"10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11For no one can lay foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.14If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire" 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (ESV)
What are you building your life with? So many times when leading a Disciple Now group or a Sunday School class I have thrown in what I think a scripture means without first consulting God, the writer of the Scriptures, throwing in my hay instead of God's gold. How often have you talked about sports or the weather with a coworker or friend and never mentioned God, placing a wooden block where you could have placed a diamond? I know I do it all the time, especially on campus. How much spare time have you wasted this past week, when you could have made an eternal impact in someone's life?
One day we will all stand before God, whether you believe He is real or not, and He will put a testing fire to our lives, our "houses." What will be left of yours? A few pieces of gold? Will it all be burned away? Or will you have built a house out of gold, silver, and jewels on a firm foundation that will never burn away or be destroyed?
If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ please scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find out how to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found... is how one of my all time favorite songs starts. Christ is our firm foundation, our stronghold which will never be shaken or destroyed, no matter how fierce the storm or how large the problem. A couple of scriptures that reflect this are Psalms 20:7 (ESV), "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." and 2 Samuel 22:3 (ESV), "my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence." It's important to remember that God doesn't promise to keep us from physical harm, in fact, if you are imitating Christ you are guaranteed to experience persecution of some sort. That shouldn't get you down though, Jesus said, "Blessed is he who is persecuted for my sake" and Paul repeatedly is seen rejoicing in his suffering, if your being persecuted you are in good company. When it seems like everyone is out to get us and nothing seems to be going our way we can find a peace and joy that surpasses understanding, by running to our refuge and strength, "our ever present help in times of trouble." A while back I read a blog post that expresses this, perhaps a little better than I did: My Hope is Found
If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ please scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find out how to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ.
If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ please scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find out how to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Sometimes
I enjoy writing about things I am passionate about and one of the things that I am most passionate about is music, so you will probably see a lot of posts (like this one) about how songs have impacted me.
Tonight we played "Sometimes" by David Crowder Band for the second time and for the second time I found myself being amazed by God's love and grace. Quite often we find ourselves feeling hurt and alone, but it is such a comfort to know that-when we're at a low point and we feel like nothing is going our way, like nobody could ever love us-if we turn to God He is always faithful to show us His incredible love. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV) says "if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." Here are the lyrics for "Sometimes" as you read them and listen to the song think about God's love for us " My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand." John 10:27-29 (ESV)
Sometimes
Sometimes every one of us aches
Like we’ll never be saved
Sometimes
When we’ve given up
Let your healing come
When theres nothing left
Let your healing come
Til were risin up
Let your healin come
Where You go we will follow
Where You go we will follow
It’s Your love that we adore
It’s like a sea without a shore
We’re lost in You, Were lost in You
It’s Your love that we adore
It’s like a sea without a shore
We’re lost in You, Were lost in You
Sometimes
Sometimes it’s like we never loved home
For all the love we know
Sometimes like in a smile of a song
When you feel it come
Then that feelings gone
It flies
When we’ve given up
Let your healing come
When theres nothing left
Let your healing come
Til were risin up
Let your healin come
Where You go we will follow
Where You go we will follow
It’s your love that we adore
It’s like a sea without a shore
We’re lost in You, Were lost in You
(3x)
Its your love we adore
Its like a sea without a shore
Don’t be afraid, Don’t be afraid
Just set yourself and risk the oceans
Show me grace
Let’s risk the ocean
Show me grace
Let’s risk the ocean
Show me grace
Let’s risk the ocean
Show me grace
Where you go we will follow
I’m on my knees
Where you go we will follow
Oh God send me
Where you go we will follow
I’m on my knees
Where you go we will follow
Oh God send me
It’s your love that we adore
It’s like a sea without a shore
We’re lost in You, Were lost in You
It’s your love that we adore
It’s like a sea without a shore
We’re lost in You, Were lost in You
Where you go we will follow
Where you go we will follow
I’m on my knees
Where you go we will follow
Oh God send me
If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ please scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find out how to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Tonight we played "Sometimes" by David Crowder Band for the second time and for the second time I found myself being amazed by God's love and grace. Quite often we find ourselves feeling hurt and alone, but it is such a comfort to know that-when we're at a low point and we feel like nothing is going our way, like nobody could ever love us-if we turn to God He is always faithful to show us His incredible love. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV) says "if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." Here are the lyrics for "Sometimes" as you read them and listen to the song think about God's love for us " My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand." John 10:27-29 (ESV)
