Auburn 2010 National Champs.

Charles Barkley

Ronnie Brown & Spencer Johnson

Karlos Dansby

Carnell Williams

Jason Campbell

CHAMPIONS!

Forgive Them Anyway.

I've been praying about what to share with you all and lately a lot of people, including myself, have been hurt by people we are close to. I have to be honest, sometimes I get frustrated with people regarding their actions, words, truthfulness, and in general that feeling of being let down (I'm sure I've let people down too). It seems that a lot of us worry either too much about ourselves hurting others, or too much about what others think hurting ourselves. I have to constantly remember the truth about it all though...it isn't about me, it isn't about them, it is ALL about God.

"If all I have in this world that is constant and trustworthy is God, then I am in a better place than many. If all you feel is being let down, then let God hold you up!"

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.
Hebrews 6:18-19

We are all imperfect people living to humbly serve and make known our perfect Creator, perfect Savior, perfect Father. In doing so we should: love one another, forgive one another, show compassion, be kind, be truthful, be patient. Who knows, you may be the one person in someone's life each day showing Christ's love. Through the frustrations and let downs with others, Christ has not failed me. He has blessed me more than I ever deserve, and I am in constant awe and amazement.

I encourage you to read Colossians 3, below are verses 12-14
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

I'll leave you with one of my favorite sayings:

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis,
it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

Praying for you all~

www.theporchdallas.com

His Plan is Different Than Ours.

I recently had a conversation with a dear friend. She is going through a tough time because what she was certain of in her life isn’t working out like she had planned. I think we can all think of times in our life where this has happened, or like me….multiple times in my life :) You see, she is 100% sure that God wanted things to work out a certain way, but a “life storm” has come and altered this plan. While talking with her about this I asked,

“Are you truly trusting Christ or are you trusting yourself and your emotions?”

(something I have come to learn thanks to The Porch)

Sunday’s service was a great message and at a perfect time. Some of us may have heard messages similar before, but I think it is a great reminder. Either way I encourage you to read Matthew 7. I’m going to look at the end of the chapter, verses 24-27:

24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

When the storms of life come where do you put your trust? In yourself? Friends? Family? Or do you truly trust Christ?

When you are making everyday decisions, are you making them based on what will benefit you the most? Benefit a couple people? Or what will benefit Christ’s kingdom?

Our foundation should be the rock that is Jesus Christ and his truths found in the Bible. That way when life storms come, which they will, we will be left standing firm on our rock. The only way to know these truths and build this foundation is to spend time in the word, community, and prayerfully with God.

It’s not just enough to know what’s right, you must apply it. Sunday he spoke about not just giving “lip service” where we know a lot, can say all the right things, have every verse in the Bible memorized, but do not emulate what we know is true from the inside out.

Those times in life when what we thought should work out doesn’t, I pray that you all will trust Christ as your foundation….as your rock.

I told my community group last night…

It’s amazing that all those things I was 100% certain of I needed in life, or that I had convinced myself Christ would want for me, I do not have ANY of them. What I do have though is an indescribably peace that has come from having Christ as my rock, and having to trust Him completely through all the sunny days and storms that come my way. It is the best feeling in the world to know that the only plan I have to be 100% certain of is that Christ loves us, is trustworthy, and has me right where he wants me.

Best advice anyone has given me in my life is two words:

TRUST GOD (thanks JP!)

Praying for you all~