Originally Posted: False Disciples

***When I came back to Chicago nearly 3 years ago for my surgery, I started a blog as one place all family and friends could go to read updates on my health. I then realized it was also a way of promoting awareness. Shortly after that, I started a second blog, for the purpose of sharing my faith. As time went on, I became convicted about something.

It was wrong of me to separate the two, as my faith, Jesus, is the absolute reason for my strength in getting through this. I could not exclude Him from my health blog even if others suggested to do so. Thus, I started talking more about my faith on my main blog. Now, many times, it's more about Him than me, which is where I came up with the current title 'About Me, Not About Me'. This story may be about me, but really it's not about me, it's about Him. That old blog still sits out there no longer being used. So I decided over time I will begin to move those posts from there to here to have everything in one place.

In just beginning to read some of my first posts, I've realized the amount of work God has truly done in me. A lot of times we hate the journey and want to get to our next destination, but it is in that very journey that God molds you into who He created you to be. Enjoy each mile of your own journey and know that God is working through you if you let Him.***

Originally Posted: June 4, 2013
False Disciples

Old me was negative, critical, judgmental. I also had good qualities but for the sake of this post I'm focusing on the not so good ones. Well there were some who would only focus on those not so good ones as well. They would not notice, bring forth, or care about the good qualities. They were always telling me whenever I did something wrong or bad, even if that was only due to their perspective without knowing the full story. They were very quick to point out everything wrong about me, but no where to be found if I did something well or said something positive.

New me is much more positive, uplifting, loving and clearly focused on God and Jesus. And now these same people somehow manage to turn that into a negative. "Give it up." "Let it go." "Focus on something else." etc. etc... about my relationship with God! You would think those who wanted me to be more positive would be incredibly happy that I listened to their advice (though that is not at all how it came to happen) and be happy for me. But it's entirely the opposite.

Worst of all, these people claim to be Christian. That's hard to swallow. And, I used to fall into that group. Proclaiming to be something I was not in my words and actions. And that's one big proclamation to make right there. Christian. God loving person. Follower of Christ. Not being Christian is one thing, but calling yourself one and then living in a way that in no way demonstrates that is another.

Unfortunately there are many people like this out there. But it is the job of us as Christians, saved followers of Christ, to strive to live like Jesus- lose more of ourselves and become more like Him. It is our job to always strive to act and talk the best we can, be a disciple of Jesus. It is our job to put Jesus first, before spouse, before family, before friends and especially before anything material or worldly. It is our job to spread the good Word, spread God's love. It is our job to live in a way that draws more people to Jesus. Do not mistaken, we ourselves cannot save the unsaved. God's saving grace alone can do that. But we can invite people in to the way, the truth, the life and help them develop a relationship with Jesus.

Unfortunately, there are some people out there that no matter what you say or do they will take the opposite stance, similar to the example above. If you say black, they say white. If you say go, they say stay. Realize that if you are living in a way that is Biblical and portraying of God's love, you are not doing wrong in this and the problem is not with you even if they try to convince you otherwise. If you are living for Jesus, stand your ground and do not be moved. Stand strong and stand tall for God is your refuge and strength. "If God is for us, who could be against us." You still have the job of spreading God's love, no matter how much others continue to bring you down and tell you you are wrong. Living in a way that is Biblical is not wrong. It is right, no matter what others try to convince you of. Don't let the way of the devil draw you in through others false proclamation or sinful ways of living. What may be attractive or immediately rewarding is no reward in the long run. The way of the Christian isn't said to be easy, but it is said to be worth it.

Don't give up on anyone. Live by example and pray for them regularly. There will always be those who take the opposite stance no matter what the stance is, those who seem to want you to be as far away as possible from anything good while saying otherwise. Those who convince themselves they are doing what is good and right, but blind to the truth. If their actions don't match their words, don't believe their deceitfulness. The devil is always trying to pull us his way and don't think he won't use your closest friends and family to do just that. Just live in the way you know is right, no matter what. Always live for Jesus.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’" Matthew 7:21-23