Today my little friend of 10 years, a small maltese with a big appetite, passed away in my arms. I'll miss Little Boy greeting me at the door and following me around and laying by me. He was my friend and we had lots of walks, tummy rubs and other silly fun together. I am very sad tonight, He was part of my family.
Posted by Jesse on Wed, 10 Mar 2010
So, God gave gifts to men (and women too obviously, haha). This is a little about your natural gifts, not so much the gifts of the Spirit after Jesus Resurrected in Ephesians 4:8. Hope I got that right, anyways! I believe, an important thing to realize is that a reason people are insecure is because they have compared themselves to other people and didn't meet up to someone that they aren't even supposed to be. If we try to imitate someone we aren't meant to be we are being an imposter. If we had nobody to compare ourself with we'd be insecure about nothing! And the Bible says don't compare ourself to others, wise advice! (Galatians 6:4)
Before I jump into gifts we have to start with how special we are! We are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). The Bible also says we were knitted together in our mothers womb (by God) and we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13). Scientist even say DNA is more complex than any machine today, and more advanced than any machine any man could dream of, even when comparing to super computers!
So although there are billions of people, God took time to carefully knit each one of us together and give us gifts. My mom and dad think its funny how all of their kids are so different, how our personalities stick with us as we grow up.
You've got people who are good with art, good with math, or creative with literature, or creative with music. Then you got some people who love to be actively involved in things all the time, some who are really outgoing and others who are kind of quite and prefer quietness at home. I think many people are deluded to think if they aren't the one on center stage you aren't valuable - but thats a lie. We aren't supposed to be in pride and get the fame and glory rather than Christ, pride is serious posion!
So we have gifts that are inside of us that we can't help but enjoy doing. For some unknown reason all different people enjoy specific hobbies. And God has made you to do something you will enjoy. God says there are many members to the body, if everyone was an arm we'd have no legs to walk. We don't need to all be trumpets, if we didn't have the little technical people we'd be like a bunch of lemmings shouting at eachother. I think diversity is a good thing in life, it balances people out.
Others think everything has to do with money, relating power. "If I only had more money I'd do something great for God". What you do with a little you do with a lot, so if someone isn't tithing or offering with a little they won't with a lot! So, in the Bible a cool example was a poor woman who gave 2 minas (very little money), which was all she had and Jesus specifically pointed out that she gave more than everyone. Because everyone else gave a little bit out of their wealth. So if a man gave $50,000 out of his wealth of millions, it might be a big deal to men, but God is more impressed with someone who gave out of their poverty I think. Money is another topic, back to the gifts you have!
You are good at many things, but our gifts aren't to be used in a rat race to our own glory. What you are good at is a good clue to what you are meant to do in life by doing what you're good at for the Glory of God.
Writing Kids stories can be just as good as Writing Novels. Drawing a cartoon can be just as good as a Davinci painting. Tithing 1/10th of your income is just as good if you make $10,000 a year or a million a year. It's not the opinions or praise of men that matter, it's what you are bent to enjoy doing and that you do it for the Glory of Jesus Christ.
Posted by Jesse on Fri, 8 Jan 2010
I've had two verses on my heart for a week or two, I was thinking about them a lot. The first has to do with trusting God in dire situations, the second is about living that balanced life, avoiding extremes.
Psalm 37:25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
And below is from, Ecclesiastes 7:16-18:
Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise -- why destroy yourself?
Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool -- why die before your time?
It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.
Posted by Jesse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009
I have spent the past few months striving to accomplish some goals. I've been studying Object Oriented Programming and I've written and rewritten applications. I have been working non-stop in front of this screen. I have made myself so busy that all I think about is work, preaching, and programming. My sleep schedule is backwards and I drink coffee to get more energy to work into until atleast 5am. I don't know how I get so easily distracted, but it's a cycle I keep falling into.
None of this is healthy. I don't know how to live a balanced life. I need help with everything. I feel like a busy body. I have few hobbies apart from this computer. Over this span there have been little things I felt the Lord put on my heart, but I dislike how easy it is to get occupied with something and put him in 2nd place. Then I don't notice until I feel as dry as a desert in my heart.
I miss the creativity that flowed by feeling alive. I don't need to know everything :(
Posted by Jesse on Mon, 9 Nov 2009
1 Corinthians 1:20-21 says, Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
You could sit down and converse with the greatest educated man or woman, or a world renouned philosopher, or an intellectual -- they may know much about life and education, but they do not know God the lover of their soul. In all a mans efforts, education, studying, earning, striving, and even people who dilligently study the scripture and stop there (which testifies about Jesus), they do not even know God! Isn't that amazing? You would think people like this who seem to have so much understanding and worldly wisdom knew God.
The cross is foolishness to those perishing but to us it is the power of God. To know God it begins with Christ crucified, if anyone rejects the Son they reject the Father. Eternal life is to know the One true God, and Jesus Christ. God always wants to restore man to himself, like in the days of Eden. You will never find God through mans intellect.
Note: It's great to be intelligent and well educated, but that is not all there is.
Posted by Jesse on Mon, 5 Oct 2009
Short writings from my heart about seeking His righteousness and sharing what I learn. Sometimes I will re-use content I write here for the sections.
