So I haven't read a book in such a long time that most people couldn't even believe it. But I read this book in less than 4 days. It really got me thinking about my relationships with my friends, co-workers, youth, children I work with at work and church but, it also got me thinking about my relationship with God.
The books title was : Perfect. It focused on four young teenagers who would do anything and everything to have what society calls the "perfect body". One boy struggled with keeping up with the high demands of his parents pressure of being the perfect athlete, perfect grades, perfect girlfriend, that he attempts suicide for believes its his only way out. Another girl believes due to being bullied in school and by her family that she is "fat". She is a size 4, but if you know anything about Women's clothing you know that is a small and skinny girl. However, she continues to take pills and stop eating until she finally loses all the "extra weight" that the world has told her makes her "fat".
That was just two of the kids that were mentioned my book who dealt with pressures of not being good enough to fit into the world. They were all to "fat" or not "smart" enough best yet, they just didn't belong to the "in crowd". I can relate so much to these characters in the book, because just like them I wasn't the "thinnest", or the "smartest" and I definitely never was apart of the "in crowd". I can remember being bullied in school almost everyday my 6th grade year. Being called terrible names by other kids because I wasn't that perfect size "2". They would take any chance they could to "throw the first stone at me" sort of speak whenever the teacher wasn't looking. Instead of the "yo momma so fat jokes" it became the "Sam is so fat jokes". What did I do to deal with this? At first, I cried. I cried during classes and walking down the halls, walking home from school. Then things only got worse. I can even remember my teacher asking me if I was pregnant because she thought I was to fat as that 7th grade girl I should be.
But this isn't the sad story like I read in my book where the open kid finally does commit suicide and everyone wonders "what could I have done ?" I received help from some very wise and special role models in my life that helped show me what does God think of me. Perfection is an outrages goal that will never be met. There is no way to become perfect for only one person walked this earth was perfect and his name is Jesus. We have our own definition of what perfect is so, to say that she or he is not perfect is based on your own belief. According to the bible God thinks so highly of his children. For example in one of my favorite verses God tells us exactly what he thinks of us. In Ephesians 2:10 "for we are God's masterpiece." Now I don't know about you but when I hear that I am blown away. God looks at me and is blown away by my beauty, the same goes to you. I know that in another verse God says that we are his queens and kings. He things we are so amazing that we deserve to be royalty and be on a postage stamp(people on postage stamps are beautiful to they're country and that's what God thinks of us.) In another verse God says that we are beautifully and wonderfully made. Now I know what you might be thinking, I am not beautiful and I always mess up so there's no way I am wonderful. But stop right there!! God of the universe just said you were beautiful, he looks at you and his breath is blown away. He then calls you wonderful. So no matter how many times you mess up(and believe me were gonna do it and have done it a lot) he still thinks of us as wonderful!
I would like to leave you with these thoughts.....
Watch what you say and how you say what you say to others(it may be there last straw)
When you feel like your nothing but trash know this and remember this in your heart..... your creator, your father thinks of as his masterpiece, his king or queen, as royalty, as a beautiful and wonderfully made human being.
Remember it does not matter what everyone else thinks about you or what their definition of "perfect" is all that matters is you have a FATHER who LOVES YOU!!!
Dear Dad,
Help me to remember that what the world thinks about me, or my friends or even my rivals doesn't matter. All that matters is that you love me conditionally. You don't make junk, you make masterpieces and when you made me I blew you breathe away. Dad help me to stay focused on you and to not that you will feel my every desire! thank you so much for being here to guide me and lead me towards a bright future. I love you, your daughter, Sam
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Friday, April 18, 2014
Numb
I've been doing a lot of deep thinking lately and questioning some things that we just say on a normal bases. Easter is on Sunday and I can't help but think of how everyone is out buying Easter dresses, baskets, candy, nice clothes, dinner and/or lunch for the entire family that has traveled for hours to arrive for a short visit, eggs to paint with bright silly colors/ pictures, plastic eggs that we put out in the yards so that the younger kids can look and have a blast searching for that short 10 minutes or less to find them(even though it took twice along to hide them) and last but not least the well known Easter Bunny!
