Oh how sweet to trust in Jesus! I am completely through with school now and will be officially graduating with my B.A. in Communications in a little less than two months. The past several weeks I have been trying to find a full-time job, and it's been a challenge! In December, I had three interviews with a recruiting company called Clinical One, which is a staffing firm and it recruits and places nurses and other healthcare professionals with hospitals all across the nation. The job I was interviewing for was that of recruiting specialist and everything was looking very promising with that potential job. I made it through all the interviews, but I didn't end up getting the job. I was discouraged, but I realized that if God closed that door, then that means He has something better for me somewhere else! The challenge is now finding where, and waiting on the Lord for His direction. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to trust in the Lord with all of our hearts and lean not on our understanding, but to acknowledge Him in all our ways and He will direct our paths.
I've been thinking a lot lately about where God wants me to be, specifically how God can use me the most for His glory with whatever occupation He provides. I've also been thinking about what my prayer and focus should be during this time of searching. The Lord has really been convicting me that throughout this job search, I really haven't been coming at it from a perspective that keeps Christ centered. I've been all about finding a job that pays well so that I can save money and I can move forward with the things in my life that I want to do. That has been so wrong! I know that every minute detail of my life is about Christ and that my purpose for everything I do ought to be to bring glory and honor to His Name, but somehow I missed that during my job search. I knew it in my head, but I hadn't committed to it in my heart.
This has a been a painful, but rich lesson! Christ has promised to provide for His children, and I know that promise was given to me when He saved me and made me His own. I also know that His command to His children is that we shape our desires to be in accordance with His own. This experience has taught me that God doesn't bless the desires of those who seek something in a way that does not please Him. He does not bless those who are self-centered! God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. The Lord has graciously revealed this area of pride in my heart and is helping me, through the power of His Spirit, to deal with this sticky part of my heart that needs to be fully released. I can't say that I'm fully where I need to be, but I'm closer and I know that according to Philippians 1:6 that the Lord will complete what He has begun. If I can trust Him to keep me forever secure in the palm of His hand for life and salvation, how much more ought I to trust Him with something material and temporal? Yes, an occupation is a big deal, especially for man who has a vision to be a husband and father someday, but in the light of eternity, a job is simply a part of this life that will one day be of no importance. I need to be more focused on the bigger picture. I need to look through different lenses, and seek to see things through Christ's eyes. My prayer is that my vision in finding a job would be to bring Christ honor and to submit to Him as He leads me. My own efforts and energies are useless if they are not motivated by a desire to glorify my sovereign King.
It's neat to see how God uses different things at different times to teach you more about Himself and to shape you more into His own image! My prayer, as I continue seeking where the Lord would have me, is that the source of my motivation would be an earnest desire to honor and worship Christ for how He has, is and will continue to work in my life. I know that He will answer, and that all of this is a small part of His wonderful plan for my life. It is so comforting to rest in the refuge of His love and to have assurance in what the Lord has prepared for those who love Him.
Oh the depth and the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! Praise the Lord for His perfect work.
To an Audience of One,
Joshua
Well, I suppose most of you are wondering about my big news. Some of you know already, but I wanted to share this with the rest of my blogger friends as well. So, ready for the announcement? Okay, well here goes: I got a job in Japan as a trash man!!!! So maybe not… Maybe this will be a little more exciting.
Her name is Anna!
Anna Miriam Penney, actually.
The purpose of this post is to serve as a more specific introduction to the series that I am starting. As I mentioned in my last post, this series will deal with salvation, theology, and doctrine, and the importance of knowing what God says in His Word.
Before I go further in this post, let me mention one thing that I forgot in the previous, general introduction. My purpose for this series is not a response to any person or idea, nor is it because I want to be divisive or contentious. This is something that I have been studying for quite a while now and I have a strong desire to share what I have seen in the Holy Scriptures. Nothing I say is directed to specific people or to attack others for their beliefs. The things that I will mention are the culmination of my studies, conversations, Biblical understandings, and other things that I felt were relevant to address as they pertain to this discussion. As I said, nothing is directed to or against any person. My purpose for this post is to portray truth and glorify Christ Jesus. Now, for the rest of the intro...
