Sin is sin is sin

We tend to say that don't we.
I mean we tend to say "it's okay because I've sinned. We all sin." We say that as if it's okay.

This morning as I'm going through Luke I'm reminded of why acting like it's perfectly okay to sin just because everyone does it is absolutely foolish!

First I must ask the question...
If everyone sets his or herself on fire, does that make it okay to do so to myself? Would I be okay with my friends doing that to thenselves?

I also must remember that the wages of sin is death!

Everyone sins...
Yes this is true, but it does not make sin an okay thing. It's not okay for the one who is sinning, it's not okay for those who have been sinned against, and it is not okay in God's eyes.

It's such a huge problem that God sent His ONLY BEGOTTEN SON to die on a cross to take the punishment, the powerful eternal holy wrath of God, for our sins. He rose again on the third day bringing abundant life. A life free from the chains of sin, and calls us to repentance.

He calls us to turn to Him and be freed from sins chains, trusting and following Him wherever He may go. He invites us to be His. He invites us, we who are too filthy to walk on His carpet and have no chance of cleaning ourselves, to be cleaned by Him at His cost so that we can be in His presence in His home, but we must confess that we are dirty, we must repent(turn away from a life bound by sin and TO THE SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST), and trust Him as our Lord (Lord meaning the boss or master. He's the One in charge now and that's okay because He is good! He is soooo good!)

Now on sin being sin being sin...

Here's what Jesus says to that.

At that time,  some people came and reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilar had mixed with their sacrifices. And He responded to them,

"Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all Galileans because they suffered these things? No, I tell you; but unless you repent l, you will all perish as well! Or those 18 that the tower in Siloam fell on and killed - do you think they were more sinful than all the people who live in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will perish as well!"

Luke 13:1-5

We don't have to perish eternally and we don't have to live lives dead in sin. Christ came and changed things. Perishing doesn't have to be our fate.

The wages of sin is death, yes
But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!!!
Romans 6:23

Ups and Downs of 2015 so far

Oh you've been a roller coaster this far. 

These ups and downs you've sent me on have been different.

I can say that I can look back at my past blogs and realized that I've learned a lot.

And I can say that I may have missed a few things that are popping back up this year lol.

Up

I have the opportunity to be a worship leader at one of two churches

I'm very excited about this! I mean it's like a wide open door and in my heart I've wanted this for a looooooooooong time. 

Down

Recently I got my heart broken.
(nope not by who you think)

It happened.

I look back on the past and I can totally see that I'm handling it so much better than I did back then.

God has brought me a long way in this area of life.

I know my joy and hope are found in Him so really even though it hurts, 

now less than a few weeks ago,

I'm pressing on.

Up

I've met great people this year and have had amazing adventures. From Westgate

to the mission team that I'm on right now, to raising up a new youth band for the church youth group that I've led worship for the past ten years. God has been with me through all of these adventures. With their highs and lows 

Down

I haven't been able to write a ton of music, but I think of it kinda like this...

I also haven't been able to perform all of my old music much to be honest. Not on a level that I want to. So even though it feels like a down, it really sets goals in stone for me to perform my 2 existing albums somewhere out there. If not here in Pensacola

Up

Closer to summer I felt disappointed. You see, I was hoping to end up at The Baptist College of Florida before the end of this year, and from where I'm standing right now it doesn't seem like that is going to happen soon. Soon being the key word here. In the midst of that disappointment God began to open doors that I didn't think that He'd open unless I went to The Baptist College of Florida...

(PRAYER REQUEST) Wisdom! Two doors but I can only choose one. 

I want to be where God is on this decision. 

Down

My family life is still rough. I wish I could go into detail, but I just won't.

It's just too much.

Pray about that too

Up

For the most part I can see the ups in the downs.

Consider it great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

James 1:2-4

I can see that God has definitely chiseled much away from me over the years, and that He won't stop. So when trials come my way I can choose to look to Him knowing that He is working on me, not tempting me or making my life hard for kicks, but using the trials that come my way in life to shape me to the Likeness of Christ, or I can get mad, walk away, and never grow up.

I'd like to continue growing up.