Philippians 2:3

"Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves."

don't be selfish. Being selfish is a strong word. Selfish-lacking consideration for others. That's a good definition. Have you shared with someone today? Anything at all? Maybe even for the most selfish people, how about a smile? Did you share that? I may be wrong in what I say, but my house is located, in my opinion, the most selfish place on earth. This is my first time out of the states, and I could care less about going back. You want to know my definition of America- self-centered, cocky, think about themselves, selfish, lazy, and only put themselves first. That's my definition of America, my opinion, but who cares about my opinion? Honestly? It's not about me, it's about you. The person to your right and your left. Instead of asking, have you shared with someone today, ask in a way Jesus would, have you loved someone today? Have you shared your love today? That's a big question too. Have you humbled yourself today and put someone before. Did you help pay for someone's groceries? Even though you are going to be late for work, did you help the older gentlemen put his lid on his coffee cup? Do you know what Jesus did with His disciples the night before He was crucified? He had loved others. He loved others. He put Himself lower than the dirt on the bottom of His disciples feet. He got down on His hands and knees and washed his disciples feet in a bowl. All twelve of them. Do you know what He did next? I had just stated it. He loved you and I with a full heart, and went to the cross. He died for you and I so that we can spend eternity in heaven with Him. It's difficult thinking of others as better than yourself. It's hard to swallow your pride. I've gone down that road more than once, and it flat out hurts. It feels like swallowing rose bush thorns. Being prideful is going to cause your brother to stumble. That's another big word, pride. It means to have a feeling or pleasure or satisfaction derived from ones own achievement. Have you had your piece of humble pie today as Kelli would say. I ask myself that almost every day. And on some days, I haven't had my piece of pie, and when I do, I can tell you that that piece of pie is disgusting. But every time I bring myself to swallow every last crumb of that pie, I would like to say that God is giving me a round of applause. I'm not perfect and I'm one of the biggest sinners in the world. To be prideful, Psalm 138:6, "though the Lord is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar." To be selfish, James 3:16, "for where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there." For this week I will write on a notecard and place it above my bed these two versus to remind myself to put others before me. 

Versus to memorize

Philippians 1:21 

For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

1 Peter 3:12

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers.

2 Corinthians 4:1

"Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart."

Ephesians 2:10

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Psalm 18:2

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 19:2

Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.

Galatians 6:3

For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing he deceives himself.

John 14:19

"A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also."

when Jesus says that you, meaning I, will see Him, gives me joy. Everyday, I see Him all around me. His love that He has poured out to me. Every where I look, I see His love for me. The nature around me, the creation of all things, the gifts that He has given me for everyday use. Isaiah 51:13, "and you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth..." The world forgets that God created all and gave all, and loved all. The world doesn't see God for the God He is. He poured out His love for us, and does every day. It hurts to see how cruel people are to one another and how unappreciated people are. I hate to say this but people in first world countries seem to be like that the most. God gives us so much, and so many can't say so much as a simple thank you. Of those that live in first world countries have it made for them. Plates made out of gold, beds made with heat and cold switches, toilets made out of silver, cars that cost so much that they could buy an entire country. It makes me sick knowing that I live in a country like that with people that surround me as such, and it's hard for them to reach out and say thank you or to donate a little. I have been in the potters field program just under six weeks and when I get back home for a couple days between Guatemala and my field location, I can tell you that there is going to be quite a bit that I'm getting rid of and a lot more that I'm going to be thankful for. Just to be thankful for having a meal three times a day, for having a different pair of clothes on my back everyday, to have shoes to protect my feet everyday. It breaks my heart knowing that there are hundreds of thousands of kids out there that get a meal every three days, and it's not even a nutritional meal. Psalm 100, "make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations." God has given me everything that I have today. He has provided me with more than I need and I can't be thankful enough. I'm glad that He says that I will see Him. I'm glad that I allowed Him into my heart. He has opened my eyes to so much. "Because I live, you will live also." John 11:25, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." That just blows my mind. "He who believes in Me, shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16. Ooo boy, I'm excited. Not only do I get the privilege of glorifying God and being given great love, I get to spend eternity with Him. I'm excited! "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Is stated in Romans 6:23. He gave us a gift to be born again, to be saved, have everlasting life with God in heaven, and to have rich love poured out to us every day. How do you not say yes. Because He lives, I will live also, in His name. He has given me life, love, kindness, mercy, grace, all of the above. I sin and He still loves me. I deserve to be condemned to hell but He says I don't belong here on earth but in heaven by His side. I have nothing to give except for my life, which His has given His. He deserves my life and a big 'ol hug and a big thank you and much more, but I don't have that. I love Him so much that I'm willing to do anything for Him. 

