Where is the Love?

Alright, so I realize there is kind of a theme going right now. And I am going to continue on that theme in this post. Love. We try and understand God's love for us, using examples of his love throughout the bible. This is all good, but we are so caught up in looking for God's love for us we lose sight of one key thing. We lose sight of our love for God. I know that I was in that spot for a while. I was looking and searching everywhere for God's love, what it meant, what it looked like. I just needed something from God that would give me some sort of clue as to what his love looked like. I felt disconnected because God was not showing this to me, or I just was not getting the message. Then, I came to a realization. I had been looking so hard for the love of God, that I had forgotten to show God how much I loved him. I forgot the little things that mattered. I forgot what it truly meant to love God. Not to say that God will not show you love if you do not love him. But I think a lot of times, we are so caught up in what God is, or should be doing for us, that we forget to do stuff purposefully for him. We might do stuff for him, in a roundabout sort of a way. But deciding in your heart and mind that something is for God, and being consciously aware of doing something for him, is a totally different attitude then kind of doing something because we are "supposed to" or because "it's right". I think making that conscious choice to do something for God, is in fact part of the actual act itself. When you make that choice, it is saying that God, I love you, and that is why I am doing this. I am putting everything I am into this because I want to express my love for you. Rather than going into it saying, "Alright, I am going to do this because God likes me to do it, and I am a christian so I guess I should just do it." or even worse not even thinking about doing something and just doing it because....it's what you do. I think we need to start showing God exactly how much we love him, and in turn he will love you. I came to this realization and immediately God showed me his love. I put it into practice and even if I did not feel God's love, it felt so good, and it was just such a relief and such a inner peace, I cannot explain it. I challenge anyone reading this to next time you even worship, do it with a specific meaning to show God how much you love him through the words you sing, or the music you play. A relationship is a two-way street, we have to stop just looking for God to just constantly provide, and start showing our love for him.

Dating in today's world.

So I am here at school, and i am taking this course called Marriage and Family. Yes, that's right, a whole course on marriage and family, and what it means, what it involves, and all that jazz. So we start to talk about dating, and stuff. Now, today's society your either with someone or your looking to be with someone... that's just the way we are told it is. So, I am sitting in this class, and we start to talk about being single, and comfortable with it!!! I know, sounds ridiculous, but we are seeing relationships in a totally wrong way. At least from the way I see it. We are seeing relationships as a place to have fun, to release and just be with someone from the opposite gender, and if it happens to be with the person that we are going to marry, then sweet deal. Yet if it is not no big deal. Yet is the point of dating not to find the person you are going to be with? I have heard the argument that well in dating you find out what it is that you want in a future spouse, but should you not at least have an idea about that before you start to date someone. I mean you chose them for a reason, beyond their looks hopefully, so you already have some sort of a clue of what you are looking for. Now not saying that you should only date one person and if your wrong and it does not work too bad. But I think we get too loose of an attitude when it comes to this and so we date.... just well.... cause why not? It's fun right? Yet, there should be that aspect of wanting to find someone that you want to be with, otherwise what really is the point to it all. I mean if your just wanting to have fun why not just be friends right? Then a concept is brought up in class that it takes more self-control to stay single then to actually be in a relationship. Therefore does that mean that I have a lack of self-control because I want to be in a relationship? haha, yes this means that I was looking... I struggled for a little while in really feeling that I needed someone else to date... just to emotionally express myself, in a different level. Yet, I look at it now, and it's a little foolish, and selfish of me. I realize now that there is more to it than that... and while yes it is nice to feel wanted and loved (we all have this want). It is not essential. I realized I would rather wait for God to present something to me and for me to be surprised because of it, and run with the punches. Then for me to force something, and end up hurting one or both of the people involved. This subject is coming up quite a bit in this course... about being married or staying single. We all look for answers when it comes to dating and finding that "special someone"... yet I would say, why not wait for God to show you someone, as hard and a struggle as it might be... would it not make it all worth the wait and struggle? For God to give you that amazing special someone of the opposite gender, to come and just be a relief? I realize it is way worth it... and what I yearned for all along was God to give me this someone, and so i tried to force it (not by getting in a relationship) but by looking for possiblities. I realize now that I should just let it happen, and I know it will be all worth it in the end!

Nick Poetker

Starting Out

Well, here it is. It's up and running for those that want to read it. I do not know how often I plan on posting stuff on here, but I guess it is a wait and see type thing. I started this blog because I randomly get thoughts and ideas from God on different things he is saying to me. Now some of these are really long, but I will condense them and give the main idea. They are meant to be sermons. Which i guess brings me to my first fact about me. I am currently at bible school studying, well, the bible. My end goal is to become a youth pastor, and it has been for the last couple years. I feel that is where god is calling me. I have no idea what I am going to do to get there, or what God is going to do in the time from here to then. But i guess we will embark on that journey together.