 There are two types of people in this world – the type that, when something bad happens to them, they say ‘It could always get worse!’ and the type that say ‘It could always get better…’
What type are you? When life gives you lemons, do you make lemonade, or do you rub it in your wounds and pout about? The worst time to pout about when things aren’t going your way, is when people want EVERYONE to know they’re having a bad day, too. Always sighing, being irritable on purpose, or leaving intentionally depressing MySpace/Facebook/Whatever statuses – anything for attention. Really, all complaining is is a form of selfishness.
What does the bible say about this?
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Philippians 2:3-5
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. Philippians 4:11-12
“9 Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!” James 5:9
…plus many, many more verses on this very subject. Friends – I urge you to stop complaining, and get over yourself! To live in Christ is to die to the self and to sin. If you’re still at the center of YOUR life, then you’re not living for Jesus.
Here’s some more bits of scripture on Complaining and Whining:
Exodus 15:24
1 Peter 5:7
Proverbs 19:3
Thanks for reading,
-Matt
written by Matt
\\ tags: Bible, Christ, church, Complaining, God, Help, Jesus, Letting Go, life, Selfishness, Sin, stress, Struggle, Whining, Who God Is
“It’s time for healing. Time to move on. It’s time to fix what’s been broken too long. Time to make right what has been wrong. It’s time to find my way to where I belong. There’s a wave that’s crashing over me, and all I can do is surrender.
Whatever you’re doing inside of me… it feels like chaos, but somehow there’s peace. And it’s hard to surrender to what I can’t see, but I’m giving in to something Heavenly…”
Those are lyrics to my favorite song by Sanctus Real, ‘Whatever you’re doing – Something Heavenly.’ It speaks about putting what we want aside, and focusing on what God wants. In the life of a Christian, we need to strive to MAKE what God wants we WE want. Sometimes it’s not easy, and it’s painful.
God will often call us away from something hindering us from growing in him. It can be confusing, hard, and painful, and ‘it feels like chaos,’ but I promise, there will be peace with it.
“This is something bigger then me. Larger then life… something Heavenly.”
Whatever your struggle is, the good news is that YOU don’t have to handle it by yourself! Back in Old Testament days, a Rabbi, that is, a religious leader in the Jewish community, would have students study under them. They’d say the students would ‘take up their master’s yoke,’ and in, they’d carry the burden of studying every last teaching and following EVERY LAST rule of Jewish law. Heavy burden to bear for such a little one, right? Jesus says this in Matthew 11:30,
“My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
He takes care of us. His yoke is easy. His burden is light, if existent at all. We don’t have to worry about what comes out way, or what seems to be constant attacks against us from the enemy. Jesus took away all our troubles, and they’re nailed to his cross. This doesn’t mean the life of a believer is going to be an easy one, but when times come when you need to carry your own cross, Jesus will be there carrying it with you.
So give into something heavenly today.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO
Thanks for Reading,
Lots of Love,
-Matt
written by Matt
\\ tags: Freedom, God, Jesus, Letting Go, life, Lyrics, Matthew, Music, Sin, Struggle, Worry
 Back in Middle School, I had a friend that I knew pretty well. He was a great person to be around, was very smart, and had an excellent sense of humor. He was also a hardcore Atheist who scoffed at the very notion of God – much less a loving one. He knew I was a Christian, but thankfully that didn’t effect our friendship. We’d always crack jokes to each other about our beliefs, and teased and joked, but it was all in fun. He was a great friend.
I remember this so vividly; one day he came to me at lunch really down. He said he didn’t understand anything about what was going on with himself or his life, and everything was just coming down around him. As a Christian, I knew the only one who could help him was Jesus. He needed him badly, but I had tried so many times before to earnestly tell him about the love of God, and not what he had been taught. So, in this instance, I just assumed he was depressed, like we all get, and just said ‘Sorry man,’ and continued with lunch.
This was on a Friday. I found out on Monday, he had tried to kill himself over the weekend. Thank God he failed, but the very fact he tried shook me to my core. I had given up on him, too. I was maybe the last glimpse to God he had, and I gave up on him.
