Romans 7 (a new perspective)

This is an overview of kinda what I've been going through since the last time I've been on here....

For a long time, more like all my life I viewed myself as a "good Christian" a hard working, self controlled individual that had a good outlook on the world. I had flaws, but they were small and understandable. I was proud of my humbleness. And for the most part I did good enough to stay in good with God. I was very comfortable here, because I had convinced myself that I was sincere and really did the big things that I was expected to do.
Then little by little I noticed how highly I thought of myself. So i thought "oh, no big deal, I'll just ask God to make me humble" That's when everything crashed. Because God did something I didn't expect. He answered my prayer. I thought the mere act of praying for humbleness was humbleness enough. But it wasn't, and God had something bigger planned for me.

I expected humbleness to be something that was just given to me. I didn't realize that I would actually have to be humbled. So began the process. I began to fail at things that I had previously succeeded at, sins that I had previously held "under control" began to take control of me, and I didn't have the "spiritual feeling" that I had before.

You would think that at this point I would repent and turn to Christ, but I'm to stubborn for that. I id start reading my Bible more. I even gave up lots of things that I enjoyed so that I could get back on Gods "good side" it worked too. But then I thought it was all good, so I stopped reading and praying, then fell right back where I was before. This cycle went on and on for seemingly forever! I've always thought that the Israelites must be so dumb to keep forgetting God repenting then forgetting Him again and again. Until I realized I was doing the same thing. The reason I stayed in this cycle for so long was because I was only focused on myself. I would turn to God because I was miserable without Him, but as soon as I felt good again I stopped feeling like I needed Him.

Eventually I realized what God had been telling me for so long. Everything can't be about me! In fact nothing is! This is something I'm still learning, but that was the first time I really felt it instead of just "knowing it."
So now everything's good right? I wish.... My perspective had changed and it was wonderful! I began seeking God to know Him, and give glory to Him simply because He deserved it. I wanted to be in love with God and have every fiber of my being addicted to God. Reality check....I wasn't. But my ambition was to be and so I strove for it, and failed, then despaired. Then I tried again, failed, and got depressed again because I couldn't do it. I had fallen into a new cycle that was just as frustrating as the former if not more so. I couldn't help but wonder what was wrong. Was it wrong to want to love God perfectly with every part of me? If not then why did it seem so hopeless?
This is the state I was in when I read Romans chapter 7, then heard a sermon series about it from John Piper. This is when I realized two things. 1.I am wretched, and I have no ability to do good. 2. Though sin has been defeated it has not been destroyed, and it still remains within us, which means that defeat is a part of the Christian life. And it will be until we are glorified.

Because of this my out look has changed. Now I see myself as a lowly servant dependent on God for victory. I don't accept sin as something that is just part of my life and so it's ok, but I will not despair when it does get the upper hand or give up because of it. Instead I confess my weakness and cry out to God for strength and mercy.

Living this way has done a few things for me. It makes God so much more beautiful and precious to me. It keeps me from dwelling in defeat, and it gives me hope. I still want to be completely in love with God and be perfect, but I realize my weakness and need for a Saviour. Best of all it creates in me a longing for the day when I will be completely sanctified.

Quitter? or learner?

Yesterday was one of those days where I just wanted to give up. After getting up early, going to work, dealing with constant sinus drip and sneezing, working till 2:00 then coming home and going straight to school, only to get frustrated with confusion over the material, anger at myself for messing easy things up and a headache. I was ready to throw in the towel.

But I don't think it was just what happened yesterday. I think it was the culmination of lots of things. I've never been responsible for this many things before. There's only one day of the week I'm not going somewhere, and to get that day I have to miss a basketball practice. I feel pressure as one of the older guys on the team and as the point guard (basically the quarterback of a basketball team) to make sure that our team gets better and that the many young players improve, but also feel accepted. And at our first game I feel like I kinda let my team down. Then I have soccer which adds pressure cause I'm still learning so much about it. Sometimes I want to quit, but it's the only thing I get to do with my little brother Philip (please pray for him) So I'll stay. At least one day a week, many times two I work for a grass cutting company weed-eating. You would not believe how particular some people are about their yards, and how many things there are to mess up. So I have to concentrate pretty much the whole time I'm working or I'll mess something up. And lastly I have my responsibility our chapter chair. I won't go into detail, but I really want want to excite these people about public speaking, make it fun and relevant, impacting and useful. I want them to see how important it is. Of course I could name other thins that add stress and buy out my time, but I think you get the idea. I love being flexible, spontaneous, and free flowing, but with this much to do there isn't much room for that , at least not what I"m used to. Or would like, so this adds to my frustration.