So what is Easter all about then? Do we even know what the true meaning is anymore? Or do we just pretend that it's all about Jesus but really we've changed it to be all about the Easter bunny and childish games? When did Easter become about buying the best dress and making sure you look great that Sunday in church? When did it become about hiding Easter eggs in the yard so that children go hunt them? What does Easter eggs have to do with God???? Oh wait that's right it say's in the book of Matthew that Jesus rose from the dead and then the Son of God and the disciples went and had a egg hunt on the mountain side to celebrate that lord had risen! What's that you say? It didn't happen? Exactly my point! So will someone please explain to me why Church's are more worried about making sure that they have the biggest egg hunts then about preaching the word of God? Also the Easter Bunny has nothing to do with Christ! No where in the Bible does it mention a giant bunny that leaves presents for kids. However it does mention something better in the bible!
I think that we have all become Numb to the amazing Easter story. We have all heard this story year after year at Church's but are we actually listening? Are we actually allowing God to come into our hearts and open our hearts ears for what the Lord is trying to tell us and show us. I believe that to almost all of us the Easter story has numbed our hearts just like so many other amazing stories in the Bible because we just don't allow our heart's ears to truly be open to hear about what really happened.
Do you realize that when Monday came around Jesus was treated with such high respect. People gathered from all around just to see him. They began to take off their top layer of clothing and started cutting down palm branches to make a pathway for Jesus to ride into town on so that his colt would not touch the dirt ground. Do you understand what I just said here? People took off their clothes and laid them on the ground for Jesus to go across. Would you do that today? I would imagine not! Back then even the rich people didn't care about how much their robe cost and the poor didn't go this is all I have left I won't give it up. NO! They all took off their robes and laid them at the feet of Jesus.
This blows my mind. That everyone just put aside their money differences, put aside their class and riches all to lay their clothes at the feet of Jesus.
Then everyone and I do mean everyone begins to shout and praise Jesus as he rides through the town. They are not full of rage or anger but they are full of joy and shout out loud praises to Jesus! It's like for a moment the world seems to understand and treat Jesus the way that we often think that he should have been treated when he came down to earth. Glory to God! What could be better than this? First you have a pathway full of clothes and palm branches marked all the way out for him and then people are giving him the praise and encouragement that he has deserved all of his life. Have you ever thought about this?
Now have you ever thought about this? When all the trials were going on and Jesus kept quiet during each and everyone of them. Knowing what has to come next he follows and obeys everything that God asks of him. Finally he gets sent to be beaten. This is where I think that we have become numb to all of the stories that we have heard just to many times, like were just rolling through the emotions. Do you know what the beating really involved? Have you imagined how much pain that he actually went through just in the beatings alone??? Let's look at the beatings a little more closely. First of all of the men who did the beating were PROFFESIONALS. That was their job to give beatings to whom ever the king sent down to them. They were the best of the best. They were top notch, if they didn't do their job well then they would be killed. These men didn't play around when it game to their job, they took it very seriously. Next point is the weapons or tools that they men would use to beat their victims with. They used long leather belt type items that had shards of broken glass, bones of dead animals or even bodies that were sharp and pointy at the end, pieces of medal that was also sharpened to a point and also more leather all tied to the end of this. So when you would swing and hit the back of this person all the glass, bones, nails, leather and medal would sink in and grab through several layers of skin and then they would immediately pull back with a hard tug yanking all that flesh and maybe even some bone out with it.
Now imagine this.... Jesus is sitting on his knees. They have his wrests chained up to a wooden stump in front of him. There is a huge crowd of people standing all around(the same exact people who were cheering Jesus in to the town not even a week before) now they are cheering on the beating. There are at least two guards who are well trained and ready to do their jobs standing behind Jesus preparing to give him 39 lashes plus 1. Then with weapons in hands they begin one after another hitting Jesus, slowly digging deeper and deeper into more layers of skin and bone. If you records into he Bible that Jesus didn't even make a sound! Now I don't know about you but I have broken many bones and have had many concussions and each time I cry in pain and anguish. But did you hear me when I described what Jesus just went through or did you hearts ears go numb again? Jesus went through having bone, nails, glass and medals ripping apart his flesh and bones in his back again and again 40 times WITHOUT MAKING A SOUND!! This is unbelievable!!! What a love this is! That Jesus would endure all of this and yet still is willing to keep on with the rest of the pain that is still yet to come!
