Word of the Day! - Selfishness

I have a hard time thinking that present day Christians struggle with this word but seeing it get displayed almost every day warrants my newest blog. Before I start this, if you already feel offended, you have work to do.

It is so sad to see people deny what even sometimes requires so little to give to others. Whether it be time, money, food, clothing etc. it hurts me to a core when I see selfishness manifested. As a Christian, I am called to be first off Christ “like” and live my life according to His ultimate standard. When I think about that I think of him always giving… never taking, even to the point of him giving the most precious possession, his very life. Jesus has instructed us to be servants, givers of our-self. We are called to be self-LESS not self-ISH.

Selfishness is not a problem with only Christians but self proclaiming Christians should “know better.” Therefore my blog is directed at Christians who struggle with this or even think they don’t.

Taking time to actually mention situations that I have observed would take too much time that I don’t have to instill this very thought… the selfish will never be given anything. Am I preaching to others and not myself? Heavens no! I don’t think I struggle with this and that scares me because I probably am but hope to improve it. People just please keep in mind who we represent when we call ourselves Christians.

…Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant… Matthew 20:26

…In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive…  Acts 20:35
…But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them… Luke 6:27-45
…But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?... 1 John 3:17
…Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others… Philippians 2:4
…Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you… Matthew 5:42
Thank you God for your word – these verses were not altered, but taken right from The Bible.
Selfishness - devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.
Thank you dictionary.com for being bountiful in knowledge of words – this definition is brought to you courtesy of dictionary.com.

 

God is love. Be love.

Caleb

Closure

Less than 12 hours left in 2010 and I couldn’t be more excited. 2011 is around the corner... literally, and the "2010" year will only be a file in my brain filled with memories good and bad to sift through and evaluate.

Lessons learned and no regrets are probably the only thing I’ll be taking away into 2011. After all I can’t bring anything but myself into the New Year. No regrets and bad choices brought about character and discipline that improve the overall spectrum of Caleb. Hilarious it seems that some of the experiences that I’ve had have been incredibly low points in my life and some very good high points that put together still an unsolved puzzle.

            To think I had my life figured out in 2010 makes me shake my head in disbelief. Where I was then, and where I am now are completely two different people! What I wanted out of life, love, and life then almost seem childish to me now. I guess parents and older people were right when they told me I have “so much to learn.” Only 23 and I still feel like I’ve lived a full life and at the same time, feel like I’ve done nothing is a feeling I both love and hate. I really hope 2011 will be a clear year. Doubt it.

            What I am clear about is that I am happy 2010 is done and 2011 is about to begin. I’m ready to use this whole cliché moment in life to start fresh and begin a new chapter. 2010? Its been fun.

New Years Resolution

You see “usually” I don’t do New Years resolutions but I need this in order to motivate my self. Sad but true. “Usually” has gotten me to where I am and honestly, I can do better than this. To know that I can do better than my current standing is depressing. “Usually” is or rather was, was a repetitive mindset that kept me in the same place as the world went forward without me. So in 2011, “usually” will not be in my vocabulary. I can’t afford to be “usual” anymore. Rather let’s get unusual in 2011. I’m sure it will be more fun.

2011 will be an unusual, excellent, life changing, extravagant, glorious, fun filled and many other optimistic-adjectives-that-I-can’t-even-think-of year! This year I will break necks, turn heads, create smiles, shatter disbelief, and do many other things that involve shocking myself and the rest of the world. Life gave me lemons, I’m making pineapple juice suckas!  This year I will be bolder. Go, where no man has ever gone before… ha-ha. But in all seriousness, this year I have big plans for myself in the world of Caleb Anthony Foreman.

It’s almost silly to do an organized grocery list of resolutions and I got a bunch load to do but hey! It’s a whole year to do all this junk. 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days… I probably should break it down to a monthly thing to be more organized but whatever… lets cross that bridge when I walk that trail.

First and foremost is my weight. It’s bout time I got this under control. I am only moderately happy with how I look and I know that my level of self worth and self esteem will shoot through the roof if I fixed my image. The problem is, is that I’m even a little happy with how I look. It’s not too appealing to the eye and not even my own most days. No tears but yea, this crap has got to change. This will probably be the biggest and hardest change to do. That’s why it’s number one on my list and needs to happen asap. It’s deeper than wanting a 6-pack and biceps and stuff like that. I’m pretty outgoing with my “kegger” but I know if I wasn’t so worried about my weight, I would talk to more people and be fearless almost when sharing my faith/testimony. I feel like people only see my stomach when they look at me so… stomach… is going toddles. “Usually” I would be comfortable being uncomfortable in my own skin. But 2011 is coming, going to get unusually in shape!

Second will be debt. Like my weight this has gotten out of control and needs to be nipped in the bud. It’s nothing too extreme but and I don’t plan to solve it in this year but I need to be on a definite path on getting out of debt soon. I know for a fact that I am tired of making car payments so that is one thing I need to get paid off this year… my car. I guess the goal is to put together a plan that is idiot proof. I got better things to do with my money like blessing others in need! “Usually” I wouldn’t care and I would just be paycheck to paycheck but I have got to do something different. Debt is depressing me.

Third will be school. I’ve wasted too much time not being in school and it’s about time I went back and actually finished… I want my AA at least. It’s easy and there is no reason other than I am lazy as to why I don’t have it yet. Sacrifice requires discipline and I need that too. School… definitely is happening this year. “Usually” school was on the back burner and I always talked about going to school but 2011 I want to be a student. I miss school.

On to some fun stuff… Fourth will be learning to play the guitar. I want to use a new instrument to worship my God. I’ve spent too much money on the guitars that I have and to not know how to play them, well is a slap in my own face. Learning that… “Usually” they would sit in the corner of my room but I am playing the dust off of them this year.

Last but definitely not even least. Jesus and my relationship with him needs to be taken to a new level. This is definitely the absolute most important but I saved it to give it the most thought. This year I plan to have daily time with the one who created me. He spends 24/7 365 with me and it is really sickening that I only spend maybe 1/4^th of a Sunday with him and really getting to know him. I mean I’ve been on this 40 night prayer thing and I really could use that in my daily walk with him. So getting to know my God better is definitely a new years resolution for me. I want to know what he’s like because I'm created to be like him and I think so far I’m failing miserably. So yea. “Usually” my relationship with God was weak. I treated him like the friend that I barely knew and it was good to catch up on old times whenever I ran into him.

            Well there you have it. My new years resolution/s. So simple and so hard because this all requires doing what I wouldn’t “usually” do. Of course there are things that I want almost itemized but this will do for now. God bless you all and pray for me.