Now please, don't consider this to be an oh me pity party. It's not, really it isn't. I understand and take full responsibility for my schedule. I just wanted to give a little back ground to set up what I'm about to say

Yesterday I wanted to give up, thumb my nose at the world, say good luck, and go crawl into my favorite hollow tree, where I could just sit, watch the pond, think, and write. But of course I was to busy to do that. Through all this I knew God was good, I knew it! For true. But I didn't feel it. I told myself all the things I would want to tell someone else. "God is good, He still loves you, He's in control, and that's all that matters. He will make all things good" But just knowing these things didn't help. And I believe them, I really do. So why didn't this solve my problems?

This question reminded me of a conversation my dad and I had soon after I read "The problem of Pain" He asked me if I learned anything. I told that I had gotten a better grasp of the need for pain. Then he asked me if that would help to soothe any pain that I would feel. I realized that it wouldn't. You see just because you know why pain exists, or even believing that it's good for you won't make the pain less painful, it can't. Knowing and even believing that God is in control doesn't make the trial any less of a trial. Sometimes we need to feel pain. We always look for a way out of it, something to make our pain go away, when many times the thing we need most is to really feel pain, to be overcome by it, to surrender to it, and recognize our hopeless state apart from our faithful and beautiful God. Pain hurts, and it's not fun. Many times we feel abandoned by God when we feel pain, because it seems as though He doesn't hear us, or He would make it all better. But He doesn't because He loves us and knows it's best for us. And really I think it hurts Him as much, or more than it hurts us. I think one thing that would do us good to remember is that pain doesn't mean we've been abandoned or let down, it just means we're growing.

(♫There's a light at the end of this tunnel
shining bright at the end of this tunnel for you
for you)

Philippians 4:13

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

A peanut butter and jelly sandwich

A few weeks ago my family went on a field trip to a horse stable. (and I've been meaning to post this but lately blogging has had to take a back seat) Anyway, before the trip we had made some sandwiches to eat for lunch because we were going straight to our chapter meeting right afterwards and wouldn't have time to stop. Well it had been a crazy morning getting ready to leave, and unintentionally we had made an extra one, which resulted in some frustration that we had wasted time (as we would already be late). Well, we finally go out the door an to the horse stable (and I could rant about that for awhile! but I'll spare you)
As we were getting ready to leave my mom was talking to one of the moms there (who was also in our chapter) As it turns out the lady needed a ride for her daughter to the chapter meeting, so mom was like "We can take her" The other lady then realized that she didn't have any food for her daughter, and mom told her "oh! we have an extra one!" Then they were both like "that is such a God thing!"
As I sat there listening I thought to myself "it's just a sandwich....good grief, we just happened to make an extra one, not a big deal, God is isn't so trivial as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!" Then I realized, He is! There is nothing to small for God, because nothing is hard, He's not too busy to worry about it, because He's never tired. It doesn't take much to show that He's real. To a parent having a hard day an extra pb&j reminds them that He's real. God cares about our "insignificant" needs. He does work through the little things, He works all things for good!

So often I'm looking so hard for "deep truths" or "big signs" that I miss the small but just as important truths and blessings that God has to offer. He is a complete God, and an Amazing God.

Journey

Before us lies a path not often traveled. As a result you won't meet many people on it. The other path has many travelers, but very few would you actually meet (their much too busy doing nothing) The path for you is hard. It's been quite long since anyone has traveled it, so it probably won't even look like a path anymore. It's a long path, through uncharted lands. Many times you'll be tempted to leave it, and you will have many opportunities to do so. But if you stay true, your reward wil be greater than you can imagine.

You must be willing to walk alone.

You will meet many people crossing this path, but few will remain.

(You must be willing to walk alone)

You may meet other dedicated to traveling this path.

(But you must be willing to walk alone)

They may even travel with you.

