Traffic Jams...Will They Just Drive!

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Do you ever sit in your car and wonder, “Why is there a traffic jam? There's no parade. So why aren't these people driving?!" We begin to get upset because we believe we are the only ones in a rush to go nowhere. As we continue to wonder, we hope that it's not an accident because we will feel bad for being impatient. Then you notice them...the gappers! Gappers are the drivers who decided to have 25 car lengths in between them and the driver in front of them during rush hour. All in all, we realize the traffic jam is not their fault so we continue to sit there and wait. After sitting in traffic for about 30 minutes, we finally start to move. Isn't that the worse? We continue to think, "Who was the one person who caused this 30-minute traffic jam?"  This is sin. Sin is like that one person who caused a traffic jam for everyone else. When we commit sin it does not just affect our relationship with God, but everyone around us.

Ever have a friend that considers themselves a Christian, but their lifestyle says otherwise? They get drunk every other weekend, they treat people anyway they feel, they do everything the Bible says they should not do, etc. Since they go to church on Sunday and pay tithes, they believe it should be enough to call themselves Followers of Christ. We were those girls. We were very prideful, showed love to others when we felt like it, got drunk, lacked forgiveness, slept with our little boyfriends, the list goes on. We attended church on the regular and believe that was enough. One day, one of us had a conversation with a friend who was an atheist. He told me, "You and I do the same things so I feel like I am doing nothing wrong." Honestly, I couldn't even disagree because he was right. As Christians, we are supposed to reflect Christ in all parts of our life. I am supposed to lead people to Christ by my lifestyle; instead I was making my friend feel good about his life without Christ. My sins were putting stumbling blocks in front of him. Paul's letter to the Corinthians tells us to be careful about exercising our liberties (1 Corinthians 8:9) and discrediting our platform for Christ (2 Corinthians 6:3) as they will become stumbling blocks for others. I was doing just that because I made my life about me. Could I call myself a true Follower of Christ? Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly it is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do. (Isaiah 29:13) We were those lukewarm Christians. Could I say that I loved God? Those who love Him keep His commands. (Deuteronomy 7:9, John 14:15) I really didn't love Him because I loved myself more not realizing it was causing me and others around me to stumble.

Our sins affect us and our sin affects others. That is why in the New Testament it is called "The Body of Christ" because we are one. For example, if you discovered your pastor was committing adultery that would affect your view not just of him, but the people he appointed, the people in the church, and even the things he taught you. Why? Because we are a body. The best way to live for Christ is to lead by example regardless if we are around a family member, co-worker, or friend. If your life reflects Christ, the people around you will know who you follow and not second guess it. We need to seek Him and build a relationship with Him that makes you never want to sin. We will never be sinless, but to be conscious of sins and not to live in sin we must obtain. (Romans 3:20) Having a relationship with God is an everlasting journey that will intensify the human experience beyond your wildest hopes and dreams. Life will not be perfect, but it will be whole. He is the sin vaccination to the universal. He did this through sacrifice. (John 3:16) Isn't that mind boggling? God is so crazy faithful and amazing. He took the sacrifice and we have to allow Him to take the place in our heart. How can we allow God to save us, but not change us? We have to let Him reside in the very place that makes you who you are. Your heart. Paul explained, "It is no longer I that lives, but Christ that lives in me. (Galatians 2:20). We have to stop creating traffic jams in our lives because not only is it frustrating and a waste of time, but it stops us from getting where we need to be. 

We blame our mother for these sweaters....Lol

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#OldSinsNewCreation
Eph. 4:22-24

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Inspirational Mondays - Daisy

1. Why did you choose Christ?
Jesus coming into my life started with a series of events. A lot of it has become a blur, but it started with a car accident 6 years ago. The accident itself didn’t faze me too much, but it was the months after that did. I had troubles with my vision. Frustration was like a massive boulder weighing me down every day. I couldn’t pick up a book and read it. Everyone including my family, friends, and neurological optometrist all told me that I would regain my normal vision gradually, but it felt like they were telling me that Santa Claus was real.

