Pick A Side

In Paul's second letter to Corinth, he explains to them how to be a Christian, living holy, in obedience, and ridding all sin from one's life.
In 2 Corinthians 6:17, he says "Where for come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you."


According to the dictionary, "Separate" means 
A) to keep apart or divide, as by an intervening barrier or space. 
B) to put, bring, or force apart; part. 
C) to set apart; disconnect; dissociate.


In chapter 5 verse 17, it says "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away; behold all things are become new".


Paul seems to have a grasp on the Cross. 
Jesus died so that we could be free from our sin, not attached. 
Paul claims that a Christian should be a "new creature", not holding on to their old ways. 


So which side of the Cross will you choose to be?
The side where freedom is gained, or the side where attachment to sin remains?
The side which a Christian should be on is the side that has nothing to do with the world. The side that proclaims the name of Jesus in everything we do. The side that doesn't live a double standard. The side that confesses sin and repents.
The side of the Cross that a Christian doesn't need to be on is the side that is hypocritical, ignorant, disobedient, and blasphemous. It represents darkness. It has ties to the enemy.


Be careful to what you consider to be 'light'. 2 Cor. 11:14-15 tells us not to marvel, "For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers are also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works". Satan can be transformed into an angel of light. Something pleasing to the senses. It seems fine. It seems good. But WE are the children of light according to the book of Ephesians. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 tells us we should avoid every APPEARANCE of evil. Not just evil. Anything that even looks like it would be evil.


So.


What side of the Cross is Lady Gaga on? How bout Rihanna? J-Z? Coldplay? Katie Perry?


...What side of the Cross is your music selection on?


What side of the Cross is your relationship with your boyfriend or girlfriend on?


What side of the Cross is your attitude on?


What side of the Cross is your level of obedience to authority on?


What side of the Cross are your daily commitments on?


What side of the Cross are your thoughts on?


What side of the Cross are your actions on?






What side of the Cross are you on?

Surrender

Fighting temptations of familiarity. Losing trust in my God's clarity. 
I give advice on hope and belief, and how to let Him be your only relief.
Yet, there's me.
Me. Who's not that much different. 
I struggle, too. I sometimes doubt. I don't know either what this life's about. 
How to make it. How to arrive. Will what I'm doing now count when I'm not alive? 
Questions flood like a trickling stream. Slowing considering the 'American dream'. 
Quickly turning into a fit of waves. Will I make a difference when we're in our graves?
So I turn. To the book. Not a book. The book. 
The book of Psalms tells us He can't be shaken. He holds our world when we're mistaken.
If our God is for us, then who shall rise? If He's eternal, why compromise?
It's simple, really.
God's will is His plan in His timing.
Our will is our plan in our timing.
So simple. Yet so easy to confuse the two.
God, as I write these words to You. Please be with me. See me through.
I raise the white flag, I'm not in charge. Take over my life, decisions small and large.
Each nut and bolt should build upon You. Everything else is just additional screws. 
I surrender my will. Let thine be done. Take me a part. make me undone.
Build a new version of the man I should be. Let me apply everything I've seen.
You want the best for me, I know. So all of myself, let me forego. 
Losing battles don't mean lost wars.
Fight.
If you fail, get up again.
Trust in Him.
You don't have to understand everything.
But faith. 




Faith is stepping into the unknown, believing that there will either be a place to stand, or God will teach you how to fly. 

The girl.

This post is dedicated to my beautiful girlfriend. Evelyn Jean Thompson.


She's amazing. Words can't explain how awesome she is.


Beauty is an outside and an inside thing for her.
Her passion for Jesus is evident.
Her love for people is incredible.
Her laugh makes me smile.
Spending time with her makes me feel complete.
She brings the best out of me. 
As we grow together, we both have made a point to grow in God. 
I'm really excited about that.


She's been my best friend for the past 5 years.
And I'm looking forward to how this relationship is going to unfold.
Yeah, many people informed me "This didn't surprise me", or told me "wow...finally". I just chuckle. :) It's all God's timing. No, seriously. His amazing timing.

:)