(But you must be willing to walk alone)

If fate decides to give you a companions then they will be sweeter than anything you've known

(But you must be willing to walk alone)

Remember to be good to those you meet, remember to stay on the path, remember to run with endurance, remember to run with joy, remember to not lose heart, remember to carry your banner with pride, and I could tell you many other things to remember. But above all, never forget that you must always be willing to walk alone.

P.S. (You will never be alone)

Psalm 118:7 (pondering)

I will praise You with a sincere heart when I learn Your righteous judgments- Psalm 118:7

This verse makes me think. Often times in my prayer I'll find myself saying things that I know to be true, or asking for things that I really want (or at least I think I do) And then I'll stop, and pray for God to help me really mean what I say, to be sincere. Even though I believe what I say as much as I know how, and still I feel as though I'm insincere. I praise God, but still I pray that I would be sincere (does this make you sincere?)

I think of great thinkers such as Aristotle (I think) C.S. Lewis, John Piper, and others who affirm the idea that everything that we do as humans is in pursuit of pleasure for ourselves, and for our happiness. Does this remain true for Christians? I think it does, at least most of the time. If so, does it interfere with true sincerity?

This verse says ""I will praise You...... when I learn your judgments" As if to say that we can't really be sincere until we "learn His righteous judgments" This must mean more than just "being saved" or having head knowledge of God, for certainly the author had these.

If indeed it's true that as of yet my praise is not truly sincere, then does this mean that God doesn't accept it? I can't fathom this to be true. If Go brings me to the point where I delight to praise Him, for whatever reason then I believe He will be glorified by it.

There does seem to be times when I'll talk to God and say words without even the desire to be sincere. These times I must fight against, But I don't think the verse refers to these times.

It may be that we cannot, due to our sinful nature praise God sincerely until we are glorified, but of all things that I don't know or am unsure of, I know this. My duty is to praise God with whatever sincerity (or lack of) He has given me. What else can I do?

What a joy to be able to praise God from a sincere heart! Apart from any selfish desire. Simply because it's right, and good.

Glory be to God.

Here:
Stand I alone,
yet not alone, but freed
to be a slave to my love
why then do I stand here alone?

Stand:
swim, and fly, and fight
fight, for you have been freed from chains
and when you fight you will fail
taken captive again to be made a slave

Fear:
I feel it now full well
For I have failed now, {rescue me}
Why did you set me free? and release my chains?
Where did you go? While I tried to swim?
Enslave me again with your love

(I have failed)

Return:
Look from where you lay
Remember what you know, now what you feel
Freed you are from love
For love is a choice
choose then your slavery

Here:
This is the moment
Not a moment, but the moment
For to fight is to fail, to swim, to sink
But to run is safety, safety enchained
To fight is freedom, freedom in death

Arise:
For through failure you have freedom
and through death you have life
Stronger chains you will be given
For fear has brought you trust
And through your trust, slavery

Run:
I will run
And I will fall
Falling makes me strong
For I was freed from prison
So that I could become enslaved

Lessons from the Rain

It was raining the other day so I decided to take a walk in the rain...I had no idea what I was getting into :) My walk went something like this.
Look out the window "oh, it's still raining, I think I'll go play in it." I stepped outside and at first it was a little uncomfortable, cold, foreign. But I continued. And the more I walked the more it rained, and the more I gave into it. Then it started raining harder and I grew more wet than dry. Up to this point I had been clinging to my being dry and fighting the thought of being wet. But then there was a point where I surrendered to it's wetness and embraced it. What followed was a culmination of freedom, awe, wonder, and pure joy. I began to run, now saturated and clean, enjoying a world just as saturated as I was. I felt clean, and free, and powerful. (not in a greedy or prideful way) but the way you feel whenever you've just overcome something powerful, either that or surrendered to something even more powerful. The rest of my time in the rain was spent in a childish irrational joy.
As all this was happening I thought of how this experience was the same as my walk with God both at conversion and my constant surrenders. I get dirty without realizing it. ( I didn't realize how dirty I was until I came in from the rain and felt clean) So God sends the Rain to clean me. At first it's uncomfortable, even painful at times, but the more it rains the more I surrender to it. Because I can't Because I can't be cleaned until it covers every part of me. Then at last I surrender to it. And when I've finally surrendered to Him I feel free, powerful, irrationally joyful! I feel as though I've finally become part of the real. These are only a few of the thoughts that came to me on my walk, it was quite a blessing :)

