My Calling.

I've come to a point in my life where i need to make some huge decisions. I am only weeks away from graduating from high school. My future is ahead of me and I honestly have no clue what is in store for me. Selfishly, I wanted to go to college and get some form of Computer Science degree because of my passion for computers. Now? I know that's not what God wants me to do for a living. I honestly don't think that i could handle the wealth. 1 Timothy 6:10.

In the past few weeks I've been going through 1 Timothy and it has brought a ton of things to my attention. What if God is calling me to full time ministry? In first 1 Timothy 3:1, Paul says "If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task." Notice how Paul uses 2 different terms for those who are called to be overseers. "Aspire" means "to reach out after". He is describing and external action. "Desire" means "a strong passion". These two words combined apply to the man that is called to the ministry. I have to make sure that if God is calling me to full time ministry, that my heart is truly set on God and not for selfish ambition. A few verses later, in verse 6, Paul says "He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into condemnation of the Devil." I know that I am not a recent convert, but i still have a lot of maturing to do in faith. Peter says in 1 Peter 5:6 "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble". James 4:10 says the same thing. It's so easy to be prideful in certain areas of your life, especially when you truly start to grow as a Christian. Peter goes on to say in vs. 8 that the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Satan would love nothing more than for someone to take an overseer position and to tear apart a church that is on fire for God because of the their pride and conceit.

With all of that being said, I am trusting that God will guide and direct my path for what the future has in store for me. Psalm 25:4-5. Even if I am not called to full time ministry, I won't be disappointed because I that its God's will. And if I am? I want nothing more than to build up the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12. 

For those who have read this, if you could pray for me in this area of my life I would really appreciate it. And if anyone needs prayer from me or wants to talk about anything spiritual, just let me know.

Relationships.

Relationships. Its seems that society tends to make us feel like we have to constantly and consistently be in some form of relationship. A sad result of this is that some people enter a relationship just to be in a relationship. They don't care who it is, as long as they're somewhat attractive. More often than not, these relationships are self seeking and ultimately don't last. I'm sure that all of you know that. On the flip side, we should be dating others that could potentially be our future spouse. Otherwise, if you are dating just to date, you are wasting your money (for us guys) and your precious time.

So, how does one acquire a successful relationship? I'm no expert by any means, but I just wanted to share what I believe and most importantly what the Bible says. First off, before you even begin thinking about a relationship with someone else, make sure your relationship with Christ is strong. If you are truly pursing Christ and you're living for him, he will cross your path with someone else's who wants to be in a God centered relationship. Do yourself a favor and be content with where God has you in your life and don't go around searching for someone. That's a no no. I'm not saying to not keep an eye out for anyone at all. Don't just sit around and do nothing and expect God to make your future spouse spontaneously combust out of nowhere. To sum this point up, make sure you are straining towards the goal to receive your prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:14) 

SECOND. It's one thing to profess yourself as a Christian and its a completely different thing to live it. If the person you are interested in doesn't live a Godly lifestyle and the profess Christianity, RED FLAG. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul says that we are a new creation because of our faith in Christ. If this certain someone's life doesn't reflect Christ, don't consider dating them. It's as easy as that. In the next chapter of of 2 Corinthians, Paul tells us to not be unequally yoked. This goes for the unbeliever and the professing Christian that doesn't produce spiritual fruits.

THIRD. Keep an eye out for someone that is in your own youth group or college group. This is huge. If you date someone from a different denomination, you're going to have doctrinal differences. These doctrinal differences will end up in arguments that shouldn't be necessary in the first place. BUT! If they're are open to discussing your differences in a nice manner with and open mind, then it might work out. But then you'd have disagreements with their family too. Guess you'll just have to convert all of them to baptist. ANYWHO. Its a cluster. Stick to your denomination.

LAST. This is for all of you that are in a relationship. (speaking to myself as well) If you truly want to care for and respect for your "significant" other, you'll be patient and kind, you wont be arrogant or rude, and you wont insist on your own way (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) Most importantly, God will be at the very core of your relationship. You should be talking about each others spiritual walk and you should be growing spiritually together. Make sure you are showing interests of the other just like you would yourself and that you have the same mind in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:4-5) Something that i have really been praying for in my life is that i would show encouragement towards Whitney in our relationship. (1 Thessalonians 5:11). So often i can find myself joking around and tearing her down when I should be building her up. And I'm not just directing that at just her. That goes for everyone in my life. God has truly helped me in this area as I have grown in my faith.

If you are genuine about your faith and so is that person that you will meet in the future or the one you might have already met, then this is a huge recipe for success.            

Joy.

