The death of me…
Would you be missed?
Preparation
In my world I am learning that I don’t prepare enough now for what God has in store for me in my future. If you would be honest with me today…you don’t either. God says in his word that he has plans for me!!! If in fact God has plans for me, then it stands to reason that if I don’t prepare for what God has prepared for me, then I run the risk of standing in my future but unprepared for the particular season of life that God would have me be in.
When going through the worst season of my life to date, I often wondered if I could have prepared better for what was taken place. I believe that there are things we go through in life that we honestly can’t prepare for. Sometimes life’s twist and turns are so brutal that there is much that can be done to mentally or physically get ready for what will be before you. However, I do feel that there can be some staple principles to use in all of our lives. Don’t wait until January to prepare for your future. Your future is really next week, tomorrow, or even the second after you read this. Oftentimes we wait for a more opportune time to prepare: the beginning of the week, the first of the year, the start of the month. While there is nothing wrong with these times, waiting for those times to begin could cause you to be unprepared for your time!!! So here are some things I have found helpful in my world, to help your preparation for your future:
1. Stop waiting!!! This is soooooo easier said than done. But I have learned and am learning that the more we wait and talk about what we are going to do, we usually settle for what we’ve been doing! (Somebody should tweet that…LOL) Lets be honest, how many times has the record played about what we were going to start doing or what we were about to do, and before we know it, years have past and we haven’t even started it….Start now!!!
2. Don’t take on the entire project at one time. Sometimes because of waiting, and what we haven’t been doing, when we start doing, we try to do it ALL at one time….and this usually never ends in completion. We either get frustrated, bored, or upset we waited so long to begin. Do a little at a time. Rome wasn’t built in a day…but it was built!
3. Keep yourself accountable. If nobody knows about what you are preparing yourself for, it becomes that much easier to wait, procrastinate, and talk yourself out of preparing for what you need to get ready for. Not everybody, but someone you know you can be honest with and they can be honest with you to help you along your journey.
God has plans for you, but its possible that where you are is causing road blocks to that plan. Lets prepare ourselves for the great plans of God….go ahead, start now….no for real for real….go ahead!!!
I’m an Addict
Don’t Hide
Its been a while since I have blogged and felt the need to blog about something today. Over the last few months I have been praising God for good health and the fact that I am completely off of my medication for Lyme Disease. Its such a wonderful thing when you can look back over you life and remember where you were, how bad of a situation you were in, and praise God for His goodness and extreme mercy towards you.
I have also been reflecting on how often silent I as well as other Christians can be about our beliefs and Christianity. Why is it that sports, music, education, etc., get more publicity out of my mouth than Jesus?!?!?!! Hey if the shoe fits for you then wear it, but I am blogging about myself primarily. I have to constantly think about when I meet people or am seen in different places, what fragrance do I leave with people. By my presence, do I present Jesus to them; not by my words so much but more so just by my presence. Not a bible study, not even initially what I believe, but is the fragrance of Jesus left to linger in their atmosphere?
I, by the grace of God, want to make sure that the God who has saved me, delivered me, and continues to bless me is made KNOWN!!! After all, if you can’t make Jesus known why are you a Christian? In my world, I am trying my best to not hide the fact that Jesus loves me and I love Him! He always deserves a standing ovation. Jesus always deserves and encore. Jesus deserves everything and more….come on and help me with making him known, everywhere you go!!!
Fear and Faith
Trust
Prayer
Why I Quit Church, Part 2
As promised I wanted to post the second part of the topic on why people are leaving church. In my world I meet many people who are just disinterested in church for a number of reasons today. I want to thank my friend Damien “Chip” Dizard for being willing to share in my blog!
Many children grow up forced to attend church and it’s not a pleasurable experience. You know the line, “children should be seen and not heard” most churches give 10 to 15 minutes of a children’s story and then expect children not to move, eat or do anything the entire time. I find that utterly ridiculous. That’s why my family attends the church we do now. Not because we are in love with the preaching, fellowship or even the facilities. Our children look forward to attending church and they actually learn something once they leave. I didn’t have this opportunity growing up and my wife and I wanted to give our children the best chance for success. Does that mean they won’t get tired of church? Sure they may, but their childhood memories of church should be one of engagement activity and learning.
I have also heard stories of many families who never missed church but missed other important engagements for their children. Basketball games, musical recitals and more, but church, God’s house is never put on the back burner. Families can argue all week long, but they will sit next to each other smiling and holding hands in church.
Have you ever felt guilty for not attending church? More and people especially younger Seventh-day Adventists aren’t attending church regularly. I was talking with a friend recently whose sister who grew up in church who doesn’t attend or watch it online either. I think the story is similar to someone you know. It’s an epidemic that spreads deep and wide. You may know a person who is guilted into attending church because they feel inadequate and once they feel better they go right back and do the same thing.
James 1:23-24 says “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”
This text hit me because it is just foolish. God doesn’t take attendance, but he knows when you listen to the word and don’t follow through.
How can you follow through with God today? Tell us about your church attendance experience. Leave in the comments below.
Chip Dizárd is a Christian, tech expert, author and blogger. He is passionate about his family and reaching people for Christ. His tech blogs are at chipdizard.com.