Love songs

had this thought recently, "what if all love songs were sung to God?" So I went and listened to some secular love songs and I was blown away. We as humans have such a desire to love, and such a capacity to love. Or at least I know I do. There is all this love pent up inside of us, love that we've been holding back either for the safety of the one receiving the love or our own.
I realized just how much people in this world want to be able to love something fully and unashamedly with all of their being, this was clearly displayed in the songs I heard.
The devastating reality however is that we all to often look in the wrong places, I look in the wrong places. God is the only one who can receive the full force of our love and not be overwhelmed. He is the only one that we can really love fully! All the love that we restrain from people for their sake or for ours can be unleashed on God! Yet so few realize this. One thing that I think really comes out in secular love songs is the desire to love something fully, and this is a powerful thing when directed in the right place.
Here are a few of the songs that I listened to, and if you choose to listen to them imagine singing them to God, or even perhaps God singing them to you.

• Secondhand serenade- "Your call"
• dashboard confessional- "Stolen"
• Boys like girls- "Thunder"
• Lonestar- "Amazed"

Music

SO! I realized something today, well perhaps it's just that I only fully realized it today. I've always wondered what causes my overwhelming attraction to music. And, I know that everyone likes music, but for me I try to have it on constantly. When I do school, when I'm cooking, when I'm doing chores, or even back-flips on the trampoline. And I often wondered why it was that I need, or rather greatly desire music (So have my parents, and it's caused some trouble) anyways, the conclusion that I came to was this. Music gives the illusion that there are people around me and with me. Now this is important because God made me to want to almost always be around people, I'm extroverted, it energizes me. But I think it's also more than that, not only does it give the illusion that there are people around me, but also WITH me. We're on the same page, doing the same thing, on the same thought, essentially one, singing together. That's one attraction I have to singing with people, at that time those singing are all coming together in one accord. I think this is the main reason I'm attracted to music, though I know that there are other reasons. OH! and I felt this song today, like you know the times when you hear a song, and your like "I was just thinking that!" and everything that they say your like "YES!" that's exactly how I feel (btw I absolutely love those moments) well that happened today, the song was "Smile" by Chris Rice. amazing song (as is "wonder") well anyway i'm done ranting...

Gods Chisel

A friend of mine found this video today, so I watched it. And I think that it's something we all need to hear, and something that kinda goes with my theme...so here it is http://www.youtube.com/user/theskitguys enjoy!

To live....

I just need to praise God. While I was in Tennessee this summer God did an amazing work in my life. He put inside of me this almost foreign desire. A desire to praise Him. No longer out of a sense of duty or even respect, but out from a pure love and desire for Him. This is something quite new to me. And at camp, then ICC commissioning praising God and singing to Him came naturally, as an impulse, and I loved it. But now I'm back home, and I'm not sure why it's different here but it is. Perhaps everyone here isn't seeking God like in Tennesse. Maybe it's just me, that I don't feel it's my place? I don't know. But I know that I miss it, and I feel as though i'm suffocating from a lack of breath. That breath being praising God. Because that is our very purpose. As someone (C.S. Lewis i think) once said "We should alwyas be doing two things and two things only, singing, or listening, everything else is just noise" And that's paraphrased but I like what it means, we're not really living unless we're praising our God, or listening to HIM. So anyways feel free to praise God with me.

God is.....He just is. God took me, and even though i was His enemy chose for some reason to reconcile me to Himself. He is the great provider, the only source of true and lastin joy. He is the well that never runs dry, and the healer of the broken. He is my father, my master, my King, my Savior, and my mentor. He's really big. He's so righteous, and so loving. He is not only everything that we need, but He's everything we have! God is the only source we should look to for approval. Though He calls us to be holy, He is excited by our feeblest efforts. Our Father has given Himself in order to save us. And one day He will call us home to be with Him forever, then we will see His face, and He will pour out His unrestrained love upon us. And we will be able to accept it.

