Who Am I, Really?

Personally, that's a big question for me. "Who am I, really?". We live in a society that says, "Just be yourself!", and not mention, this one, "You can be anything you want to be!".

Its not a bad thing to 'be yourself,' but most of the time, it's being said by those who, truly, have no idea who they really are. Knowing who we are is the most critical step. But how do we figure that out?

It's simple: to know Christ is to know your true identity. You can't just 'be yourself' without first discovering your true identity in Christ. To 'be yourself' outside of who God has called us to be is simply a case of identity theft; we're just like everyone else, going through the motions of trying to create a false image of who we think that we are. We were created for more.

But how do we live in the identity that we've been given through Christ? Galatians 5:25 says this, "Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives".  That, my friends, is how we live in the identity that we have been given through Christ. We are all created unique and with a purpose. Dig deeper into God's presence to discover who He has created you to be!

Unconditional Love

I want to start off by asking a question: Is love really uncondtional?

Hearing about, and seeing, the recent, violent attacks, across the United States, such as in Orlando with the 'gay club' terrorist attack and the deadly political protests, some people, especially Christians, may struggle with understanding the idea of unconditional love.

Its no question that a lot of people would like to rip into someone who has caused as much harm that has been caused over the past little bit. And, to be quite honest, it's understandable. We're human. And we have feelings. But as followers of Christ, how should we respond? Its simple: with uncontional love and forgiveness.

You may ask, "How in the world can I just love and forgive someone after everything they've done!? They don't deserve it!" (Y'all would be surprised at how many 'Christ-followers' say that..), or you've heard, and maybe even said this, "I just cant let it go this time!"

Now, let me ask you this: Where were you when Christ picked you up and rescued you? Not your location, but what kind of sin were you bound by? What kinds of things where you doing that would grieve the Holy Spirit?

Now that, that is out there, I could ask you the same questions that you may have asked yourself: "How could God just forgive and love a person like you, after all you've done?! You don't deserve His love!"
The answer: UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

God loves you, no matter where you've been, what you've done, or how many times you've hurt and rejected him. He loves you unconditionally. No strings attached! Even if you're still living in sin right now! His love and grace is for you! And He poured it out, as an example, on the cross 2000 years ago in Calvary! John 3:16 says this, "For God so loved the world that he gavehis one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

So the answer to the opening question, in closing: YES! True love is unconditional. Any other form of love, isn't love at all. So love your enemies! It's the most powerful weapon you can use against them!

"But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!"
-Matthew 5:44

The Little Things

Just yesterday, I met a man and his dog at McDonald's (weird way to start a story, I suppose...). Any way, I had spoken with this man once before at WalMart, but this time it was different. I felt like the Holy Spirit was leading me to give this man and his cute little dog some stuff to help them get by. So I did just that. The man asked me for a ride to where he was staying, so I obliged. He proceeded to tell me his life story and how someone had just bought him a tent and sleeping bag. As listened, I soon realized that God had in fact called this moment into existence. Once we get to where he's staying, he shows me the trailer that him and his girlfriend had been staying at, for quite some time, without water or electricity. So from there, I prayed with them and went on my way. But I didn't leave without learning this lesson: the little things matter.

I'm guilty. I'm that guy who takes things for granted. Especially the little things that appear to be so insignificant. But the good news is, I'm not alone. We all take the little things for granted.

Having money in our bank accounts, running water, electricity, wifi; need I go on? Its almost as if we think very little  about these little things when we have them, but complain when we don't. Can we really say that we are truly thankful? I believe we can. We just have to come to the realization that the little things matter too!

It's easy for us to lose focus of being thankful when we're so used to having something immediately available to us.

So, what have you been taking for granted? Think about those things, and ask God to give you a thankful heart.

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Distractions Are Fatal

Distractions can be fatal to one's walk with Christ. Let's face it; we all have something that causes us to become distracted. In my case, two things: social media & video games. The last time I checked, I've dished out well over 7 days (168 hours) of my life that I'll never get back playing my all time favorite, Call of Duty. "I'm a guy. I like doing guy things. So what if I spend all my spare time playing video games. It's not hurting anyone!"

Wrong. It's hurting me. Not only me, but my wife and our youth ministry! I finally realized that there are some things that are OK in moderation. Me, well, I'm an all or nothing kind of guy. But I've placed my time in the grips of something that is meaningless to my spiritual health, my wife's, and my dedication to the discipleship 10+ students in our youth ministry.

Lesson learned: "Whatever it is I want to burn on the inside of others, it must first burn inside of me."

If I continue to allow my distractions to reign over all of my spare time, I become bound by them. In turn, I neglect the most important aspects of my life: my mariage and my own spiritual growth.

Again, to my fellow youth pastors and those reading this; distractions can become fatal to one's walk with Christ.

So, what are you distracted by? Don't become so weighed down by distractions that you lose focus of what's most important in your life.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

(Hebrews 12:1-2)