Ramblings I say a lot of stuff. Most of it isn't worth listening to.

Today I reflect on the freedom that we have in America. We have freedom of speech, freedom of religion. Freedom to love who we want to love, work where we want to work, go where we want to go. In the 235 history of our country, many people have freely offered their lives to ensure that you and I could experience these freedoms. People all over the world look to America as a symbol of the freedom that they desire. 

But, today I also reflect on the true freedom that some of us experience. John 8:31-32 says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

Jesus says that if we abide in His word, we will know the truth, and knowing the truth will set us free. WOW! How easy! I love the freedoms we have in America, but this freedom that Jesus talks about is greater than all the rest. Freedom in Christ means freedom from sin, freedom from shame, and freedom from DEATH! What a freedom! And it only cost one life, His, which He freely gave for you and I. 

Abide in His word. In it is the truth, and the truth is the pathway to true freedom. 

“If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.” John 8:36

Love you all!

Something I’ve been learning….

I’ve been reading the book “Living the Cross Centered Life” by C.J. Mahaney and one chapter in particular really left me thinking. He talks about how much of our life revolves around our feelings. If we spill our coffee, or get a flat tire, or are exhausted from work, we consider it to be a “bad day” because we aren’t happy. We decide whether or not we like something by the way it makes us feel. We decide which Pandora station we are going to listen to based on how we feel at the moment. Everything, is centered around feelings. 

Even our spiritual life. When we open our Bibles, we pass over many incredible scriptures because they don’t evoke a certain emotion in us. Some of us live on a spiritual roller coaster. We expect to have a religious experience on Sunday that will leave us feeling great. Then we go to a small group or a prayer meeting hoping to get filled up with more great feelings that will hopefully last until the next time we have a meeting or service. We read scripture hoping that God will reveal some new great truth or revelation.

What we forget is that our God is constant. He hasn’t changed just because our feelings change. Instead of asking Him to reveal new aspects of His love for us, we need to be thankful and meditate on the love He has already lavished on us. Instead of chasing down new and innovative theories about our Lord, let’s be thankful for the revelation that He has already given us.

Our feelings will go up and down based on all sorts of external factors. Our love and obedience should be based on the knowledge and understanding that Christ died for us on a cross. 

So, I just got home, and like I do almost every night, I turned on ESPN to catch up on the days sporting events. There was a short documentary about a boxer named Francisco who was seriously injured during a boxing match. After two days in the hospital, they pronounced him brain dead. His family was approached by an organ donor organization who asked for the rights to harvest his organs to give to people who needed them. His family said yes and he was taken off of life support. His organs went to 5 different people who were all within a few weeks of passing away. If they would not have received his organs, they would have died.

Francisco had to die in order for those 5 people to live. His family sacrificed his life to give others the chance at life. It’s so crazy that this story is airing on a day when we are reflecting back on Jesus and what He did on the cross. He had to sacrifice His body in order for you and I to have life. Without His sacrifice, we would have had to pay the penalty of our sin all by ourselves. The Bible clearly states that the wages of sin is death. We never would have been able to pay for our sin. The only option we would have had is death. But, Jesus stepped in and sacrificed himself so that we would have the amazing opportunity of life. Everlasting life. Life with our Father. Life with our Creator. 

“This is love; Not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

Yupp that’s what I had. I have some of the best friends anyone could ask for. Got to see them and laugh with them, which I definitely needed. I also got to see two amazing bands that most people will never get another chance to see.. Thank you Lord.

This week has been amazing… And it’s only Wednesday.. Tuesday night was Between the Trees last show ever.. I’m so blessed that I was able to go. I was even more blessed that I got to spend it with Cathy Tate, Lindi Rigg, and Mike Miranda. Every Time I hear a BTT song, I remember all of the wonderful times I had in Miami. I remember parties at the Coyles house.. I remember seeing them for the first time and going crazy with my roommate Mike. I remember my first girlfriend and how we went to their show together and would listen to their music in the car anytime we’d drive somewhere. I remember Mikey playing their songs in the intern house living room and me doing my best to sing along. It’s like their album “Spain” was the soundtrack to my year in the intern house. They really are like my musical role models. I fell more in love with music listening to their songs, which eventually led me to want to sing and play my best for the Lord every time I worship. Seeing them Tuesday night will really be a night I’ll never forget.

And as if that weren’t great enough, Saturday 3 more of my best friends will be arriving at my house in Jacksonville!! I’m so excited to see all of them. And we are going to see a whole different kind of show… An old-school hardcore show lol.

Oh, and Friday I get my first paycheck.. holler.

I don’t think I could have asked for a more perfect week.

I’ve really been missing my friends the past day or so. I’m not close with people here like I was in Miami. I mean, I think eventually I will be.. but right now, definitely not. I think now that I’m working, I won’t have as much time to just sit around the house and be lonely. I’m really really hoping I have next Tuesday off so I can go see BTT with Mike Miranda. That would be an excellent day for me. Oh well, I can pray right??

So yesterday I posted about how bored I was sitting at home all day and how I desperately needed a job.. Well today I was called in to an interview at Moes Southwest Grill, and they hired me on the spot! I start tomorrow! I’m just in awe of how God works sometimes.

I realize now that I used to complain so much about working. That is, until I didn’t have a job. Now I sit around all day watching hunting shows on TV, playing with the dog, and getting on the computer. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice for a day or two. But it’s all I’ve done for the past 20 days. I’m starting to get sick of it. I need a job. I have an interview today at Moes Southwest Grill. It’s definitely not what I want to do for the rest of my life but hey, its money.. Hoping it goes well…