Now comes the death of Jesus. This is the part where I truly believe that we all have become numb to what really happened and how it should change what's inside of us. So let me just repeat this to make sure you heard! JESUS DIED!!! Now let me ask you this question? Have you ever lost a family member of your family or a best friend or someone very close to you? What happened when you lost that person? How did it make you feel? I know that when I've lost people who I've really loved I cry and even lose control of all my emotions. So how come when we read that Jesus died and was beaten, tortured and hung on a cross left to die that it strikes no emotion from us? How come no tears come from eyes? We all become NUMB! Now don't get me wrong I know what happens three days later but, does it not bother you like it bothers me that Jesus suffered so much and yet we can't even manifest a tear for the death of Christ?
So why have we allowed ourselves to become so numb to what really happened? We've changed Easter from being about the death and resurrection of Christ and how Jesus died to allow us to have everlasting life but now its become some type of silly circus act. Its all about the best clothes, best shoes, the biggest Easter egg hunts, the big Easter bunny, painting eggs, driving for hours to spend small amounts of time with family. PLEASE STOP ALL OF THIS MADDNESS!!!
This is not right!! EASTER is not about any of that!!!! Easter is all about Jesus and all the pain and suffering he went through and how he died on a wooden cross but then rose again three days later to save all of use from spending eternity in hell. Its about the ultimate LOVE that only Jesus could provide and give. and he gave us that love when he died on the cross and took everyone of our sins away from us. That's amazing love. So this is Easter I have just one question for you
ARE YOU GOING TO CONTIUE ON WITH THE WORLD'S CIRCUS ACT OF EASTER AND JUST BE NUMB OR ARE YOU GOING TO OPEN YOUR HEART AND ALLOW GOD TO WORK AND SHOW YOU THE REAL MEANING OF EASTER WITHOUT ALL THE WORDLY TRADITIONS?
Think about it!
I choose to no longer be numb!
Sam Jervis
So what is Easter all about then? Do we even know what the true meaning is anymore? Or do we just pretend that it's all about Jesus but really we've changed it to be all about the Easter bunny and childish games? When did Easter become about buying the best dress and making sure you look great that Sunday in church? When did it become about hiding Easter eggs in the yard so that children go hunt them? What does Easter eggs have to do with God???? Oh wait that's right it say's in the book of Matthew that Jesus rose from the dead and then the Son of God and the disciples went and had a egg hunt on the mountain side to celebrate that lord had risen! What's that you say? It didn't happen? Exactly my point! So will someone please explain to me why Church's are more worried about making sure that they have the biggest egg hunts then about preaching the word of God? Also the Easter Bunny has nothing to do with Christ! No where in the Bible does it mention a giant bunny that leaves presents for kids. However it does mention something better in the bible!
I think that we have all become Numb to the amazing Easter story. We have all heard this story year after year at Church's but are we actually listening? Are we actually allowing God to come into our hearts and open our hearts ears for what the Lord is trying to tell us and show us. I believe that to almost all of us the Easter story has numbed our hearts just like so many other amazing stories in the Bible because we just don't allow our heart's ears to truly be open to hear about what really happened.
Do you realize that when Monday came around Jesus was treated with such high respect. People gathered from all around just to see him. They began to take off their top layer of clothing and started cutting down palm branches to make a pathway for Jesus to ride into town on so that his colt would not touch the dirt ground. Do you understand what I just said here? People took off their clothes and laid them on the ground for Jesus to go across. Would you do that today? I would imagine not! Back then even the rich people didn't care about how much their robe cost and the poor didn't go this is all I have left I won't give it up. NO! They all took off their robes and laid them at the feet of Jesus.
This blows my mind. That everyone just put aside their money differences, put aside their class and riches all to lay their clothes at the feet of Jesus.
Then everyone and I do mean everyone begins to shout and praise Jesus as he rides through the town. They are not full of rage or anger but they are full of joy and shout out loud praises to Jesus! It's like for a moment the world seems to understand and treat Jesus the way that we often think that he should have been treated when he came down to earth. Glory to God! What could be better than this? First you have a pathway full of clothes and palm branches marked all the way out for him and then people are giving him the praise and encouragement that he has deserved all of his life. Have you ever thought about this?
