Justified- a Gospel Sermon

I've always held the notion that if you were doing something right it didn't have to be justified. That being said, if you have to justify something to yourself, it probably isn't the right thing to do. For instance, doing something because some one else is doing it, is never ever a good reason. Why should their choices even enter the equation with your choices. Even if this person is a leader in your community and most of the time does the right thing. If what they are doing seems wrong, don't use it as an excuse. And after the fact, Don't compare yourself to others! Admit to doing something wrong! If someone calls you out on something, don't go poking around for their mistakes to justify your own. OWN up to it! Make a habit of being justified by the truth. By what God knows to be true. I've seen so many people leave God because they saw a leader in the church fall to temptation. Screw the Temptation! God is about a personal relationship! How did the pastor get involved? If he does something wrong that's his business, the decay of the christian world should not be your excuse! It should not be how you justify it to yourself. You may tell others "I cannot be apart of something so corrupt" but really you're saying"This organization is falling, so I'll fall with it". Make a stand! build up your church! rise to the occasion. If you don't like the people in your church, problem is you're one of them. Show what Holy men and women do! That we stay strong in the face of adversity, that we press on through the storms of life! The Gospel says Matthew 7:3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" You've got to focus on yourself before you even try and focus on me or your Father or your sisters. And after you've made yourself perfect then you can come and tell me what I've been doing wrong. But I'm pretty sure that won't be for awhile. Lead by example. Make sure you're the person that greets the downtrodden, and the skeptics with a smile. Be an example of what Christians should be. If you own up to your mistakes, if you don't try and weasel your way out of it. Others will be blessed because of you. Your humble position will change how others see the church. Just this one thing, this humility will end all ongoing fights at home. I wonder if you've ever had a conversation where someone was telling you off and you just stopped looked them in the eye and said, "You know what you're right, I'll try and remember not to do that next time. Thank you for calling me out on it." I bet you anything they'll look like a deer in headlights. they just stand there, "but..bu..I had umm a few more things to......I had a whole speech prepar....and you just said 'I'm sorry'?!....Darn you, I can't be mad at you anymore." It's funny how people get a kick out of telling you you're wrong. It makes them feel better inside. Another tip, don't yell at anyone for doing anything wrong. Ask them why then show them a better way. Funny thing about doing wrong is half the time you don't even know that you are doing it. I know people get offended when they get critiqued but you shouldn't, there's a difference between being judged and being instructed. Judgment comes from a downward comparison. They are looking down on you. But instruction comes from a friend, they want better for you. Proverbs 13:10"Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice."

There is no Trick

I have conducted an experiment on the premises that there is a trick to getting people to comment on your statuses. I believe that yes people will comment if the status is interesting enough but the majority of people who comment on statuses comment because they like you. They want to share in your experiences and want a response from you yourself. Luke tells me that it all has to do with humor and that that is the only variable. Task: write "like" as a status. Apparently when Jazmin wrote this, she received twenty two comments/likes. This was because, in his opinion, it was funny and people enjoyed that. So I have posted Like to my status.....so far no one has liked or posted anything. It's still the morning but I have a good idea that by the end of the day. No one will have commented. Or at least not as many as twenty two. This is because Jazmin is more like able than me. (no pity please) Because people are invested in what she has to say they will be more prepared to answer her back or like the things she likes. (12 hours later)....no one has commented or liked this status. Point made! but still it does make me feel a little down about myself. This is another reason not to have facebook. Cause I'm inclined to do this to myself. Wishing that no one comments so I can make my point and then getting all sad when no one does because it means no one really cares. Experiment proved positive... so that's what I'll be (=

