So an old year is fading, and a new one beginning. This year is going to be big for me.
I have some demons I have to face, and a future that begs to begin. I have a lot to do, and a year to do it. Be prepared for a lot of ups and downs, a lot of tears, a lot of pain, and a lot of venting.
Be ready, also, for a lot of joy. A lot of reconciliation. A lot of finding myself and living as I am called to live.
This year, I have people I need to be real with. I have people who need to learn more about my heart, my feelings, my life in general....
There has been a common theme in these past few days. Something that I didn't really expect, but that, since I've been setting my eyes on God once again, I know need to be done. I feel a call to live life to its fullest. To stop being afraid, and begin giving my life the attention it deserves.
I'm a very fearful person. I try not to be, but trying doesn't lead to success. Doing does. So from this moment on, I will begin to be truthful and honest. I will be genuine in who I am, and with those that I speak to.
My life is going to take a turn for the better. And while I'm a little scared, I know that everything will be worth it in the end. This is going to be a rough year, but it's going to be an amazing ride.
Thank you for hanging in there. And do me a favor: don't let me be the only one. Live your life fearlessly. I know realistically that not everyone believes in God, or even thinks its a realistic idea, but live fearlessly. Not for Him, necessarily, but for yourself. Society fills us with fear, teaches us to strive to live in safety, but as my friend Kelsey and I like to say, what is life without risk?
Go out, and live fearlessly.
Aaron Jay
Monday, December 24, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Religion is for the Dependent.
I have come to a strong resolution. Not a conclusion, by any means, just a large answer to an even larger question.
This question is one that everyone has to face. It is a question that consumed every life, some until the day that they die. It's a question that, even to those who know the answer will still need to be reminded of it.
This is the question of identity. Who am I? What is the reason for my existence? I believe the answer is different for all of us. Life leads us down different roads, because we are given different things, and make different decisions.
However, the answer for myself is clear. I am a child of God. I live my life by his hand, his guidance, leading my every direction. He has called me to be the ultimate lover. I mean this by no means sexually, although someday, I'm sure this will be part of it as well.
What I mean is, I am called to love. To show grace to the broken, to show mercy to those that wrong me.it is the sole reason for my existence.
God has called me to be a stronger person. He knows what he has set aside for me, and, while I do not, I have faith that his plan is the best for me.
This is where this gets important. Where it gets deep, and where I could piss some people off.
I did not find this because of a religion. I didn't follow a set of rules created by a church or denomination. I came to this resolution with the help of God, and Him alone. He has set upon my heart an inherent need to love other people. There have been times in my life where I have built up so many walls in my heart that I haven't been able to feel love from others to myself. Yet, even in those times, I was loving other people. It's something inside of me that I wouldn't change, even if I had the opportunity.
I titled this "Religion Is For The Dependent" because I truly believe that. Religion is an idea or mindset of moral conformity. A set of rules laid out by a church or group that is put in place to keep people together. Not to BRING people together.
Let me out it this way: here in the USA, we like fences. They keep in our animals, our children, and keep people we don't want in away. In Australia, they use watering holes. They know that, no matter where their animals wander, they always know where to find water, and they'll always return for it.
These are perfect descriptions of religion versus living as we are called. Religion puts up fences, boundaries, to keep people in, to draw people to what they believe is the heart of Christ, or whatever else. These fences are also very good at keeping out the people they don't want: the broken, the poor, the ones who look like they've been thru hell, because chances are good that they have.
We are called to live out Christ like a watering hole. There are no boundaries. There is open land to wander and to explore, and the freedom to search and to find. And there is Christ, in the center, waiting for you to come fill yourself up with him. He wants us to look for ourselves, to realize that, without a doubt, he has us covered.
He doesn't want us to be part of his kingdom because we were taught to. He doesn't want us to be part of his kingdom because that is what we grew up believing, and "2000 years of tradition can't be wrong" (that's another story...).
He wants us to be part of his kingdom because we want to be, because we have found life abundant in Him, and he is our life, our namesake, even.
Do me a favor. Give him a chance. Don't follow a set of rules that were set 2,000 years ago because that is what you grew up to believe. Live with his input in your life. Find his involuntary attraction, and go with it.