Sometimes every one of us fears
Like we’ll never be healedSometimes
Sometimes every one of us aches
Like we’ll never be saved
Sometimes
When we’ve given up
Let your healing come
When theres nothing left
Let your healing come
Til were risin up
Let your healin come
Where You go we will follow
Where You go we will follow
It’s Your love that we adore
It’s like a sea without a shore
We’re lost in You, Were lost in You
It’s Your love that we adore
It’s like a sea without a shore
We’re lost in You, Were lost in You
Sometimes
Sometimes it’s like we never loved home
For all the love we know
Sometimes like in a smile of a song
When you feel it come
Then that feelings gone
It flies
When we’ve given up
Let your healing come
When theres nothing left
Let your healing come
Til were risin up
Let your healin come
Where You go we will follow
Where You go we will follow
It’s your love that we adore
It’s like a sea without a shore
We’re lost in You, Were lost in You
(3x)
Its your love we adore
Its like a sea without a shore
Don’t be afraid, Don’t be afraid
Just set yourself and risk the oceans
Show me grace
Let’s risk the ocean
Show me grace
Let’s risk the ocean
Show me grace
Let’s risk the ocean
Show me grace
Where you go we will follow
I’m on my knees
Where you go we will follow
Oh God send me
Where you go we will follow
I’m on my knees
Where you go we will follow
Oh God send me
It’s your love that we adore
It’s like a sea without a shore
We’re lost in You, Were lost in You
It’s your love that we adore
It’s like a sea without a shore
We’re lost in You, Were lost in You
Where you go we will follow
Where you go we will follow
I’m on my knees
Where you go we will follow
Oh God send me
If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ please scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find out how to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
A Little About Me
My name is Tristan Hobbs, I am a Christ follower and a student at Auburn University. When I was five I began a personal relationship with Christ.Throughout the early years of my life I loved learning about God and what he had done for me. When I was 11ish my family moved from Albany, Georgia, where I had grown up, to Tallahassee, Florida; this transition was very hard for me and I struggled making new friends. At some point while trying to make new friends I lost that love for God that I originally had. After three years in Tallahassee, my family once again moved, this time to Dothan, Alabama. Although my new classmates were very accepting, I still had not regained a love for Christ and I was not living for him. It was not until my senior year of high school that I began a journey to find and regain a passion for Christ; Three knee surgeries and the influence of my youth pastor, Lloyd Blank, had brought me to the realization that I was not being a reflection of Christ and that I had allowed other things to be more important than my relationship with Christ. I came into my first semester of college on fire for God, but it was like I ran into a brick wall. I was doing terrible in almost all of my classes and I began to wonder if I was in the right major. I like to be in control and to know what the plan is and struggling in my classes and not knowing what I was supposed to do with my life caused me to stress out and become depressed. Although I still had not given control of my life to God, he still gave me a desire to return to Costa Rica, to serve as a missions intern with 6:8 Ministries, for two months. A few weeks into my second semester at Auburn, God began to work on my heart. I soon realized that I could not control my life, and so I finally gave God complete control over my life. Soon things began to start really moving and God continued to reveal Himself and His plan for my life to me. About a week after relinquishing control God gave me a burning passion for international missions. Although I do not know where yet, I do know God has called me to go and that is enough for now. Once I knew what I am supposed to do I still had to figure out what path (college major) I was going to take to get there. After seeking advice from my parents and advisors at Auburn and much prayer I have decided to stay at Auburn and enter the Interdisciplinary Studies Program which will allow me to design my own degree and the classes that I will take, which is perfect for "tent making" missionaries. As Michael Catt would always say, "God is good all the time and all the time God is good!"
If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ please scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find out how to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ.
If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ please scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find out how to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Start of Something New
This being my first post I would like to explain the purpose of Reflections. I started Reflections (this blog) with the intent of sharing what God is doing in my life and to share things I've heard, read, or seen that I believe will be beneficial to readers. I am hoping that Reflections will be a source of encouragement for everyone who reads it, especially for my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I decided to name this blog Reflections for two reasons; the first being, "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children." Ephesians 5:1 (ESV) We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." Hebrews 6:12 (ESV) and the second being that I will be using this blog as a tool to get my thoughts (reflections) on Christ and the world to people worldwide. I would be remiss if I did not use such a worldwide tool as the internet to share the gospel of Christ: if you are reading this and do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ please scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find out how you can begin a relationship with the Savior of the World.
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