John 14:18

"I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you."

I've been through situations where my parents have fought and split, but they never got divorced. They were always able to come back together. They've been able to make it work out. I wouldn't know what it's like to be fatherless, or even motherless. Both of my parents were around when I was growing up. They still are. I know a couple people that don't have both their parents around. I wouldn't know what it's like but I'll say what I can. Both of my parents were always at work but I kind of had a second set of parents when my parents weren't around. My aunt and uncle where home, my uncle worked till 4ish, and was home around 430, and my aunt was always home. My mom would take us to school in the morning, go to work around 9ish. My dad left for work around 530 in the morning. Way to early for me. Then he would be home around 615. Just in time for dinner. Now that I think about it and look back at how different my life would be without my dad around, it's crazy. At least once a week in the morning, he would come and say goodbye, tuck us in again, give us a kiss good morning with coffee breath, and leave for work. Would come home in the evenings, sometimes he was early, sometimes he was late, but always came home. If he was early he was making dinner. It wasn't always that kind of manly dinner with steak every meal. Sometimes he would take five different left overs, throw them all into a pan, add a little salt and pepper, and dinner is ready. He would always have a three course meal too. The food pyramid was important. After dinner we were back to homework, I would usually leave my math homework to have him help me on it. Reading and writing which I was disgusted of, was left with my mom. She enjoyed it and was good at it. Then there came a time where I passed my dad in math problems, which I always thought was hilarious. He stopped at algebra, or simple math kind of stuff, then the alphabet was added into the problems and he began to look at a different language. Then I was asking my older brother for help, and I didn't care for that, he wasn't a good teacher. After math was doing chores and taking care of the animals, then getting ready for bed and dessert. My dad would sometimes take care of the chickens and the pigs, turkeys, or horses. He liked having chickens around, it was nice. We didn't have to buy eggs, which was cool because the eggs we got were so good, and sometimes HUGE! Showers came first, then we had marble ice cream waiting for us in the freezer. My dad always had a sweet tooth for chocolate, I can see where I get it from. I didn't used to. He would take the chocolate syrup and dunk his ice cream, and I would take some skittles if I had any and mix those in or strawberry syrup and dunk my ice cream. My brothers would take the chocolate or none and my sister would take no syrup but defiantly ice cream. She would always take the longest in the shower so she was last to get ice cream. Then to brushing our teeth and time for bed. We would go climb in bed, and dad would come tuck us in and say goodnight. Moms next, I can hear in the back of my mind, "give me a kiss goodnight." It was always fun teasing her about it. 

I look back and my life would've been a whole lot different without a dad. Being fatherless is scary to think about. Instead of being a little kid, now my dad helps me on insurance, car payments, working on my car, you know, the boring stuff. I've now got another father in my life. A father that loves me just like my biological father does. A father, that shows me the light if I'm walking in darkness. A father that has a divine power all over the earth. I love him with my whole heart. He has sent His son to redeem me of my sins, He shows me truth in His word. He is someone that I can look to when I am weak and will give me strength to push forward. Tonight, I will ask pastor Jim if I can call my dad and talk with him for a little bit and tell him that I love him!

