Running the race

Its been awhile and for anyone that is interested in this blog and like seeing new things I do apologize that it has been over a month since I have posted a new one.

So yesterday, when having a discussion with my wife, I truly felt and thought about the phrase, "Patience is a virtue"

It is a new concept to me, but the first thing that came to me was to look at my Bible app on my phone and use the easy Keyword search.

The first thing that popped up on the my phone was this verse;

ECCLESIASTES 7:8

Finishing is beter 

     than starting

  Patience is better

     than pride.

And just to show that our God is a Awesome God, This concept was also used by a leader in my Church tonight. It was along the same lines as part of the verse.

Philippians 3:12-16

12 I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: FORGETTING THE PAST AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT LIES AHEAD, 14 I PRESS ON TO REACH THE END OF THE RACE and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus is calling us. 15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these rings. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

Patience is something that is not taught, but achieved gradually in this race in life. You need to know that God has already written out your plan in this life and it will be shown to you, but you also need to keep on pushing forward and not look back, but focus on finishing the race. God has called us to finish the race, we do not need to WIN but just FINISH! If we have done that then we have done Gods will.

And God called us to GO forth into the world and teach His word and to evangelize. In the message spoken tonight, one of the main points spoken on is that we need to get out there. The people that need to be helped are out there. We become comfortable in the Church, in the four walls, but we need to go out to find the people that are not in the Church, the needy, lost and in helpless are out there and we are called to find them. 

I know for me I get very uncomfortable because I do not feel that I have all the knowledge at the tip of my tounge at all times so when questioned, I feel I might fail, but it is something that we need to learn from experience as well as rely on God and pray before going out to do His will that He will give us the knowlegde needed when it comes time. Have that faith and paitience that He will appear to you. It was said that where ever two or more people meet in His name, He is there.

I know I get a little ADD while writing stuff out for you guys, but I hope this might answer questions for anyone that might need it right now. Knowledge is power.

Agape Love

First off the definition:

Agape: selfless love of one person for another without sexual implications (especially love that is spiritual in nature).

To be able to have this kind of love for some one is truly amazing, and this is the reason people spend a whole life time together with one person, because of a true love that no matter what happens, not matter how hard times might get, you always know that the other one will always be there for you, will always care for you and will always protect you. 

This is not only what is found in a couples relationship when they have found their partner. I don't know about you guys, but my parents have truly always been there for me, and it was not until a few months ago that I realized what that meant. I have always had them there, and always have been thankful for them, but in last few months, I have been hundreds of miles apart from them, and always have needed someone to talk to, let it be about money, or how to handle different situations, or just to talk, they have never failed to be there for me and to take time out of their day to help me out. My heart has hurt over not being able to see them, and after three years of not living at home, I am starting to see how much they mean to me, and experiences I have been through have taught me what could happen, and especially with family and your loved ones, you can never take them for granted and never hold a grudge. You need to love unconditionally. 

Now from another definition of the word. 

Agape is selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love, the highest of the four types of love in the Bible.

This Greek word and variations of it are found throughout the New Testament. Agape perfectly describes the kind of love Jesus Christ has for his Father and for his followers:

John 14:21 "Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."

Just as an example of Agape love is what Christ and God in the matter. Christ loved everyone no matter what, look at Thomas who doubted Him, as well as Judas who betrayed Him. And God also loved us unconditionally when he sacrificed His own son on the cross for us. He took all sin from before and all sin in the future and put it on Christ's shoulders so that He make take that burden for us

I had a friend recently show me a story, one that a few of you might know already, but I had not seen it prior to him showing it to me. This is what has put me on the topic of Agape love. 

Chris Medina who was on American Idol, is a true example of a man, or person in general, who has Agape love. According to Access Hollywood's story on him, He was to be married to his fiancée, Juliana Ramos, but right before the wedding she suffered a brain injury from a tragic car accident. His music video "What Are Words" has a very touching meaning, telling his story about his love for his wife.  Honestly, this song brought me to tears.