Now have you ever thought about this? When all the trials were going on and Jesus kept quiet during each and everyone of them. Knowing what has to come next he follows and obeys everything that God asks of him. Finally he gets sent to be beaten. This is where I think that we have become numb to all of the stories that we have heard just to many times, like were just rolling through the emotions. Do you know what the beating really involved? Have you imagined how much pain that he actually went through just in the beatings alone??? Let's look at the beatings a little more closely. First of all of the men who did the beating were PROFFESIONALS. That was their job to give beatings to whom ever the king sent down to them. They were the best of the best. They were top notch, if they didn't do their job well then they would be killed. These men didn't play around when it game to their job, they took it very seriously. Next point is the weapons or tools that they men would use to beat their victims with. They used long leather belt type items that had shards of broken glass, bones of dead animals or even bodies that were sharp and pointy at the end, pieces of medal that was also sharpened to a point and also more leather all tied to the end of this. So when you would swing and hit the back of this person all the glass, bones, nails, leather and medal would sink in and grab through several layers of skin and then they would immediately pull back with a hard tug yanking all that flesh and maybe even some bone out with it.
Now imagine this.... Jesus is sitting on his knees. They have his wrests chained up to a wooden stump in front of him. There is a huge crowd of people standing all around(the same exact people who were cheering Jesus in to the town not even a week before) now they are cheering on the beating. There are at least two guards who are well trained and ready to do their jobs standing behind Jesus preparing to give him 39 lashes plus 1. Then with weapons in hands they begin one after another hitting Jesus, slowly digging deeper and deeper into more layers of skin and bone. If you records into he Bible that Jesus didn't even make a sound! Now I don't know about you but I have broken many bones and have had many concussions and each time I cry in pain and anguish. But did you hear me when I described what Jesus just went through or did you hearts ears go numb again? Jesus went through having bone, nails, glass and medals ripping apart his flesh and bones in his back again and again 40 times WITHOUT MAKING A SOUND!! This is unbelievable!!! What a love this is! That Jesus would endure all of this and yet still is willing to keep on with the rest of the pain that is still yet to come!
Now comes the death of Jesus. This is the part where I truly believe that we all have become numb to what really happened and how it should change what's inside of us. So let me just repeat this to make sure you heard! JESUS DIED!!! Now let me ask you this question? Have you ever lost a family member of your family or a best friend or someone very close to you? What happened when you lost that person? How did it make you feel? I know that when I've lost people who I've really loved I cry and even lose control of all my emotions. So how come when we read that Jesus died and was beaten, tortured and hung on a cross left to die that it strikes no emotion from us? How come no tears come from eyes? We all become NUMB! Now don't get me wrong I know what happens three days later but, does it not bother you like it bothers me that Jesus suffered so much and yet we can't even manifest a tear for the death of Christ?
So why have we allowed ourselves to become so numb to what really happened? We've changed Easter from being about the death and resurrection of Christ and how Jesus died to allow us to have everlasting life but now its become some type of silly circus act. Its all about the best clothes, best shoes, the biggest Easter egg hunts, the big Easter bunny, painting eggs, driving for hours to spend small amounts of time with family. PLEASE STOP ALL OF THIS MADDNESS!!!
This is not right!! EASTER is not about any of that!!!! Easter is all about Jesus and all the pain and suffering he went through and how he died on a wooden cross but then rose again three days later to save all of use from spending eternity in hell. Its about the ultimate LOVE that only Jesus could provide and give. and he gave us that love when he died on the cross and took everyone of our sins away from us. That's amazing love. So this is Easter I have just one question for you
ARE YOU GOING TO CONTIUE ON WITH THE WORLD'S CIRCUS ACT OF EASTER AND JUST BE NUMB OR ARE YOU GOING TO OPEN YOUR HEART AND ALLOW GOD TO WORK AND SHOW YOU THE REAL MEANING OF EASTER WITHOUT ALL THE WORDLY TRADITIONS?
Think about it!
I choose to no longer be numb!
Sam Jervis
Monday, September 30, 2013
Confession!!!
I have some confessions.......
I'm not sure if you will believe or even understand what I am going to say but I feel like God wants me to say it. What is "IT"??? Well...... its my confessions about my life.1) Since I was about 12 years old I decided that I wanted to be a Children's Minister/ Director. I loved being around children, baby sitting younger children in the church, teaching Children's Church, leading VBS game time, starting a children's reach out program through operation inasmuch, from doing skits for children, and going to children's camps all summer long. For some people watching and being around children for more than an hour is more than they can handle but, not for me. I could be around them all day and find peace and joy in every moment that came along the way. However; here is one of my confessions that I'm not proud of. I haven't been following God when it comes to him leading me to work with children. You see I have been so focused on what I WANT and HOW I WILL do things when the future comes. Do you see and understand what's wrong with what I just said? I haven't let God lead me or teach me about anything that I need to know about teaching and leading the children.
