Stop Waiting for a Good Day

For me, it's been one of those days. Ever had one? I'm sure you have. In fact, in visiting with many of you,  I know the stress of collegiate life is bearing down intensely on you right now. 

I bet you can't wait for things to let up--and become easier--so that you can relax and enjoy life again. My advice to you: Stop waiting! 

I think the enemy is quite clever in convincing us that favorable circumstances are key components in enjoyable life. As a result, said enemy has us chasing these circumstances like we would the proverbial pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. 

           "Once I get through this class, life will be good."

                                                                   "Once I sort out this drama, all will be fixed"

                                       "Once I start getting more income, life will be easier"

    "Insert your burden here"

What results is a life full of SEEKING joy and peace, but never FINDING and EXPERIENCING IT. Don't get me wrong, there are real challenges in life that shouldn't be blown off or ignored. But God has a fundamentally counter-intuitive viewpoint toward struggles which can dramatically shift your life experience. In short: EXPERIENCE JOY NOW! Take a look at the following verse:

This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

Take a look at Psalm 118 in its entirety. The Psalm gives an account of UNFAVORABLE CIRCUMSTANCES overcome by the name of the Lord. And guess what...God still takes care of his kids today, so why worry?

How can we experience this kind of peace in hard times? By faith, of course! And a healthy dose of perspective.

As Jesus said, the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy...but he came to give us abundant life (John 10:10). 

Are you living abundantly TODAY? Don't make the abundant life Jesus offers CONTINGENT UPON favorable circumstances. Instead, show the power of Christ to others by experiencing the abundant life IN THE MIDST OF challenges!

How To Stay a Christian During College

College should be one of the best times in your life because you are out on your own and making your own choices. BUT college should NEVER be the time you ditch God and your faith in order to experience the world. I read recently where 70% of college students quit Christianity during college … despite growing up in Christian homes. Ugh!  Don’t buy into the lie that Satan feeds you, “This is the time you should be experiencing the world, drinking, partying!”  Instead live for God … even when no one is watching.

They say every college kid struggles with the freshman 15 (15 lbs of weight gain the first year of college) … so let me give you 15 ways to keep from bailing on your faith during college…

1. Keep your relationship with God your #1 priority … not school, not work, not the opposite sex or anything else.
2. Read your bible everyday.
3. Make it a priority to find a church to attend … and then get your rear-end out of bed and go.
4. Hang with the right crowd. Run with the wrong crowd, in the wrong places … and you’ll do the wrong things.
5. Get involved with other college students that have the same spiritual goals.
6. Don’t believe the lie that “everyone is doing it….” whatever someone tells you “it” is.
7. Pray every day for strength.
8. Remember daily how good God has been to you. Why would you want to turn your back on that?
9. Find an accountability partner who will help keep you spiritually accountable.
10. Don’t hang out in the wrong places… places where you’ll be tempted.
11. Serve others. Look for a place to volunteer.
12. Find a campus ministry, college ministry or bible chair to get involved with.
13. Communicate and give regular updates to your parents, youth minister or mentor on how you are doing spiritually.
14. Find a weekly bible study to get involved in or host one in your home.
15. Remember that Satan is going to do everything he can to get you. He’ll use people, places and things to tempt you … keep an eye out for his schemes.

College kids … stay strong in your faith!

Read this and other great articles at http://treymorgan.net/.

A Perfect Community?

Walt Disney (the man, not the resort) had the perfect idea. It was going to be an ideal, perfect neighborhood known as a “master-planned community”. Every aspect of this community would be sufficient, meeting the needs of the residents without all the negatives that come to mind when we think of city life. No traffic congestion, no crime, no poor or rich. The name: Celebration, Florida. I guess it would be a celebration, if a town like that could really exist.

Walt Disney never saw his dream come true, in this case. But his predecessors did, or at least they thought they did. Micheal Eisner and the Disney bunch launched development of Celebration in the 90’s. At first, things seemed to go just old Walt had planned: beautiful buildings, lovely streets, and no hint of crime or class. In 2010 however, reality set in; Celebration, Florida saw its first murder. This “Master-planned community” did not rise up to the lofty dreams which began its development. In the end, it’s just another pretty town.

Such is not the case with the community known as "Mustangs For Christ". We haven’t reached perfection as individuals, but we keep striving to develop our community the way Jesus has planned it. This won’t be another Celebration, Florida. In this case, dreams really will come true. Not dreams we have, but dreams our Lord has for a group of students at MSU who love each other and draw others in to join His family. The Master’s plans for development are underway, and the work has begun. The question is: do you want to be a part of it?

Work on this community is not easy. After all, Jesus has some big plans for us and this community; we can’t expect it to be perfect over night. But here are few key ways to make sure Mustangs for Christ develops as it is planned. First, we should love each other. Next, we show love to each other. Finally, we should demonstrate love for one another (I think you get the point). Throw in some healthy accountability, and we’ll be well on our way!