John 14:17

"The spirit of the truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you."

the Holy Spirit is full of truth and the world doesn't receive it. Not only refuse to, but cannot receive it. It doesn't make much sense to me either but it's Gods word and it's the truth. Accept it and move on. It's interesting how far Gods word has come. From the beginning of time. Imagine that...from the beginning. "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God." John 1:1. "In the beginning God created..." Genesis 1:1. Not only has the word come from God and is God, but it has been with mankind from the beginning which God had created. The word still exist today and is all over the world doing good. Take a look at Buddhism, it only took root in China, Hinduism, took root in India, Doaism, took root in Japan, Muslim, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Islamic, Islam, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan. And for those religions it had centralized in those areas. It only maintained root in those areas. There are times where missionaries of those religions had tried to spread but didn't have truth, didn't have a divine power to spread. Now if we take a look at Christianity, it has spread all over the world! The truth and need to spread all over the world. It was born in the Middle East, spread to all over Europe and Africa, shipped over to Central America, spread to North and South America, then across the Pacific Ocean to Asia, down to Australia, and back into the Middle East. It wasn't centralized and didn't start that way. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and spread to Jerusalem, Tyre, Judaea, Cyprus, to all over the world. "...And you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8.  It's really interesting to see how so many people are caught up in other religions that are just garbage and have so many different stories. It's interesting to see that there are wars and controversies over religions. It's sad to see that people are dying for false truth. It's sad how the devil has consumed people to believing in something so wrong, so deceiving, that they are willing to kill innocent people. That they are willing to die themselves, and are willing to go to hell over lies. The truth has existed from day one and will exist till day apocalypse, of whenever Jesus returns. The world is so caught up in the noise, that all they see is salt and pepper on the TV screen. They don't know God and can't see God, so that's all they see. An annoying fuzz, and a terrible sound if you ask me. The world doesn't know God, but those who know Him are able to see the love He gives us, the beauty around us, His creation, those who know Him are able to see Him. 

Those who know Him are able to see His beauty all around. The power all around us. "Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge." Psalm 19:2. 

Knowing God and seeing God, He dwells in us. He lives in us, next to us, with us, beside us, above us, behind us, in front of us, everywhere. If you can think of the area, He is there. If you can dream the area, He is there. "...for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts, if you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever." 1 Chronicles 28:9. For this week I will write that verse on my hand to remind myself that wherever I am, He is, and that whatever I dream of think, He knows. 

1 Timothy 6:10

"For the love of money is a root to all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

Money, it's green, rectangular, weightless, has value, uses to about everything, full of numbers and secrets, hidden images, covered in greed, evil and germs. Has an unknown trail of where it last was, or even where it first was. Think of it this way, started out from a money printing factory, made its way into a armored truck to be transferred to a bank, arrives at bank and is signed over to the bank manager, he works at chase banks, counted at the back counter at the bank by two different tellers, made its way to a teller at the front counter, counted again, stored in the register. A man walks up and wants to get money out of his bank account to buy groceries. The teller hands him the money, is counted out to him, he then stores it in his back pocket. Heads to King Soopers and buys his groceries. "$54.67 please" the cashier says to him. He pulls out $60 and hands it to the cashier. Cashier gives him his change, and puts the $60 in the register, gives the gentleman his receipt and he walks off. Couple hours later the head clerk on duty comes by and collects the drawers, swapping out the drawers. Head clerk takes the money, balances the drawer, in the process counts it three times and is verified by another manager and it is then sent back out to another drawer on the floor. A group of young men walk up, buy a couple of sodas and candy and pays with a card, ask for 80$ cash back. They leave the grocery store and head to a friends house. They get there, stay a couple of minutes and decide to go to a bar. They get to the bar and stay for a while. They pay for their drinks and the money is now in the hands of the bar tender. The bar tender takes the total of their drinks, go to the register, gets the change and gives them their change. Another bar tender walks up to the register, grabs the money for change of another group, and gives this other group their change. They leave a tip and leave the bar. The money sits on the table whilst other tenders are helping other customers. A greedy young man walks up to the table and steals the tip. He walks off with it and heads home. Unfortunately he is an addict. He gets home and calls his dealer. His dealer stops by, makes the trade, and takes off. Are you still following me with the story? The little bit of money that came from a money printing factory, is now in the hands of a drug dealer. The dealer leaves the thieves house and heads to pick up more drugs from his dealer. He arrives at his dealers meeting place and exchanges money for drugs. The first dealer leaves, and the other dealer goes back to his house. He, unfortunately is a dirty slob, while counting his money, sneezes into the bills and it's quite gross. Gets some tissue paper and cleans up his mess. Finishes counting his money and puts it into a hidden safe. From the safe, it is back into the dealers hands in the morning. He heads to a local gas station, buys a pack of cigs and a soda. The money is now in the cashiers hands at the gas station. A family traveling through the town need to stop for gas and grabs a bite to eat and gets some cash back. They finish filling their car and head off out of town. From here that money is still traveling. From one part of the country to another. Over hundreds of thousands of miles that money travels. And from one person to the next, it becomes covered in sins. From time to time that money is relieved of sin and donated for a good cause. It's amazing how a weightless piece of paper can cause a person to have greed and fill their lives with sin. Once that root of evilness is planted, that root is extremely difficult to get out of there. Having a love for money will always leave you empty handed. No matter the situation, once having that love for money, you will never have enough. Ecclesiastes 5:10, "He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver, nor he who loves abundance, with increase." You could have all the silver in the world and still not be happy with the amount you have. Same goes for gold, green pieces of paper, and every item possible. No matter how large your income can be or is, it is never enough. But one thing is for certain, His love is always enough. His love never fails, never runs out. 

