The facts about a life in Christ

I decided it would be a good idea to write some thoughts. I figure if I am thinking these things others must be to. Generally you find if your struggling in an area so are others around you.

I started to write a blog that was all sweet and more of a preach then a conversation. On my way to Seattle for a class the lord started talking to me and saying that real life struggles mean more than fun little stories.

Here's the truth about following God. It isn't always easy. That doesn't make the journey any less amazing but there are times in most peoples lives where they are thinking about giving up.

I'm struggling in my singleness. I have a desire to start a family, and want that more that anything. But is that an idol? Do I want a family more than I want Jesus?

Do I wake up in the morning to start a family or serve my God?
Do I wake up with the hope having of wife and kids some day or do I wake up with hope in Jesus who meets my every need and has plan an a purpose for me?

Truthfully my thought waver back and forth depending on the day. 

The above area was written about two weeks ago and then drafted. It still applies today but here are some more thoughts. This last Saturday my boss lost his battle with cancer. He was an amazing guy. I've only met a few people in the world that I respected enough to call a mentor. He saw the best in everyone. Even people who acted the worst.

People including my own father have said hurtful thing over my life and I realize that what people say about us really makes a difference in how we see ourselves. Until recently I didn't realize how much those things effected me. Doug was always an encouragement he saw now who I was but who I could be and worked hard to make me better over my 12 years working for him. Losing someone so amazing brings up thoughts and ideas and even for some concerns. 

Some have chosen to be angry with God and curse him. While others simply just pray that Doug truly met Jesus and is with him now. While yet others (I fit in this) simply sit in Gods grace realizing that life is short and very temporary. 

I sit here at my computer humbled because I don't deserve to be alive, I don't deserve grace that God gives freely. What I do deserve is death, not just human leave earth death but eternal death. 

Yet, 

"While were yet still sinners Christ died for us."  - Romans 5:8

Personally I have this internal struggle that goes on in my own life. Seeing others where I want to be frustrates me to no end and I constantly ask why am I stuck here. I'm struggling with my purpose. I know what I want but I still have no clue what God has planned. So I wait, and trust and even waver.

But tonight I hold on to this verse with everything that I have trusting that God knows what he's doing..

³ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
- Romans 5:3-5 

 I rejoice in a God who's given me grace and love who knows my every thought good and bad. Who loves me enough to allow me to struggle so that I would have someone to need. Who has a good plan for me.

Tonight I ask you regardless of your situation to consider Jesus! Consider the fact that if your struggling now at least with Jesus you will have someone to trust, love and depend on. Someone who doesn't disappoint. Even in the myst of pain God calls you unto himself.

Does knowing and trusting Jesus fix every problem? No but I can guarantee once you taste just a little bit of his love you will realize the reason you live. You will become a over-comer rather than a failure.

With out Gods grace in my life, his love more me I would have reason to go on. I would have no hope.. With Jesus I would have no reason to live.

-Thanks for listening
John