Stepping Into the Light

Turning Bad into Good

steppingintothelight — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 07:12:46 +0000

Today seemed to start off like a sucky day. I woke up late so i had to rush to get ready. I had a swim meet so i knew i was going to be tired later. And worst of all i was being dragged to watch a dance production at my school. The swim meet much better then i expected and i got my personal record in two different event. But i still had a dance production to attend and i was EXHAUSTED. Still i took a quick shower i got ready to go. We had to leave right away so i only got a quick bite to eat. I was angry and upset i was being dragged to this dumb dance. But then it started. And while some parts did suck i also got to see a lot of cool dances, and also got to see a lot of my friends dance. It turned out to be pretty cool. And afterwards me and 7 friends headed over to K-scope and played Lazer Tag. It was an awesome night. As i headed home i realized that God had turned what i thought would be a bad day into a great one. Made me realize that every little thing i do all has a part in God’s plan for me. So next time I’m being dragged somewhere I’m just going to accept it and trust that God has a reason for my being there. Maybe not to help me, but maybe to help someone else. Everyday God’s abilities and powers begin to click in my head. No longer are there coincides but step’s in God’s plan. And start to feel bad for people who don’t believe in God. People who believe bad things happen just because. People who have no hope for their afterlife. And it pushes me to help save them. To help them achieve everlasting peace. To turn the bad into good.

Time with God

steppingintothelight — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 04:29:29 +0000

Last night while during swim practice i felt exhausted. Not oh-this-is-a-hard-workout exhausted. This was a i-just-want-to-sleep-for-a-week exhausted. My coach asked me why i was so tired i just responded with “I’m busy”. It got me think about just how busy i am.

On an average day i sleep to 5:30. 5:30 to 6:20 is getting ready for school and reading the SOTD. From about 6:30 to 5:30 im at school and doing drama. I go straight from school to swim which ends at 7:30. From then on its eating dinner, homework and going to bed a 10.

That’s a 14 hour school day, 8 hours sleeping, with 2 hour for random things. As a new Christian i was overwhelmed. I have to do all this and fit God into my life! WRONG! I’m not fitting God around my schedule I need to fit my schedule around God. So I’m praying for God to help me better serve him. And it feels good!

P.S. I must say i feel disheartened with the world right now. I long for the heavenly kingdom. Why you may ask? While i was logging on to blog i saw a news article below the sign in sheet. I looked and it was titled “More Americans say they have no religion“. Some of the stats were astounding. But what troubled me where some of the comments posted. Of all the ones i read only 1 spoke truly about God and Jesus. Only 1! out of 30! Let me put this into context. America just passed the 300 million mark a year ago. If we scale it only ten million people would say something good about God. That’s just a little over 3%! 3 percent! I must say i feel lucky to have found a great church where there are people who have truly found the Word of God! and live in his Grace saved from their sins!

The Slow Path to Hell

steppingintothelight — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:47:21 +0000

Today was not what one would call a rough day for me. No huge obstacles to overcome, nothing to distract me from a great albeit cloudy O.C. day. And it dawned on me that some of the hardest days for Christian’s to stay on the Christian path is not when we have some obstacle to overcome.

Don’t get me wrong some obstacles are faith-testing days when the only way we make it through is with God’s love. But some of the most faith testing days are days when everything seems to go right. Do we see the need to pray to God on days like this? No! We think we got it handled how could this day go wrong. And we forget to thank God for the great things he has done that day. A quote from The Screwtape Letter by C.S. Lewis really strikes close to this. “The safest road to Hell is the gradual one — the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” So while we have to watch out for blatant attacks against our Lord Almighty we also need to watch out for the path which will slowly lead us to Hell, which might not be so obvious.

P.S. As this blog is also part a way for me to document my stepping into Christianity i fell like i should mention my progress. Honestly i took 2 steps forward and 1 step back. I prayed much more and i could feel God’s prescencse with me but i also know i didn’t hold up so well against sin. I started the day off wrong by getting into a fight with my grandma. No huge sinning occurred but that doesn’t mean I’m okay. A sin is a sin no matter how small or large. I sinned and i know it. But i know that when i repent to God and Jesus tonight and ask for his forgiveness i will get it now matter how undeserved it is. The Gift of God’s Grace is the best gift i have ever received and i pray i can help spread it everywhere :]

Finishing My Life with God

steppingintothelight — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 07:14:40 +0000

Today was another inspiring day learning about the Lord. When i got home after church i was filled with this sense of happiness. It was a great feeling. Can’t wait for next week’s sermon by Pastor Bobby. Next week on Sunday i also have a meeting with Pastor Bobby. Not really sure what it’s about but I’m guessing it’s about my relationship with the Lord.

Talking about the Lord has been something I’ve been thinking about lately. A lot of it is how can better understand the Lord. How can i know what he wants from me? That’s the easy part. I have Pastor Bobby and all my friends at Compass to help me understand what God wants from me. But the more i think the more i wonder if I’m as comitted to God as i can be. I know I’m new but I don’t think that gives me an excuse to not put God as my focus. So my main goal these upcoming weeks to is to turn the focus of my life to God. What can i do to make God my number 1 priority?

Today Pastor Bobby did a Sermon comparing Christians to athletes. One of his main points was finishing the race. As a starting Christain(and a young person at that) finishing the race seems pretty far off. Barring any deadly accidents i have a good 60 years a head of me if not more. Really makes me think of how far i have to go. In race terms im running the marathon here. Pretty far, huh? While it does seem like a daunting task i know i have an ace up my sleeve. I have my own coach/trainer/inspiration/running buddy/fan there with me. I have Jesus! I have someone who knows all that i will face and can tell me how make it through. I have someone thats training me for the spiritual burn i feel. I have someone who has done it before giving me inspiration. I have someone right here to encourage me when times get hard. I have someone pulling for me to reach the end. I have Jesus! There’s no denying it will be a tough journey but i have the God Almighty on my side. And guess what? It’s nice knowing i have Jesus and God on my side :]