Imitation

I found this in my Notes on my phone. I thought I'd share it. I don't think I've shared it and I cannot remember where I read this, but I wanted to share it with you. This is something I think about, especially since I work with or am around many kids. My two nephews, my two second cousins, and the kids in the day Christian school I volunteer at. Here it is:

Be Worthy of Imitation

The Thessalonians were converted to Christ not only because of the words of Paul and his men but also because of the example of their lives.

It is important to remember that the world is watching us as followers of Christ. We have been called to be the salt and light of the earth.

Jesus admonished us to let our lights shine brightly before men so that they may praise God for our good works. God's intention is not to give you fame that brings no glory to His name.

A life worthy of imitation is one that is surrendered to be used as a tool in the hands of God, to display His awesome power and glory.

What do people see when they see you?If someone walked in your shoes for 24 hours, what would they learn about Christ?

Living a life worthy of imitation is to be mindful that you are representatives of Christ to those around you. You can only reflect what or who you are facing. You must focus your attention on Christ and imitate Him. Let your words, actions and behavior emulate the One who calls you His ambassador.

Your footprints on the moon should lead the world to your source, your focus and your example; Jesus Christ.

Turning point

I've been miserable. Depressed.

It's because it's been busy at work. And I've been lonely at home. 

Work is mundane. I have a whole three bedroom house to myself.

Mundane makes me irritable. Having no company makes me think no one cares.

Irritability just makes me have a bad attitude about work. And being home alone.

I bring it home and sulk alone in my house, all night, til I'm tired enough to sleep.

I then sleep all day. I've missed a lot of the summer and I'm missing the wonderful weather now. I've also wasted a lot of hours that could have been spent productively (and there's plenty to do!!) or visiting family.

Time to change things up. And get accountability.

Instead of sulking at home, I've decided to USE that time, rather than waste it watching Netflix or eating junk. I've already been going to the gym, but it isn't everyday that I go. So other things have to fill in that time. I've decided to start reading the Bible or related devotional material. I've decided to just talk to God. I've decided to rebuild my relationship with Him.

I read something in an issue of Our Daily Bread.

If being "religious" means following a set of rules so we can look good---instead of enjoying a relationship with the Savior---Jesus isn't interested.

Granted, He isn't. Nope.

He said, taken from Our Daily Bread as well, "outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside [they] are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness" of the Pharisees in Matt. 23:28. They didn't have the love of God in their hearts (John 5:42). Jesus wanted a relationship with them, but they were "not willing to come to [Him]" (v. 40)

True religion is to know

The love that Christ imparts;

True religion is to show

This love to burdened hearts. 

-D. DeHaan

These things being said, and I'm saying all these things to myself, that I forget to take the time to have a relationship with Jesus. I may do many good things and I may refrain from doing bad things, but all that effort does nothing. I remind myself of the grace imparted to me from God and it is only that, that keeps us in our salvation. So I'm getting back on track. Funny that we keep falling off, but granted, we have SO MANY things that distract us. Do you text and drive? I do. I know, I know, it's dangerous. But yeah, I cross the line, I drift into the shoulder and hit the "BbBbBbBbBbBbBbBbBbBbBbBb" of the rumble strip. Yeah, but my "safety net" is that I usually text when traffic is clear. So, that's going off the track because of my distraction with the phone. I think that most of you know what I mean. Modern day is so full of them. The devil loves to use them against me and I give in. A lot. And waste a lot of time.

So, in changing it up or reaching a turning point, I'm starting new and doing what I mentioned above. Also I'm starting to...blog! Yes. I like it. It's ok. Maybe I'll be a grain of salt to someone. A beacon of light. Encouragement. I dunno. We'll see.

Also, I'm learning something new too. Something productive. It doesn't hurt to at least learn about it, if not be a part of it. Forex trading. More on this later. But it's interesting! I like numbers anyway. And jargon.

Right now, I'm at work and this blogging IS the distraction from my job. Oops. Oh, well. We've been SO busy, we lab techs deserve a little bit of slow times before it gets busy again.

I want this t-shirt.

I want this too. The adrenaline rush of speed gets beat by nothing. At least for me.

Good night, ya all. 

Stanley Jr.

A Prayer for Humility

Jesus, I need you. I need you to help me to give more of myself to you. I cannot hold to anything of this world; it is all worthless. I want to build treasures in Heaven and to spend eternity with you and I ask that you transform me to be more like you! Help me and encourage me on this: My time here on earth is just a passing; I am here only to serve my purpose you have for me. What greater reward is there than to spend eternity with you? Thank you for what you have done for me though I deserve none of it. Amen.

 This is my prayer from an older post: Transformation. I wanted to write about what Jesus has done for me and through me. I wanted to write about He has done WITH me. He is constantly working with me, molding me, and working in the the intricate details like the potter with clay. Also in the post was this passage of C.S. Lewis' about transformation, the process of killing the old man:

The real Son of God is at your side. He is beginning to turn you into the same kind of thing as Himself. He is beginning...to turn the tin soldier into a live man. The part of you that does not like it is the part that is still tin...Put it right out of your head the idea that these are only fancy ways of saying that Christians are to read what Christ said and try to carry it out - as a man may read what Plato or Marx said and try to carry it out. They mean something much more than that. They mean that a real Person, Christ, here and now, in that very room where you are saying your prayers, is doing things to you...It is a living Man, still as much a man as you, and still as much God as He was when he created the world, really coming and interfering with your very self; killing the old natural self in you and replacing it with the kind of self He has.