I know that many people today question the relevance of doctrinal discussions. After all, if we are all Christians serving the same God and striving to live holy lives, then what difference does it make whether we believe differently about theology? It makes a tremendous difference. The way that we live, act, and think is directly impacted by the way we believe about God and His Word. Think about it. The decisions that we as Christians make are determined by what we believe about God and what He requires of man. At the end of the day, if theological differences can't be resolved between brothers and sisters who believe differently, the best thing to do is agree to disagree and not let the issue cause contention in the body of Christ. Satan likes to use those kinds of things to hinder believers in their walk with Christ. We must constantly be on our guard and strive to live at peace with all men. However, that does not and will not change the fact that theology is vitally important to the believer. We must be firmly grounded in Biblical truth, rooted in the doctrines of Scripture.
The topics of this series certainly are "hot buttons" in Christianity today. When believers begin to discuss things such as salvation, election, atonement, eternal security, and things of that nature, they seem to automatically draw swords and begin to duel in an earnest attempt to disprove the opposing view by their knowledge of the Scriptures. I know this all too well; I have engaged in many a "duel" such as this and some have had desirable results, others not so desirable. This series will address these controversial topics. I have decided to call this series, "Salvation and the Sovereignty of God." We will examine appropriate views of God and man as it pertains to salvation, the nature of salvation, the work of salvation, and what it implies for those who have received salvation and those who will receive salvation. We will also examine what these beliefs imply as far as evangelism. I also hope to examine some of the common arguments made against the doctrines I will be presenting and how they are based on misconceptions of the doctrines I believe.
As I go through the series, don't just take anything just because I say it. Search the Scriptures and examine what I have to say. God's Word is clear and there are no contradictions. When topics such as these are discussed, people automatically go to certain Scriptures that seem to indicate otherwise than what someone else may be saying. There may be those who would disagree with what I have to say, and if you do, that's fine by me! It's not my goal to change your heart; my goal is to present truth. As I said in my previous post, I won't ignore comments from those who disagree, but before we revert to those favorite verses we all have, might we consider something? If there is something wrong with what I say about the verses I use for these posts, search God's Word and show me how the verses I use are wrong. Examine the contexts, study the Greek/Hebrew, and show me, from God's Word, how what I say is in contradiction to the Scriptures used. If you do that and I am found to be in error, I will be the first to admit that I am wrong. If you disagree and want explanations to certain passages, I will be more than glad to explain them. We all must be faithful to diligently search out that which is being taught to ensure that it is sound. I pray that you will find much truth in this series.
God bless,
Joshua
Okay, so you're probably expecting my first post to be the typical, "Wow, I have a blog now, I'm so excited and maybe I can really change the world!" Well, you won't be disappointed! I do have a blog, I am very excited, and yes, by God's grace I do desire that in some way I can make an impact on those who read everything here! But that's not the main objective of this first post...My main objective is to define the purpose of this blog, so here we go... My main purpose includes several things: First, I want to glorify God in everything I say on this blog, and lift up His Name above all things. Second, I want to be able to share what's going on in my life, spiritually and even just your average, everyday kind of stuff! Third, and last, I want people to sense that there is really something different about this crazy blogger! I want you to see that I have a purpose and a passion in life, I want you to see that my passion drives everything I do, and I want you to see what my passion is: My passion is Jesus Christ! May my story be a testament of HIS glory!
Thanks for reading! I hope I can be an encouragement in the days to come. If I can help point you towards Christ in any way, then I can consider this blog a success!
About Me
- Joshua
- Average will never suit me. Perfection may never define me. The former is too often accepted and the latter often only desired. I cannot resign to complacency and I cannot simply DESIRE perfection. I must PURSUE it! Though an impossible task, a man named Jesus came to earth and lived a perfect life, and He commands others to do the same. I am proud to bear His standard and will strive to meet His charge. Until my race is over and I’ve written my last line, I will seek perfection in all areas of my life, not because the goal in and of itself is a worthy end, but because of the One who gave it.