Choosing to choke

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A gallon of water down the throat is not good, it’s even worse when it comes voluntarily. Yesterday I tried to use my daughters snorkel while swimming. It’s one made for swimming and not for scuba. I pushed off the wall breathed out to let the water out and suck in a whole bunch of water right away. I stopped and spent the next five minutes choking. I ended up swimming 250 yards choking and drinking way to much pool water. Maybe I need to take a break from the snorkel.

Yet this happens in life. We try to do things a certain way and just end up hurting ourselves in the end.

Colossians 2:20-22…

“Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: ²¹ “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? ²² These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.”

Living for Jesus is different then living for the world. Once you make the decision to follow Christ you by choice are choosing to live a different way of life. You don’t have to follow selfish desires that you had in the past.

Live a different way than you have in the past. Choose a different direction and try following Christ with how you live your life. Live for others rather than your own selfish ambitions. How can you do this today?

Have a great day.

How many grapes does it take to choke to death?

In seventh grade, I did something not smart. I decided while working on homework to figure out what were the most grapes I could fit into my mouth. I didn’t bite on them and got to about 11 or 12 when one slid into my air tube. I started choking. I couldn’t breathe and nothing I did could change it. My mom start freaking out as she didn’t know what I did, she starts yelling for my sister to grab the phone and dial 911. My sister frantically ran around looking for the phone. My mom started doing the Heimlich Maneuver. It was taking a while to the point snot (I didn’t know I had) started exiting out at an accelerated rate.  This was not good I thought to myself. Every second feels like an hour when choking to death. Finally it worked and the grape moved to my food tube. My mom had no clue and kept doing the Heimlich until I could breathe enough to tell her to stop. I couldn’t blame choking on anyone else but me.

Some of what we go through in our lives is our fault. I don’t like the fact some of the problems with my life are my own fault. There is no joy in that. Paul tells us this in Ephesians 2:1-2, “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. *He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.” We can be worthless people, churchgoers are no different then the rest of the world when it comes to this. But faith in Jesus changes the path of our life.

Our mistakes might slow us down but it doesn’t have to be quicksand. Ephesians 2:4-5, “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!).” God’s grace is what saves us. Recognizing what Jesus did when he died on the cross for our sins is a game changer. Life will never be the same after accepting Christ. Life will go past this world.

No matter how holy or unholy you are, Jesus died for you. He did this so you would be saved. Just like my mom saved me from choking, Jesus saves us from our sins because we are all ruthless people. Jesus loves you and offers you the chance to experience his grace and mercy. Are you willing to accept this? If you already have this, who can you share this good news with today?

Have a great day.