The Danger of Overvaluing Independence

Our culture puts too much value on independence. Reality is, to be truly independent is to be alone.

Some call this strength, but often it is laziness.

As humans, we’re designed to need each other. To believe that you can go at this world alone is like setting your soul down on a couch and never allowing it to exercise.

See, if you spend enough time alone, it soon becomes very hard to be around other people. You begin to think that the world belongs to you- that all space is your space and all time is your time.

You become so used to being able to daydream and keep yourself company, that other people are merely an intrusion. And this is terribly unhealthy.

God doesn’t want us floating through life alone, or sitting in front of our computers. He doesn’t want our lives to play out like an Independence film. He wants us interacting- laughing together, praying together, challenging each other…

If loving other people is a bit of heaven, then surely isolation is a bit of hell. While we’re on Earth, we get to decide in which state we would like to live.

Self Love Vs. God’s Love

The problem is not lack of love for ourselves. The problem is lack of belief in God’s love for us.

God Doesn’t Have to Make Sense

I think a lot of people aren’t Christians because they’re looking for something rational. And they believe that all things that are true are rational. But that’s not the case. Love, for example, is true but not rational. It can’t be scientifically proven, yet all of us have felt it. Same with beauty, and light… Plenty of things are true that don’t make sense. God doesn’t have to make sense to be true. God makes no more sense to me, then I would to an ant…And yet He is the only Truth I know for certain.

Christians Need Not Be Concerned with Success or Failure

Success and failure are Master words, meaning they are to be decided and defined by the Master. As Christians, we are not our own masters and thus need not be concerned with words such as “Success” or “Failure” in the worldly sense. But Faithfulness, now that is our concern as stewards.

Think of it this way, God doesn’t need you or your talents. He can do more with one act of faithfulness than you can do in 10,000 lifetimes.

Success in life, then, is simply idenitifying what God has called you to and being completely faithful in it.

Paul’s Last Words

epitaph

What do you want your epitaph to say? Have you ever thought about it? If not, I’d suggest that you do. The way we learn how to live our best life is by thinking from the perspective of death. What do you want said about the summation of your life? Once you decide this, it will define how you live today.

Here is what Paul wanted us to remember about his life, according to Acts Chapter 20. I think it’s a prime example of the way we ought to live in order that one day, we too, might look into the eyes of the Creator of the Universe and hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant…” (Matthew 25:21)

1. I have been faithful to do what Jesus told me to do. (v. 24)

2. I told the truth. (v. 20, 27)

3. I directed people’s attention towards Jesus and not towards me. (v. 19)

4. I finished Strong. (v. 24)

5. I gave more than I took. (v. 33, 35)

If you die tomorrow, what will your epitaph say? Think about it.

 

 

God Forbid

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed.

But if it does…

May it leave you patient and stronger, willing and wiser, tender and tougher.

Stars and Us

If you look at the millions of stars stretched out above you, you realize how small you are.

It’s a good thing to be reminded of. In the grand scheme of things, you’re tiny. A mere blip.

But you’re also irreplaceable, invaluable, and miraculous. Truth is, those stars ain’t got nothing on you! 😉

The Big Bang Theory

If you’re going to convince me that a printing press explodes and creates Shakespeare…

big bang

You need to at least be able to tell me how it exploded.

The Bible

The Bible is like a caged lion.

lion

If someone is attacking the lion, don’t try to defend it…

Just unlock the cage.

If God were small enough to be understood, He would not be big enough to be worshipped.