Be Different

Sorry I missed the blog last week, but I was on an amazing mission trip to Chicago with the youth of Grace Lutheran Church.  The trip was a Holy Spirit-led week of service in the name of Christ that changed lives, opened hearts, and deepened relationships with Christ.  It was through this trip that God gave me the words for this week's blog.


As Christians we are called to be set apart, to be different.  This is not to say that we are perfect and don't make mistakes, because we do, but it is to say that we should be striving, yearning, and desiring to better ourselves in the name of Christ.  We should be working each day to become more like Christ and less like ourselves, to have a heart of selfless service rather than selfish greed.  We must make a conscious effort to give our all to God, who gave it all for us.  I realize that this  is yet another one of those things which may be easier said than done, but with God on our sides helping us to achieve this goal, nothing is impossible.  


It is crucial to wake up each day and recognize God for all He has done, is doing, and will continue to do in your life.  He desires to grow closer to you, and it is only through prayer, and effort through everything that we will be able to achieve these things.  The Christian life is not easy; as a matter of fact, on the mission trip I heard a speaker say that if life is easy and comfortable then Satan has you right where He wants you.  The closer we get to God, the more the devil works to pull us away; if you don't feel that pull, then maybe it is time to consider where you are at in your relationship with Christ.  


Verse: 
“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.
~Luke 6:27-28


We must strive to be different, to be set apart, to be willing to give it up for God knowing that our reward will far outweigh anything we could experience here on Earth.  Being different is not an attempt at perfection, but rather recognizing our imperfection and realizing our absolute need for a Savior; it is knowing we need His forgiveness, redemption, mercy, and love every step of the way, but acting upon these things in gratitude for what He has given us.  It is being different, acting differently, reacting differently, and loving differently.  We are called to each of these things in His name and His will.  Do these things and others will notice, hear, see, and believe the difference in you, and this could be the difference maker on their views of Christianity, or if they choose to accept Christ.


Be different!


Also, for those of you who haven't seen this video, it is of Kelsey Collins and myself singing Hold Us Together by Matt Maher.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsrommjo1_g