2) I have let everyone who has ever looked up to me or has seen me as a role model down. :(
You see when you are a role model or a leader that someone goes to for advice you should be grounded in the Lord. A great role model will influence you to read your bible and to pray everyday to God. A leader will check up on you to just say I hope you have a great day. They pray to God and ask you to have a great day. When a hard day hits you like a ton of bricks that leader is ready to answer the phone and calm you down. Showing and telling you that the storm might be huge right now but soon the waves will slowly calm down. They make you laugh and smile and brighten your day. They are your hero! Here's where confession #2 comes in..... I am not a role model, leader or a hero. I act like no one else has problems and life is all about me. I imagine that the world would stop if I wasn't there to keep it going. I have made myself believe that I am this amazing leader who is helping people left and right but this is not true. I have become a selfish person who pushes the needs of others aside. I am not proud of who I have become.
3) I am not who you think that I am! I have pushed everyone out of my life keeping secrets, holding in anger, holding in pain, holding back tears from rolling down my face. I have become invisible by not allowing anyone in my life and pushing others away from the real Sam. Instead I just keep at everyone at a distance so that way I can't get hurt. But by doing this I have caused myself so much pain and heart break....... I feel so alone, empty, lost, confused and unloved. Now I know what your thinking "Sam, I love you, I care about you, I am here for you" but your not understanding what I am saying. I wont let you people in my life because when I do it always leads to pain and heartache. I am afraid of people leaving me and not wanting me. I am afraid that people don't want me around and that I just get in the way. However; when I keep people out of my life and push them away I feel like the pain isn't there and that everything is okay. I have a best friend above all the rest. He has been there for me over these past few years when I thought I wouldn't be able to make it through another day. I love my best friend with all my heart but here comes confession #3. I have allowed my heart to become like stone. Even my best friend in the world I have pushed away. I have let anger in my heart and pushed him away from me without him even knowing. No longer do I tell him when I'm upset or when I was hurt but I just lied and put on my fake smile for everyone to see. I have hidden away the real me and put up a front that everything is great.
Confession #1 - I am not the person that God wants me to be when it comes to leading children and teaching them about Jesus.
Confession #2- I am not the role model that God wants me to be when it comes to leading the youth and younger children at my church.
Confession #3- I am not the inspiring person that God wants me to be when it comes to being a true follower of Christ.
I would like to apologize to everyone who reads this blog. I have become selfish, cruel and conceited. I have forgotten everything that the Bible teaches about loving others, teaching others, and not being two-faced. This is not the person I should be. God has so much planned for my life and I have let him down big time :(
I have also let everyone else who knows me down. Please forgive me for becoming more like a statue than a loving and supporting young woman that God is molding me to be.
This is my confessions, Lord please help me.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
My calling!
We all have a calling from God!
The big question is, do you believe that you have a calling?
Do you believe that the God of the universe has a purpose for your life?
If you are reading this than you probably know me pretty well, which means that you know how much that I love working with children! I have believe that everyone has a calling! This morning God gave me the exact reassurance of my calling. You see my youth minister Chris was preaching at another church this morning so with the help of another lady, I got to lead KFC( kids for Christ, basically children's church). I picked songs to sing that had motions and that's where the amazing experience began. I got all the children dancing and moving to the songs. All you saw in the room was smiles and laughter. Then we played fun games that I also lead. The awesome part is that I got all the kids to follow after me and play the game. The kids listened when I spoke. They loved the game and the music. The sermon I acted out to help the kids get a better understanding of the story of Jesus being taken away by the guards! By the end of KFC the kids had the biggest smiles on their faces! The parents soon came in and the kids ran to them and began telling them all about the fun and great times that we had that morning. Several new kids who had never came before started asking their parents if they could come every Sunday!!!! This brought a huge smile to my face as the children thanked me as they left to go home!
