We still have eternity.

As I'm finishing up my freshman year of college, there are a few extremely important things I've learned.  I'm not going to list them here because I only want to focus on one, but just know that college is a learning experience unlike any other.  You are put in situations and become involved with people that change your life forever and are apart from people you've known forever.  The lesson that took me forever to learn was that, sometimes, even though we miss people we love that can't be with us at the present moment, we have to keep on living and remain on  God's path.  It can be extremely painful, especially when we feel needed at home.  However, this Bible verse really clarifies the necessity for separation from people we love sometimes. 

 ¹⁵ Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
-Philemon 1:15-16

In essence, this verse embodies the idea that, though we dearly love people we can't be with right now, the separation is necessary because we need to follow our own paths that God has intended for us here on Earth so that we may spend eternity together with Him later on.  It might seem better to have our friends/family here with us now, but maybe they need to be somewhere else so that they can follow Christ in the way God intended them to.  This doesn't mean that we shouldn't try to serve as an example of Christianity and love that person when we are with them, but we can't be with them all the time.  If we are meant to be with a person, God will create that opportunity.  

 

A New Beginning

Today, I realized something.  I began writing this blog in October 2012, only one month after I committed to living for Christ.  It is very interesting to me that, just after this new beginning, I had to create an outlet for me to share and grow in Christ.  It demonstrates the need Christians have to share the beautiful love of God with others.  I'm so excited that I realized this and to see how this blog will grow and change.

On another note, this may be a little late, but I'm posting two links.  The first is to a video of my Baptism testimony, and the second is a video compilation of the recent Baptisms, mine included, at the River Community Church this month.  These videos show the happiest moment in my entire life and are a celebration of my new beginning in Christ.  I hope that, through these videos, I won't be the focus, but God will be glorified and more will be drawn to live for Him.  All my love!

-Sam

My Baptism Testimony

Baptism Clips

Inhaling and Exhaling Love

Think about your body for a second.  This might seem like a weird thing to do, but just trust me on this.  You take in the world visually with your eyes, observing other people and your surroundings in a vivid and beautiful way.  You can smell flowers, food, other people, even water if its fresh enough with your nose.  Every morning you awaken and have the opportunity to inhale and exhale for another day with your lungs.  Your fingertips can barely brush across something and feel it.  The smallest crumb can touch your tongue and your mouth can fill with a vibrant and strong taste.  Picking up a pattern yet?  It's ok if not;  it took me 18 years to figure this out.  God was FASCINATED with input and output when He created us.  An object lies in front of you and you see it with your eyes, and you interpret it in your mind.  Then you react appropriately.  An unpleasant smell startles you as you take it in, and your immediate reaction is to move away or hold your nose.  Fresh air enters your lungs when you inhale and leaves as poison when you exhale only to be turned back into clean oxygen to be breathed once more.  You feel something soft and feel comfortable and warm.  Food enters your mouth, is processed by your body, and is output when you burn the energy it creates.  Where am I going with this?  Well, based on how God created us, it is only natural to react and output something in response to what is input.  This applies to all areas of life.  If God fills us with His spirit when we accept Him, shouldn't it feel natural and absolutely necessary for us to pour back out into someone else so they can feel Him too?  If we get the privilege of feeling God and recognizing Him in our lives, shouldn't we give others the same opportunity to have such a wonderful relationship?  The truth is, it should overflow.  If God is only filling us up, we should absolutely reach a point where we just HAVE to let it out.  I guess the point is that we should embrace this necessity.  It's really a wonderful process.  It won't always feel safe or comfortable, like an soft blanket or delicious food, but it almost always turns into something wonderful.