What awaits...

 Here is what awaits me this morning.  First, a run.  The temperature for today is supposed to get up into the mid 30's so I pretty much have to take advantage of the sun and slightly warmer temperatures.  Then a bike ride to the YMCA to work out some more.  Days like this make me dream of summer...

A confession

On a much less serious note, I have a confession to make.

While I've worked at the same coffee shop for almost 4 1/2 years, I often frequent other places to get my coffee fix. Starbucks is my most frequent option (mainly because they are EVERYWHERE) but I also go to other local shops as well.

Actually, I go to coffee shops not because I'm terribly addicted to coffee, but because its where I can get the most work done. The only problem with this is that I spend WAY too much money on coffee during the week.

Then I found out that there are websites dedicated to "ghetto Starbucks recipes". Other sites refer to these as "Starbucks hacks". Its basically where you order a cheap cup of coffee and then add your own other ingredients to it to make it a fancier and cheaper drink than what Starbucks could give you.

One option I tried today was ordering a tall coffee, room for cream, and then adding Hot Cocoa powder and milk. It only tasted OK, so I'm going to be looking for new recipes and ways of "hacking" my Starbucks coffee. Suggestions and recommendations are welcomed!

Unfailing - Acts 13

I'll admit it. My lack of posts this weekend means that I failed to crack open my Bible. My goal of reading the Bible everyday has been broken. I could come up with a lot of excuses. But the facts are I had not interest in reading it.

The past week or two since I started this journey of reading I had been filled with this excitement and joy while reading. I couldn't wait to do my daily reading. But then I got busy, made excuses, and lost this excitement.

While resuming today I focused on Acts 13. Paul is speaking to the people in the synagogue. He outlines the history of Israel, and how they continued to turn away from God. But God kept his promises. He gave us Christ, and carried out his painful plan so that His people could live.

For hundreds and thousands of years God has blessed His people yet we keep turning away. This weekend I barely even thought about what Christ has done for me, and what His plan is for me. I spent all week before that deeply desiring to learn more about God and His plan. And then I left it.

Maybe your thinking, "What's the big deal?" But for me it was a big deal. I feel like just as I begin to really learn more about God's plan for me, and learn about His love and grace, I fall off the wagon. I return to my sin and forget about all those things.

But God is unfailing. He is faithful. He forgives. He's shown us that throughout His Word. So while I'm deeply sorry for turning my back on God, I want to thank Him for never changing. His gift of forgiveness happened once for all on the cross. Thank you for that.

Balancing Act

Balancing is hard. At least for me anyway.

I just finished reading "Introduction to the Intertestamental Period" by Raymond Surburg. Overall the book was pretty dense, but I managed to get a lot out of it actually.

One interesting point was about the Pharisees of Jesus' time. When I read about them I often think of self-righteous leaders who looked for personal praise as they flaunted their Jewishness and ability to uphold every minute detail of the law, even if it was not what God intended.

This description might fit some of the pharisees we read about. But they had good reason to be the way they were. The Israelites (Jews) had faced intense persecution during this "Intertestamental" Period (Period between the Old and New Testaments). So to preserve the traditions, teachings, and faith they valued so deeply, some took it upon themselves to adhere to the teachings of the Torah. They took it seriously. They saw others around them become more like the Greeks and lose their Jewish faith and teachings. They did not want this to happen.

So, while trying to balance between losing all the teachings of the law, and following the law, they went to an extreme. What began with good intentions went way too far.

This has probably a way simplistic version of what I read, but I believe it is accurate.

I struggle with this same sense of balance. When I mess up and gossip at work, embellish my stories to make myself look better or to get ahead, or neglect those who need my help, I feel guilty. Which we know that God forgives and that all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We don't need to be overwhelmed with guilt. But we also need to recognize our sin so that we can repent.

I've been having trouble balancing the two. How can I be appropriately sorry for my sin without that turning into guilt that reflects my unbelief that God forgives? I want to be sorry for my sin so that I can repent and leave it behind, but too often that turns into guilt that weighs me down.

I thank God for His Word though. He keeps reminding me that because of Christ I'm forgiven. I don't need to do anything to earn that. Overwhelming myself with guilt won't "cure" me of my sin.

I wonder if anyone else struggles with this balance at times, and how God reveals to them his conviction of our sins but also his forgiveness. This is something I'm going to be praying about a lot. But in the mean time all I can do is turn to His Word for that comfort of forgiveness that it brings. Thank you Jesus.

PS. It took me about 10 minutes to take this picture. So hard to balance....No this is serious!

New Hillsong United CD

Wow. I love the newest Hillsong United CD

It's called A_Cross// The_Earth and every track has been great. I listened to it probably 6 times through just driving around today. Check it out

Face of an Angel

Just a quick post for now.

So I'm reading through Acts 6 and God's telling us about Stephen. He's at the point where he is brought before the council and is questioned. People were lying about him, bringing forth false accusations. Stephen was humbly serving others and spreading the saving Word of God, and yet people were attacking him, but more importantly trying to attack and bring down Christ.

But chapter 6 ends with this..."And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel"

In the midst of this terrible persecution, with enemies around him, Stephen had the face of an angel. People could see the Christ in him and it angered those who opposed Christ. It can't be a good feeling to try and oppose Christ and those who serve Him, but then have to look in the eyes of this servant of God who had the face of an angel.

I want to pray that I might be a little like Stephen was at this point. To undergo hardships (which I have NOT faced anything like Stephen) yet to have the joy of the Lord in me because of what Christ has done for me. Thank you Jesus for the what you did on the cross.

Ok, that wasn't too short, but seriously check out Acts 6 and 7 for the story of Stephen. It reminds me of how little I suffer, and how much I complain and mistrust God. But God forgives and sustains, brings joy and comfort to me. Just like he did for Stephen.

Do you have BOLDNESS

To be bold. It's not an easy thing. At least not for me anyway. In some situations I can be very bold. Among my friends and people I know well I can be bold. Inside the church it is easy to share my faith and to be bold.

But is that really boldness? I have a hard time being bold in my everyday life. Some of you may know that I work at a coffee shop. I meet new people everyday and have built a lot of good relationships with customers and the other employees. I've thought so many times about all the opportunities I have to share my faith and to be bold. But way more often than not I miss out on these opportunities and don't take advantage of them.

Peter and John in Acts 5 were bold. They had been brought before the authorities before and told not to preach the name of Jesus. But they kept on doing it knowing that they risked their lives and freedoms. So they were brought before the high priest and told once again that they better stop. They had prayed for boldness with the other believers back in Chapter 4, and God did not hold that back from them. How awesome! Chapter 5 ends with the two apostles "rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name" (v. 41).

The thing I struggle with the most is feeling like a hypocrite to God. I read these verses and pray for boldness. I truly want to share Jesus with others. How could I not after reading of God's awesome works in His people? But then when I'm presented with opportunities to share the name of Christ and tell others about the cross, I shy away. This has been a huge struggle and brought feelings of guilt.

But I know that God forgives. That He loves me and wants me to grow. So I want to continue praying for boldness and for opportunities to come my way. Thank you heavenly Father for your Son. Thank you for your Word and those who came before us. Thank you for boldness and I pray that you would continue to teach me about it. Amen.