I have been struggling with my "calling" in life. I sometimes thought and wondered what or how could God use someone like me?!? I have always been great with working and leading children. By the time I was 12 I was put in charge of a group of kids at VBS and my leadership from then took off. I continued to lead children from VBS to children's church, to summer camps, to working at day cares! Working with children is not hard or overwhelming or even annoying to me! Instead, working with children is amazing, wonderful, fun! God has given me the gift of being able to work with and to be able to understand children of all different types. I love working and being around children! Working with kids is my calling! God this morning helped show me that, working with kids is where he wants me to be! Thank you God for that reminder!
MY calling is working with kids!
Whats yours?
Friday, June 14, 2013
Remove the labels
Remove the labels!
This may hurt your feelings or make you mad at me but I really don’t care at what you have to say about this because it is so wrong. I want what I have to say to wake you up and make you think, because what is going on is not right.
I meet a man and woman today after work was closed who changed my life. The man looked at me with tears in his bright blue eyes as he began to speak, he asked if I had a minute to talk and I told him I did. He told me how he was homeless. He said that him and the woman were traveling and got in trouble with their car and got stranded in here Asheville. I asked him if he had a place to stay. He replied with a shaky voice saying that they slept in the woods in a tent that they had built with materials that they managed to recover from the dumpsters around town. He said they found blankets and try to keep warm but lately with the temperatures dropping it has been difficult to remain warm in these conditions. He told me how he would give up layers of clothes and blankets to make sure the woman he was with stayed warm. I asked him if he had food and he said that they hadn’t been able to afford any so I went and got what we had left over that they would throw out and gave it to them. They were overwhelmed with joy to see all that I had given them, even though; to me it was very small. I asked him if he applied for any jobs or if he was even looking for a job and he told me that he applied all over the Asheville area but nobody would consider him because he smelled and didn’t have nice clothes to wear to the interview. Did you just hear what I said? They wouldn’t give him even a chance because he smelled and didn’t have nice clothes. This is ridiculous. Here is a man trying to change his circumstances and yet nobody will even give him a chance. He started crying as he began to tell me that he was kicked out of several places that he tried to stay warm in because they didn’t want them to lose customers over having “hoboes” in their store. After I heard this I felt tears in my eyes and anger grew in my heart.
1st- WE ARE CALLED TO HELP OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. We are “supposed” to be there for each and every person in our world who needs help. Even if that is a homeless guy you don’t know that smells or your boss at work. We are called to reach out and help in every way we can.
2nd- WE ARE CALLED TO LOVE. Do you know what the real meaning of love is? It means to show compassion, mercy, love is not prideful, it does not boast, love shows no anger, love sees no class, love sees no price tag. Real love is found in your heart when you see someone for not what they have but for whom God has made them to be.
3rd- WE ARE GOD ON EARTH. Everything we do, say, think, and watch all shows who God is to us. People are constantly watching our lives to see how we live and to see if we follow and do what we say we believe. If we don’t get out of our comfort zones then we will never see the hurt and need around us.
Every day of our lives God places people that we will meet and or come in contact with, that we are called to help in some way. My heart was broken when the man told me he was so confused on why I let him talk to me. He said that most people just see him as a guy with the label “homeless”. No one would even give him a chance for him to show the great man underneath. Yet, he said that when he was talking to me it was like the label “homeless” was gone and was replaced with “equals”. For a few short minutes that we talked the man said he felt like he was normal and that he could do or be anything he wanted. It touched my heart to hear him say this. As our conversation came to an end I gave him some money that I had and a few coupons for other restaurants so he could get a nice hot meal.
What makes me so mad about this is how self- centered we have become. We won’t get out of our bubbles, our comfort zones to help others. We have become consumed in money, sex, drugs, drinking, clothes, shoes, accessories, cars, expensive houses. We have become so focused on trying to show-off and impress everyone like friends, co-workers, family and better yet out fellow brothers and sisters that we go to church with. We focus on making sure that we have the best life and that we get everything we could want but what we don’t realize is how much we are actually missing out on. We all need to change the way we live and think. It’s not about any of those things that I previously listed. What life is about is showing God’s love and reaching out. We need to stop being so selfish and then become selfless.
An unknown author once quoted- it’s better to live a self -emptied where you give more than you receive, love more than your loved, care more than ever and try with all your heart than live a self-centered life where you only focus on you needs and wants. So my question for you the reader of this is, are you willing to change and do what God has called us to do or are you going to stay in your safety box while others are in need of our Gods love?
