So, it's been over a year since my last post... I guess this is far overdue. This is really only a way to get my thoughts out there when the time allows, not something I can continuously do.All that being said, it's time to get some thoughts and feelings out there for all who want to read.
I started typing this not knowing what it's going to be about. I'm just going to type what's been going on and what I feel the Lord is teaching me. Hopefully you can relate or be encouraged.
The Lord is good! Despite this being the longest I have ever gone without a job or a vehicle, the Lord is good. He continues to show me so much and continues to give me opportunities to speak into people's lives. Granted this time has been challenging, I hold onto his promises; that my life is not about a car, not about a job, not even about the degree I'm working for. I've mentioned this to a few people, but I'm starting to think my degree is of least importance of why I am where I am. I know this where God has me in this season of my life though; to meet people, build relationships, show love, and carry out his will for my life. The closer I get to him, the more I realize my life is not about me. I want to be Jesus to the people I am in contact with; at whatever cost to me.
It's so easy for me to lose sight of that though. Far too often I lose sight of all that the Lord is doing in me and I focus on the things that aren't really important in the Kingdom i.e. cars, money, jobs, etc. These things are not bad things, but when they take my eyes off of God, they can be. I want to be used in any way and every way that the Lord has planned or desires; even if that means not having a car, not working, or not understanding. I want to live out the faith and trust I say I have. I want to be a light and a witness at this school and to everyone I come in contact with. God continues to teach me so much. The only desire I have is to show that to others. For everyone who looks at my life to be able to see the Lord's work and nothing of me.
I can see so many great things ahead! The Lord has a way of working and piecing things together only in a way He can do. Things happen all the time in my life and the only explanation is that the Lord is at work. So be encouraged! Do not be brought down by the physical circumstances; focus on the eternal! Watch the Lord change your life and impact everyone you come in contact with.
James 4:8 "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."
~Ben
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Sunday, January 1, 2012
2012
So, I didn't do a great job of keeping this updated.. However, I've noticed I still need some sort of outlet for the amount of thoughts, feelings, ideas, and questions I have. I will update this as often as I have time.
I've been debating how I've been going to do this for a long time. Whether I would just tell a few people, post a note on facebook, casually mention in conversations, or write something like this. I think I've combined all of them. That being said, what better time to tell everyone who wants to hear(read) than on New Years? These past 8 months or so, I've been in a very challenging, very trying season of my life. Without going into a whole lot of detail, I've felt burnt out, used up, tired, alone; often searching, wondering, and seeking. But, through it all, I've realized I have all that I need. I have what it takes to make it through every trial, every downfall, every mess up, every lonely night, and every storm. What I'm about to say isn't a resolution of what I want to do in 2012, it's a lifestyle I've embraced for as long as I'm here.It's time to step it up. I'm not wasting anymore of my life focusing on ME. I refuse to settle for a mediocre Christian life. If you call yourself a believer, you're called to more than a mediocre Christian life. I'm tired of seeing so many people that are going through the same things I've been through but have no Hope, no Love, and no Direction. They have no idea there is a God who gives them Hope, Loves them unconditionally, and shows them Direction in every aspect of their life. There is a dying world out there and I just ignore it. I embrace a burden for the lost! You see, I don't want to settle for anything less than what God has for me. Everything I've gone though, all the people I come in contact with, everything about my life is what God is using to stretch me and to show me his will for my life. I've completely surrendered everything to Him. Relationships, school, work, money, EVERYTHING is in his control! I don't have to worry anymore. Because I know I have put my complete hope, trust, and security in Him. Whatever happens in my life is God moving in my life.
I embrace the life God has planned out for me!