I haven’t talked to him much since then. Things just were never the same, but every time I think about him, I think about how I was a quitter – I gave up on him, and he gave up on God… and even tried to give up on life.
Maybe you have a friend like this, or know someone who just needs someone to talk to. It might seem like the last straw – YOU can’t take it anymore! It’s like they don’t want help, so you give up. I tell you the truth, the most selfish thing I, or anyone, ever did was give up on someone because they were too big of a challenge. I was a coward, and I was weak.
Friends, I urge you to stay strong, even when it seems like you’re fighting and loosing, uphill battle. You could be someone’s last hope. I often think ‘What if my friend had succeeded?’ I pray that none of you ever have to think of that.
“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
That’s so true. It’s not in Vain. Never think it is.
Thanks for reading,
Lots of Love,
-Matt
written by Matt
\\ tags: control, Giving Up, Help, Hope, Jesus, life, Loss, Love, Problems, Regrets, Story, Struggle, Suicide, Worry
 Here’s a quick post I’ve been thinking about doing for a while. Not to take the place of the Predestination one and the Sheltered Kids one I mentioned, but something real quick to leave you with before the weekend.
Do you think you have what’s called ‘Forgivness Syndrome?’ That’s when you KNOW that your sins have been forgiven and paid for, so you think ‘Hey – I’m forgiven! I can do whatever I want now!’
Even to a lesser extent, you think ‘I know this is wrong… but the temptation is too great… I’ll give in this one time. I’m already forgiven, aren’t I?’
Today, in the bible, we’re going back to Romans.
1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?
I know a lot of us, myself included begin to think ‘I know this is wrong, but I’m forgiven.’ This, according to the bible – to God – is wrong. I think we get into the mindset that ‘Sin is something the God doesn’t want me to do’ rather then ‘Sin is evil by nature.’ Which it is; sin, in it’s very essence, is rebellion against God, who is the greatest good, and therefore, moving away from that is going towards evil.
It’s simply critical that we understand that Jesus DIED so you wouldn’t have to pay your debt; he did not die so you could continue to add to it. It’s like someone paying your bail when you’re in jail, and you go right back out and commit more and more crimes. That’s wrong, and some people are going to take advantage of God’s continuious forgivness, but we must not take it for granted.
Thanks for reading,
Lots of Love,
-Matt
written by Matt
\\ tags: Christ, Forgiveness, Forgiveness Syndrome, Jesus, Questions, Romans, Sin, Struggle
God, you are Crazy.
Really, Really, Really Crazy.
Your craziness borders on stupidity, God.
Look at what you’re doing.
You keep going back into an abusive relationship,
continuing to love your abuser,
asking for nothing in return,
My God, you are Crazy.
Though he slaps you in the face,
though he kicks you in the shin,
you keep reaching out for him;
God, you sure are crazy.
How many times will it take?
You’re seriously still trying?
But look at how he treats you!
Like he doesn’t even care.
So you’re still reaching out, hmm?
Going to try again?
Face it, he’s a lost cause.
My God, you’re so crazy.
Or maybe not…
Maybe he’s the crazy one,
that crazy one being me;
but you knew that, didn’t you?
You seem to know these things.
But why? Why still love me?
A horrible, awful wretch like me?
I can’t possibly make an excuse.
My God, you sure are crazy.
Or maybe it is me – the crazy one.
Maybe this insanity does not lie with you,
but with me – the one you DIED for,
that seems not to even care.
But please, Lord, please,
know I do love you,
but what can I do?
It seems like too much.
My God, I’m crazy.
After all you’ve done,
Are doing, and yet to do,
I still act like you mean nothing to me.
My God, I am crazy.
These things, they are not mere sin,
but, literally, insanity -
eating away at who I am.
Take these things, God!
You mean too much to me!
I do not want them anymore!
Pride, Anger, Lust, Lies, take it all!
My God, I am crazy.
Really, Really, Really crazy.
My craziness borders on stupidity, God
Look at what I’m doing.
But still… you’re there. And I thank you for that.
-Matt
written by Matt
\\ tags: control, Crazy, God, Help, life, Love, Poetry, Sin, Story, Struggle
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