I know I always try to start updating my site on a regular basis…and time and time again I get busy, overwhelmed and push this site aside. For the most part, I’ve always updated this site about pointless things, but this time it will be different. Why? Because I am seeking to glorify God in everything I do now. The past 2-3 months, I’ve grown so much with Him, and my change of heart for Him is slowly beginning to to produce such sweet fruit, and I’ve seen Him at work numerous times.
I’ve actually had the privilege to read another book, as much as I don’t really like reading or even have the time to read, but it is called Do Hard Things, by Alex and Brett Harris (yup Joshua Harris’ little twin brothers author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye. While the book was meant for teenagers, these two brothers challenged me to become greatness for God, and become a rebelutionary. Yup, The Rebelution is the movement that really came out of their ideas, and the book gives so many inspiring examples of other young ones doing big hard things that change how the world will view teenagers.
I’ve been even more blessed when I got to take some of our youth’s to the day conference put on by this movement in Orange County last Saturday, and I was really captivated by all the messages, and challenged even more. To become greatness, I think that is what we are all meant to be… Too often am I complacent about the things I do for God, and realize that I could have done SO much more for Him. That thought makes me feel guilty in a way, but it also encourages me to something about it now.
After the conference we had this amazing awesome time of fellowship where we really got to discuss spiritual things and how we were to make permanent changes in our lives. Most of the changes that came out will be difficult challenges for those people because it requires time and lots of effort. But no longer will I expect very little of them, but set my expectations of them at God’s high standard, just like that has become mine. I actually almost cried when I found out someone who went to the conference challenged someone who did not go to do devotions and write about their thoughts online, and that person already started… That type of response is like a wild fire that spreads, a passion that I envision for all the youth at my church to “spur one another toward good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).
For those of you who were at the fellowship (I’m not really sure how many of you actually read this since I don’t update it often), I want you to know from the bottom of my heart that I will use every ounce of strength in my body to encourage you and keep everyone of you accountable to the challenges you made for yourselves. Actually, I feel my own challenge for myself was too complacent, which was to give up “Lakers” entirely. For some, that may seem like a big thing but, to me, once I realize how much time I’ve wasted by watching games that don’t really benefit me at all, especially when my time is precious and I can be doing better things with it – doing hard things for God! So, I’ve decided one way I can help encourage those who have challenged themselves, is to have someone (me) doing it along by their side. What that basically means, is I am going to take on pretty much everyone’s challenges (except the ones I’m already doing). So, I’ll be waking up extra early in the morning to read and do devotions (I was going to start today, but didn’t realize how long this post was going to take), and blog about it. I will at least once a week post a blog about anything that happened during the week where God deserves all the glory (This post counts!). I will be encouraging to everyone at church and not be complacent. I will cut out all gossip. I will take someone new out once a month and use that opportunity to evangelize. You might be wonder, “Nick, you won’t have time!” And my response to that would be you are probably right… But seriously, I have to put myself in situations that require God’s power and hand to guide me, because if I’m always comfortable, I will never see God work. My standard for myself is to be come like Jesus, and that is a standard that is so high and pretty much unattainable by anyone, but yet I will continue to strive for it…
Alright, thanks for reading!