Of Rivers and Dams

The power is mounting, like a river that swells behind the dam.
A consuming flowing river held back for far too long.
Behind the dam it rages longing to be released, longing to be free
And yet it yields itself to the dam for the sake of those in the valley,
Those too weak to withstand the force of its power
This is my burden, my gift, my commission
The greatness of such must be held back for the safety of the valley
And the ocean
For if the river was to be released it would consume those in the valley
And drain the ocean, leaving it dry, and empty
This beautiful water would be wasted and depleted
Yet soon the water will swell to great for the dam to hold
It was meant to guide the ocean, to direct and protect it, not to hold it back
The rains are coming
Where can be found an outlet able to withstand the force of the wave
Is there any strong enough to sustain the force of a rushing this powerful?
Is there none but the very outlet that now fills the ocean?
Where are the plants that need the rushing of water? That can stand it?
When will the dam learn to tame the ocean?
Should it be tamed?
When learned to be tamed this ocean will cleanse the land
It will water the wilted and dying trees
It will a refreshing spring and a powerful protector
For the fulfillment of this I wait, and I strive
Until at last it can be trusted to give life not death and hope not fear

the result of many thoughts

Blast the rain! Let it fall!
Let it come and wash us all away
For we are but waves in the end
Winged creatures now taking flight leaving behind those still learning to fly
Here the paths part, here the songs are sung
The journey now traveled the fight well fought
But though the battle fierce and the journey perilous
The hardest part has yet to come
For just as the moon sets on the ocean we can see its path in the water
But there’s no going back
The wind is rising, taking us home to our places of dwelling
Memories lost, but not forgotten
Vows broken, yet never made
Take me away!!!
Show me how to fly, and how to trust the air
Run to the valley for therein is danger, and in danger, safety
Bring the storm to test courage!
The fire to test the metal!
Until at last there is nothing left but that which is pure and right
Leave me where I fall, for I know the way, but I must learn the path
Leave a candle at the door cause I know the warmth it brings
And it calls to me
Then bring the rain, so that in know it’s real

I'm not sure really what it means...it's more the compilation of many meanings. I'm not really sure what it is either. But I pray that somehow God may use it to bless you through His great power.

boys week 3 missions camp 2!

I don't believe I will ever forget this last week of camp. It was the week with the most warfare, but also the most victory. After 8 weeks of camp we were all super exhausted. But apart from that, there was an evil suppressing spirit all over the camp. We could all feel it, and it was depressing. There was something that Satan didn't want to happen that week and he was fighting it hard. On Wednesday I finally talked to another one of the guys about about it and he felt the same way I did about it. Now there was also a child in my cabin that had a peculiar spirit about him, and I just can't explain it, he would be so good, and then act like he didn't even hear you, he made up so many stories, and I just had such a burden for him. Then Thursday morning I just had such a burden for that camper (Scott was his name) that I went alone to just pray for him specifically. So great was my desire to see him accept Christ that I just started crying. Which was totally weird for me. Cause I don't claim to be a macho emotionless guy, but I rarely cry. Then I wen to the staff meeting and there we prayed that God would return and fill the camp, to get rid of the evil spirit there. During that prayer time I cried again. The activity that day was amazing though! but that will have to wait for my next post....time for sleep

boys week 2 Missions camp!!! :)

The second week was missions week. During these weeks we brought in younger boys that had never been before, and probably never heard the gospel before. Though we were all exhausted from the previous week God gave us an extra measure of energy. This week is the one that touched me the most. Even though most of the boys in my cabin had already accepted Christ there was one a few that hadn't. And one of them for sure changed that during that week. On Wednesday he accepted Christ as His Savior! Then when we got back to the cabin the one thing he said over and over was the phrase "a Christian like me!" he was so excited to have found Christ. During that week God blessed me with an amazing group of boys, they were obedient, they cared for each other, and really came together as a family. One boy in particular really let Christ shine through him. His name was Jared, he had such a heart of service, and a desire to help others. When the end of the week came, it was the hardest goodbye I've ever made. Several of the boys said they didn't want to go home, and then they started crying. Even the oldest and most mature of them. It was all I could to to keep from crying myself, I felt as if my kids were going to college, I just hated watching them drive off. But God is good, and he taught me just how much these boys need a man in their lives just to love them. It was incredible to be that man for a week. God is amazing

Boys week 1 Dicipleship week!

