I just came across some notes I took on a sermon.

"Religion is anything of making us to get to God. It is either pride or despair. Jesus offers grace. Pride -> "I will please God by my works." Despair -> "I cannot match up to this list."

It comes down to this: Walk with God. So often we complicate our relationship with God.

John 15:4-5 "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Apart from God we cannot do anything. If we're not connected to Him we can do nothing for Him. Walk with God."

After talking with a friend last night, we were discussing how we as people can use other people and good christian things such as church or bible study, to grow us in our walk with God. However, even though those things are helpful, the source of our strength does not come from those things. The source of our strength comes when one is by themselves, reading the Bible and praying.

A lot of people look at me and think of me as "super christian" it is really annoying. haha I am guessing, they see a difference in me? In all reality I really don't like being different, I'd rather hide in the crowd, it would be easier that way. but ya know being set apart as I feel sometimes, it does not come from me or going to church. It comes from the time I spend in the Word of God. The best moments I have had are when I am digging in and learning from the Bible on my own with no one distracting me or helping me. When that happens it overflows into my life and my heart. How I view circumstances and treat people.

I am such a Bible nerd. It is rather embarrassing when you're around people who don't study or read the Bible and who actually have never read it in their life. Then when someone closer to me asks me a biblical question in front of them, those listening are like, "wow she's really religious" ick. haha Hate that word, "religious" to describe me. lol I guess I have to get over that and just do what I have been called to do. Love.

I guess my desire is to show people what real christians are like and how to be one. I'll end with a St. Francis of Assisi quote,

"Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words"