Day 6-
When was the last time you were on stage? Being on stage can be intimidating in some ways, but such an opportunity to share. If the performance goes well, the feeling as you leave the stage is pretty great. There is this rush of adrenaline and accomplishment. I thought about this today after watching the end of an older American Idol episode, I'll put the link to the youtube video at the bottom of this post. Colton Dixon is the artist, it shows him getting voted off, and then he performs his last performance. He is on stage in front of friends, judges and thousands sitting before him, and then indirectly before millions on TV. This is an intense stage, larger than most people will ever experience. He chooses to worship Jesus on this stage.
We all have a stage. We all live on stage. Each day we have the opportunity to share with everyone around us what Jesus has uniquely designed us to do. As I watched this short video of a guy worshipping Jesus I found myself asking, do I live my life like I am on stage? At times I feel myself living like I'm backstage or like people aren't watching what I'm doing. At times I believe that decisions I make don't impact anybody around me. I caught myself realizing that I want to live my life in ways that try to always impact the people around me positively.
video link-
http://youtu.be/To1loObVf9c?t=2m40s
Conversation Possibilities-
What does your stage look like? Who is your audience? Not in the same literal way of thinking about your life as a performance, but instead think about who are people in your life that you impact.
What are ways you have pointed others to Jesus or given Jesus credit for work that he has done in your life?
Ask Jesus: Who is in my audience right now, that I don't see?
What message do you want my life to tell everyone that meets me?
What gifts or strengths are you most excited about in my life?
Comment-Please feel free to comment each day about
your experiences, thoughts, or conversations.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Day 5-
There are so many conditional situations in our everyday world. In the last 15 minutes I experienced several conditional scenarios. I bought a coke at a vending machine. I stared at the vending machine wanting a cold coke so bad, and didn't get one to fall into the bottom opening deal until I put my money in. If I hadn't put my dollar in, I would still be staring at the pop machine, thirsty. Within the next 5 or so minutes I went to the bathroom. Once I finished, if I hadn't flushed; alright you get the picture.
I was thinking today about how all of these conditional situations start to impact how I view relationships in my life. The question that came to my mind was, do I look at my relationships the same way I look at flushing the toilet, or buying coke at the vending machine? Are the relationships in my life more than a math equation? If this, then this.
Jesus is not a math equation. My best friend, and our relationship, is not a math equation. It would be so much easier to figure out if that were the case, but it also would be so heartless. There are times when I can't feel Jesus. There are times when I no without a doubt that I feel Jesus' presence. I have caught myself questioning Jesus and our relationship, during the times when I can't feel his presence. Jesus wants to be in relationship with us always, when we feel good/bad, and when we feel his presence/when its hard to feel his presence.
Conversation Possibilities-
Ask Jesus: Why are there times when I can't feel you?
If you have had a relationship with Jesus for awhile: have you ever intentionally walked away from Jesus? Did you ever talk with him about wanting that relationship again?
You maybe have heard people talk about Jesus' love being unconditional. How would you define the love you give people and to Jesus? What would help you love more unconditionally, like Jesus?
Comment-
Please feel free to comment each day about your experiences, thoughts, or conversations.
There are so many conditional situations in our everyday world. In the last 15 minutes I experienced several conditional scenarios. I bought a coke at a vending machine. I stared at the vending machine wanting a cold coke so bad, and didn't get one to fall into the bottom opening deal until I put my money in. If I hadn't put my dollar in, I would still be staring at the pop machine, thirsty. Within the next 5 or so minutes I went to the bathroom. Once I finished, if I hadn't flushed; alright you get the picture.
I was thinking today about how all of these conditional situations start to impact how I view relationships in my life. The question that came to my mind was, do I look at my relationships the same way I look at flushing the toilet, or buying coke at the vending machine? Are the relationships in my life more than a math equation? If this, then this.
Jesus is not a math equation. My best friend, and our relationship, is not a math equation. It would be so much easier to figure out if that were the case, but it also would be so heartless. There are times when I can't feel Jesus. There are times when I no without a doubt that I feel Jesus' presence. I have caught myself questioning Jesus and our relationship, during the times when I can't feel his presence. Jesus wants to be in relationship with us always, when we feel good/bad, and when we feel his presence/when its hard to feel his presence.
Conversation Possibilities-
Ask Jesus: Why are there times when I can't feel you?
If you have had a relationship with Jesus for awhile: have you ever intentionally walked away from Jesus? Did you ever talk with him about wanting that relationship again?
You maybe have heard people talk about Jesus' love being unconditional. How would you define the love you give people and to Jesus? What would help you love more unconditionally, like Jesus?
Comment-
Please feel free to comment each day about your experiences, thoughts, or conversations.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Day 4-
Words. Words can be an incredible gift. They can also be incredibly destructive. Driving through a high school parking lot today, I rolled my window down and called out to a group of students standing on the sidewalk. I asked one of the guys what his name was, and told him I really liked his glasses. His face lit up with a huge smile. I have to say, at many points I catch myself totally unaware of messages I am communicating to people around me.