I've been debating how I've been going to do this for a long time. Whether I would just tell a few people, post a note on facebook, casually mention in conversations, or write something like this. I think I've combined all of them. That being said, what better time to tell everyone who wants to hear(read) than on New Years? These past 8 months or so, I've been in a very challenging, very trying season of my life. Without going into a whole lot of detail, I've felt burnt out, used up, tired, alone; often searching, wondering, and seeking. But, through it all, I've realized I have all that I need. I have what it takes to make it through every trial, every downfall, every mess up, every lonely night, and every storm. What I'm about to say isn't a resolution of what I want to do in 2012, it's a lifestyle I've embraced for as long as I'm here.It's time to step it up. I'm not wasting anymore of my life focusing on ME. I refuse to settle for a mediocre Christian life. If you call yourself a believer, you're called to more than a mediocre Christian life. I'm tired of seeing so many people that are going through the same things I've been through but have no Hope, no Love, and no Direction. They have no idea there is a God who gives them Hope, Loves them unconditionally, and shows them Direction in every aspect of their life. There is a dying world out there and I just ignore it. I embrace a burden for the lost! You see, I don't want to settle for anything less than what God has for me. Everything I've gone though, all the people I come in contact with, everything about my life is what God is using to stretch me and to show me his will for my life. I've completely surrendered everything to Him. Relationships, school, work, money, EVERYTHING is in his control! I don't have to worry anymore. Because I know I have put my complete hope, trust, and security in Him. Whatever happens in my life is God moving in my life.
I embrace the life God has planned out for me!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
External circumstances; Internal desires
It's about that time again. Unfortunately I have a lot of school to study for, so this will probably be a shorter post. As some of you know, I spend most my time at work stuck in my car. Occasionally I'll turn on CSN and just check out who's on there. Today was great! Chip Ingram was talking about our attitudes in life and how we have every reason to be happy, yet we can blame our bad attitudes on every possible circumstance. That's where the line comes in: our unhappiness isn't based on our external circumstances(excuses), but our internal desires. We can blame our attitudes and the way we treat others on the circumstances in our life that don't go our way(ties in with yesterdays blog); although, the truth is, it's our internal desires that cause every bit of anger, sadness, depression, etc. This is something I find myself constantly struggling with. Like I mentioned yesterday, It's so easy for me to get down and bummed out about the circumstances in my life that don't go my way, and the first thing I do is blame it on the circumstances. The only reason I could possibly feel that way though, is due to my internal, selfish, fleshly desires. When the truth is, my desires should be focused solely on Christ and what he has called to me do. I have to let go of the desires of my flesh and the excuses I make due to my life's circumstances, and desire only to grow closer to him. And with growing closer to him, my desires for this world will fade. I will have no need to make those lame excuses about why I'm upset, that stuff won't matter to me. I need to fill my life with the desires that come from a close and intimate relationship with God.
I'm sorry this post was a little hard to follow, I was very rushed to study for all my midterms. I wanted to let you guys know that I may not post everyday. Not because I don't have enough to say, but because my time seems to escape me so easily. I'm going to try for three or four times a week. Thanks for reading, guys!
~Ben
I'm sorry this post was a little hard to follow, I was very rushed to study for all my midterms. I wanted to let you guys know that I may not post everyday. Not because I don't have enough to say, but because my time seems to escape me so easily. I'm going to try for three or four times a week. Thanks for reading, guys!
~Ben
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Fallstar
"Blind my eyes, help me see.
Bind my hands, set me free."
Yeah, there was just no way I could go even two days without using lyrics of some sort. These lyrics have helped me put so much into perspective lately. To be quite honest with you guys, things haven't exactly been going the way I would want them to in my life. It seems now for the past few weeks or so, almost nothing goes the way I want. But my responsibility is to trust and be okay with whatever God is doing in my life. Check out that first line: Blind my eyes, help me see. It's so awesome the way that is worded. We, as humans, are so focused on what we want for our lives and not what God wants. We're so concerned about the here and now that we can't see how He is strategically planning our life. We can't see the work he is doing in us because we are too concerned with the way we want things. If we blind our eyes to this world and the things that don't go our way, we will see what God is doing. For me, trusting God is one of the absolute hardest things to achieve. I see how much is going wrong in my life and I want to change it. I don't know if you guys struggle with this, but I do question whether God knows best for my life. In fact, I am the one living it. But then I think about how ridiculous that sounds. He created me! He knows what's best for me!
Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
The next line of the song is pretty self explanatory. Again, I just love the way they word the whole thing. Bind my hands, set me free. That's awesome. Its not speaking plainly of what we hold in our hands(in some cases it could), but it's more of the sin we hold on to. We know it's not good for us, yet we have the hardest time letting it go. Bind my hands(keep me from sinning), set me free. Sometimes we get way too attached to the sin in our lives. It begins to control us and separates us from God. When this happens, the only way to remove that sin is to bind our hands(resist sin with the help of God). We hold on to so much that keeps us from God. He desires us to be close to him. When our hands are bound, we are unable to hold the sin we use to; therefore, setting us free.