The choice is yours and you’re alone but, next time you see some “homeless guy” try this. Remove the label homeless and change it brother or sister in need. Maybe then you’ll see exactly what I experienced tonight. Life’s not about material things. Remove the label and set your heart free.
~Sam(God's Masterpiece)~
This may hurt your feelings or make you mad at me but I really don’t care at what you have to say about this because it is so wrong. I want what I have to say to wake you up and make you think, because what is going on is not right.
I meet a man and woman today after work was closed who changed my life. The man looked at me with tears in his bright blue eyes as he began to speak, he asked if I had a minute to talk and I told him I did. He told me how he was homeless. He said that him and the woman were traveling and got in trouble with their car and got stranded in here Asheville. I asked him if he had a place to stay. He replied with a shaky voice saying that they slept in the woods in a tent that they had built with materials that they managed to recover from the dumpsters around town. He said they found blankets and try to keep warm but lately with the temperatures dropping it has been difficult to remain warm in these conditions. He told me how he would give up layers of clothes and blankets to make sure the woman he was with stayed warm. I asked him if he had food and he said that they hadn’t been able to afford any so I went and got what we had left over that they would throw out and gave it to them. They were overwhelmed with joy to see all that I had given them, even though; to me it was very small. I asked him if he applied for any jobs or if he was even looking for a job and he told me that he applied all over the Asheville area but nobody would consider him because he smelled and didn’t have nice clothes to wear to the interview. Did you just hear what I said? They wouldn’t give him even a chance because he smelled and didn’t have nice clothes. This is ridiculous. Here is a man trying to change his circumstances and yet nobody will even give him a chance. He started crying as he began to tell me that he was kicked out of several places that he tried to stay warm in because they didn’t want them to lose customers over having “hoboes” in their store. After I heard this I felt tears in my eyes and anger grew in my heart.
1st- WE ARE CALLED TO HELP OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. We are “supposed” to be there for each and every person in our world who needs help. Even if that is a homeless guy you don’t know that smells or your boss at work. We are called to reach out and help in every way we can.
2nd- WE ARE CALLED TO LOVE. Do you know what the real meaning of love is? It means to show compassion, mercy, love is not prideful, it does not boast, love shows no anger, love sees no class, love sees no price tag. Real love is found in your heart when you see someone for not what they have but for whom God has made them to be.
3rd- WE ARE GOD ON EARTH. Everything we do, say, think, and watch all shows who God is to us. People are constantly watching our lives to see how we live and to see if we follow and do what we say we believe. If we don’t get out of our comfort zones then we will never see the hurt and need around us.
Every day of our lives God places people that we will meet and or come in contact with, that we are called to help in some way. My heart was broken when the man told me he was so confused on why I let him talk to me. He said that most people just see him as a guy with the label “homeless”. No one would even give him a chance for him to show the great man underneath. Yet, he said that when he was talking to me it was like the label “homeless” was gone and was replaced with “equals”. For a few short minutes that we talked the man said he felt like he was normal and that he could do or be anything he wanted. It touched my heart to hear him say this. As our conversation came to an end I gave him some money that I had and a few coupons for other restaurants so he could get a nice hot meal.
What makes me so mad about this is how self- centered we have become. We won’t get out of our bubbles, our comfort zones to help others. We have become consumed in money, sex, drugs, drinking, clothes, shoes, accessories, cars, expensive houses. We have become so focused on trying to show-off and impress everyone like friends, co-workers, family and better yet out fellow brothers and sisters that we go to church with. We focus on making sure that we have the best life and that we get everything we could want but what we don’t realize is how much we are actually missing out on. We all need to change the way we live and think. It’s not about any of those things that I previously listed. What life is about is showing God’s love and reaching out. We need to stop being so selfish and then become selfless.
An unknown author once quoted- it’s better to live a self -emptied where you give more than you receive, love more than your loved, care more than ever and try with all your heart than live a self-centered life where you only focus on you needs and wants. So my question for you the reader of this is, are you willing to change and do what God has called us to do or are you going to stay in your safety box while others are in need of our Gods love?
The choice is yours and you’re alone but, next time you see some “homeless guy” try this. Remove the label homeless and change it brother or sister in need. Maybe then you’ll see exactly what I experienced tonight. Life’s not about material things. Remove the label and set your heart free.
