mo

My hair is short, like a midget.

Translation

Hello, My name is Jessie and I might need a bandaid at the end of this.

Being obedient to God

So... basically everybody struggles with certain things that they know that they may need to work on to grow in their faith with Christ. Usually this all can revolve around obedience in some sense. Well, mine (I think) is sharing the good news about Christ to people. It is so weird because I used to tell people about Christ all the time but now it is harder. I think I am getting to the point in my faith where that is one of the things that I need to start doing.

I do a couple little things here and there(like tell my friends that I will pray for them - which I do). But I literally need to TELL PEOPLE ABOUT CHRIST and not beat around the bush. If I keep going to church, praying, worshipping and studying the bible - sooner or later I am going to be spewing the gospel out to everyone. Which is a goal of mine. I want to be like a "leading people to Christ" machine. Because that is what's most important - getting people to have a relationship with their creator and savior.

Worship is most important

Once again this post is about me slowly but surely realizing that God is the most important thing - ever. I need to be constantly in awe and thanks of Him and all he has done for us.

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks."
John 4:23 NIV

God is seeking us to do his works and praise Him. That is the ultimate goal in our life - to further his Kingdom. Any other thoughts are basically of this world and will perish when your soul moves on to heaven. Earth is just a temporary place for our soul to live in a flesh body but our real home for eternity is in heaven. That is where you will really live - forever. So the things of this world just won't matter. Even the things that are "good" like getting an education, having a stable career or having a family. Yes, these things are good but I still need to focus on the one main thing - God.

Usually throughout the day I am pretty good and can focus my attention on Him, His works and what I need to do. But sometimes I slip and start having selfish desires like wanting to be a performer or thinking about the next social event that I am going to go to. I think those things are okay to think about but I can't let them consume me like they have in the past. Because selfish desires and our own ego can tear us apart from God.

Television

As I grow closer to God I am realizing what is important in life and....TV is not. Now, this is a weird thing for me to say because I love TV. I am an actor and eventually want to work for a television station, be a host or even write a sitcom. So this is a weird thing for me to say but I am realizing that it is dumb.

I can't watch the same things that I would normally. Mostly just because stuff is trash(like language and subject matter) but even the character's attitudes - it is all about me, me, me! And as a christian, it is completely opposite. It is about God and furthering his Kingdom. So I feel like I am just wasting time watching TV!

So, you can tell that I am growing in Christ because when I start to dislike one of my favorite TV shows - you know there is an issue. But this is all a good thing.

Don't get me wrong, I still love the classics and some select TV shows, but in general - nothing on TV is worth my time or will help me progress as a christian. I think the subject of television just hit home to me because that is a future career path, interest and all of the above - so it is weird giving up something of your interest for God.

Being away at college this past year really helped. We had a TV in my dorm and one in the common area but I never watched it. I realized this year how much I can live without it(only if there was Tivo, lol). I just moved into my new apartment and just today the cable guy asked me if I was going to have a TV in my room and I said no. I can live without one in my room. I will probably just watch movies on my laptop and it will be one less thing distracting me from God, praying or reading my bible.

Preguntas

Okay, so this is a list of questions about the bible or christianity in general. Some of them are questions that non-believers have asked when I am trying to witness to them and I don't know that answer. Then some of them are questions that I just don't know. Some are just dumb but....here ya go -

If people never hear about Jesus(like people in China/Africa), do they go to hell?

How come we don't practice certain rituals like they do in the old testament?

The crucifixion is mentioned so many times in the bible, when did it actually happen? What book of the bible/chapter?

I don't believe in marriage, even the christian divorce rate is 50%

Who actually wrote the bible? And hasn't it been changed since it was written?

What is the deal with people speaking in tongues?

Why are there so many different denominations? and how did they come to be?

How is God 3-in-1? The holy trinity?

Can you lose your salvation?

How did Satan become Satan?

*How do I bring up the subject of God in a conversation with a non-christian?

I believe in God and all, but I don't recall a date that I accepted him into my life.

But I went to church when I was you and got baptized.

Why are there so many translations of the bible and is there a "best" one?

Why don't Baptists dance?

Okay, so what's the deal with pre-destination?

I don't get it, was Jesus Jewish? Did he have a Yamakuh?

What are the distinctive things that seperate Christianity from other religions? How do you know your right?

If we are saved by grace nowadays, how were people saved back in the days of the bible?

Why doesn't God just fight the devil?


Feel free to add comments, questions, concerns...whatever is helpful.

Prayer

So...I had a friend who asked me about wanting things in life. How we shouldn't settle for anything less(our purpose, a girl...etc). But what if our standards are too high?? What if we are "reaching" for the stars here? Well...I said that if you pray about what you want and it is something of God then give it time. Consistant prayer about what you want is what needs to happen here. Just keep praying. Talk about it with God. Is it something that will bring him Glory? I would say that with consistant prayer, God will bless you in his time and to his will. Being a christian is a selfless act. Everything is of God, our creator. So if he wants you to be a certain profession or be with a certain girl your whole life...HE will give that to you.

Luke 11:1-4
Once when Jesus had been out praying, one of the disciples came to him as he finished and said, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."
He said, "This is how you should pray:
"Father, may your name be honored.
May your Kingdom come soon.
Give us our food day by day.
And forgive us our sins -
just as we forgive those who have sinned against us.
And don't let us yield to temptation."

This was the NLT version, so it may sound a little different.