Most Recent Blog Posts

• Static [Phone Service Part 2]

  • From: jadededges
  • Description:

    In ‘No Connection?’, I talked about how like a cell phone, things can get in the way of our communication with God. But have you ever thought that maybe your cell phone itself is what’s blocking your connection with God?

    There’s a guy called Ernie Krouse who records nature sounds for radio and TV shows. He said that in 1968, to get one hour of undisturbed sound, like no airplanes, cars, and things like that, it would take him 15 hours of recording. But today, it takes him 2000 hours to get the same one hour of undisturbed sound. I think that sometimes, life can be kind of like that. We are so surrounded by ‘noise’ that we are never in a quiet or silent place.

    Maybe God is trying to speak to us, but we aren’t listening to Him . If you’re in a crowd with a bunch of people, and it’s really noisy, it can be really hard to hear the person on the phone. Sometimes you just have to get away from all the noise to someplace quiet to hear the other person. It’s the same way with God. Especially in America, we can surround ourselves with entertainment and fun so much that it becomes like static in our connection with God. Don’t think this really applies to you? These are some indicators that you might have too much ‘noise’ in your life:

    You always have the TV or radio on, even if you’re not watching or listening.

    You turn on your iPod the instant you become bored, or even when you’re doing something else in the first place.

    You can’t stand being in silent or quiet places.

    Humans can be so obsessed with this ‘noise’ that we never get a break. There’s a new term for checking emails, MySpace, text messages, etc. We now call it ‘checking your vitals’. We’ve become so dependent on these things that we’ve become addicted to them and can’t go without. But these are the things that can get in the way of what we really need, a relationship with God.

    Is there too much noise in your life? I dare you to go without one thing that you usually spend time on, like a TV, iPod, or computer, and instead, use the time to try to fix the connection between you and God.

    Click the link below to read this at the jadededges Shoutlife blog.

    http://shoutlife.com/profile_view_module_blo g_printer_friendly.cfm?blog_id=182564;

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 346

• No Connection?

  • From: jadededges
  • Description:

    Have you ever been in a place where you couldn’t get any connection on your cell phone, like in a basement or valley? In the same, cell phones can be a lot like prayer.

    One thing that can get in the way and block connection is if there’s something wrong in our relationship with others. Matthew 5:23-24 says this: “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come offer your gift.”

    What that means is that if there’s something going on between you and someone you know, try to fix that relationship before deepening you relationship with God. Call or visit your friend, sibling, or parent, whoever, and try to make amends.

    Another thing that can get in the way of connection is if there’s something wrong in our relationship with God. The first chapter in Isaiah describes a rebellious nation where everyone has rejected God and his commands. Verse 15 says that “When you spread your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen.” Don’t take this verse in the wrong context, God will always be there for us. What this means is that God would rather you pray one, real, true, genuine prayer than dozens of them done only out of obligation.

    One thing that can really kill connection is sin. David, one of the biggest pray-ers ever in the Bible, said this in Psalm 66:18: “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.“

    When you’re talking with someone on the phone and another person tries to call you, you have to switch to ‘the other line’. You can’t talk to both of them at the same time. It’s the same deal with prayer. You can’t be pursuing sin and trying to deepen your relationship with God at the same time. But, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

    But I think that one of the most common connection-killers is if we have the wrong motives. Sometimes we treat God like the pizza delivery guy. We list what we want, then hang up. James 4:3 says that “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.“ Prayer isn’t supposed to be just a vending machine. Just like a cell phone, it’s meant to help us communicate with God and have a better relationship with Him.

    What do you think is blocking your connection with God? Sin? Pride? Wrong motives? It’s about time to fix the connection.

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 303
  • Not yet rated

• Show Your Colors

  • From: jadededges
  • Description:

    If you’re obsessed with something, you will pretty much devote your life to it. If it’s a certain rock band, you’ll buy the t-shirts, download the music, and put up some posters. If you like a certain sport, like football or skateboarding, you would probably play it a lot and work on being the best you can at it. If you have a best friend, boyfriend, or girlfriend, you will sometimes give up what you want to make the

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 359
  • Not yet rated