Words can lift people up when we intend to. This is clear and fairly simple. What about when we are communicating to someone who has made us feel angry, frustrated, annoyed, irritated, taken advantage of, betrayed? How can we build them up with our words, while still communicating our hurt?
Some of Jesus' words while he lived here are quoted in the Bible. We can see from this how he chose to talk to his friends, enemies, and people he didn't know. God also gave us his word, the Bible. Sometimes I have felt like I can't use my words in the ways I see Jesus and God using words. The truth is that I can't, but the deeper my relationship grows with Jesus the closer my conversations resemble the words he would choose to say.
I say lots of weird things. I love creating new words and phrases. Sometimes people that I hang out with a lot, start saying these ridiculous things. It is natural for us to communicate like the people we communicate with frequently.
Conversation Possibilities-
Ask Jesus: Can you show me someone you would like me to talk to today?
How do my negative feelings effect my ability to build others up?
How can my relationship with Jesus impact the ways I talk to people around me?
Comment-
Please feel free to comment each day about your experiences, thoughts, or conversations.
Words. Words can be an incredible gift. They can also be incredibly destructive. Driving through a high school parking lot today, I rolled my window down and called out to a group of students standing on the sidewalk. I asked one of the guys what his name was, and told him I really liked his glasses. His face lit up with a huge smile. I have to say, at many points I catch myself totally unaware of messages I am communicating to people around me.
Words can lift people up when we intend to. This is clear and fairly simple. What about when we are communicating to someone who has made us feel angry, frustrated, annoyed, irritated, taken advantage of, betrayed? How can we build them up with our words, while still communicating our hurt?
Some of Jesus' words while he lived here are quoted in the Bible. We can see from this how he chose to talk to his friends, enemies, and people he didn't know. God also gave us his word, the Bible. Sometimes I have felt like I can't use my words in the ways I see Jesus and God using words. The truth is that I can't, but the deeper my relationship grows with Jesus the closer my conversations resemble the words he would choose to say.
I say lots of weird things. I love creating new words and phrases. Sometimes people that I hang out with a lot, start saying these ridiculous things. It is natural for us to communicate like the people we communicate with frequently.
Conversation Possibilities-
Ask Jesus: Can you show me someone you would like me to talk to today?
How do my negative feelings effect my ability to build others up?
How can my relationship with Jesus impact the ways I talk to people around me?
Comment-
Please feel free to comment each day about your experiences, thoughts, or conversations.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Day 3-
I thought today about what keeps me from coming to Jesus. I found myself surprised at the answer even though it was so clear; I keep myself from coming to Jesus. I will do something wrong or get distracted, and then my guilt/shame will handcuff me. What this revealed to me is that I still think I have to do certain things, or be a certain person for Jesus to love me.
What if, by being in close relationship with Jesus my life actually changed? Since I started following Jesus my life has changed in a lot of ways. I have seen times when this change flowed out of my close relationship with Jesus. Unfortunately other times the changes came out of feelings of obligation, legalism, or positive social pressure. Does it matter? As long as we are changing in positive ways, making better choices; does it matter if this is directly coming out of our close relationship with Jesus, or out of something else? It depends. It depends on what we are wanting our life to be about. If we want our life to be about following Jesus, then changes and decisions we make, need to come from a place much deeper than obligation.
Conversation Possibilities-
Ask Jesus: Do you really love me? If so, why?
What does it look like to have a relationship with Jesus, vs trying to earn a relationship with him?
Comment-
Please feel free to comment each day about your experiences, thoughts, or conversations.
I thought today about what keeps me from coming to Jesus. I found myself surprised at the answer even though it was so clear; I keep myself from coming to Jesus. I will do something wrong or get distracted, and then my guilt/shame will handcuff me. What this revealed to me is that I still think I have to do certain things, or be a certain person for Jesus to love me.
What if, by being in close relationship with Jesus my life actually changed? Since I started following Jesus my life has changed in a lot of ways. I have seen times when this change flowed out of my close relationship with Jesus. Unfortunately other times the changes came out of feelings of obligation, legalism, or positive social pressure. Does it matter? As long as we are changing in positive ways, making better choices; does it matter if this is directly coming out of our close relationship with Jesus, or out of something else? It depends. It depends on what we are wanting our life to be about. If we want our life to be about following Jesus, then changes and decisions we make, need to come from a place much deeper than obligation.
Conversation Possibilities-
Ask Jesus: Do you really love me? If so, why?
What does it look like to have a relationship with Jesus, vs trying to earn a relationship with him?
Comment-
Please feel free to comment each day about your experiences, thoughts, or conversations.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Day 2-
I looked out my window APRIL 11 and saw everything outside covered in snow. 2 days before I biked to work in shorts and a sweatshirt. This reminded me of how I am not in control of most of the things that happen around me. I think at times this makes me want to control the few things that I feel I can control in my life.
