Are You Willing To Hang In There?

It's awesome to actually read and get something from it. Books about cooking, cleaning, sewing, building, playing instruments, making instruments. There are even books about how to read a book. It's crazy.
Most of the time, when I read, I like to "get something" from the book. Lately, I've been getting less from any other book aside from the bible. Sure, Piper's great. C.S. Lewis is a genius. Martin Luther, A.W. Tozer, Spurgeon, Defoe, Churchill...you get the point. They all rock my face off and are very talented in putting their own wisdom into words we can read and get an idea on how we as Christians can mold ourselves into what God has created us to be.
There's nothing in these books that the authors didn't get from the bible. The fact they admit some of their faults and struggles, yet encourage others through their writings is so cool to me. They, as authors and just sinners as you and I, are putting their lives out there for all to read about.
It's even better to listen to a "Sermon" or "Teaching" and get something from that as well. I love listening to sermons or little teachings. I drive a lot - so it helps to hear another voice other than the one singing in my speaker.

Most of us judge and look for those faults we can critique...so we don't have to feel as convicted when we dissect our own lives. I admit, I have done this more times than I would like to admit.
It's been something I've recently been trying to overcome. Pretty cool to see the extended grace from God in my life.
Graduation Sunday @ my church CFFFC (Christian Faith Fellowship Family Church)was pretty cool. Pastor Mike was able to give the graduating class one last message as their Youth Pastor. The message was titled, "Lay Down & Play Dead" - He urged them to not "lay down & play dead" as grown-ups. He brought to reality what most of us do. He described a situation that if, we were in war and the enemy was drawing near, he would grab a dead body and lay it on top of his own and "play dead" - this way he can get all of the credit without doing the work he signed up for.

Most Christians want to say they are Christians and go to church and claim to be that ultimate soldier, but once we face battle, we tend to "lay down and play dead".
Pastor Mike even went into the "body building" metaphor. Ephesians 6:10-14 there's a section in the 13th going into the 14th verse,(13)"Therefor take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.(14)Therefore, stand...."

He was lifting weights and his trainer wanted him to dead-lift 500lbs. He was hesitant to lift the weights, but he did it and even when he wanted to drop them, his trainer would scream,"HOLD IT!" - his fingers felt as if they were going to fall off and he wanted to let go, but he kept hearing,"HOLD IT!" and then he received the "ok" to let go.

It was then, P. Mike revealed to everyone that when you are feeling sick and you cannot hang on any longer,"HOLD IT!" - when you feel as if you can never get out of debt,"HOLD IT!" - when your life seems as if it is turning upside-down,"HOLD IT!"

God tells us to hold on - cause He's got it under control. We just have to, hold on, cling to Him and His word and trust that He will always be there to spot us.

What an awesome message - Thanks Pastor Mike!!