He says,

"What are words if you really don't mean them when you say them? What are words if they're only for the good times, then they don't? When its love Yeah, you say them out loud those words they never go away They live on, even when we're gone...Every single promise I keep 'Cause what kind of guy would I be if I was to leave when you need me most? I am forever keeping my angel close."

He has stuck by Juliana's side ever since the accident and her injury occurred. He did not leave her when she was in the worst moments of her life or moments anyone could go through. He has been given the opportunity to really show his true colors and he is shinning. 

I could not imagine seeing Brittney be stripped from her self and from the life she once had. I know that  I have not been put into the situation that Chris Medina has, but I would expect my self to be right there by her bed side, loving her and making sure that I was caring for her in every aspect, to the best of my abilities.

 I really got to thinking about situations we are in, and how they will pass, and in this time, I need to be there for my wife and not be discouraged by anything happening around us, because I know that no matter what, for the rest of our time, we will always be right by each others sides, supporting each other however we can. And loving each other for who we are. Don't draw back in the hard times. I will draw into God and into Brittney when the going gets tough. Don't become distant because that will only make the times harder on both of you. You need to have that Agape love.

The story of Chris Medina, lets you really step back and have a larger perspective on life. Even though you might have issues in your life, first off, they are only temporary. You could have worst things happening. You also need to not hold grudges towards anyone. God told us to love each other, let it be a loved one or a stranger. We, as disciples, need to be known for our love. 

Here is the music video so you can hear his song and I will also link the Hollywood access story. 

"What are words" Chris Medina

The Emotional Back Story Behind ‘American Idol’s’ Chris Medina

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

TJ

Friend and a Master

This is just a little thought on was was preached last night, about who God is to us.

It is said that we are a friend of God. He wants to hang out with us, meaning that we need to spend time with Him. One example of how big it is that God wants to be a friend of us, think about it, if the President of the United States hits you up on your cell and says "Hey man, your my friend, lets just chill today, no agenda" wouldn't that be mind blowing?! Your friends wouldn't believe it, you might not even believe it.

Now look at this. God said we are a friend of Him. He wants to hang out and spend time with us. Now, this is mind blowing because we know the President is a BIG deal, but God?! He CREATED YOU! He created billions of other people. He created the world we live in! He created everything in this galaxy that is every expanding just to fit Him! Now think about it, you get crazy excited if the president wants to hang out because you can relate to who he is and what he does and how much he has to do and would want to take time out of his day to hang out. BUT GOD IS LARGER! God wants to have a personal friendship with you!

God is also our master and we must obey Him and serve Him. One way to do that is to be a disciple of His and to do this, we must have knowledge of His word to be able to spread it to others.

I believe I have mentioned before that our church is reading through the new testament, so two chapters a day, five days a week. I really does not seem like much, but honestly I some times have a hard time keeping up on the reading and once you get far behind, it is tough to catch up. Doing this readings though has taught me so much though. Really getting into small portions at a time. I have attended a Christian Jr./Sr. High school and a year at a Christian University and I feel like more, now then ever, I am really getting into the word and learning who He is and what I need to be doing.

In doing the reading, I am not only spending time with my Father, but also obeying Him and reading His word, that I might be able to become a disciple for Him. 

Peace and Hope

Things I search for day in and day out are hope and peace. Its incredible how much life can truly trample on you and bring you down. Even if things are hard, it is faith that will bring you Peace and Hope for the future for is says in Romans 5: 1-5

 "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

Sometimes it is difficult for me to truly show faith, but I have been put at a point in my life where I have nothing with out faith. I know that through my trials I will learn and grow to become a true man of God. Through my suffering I will gain perseverance, which I will need to get through everything that life and my actions have brought on to me at this point, as well as through out the rest of my life because even what is happening today ends, tomorrow will bring even more, but God is good and will provide for us. As I have said before, He is OUR PROVIDER. He, and only He, is our Lord and Savior. With that perseverance, I will gain Character which in turn will bring Hope. It is all apart of growing up in general, as well as growing within God. 

