Turning Point

Have you ever felt disconnected from God? Disoriented? You don't know what to do next. You've known God for years and recently you've noticed you've become comfortable with God. You don't feel   something when you're with him anymore. Maybe you just got off this big emotional high with him and now you feel apathetic.

Now we hear the word "apathetic" or "apathy" all the time these days in the Christian circles and churches.  But what does it mean? Well, let's look at the dictionary.

"Ap-a-thy : n-1. absence or suppression of passion, emotion or excitement 2. lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting" 

This word "apathy" has been used as a condemning or condescending word. "If you feel apathetic, then you're horrible Christian, and need to be changed!" or "This world has become apathetic to Christ, and why is that? Because the Christians of this world are apathetic. We need to be on fire for Christ!" Now the last statement I understand, but the first one makes you feel like if you're not feeling anything for Christ, then you need to change. Something's wrong with you.

I think every Christian has or will deal with feeling like this at some point, and once you realize it, you wonder why? Why do I feel disconnected? Why am I not feeling anything? What happened? Am I not a Christian anymore? Is God mad at me? Well, I can tell you right now; He's not mad at you. He loves you. He may be disappointed with you, but never mad.

Recently a good friend of mine told me he was feeling just like I described above. He had seen God everywhere in the past year. He saw God at school, in his friends, and at church. God would tell him to minister to people. But something happened during this summer. Things soon began to fade for him. He felt disconnected from God except for during worship. He didn't know what God was wanting him to do next. He had reached a turning point in his life, he needed to decide what to do next in his life. He could either jump off the diving board or turn around and try to think and worry and plan out what to do next in his life.  Yes, he didn't know what to do next, but he did realize something wasn't right, which honestly is a very good start. He needed to choose if he would continue his life by faith and wait to see what God was going to tell him to do next or turn around and doubt what had God had done in his life before. He needed to choose whether he was going to live on fire or slowly wilt away consumed by doubt and worry.

I think every Christian will come to that turning point in their life. They will have to choose which way they want to fall. Will they live forever a lit constantly burning to fulfill the passion God put in their heart or will they slowly drift away like the flowers of spring crumbled into dust, forgotten because they have lost their initial spark, their ray of life, their true, natural beauty. Once we reach this choice, whichever side we fall on, is where we will be stuck. We need to choose if we will be that raging fire or the crumpled flower.

This generation is being more and more forced to choose and stand up for what they believe in. If you have nothing to stand on then you will crash beneath the waves. The world is looking for something, searching for something. Something to save them from themselves. They want the next best thing, they want more. They want the most that they can possibly get. They want something to satisfy them, but nothing on this earth ever could.

Once you reach that turning point, there's not much I can say to convince you to go one way or another it really is your choice. But if you want someone to talk to about it, feel free to contact me. I will always be praying for you. I know that doesn't sound like much or like it will make a difference, but believe me I know God will make a difference in your life. And if you let him he will help you with that choice. He will help you become ignited for him. He will help you set a fire down in your soul that you can't contain or control. He will help you want more of him. Once you reach that turning point and choose to live for God, he will take you on an adventure that you never saw coming.

Verse of the Day: Being Salt

I hate pepper.
I always have.
Probably always will.
I always thought it was the worst thing in the entire world. It had a weird taste, appearance, and name. Pepper. That is just a really weird word. I remember my parents would always convince me it wasn't that bad. But I was a stubborn child. I had made up my mind, this was stuff wasn't normal and therefore did not belong on my food. Now pepper's counterpart I had different feelings for.

Ever since I was little, I loved salt. I used to eat it out of the little packages they had at Wendy's whenever I could. I now realize that was gross, like really gross; like I probably won't eat salt for the rest of the day because I reminded myself of that. Thanks Bethany, way to go! (insert cheesy sarcastic smile here). 

Anyways, while growing up and attending Sunday School, I would always hear the phrases, "We are the light of the world" or "We are the salt of the earth". Now these phrases always confused me, especially the one about salt. In fact, I remember giggling during a service once because the pastor kept calling everyone salt. That was like calling everyone barbecue sauce in my mind, it was hilarious. Why would he do that? How on earth are we salt?

I never really knew the answer to that question until probably the towards the end of middle school. Over the years, I have learned that different verses in the Bible can mean different things in general and to different people. It all depends on the person's perspective. For someone who has been saved all their life, John 3:16 may not have that big of an impact on them anymore. They have heard that verse probably over a thousand times. They know they're saved and want to move on. However, for someone who just was saved or knows nothing about salvation, the verse that promises eternal life to those who believe in Him could be the best news they have ever heard in their life. This verse could be promising them eternity and leading them to what God has their life. It could lead them to his love, which is the most powerful thing in the universe. 