You truly haven't lived until you've given the Creator a chance to lead you. And he will bring you places you never knew you could go.
Aaron Jay
This question is one that everyone has to face. It is a question that consumed every life, some until the day that they die. It's a question that, even to those who know the answer will still need to be reminded of it.
This is the question of identity. Who am I? What is the reason for my existence? I believe the answer is different for all of us. Life leads us down different roads, because we are given different things, and make different decisions.
However, the answer for myself is clear. I am a child of God. I live my life by his hand, his guidance, leading my every direction. He has called me to be the ultimate lover. I mean this by no means sexually, although someday, I'm sure this will be part of it as well.
What I mean is, I am called to love. To show grace to the broken, to show mercy to those that wrong me.it is the sole reason for my existence.
God has called me to be a stronger person. He knows what he has set aside for me, and, while I do not, I have faith that his plan is the best for me.
This is where this gets important. Where it gets deep, and where I could piss some people off.
I did not find this because of a religion. I didn't follow a set of rules created by a church or denomination. I came to this resolution with the help of God, and Him alone. He has set upon my heart an inherent need to love other people. There have been times in my life where I have built up so many walls in my heart that I haven't been able to feel love from others to myself. Yet, even in those times, I was loving other people. It's something inside of me that I wouldn't change, even if I had the opportunity.
I titled this "Religion Is For The Dependent" because I truly believe that. Religion is an idea or mindset of moral conformity. A set of rules laid out by a church or group that is put in place to keep people together. Not to BRING people together.
Let me out it this way: here in the USA, we like fences. They keep in our animals, our children, and keep people we don't want in away. In Australia, they use watering holes. They know that, no matter where their animals wander, they always know where to find water, and they'll always return for it.
These are perfect descriptions of religion versus living as we are called. Religion puts up fences, boundaries, to keep people in, to draw people to what they believe is the heart of Christ, or whatever else. These fences are also very good at keeping out the people they don't want: the broken, the poor, the ones who look like they've been thru hell, because chances are good that they have.
We are called to live out Christ like a watering hole. There are no boundaries. There is open land to wander and to explore, and the freedom to search and to find. And there is Christ, in the center, waiting for you to come fill yourself up with him. He wants us to look for ourselves, to realize that, without a doubt, he has us covered.
He doesn't want us to be part of his kingdom because we were taught to. He doesn't want us to be part of his kingdom because that is what we grew up believing, and "2000 years of tradition can't be wrong" (that's another story...).
He wants us to be part of his kingdom because we want to be, because we have found life abundant in Him, and he is our life, our namesake, even.
Do me a favor. Give him a chance. Don't follow a set of rules that were set 2,000 years ago because that is what you grew up to believe. Live with his input in your life. Find his involuntary attraction, and go with it.
You truly haven't lived until you've given the Creator a chance to lead you. And he will bring you places you never knew you could go.
Aaron Jay
Monday, September 17, 2012
Questions lead to strength.
Hey guys...
It's been a while, I know, but sometimes there just isn't anything worth writing about. Today, tho, I've got something.
My faith is always growing. Sometimes there are setbacks, but this is to be expected. When you aren't putting forth effort in a relationship, it isn't going to gain momentum. But that's a topic for another day.
Today, I want to talk about questions. Questioning people, questioning beliefs, even questioning God (gasp!) so many times we are told that questioning God is wrong. That it leads to downfall and doubt. Whoever said that doesn't know the same God that I do.
It seems to me that the more I question God, the more I find Him. The more I fall away, the more he brings me back to him. I have a million questions for God. Why do people die? Why do we suffer? What are his plans for my life? When I have so many options, which way do I go? And sometimes, how do I move forward with such a strong push to fall complacent?
It's nights like these that I end up finding him even more. Days like this, that show me I'm moving the right direction. Days that I feel pushed toward something that I know his hand is in. For me, that thing is music.
For those of you that know me, music is a passion of mine, and my absolute favorite way to honor and worship God. For those of you that don't, know this: I am not your typical musician. I don't really fit in to any stereotypes or anything like that. Music fills my soul. Every movement that I make thru the day, everything that I do, is filled with music in some way. May it be a song in my head, or playing music to improve my skill and to glorify Him.
