Love it…

Love it…

Love it…

Sweet deal, huh? Ok, here goes:

It's inevitable that my wife and I will have kids, sooner than later. Maybe much sooner.

I grew up without religion of any kind and got saved in grad school, in my mid 20's. I actually turned out OK with my heathen upbrining, and I sometimes (often) have a hard time imagining what it will be like to raise my kid differently than I was raised. I know I need to do everything I can to help my kid live for Jesus, but sometimes it makes me nervous, because I don't remember ever thinking about God when I was growing up.

I feel like I should be pumped to raise my kid for God, differently than I was raised, but frankly, I'm not. And sometimes I feel pretty ashamed of that. I'm actually a worship leader, and I absolutely love it…so why would the thought of my future kids doing it weird me out?

Hah…I guess I need prayer, that my heart gets in line with what I know God wants for my kids

definitely will pray for you. sounds like you listen to God so I know you will make the right decisions in all this. Thanks for being honest about real life tough stuff. That's probably hard when you're a worship leader. Maybe it shouldn't be, though…

thanks bro

How is it that we place so much value on our performance? Like we're an actor in a play, an athlete on the field, or a street mime, we think we must somehow measure up to the other actors, athletes, or street mimes. Our performance is the whole reason Christ came… cuz we're really crappy at getting everything right. Furthermore, so is everyone else.

When I feel good about myself, it's really easy to behave, think, or treat others in a healthy fashion. When I feel crummy about myself, I sometimes get critical, both of me and others… that leads to abuse of all sorts – again, both me and others.

Shame, guilt, and regret are all part of a fallen nature we were never design to handle. It's part of the old covenant, the works based works: You do good, you get good; You do bad, you get beat.

Forgiveness, on the other hand, is something we've been freely given and as a secondary gain, will naturally and effortlessly pay forward… the catch is, we must freely receive forgiveness first. We must know that we are loved and lovable. We must recognize that there is nothing we can add or take from this incredible thing called grace – grace is not a doctrine, it's a person… his name is Jesus.

I meant, “works based faith” paragraph 3… where's my editor?

amen!!!

you are forgiven

Wow! Angusnelson said what was in my head!! That's crazy neat. I really like the part about being more forgiving of others when I am healthy vs when I feel like crap.

God's grace has been showered down on me. I have felt it the deepest since I stepped into recovery & reconnected with God (not the God of my understanding, but God). It's ironic that as I write this, Michael Farren is singing: “Come As You Are”. All my broken pieces. All my shameful scars. I no longer have to hold the pain of life in heart. I can give it ALL to Jesus. It's stupid to hang on to stuff, but I do it anyway. He wants it all & I don't want to relinquish control.

As for prayer. I really need $$$ to send in my application for reciprocity of my license so I can be a RPh in WA. Thanks, Adam.

“…a lot of times I have a harder time forgiving myself than forgiving others.”
Yep – I hear that, loud and clear.
Just over four years ago, I found myself in my college halls of residence room with a glass of water and approx. 40 pills sitting there waiting to be taken – I got a few down before I freaked out and pulled myself back from that terrifying brink. This is such a long story, and there are so many people connected with the story who I have struggled to forgive over the past four years. But more than anyone else, in that four years and right up to now I haven't managed to forgive myself for what I did.
I think I fear that if I stop holding it against myself, then I might end up there again – I would like to think, though, that over the last four years I have changed and grown enough not to need it as an option. Not being able to forgive myself has transferred itself over to God too – I wholeheartedly believe that because of what I did, I've exempted myself from the whole concept of “grace”, I believe that God would want absolutely nothing to do with me because of it.

Definitely find it harder to forgive myself than others!
Very good post, thanks!

definitely wil do!!!

wow!

Hello,

life has been having its way on me the last few months, I honestly dont know what to do with myself, I'm morbidly depressed, now i know that suicide is never the answer, but to be completely honest i think about suicide every day. I go to sleep at night hoping i dont wake up. I'm just so lost right now, i have no direction, i feel like i have no hope, and i dont know how to put these feelings into words. I dont even know where to begin, i wouldnt know how to ask someone for help, im too scared.

I would appreciate some prayer, Thank you so much

Definitely praying for you. Talk to God too cuz Hes always listenin. U can email me at asmith215@gmail.com if u ever need to talk to me.

Definitely praying for you. Talk to God too cuz Hes always listenin. U can email me at asmith215@gmail.com if u ever need to talk to me.