Very Personal Reflections

This post is going to be an off-shoot of the typical and more personal.

Praise God for counseling!
I had the privilege of meeting with a wonderful counselor to discuss different things I am struggling with. During the course of our conversation, some things were pointed out for which I am very grateful.

1. I can be open before God about my faults

• not picking up on social queus (not necesarrily a sin, but definitely a source of problems)
• my neediness (wanting people around me for my benefit, asking others to serve me, rather than extending myself in service to those around me)
• being willfull, everyone should NOT conform to my wants and needs
• wanting to be God (I want control over outcomes, all the time... I want control over the blessings and praise I recieve from people)

2.  Wanting praise and recognition from people is a low goal.

• praise from people is somewhat controllable
• when people give me accolades I would reward them with "gifts" or when I feel disrespected I would want to punish them and myself by withdrawing...
• What I need to aim for is praise from God. JAmes 4 says that God exalts the humble. I have no control over how or when God will praise me, but I have to start by taking myself out of the center and placing my Heavenly Dad in the center

3.  If I dated or married someone where they were how I based my worth, significance, etc. I would be making them a tool.

I hope this blesses someone :)

A not too long Easter Talk

Let me break it down: <span class=" fbUnderline">Rom 3:19-31, 1 Cor 5:6-8, </span>.

The Law is like an X-ray it shows our brokenness. The Law can do an autopsy, it tells why we die. <span class=" fbUnderline">The Law cannot heal brokenness, nor can the Law reanimate people dead in sin.</span> 

Unlike today's medical examinations and process of diagnosing problems where we pay the doctor, we don't have to pay a thing.

Praise God though for Christ. Our Passover Lamb. Christ paid all the debt for all the people, "for the joy set before him, He endured the cross!" <span class=" fbUnderline"><hebrews></hebrews></span>

<span class=" fbUnderline">Romans 6:1-14</span>

Christ does more than X-ray, he doesn't just set bones, he sets our souls! Christ does more than a medical examiner, he doesn't just identify our cause of death but he brings the dead to life!!

Not done yet!

 While Jesus was having dinner at MAtthew's house, many tax collectors and 'sinners' came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy [to show love, unconditional, forgiving], not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

<span class=" fbUnderline">Matthew 9:2-13</span>

<span class=" fbUnderline">Romans 3:23</span> We’re all sick, we all fall short.

Still not done!

 I’ll speak for myself. I don’t want someone to give me an X-ray and leave. I don’t want someone to give me an autopsy. And I don’t want to be a slave to the ways that go to death (<span class=" fbUnderline">Rom 5</span>).  I don’t want the Law. I can’t live up to the Law. I want a doctor. I have a doctor. I have Jesus.