Got Gifts?

It's the times in our life when we sit alone, in the quiet, listening for the voice of our savior to shine through when Christ reveals to us life changing opportunities. As I spent time this weekend to slow down, sit in the presence of my Lord, and listen to his voice I learned a few things about my heart that only Christ could uncover. It was a verse from holy scripture I least expected to hear. To be honest, I was completely taken by surprise when I was led me to it - 1 Timothy 4:14: "Do not neglect the gift that is in you." However, suddenly it all started to make sense. My heart had been heavy these past few weeks, especially about beginning a new semester, and leaving my family after a much needed and enjoyed Christmas Vacation. It would be a complete lie to say I was thrilled about returning. That was, until, my heart was ministered to by the Lord.
Jeremiah 1:4 tells us that Christ knew us before we were ever born, in fact, we learn in Ephesians 1:11 that we were thought of at creation. We arrived on this earth in the form of small miracles destined to achieve great things! What I was losing sight of was the gifts that I was put on this earth with: music, and ministry. What gifts were you sent to this earth with? Are you spending time nurturing these gifts or neglecting them much like I was? Dr. Seuss wrote, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go.” Where are your God given talents going to take you today?
As I was sprinting across campus today I saw a group of children from the campus pre-school walking across the street. I couldn't help but stop and stare knowing that in that group of children could be the scientist who finds the cure for cancer, a nobel peace prize winner, or future president of the United States. We were all once there, walking in those tiny shoes, only (what seems like) years ago, and look where we are today! Is God getting the glory for the talents you posses and for the person you have become? I encourage you to take some time today, and in the days ahead, to do exactly as I did and slow down, and sit in the silence to give praise to the one who carries you close to his heart.

I Am

by Aaron Deutsch
January 8, 2011

I Am the change I want to see in the world
I See a beautiful world full of people from places different than I
I Hear the voices of those crying our for help
I Taste the sweetness of being a Christian
I Touch the hearts of those who reach out to touch mine

I Am a lover of all people
I Cry at the drop of a hat because I am an emotional blob of jello
I Laugh because I believe those who laugh more live longer
I Smile at those who don't normally receive smiles
I Feel every day is a gift from God

I Am thankful for all I have been blessed with
I Enjoy the company of friends old and new
I Dislike close minded people who don't live life to the fullest
I Believe we have been given the privilage to change everyone we meet
I Want to walk the path Christ has laid out for me

I Am a unique person created by and for the Lord
I Wish everything you want in life to come true
I Miss my grandfather and everything he has missed in the past 10 years
I Love who I am
I Remember with a greatful heart those who have gone before me to make me who I am today

I am running with endurance the race

Ye Shall Live

As we begin the New Year we think and meditate upon our New Years Resolutions and the impact they will make on our lives. As I have been talking with friends and family about the resolutions they made one I heard repeatedly was, "I want to be a better Christian." This took me back to a time in my life not so long ago when this was one commitment I could have made to myself and to my God. I think there comes a time in our lives when we believe we have become the best Christian we can be. We feel we have read all the books, listened to all the sermons, said all the prayers, and spent all the time with God we needed to spend with him. We reach a time when we stop living, breathing, and engulfing ourselves in Christ and start going on auto-pilot. I was sitting in church a few months ago when I was caught off guard by the voice of God booming in my head saying "Aaron - why have you become a one hour a week Christian?" I use to spend hours in prayer promising my Lord on bended knee that I would not become that very person I was turning into. I was suddenly overtaken with a flood of emotions: Regretful that I had slipped away from the feet of my Lord. Angry that I hadn't corrected it earlier. Embarrassed that I was preaching to others about not becoming that type of Christian when I had already. However - while I was being overtaken by all the negative emotions my Father in Heaven pushed through them and laid on my heart a feeling of peace. It was time to correct my mistakes - to go before the God of Forgiveness and lay my burdens at the foot of the cross.
Today - I want to know if you are working to avoid becoming a one hour a week Christian? Are you allowing God to work deeply in and through you or are you living your own life like I was? Are you spending time in Holy Scripture and Prayer daily or are you doing it when it fits into your schedule like I was? Are you listening in the silence to the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, as it lays out the next steps for your life or are you endlessly searching in other places like I was? I am here to tell you right now that we are broken Christians seeking to be made whole by Christ. I am here to support you whether you are on the path laid out for you or need help finding it again. I am here, above all, to love you because chances are I have been in the seat you are sitting in now. Will you make the commitment with me, right now, to work away from being a one hour a week Christian? Will you come before your God fully acknowledging your failures? As we work together toward this goal we remember the words of Amos 5:4 - "Seek yes me, and ye shall live..."

Love, Precious Love

There comes a time, friends, when you realize just how precious your life and the life of your friends and family is. Christmas and New Years have come and gone and today we stand at the beginning of a new chapter in our lives and we look to the question everyone looks to at the beginning of a new year: Will this be the year we keep the resolutions we have made? Normally mine would be to lose weight, exercise more, and eat healthier. However - for some reason those seemed a bit frivolous this year. I made only 2 resolutions - to become a better friend to those I love and to draw closer to my Lord while drawing closer to them. As I sat around the Christmas Tree with my family this year I was overwhelmed with a feeling I don't normally experience when I gather with them. I found myself taking in and savoring every moment we spent with one another. I had a pile full of presents at my feet to open but this year they didn't matter - my family did. I started thinking about how often I take these people for granted - along with my friends and those I care about. How many more Christmases will we all have to spend together? How many years will pass before our Christmas traditions are ripped apart by storms, differing schedules, or even death? When people ask how my Christmas was I tell them - precious - because thats exactly what it was. How many of you reading today are like me in the respect that we are so fortunate to have a family to spend the holidays with? Now how many of you reading today are like me as we take those people for granted every single day of our lives? Christ has rained down his blessings on me throughout my life through family, friends, and memories and sometimes I have failed to see their importance in my life. As I held the newest member of our family, my 5 month old baby cousin, in my arms I could see the face of God - reminding me that the only gift I needed this year was right there staring back at me.
1 John 3 tells us that our Lord wants to lavish us with his love, and because he does this, friends, we can do the same to others. Our God knew us before we were even born (Jeremiah 1:4-5), and he has searched our hearts (Psalm 139:1), and he has given us the power to change the lives of those around us in his name through love. While Christmas has passed and we are almost a week into the New Year, I know that the best gift you can give someone today - right now - is your love.