Often your life is viewed more clearly looking backward. Today I remembered a couple times when I was trying to be in control of my life, and a couple times when I was letting Jesus be in control of my life. In the moment, it feels much safer to take control, but as life plays out you can quickly see looking backward how much safer it is trusting the one who created us.
Conversation Possibilities-
Talk with Jesus about areas in your life where you feel its hard to give up control.
Ask Jesus to remind you of a time when he was there for you, when no one else was.
Trust in relationships is always built over time. If you have had a relationship with Jesus for awhile, think back to a couple of times when Jesus came through for you.
If you have just started a relationship with Jesus, think about a relationship with someone really close to you. In that relationship what has helped build trust? What has broken trust? Could this be similar with your relationship with Jesus?
Comment-
Please feel free to comment each day about your experiences, thoughts, or conversations.
I looked out my window APRIL 11 and saw everything outside covered in snow. 2 days before I biked to work in shorts and a sweatshirt. This reminded me of how I am not in control of most of the things that happen around me. I think at times this makes me want to control the few things that I feel I can control in my life.
Often your life is viewed more clearly looking backward. Today I remembered a couple times when I was trying to be in control of my life, and a couple times when I was letting Jesus be in control of my life. In the moment, it feels much safer to take control, but as life plays out you can quickly see looking backward how much safer it is trusting the one who created us.
Conversation Possibilities-
Talk with Jesus about areas in your life where you feel its hard to give up control.
Ask Jesus to remind you of a time when he was there for you, when no one else was.
Trust in relationships is always built over time. If you have had a relationship with Jesus for awhile, think back to a couple of times when Jesus came through for you.
If you have just started a relationship with Jesus, think about a relationship with someone really close to you. In that relationship what has helped build trust? What has broken trust? Could this be similar with your relationship with Jesus?
Comment-
Please feel free to comment each day about your experiences, thoughts, or conversations.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Day 1-
Sometimes I have felt like when I talk to Jesus, my words/thoughts are not heard. Sometimes it has felt like my thoughts are hitting the ceiling and bouncing back to me. I want nothing more than to hear Jesus' voice.
At this point in your conversation you may be at a place where you talk with Jesus quite often, not as often, just starting the conversation, or maybe you aren't sure what you think yet. If you have never talked to Jesus, or are in a period where you haven't in a long time, I encourage you Jesus HEARS you. Today I am talking to Jesus about what it looks like to HEAR him. One way Jesus speaks to us is through his word, the Bible. Another way is through the words of people who believe in him.
Conversation Possibilities-
Ask Jesus: What are ways you are trying to speak to me?
If you were Jesus how would you choose to communicate with people who believed in you?
With my closest friends I have learned more and more how they communicate. Talk to Jesus about where your relationship is at and where you would like it go. Ask for him to help you hear his voice.
Comment-
Please feel free to comment each day about your experiences, thoughts, or conversations.
Sometimes I have felt like when I talk to Jesus, my words/thoughts are not heard. Sometimes it has felt like my thoughts are hitting the ceiling and bouncing back to me. I want nothing more than to hear Jesus' voice.
At this point in your conversation you may be at a place where you talk with Jesus quite often, not as often, just starting the conversation, or maybe you aren't sure what you think yet. If you have never talked to Jesus, or are in a period where you haven't in a long time, I encourage you Jesus HEARS you. Today I am talking to Jesus about what it looks like to HEAR him. One way Jesus speaks to us is through his word, the Bible. Another way is through the words of people who believe in him.
Conversation Possibilities-
Ask Jesus: What are ways you are trying to speak to me?
If you were Jesus how would you choose to communicate with people who believed in you?
With my closest friends I have learned more and more how they communicate. Talk to Jesus about where your relationship is at and where you would like it go. Ask for him to help you hear his voice.
Comment-
Please feel free to comment each day about your experiences, thoughts, or conversations.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Welcome to the conversation!!
Each day for the next 30 days, I will post a conversation starter between you and Jesus. Feel free to use them or talk with Jesus about whatever else you'd like. I will be posting about what I talked with Jesus about, feel free to post about your experiences and conversations.
I want to follow boldly after Jesus. I have been feeling lately like I am not following Jesus 100%. If you have been feeling that way, please join my 30 day experiment. The best way to follow closer to somebody is to have a conversation with them!
Each day for the next 30 days, I will post a conversation starter between you and Jesus. Feel free to use them or talk with Jesus about whatever else you'd like. I will be posting about what I talked with Jesus about, feel free to post about your experiences and conversations.
I want to follow boldly after Jesus. I have been feeling lately like I am not following Jesus 100%. If you have been feeling that way, please join my 30 day experiment. The best way to follow closer to somebody is to have a conversation with them!
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