After the four weeks of girls camp it was our turn to be the counselors and minister to the kids. The first week was discipleship camp for kids that had been there before, had been saved, and wanted to know more about God. We were bursting with excitement at what God was going to do! And then the campers arrived, such overwhelming joy! Then we got to the cabin....let me tell you something right now. When you get 10 thirteen to fifteen year old boys from the projects in a cabin the size of a master bedroom...It takes a supernatural miracle of God. And the best part is that God always proved faithful. During that week one of my campers accepted Christ as His Savior (which by the way NEVER gets old!!!!)And God provided the opportunity for me to help teach these young men about their God and specifically about the Holy Spirit. There were many trials that week, but also many victories. We battled homesickness, massive amounts of energy, and the powers of darkness to tell these boys about God and it was all worth it! After being with them for a week and pumping the idea of being a family into them all week it was so hard to let them go at the end of the week. They really were my family. That week I came to the end of myself and realized full well that God is the only one who can do anything in the live of the boys. And only if I gave up myself and let God work through me could I effectively minister to the boys.

weekends at the park

During those four weeks we would go to the park every weekend to simply worship God in public and talk about the week and what He did. We sang worship songs as loud as we could in public then opened our Bibles and just read to each other what God laid on our hearts. It was a blessed time of fellowship and learning. It's so cool to be a part of youth that passionately want God, and that's what it was. So unbelievable.

Support staff week!!!!!

Directly following staff training came the girls weeks of camp. During this time the four guys that stayed for the whole summer were given the job of keeping the camp in pristine condition, running the activities, and praying for the girls. For four weeks we cleaned pools, washed dishes, hacked at weeds for several hours a day, fixed what ever broke, filled water balloons, built bonfires, and ran the activities. God blessed me by giving me the opportunity to take care of the horses and oversee that activity. Horses are amazing creatures of our God. It was a blessing to learn more about them! oh, haha and horses have personalities for sure! Great story if your interested :) anyways the greater blessing came while I led the girls around on horses, I got to hear about what they learned about God and how much they loved the camp. I remember one time when I was talking to one of the horses saying "there's something different about the people here at this camp, you're all so nice and loving" it so encouraged me and reminded my why I was working there. I could tell you all kinds of stories abut how God provided, and kept us safe, and united as brothers in Christ. But we would be here forever. One thing I must say is that God is always faithful if you seek Him, that's what I learned during those four weeks through so many ways He proved it, over and over again

Staff training

The first week I was here was for "staff training." During that week we learned the ins and outs of being a counselor and how to run the different activities. But more importantly how to prepare our hearts to minister to hurting children. To realize that we are absolutely nothing and that God must work through us for there to be any victory. Then there was the worship! oh! To have 30 college students in one room that have given their summer to serve God, and have only one thought on their mind which is glorifying God! It's just amazing, you could feel the passion for God flowing around the room :) After the training classes were done and we finished the manual work to prepare camp for the kids all the guys would go back to the "guys staff cabin" and talk about God! How good He is, how helpless we are, what God was teaching us, how to learn from past mistakes....it was absolutely a blessing. During that week we developed a bond of brotherhood in serving God and that's a bond not easily broken.

The beggining

So I know that I haven't really done anything since I created this, and y'all probably think I forgot about it. I didn't. This summer has been so busy and so incredible that I haven't found the time or the feeling of adequacy to write. Some of you may know that I've been at Lighthouse Christian Camp since may 25th, and our schedule has been insane! 6:45am-8:pm for most of the summer. But now it's slacked off a little and I plan to write a little bit more. I've learned so much this summer I'm not sue where to start, or if I'll even be able to capture the spirit of the summer even a little in words, but I'm going to try. First of all, my being here is pretty much a miracle. I wasn't supposed to be here at all, much less all summer. And even though no one else thought it could happen God told me I would be here all summer and even this week, and the crazy thing is...I actually trusted Him. Trusting God is scary, but so rewarding. And He always keeps His word, always

And so it begins...

Hey! so this is my first blog post! I'm pretty psyched! Though slightly intimidated. After following some other blogs I feel mine will much less awesome, but that's not he point. I created this blog partly for my benefit and partly for the benefit of others. For me this is my outlet to share my thoughts and hopefully discuss them with other Christians (you) and as a result learn about our amazing Creator! For others, though I'm not a very good philosopher or thinker God often uses the least to confound the wise. Hopefully you'll be able to see God through my writing. My goal is to simply be like a statue that points toward heaven unwavering, full of wonder, and filled with joy.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:1-3