This has absolutely nothing to do with what I have to say, and everything to do with nothing. It was put on my heart to put in the title spot.
Greetings Earthlings. I've been brought back to you from the planet SAU. Now usually when an abduction happens, it's no good. I am pleased to tell you, that even though I left you for quite some time, my experiences were beyond anything I could have ever imagined.
Now, one would think that after seven abductions I would get used to it, but even though I go to the same place, I never come back the same. Each time is a new and different experience, some better than others.
okay..it's too late to be creative anymore...
Hi. I just finished my seventh semester at Spring Arbor University. Best.One.Yet. Why? three words:
Iron
Sharpens
Iron
Remember in proverbs where it says Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend's countenance" (27:17)? I'm reminded of this everyday. My life was a dull knife. Though others perceptions of me seemed one way, my life was lived with temptations. It was filled with an absence of God because of my own laziness, and it was lived squelching the Holy Spirit of what it wanted to do. My reputation on campus as a leader, worship major, has-it-together type person got me in trouble because Satan tricked me into thinking that I was living the perfect life. But when I screwed up, I was at the lowest of lows. Nobody saw that side of me. I wanted nobody to see that side of me. I was okay with it being my own secret.
This summer I learned about how powerful prayer is. There is no freaking way I could have done it without to holy spirit moving through me. It reminds me of the verse in James that talks about we need to confess our sins to one another and pray for each other, because the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective! Shoo, boy! That is some thick stuff.
Listen! People! I beg of you. Get some accountability. I am overjoyed and reaping in the joy of the Lord! Though it's hard to confess, it's so refreshing. You guys, the burden is not on you, if you allow Jesus, and your brothers (if you're a guy) and sisters (if you're a gal) to take care of it. Obedience to God is not something we can master by ourselves. That's why he gives us a community, a church to use as our army. We cannot, I repeat CANNOT get through alone.
If it sounds like I'm begging you, it probably means I am. So many people get caught up in their reputation, that they forget about their salvation. Here are some guidlines I followed
1.) Someone of the same age-ish
2.) Someone of the same gender. I cannot stress to you how important that one is. Your girlfriend doesn't count.
3.) A Christian (duh)
4.) Someone who knows you reallllllly really well.
That's the biggest thing that happened this semester. I'm more joyful now, and I've found it easier to submit to Jesus if I know my burdens have been taken away. A lot of other stuff has happened, but nothing comparable. I'm too tired to tell you the rest.
Suckers.
Love,
Marc
