Living Like a Free Man!

    What exactly does that mean? Free man. Nobody to tie you down? No responsibilities? Hey, I'm a Christian; I serve a lot at my church. I have people and responsibilities in my life, but in 1 Peter 2:16 God says to live like a free man. Love the concept, but the execution is completely blurred.

    Well, I have been trying to really read and understand God's Word and I got presented with 1 Peter. Today I read chapters 1&2 and that was enough to get the wheels in my head rolling. When I came across 1 Peter 2:16, I felt this sense of freedom. Let me type the verse out for you:

  1 Peter 2:16- Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

I read this and I was told I did not have to do what the world told me I should. I was free to make a decision. I am no longer a bond servant to this world! I have been set free by the God who conquered death. See, Peter reminds us in verse 4 that men rejected us but God chose us and we are precious to Him. Verse 9 says that amoung being chosen God made us a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people belonging to Him. How much more love, honor, and care do you need before feeling special? I do not know about you, but after reading that I feel like saying "forget you world, God made me a rags to riches story"! But the world does not see it like that, and we let them convince us that we still are in rags.

    Once I get in this mindset, I am all about trying to figure out what it is I need to do that will make me look better in the eyes of men. What is it they expect me to do? What are they telling me to do? And then all of a sudden I wonder where my freedom went. Am I not suppose to be a free man (woman)? Getting caught up in the world's ways is depressing and frustrating. There is no joy or happiness. While it may seem to appear for a time, the special feelings will go away leaving a numbing pain of regret. 

    Isaiah wrote All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever (Isaiah 40:6-8). How depressing is that? I'm going to die and all the hard work I put in to my life will eventually be forgotten. Sobering is it not? But the last part is what is comforting. God's word stands forever! It will not be forgotten! No matter how hard people have tried to destoy and oppress God, His word, and His people; God will always prevail. All of this oppression shows the strength of the faith God provided His people. This is where our freedom is expressed.

    The world, with all of their efforts, will be forgotten. What can we gain by chasing our own affairs and ideas? When we chase after God's will, we can make a difference that affects eternity. No longer a bond servant for the world but a warrior for the only one who will be remembered throughout time! I do not have to be the most successful in my job if it is what calls me away from my work for God. I do not have to have the nicest things if the money is suppose to being going to people who need food or a house to survive. I do not need to be dating, drinking, or drugged to have a good time. You see I was chosen by the One who created everything. If He specifically chose me I think I'll spend some more time doing what He planned for me rather than conforming to the standards the world thinks will bring success. 

Jeremiah 29:11 people!

Disciple Now...was Awesome!

    For those who may read this down the road and do not know what Disciple Now is let me explain. It is a weekend that students pay (or most likely their parents pay) to spend their weekend at someone's home and really dive in to God's word and understand what He is commanding us. During the weekend, the students have to step out of the comfort zone and do some ministry work in some way.
   
    This year was my last year to be a student, but I have been out of youth group for so long that it felt a little weird to go back for a weekend. God had greater plans in store!

    Maybe you remember me telling you about Goodnight Saturday (btw I'm listening to them as I write...just sayin). I use to be in that band, but God told me to leave so I could pursue my own dreams. Goodnight Saturday would have performed at DNow and I would not have been able to do what God had planned for me.

    So hopefully, I have hyped you up enough to the point that you just want me to spill the beans, but I don't know if I am ready to tell you yet........Okay I am now.
 
    God used me to lead middle school girls during this weekend. I have wanted to make a difference in this world and teaching God's word to middle school and high school is one the top of the "TO CHANGE THE WORLD" List. When God told me to chase my dreams, I didn't think he was going to mean just a couple months later. I was expecting this in about a year, but my awesome youth pastor and his awesome wife were obedient to God and asked me to lead. It was such an honor I was flabbergasted. I couldn't believe it. God took me a little out of my comfort zone, but I trusted Him to make a difference. I have to face it, anything I said was babble, but God is able to take my weakness and show His power through it. Recently I had to take a personality test for a class. One of the least likely jobs I would enjoy or be good at was a "religious" teacher. Just shows you God wanted to show off that weekend. :)

    So far I have talked all about me, but I had two awesome girls for the weekend who stuck in their with me as I babbled. I really hope they will take what God implanted in their hearts that weekend and apply it to their life. I saw them think through some hard concepts Christians ask themselves. I saw them break the doors down on their comfort zones and talk to strangers who were years older than them. I know it is hard to talk to a stranger, but when that stranger is forty or fifty years older than you the nerves can take over. But I saw a bunch of middle school and high school students knock the doors down on not only their comfort zones but also the comfort zones of the recovering homeless veterans. So much so that the kids are planning to go back and the vets are planning to come to our church.

    Tomorrow I have to go to a meeting to explain the weekend to my youth pastor. The good, the bad, and the awesome stuff God got to do. I can't wait to share. Sorry for no pictures. I had my camera and I still didn't get pictures. If I am going to be a blogger, I am going to have to get better at taking pictures I suppose. When some get posted on Facebook, hopefully I will transfer some over to here.