|
| Western society; it has taken the practicality of God's everlasting love and mercy and has placed it within the confines of a four sided building.
Christians, when have we forgotten the lost art of servanthood? To go out and simply be there for the needy, the poor, the destitute, the unclean.... To provide their practical needs, to understand their lives and to share with them the wonderful news of Jesus Christ.
| | |
| So it hit me...
This morning I woke up and checked my planner. Something big was going to go down today. I picked up the phone, nervous as ever, called a number and voice on the other end of the phone said:
"Good morning, you've reached the Human Resources department of Saginaw Engineering Systems, Nancy Klemm speaking."
And I said...
"Hi, my name is Jandrew Gonzales and I am a 5th year senior electrical engineering student currently attending SVSU. I am interested in the position of control systems engineer."
Then I proceeded to "sell" myself with my knowledge and qualifications.
She told me to send in my resumé and as of now, I have not yet done so.
After we hung up I came to realize that my life as a student; at least for my bachelors degree, is drawing to a close. That things will have to be "kicked up a notch" and every aspect of life has got to be either meticulously planned or prepared for.
With that being said, I have noticed that i've been really busy since I started this semester. You'd think that with Music Appreciation, a history course in Nazi Germany, an electric drives course and a senior design course; things would kinda simmer down and it would be a pretty lax year.
Nope, not happening.
What amazes me the most is seeing God work, at least in my life in 'the now'. I've grown fond of the people that I know well here in Saginaw. I also, for some strange reason, have this desire in my heart (and some aspects of my head) to love other people; total strangers.
Let me define love. It is the love, pure love, that God has shown me. This love came in a form where instead of killing me, or getting angry at me with the things that i've done to wrong Him, He decided to provide an opportunity to forgive me of all of that through the death and resurrection of His son, Jesus Christ. He took my place as an act of mercy. As a result of His love for me, I love other people. :)
Its ever more apparent and clearer to me, of God's love, now that I am heavily involved with several ministries on campus and off.
Its real, I love it. :)
- Jandrew
| | |
| "Pain is temporary, but glory is forever."
Statements like that definitely reek of pride; or in the least a small 'puffed up' ego. It insinuates or implies that the pain we endure now, whatever hardships we face in this life, will be OUR glory as we overcome each one.
I find that type of thinking uneasy....
Ever since I became a Christian 6 years ago, a couple things began to change within me. No, my internal organs didn't undergo some sort of immediate evolutionary process where I grew a couple more ribs on my cage, but more of heart refinement.
And as years went on since December 27, 2001 the statement "Pain is temporary, but glory is forever" started to look more like this:
"Pain is temporary, but glory is forever"
Literally, a big dash went over the phrase. :P
Then immediately, it was replaced by this:
"Pain is temporary, the glory and mercy of the Lord is forever."
In the book of Acts, Luke narrates and tells the story of how the church of Jesus Christ exploded in the middle east. The Holy Spirit was upon the people. Miracles happened all over the place, letting the people know of God's glory.
There are a couple of reasons why I think the church in North America today is not seeing the Holy Spirit move in such a way like it did in the book of Acts. Keep in mind, the God of the universe, in the Bible, was the same yesterday and will be the same tomorrow.
1. Lack of Holiness
The definition of Holiness is this:
To be set apart from the world, to be perfect.
All of us, myself included, are a sinful people. We all deserve the wrath of God? Why? We have all broken His heart. Even Christians, both self-professing and genuine, continue sinning to this day.
If we have been saved, why do we act like we aren't? If we know the truth, then why do we act ignorant of it? If God commands... commands us to be holy, why do we constantly disobey through our sins?
I am only 22 years old. I admit that I am not perfect. But I strive to be. Perfect not in the philosophical sense where we compare our lives to a percentage based on God's law or a moral checklist, but one that is actively seeking to honor God in everything that I do in order so that He may be glorified and others may see Him in the process.
It bothers me to hear that the majority of my Christian brothers and sisters that I know live life as if they were straddling some sort of moral boundary. The grace of God becomes either something trivial or a 'get out of jail' free card that we may keep on doing the things we do to satisfy our various lusts.
