Privileged Prisoners?

Everything fits so neatly together
in their concrete world
Can we not escape it
From fear of letting go
of the comfort
We do as we please
as we abide by their rules
Keeping us contained with gadgets

With words we could use them to destroy
but we don't
Open your eyes
see the repetition
Like hamsters in cages
habitually going to their wheel
Going through life repeating
over and over
day after day
Our days are spent
they've won
Successfully keeping us at bay
Tamed
Domesticated
Everything running smoothly
somewhat
in their grand plan
Their vision of perfection
Taking away creativity
No one thinks
Technology disables
Ensuring we have no ideas
Ideas may lead to revolt
A rebellion
Ideas could lead to freedom

When the sun rises again we shall start anew.

We've all heard it said you need to give your whole life to God. Some people shudder at the thought because we only get one life here on earth, and we don't know how long we'll have here. We could die tomorrow. So if you think about it each day could be the rest of our lives. We are all called to pick up our crosses and die to ourselves daily, to be servants of God. It may seem like a lot to give your whole life for an inheritance, but what if you just gave today and worried about tomorrow when it arrived. Just living life one day at a time. Giving your life one day at a time.

Sometimes we will have days where we mess up. Where we live for ourselves. But when those days happen we can't continuously beat ourselves up over it, we have to recognize our wrongs and learn from our mistakes. When the sun rises again we shall start anew.

The greatest commandment is to love the Lord thy God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and the second, to love your neighbor as yourself. Serving God means living for Him, and living for Him means showing love through Him. We need to try and see people as He sees them, and serve as though we truly are His hands and feet. Working to heal the broken, bring hope to the hopeless, and light to the darkness.

God gave His only Son so that by accepting Him we could gain His inheritance. Not only to enter into the kingdom of heaven from the parting of this world, but to enjoy life more abundantly through Him on earth as well. It's only our reasonable service to serve Him after accepting such an amazing and free gift. There's no conditions tied to Gods love, but His Word states if we love Him we will obey His commandments.

This life is short. Like a vapor in the wind and then it's gone. What will you choose? Where is your eternity? Will you live as if you'll never die, and when tomorrow comes and you're standing before the throne will God say depart from me for I never knew you? Or will you live for God, so that He will say enter in my good and faithful servant?

At this a lyric comes to mind, "better is one day in your quarts than thousands elsewhere". One day in heaven is like a thousand here. Could you spare but a day for your Creator, your Savior, the Lover of your soul? A day to absorb yourself in his Word, to talk to Him, to get to know Him, to serve Him. Sometimes we look at a hill and see a mountain. Sometimes we look at a day and see a lifetime. How will you spend yours?

Outside Looking In

Some days it's like I have everything figured out. I know what I want out of life and where I think I'm headed. Then other days everything comes crashing down and I realize I have no clue what I want or where I'm going. No one does really. Well God knows. Seems that more and more of my friends are telling me that they have no clue where their lives are going or what they are doing with their lives. Which makes me feel a little relieved in some ways and scared in others. It's nice to know that I'm not alone in this lost confused place that I find myself in but scary to think that the majority of the people my age are wandering around as aimlessly as me, what does this mean for our futures? I try to trust in God and let Him guide my life and I know that He knows where my future is going but it's hard to stay close to God and concentrate on everything else in life too. I know the devil knows this and uses it to his advantage. He wants us all to get distracted so our shield of faith isn't strong enough to withstand his attacks and we fall. It's also hard when everyone around you seems to be doing whatever they want and not walking with God. You want to hang out with them and be apart of the I'll do whatever I want group but on the other hand you feel guilty for not living the way that you think you ought to. Then there are the people that you think have it all together. The people that from the outside look like they have no sin in their lives at all. The people that you would classify as the perfect Christians. Well newsflash there is no such thing. It's really hard when you see these people that you think are perfect and you find out that they are just as screwed up as you are. It makes you think is there no hope for the human race? Is it not possible for us to be good? And then the realization arises that of course we can't be good, not all the time at least. If we could then why would we need a savior? Why would we have needed Jesus to die for us if we could do it on our own? We can't. To be a Christian does mean to be Christ-like. Although we should strive to be like Him there's no way we can be Him. If we could be exactly like Him then we would already be blameless and wouldn't need the ultimate sacrifice to restore our relationship with the Father. All we can really do is to concentrate on our personal walks and pray for those around us. Live and let live.

The Person in the Glass

Looking at the world through clouded insecurities. Lost in the endless possibilities. Where am I going and whence have I came? What is there for me to gain? Who is this person I see in the glass? Is it truly me or a guarded mask? Walking quietly trying not to break. Holding on for my sanitys sake. Trying to figure out the next move I take and trying not to fall in the choices I make.

Moment by Moment

Sometimes I lie here and think about my future and it scares me. Mostly because I don't know for sure that I'll have one. We're not guaranteed our next breath, our next hour, our next day. So I think "I have to make the best out of right now, and be happy in this moment, and live for God in the present".

The present is really all that's sure. The past only lingers in our memories, photographs, and heirlooms. The future is a mystery that's being revealed as we live day by day. But the present is right now, it's happening around me as I write this, and you as you read.

Of course I try to plan ahead so that I'll pass my classes, get to work on time, remember important events and so forth, but it's really only God willing. If its my purpose to live until I'm 87 then I'll enjoy every day of it, moment by moment, but if it's my purpose to die at 42, I'll still do the same. It doesn't really matter what we do with our time here on earth as long as we're glorifying God, because we'll have eternity in heaven.

A lot of people who live "recklessly" use the excuse "I want to enjoy life while I'm here". I have two reasons why these people are stupid. 1. You can enjoy life without endangering yourself and others. And 2. I'm fairly certain that there is nothing this world could ever offer that God couldn't top in heaven.

Sometimes when I think about my future it aggravates me and stresses me out. Mostly because of the fact I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I've thought recently about going into journalism. Even though the outlook is declining. I'm hoping and praying that God will let me know soon what the game plan is. I just have to remember that it's in His timing, not mine.

In conclusion, the future and the thought thereof can be overwhelming. It can take a hold of you and destroy you. It can stress you out to the point that you're not even enjoying life anymore. It's not worth it. Just live your life in the moment. Have fun and be happy. Love yourself, love people, and above all else love God. <3

-JB

People Throwing Stones

A chill runs through my bones
When I remember all you've done
People are always throwing stones
Always jumping the gun
I make mistakes
But I know who I am
Looking toward the gates
For on the Rock I stand

-JB