What does living like Christ look like?

Isn't it a tragedy that people who claim to follow Jesus look so much like the rest of the world?

We are trapped in the same consumerism, we follow the same sporting events, we waste as much money on excessive material things.

I'm tired of following the world's system. Because I believe in a better system.

I believe in The Way of Jesus.

A Way in which millions of dollars aren't wasted on "games", but people give their money freely to those who need it.

A Way in which no one takes more than he needs. It reminds me of how when God sent manna to provide for His people in the wilderness. Whoever tried to stock up, to get ahead, to take more than was necessary found that his excess would spoil by the next day.

A Way in which people don't measure their worth by their gains and losses materially, but remember that they are members of the Kingdom of Heaven in which whoever loses their life will find it.

"It's an inside, outside, upside down kingdom
Where you lose to gain and you die to win"
-misty edwards

Are you more worried about who's going to win the game than about that your neighbors are dying from lack of clean water?

Are you more concerned about getting that "right" job than your neighbors are engaging in genocides and can't even feed their families properly?

Let's take a look at our hearts and try to line up our priorities with the Prince of Peace.

Sometimes I feel like I have no business writing. I have seen so little, my experiences are few. There seems to be little within me worth inscribing. But, I must write, so write I do . Most of my writing is private, but when I go to write a blog, I feel different. I am writing for an audience, a small audience, maybe, but I feel I need to make these words worth reading. So without further ado...


I am tired of living life so fakely.

I want to hold beliefs, fight for causes, make my fragile existence worth something. But, I don't know what, or how, or anything. There is so much messed up with this world.

I was listening to some ladies talk the other day about the wedding they were planning. Frankly, their talk disgusted me. Not that I have anything against marriage, but the flamboyancy of a modern wedding is appalling. People spend thousands, tens of thousands of dollars on a ceremony. You might say "Well, getting married is a special occasion and I spend so much because it's so important." But did you ever think that surviving just one more day is a special occasion to the starving and the homeless who could be helped with just a fraction of the money you are spending on that RIDICULOUS gown that you will wear ONCE?

I am such a hypocrite. I wish I could just pour out my life and resources on those who need it more. But, no, I spend my money and my time on doing whatever makes me comfortable. I don't know how to help, I don't know where to start. But I do know one thing, I will not accumulate an excess of material things. I don't believe in hoarding treasures on earth, I don't believe in having "nice things" for the sake of having "nice things". I can't believe that, not when the homeless of America are actually a good deal better off than most of Africa.

Can we not see our absurd excess? We are fat, obese on consumerism. It is such a tragedy that I can walk through a supermarket and be affronted by several different brands of bottled water to buy when people are DYING from lack of ANY drinkable water.

We are so sheltered, so blind. But I'm tired of looking the other way. My heart aches for the world, and it aches for the numbness of this Western culture. God, please show me how to be a beacon of hope and give me the chance to use the blessing of being in a prosperous nation to pour out on those less fortunate.

Why do I insist on living my life as if Christ does not have any influence over me?

My eyes need to opened, so very badly.

Today, I chose to make Him the center of my life. I want to walk confidently in His grace, knowing that He holds my heart. I want to live my life unafraid of commitment to His ways.

We have learned to run from pain, to run from anything relatively uncomfortable.
Some of us chose, instead, to run headfirst into pain, like we have something to prove.

But, there is a different way.

Let's just run. Run as if pain doesn't exist, like it holds no power over you. Your feet are unshackled, run!

I've been planning, scheming, whatever you want to call it.

I'm tired of rambling haphazardly through life, with no specific purpose or meaning. I was brought up to believe that every person has a purpose, something that gives their life meaning. The Bible even mentions that without vision, the people perish. I have had no vision, my eyes were firmly fixed to the ground. But, I've begun to raise them bit by bit and look ahead into the future God has planned for me if I just trust him.

Basically, I want to help the broken, heal the hurting, show people there is a better way than pain. I want people to know that they have worth. I want to tell people all the things I wish people would have told me. I want to spread light into darkness.

I am seriously praying and considering going back to school for counseling. I'm looking into programs and options, and plan on taking this year and seeing if that's what I really need to do. It might seem like I've been wasting time, but I haven't. I've gone around in a lot of circles, sure, but it has lead me to make some serious decisions, one of which is to make 2009 count.

I don't want this year to be a waste. I want to live and learn and grow as a person and spiritually. I want to explore new horizons, and make amazing life changes. Then, next year, maybe I'll embark on a career path. Or maybe God has something else in store.

No matter what... BRING IT!

Can we just hold on
One moment longer
I'm not ready to let go
I have dreamed of this day
Now the time comes
I am unprepared
I am afraid

A New Year
Leaving the old behind
Time reigns supreme
We cannot stop it
The new comes
The old fades
I am now ready
I do not fear