This was just a short little thought on some reading I was doing today. Maybe it will reach someone that needs some words of encouragement that no matter what is happening, put that faith right back into God and He will help you persevere and come out more knowledgeable and able to grow from your mistakes, or just experiences, and help others and be able to show God in every aspect of your life. Let him be reflected in your everyday actions that people might see God through you. 

What is impossible with God? Nothing!

The past few months have been a huge struggle. I mean I really could be a lot worse off and I do not mean to complain about the daily struggles that everyone might have, but it really seems to have taken a toll, not only on me, but Britt as well. There are times that it seems like, "Man..how are we going to get out of this?"

Though we have been going through these struggles, there has always been some sort of blessing bestowed upon us that has gotten us through it.

God is good all the time. You just have to put your faith in Him. It says that if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains. It is incredible, the power of God. When you trust in HIM, NOTHING will be impossible, and that is not an exaggeration. He created all of us, He is our creator and can do as He pleases, but he needs us to have that faith that He can provide for us and give us what we need. One thing that I need to work on is something that my pastor said yesterday during the service. 

"Everyone prays 'Give us what we need" and we are not being greedy by doing that at all, but we need to pray for what we need and MORE so that we can do Gods will, and give to others."

Even in the little things, God will provide. Such as with out even asking, my new family at Generations Life Center in Mira Mesa, Ca are there for us. We are going to be moving in about a week, and I already have brothers that are telling us to just let them know when they are needed and they will be there to help us move. It is an amazing feeling knowing that we have such a huge support system that exceeds past our blood family, and into our daily lives in everyone around us. \

"Fellows of the same ship, moving through any of the seas that life brings, aka fellowshiping." 

I wont lie, I strayed away from the church for almost 3 years. I was attending a christian university, Bethany University in Santa Cruz, Ca in 2010 and my last chapel at that school in May was the very last time I set foot inside a church until I attended GLC in November of 2012. Brittney and I went and attended the service there one Sunday morning, and one of the first worship songs, I broke down. God laid the smack down on me and made me realize that I needed to come back.

Ever since, I fall back on Him for everything and praise Him for everything that goes right! I could not have made it through this move to San Diego from Phoenix Az with out Him. He is building me up to become a true warrior for him who will lead others to Him. I thank God everyday for what I do have and continue to pray that he builds me up and gives me the wisdom to point Britt and me into the right direction to do His will.

Moral of the story that I started off on is to never give up. God has always got our backs and will always be our provider. He is the Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the end. He was, is and always will be. From a worship song this weekend, I took these to heart this week,

 "Through you I can do anything, I can do all things. Its you who gives me strength. Nothing is impossible."

What to do!!

The last few years, I have been trying to get back to school, and it is too true what people have said to me; "Stay in school, if you don't its hard to go back." I have seen how hard it is when you have a full time job to go back to school and work.

My wife is very supportive in going back to school and I am going to be signing up for classes for the fall semester of 2013. All I can say is how excited I am to get back, but at the same time how scary it is to think that I could fail. I know I can do it, but it always that thought in the back of your mind. 

My wife, is in the United States Marine Corps so when she gets out she has the ability to got to school using the GI Bill which will be amazing for us since we will not have to pay for it, but for me and with the job that I have right now, I do not have to the Tuition Assistance that my previous job offered me. I should have taken advantage of it while I had the chance and let me tell you, if I get another job that offers it, I AM GOING TO TAKE IT! haha I will take advantage of every cent I can get. 

My wife is also thinking about maybe starting a hotel type business when she gets out. At the moment her job in the USMC is working with the barracks and a hotel on base. Managing many buildings, and with this experience, and if we get the right degrees in business, there is no way we could fail! I am fully in support of this new idea of hers and it gives me great peace to know we might be on a path to having a set plan for what we want to do with our lives.

I can not wait to see where God takes me and her and what he has in store for us!

Introduction to Lexi :)

Here is my 2013 Yamaha R6 that I am very grateful to have. I couldn't have had it with out the help of Britt, she is the best and helped me get it for my birthday back in February. 

This is one of the most recent pictures of Lexy :)