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him , that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;
If any of you were wondering, the song is called Red Letters and it's by Fallstar.
Thanks for reading!
~Ben
Bind my hands, set me free."
Yeah, there was just no way I could go even two days without using lyrics of some sort. These lyrics have helped me put so much into perspective lately. To be quite honest with you guys, things haven't exactly been going the way I would want them to in my life. It seems now for the past few weeks or so, almost nothing goes the way I want. But my responsibility is to trust and be okay with whatever God is doing in my life. Check out that first line: Blind my eyes, help me see. It's so awesome the way that is worded. We, as humans, are so focused on what we want for our lives and not what God wants. We're so concerned about the here and now that we can't see how He is strategically planning our life. We can't see the work he is doing in us because we are too concerned with the way we want things. If we blind our eyes to this world and the things that don't go our way, we will see what God is doing. For me, trusting God is one of the absolute hardest things to achieve. I see how much is going wrong in my life and I want to change it. I don't know if you guys struggle with this, but I do question whether God knows best for my life. In fact, I am the one living it. But then I think about how ridiculous that sounds. He created me! He knows what's best for me!
Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
The next line of the song is pretty self explanatory. Again, I just love the way they word the whole thing. Bind my hands, set me free. That's awesome. Its not speaking plainly of what we hold in our hands(in some cases it could), but it's more of the sin we hold on to. We know it's not good for us, yet we have the hardest time letting it go. Bind my hands(keep me from sinning), set me free. Sometimes we get way too attached to the sin in our lives. It begins to control us and separates us from God. When this happens, the only way to remove that sin is to bind our hands(resist sin with the help of God). We hold on to so much that keeps us from God. He desires us to be close to him. When our hands are bound, we are unable to hold the sin we use to; therefore, setting us free.
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him , that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;
If any of you were wondering, the song is called Red Letters and it's by Fallstar.
Thanks for reading!
~Ben
Monday, February 28, 2011
First Blog.
Okay. So I wasn't planning on writing this today because I feel super tired and it got a lot later than I thought it was. I'm not even sure if anyone at all will ever read this. Here is what I kind of want to do. I have a ton of thoughts and I feel at times people aren't really receptive to my ramblings. I wanted to start a blog to have my thoughts written down and if people want to know them, they're welcome to read. :) The main goal of my blog is to talk about what God is doing in and showing me in my life. I hope some of you guys, if any, can relate to some of this stuff.
With this being the first blog and all, I wasn't planning on talking about much. But today while I was on delivery, I heard a pastor on the radio. It's so crazy how God works sometimes. The point to pastor was trying to get across was that God speaks to us everyday. I have heard this a lot growing up and even more recently. I don't think I have ever truly thought about it though. God is finding ways to talk to and speak to us. So many times we're not receptive to what he says or we're just completely unaware. I want this blog to help me, and hopefully others too, be more aware of what God is trying say to us in our day-to-day lives. He is always trying to communicate with the ones he loves. Jesus died and went through separation from God just to forgive us and have a relationship with us. What would a relationship be without communication? He is ALWAYS doing his part. It's time we open our ears and eyes and hear or see what God is trying to do in us.
If anyone read this, thank you! If there is anything you guys want to say about this, please do. Agreements, disagreements, thoughts, ideas, anything at all works. Thanks for reading :)
~Ben
With this being the first blog and all, I wasn't planning on talking about much. But today while I was on delivery, I heard a pastor on the radio. It's so crazy how God works sometimes. The point to pastor was trying to get across was that God speaks to us everyday. I have heard this a lot growing up and even more recently. I don't think I have ever truly thought about it though. God is finding ways to talk to and speak to us. So many times we're not receptive to what he says or we're just completely unaware. I want this blog to help me, and hopefully others too, be more aware of what God is trying say to us in our day-to-day lives. He is always trying to communicate with the ones he loves. Jesus died and went through separation from God just to forgive us and have a relationship with us. What would a relationship be without communication? He is ALWAYS doing his part. It's time we open our ears and eyes and hear or see what God is trying to do in us.
If anyone read this, thank you! If there is anything you guys want to say about this, please do. Agreements, disagreements, thoughts, ideas, anything at all works. Thanks for reading :)
~Ben
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