This has lead me to know one thing: music is my calling. And Gods direction is all I need from there.
Today, I felt that in a big way. This summer improved my confidence, and my skill level, in playing and singing. And this summer, I've had 2 opportunities to make my music be my living. I'm ecstatic. God is absolutely leading me to where I need to be, and he is slowly fulfilling my lifelong dream of pursuing music full time.
I promise I'm going somewhere with this...
I say this to get this point across: when I try to direct myself, I fall backward. I get into a place where I am depressed, and unmoving. But when I let God lead me, he leads me to amazing places.
I question him, ask him to give me direction, to give me answers when I am wondering, and he doesn't always answer. He doesn't always make it obvious what I am supposed to do.
But when I ask, and I do find answers, they lead me to greater faith. Faith in myself, faith in him, and, more rarely, faith in humanity.
So the title of this blog, questions lead to strength, is to tell you this:
Question. Ask what you want to know. Ask him to guide your moves. While it may not seem like he is at first, know that he is always faithful. Message me in Facebook, or shoot me an email at aaronjay88@me.com, and ask me how I got to where I am. Ask me the story of my summer and how He lead me to greater things than I had ever thought possible in such short a time. Ask me anything, really. If I don't know, I'll tell you, and I'll look for it.
Ask me, and you'll receive an answer. And hopefully, be encouraged in that.
Much love to my readers. I love you guys, and id love to hear some feedback!
Spread the word!!!
Aaron Jay
It's been a while, I know, but sometimes there just isn't anything worth writing about. Today, tho, I've got something.
My faith is always growing. Sometimes there are setbacks, but this is to be expected. When you aren't putting forth effort in a relationship, it isn't going to gain momentum. But that's a topic for another day.
Today, I want to talk about questions. Questioning people, questioning beliefs, even questioning God (gasp!) so many times we are told that questioning God is wrong. That it leads to downfall and doubt. Whoever said that doesn't know the same God that I do.
It seems to me that the more I question God, the more I find Him. The more I fall away, the more he brings me back to him. I have a million questions for God. Why do people die? Why do we suffer? What are his plans for my life? When I have so many options, which way do I go? And sometimes, how do I move forward with such a strong push to fall complacent?
It's nights like these that I end up finding him even more. Days like this, that show me I'm moving the right direction. Days that I feel pushed toward something that I know his hand is in. For me, that thing is music.
For those of you that know me, music is a passion of mine, and my absolute favorite way to honor and worship God. For those of you that don't, know this: I am not your typical musician. I don't really fit in to any stereotypes or anything like that. Music fills my soul. Every movement that I make thru the day, everything that I do, is filled with music in some way. May it be a song in my head, or playing music to improve my skill and to glorify Him.
This has lead me to know one thing: music is my calling. And Gods direction is all I need from there.
Today, I felt that in a big way. This summer improved my confidence, and my skill level, in playing and singing. And this summer, I've had 2 opportunities to make my music be my living. I'm ecstatic. God is absolutely leading me to where I need to be, and he is slowly fulfilling my lifelong dream of pursuing music full time.
I promise I'm going somewhere with this...
I say this to get this point across: when I try to direct myself, I fall backward. I get into a place where I am depressed, and unmoving. But when I let God lead me, he leads me to amazing places.
I question him, ask him to give me direction, to give me answers when I am wondering, and he doesn't always answer. He doesn't always make it obvious what I am supposed to do.
But when I ask, and I do find answers, they lead me to greater faith. Faith in myself, faith in him, and, more rarely, faith in humanity.
So the title of this blog, questions lead to strength, is to tell you this:
Question. Ask what you want to know. Ask him to guide your moves. While it may not seem like he is at first, know that he is always faithful. Message me in Facebook, or shoot me an email at aaronjay88@me.com, and ask me how I got to where I am. Ask me the story of my summer and how He lead me to greater things than I had ever thought possible in such short a time. Ask me anything, really. If I don't know, I'll tell you, and I'll look for it.
Ask me, and you'll receive an answer. And hopefully, be encouraged in that.
Much love to my readers. I love you guys, and id love to hear some feedback!
Spread the word!!!
Aaron Jay
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