are wrong after believing? Absolutely. The apostle Paul felt the way he did about his actions, in the first verse we read, after being radically saved by his belief in Jesus! After being saved it’s a growth process towards allowing God to take control of your life, not allowing the nature you’re born with to control your actions. Paul put it this way:
“I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” Galatians 2:20
Get stoked on Jesus, believe in Him, and give him control of your life. You won’t regret it. God wants to do great and righteous things through you. All things are possible with Jesus!
Sk8 4 God’s three core values: Courage, Wisdom, and Honor!
It takes courage to accept that you’re less than perfect and give your life to Jesus. But with God on your side you’ve got nothing to fear!
“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord” Psalm 27:14
-RC
“I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate.” Romans 7:15.
Can you relate? Do you want to do good but sometimes blow it? Don’t feel bad about it, you’ve got a lot of company: everyone else! God tells us in the bible:
“There is no one righteous, not even one.” Romans 3:10
We are totally powerless to do what is right all of the time, as a matter of fact we do wrong a lot! We were born this way. The bad news is this separates us from God who IS perfect. The good news is that God loves us anyway and had a plan from the beginning for taking care of this problem: sending Jesus to help us. Jesus, being fully God came into the world as a man to rescue us from our less than righteous nature which traps us:
“God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.” John 3:17
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8
You see, Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty, death, of our less than perfect nature.
The only thing God requires us to do is believe:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Are you still going to do things that are wrong after believing? Absolutely. The apostle Paul felt the way he did about his actions, in the first verse we read, after being radically saved by his belief in Jesus! After being saved it’s a growth process towards allowing God to take control of your life, not allowing the nature you’re born with to control your actions. Paul put it this way:
“I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” Galatians 2:20
Get stoked on Jesus, believe in Him, and give him control of your life. You won’t regret it. God wants to do great and righteous things through you. All things are possible with Jesus!
Sk8 4 God’s three core values: Courage, Wisdom, and Honor!
It takes courage to accept that you’re less than perfect and give your life to Jesus. But with God on your side you’ve got nothing to fear!
“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord” Psalm 27:14
-RC
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