The power of perspective plays a huge role in everyone's lives whether they are Christians or not. Perspective opens our eyes to things we never thought we would ever or could ever see or believe. Recently I heard a couple other perspectives on the verse about being salt to the world which I would like to share with you.

So the other day I was reading out of one of my favorite books "Do Hard Things" by Alex and Brett Harris. I was about half way through when I got to this part in the book and I just thought it was really cool.

"When we think about salt, our first thought is probably something along the lines of, Gotta have some of that on my popcorn. But Jesus isn't talking about salt like we use it today. Although salt was used to flavor food during the Roman era, it's primary use was as a preservative. in a world without refrigerators or deep freezers, a little salt rubbed into meat would slow decay.

          So when Jesus tells us we are "the salt of the earth", he's saying we have been placed here to preserve it until he returns-to fight against the decay of sin, to combat sickness and suffering, and to oppose corruption and injustice." -Do Hard Things

Most of us Christians know the verse this was referring to, Matthew 5:13-16. It goes like this,

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? it is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

 Now I think this is really cool, just saying. A lot of people think that being 'the salt of the earth' means that we are to be the flavor of Christ on earth and that people will eventually come to His kingdom if we are continually seasoning the earth with Christ's truth (I probably didn't phrase that the way it should have been, but oh well. I hope you understand what its saying). Both explanations of this verse makes since to me, which just proves the point that verses can have different meanings and God meant for them to have so many different purposes.

Honestly, I think both perspectives kinda lead to the same conclusion. One says we are preserving the earth until Jesus returns, which we are. The other says that we are to flavor the earth with Christ's truth which we are since we're living here everyday with Christ inside of us. But if you think about it, they both imply being a representation of Christ. I know, I've said this before, but as a reminder (in case you forgot), each and every one of us was made in God's image. Voila, representation of Christ #1. Next, when we accept Christ in to our hearts, He is now living inside of us. So he is living inside you, and you were made in his image. So he's living in his own image. Ain't that cool? That was representation #2.

So I guess to sum all this up, God wants us to be his salt and light to the world. And we may not know exactly how to do that or we may feel like we could never be a good example because we're too much of a bad person to be salt and light and to help other people. But I do know, that if you cry out to God. He will hear you. He will always be with you. If you need help, he will provide it. All you need do, is seek him. If you feel unworthy or think you are a bad person, cry out to him and seek him. If you think, you are a good person and this post didn't really apply to you, cry out and seek God anyways. He will always be there for you. He will never leave your side. Now will you be the light of the world with me? Will you be the salt to the earth with me?



Ps. I still hate pepper for all who were wondering.

Verse of the Day

So today during my devotions a certain verse popped out at me, and I'm sure you know what I'm talking about when I say it popped out at me. It was Isaiah 8:18.

"Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion."

I just thought this verse was cool because it says that the children of Isaiah or the speaker are signs and symbols to Israel from the Lord. And I think this verse applies to us today because we are the 'symbols' or representations of Christ in this society.  Even if you haven't accepted Christ, he still made you in his image so you are still representing God by being his handiwork, and for those who have accepted Christ into your heart you are to be an example to those around you in the way you act and make decisions. Every second you have lived being saved, is being watched for eternity. Angels and demons are watching in anticipation to see what you will do next. Your life, your testimony is amazing to them. You have the ability to be tempted, to think, and to choose. You choose everyday how your life is going to go, and those little choices will effect eternity for yourself and those around you.

I've noticed even in my own life, that I am being watched constantly by kids at school, wanting to see how I the Christian am going to act. they are waiting for me to slip up. And honestly, it's hard sometimes. I find myself complaining a lot that I don't like being the example. I don't like having everyone watch me, especially if I think I'm going to fail. I don't think I'm a good representation of Christ. I obsess over things. I tell lies sometimes. I'm a jerk. I'm mean sometimes. I talk back. I really am an awful person. And all these people are watching me looking for those flaws.

But that's a good thing. They look for a higher standard, and therefore I am held to a higher standard. I don't like it but I know that God will work through me. He'll show them that you don't have to be perfect, he will take anyone who calls on him and is willing to follow him. He is working on me, and is getting rid of the ugly, crusty, sinful life I had.

Now I will never be good enough to be an example of Christ to those around me on my own. I know that God needs to be the only one shining, ever. I don't matter. My inequities don't matter. God is inside me. I am a mostly willing vessel, and he is going to use me for his Kingdom.