John 14:15

"If you love Me, keep My commandments."

Jesus says "If you love Me...." When I first read this verse, I came to a pause. My heart skipped a beat, my eyes stopped and pondered at the word "if." Big word if you were to ask me. Now Jesus is asking me. Now God is asking me, if I, I love Him. So I began to think about it. I thought back a ways. I then begin to say, I do, without a doubt that I love You. Here are some reasons. You died for me Jesus, You loved me, You have always been there for me, You are trustworthy and will never let me. No one has ever done that for me except for my parents. Lord, of corse I love You. With all my heart, without a doubt. Through the toughest of times that I have been in, You have always been there next to me. You have given me life, "before You formed me in my mothers womb You knew me; before I was born You sanctified me; You ordained me a prophet to the nations." When I gave up on You, you didn't give up on me. You always gave me mercy when I deserved to be condemned. You said to come and taste the grace, You invited me to be with you in eternity. You invited me to be in complete paradise with You for eternity. You gave me food when I was hungry, you gave me drink when I thirst, You gave me shelter when I had nothing to give back, You gave me clothes when I was naked, You gave me medicine when I was sick, You picked me up when I couldn't walk, Father, You gave me Your Son to save me, to redeem me. You put my heart back together piece by piece when it was broken, shattered into a million pieces. You gave me eyes when I had none. You poured Your love into me when I had none to give to others. Lord, I do love you, with all my heart, without a doubt. 

Then He asks me, "...keep My commandments." After thinking about His first question and answering that, I pondered on His second one. My first thought was, no, I really haven't. I haven't obeyed Your commandments. I haven't loved as you have loved me, I haven't honored my mother and father, I have used your name in vain, I haven't kept the sabbath day a holy day, I have murdered, I have committed adultery, I have stolen, I have lied, I have wanted. Father, I haven't kept your commandments. Father, I ask You to help me to keep Your commandments. Father, I confess, I can't do it on my own. I'm not strong enough, I need you. Father, I do love You with all my heart, and Lord, I give my best to keep your commandments. I will fail you day to day, Father please forgive me. When I came to this conclusion, I didn't know what to think. I love my God with all my heart, but I have failed Him. I fall short and fail Him everyday. I have nothing to give, and He continues to love me with a full heart. He has given me so much that it is worth being obedient and doing what He asks. We may not have the resources, but believing that He will provide, and He will. When God asked Moses to go, Moses refused, then God said, "who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be your mouth and teach you what you shall say." Exodus 4:11-12. Jesus also had said, "Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." Matthew 28:19. He just wants us to obey and do as He says. All He really asks is go. Take the first step and He will take the rest. For this week I will memorize the 10 commandments.