Don't Learn The Hard Way

My step-grandpa passed away recently and his funeral was this past Saturday. Every time someone I'm close to, or even just someone I know in some way, shape or form passes on, it really makes me look at how I treat those closest to me. Do I neglect time with my family? Do I take them for granted?

I had to learn the hard way about all these things just over three years ago in North Dakota. It was at that time, during a family reunion, that my grandma had a brain aneurism and died. It was at this time that I realized that I took for granted the time I had with her. I was filled with remorse and regret, wishing I had just a little more time. The Lord revealed to me a few things during this time that I thought I would share with you:

1) Don't take your loved ones for granted

2) If there is someone you need to tell you love them, do it now

3) If there is a change you need to make in your life, do it now

Here's the thing: None of us know when our time is up, or when a loved one's time is up. So cherish the time you have with your family and friends. Let them know you love them, that they're important to you. And even in your own life, if something is holding you back from God, get rid of it! Make that change! You may never have the opportunity to if you don't do it now.

It's all really simple. Since this happened, I've tried little things just to spend more time with my family. I do my best to go to my other grandma's every Monday and just spend a few hours with her. Nothing too exciting, watching tv and eating lunch, but it's time WITH her. Find those ways you can cherish your loved ones and be with them. Don't wait until it's too late and you are filled with regret.

- Sean Fryer

Self Check-Up

Almost 1 1/2 years ago I had the incredible opportunity to go on a missions trip to North Africa to share the Gospel in an Islamic country through the game of basketball. On the way up there, our trip leader Trent Gamble gave us 5 questions to pray and consider about our spiritual walk. I was just looking through some of my journal entries and came across them along with my answers and noticed that through praying about these and realizing some of my shortcomings, God has since done a work in my life and my answers are different now.

Why do I bring that up? Not to say that I'm this unholy, ungodly person who needs so much work (even though I do), BUT to say that we never really stop growing in our faith and that we always have something else to work on. My hope and prayer for my own life, along with any other believer, is that I can truly say "Today I am closer to God than I was yesterday!" And I don't want to say this in an ashamed way, but in a way that I know day by day I am growing in Him.

So here are those 5 questions that I was asked. I would challenge you to look at these every few months, weeks, or even days, and see where you can grow in your walk with our Lord.

1.Where do I need to grow in my Spiritual character? Galatians 5:22, 1 Thessalonians 1:5
2. What Spiritual discipline do I want to develop more?
3. What has the Lord been speaking to me in the Word?
4. What area in my life do I need to focus more on?
5. What is the biggest hindrance to my growth or to the witness of God's power?

- Sean Fryer

Let Them Know!

So I just got back from Liquid Summer Camp and I heard a really cool story from Jeremy Kingsley, the camp speaker.  He went back and traced his salvation (this guy told this guy, who told this guy, who told this guy, who spoke when his dad got saved, who then shared the Gospel with him) and said how excited he is to one day run in to that first guy in Heaven and to thank him for sharing Christ's love.

This got me thinking about all the people who have had an impact on my walk with the Lord and the people who had an impact on them.  I have a lot of people that I really need to thank, because I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for their boldness, or kindness, or love that they showed me. I personally was challenged to share this with those who have had that impact, and hopefully I will actually talk to most of them and let them know.

So I'd like to throw that same challenge out to you.  Who is it that has had an impact on your walk with Jesus?  Have you ever thanked them?  If not, why?  Let them know!  It's such a small thing, but it is great knowing that God used you to impact someone, and I'm sure it would encourage those who have encouraged you.

- Sean Fryer

What Are You Living For?

Ok, I have an important question for you; does your life reflect what's important to you?  Before you answer this question, think about these things:  What's on your Facebook page, your Instagram, Vine, or any other form of social media?  What conclusions would people draw about you if this is all they could see.  How do you act in public?  Mainly, away from the Church?  I heard the question asked before, "if you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?".   Think about this.