God paid the ultimate price so that we may turn away from the pleasures of the world to experience the greatest pleasure of all; and that is knowing Jesus Christ.
Remember, God does not need us. He could destroy us at any second, but, He doesn't because He chooses not to. How can God use us if we are in constant sin? Sin dampens the power of God because it is contrary to His nature. I'm sure you've all experienced an inner conflict where it feels like good is fighting bad and because of constant sin, it seems like bad is always winning. Its probably gotten to the point where you've probably started to embrace 'bad'.
God hates sin. He's made provision for you to leave it and walk away.
In the way we conduct ourselves through our male / female relationships and the way we drink alcoholic beverages.... If you're going to be in a relationship or drink.... Be responsible about each one, and be in a manner which gives God glory. Be holy, for God is holy.
That is all.
- Jandrew
| | |
| That title seems a bit strange don't it?
Why I chose it was because for one split second the chorus, see title, popped in there like it was a crazy army of ants devouring a crumbly chocolate chip cookie. That's fast.
Isn't it funny? You know, the things that our heads think about when we are alone or by ourselves; not wanting to be in a very reflective mood? I think its funny. I also think that sometimes being alone, not necessarily lonely, also provides an opportunity to have a conversation with one's self.
Crazy? I think not. Your heart can speak to you and tell you what its thinking when you're alone. Whatever you have exposed your heart to, what you've let it grown to be... It talks back, lets you know what its seen, what it feels, what it thinks.
This brings....
1. Self-Realization
2. A decision that must be made; whether or not to have a 'change-of-heart' or following the direction of where your heart may lead you.
In my times of solitude, my heart has shown me many things. One of these things is how sinful I can be.
My response:
Turn
My reasoning:
To do what is right; obedience to God.... in addition to staying away from the consequences to follow... (usually, if not all the time, when God says something is bad... He's making sure we don't experience the accompanying pain.)
Action plan:
Change, steer the Heart to be more closer to God. Just like Paul says in his letter to the Philippians that nothing compares to knowing Jesus Christ... As our Lord and Savior, as our one true comforter, God and friend.
- Jandrew
| | |
| A thought occurred to me just a millisecond ago...
Satisfaction does not merely come from doing nothing. I mean, the ability to do nothing is nice... Once in a while but to do nothing for absolutely two weeks? Its not enjoyable.
Spring has arrived and I go back to school in the summer time, more accurately July 1. I am eagerly looking forward to going back because I will be doing something, I will be learning and what's crazy is that I find satisfaction in that.
I feel too rested and too complacent; in a place of idleness that has to be destroyed by activity.
My new home in Saginaw is pretty sweet. Not only am I going to be rooming with two pretty cool people, Hrut and Jon, but also its a place where I can call home. Its very different from living on campus.
On campus everything was a few steps away. If I was hungry, i'd go to the RFOC; felt the need to study, i'd go to the library; late for class, just get out of bed and put on a shirt and pants, doesn't matter if you haven't shaved for two days or taken a shower in three. Being on campus never felt like home to me. I was always near 'school' and never felt like I actually got really good opportunities to 'charge my batteries' or so to speak at the university village.
Being in this new place certainly feels like home; i'm not just having that feeling because the sign at the housing complex says so, no, I am home because its literally 10 to 15 minutes away from campus. I am retreating. I am seeking escape from the campus. Enjoying the feeling of 'being able to leave' is something to treasure and certainly looking forward to as the next year approaches.
New challenges present themselves... Budgeting... The word literally strikes fear in my belly as if something is trying to escape it; and no it wasn't the broccoli I ate the night before.
I haven't budgeted before in my life. Monthly rent, the cable bill, telephone bill, internet bill and groceries are all new to me. I am not prepared. Ack. :)
In all of this I am very optimistic. Why? Cause the God of the universe, in His word, tells me not to worry. And he's given me, all of us, enough reason to trust Him every step of the way.
Matthew 6:25-27
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat
or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more
important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look
at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in
barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more
valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
There's potential to give God more glory in this situation and am excited how its all going to play out. Lord willing, i'll get a new job in the next couple of weeks! Yeeeea.
Peace out. :)
- Jandrew
| | |
|
