Eggs and Baskets

So many of you are probably familiar with the song "Everything" by Lifehouse. Great song. I youtubed it to see if there were any good videos for it. I saw the Everything skit video which was super powerful. I loved it and recommend it to anyone. I also watched one that was just the lyrics and the song. After about half way through the song I started scrolling through the comments and was surprised at how many of them were saying things like: "this is my song with my boyfriend." or "i wish my boyfriend would sing this to me." or "my girlfriend really is everything, this song will destroy me if we ever break up." Now, I can see why people would think that, or be drawn to this but think about what you would be saying.

I'll be the first to admit that I want the perfect romance with whoever God has planned for me to be with. (assuming that that is part of His plan). I'll also admit that it is very easy to put too many eggs in that relationship basket. It's tangible, it's affirming, and it's is amazing. However, what I've really been thinking about lately is how my eggs aren't really my eggs. When I committed my life to God and His Son I also gave Him control of my eggs and my baskets. The way I'm thinking about this is just that it comes down to surrendering and being truly humble before God. Having faith that He has a perfect plan for each and everyone of our lives and that He will put our eggs wherever they need to go. I know this analogy is a little strained. Mostly I'm just trying to say that I'm learning more and more about how important it is to surrender and to trust God in everything, and that He is the One that should be Everything in our lives. Not a boyfriend/girlfriend. Not success. Not grades. Not money. Not even a combination of those things. I believe that it IS ok to put all your eggs in one basket if that basket is God's. He will provide for your life in the perfect way at the perfect time as only He can.

It's also really easy for me to praise God when I feel like I'm in a good place, like right now. I just need to make sure that I'm applying this all the time - including the times when I don't feel like I'm where I want to be, or things aren't so great. God's love never fails and I need to make sure that that is always the major focus in my life.

Everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family!

Peace and Blessings,

Adam

So tonight was mirror lake night. Crazy to say the least. It was a good 10 degrees warmer than the last two years, which made it nice. The ground was muddy, and the people were drunk. I was actually there to pass out hot chocolate, I didn't intend to jump and I stayed true to that intention. It was funny to see a bunch of the football players stand in a big group and take it all in (cool that Pryor and Posey both got hot chocolate though). I eventually got frustrated though cause people were splashing in the mud and throwing it. I made the bad decision of white shoes, and white track pants....so I was of course annoyed that both are potentially ruined. However looking back, this kind of thing shouldn't be annoying to me. I just need to have the right heart set. I was there to try to be a servant (which I would say overall I failed at, but the H20 people in general did a great job) and I walked away feeling angry. Clearly not how God would want others to perceive someone that is there on His behalf.

I'm learning, slowly, that getting the right heart set is about more than just wanting it. It's not under our control...it's under God's, just like everything else. Yes, we do have to want it. But, we need to pray about it, and have faith and eventually God will mold our hearts and shape them the way He wants them to be. He will put on them the desires He wants us to pursue, the paths He wants us to follow. Obviously, as humans, we will never have perfect hearts. This is probably the single hardest thing for me to accept. I know that I'm not perfect and never can be. Sometimes I feel I'm about as far from perfect as somebody can get...but I have an appetite for perfection. I want so badly to live my life without making mistakes and I dwell on everything that I screw up, whether big or small. But God doesn't want me or anyone to think that way. Yes try as hard as you can to live like Christ, but in the end know and accept that you will always fall short and accept the Amazing Grace that is God's unconditional love for everyone of us. When I was talking to one of my friends recently, they pointed out to me how important it is to remember that we are God's masterpiece. We shouldn't lose heart in our mistakes, but rather, learn from them, and praise God for His redeeming spirit. It is through our weakness that God can be most glorified.

Peace and blessings,

Adam

P.E.F. OSU 31, Mich 23. High scoring, I know. I'm going out on a limb, we'll see what happens.

P.S. Loving the song Stellar by Incubus right now. Listen to it!

What do you believe on?

Saturday I watched the most epic football game ever (that I've seen live anyway). So awesome. Ohio State is on their way to the rose bowl and they clinched the birth with a dramatic overtime win that sent the city into a frenzy.

As incredible as the game was, looking back, something bothers me. Ohio State was up 2 touchdowns with 10 or so minutes left in the game. At that point the game should be over right? At home. All the momentum. Better team. How could they lose? Ohio State had the belief that they had won. They did not believe they were going to win.

There is a difference here. They had a Greek mindset, they believed in victory. They should have been taking on a Hebrew mindset and believed ON victory. Believing in something is just agreeing that that something is. Basically the Bucks believed that their victory already existed. If they would have been believing on victory, I think that the game would have been played differently. This is because believing on something is more than a thought. It is a lifestyle, and a lifestyle of action. Of course, it has been proven to many times that I actually know very little about football, so it's possible that I'm way off base with all this, but it's how I perceive what was happening during the 4th quarter. Luckily for Ohio State, and our fair city, the Bucks were able to pull off the victory anyway.

