Reasons Why I Love Jesus Christ

Kinda, sorta, a knock-off of what Erica posted. Haha I enjoyed so much I decided to do one similar for myself.

Reasons why I love Jesus Christ:

· He loves me
· He loves me no matter what I do!!!
· He freakin died for me just so I can be with Him, if I choose!!!
· He gives me life
· He provides for me
· He blesses me in abundance
· He is constantly teaching me knew things
· He gives me a reason to live
· He is a person I can cry out to when I’m frustrated
· He is a person I can turn to when I feel there is no hope
· He gives us His Word (the Bible) to encourage us, to teach us, to speak to us
· He provides us close friends who are there to encourage us
· He loves me
· He chose me!
· He gave me a family who loves me
· He gave me a way, that I can be with Him
· His creation
· Him giving me so far 19 years of amazing life, more than I can even ask for
· He forgives me
· He forgives me no matter what
· He loves me
· His grace
· His mercy
· His strength!
· His power
· He comforts me
· He is always with me, and never leaves me
· He is all this and soo much more

He chose the tree, for you, for me

So I haven't written one of these in forever, but this has been something on my mind for a while. And that is the death of Jesus Christ. What is so special about me that He would take the beating He took , and the nails in His hands and feet, just so He can spend eternity with me?


Like, I'm just a sinful person who is a constant screw up. I don't deserve to spend eternity with Him, so why would he want to spend it with me? I can't really wrap my mind around this but I keep thinking about one reason that it very well could be. Love.


Love. But something that is stronger than just an ordinary love. An unconditional love. A never ending love. A love that no human could ever have for another person. And He chose to love me, to love you, and to love everyone else with this special love. This never ending love. No matter what we do and how many times we screw up He will always love us just as much, and that is so relieving to me.


“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13


On that cross He did something that no person had ever done. He died for he enemies. Because of love. He loved His enemies, something that you and I alike struggle with. He chose death, when He didn’t have to die. But He did it for us, because He loved us.


And to be honest, that is what brings me to Christ and makes me the person I am today. Knowing that my God and my Savior loves me so much, and nothing I can do to take that away.


I want to challenge you to remember this the next time you see a tree, or a cross, and just think of that love. Picture love hanging on that cross, for you, for me. Because He chose the tree for you, and for me.

Rejoice in my suffering....What???

Do you ever feel like you are the only one walking down the straight and narrow, and it seems like no one else is around? Do you ever feel like your the only Christian around and you always get made fun of for your faith? Are you ashamed to admit you are a Christian because you don't want to be a "social outcast". Well take a look at this!!

1 Peter 4:12-19

12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.
13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
15If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"[a]
19So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

First of all we can't be shocked if we are made fun of or are persecuted just for being Christians. But we are supposed to rejoice in these times of suffering because Christ was suffered in the same way. Why does this seem so hard to do? Who wants to praise God while they are being put to death for believing in Him. Now I know in America it isn't everyday that Christians are killed for there faith, but it does happen. I know I probably wouldn't want to praise God if I am being put to death for believing in Him. Would you?

This passage also says that you are blessed if you are insulted for believing in Christ. How in the world is that a blessing? Look at what it says in Matthew 5:11-12 about this :

11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Shouldn't this change the way we feel after we get made fun of for something like this. Like it doesn't matter our reward will be great in heaven.

And when we are being made fun of for being a Christian we should not be ashamed and have our heads down. We need to keep them up and praise God that we follow Him. We need to continue to pursue after Christ no matter what the world says or does to us. Just wanted to challenge you guys with that today.

Material Possessions vs. God

Today I want to talk about a passage I have been reading a lot of lately and have been studying this and this has become very interesting to me. I think we can all relate to the passage because a lot of times we have those material possessions that we so dearly hold on to. But in actuality they mean nothing. We just don't seem to realize that.



Matthew 19:16-30



"16Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
17"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
18"Which ones?" the man inquired.
Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother,'[d] and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'[e]"
20"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
21Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"
26Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
27Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"
28Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother[f] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."

First I want to talk about how the rich young man asked what must he do to inherent eternal life. He was thinking about good deeds. It is amazing how many people in the world we live in think you can go to heaven just by doing good things. This is not true!! You need to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Verse 21- The Greek word for perfect means goal or end. So He said if you want to make it to the goal or end he needs to sell everything and give to the poor. Now there is no indication if this was meant for all Christians. You may ask why did Jesus say this then. It is about the rich man's attachment to His wealth and his possessions. In the Bible it says man cannot serve two masters both God and money. When the rich man was told to sell everything he was so sad because he was so attached.

