Play Like You Practice

<sup>A typical "good" Christian looks like someone who makes the right decisions. Someone who studies the Bible, prays and listens, and shares God with others. This is all correct and I too believed this was the right path until lately; this passage called me out.

"24</sup>Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

²⁵Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ²⁶Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. ²⁷No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

More important than doing all the "good" Christian things, is doing them with intent. With the purpose of winning. Look at life like a game. Christians are in a fight with Satan. Train like everything is on the line because it is. When Satan loses it should not be a surprise; it should be expected. It should be the reward of living with intent because of all the practice and preparation that went into our lives. When we play like we practice, and have the attitude of winning instead of coming in already defeated, then God's word is being carried out.

Is It Worth It?

So this past week my brother car has been broken down so I have had to take him to school. On my way back from dropping him off I saw a guy hitch hiking and I decided to pick him up. I have picked up hitchers before and they are never "respectable people." It has not stopped me because they are in need of something that I can give them. Obviously I can give them a ride where they need to go, give them a meal, let them borrow my phone and most importantly talk to them about life. The first three things are easy to give them because everyone wants them and are more than happy when they let their pride down and accept my offer. The last thing I never directly bring up but they always do. The conversations always start with, "Why did you pick me up?" I always answer,"Why cant someone just do something nice for other people?" From there it differs on where the conversation goes but it ends with a prayer and me giving them my phone number.

Now here's for the real question- Is it worth it to pick up the possibly "bad" people, and possibly get hurt, robbed or something worse? Or is it better to take that risk and get the chance to share God's love with someone?

Obviously there's risk in picking up the individual but I have passed people up and the feeling in my gut makes me turn around. I feel bad for letting someone go and not sharing my blessings with them. I think every situation is different and each and everyone of us has to listen to God on what to do.

How many times do I ignore the Holy Spirit for my own selfish ambition?
Because really, all I wanted to do was go back to sleep and let that guy walk all the way back to South San Antonio. He didn't even know where he was; I had to tell him he was on the north side.

On a side note, what are your opinions on hitch hiking policy? What cool stories do you have that pertain to helping someone when you didn't have to? Or just some sort of comment.

simplistic

Take me to the place I was this summer, rolling out of a sleeping bag in the clothes from the night before. Having a cup of coffee and taking kids hunting in the brisk air. Talking about God. Walking and not knowing where I was going; knowing that everything would be alright. Having people there who weren't just there, but having people there who were loving. Days of laughter and nights of peace. Stars forever.

Where is the simplicity in life? I sat on my porch tonight wondering just that. With the cold air on my body and the relaxed atmosphere I wanted to be in nature. To be with people I love with out of the hustle of life. With out the drama and complications. Living in Gods glory and loving all of it. Not that I need to be in control, but I want to be away from all the petty crap. Pointless fighting over dumb things, people not loving each other for who they are, and not having to... I don't want to finish that because I'm not really sure what it is that i do not want to do. How do I not make this sound angst at the world, but its the reason people go camping, fishing, hunting, cruising, laughing...

I ask myself what does it take to make this happen? Be a gypsie and travel with out a cause? Be rich and have some land? Guide? Missionary?

The answer: trust God. My internal compass points in no direction except the one He has me going on. I dont know where im going or what ill do, but my heart has no worries because theres something greater happening I dont know about.

Take me to the place I was this summer rolling out of a sleeping bag in the clothes from the night before. Having a cup of coffee and taking kids hunting in the brisk air. Talking about God. Walking and not knowing where I was going; knowing that everything would be alright. Having people there who weren't just there, but having people there who were loving. Days of laughter and nights of peace. Stars forever.

So I dont think im giving it my all. One thing that i havent been doing is titheing. I havent been sacrificing and giving what i can, but rather i have been conservative and selfish. With all the market fluxuations creating work instability, ive been uptight.

the other thing that im try to do is be more proactive. how can i be trusted with more responsibility if i dont grow personally and develop what i already have? so im going to step up to the plate and take care of business.

with desicions that are at hand, im getting excited thinking about possibilities. lifes finally moving and im pupmed but i lack the personel motivation(which is what i talked about above, and im trying to improve on). if anyone actually reads this, pray. gods moving and i dont know where.

So lately I have been comtemplating something; if someone needs something, and you have it, would you give it to them. The situation this applies to is drastic and important. I am praying to see if thats where im suppose to be. Either way it cant be ignored. You cant just watch people die and turn your back. I would say its a tough decision but its not my choice. Its up to God.

Just laying here. Not really caring, well atleast to whats going on around me. Ate a great lunch at Fatties today- delish burgers. How am I feeling? Thought id never ask myself. Nothing ever happens the way you want it to. This past situation did teach me one thing though; it taught me to trust and to give it up to God. And while my heart isn’t happy with the current situation, I know its all part of the plan. So I sit here asking myself, "If I am mad at the way things have gone, then am I mad at God and his design?" I do think so and that’s why im trying to trust. Because theres something better, something even greater than what I know in this universe and what I can see happening in my life. Its so easy to say but very difficult to do. With this realization, I have been able to trust easier. I do get caught up wondering why, and what happened and whats to come. Then, shortly thereafter, the depressed feelings come in. Also with this comes the idea to pray and to give it up to God. Afterall, it would happen if it were meant to be. Me hoping for something to happen and pushing things not meant to be, is me wanting something harmful and destructive in my life. Truly why would I want that? So I ask myself why do I desire these things? Not just love but so many of the other materialistic things that satisfy my heart temporarily. Why do I want it so much? It’s a good question but it doesn’t matter what the answer is when I already have the solution. Follow God and trust in Him, right? So im not going to try to understand something that cant be grasped in truth and reality. Peace