Monday, September 20, 2010

Creature of Habits

I think it is time to question the good and bad habits in our lives. 


Are we making the most out of our day? I believe habits are a state of mind. Habits are the way you think and how you respond mentally. For example, lazy people are not tired people because don't have energy but rather mentally unwilling or careless. Lazy people don't care if their home is dirty or if the trash is overflowing, or dishes are overflowing because they are unwilling to care. This is a state of mind. Proverbs 10:4 - A lazy hand will make a man poor but diligent hands will bring wealth. 

Sometimes we don't realize how much bad habits can rob us or even hurt us. First thing first, we need to renew the way we think. It's time to start looking at things in our lives differently and not set conclusions. 

Changing our habits starts in a few practical ways:

1. Your attitude
Phil. 2:5 - The best attitude you can have is Jesus'. Jesus' attitude was the attitude of a servant. He did not come to be served but to serve. That attitude is mature and responsible. We need to check our attitudes. Stop complaining, stop whining like a child, stop being unwilling, stop being careless and start acting like Jesus. 

2. Start something with the mindset that you are going to finish it!
Have some dignity in yourself and strive to be the best at what you are pursuing in life. I don't mean be prideful (being arrogant, or having an "I am better than the whole world" attitude) but believe that God has started a work in you and He intends to finish what He started in you so we should do the same. Secondly, be committed. Stop being known as a flake or the person who bails, or the person who is undependable. (If you are dating a person who doesn't finish what they start, GET OUT OF THAT RELATIONSHIP!) Never married a procrastinator. You marriage will always live in a bucket full of wishes. 

3. Stop making your bad habits bigger than you
So many people exaggerate their problems and sometimes compete their problems with their neighbor. Stop making your problems bigger then God. There isn't anything that God can't help you with. God wants to help you, God wants to change you, God wants to bless you. Start focusing on what God is capable of doing and acknowledging for who He is and what He has done. Instead of empowering your problems, submit your problems to the cross.

4. Know your true Identity 
As believers of Jesus Christ and picking up our cross daily, it is a journey of discovering God's love in our lives. So many people think they know who they are and say things like "I am a football player," " I am a model," "I am a calm person," "I am a pizza boy." Seriously stop labeling yourself and start discovering yourself in Jesus. Ask what Jesus thinks of you everyday and you might not be able to keep up with all He has planned for you.  Just stop predicting your life and acting like your weakness is normal; because weakness are meant to be strengthen not settled. 

Bottom line, our habits start with our state of mind. If you want to see changes in your life you have to learn to admit that you are powerless, and start confessing up that you need the help of Jesus to change your habits. Start believing Jesus will be faithful to you daily. It is often said that habits are changed by "willpower" But the only thing about willpower it is limited and not infinite. However, Jesus, He is infinite. You need an infinite savior to change you.

Read Ephesians 4:17-24.
Shalom.








  

Friday, September 10, 2010

Unexpected Connections

They say hanging out with the right crowd will have a better influence in your life and help you get where you're going. This might be so true.

I remember going to my outreach meeting for Cuba in the summer of 02 at "Christ for the Nations Bible College." I was walking with a good friend of mine name Gabiel (Bibi) from San Diego. As we were walking I heard a whisper in my ear saying "Costa Rica." I told Bibi and said "I think Costa Rica is going to be my next step after finishing school." Bibi told me right there and then, "Aaron, lets pray that God will lead to you to Costa Rica according to His will." Bibi was the one who consistently encouraged me to do a missions trip. It was Bibi that God used to lead me to a road that would change my life for good.

In my second semester of college another friend of mine, Ron from Hawaii, one day told me that his pastor was going to be the guest speaker for the week and he said that my life was going to change. (He was right.)

Ron's Pastor's name was Loren Cunningham, The founder of Youth with A Mission. Me and my other friends all met Loren and we had a great time talking to him. Then there was this Holy Spirit moment when Pastor Loren looked at me with eyes that wasn't him asking a question. He said, "Aaron Ortega, where are you going after Christ for the Nations?" I replied "Costa Rica Sir!" The next thing he told me was the conformation of a lifetime. "Aaron, I have a base in Costa Rica, I'll send you a referral to the base director there."

I finished CFNI in December of 2003 and then started Youth with a Mission in the next month in January. Now before I tell you anything else I have to say something about all this build up to Costa Rica.

I've learned something about God's will and this subject about has always been something hard for me personally to get ahold of. And I want to share a few things about God's will.

1. It always starts with a selfless desire, a desire that out of your own character. For example, I didn't even know where Costa Rica was at the time when me and Bibi were praying, but I knew in my heart that it was a significant place for me. The desire will grab your heart. Trust me, these desires are obvious godly desires because it's not you desiring these things but Christ in you that does.

2. God's will isn't just a feeling but mindful. You can't stop thinking about it because you know it the right move and step in your life and you know in your mind you have to do it. Sometimes we need dreams and visions to confirm our mind. God can speak through dreams and visions just like he did with Joseph in the bible.

 3. God's will will always lead you to the right people to connect you to your destination. There will be people who will believe with you and not only that but help you to get there. Bibi prayed with me and believed God would reveal the next steps, open doors in my life. Ron was a valuable person too and this was because he was my personal friend that lead me to the right guy (Loren) and he was the person who had the answer to "where in Costa Rica?" (YWAM).

Amazing with what little we all have can help someone (Me) go to a place where his life would be changed forever.

I am sharing this to point out that God's will was leading me to meet the most unexpected person that would change my life.  Sarah Faith Godfrey..... That will be my next blog about Costa Rica.

I really seen that having godly friends really connected me and grounded me with God's will.
I couldn't have made it to Costa Rica with people who were not connected to God themselves, people who were connecting daily with God and becoming people who love their neighbors. I can tell you I have neighbors that loved me and helped me.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

What a birthday might have in common with a funeral

Someone shared something on their facebook status.

"Birthdays should be like funerals, a day where all your friends come together to celebrate your life and remember all the good stuff about you and bring you flowers.... Sad that we don't tell people how much we care till its too late." 


This is interesting because in a lot of ways funerals have a different dynamic than a birthday party does. Birthday parties are more about presents, food and having a good time but you may not take the time to reflect on why you are thankful for that person or even tell them why you appreciate them. At a funeral it's different. It's a time when you remember the fun times you had together, remembering their accomplishments, and appreciating the person for who they were. Isn't that what celebration is really about?  This also got me thinking about how much we value each other. How much do I appreciate my loved ones? I think we all need to self examine these questions and reflect on our attitudes and appreciations for the people God placed in our lives.

Questions to reflect about your loved ones:

How often do you offer help?

When was the last time you told someone they are doing a great job at what they are working hard at?

When was the last time you treated someone for a meal?

What could be the most thoughtful thing you can do?

How have you been treating your love ones?

All of these questions should align us to be improving our attitudes to love and services. Because sometimes we can take advantage and not appreciate the people God has placed in our lives.