Slowing down

It’s been a while since I have posted a blog. I have been keeping pretty busy, as I’m sure everyone is this time a year. On of my favorite quotes is, Life is to short to be in a hurry. Kind of an oxymoron isn’t it, but when you think about it, it’s so true. Sometimes, I think that we need to remember to just slow down and breathe and just enjoy life and the many things that it has to offer, in moderation of course, but that’s a whole other blog.

Three in a half years ago, I was pulled over 3 times in one month for not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. All three times I got a warning. This was my introduction to slowing down and following the rules. I was very lucky, and I have come to a compete stop at every stop sign since with very few exceptions, mainly being if it is snowing, or icy, and if I do come to a complete stop, and there is a change that I will not get moving again.

About a year ago, I was pulled over 4 times in about 3 weeks time, twice in one night. The twice in one night was because I had a head light out. I got pulled over in one city, and than pulled over again 15 minutes later in another city for the same thing. Another time I was pulled over for speeding, however, I wasn’t speeding, the cop pulled me over when he should have pulled over the guy that was in front of me. The last time, somebody behind me called the cops on my claiming that I was swerving, so they pulled my over to make sure I hadn’t been drinking. Understand, that I don’t get off of work until 12:30am, so when I am driving home, it is the middle of the night, and there are no cars on the road, so the few craizies such as myself that are on the road get to be the ones to amuse the police during their down times.

This all happened less than 3 months from my born again date, and I realized that even though I was not in essence doing anything wrong or illegal to get pulled over, it made me realize that being a Christian is about setting an example in every area of your life. That month, I made a decision to follow the rules of the road without exception. I do not speed, and I do come to a complete stop at all stop signs, and when somebody wants to cut me off, or get in, I just let them. It really is amazing at how much more you can accomplish when you just slow down.

I have said in the past that becoming a Christian is like losing weight. When you want to lose weight, you can’t just go on a diet, you have to change the way you live, by exercising, eating better, getting plenty of sleep and reducing stress, and you have to keep it up pretty much forever if you want to keep the weight off. It is a change of lifestyle literally. Becoming a Christian is the same way. You have to change the way to live by live a Godly life and be an example in every area of your life, even when nobody is looking, or you become a hypocrite. Please understand before you decide to make comments that no one is perfect, all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Romans 3:23. It is impossible to be a perfect example in ever area and every situation every time, but as a Christian, we sure do need to try. But, the best part about screwing up, is that we are saved by grace through faith which brings me to the main point of my blog.

I just finished studying the book of Micah. There were some good verses in Micah. I want to share two of them with you now. Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness. Micah 7:8-9.

As I have been reading through and studying the Old Testament, I have noticed a very common theme. The Israelites screw up…a lot. Every time God is about to write them off, someone, usually a king or a profit prays for God to give them another chance, and God has compassion on His people, and He says to Israel, if you turn back to me, your sins will be forgiven. This is great news for everyone. Basically when we screw up, God will forgive us, if we confess our sins to Him, and repent, of course we have to be sincere about it.

Another common theme in the bible is love. I am going to quote another verse from Micah. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8. Entrance to Heaven requires two things, first, you accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, and second, you need to love your neighbor, that’s it. Of course you need to do that whole lifestyle change with it, which shouldn’t be a problem if you really want to follow Christ. Remember friend, no matter if you are a Christian and have fallen off the bandwagon, or if you have never accepted Christ before, no matter what you have done, or no matter how bad you have screwed up, it’s not t late for you. You can’t change the past, so don’t try, just learn from it. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. It is said that even Jeffrey Dohmer in the last moments of his life accepted Christ. If he did in fact sincerely accept Christ as his personal Lord and Savior, and repent of his sin, than he is in Heaven right now enjoying the fruits of eternal life. If Jeffery and make it, than so can you.