 After reading this in a friend's post and praying the above mentioned prayer, I waited on Jesus to start this work in me. I came to realize that He had already been at work on me; it's just that I've been unyielding, just like bad clay that needs to be thrown away. But, instead of throwing the bad clay out, Jesus adds water and starts to work on it again. The water of the Word starts to soften me and I become yielding, yielding to the hands of Jesus. There is significant importance of reading His Word and it isn't just memorization, but the actual sitting down and concentrating on each word.

Before, when I would read the Bible, I would read it at random and hope that something would help. It didn't always help and the verses I read weren't of any significance to the day or circumstances at hand. No matter, it was still important to read it when I did. It was just me sitting on the fence of lukewarmness. I wanted to be a slave of God, but I didn't want to let go of the world and it's pleasures. So, I just straddled the barbed wire fence and it hurt me more than anything else, in fact, Jesus had the pleasure of spitting me out for I was worth nothing to Him. But, thank God! He still loves me despite that and He gives me a chance to yield to Him. I finally have stopped looking for myself or trying to define who I am with the things or my status in this world. I am already defined by God and there is a real name waiting for me in Heaven that defines exactly who I am. The only status God requires of me in this world is that of a lowly servant filled with humility. Even then, if I were to become a ruler of some sort, either President of the U.S. or a large company, I am still required to put on the humility of a lowly servant; it would not have been I myself, but God, that exalted me, either here on earth by status or in heaven, in my humility. The greatest (and upright) leaders are also humble servants.

But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (Matthew 23:12 NLT)

But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, "God opposes the proud but favors the humble." (James 4:6 NLT)

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. (James 4:10 NLT)

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. (1 Peter 5:6 NLT)

Through my transformation, I ask the Lord daily to walk with me and to remind me each time I need to check myself and my reaction to circumstances and see that it is pride in play. By no means is my pride gone, nope. Not close. I still carry a bit of weight around, but it is less than when I was not in walking communion with God. I ask in my daily walk that I exercise more humility! I ask the Lord to humble me because I have exalted myself, made myself a little higher or a lot higher than others around me.

Sometimes when I think of doing good deeds or helping others in time of need or support, thoughts flash across my mind. These thoughts are sometimes of myself being exalted through my own eyes and through the eyes of others because I do these good deeds. It must not be so. Some people, including myself, are at fault for going and looking for good deeds to do so they may be exalted in the eyes of others. This is not the purpose of practicing humility, neither is it humility! It could be martyr's syndrome. I won't go into detail on that, though. The Scriptures above say to humble yourselves first, and you will be exalted. God will bring others to me and to you, He will bring opportunities to you, the Holy Spirit will nudge you to take action and help someone in need, Jesus will speak through you. Only God can and will exalt a humble man and though your exaltation may not be a rank of higher position in an earthly job, but you will be exalted to a very high position in God's eyes and in heaven. That matters more than anything else on earth and you will have respect as a humble man here on earth. I want that. I don't want a high rank at my job because I fought my way there or I thought I was better at some tasks than others. I just want to serve the company and give them what they want provided it isn't contrary to any of God's laws. If I am projected to a higher rank, so be it. I shall serve in my position with humility and serve my boss and co-workers and God will take care of the rest.

Let God deal with you. He only asks you to be humble. A question: How am I to conquer this pride? The answer is simple. Two things. Do what God says is your work: Humble yourself. Trust Him to do what He says is His work: He will exalt you. You can read the excerpt to this question by clicking the link above.

Appreciate a little humor.

So, yes, Jesus has been working with me, on me, and through me. I am a different person today and I continue to let Jesus do His work. It is taking time. I have to consciously think about God and about doing His will. I must obey Him, even when someone would ask me to do something that is against His will. It may cost. Loss or life. I know I'm for God and I will always have Him or be with Him. I have not really run into a situation like that as of yet, but I may. I know the choice I will make. I fear no loss or death. This kind of thinking needs to become a part of life, a good habit. I mustn't let negative thoughts take a dominant place in my mind. The devil loves to throw thoughts like that into my mind and I must battle them, push them aside. Sometimes I can get selfish and I feel like I just want to go Home and be done with the chaos on earth. But God put me here to finish a job, just as He did Jesus. Even Jesus wanted the cup of suffering to be taken away, but He only asked that God's will be done. God's will in Jesus' life had the higher priority.

Pride is the easiest way for the devil to tempt people and it rears an ugly face. I must keep going forward in humility, die to self and live. I am asking God to show me anything that I need to fix, any restitutions, and any walls I need to break down. I want it all fixed now, but it can't be. It takes time. I place my trust in God and continue to walk with Him.

Lord, I ask you to walk with me today and to show me where I need to go and what to do. Thy will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. Only your will matters and the only requirement you have of me is to be a humble servant, filled with humility. Please continue to give me power with Jesus' blood to have victory over struggles and pride. Amen.