Joy. Who in the world would not want to experience joy and happiness in their life? Many of us can find joy in numerous items, situations, or people that are in our lives. Now, let me ask you a question. Are you depending on those things to fulfill your life and to ultimately find happiness and peace? Let me tell you where I find my unspeakable joy.

Jesus Christ. The one who shed His blood for me. All I am is a wretched sinner who spits in God's face every single day, but somehow God was gracious enough to send His son in my place so that I may have everlasting life. Try and tell me that is something to not be absolutely joyful about? It's something that i think about and try to comprehend, but it is unfathomable . In Philippians 4:4-5, Paul says "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be know to everyone. The Lord is at hand." Paul had a reason to emphasize the word "Rejoice". You have an unchanging relationship with God and He is always with you. That doesn't mean every now and then, or maybe tomorrow. He is always with you because He is omnipresent. It says in Deuteronomy 31:6 that he will never leave you or forsake you. Tell me that's not something to be ecstatic about?!?!

When I go throughout my day and I face my daily struggles, I always keep in those verses from Philippians. My problems are so teeny tiny compared to what Christ has faced on the cross. I know that if I completely and fully trust in Him, He will guide me and I will carry out his will.

And just one final thought before I go. C.S Lewis said "Dont let your happiness depend on something that you can lose." That can be a number of idols that you put before Christ and in the end, those things won't matter anyway. My encouragement to all of you is to prioritize God in your daily life because that's where you will find unspeakable joy.

Why, Hello.

HEY GUISE. My name is Reece and as of today, I want to start this blog to talk about my walk with Christ and how He has changed my life. One reason I wanted to do this is because I want to share my heart and beliefs to everyone willing to read this. As Christians, we are known for being quiet and ashamed about our faith and I want to change that. I'm not saying that this is an excuse so I don't have to share my faith to others in person, but an easier way to get my thoughts, convictions, devotions, etc. out to others. Because we all know how awkward street evangelizing can be.


Anywho, I want to start out with my testimony. Lets see how brief i can keep this. The only church I have ever know in my life is Broadway Baptist. I was born and raised there all my life. It was until i was around eight years of age, I thought I got saved. For me, it wasn't the case. I know a ton of people that have gotten saved at a young age. I'm not saying that cant happen. I just didn't understand what salvation truly mean't. So life went on. As i grew up I started to become the problem child. My brother was an angel compared to me. Around that middle school age, things started to get a little rough. I started hanging around the wrong friends and was a definite trouble maker at school. My parents grounded me numerous times and told me to stop hanging around those friends. Of course I didn't listen because of my selfishness. Listen here kids, your parents have a lot of wisdom to communicate you if you're willing to listen and if you do not believe me? You'll figure it out down the road. ANYWAY. Enough life lessons. Back to my testimony. 


8th grade hit and my life was starting to get somewhat back on track, and not in a spiritual sense. God was working in our youth group and I wanted in on it. So once again, I thought I gave my life to Christ. It was a "might as well thing". I mean, why not? I didn't really come to realize that I was an absolutely broken sinner that needed God's grace. It was selfish. Next, high school comes and i turn into a bum. All I did was bum through school, play video games, eat, sleep, then rinse and repeat.


After that 2 year phase, Youth Camp 2010 came. I was convicted up to my neck that week, but I didn't want to give my life to Christ because I was clinging onto my sin. I thought I'd get saved later because He can wait. So, the second to last night at Camp, Michael Lacobee said something that made me bust out into tears. He was bold enough to tell me that he doesn't see a desire for Christ in me at all. Talk about convicted. Then moments later, i couldn't take it anymore. I cried out to God and accepted Jesus Christ as my savior. A burden was lifted and that's where i found true joy, in Christ.


The week after camp i was pumped, but I didn't know where to start. Reading my Bible felt like an obligation and I honestly didn't want to do it. That emotional high stopped and I went back to my selfish ways. About a year or so passed and I was so stinkin' miserable. I kept telling myself that i was happy, but I wasn't. It took someone in my life that i cared for to give me a spiritual slap in the face. My life was so easy going and I never had any huge struggles that I couldn't handle myslef i.e a death of someone close, etc. So, one of my close friends had a niece pass away in an accident and she turned to me. I talked to her that night about it. I prayed over the phone for her and her family. I told her that I would continue to be prayer for her, but if I continued to pray for her in the spiritual state that I was in, I know my prayers would have just hit the ceiling and come right back down. So I decided to get grounded in my faith and take it seriously. Since then? My life has done a complete 180. As soon as I desired Christ once again, I just stopped sinning. Not completely of course, but the majority of sins I struggled with didn't seem so appealing anymore. I've never been so happy in my entire life.


Real brief, ehh? I promise the next one will be shorter. Lately I've been reading out of Philippians and John, so expect to see some more content from those books. Until next time.