I got scolded whenever I resorted to wearing two pairs of glasses just to get past a few pages, but it was all I could do. The last few weeks of my summer were creeping up and somehow I was signed up for Glory (Church retreat) and packed to go. And when I got to the retreat center, I realized that the pages in the Bible were clear! I kept telling myself, “Don’t get your hopes up, Daisy. It’s only because the words are larger,” but the feeling of relief did not leave. All I knew was that the boulder weighing me down began to crumble and my anxieties dissipated.

I returned home from the retreat and there was youth group the next day. I had to be dropped off at church early, so I brought my unread copy of Black and Blue. I sat in the back and opened to the first page. To my surprise, the words were crystal clear. I remember it profoundly; after the 11th page, I called my mom, my dad, the person responsible for my attending Immanuel in the first place. I got through 27 pages before everyone even arrived.

Honestly, if asked if there was a day or a moment that I accepted Jesus into my life, I can’t give a clearly defined answer. But through all the ups and downs of the last few years, I can stand firm in front of everyone today and confidently say that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. He led to me to start the search for Him. As for today? Today is just another beginning of getting to know Him even more.

2. How did you change?

It was my freshman year of college and not long after I became a Christian/found God. I loved Immanuel and I still do. At that time, I had a love for Him that I wanted to share it with the world. Week after week, I would ask all of my friends to join me on the van ride to Westfield for service. I would tempt them with the awesome lunch provided before service and with the freedom of hearing me nag them multiple times a day. I asked them to give Immanuel a chance, to give Jesus a chance.

Over the last three years of college, I lost that fearlessness…or more accurately described, my fear of societal rules became more fearful than my fear of God. I became a resident assistant at my college. Promoting “my religion” was prohibited as a representative of Residence Life to avoid offending individuals of other faiths. This quickly became the norm for me in school and then at work. I held fast onto my pride and pushed myself to obtain what society considered to be success whether it was grades, money, or career. I set God aside.

I went through a series of baptism classes in 2007, but was never baptized. I learned that it takes time to grow up; in fact I’m still growing. Looking back at the last three years of college, I wasn’t happy. I was continuously chasing after worldly fleeting wants in life instead of holding fast to God. It's been close to two years since my graduation. Although still in transition of this, I’m learning to share God with those around me in little ways whether at my work place, my classes, my parent’s business, the soup kitchens I volunteer with, etc. I have happiness living for God and that is a happiness that I am re-learning how to share with the world. I've learned to let go of the empty wants in life and prioritize what's most important. The one who I can 100% rely on is God alone. I live everyday by striving to mimic his love.

We hope your were inspired! Love your Monday! Interested in learning more about us?? Click here to learn "Why We Change" and click here to read "How We Change".

#OldSelfNewCreation

Eph. 4:22-24

Follow @TheBoydSisters

Inspirational Mondays - Angela Powell

1. Why did you choose Christ?
Out of my own desperation, at the age of 12, I responded to the Lord's call with a "yes." Because of the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit, I began to understand how He had led me to the moment of surrender. I realized that He was with me and drawing me to Him all along. So, I chose Him/said "yes" after I realized that He chose me! God initiated all of it.

2. How did you change?
My "change" started with the "yes" in my heart. I can remember the very moment when the Holy Spirit filled my heart. I was overwhelmed by His loving and powerful presence. Because I KNEW that He now lives in me, I surrendered every part of my life to the Lord. That means that EVERYTHING (school, choice of friends, and other decisions) in my life from that moment on was under His lordship. The Lord's been transforming me ever since, through a growing relationship with Him.

We hope your were inspired! Love your Monday! Interested in learning more about us?? Click here to learn "Why We Change" and click here to read "How We Change".

#OldSelfNewCreation

Eph. 4:22-24

Follow @TheBoydSisters