Our lives should reflect what's important to us, especially as Christians.  In Romans 8:29 we are told that we are supposed to be "conformed to the image of His Son".  If we are becoming like Christ, people should see it.  A perfect example of this can be seen in the early church where people "saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled.  And they realized that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13).  As I look on at my life, I wonder if people realize that I have been with Jesus.  In order for people to see this in my, I think there are a few things that I need to do:

1. Study The Word- This is one way we can know and become like Jesus.  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God" (John 1:1).  He IS the Word.  This is reading about who exactly Jesus was and is.  When you have been with Him, you will study His Word.
2. Pray- How do you get to know people?  By talking to them!  This is how you can communicate with God.  Even Jesus prayed while He was here on Earth.
3. Serve- You want to do stuff for people you love.  If you truly love Jesus, you will want to serve Him.  Too many Christians spend their whole life being poured in to, and never once pour out the love of Christ.  Don't make that mistake.  Just as Jesus came "not to be served, but to serve" (Matthew 20:28), we should do the same.
4. Don't Make Excuses- God uses ordinary and flawed people.  None of the people He used were perfect.  That's why we need Jesus.  But He will do extraordinary things through ordinary people.  Peter denied Christ and then preached a sermon that brought 3,000 people to Jesus.  Paul killed Christians, and then wrote most of the New Testament.  God can and will use you if you don't make excuses.  Just do it!

Lets get to that point and place where we can say as Paul said "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).  He is who we should truly live for!

-Sean Fryer

I Am A Christian

I was just thinking of the simple statement, "I am a Christian".  This is such an incredible truth and a profound thing to say if you think of what it means, BUT I feel so many "Christians" end this statement differently.  What do I mean by this?  Well there are three different ways I think we can say this:

1. I am a Christian. - This statement ends simply with a period.  It's just that, a statement.  This is a person who maybe grew up in a Christian home and calls their self this, or maybe hasn't truly grasped what being a Christian is all about.  It's a simple sentence for them and doesn't really have much meaning.
2. I am a Christian? - This is more of a question (obviously, it ends with a question mark).  This is a person who claims to be a follower of Christ, yet people will look on at their life and see no real fruit, no change, no transformation.  The old has not passed away and there is nothing new.  This is the type of person that others would question if they truly gave their life to Jesus and that may question their own faith.
3. I am a Christian! - This is an emphatic exclamation.  It's something you want to shout out.  You wanna go on the rooftops and yell to everyone that you are sold out for Jesus, He radically changed you, you're not ashamed of the Gospel!  This is how everyone who has given their life to Christ should say this.  Think about this.  Romans 6:23 says "The wages of sin is death...", but it doesn't end there.  It'd be a really sad thing if it did.  It goes on to say "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Because of Jesus' death on the cross, we are no longer going to Hell and facing the punishment we deserve.  We get to spend eternity in Heaven with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  We should be so fired up about this, that no matter what we're going through, the fact that we are a Christian and are saved should bring about excitement to us.

So think about how your sentence ends.  Is it a period, question mark, or exclamation point?  This makes all the difference in the world to how you view your faith and how others see you.

-Sean Fryer

Running from God?

Ever feel like you've been running from God?

You feel distant from God & far-away. You haven’t prayed in days. You’ve been walking in sin. God’s still & quiet voice seems muted. And you feel like your at the point of no-return.

But grace reaches far beyond our obedience. Here’s what I love about Jesus: “If we are faithless, he remains faithful” (2 Tim 2:13). He is full of mercy & compassion. Like the father of the prodigal son, he sees you from far away. And when you return, he embraces you with open arms & showers you with goodness.

So have you been running? Your Father loves you. It’s time to come home.

-Dennis

When Following God Makes No Sense

Ever feel like following God only makes life harder ?

In Mark 4:35, Jesus ask his disciples to take a ride with him on the Sea of Galilee. However, this boat ride with Jesus is anything but  smooth sailing. Mark records that “a great windstorm arose” on the sea. Matthew calls this storm a “great tempest”, or “seismos” in the original Greek- the same root word for the English “seismology”, the study of earthquakes. This storm was not just an ordinary rain shower. Instead, it was such a fierce and powerful storm that the disciples, many of whom were experienced fisherman, started to fear for their lives and begged the sleeping Savior to save them from the storm.  

Sometime we think that reading the Bible more or serving at church guarantee’s that God is going to bless everything we do. We say to ourselves, “surely God see’s how much I’m trying to following him, so I know everything will be great.” While the Lord does ultimately bless our obedience, there may be occasional storms along the way- storms that are so fierce that make us wonder if God is even paying attention.

If you're in a storm right now, know this - Jesus is right alongside you, in the boat, and will make sure you get to the other side. There’s no need to be fearful or doubt whether the Lord knows what is going on - the same Savior who paid your debt on the cross will also prepare a way thru the storm. 

-Dennis J.