Hey guys, just wanted to give a general life update before I begin sharing what's been on my heart. I recently found out that I have been accepted into Graduate School at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville so I will be here for another two years working on my Master's in Computer Engineering. I'm pretty excited about this opportunity and I get to focus on some research which will be cool. Hopefully some topic just really catches my attention and I can pursue a career in that area one day. I also got placed in Glorieta, NM to be an M-Fuge staffer this upcoming summer! I can't tell you how excited I am to get to work camp again and be a part of something that God really used to shape my life through.
One thing that amazes me about being a Christian is that no matter how long you've been one or how "strong" you think you are, there is still SO much more room to grow daily. The moment we become complacent is when the Enemy will slip in and feed us a lie or cause us to stumble in some way. A few Scriptures have been running through my head recently and a passage from John 10:10 really sticks out. "A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance." One thing I never really thought about before I got to college was spiritual warfare and how vicious it is. What exactly do I mean by that though? I mean that there is something in this world set against us, whether you are a Christian or not. Satan, demons, etc are real and if you fail to recognize that then you've already lost the battle. They are the enemy of our souls because they are the thief described in John 10:10 that has come to "steal, kill, and destroy." They are hellbent on doing anything they can to stop God's will from occurring because they are jealous of God and know that their time is limited before He completely seals them away.
This isn't very fun to think about, but it's true and unless you recognize the Enemy for what it is you can't fight back. The second half of John 10:10 is why I love this verse so much though. "I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance." That is why Jesus came. God Himself came as a man and did more for me than I could ever do for myself. He offers us LIFE and not just any life at that, a life full of abundance. Christians are the worst at times about walking around like we have the weight of the world on our shoulders, myself included. We have more reason to rejoice than anybody else though!
"4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:4-9
This is what the Enemy doesn't want you to do. He wants us to believe the lies that we aren't worth it. We are not worthy of the gift we have received, but Jesus has made us worth it. God has taken away our guilt and shame. "For godly grief produces a repentance not to be regretted and leading to salvation, but worldly grief produces death." 2 Cor. 7:10 We are loved far more than we could ever ask, forgiven far more than we ever deserve, and we have a future that Christ has destined for us specifically. He wanted us in our sin and calls us back to Him daily when we turn our backs on Him.
I don't know where this hits you, but one lie I refuse to believe is that God desires anything less than life for me. My future is taken care of whether that be my career, a relationship, or my family. Rest in that security He has to offer you. I like to blog because it's easier for me to get my thoughts out this way and I want the conversation to go on. We can't grow if we don't talk about what God has been doing in our lives and I would love to hear how He's working in yours!
In Love,
Bill
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