This is the first blog that was not planned of or really thought of until now. At this moment im stealing some internet from outside a Thai school near where we are staying. haha As I was sitting here listening to some Angus and Julia Stone my mind began to wander. So im going to write about where it wandered.
There are so many books, movies, pastors, schools, professors, and people who seem to have the truths about God figured out. I've heard preachers base their whole belief on what Revelations talks about on the Left Behind movies. I've heard pastors preach whole sermons on Hell and how if you don't tell your friends about Jesus and convert them than their blood is completely on your hands. I've heard Pastor's say that if Jesus drank an alcoholic beverage than He wasn't his God. I've heard people say that certain authors or pastors are heretics and imposters for saying or writing the things they did. In my almost 19 years on this earth I have heard a lot of sermons and a lot of personal beliefs on what people think Scripture is saying. Something I have really began to desire from God, lately, is wisdom and discernment to know what is truth and what is not. I don't want to hear a Pastor say something from a pulpit and believe it 100% because it was a pastor that said it. I believe we get ourselves in heaps of trouble when we live according to what people tell us is true without questioning or really thinking about what is being said. Lately I've gotten this strong desire and thirst to know what is true and to find my own beliefs and hold on to them. However, I have found myself getting really discouraged with how many questions I have and how many "I don't knows" I have about God. But what a beautiful thing it is to have a God with some many mysteries! Although it is frustrating, and I believe it will be for every Christian at some point or many points in their life, it is awesome to have a God that is so amazing and awesome that we can't figure all His plans and ways out. However, There is something about our God that is soooo true we can't deny it in any case, and that is that He loves each and every one of us. He loves us so much. so so sooo much. That is something that God did not in any way want to leave as a mystery to His creation. The Bible is interpretted in so many ways, but one thing we see over and over again is that our God love us no matter what. We can not earn this love. We can not get out of this love. That is just how our God is.
I still have a thirst and desire for truth, and I believe that it is good to have that thirst. But if we can keep ourselves from gettting caught up in this thirst and just learn to fall into the loving arms of our amazing God every day, then we will be right where He wants us to be. Following God is not a climb. It's a fall.
For God so LOVED the world that He gave his only son…..
– John 3:16
We think you meant Shoes not Shows but…we really love your blog.
Hey Cody,
I love you and miss you but still… so excited for you. Keep searching for the TRUTH of scripture. Paul wrote in Acts 17:11 that the people “searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things (he was teaching) were so.” God’s Word is the basis for truth so keep searching. Paul wrote (towards the end of his ministry and while he sat in prison) “…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” (Phil. 3:10) It was toward the end of his life that Paul still had an amazing passion to know Jesus. I pray that will always be your passion.
Love you, dad
P.S. Check out II Cor. 5:15
Cody:
Keep track of your thoughts and this journey with pen. Thank you for sharing your heart with us.
Love you man…
This is so good.
“But what a beautiful thing it is to have a God with some many mysteries!”
Thank you, Cody.
Keep climbing.
All that comes to mind is: WOW! You are right and that is a powerful thought you have. The best thing I have learned is to share my beliefs with other people, but to also let them know that just because another Christian disagrees with me doesn’t make them wrong or not family…for the true believers in Christ, we are all brothers, regardless if they believe something differently. We are not professionals at this, merely servants.
Well of course I am crying again but this time not just because I miss you soooooo much (but I still do) but because this too is so humbling. Anytime you hear or see someone so raw before the Lord it is humbling and should make us all thirsty to feel that same way. Great reminder to us all to throw away the ropes or whatever is in the way between us and knowing our amazing God better, or the junk that is in the way of us serving Him or the obsticles we have placed in our lives that keep us from giving Him our ALL. Love you honey and I must go now because I AM THIRSTY!
With all my love mom.
wowowow. thank you so much everyone for the comments and the encouragement! I took everything you all had to say to heart! Its so good to hear from you Lori! i hope you and your family are doing well! Love you all!
I love you Codes.
Cody,
The Vasolds continue to pray for you and think of you everyday.. we know you are where you are suppose to be… learning and following Christ… I met with you mom and we had dinner and thought of you and heard more of how God is using you..
Keep the Faith…
Love and Blessings
The Vasolds
Cody,
The Vasolds continue to pray for you and think of you everyday.. we know you are where you are suppose to be… learning and following Christ… I met with you mom and we had dinner and thought of you and heard more of how God is using you..
Keep the Faith…
Love and Blessings
The Vasolds
Cody,
The Vasolds continue to pray for you and think of you everyday.. we know you are where you are suppose to be… learning and following Christ… I met with you mom and we had dinner and thought of you and heard more of how God is using you..
Keep the Faith…
Love and Blessings
The Vasolds
Hello Cody,
I know you don’t even know me but it’s so amazing how God brings others into our lives! I have been following all of your blogs & they have really touched me, you have the gift of writing & touching many for the lord! My daughter got to experience another country, Nepal & the wonderful people there who really touched her life & ours. I wish she could experience more as you are on this long journey. It’s so exciting to see you allowing God to use you & you not holding back for fear of “What will people think”! Our God is sooo amazing & I too think the mysteries He holds are awesome, knowing one day we will know & understand them. Until that day, trusting Him alone w/ that mustard seed of faith & pressing on to show other’s His love is what’s most important! I love your honesty & how you aren’t afraid to tell the world your own failures… they need to see that just because we call ourselves Christians, we are far from perfect. Thank you for sharing these awesome & exciting experiences & for touching so many, including me! God bless you & keep you in His loving care!
Prayers,
Rebecca & family
Hi Cody,
Great post – it is critical to remember that we follow God, and not a man’s teachings. I am so happy that your mind and heart are set on truth. Your dad’s encouragement to you is wise and valid – search the scriptures, talk, think, question, search the scriptures more and you will learn truth.
Susan
I love your Blogs Cody, and of course I love John 3:16 Where it says, “God so love the world,” I was in a pastor’s meeting not long ago when the Pastor giving devotions explained to us again that the Greek word for “so” in that verse means soooooo. The so is much bigger than we can imagine. In other words, God Soooooo loves the world, that He gave His only begotten Son. That’s an awesome LOVE!
Papa Sharp
Skippy, this is so good.
Hi Cody, I hope your having the time of your life.
I’m eating lunch as i read this, well not any more
because you know me. Yes I’m crying. Just like a big baby.
I’m so filled with joy for you at this moment i cant even
Express what i want to say. Yes it is the best fall anyone
will ever take. You are so blessed at this young age to
have figured this out for yourself. Now go sow that seed
As far as you can. It looks like God is doing great thing
through you. Cant wait to hear about your amazing
Adventures. Love Lori.