Who I am pt. 2

Apparently not thinking about who I am is not good enough. A friend of of mine quoted plato the other day "Know thy self and be wise".....it was actually Socrates. Although I know he was just using this to help his argument it only made him look like a moron. Socrates although proclaimed as a great philosopher, is not God. He's not always right, and just because the majority loves this quote doesn't make it true. I don't think that by knowing yourself you'll get much of anywhere. Knowing what god asks of you is crucially important. I finished this conversation by laying low "maybe the reason why I don't feel the need to know myself is because I know myself too well". Complying basically, but what I said was somehow true also. I'm not lost. I don't think I'll ever be lost. i got through that stage in high school. Cooked up in my car out in the boonies pleading with God to tell me who I am. God must of looked at me with such sorrow. His own creation lost. His daughter curled up not understanding that she was made for a purpose. That he personality and way of life was on purpose. That she was made to be so diverse so that she could endure the world. Even after that I knew that I wasn't a fake. I have never looked back on my life and seen someone living a lie. I've seen me making mistakes by discovery and by misjudgment, but I have never seen someone striving to serve the world. In that car I had to accept who I was. I think that's the most important thing. Know yourself is kind of pointless. The decision making process is who you are. Your pros and cons why they are important to you and why one is a pro and the other is a con. That is your values, your morals, your personality all wrapped into one. But accepting that is a whole new set of problems. That means you have to look back and accept your weakness and your problems along with your strengths and ideas. By accepting that you can move forward and get yourself to the best possible version. I "know" who I am and I'm secure in all those aspects. With God's help I can become the best possible version of myself, which means working on my weaknesses and using them as strengths. Which I don't know about you but selfishness and pride and going to be an interesting turn around. After all that talk with my friend I went to pancakes with Amanda and Austin. I kind of ranted about that afternoon and Austin exclaimed, "Yeah! I can't believe some people, why do i have to explain to you who I am why can't I just BE who I am?" I know now I have supportive friends, at least one anyway. others have a different opinion and feel they need to 'know' themselves which is fine, you can believe that. There's no shame in saying you don't know yourselves. Know thy self and be wise. But for me I refuse to believe that you are incapable of making wise decisions if you don't know yourself. All wisdom comes from God. Honestly all you need to know is God.

I Love the way you Hold Me

If you didn't know I just deleted my Facebook. This has been a long processes of deciding what's important to me and hearing everyone talk about how facebook is turning people into non social creatures and becoming it's only world. I decided to get rid of mine because I noticed how addicted I was I mean seriously! When I turned on my computer up went the facebook. It didn't matter that there weren't any notifications. As long as I could stare at my profile and wait for someone to comment on my newly developed photos or status. Geez! That's so narcissistic! So I really needed to end it. Cold Turkey and all. I wouldn't be able to ween off if i tried. I think I only got one applaud on this matter. Thank You Austin (=! And it wasn't if he didn't questioned my decision at first but at least he accepted my choice and applauded me for it. Not only that but I've just realized how deceitful and impure I've become. At least you begin to feel that way when you spend most of your evening's glue to Dexter. Watching a Serial Killer kill, cuss, and have sex isn't exactly glorifying. So I stopped watching that also.God's grace is amazing! really he has shown me so much mercy and unconditional love. Last weekend was wonderful! I went to the beach and I hung out with amazing friends! They really are great (=. But I wasn't exactly excited about the sermon they had planned. I learn so much from them and I get such a thrill sharing ideas and opinions. They are really wonderful people. Romans 1 :11-12 "For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours." These people really embody this verse. Anyway this weekend's sermon was about who I thought I was. In my opinion, I really don't give a rip if I know who I am. Is that really important? I mean I don't change who I am when I'm around other people. I react differently around different people. They know who I am to them and God knows who I am period. The thought that I should know who I am never really appealed to me. I was never one for the long journey of self discovery. I didn't really understand it. I mean I get the feeling of not feeling anything and trying to open up your senses, but I wouldn't abandon everything to go in search of inspiration. God holds all the inspiration I need. I experience things in him. The only thing that resonated with me about that sermon was who I was in God. The last question about if I were to describe the relationship God and I had over the years resulted in inspiration. Cause my life has been enduring with God. Not in a Bad way I mean. I mean through high school I stayed true with God. I resisted temptation, I said no and I stood up for Christ. I endured High school with no bodily harm or regrets. well the only regret is loosing Will as a friend but I guess that group was drowning me in general. I couldn't be free in that group. No one accepted my decisions and they thought that I was a bible thumper who was naive and stupid. None of my opinions mattered to them. I remember our reunion and i remember being shut out, stuck in the corner. I knew then that I never was loved by them. But God loves me and I want him to know that the girl that endured with him is still there and I am going after him because he makes me feel like I'm free and special.

Episode 4 "no commentary/monkey with camera"

Due to the content of the Lord's table, there will be no commentary on Today's events, but enjoy a video of what happend at my bible study.

Episode 3 " Fat on Jesus/ Irish wristwatch"

This is episode 3. We are talking about focusing our wants and needs on God instead of looking to food.

Episode 2 "Fullness in God/Monster in the Back"

Today on The Expressive Upper Brow, I talk about my day.... once again. I'm going to India! I'm getting hwk done...well almost. And an psa on dehydration. Join me on this less than exciting escutcheon of the normal lives. (=