I think a lot of times we are so attached to material things or money we forget about God. We think we have everything under control when we have money or possessions. Truth is we don't. We don't have the most important thing and that is a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Now after Jesus talks about how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven you might ask the same thing as the disciples. But I love the response Jesus gives. "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. This is what is says in the version the message (Jesus looked hard at them and said, "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it"). I just think that is awesome. You can't pull it off yourself. So put your hope in Christ not material possessions.

And I just going to leave it off by having you reread verses 28-30. Listen to what He promises for us if we leave what we have to follow Him. That should be enough to challenge you right there. Verse 29.

Lukewarm Christianity...

The current book I'm reading Crazy Love has a chapter about Lukewarm Christians. It really stood out to me so I will pass on thoughts from that book as well as some from scriptures as well as a few of my own thoughts on this subject.

"Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe "good Christians" do, so they do." (Crazy Love)"

I think we can all agree upon that statement. People think that it is a big thing to go to church and to be seen at church. Even if they do not learn anything there or even take their faith out into the world. They lock it up in the four walls at church and keep it there for every Sunday.

"Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church...as long as it doesn't impinge on their standard of living." (Crazy Love)

They do not want to live uncomfortable even if that means helping out others. They only give if they have extra. They do not give from the top. I firmly believe that if we give from the top God will really bless us.

"Lukewarm people tend to chose what is popular over what is right when they are in a conflict." (Crazy Love)

They care so much more about what people think of them rather than think about what God thinks of what they are doing. They are making choices to please others and not to please God.

"I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead." (Revelation 3:1)

"Lukewarm people don't really want to be saved from their sin; they only want to be saved from the penalty of their sin." (Crazy Love)

This one is very true. I think a lot of times in our own lives we can point out a time where maybe we felt this way. We really enjoy the evil things we are doing but were saved so we are going to heaven no matter what we do. Here is what the Bible has to say about that:

"1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" (Romans 6:1-2)

"Lukewarm people are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act." (Crazy Love)

All I can say I have been there done that. Guilty as charged.

" 22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:22)

"Lukewarm people rarely share faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends." (Crazy Love)

Once again people are too concerned with what others think about you rather than do what God tells us to do. They fear rejection and fear being made fun of. Why can't we stop thinking about what others think about us!! It controls us and it forms into a lifestyle. Its not good guys. We all need to work on that.

32"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33)

"Lukewarm people gauge their morality or "goodness" by comparing themsleves to the secular world." (Crazy Love)

This is very right. And to be honest I have done this a lot in my life. We try to justify the things we say and do. But we can't justify anything.

Now what does say about Lukewarm Christians:

"15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." (Revelation 3:15-17)

Do we really understand how beautiful God really is?

I have been reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan and it has really been challenging me. I think that we don't really think about how truely beautiful God is. We don't realize how holy He is. He is the holiest of holies. Holy is described as "specially recognized as or declared sacred" (dictionary.com)

Exidous 15:11 puts it this way: "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD ? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?"

Majestic in holiness. Wow!!!

This is how Jesus is portrayed in Hebrews 1:3: 'The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.'



Read these three different definitions for Glory and don't they all work when we talk about God or how we need to view him:

1) adoring praise or worshipful thanksgiving

2) resplendent beauty or magnificence

3) a state of great splendor, magnificence



Isn't that crazy? Like im sure He is even more than these words can describe. Think of the most beautiful person you have ever seen. Alright, got them in mind? First of all He created them, second He is 100 times more beautiful than they are at least. I can't even fathom what His face looks like.

Why don't we serve...?

Why is it that we never serve others? Are we too good to serve others? Are we so much better than the people who need to be served? Are we too cool?



"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." Galatians 5:13



I think a lot of times we are so hesitant to serve because we feel like the people we would help are the "the low life's". The truth is Jesus spent most of his time with "the low life's". (The prostitutes, tax collectors, and leapers.) He would hang out with them and help them. Why don't we? Is that too socially awkward. Or would it just make us look bad in front of others?



I have been to Honduras multiple times and the one thing that gets me over and over again is the conditions that people live in. It's unbearable and inhuman. What is something that we forget is that we have people living in terrible conditions around us. We can serve them. Find a church group or even just with a group of friends and just go out in the community and do stuff. You can do anything whether its tutoring kids, being a big brother/sister in the community, help out at a food pantry, or even just pick up trash. Just look for opportunities to serve and share God's light.

People will notice when you serve, especially if you have the right attitude while you do it. That's the biggest thing I struggle with is my attitude while I serve. Usually it's very selfish and I just want to get done and get home. We need to think about who we are worshiping while we do this. With our attitudes being negative its selfish. And takes away from the point of helping out and shining your light. So just something that God has been teaching me.