~Sam(God's Masterpiece)~
Thursday, June 13, 2013
MASTERPIECE
Masterpiece.
Websters dictionary defines this word as:
1. a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship.
2. an artists or craftsman best piece of work.
The Bible talks about the word masterpiece in the book of Ephesians 2:10, which says "For WE are God's MASTERPIECE, he has created us ANEW in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago". I don't know if you fully understand what God just said about us, his children. He said that we are his masterpiece. That's absolutely mind-blowing to me. According to Websters Dictionary a masterpiece is an artists BEST piece of work. That means that the God of the universe who has millions of things on his mind, never forget about even the smallest person. God took time and hand-crafted, slowly molded us together piece by piece until he looked at what he created and he called it a masterpiece. God took you from a pile of scraps, dirt, nothing but empty and useless clay and took you in his hands and became to form the magnificent person that he knew would one day change the world. God didn't just throw you together in a quick minute and say I'm finished, or yeah, i think this will due. NO! That's not what the lord of the universe is like. He takes time, energy, love, affection, compassion and soul into forming who you will be in your mothers womb. We were made perfectly in the eyes of the lord, without fault, and not broken. We were created so that we may reach the world and full-fill God's plan for our lives.
Do you remember as a kid or maybe you still do them know, the paint by number pictures that they sold at craft stores. I remember walking to the shelf at the craft store and seeing these amazing pictures that looked wonderful on the outside and the box read "all ages". I don't know about you but my end painting never looked like the box that it came in. However; unlike me, God is a much better painter. You see our lives are like a paint-by-numbers picture. God is slowly, beautifully, wonderfully painting and blending different pieces of the picture of our lives. The savior of the world is never finished with the work that he began within us. He continues to add more and more as the days go. We will never get to see the final picture while on earth, but there is hope. Hope comes in when you look at it in a different view. God is never finished with us! When you become depressed after being called names, after being laughed at, after crying yourself to sleep, even in your darkest hours, God is siting there painting away trying to show you the brighter side that's just around the corner if only you continue to keep fighting.
I struggle daily with believing that I am God's masterpiece. BUT..... when you think about this verse and how God took us from nothing and put us in hands and began to mold us into a masterpiece. The God of the world who has plenty of other things to do took time to stop and carefully create me. When he was finished he looked back at me from a distance and said, " Sam you are my masterpiece, you are the reason that I died on the cross. You my child, were well worth it all". As I look and read more about who God is and the plan he has for my life I come to realize that my painting has just begun. God has so much that he wants to paint. If I only let him continue to let him paint.
~Sam(God's Masterpiece)~
Websters dictionary defines this word as:
1. a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship.
2. an artists or craftsman best piece of work.
The Bible talks about the word masterpiece in the book of Ephesians 2:10, which says "For WE are God's MASTERPIECE, he has created us ANEW in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago". I don't know if you fully understand what God just said about us, his children. He said that we are his masterpiece. That's absolutely mind-blowing to me. According to Websters Dictionary a masterpiece is an artists BEST piece of work. That means that the God of the universe who has millions of things on his mind, never forget about even the smallest person. God took time and hand-crafted, slowly molded us together piece by piece until he looked at what he created and he called it a masterpiece. God took you from a pile of scraps, dirt, nothing but empty and useless clay and took you in his hands and became to form the magnificent person that he knew would one day change the world. God didn't just throw you together in a quick minute and say I'm finished, or yeah, i think this will due. NO! That's not what the lord of the universe is like. He takes time, energy, love, affection, compassion and soul into forming who you will be in your mothers womb. We were made perfectly in the eyes of the lord, without fault, and not broken. We were created so that we may reach the world and full-fill God's plan for our lives.
I struggle daily with believing that I am God's masterpiece. BUT..... when you think about this verse and how God took us from nothing and put us in hands and began to mold us into a masterpiece. The God of the world who has plenty of other things to do took time to stop and carefully create me. When he was finished he looked back at me from a distance and said, " Sam you are my masterpiece, you are the reason that I died on the cross. You my child, were well worth it all". As I look and read more about who God is and the plan he has for my life I come to realize that my painting has just begun. God has so much that he wants to paint. If I only let him continue to let him paint.
~Sam(God's Masterpiece)~
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