One of the hardest sermons I ever had to preach was to a group of young adults. They all sat out before me in chairs and I looked them all in the eyes and said, "You don't even know what a bad day really is." I don't know what they were thinking in their heads, but they were uncomfortable with the message from the beginning.
I believe the statement fully. I don't think we know what a bad day is. Maybe we think we do. You can read so many people's blogs here and they're full of complaints and sadness. I'm not tearing anyone down because my blog is a representation of my worst feelings at the time and even they are full of complaints and sadness.
Even though my world is being turned upside down and inside out, I have a smile on my face most of the time. My attitude towards people is fun and entertaining. I'm known as a prankster and someone who has a great heart. My grandmother told me the other day that I have the biggest heart out of anyone she's ever seen; so much so that she doesn't know how it fits in my body. I'm not saying any of this to promote myself, but to say that even though I feel pain, I don't let it take me away from what I'm supposed to do or make me anything less than thankful for what I have.
You see, if you live in America, you have it going on. Even the poorest in America have more than the majority of the world. Maybe you lack a few things...that's okay. But an American Christian has A LOT. What I told the young adults in my group is that they're either in college or working a job/career. Already they have something most do not. Either a high school education or furthering their education or a job that makes them enough money to get by.
The American Christian gets to go to work or school to better their lives. They get to take a hot OR cold shower, whichever they please as often as they like so they can smell nice and clean. People also take hot baths or showers to feel good and relax. The majority of American Christians get three, yes, three hot (or cold, whichever they want) meals a day. Maybe you don't eat three times day, but you get to eat. Not only do you have running water from your tap to drink and flush a toilet (sanitation, a huge plus), you probably have other options of beverage. Coffee, soda...whatever else you may be into.
The American Christian has someplace to live. A roof over their heads when it storms. They have heat/airconditioning for whatever season they are in. I didn't realize how much I took advantage of this until our air broke and the days were hot and sticky. Talk about miserable!! The average household has two vehicles. You have garbage pickup. If you're reading this, then that means you have a computer and internet connection. I'm pretty sure you have a fridge to keep your food from spoiling. All of this is material things and I could go on and on about what we have.
The important blessings we have is the ability to go to church when we want. In most other countries in the world, Christianity is illegal and punishable by death. We have the freedom to worship the one true God. The greatest gift of all is what we don't deserve. Salvation. Which means that we have hope. You see, the worst day of my life is when my dad was killed at work. I would call that a bad day. But even then, I have hope. Hope I'll see him again. I had friends and family comfort me. I had a church that took care of me. I have a God that gave me some of His strength when I had none.
You see, we have everything. But our culture is spreading a major lie called self-esteem. So called experts are teaching our children that life is all about YOU. Whatever it takes to please yourself, do it. We live in an age where happiness and status is ranked by the things that we have. If this was true, then why is the majority of America, the richest nation in the land, on anti-depressents and anxiety medicine? Why are the rich and famous so depressed they are addicted to drugs and alcohol to make them feel better? Why is the suicide rate so much higher than it's ever been before? I even saw a report on the news that young teenagers were getting pregnant and having kids just so that they can feel worthy in life...like their lives mean something. How sad is that?
We don't even know what a bad day is and yet we spend it miserable and sad and crying. Maybe it's because Jesus never intended for us to focus on ourself. The two greatest commandments are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself. According to the verse, it has already been established that you love yourself, but why do we have to be commanded to love God and love other people?
I believe the statement fully. I don't think we know what a bad day is. Maybe we think we do. You can read so many people's blogs here and they're full of complaints and sadness. I'm not tearing anyone down because my blog is a representation of my worst feelings at the time and even they are full of complaints and sadness.
Even though my world is being turned upside down and inside out, I have a smile on my face most of the time. My attitude towards people is fun and entertaining. I'm known as a prankster and someone who has a great heart. My grandmother told me the other day that I have the biggest heart out of anyone she's ever seen; so much so that she doesn't know how it fits in my body. I'm not saying any of this to promote myself, but to say that even though I feel pain, I don't let it take me away from what I'm supposed to do or make me anything less than thankful for what I have.
You see, if you live in America, you have it going on. Even the poorest in America have more than the majority of the world. Maybe you lack a few things...that's okay. But an American Christian has A LOT. What I told the young adults in my group is that they're either in college or working a job/career. Already they have something most do not. Either a high school education or furthering their education or a job that makes them enough money to get by.
The American Christian gets to go to work or school to better their lives. They get to take a hot OR cold shower, whichever they please as often as they like so they can smell nice and clean. People also take hot baths or showers to feel good and relax. The majority of American Christians get three, yes, three hot (or cold, whichever they want) meals a day. Maybe you don't eat three times day, but you get to eat. Not only do you have running water from your tap to drink and flush a toilet (sanitation, a huge plus), you probably have other options of beverage. Coffee, soda...whatever else you may be into.
The American Christian has someplace to live. A roof over their heads when it storms. They have heat/airconditioning for whatever season they are in. I didn't realize how much I took advantage of this until our air broke and the days were hot and sticky. Talk about miserable!! The average household has two vehicles. You have garbage pickup. If you're reading this, then that means you have a computer and internet connection. I'm pretty sure you have a fridge to keep your food from spoiling. All of this is material things and I could go on and on about what we have.
The important blessings we have is the ability to go to church when we want. In most other countries in the world, Christianity is illegal and punishable by death. We have the freedom to worship the one true God. The greatest gift of all is what we don't deserve. Salvation. Which means that we have hope. You see, the worst day of my life is when my dad was killed at work. I would call that a bad day. But even then, I have hope. Hope I'll see him again. I had friends and family comfort me. I had a church that took care of me. I have a God that gave me some of His strength when I had none.
You see, we have everything. But our culture is spreading a major lie called self-esteem. So called experts are teaching our children that life is all about YOU. Whatever it takes to please yourself, do it. We live in an age where happiness and status is ranked by the things that we have. If this was true, then why is the majority of America, the richest nation in the land, on anti-depressents and anxiety medicine? Why are the rich and famous so depressed they are addicted to drugs and alcohol to make them feel better? Why is the suicide rate so much higher than it's ever been before? I even saw a report on the news that young teenagers were getting pregnant and having kids just so that they can feel worthy in life...like their lives mean something. How sad is that?
We don't even know what a bad day is and yet we spend it miserable and sad and crying. Maybe it's because Jesus never intended for us to focus on ourself. The two greatest commandments are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself. According to the verse, it has already been established that you love yourself, but why do we have to be commanded to love God and love other people?