I don't think that the outcome of the Ohio State vs. Iowa game is very reflective of eternity. Recently I was talking with a couple of different friends about John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." When I first read this passage, I had a Greek mindset, and interpreted it that way. Of course I believe in Jesus, so I'm good. I have my salvation and I'll go on my merry little way with that in mind. Wrong. My initial interpretation is not how God wants it to hit our hearts. The meaning of the word "believes" in this verse should be thought of the way that the Hebrews used the word - believing ON God. Clearly Satan and other demons believe in God and Jesus, at least in the Greek sense of the word. If anything, they probably believe IN Him MORE than any of us because they have directly encountered Him. However, they don't believe ON Him at all, and that is why they don't have salvation. It's what sets us apart when we accept Christ as our savior. It is the acceptance and resulting lifestyle that constitutes believing on Jesus. It is important, especially for me, to remember that both of those items matter in our salvation. It's not a one time event, but a constant way of life. Not a destination, but a journey.

To truly believe ON Jesus, we have to change our lifestyle to live in the way that He calls us to. We have everything to lose, but Everything to gain when we do this. Basically losing everything that is temporary for everything that is eternal. Seems worth it to me. I need to stop thinking that I am saved by the Son of God, and start LIVING like I am.

Peace and blessings,

Adam

Pride

I am prideful. Horribly so. That is one of the many things that has been revealed to me over the past couple of weeks. A good friend of mine has a blog that talked about a life without prayer is a life with pride. I think there is a lot of truth to what he is saying, but at the same time it doesnt satisfy me. I pray. Not as much as I should, but I pray. However, I'm still stuck with pride in all areas of my life. I think that in order to for someone to have a life without pride, they need to have a life of CONSTANT prayer. Wow. What does that even mean? To be honest I'm not completely sure, because I don't know how to live my life that way...I just want to.

Prayer is addressing God. Ok. Typically people think of prayer as kneeling down by your bed at night, praising God for the day they just experienced, maybe confessing shortcomings of the day, asking for guidance, strength, love, and help and influence in lives. Something like that. I think that's great, and I try to do that, but I'm finding, for me, it's not enough. I believe addressing God can be more than in thoughts and speech but in actions as well. How we live our life. If we were to approach every moment of our day with the mindset that in that moment we were going to be addressing God, how different would that moment be? I think in my life the change would be pretty radical...in a good way.

I don't think this idea is easy, or perhaps even possible. But it's what I want to strive for. I'm sorry if this is old news to some of you who already have this figured out, or to those of you who think it's a dumb idea. I just feel like it's what God put on my heart.

Also, recently my housemates were wondering what it meant to be "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139), in particular, the fearfully part. I did a google search and my favorite answer was this: in the Hebrew text the word "fearfully" means: with great reverence, with heart-felt interest and respect. Pretty cool to think that the Creator of the universe is so concerned with/for us and in love with us that He would put that kind of work and care into our creation. I think that is an important thing for me to remember, especially if I'm ever feeling down. Maybe it's a good thing for you to remember too...

One more thing: I've almost always been content to let things happen in my life. I think that sometimes that is ok, but God isn't always going to drop something in my lap. He'll give me opportunities, but I'm still the one that has to make the choice. God allowed us to have free will knowing we would make choices both good and bad, for Him and against Him. I think the most important thing is finding the opportunities that are good for both God and me(you). So often the choices I make are between what I want, and what I feel God wants. Shouldn't those two things be one in the same? I feel in my heart that God has placed an opportunity in front me (well several, but I'm talking about one specific thing right now) that is both what He wants and what I want. But I'm scared. Risk is tough. I don't like to lose what I already have. I know I could gain so much more, but it's still terrifying to drop all of my pride, be humble, and seize the opportunity in front of me. I need to learn how to let down my guard and trust God that everything will be ok, and follow where He is trying to lead my heart. Any of you that can relate to something like this, all I can recommend is faith. That's what I'm going to try to have as I approach the rest of my week.

Peace and blessings,

Adam

P.S.: November(!) weather is so awesome right now...so much better than how I always think of it...32.5 degrees, and raining. Also, mom's chocolate chip cookies for breakfast may be the best thing ever.

P.E.F.: 49ers were so close to beating Indy! too bad they can't stop the run. Buckeyes looked great against a slightly above average high school team last weekend. This week will be tough but if Pryor keeps up on his improvement I like our chances...24-20. Also, really Brandon Spikes and Florida? If a Buckeye did that, they wouldn't play for the rest of the season. Glad the SEC penalites are as fast as their players....