Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Competitive Shopping

When I shop I look for the lowest price with the greatest value. Right now I'm looking for a good camera. Our video camera is beginning to slack in it's purpose. It won't automatically adjust it's focus as efficiently as it used to which can create problems when I want to see what I'm filming. So it's time for replacement. I've been looking around for a good, small, HD camcorder with an internal hard drive. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, I just want something current and overflowing with quality so I won't have to replace it for at least another 8-10 years. But the better the quality the more I'm going to have to spend. Let's face it, you get what you pay for. I'm looking in the ads, going to stand in line all night for Black Friday all to make sure I can get exactly what I want for a really good deal. And when I find the greatest deal on earth, I'm going to brag about it. I'll tell you for sure what I find.

It's funny how much effort we put into things like this. Either we save up or charge a card for exactly what we want when we want it. We want the best. We can live without it for a short while but it keeps nagging at us until we satisfy that "craving".

Think of people who shop for that fix, the fix that only God can settle for us. We put a heavy price tag on grace, but God gives it to us freely. Romans says in 6:23 that if we want to earn something we can earn death because we naturally want to do the wrong thing until Christ steps in the picture. We work hard at being a good person all on our own without giving God a chance to work through us or for us. Redemption is not something earned and doesn't have a price tag that's completely out of reach. God says all we have to do is believe (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9). That's the price. God does the work. He's paid the price once for all on the cross. Now all we have to do is accept it. He gives it to us freely. It's a free gift! It's FREE!!!

Now the big question for me is, "Why am I not boasting about a free gift that's completely out of this world, AWESOME?!" So here I go: I've found the greatest thing ever and it's forgiveness. It's grace. It's completely taken away all the things that weigh me down. I've been promised an eternal life if I believe and God never breaks His promise. I believe. It's a done deal. God paid my price and I don't have to worry about it. Jesus paid the price for my mistakes.
The only thing I owe God now is my love and it's totally worth it.

Leave me a comment!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Beginning Again

Well, it seems as though over a year has passed since I've paid any attention to this blog. And it has been over a year. Now I'm merging my blog with Meridian Point Church. Hopefully this will help me stay on top of things for a while in getting my thoughts published more regularly.

My goal in continuing this blog in this new format is to encourage us to grow in God, to pursue Him, and to strive together to live a life of worship. May this blog challenge you in your faith. And as always, please leave comments! Proverbs says that as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. If you see something from a different angle or have something else you'd like to say about what gets posted, don't hesitate to share with me!

In the meantime, take a look at some of the other insights and lessons God has taught me in the past. Some of these things I've even forgotten so I'll be reading them too.

Looking forward to beginning again!