“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬
How many times in your life have your parents or someone told you to live life by the Golden rule? Treat others the way you want to be treated. Well there is a reason for this, it works. It’s quoted here in Matthew as a way to some all the law. 

Here’s the real question… How do you want to be treated? I want you to imagine for me the perfect day. This is a visualization exercise so I would like you to start from the moment you wake up until the moment you go back to sleep and everything that happens in between. On a typical day what would you love to see happen in order to make a perfect day. If a negative thing comes to your mind that might have happened during the day just flip it to be a positive. Remember you have full control over this vision. The point of this exercise is for us to realize the kind of things that really truly affect us. What things make a smile and create the energy needed to be a light for Christ. If we can start to pinpoint what those things are then we can start to help build other people up. I wish you the best of luck in this exercise. If you have any cool experiences I would love to hear them in the comment section. God bless!!!

In today’s blog we will be talking about the story of Zacchaeus. There are two major lessons that I would like you to get out of this. First is to be cautious about judging other people. And the second is to remember not to just play it safe. Below is A quoted Bible text from the book of Luke. Please read this story and check out the discussion and video underneath.

“Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭19:1-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬
First off let us start by realizing that Zacchaeus was hated by most of the people. He was a rich tax collector who took more from people then what needed to be taken. He was known amongst the people as a sinner most likely in their eyes an overall negative person. 
The story starts out with him so interested in seeing Jesus that he climbs a tree just to get view of him. Here’s where it gets interesting. Jesus himself then calls upon Zacchaeus and asked to stay with him not the other way around. This brought shock to so many of the people who were witnessing this. Why would Jesus want to be associated with a sinner like Zacchaeus? I will tell you why, because that is what Jesus did! He reached out to the sinners. And for those who listened and repented they were forever changed.
Too often we end up being the people in the crowd who think that they’re better than everyone else instead of being like Jesus. We need to remember that we are all sinners who fall short of God’s glory. It is our responsibility as Christians to love on our fellow man regardless of the way that they act towards us. 

Brian Sweeney We Believe Blog  Hope in the Lord

Hey everyone! Today’s message is about remembering the hope that we must have in the Lord and what comes from that. Life can be very difficult sometimes. Things happen that we simply cannot predict or control. What we can control is the way that we react to those situations. 

For me this is been manifested in the way that I handle my surgeries. There have been several surgeries that I was not expecting to have to do, but I chose to have a good attitude about it. For example this last week I had to get a new catheter put in because the brand-new one I got just two weeks previously wasn’t working. These surgeries can be draining and this specific one happened to follow after a hand surgery I had done just a one week previously.

It would have been really easy to just get mad at God because this was unexpected and set me back in my plans for growth. Here’s the thing though, it would do no good to complain or pout about it. Instead I trusted that God had a reason for this and that he would take care of me. Although recovery was difficult when I trusted in the Lord I was made stronger by him. The new catheter is now working without a problem and my hand is healing up nicely! It is in these times of trouble that we must remember that if we hope in the Lord he will help us find our strength! 

So whatever it is that you’re dealing with right now in your life just remember that if you run to God you have a much higher chance of getting through the struggle than fighting God and getting mad. I pray that this message speaks to you and then you take some time here today to trust in the Lord and the plan he has for you. God bless!

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Brian Sweeney We Believe Blog
It Is important that we be selective about the type of people we surround ourselves with. If you are hanging out with people who are positive then you will most likely have a more positive attitude. If you are hanging out with people who are negative chances are that negativity will rub off on you. Today’s challenge is for you to look at your life and ask yourself if you are hanging out with the right kind of people. If you do this and you realize that you aren’t then do something about it. I realize that is a very difficult thing to say, but it is something that will benefit you and your relationship with God. 

‘The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12:26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Hey Everyone,

So today’s post is actually for April 6, 2015.  It took forever to off load these last couple of videos!

I do have an update on Brian for everyone…He’s in rehab!  He has been in rehab for the last 2 weeks, and he also had surgery today (well, technically yesterday now).  Not only did he have surgery but it also is (was) his birthday!!  It was Brian’s 25th birthday, and yes he did spend it in the hospital along with having surgery, but he made the most and best out of his situation…just like he has been every day.

Brian has been in the best spirits and focuses on God to get him through all of this.

It also sounds like Brian may be coming home soon…!  Stay tuned to find out more.  🙂

I hope this video speaks to your heart.  This video was recorded in the pre-op room.  See you all tomorrow!

Hey everyone!

This is a collection of a couple videos from the past couple days.  So sorry Brian has been behind with these posts!  We have been so busy with rehab and everything!

More of an update in the next blog which is being uploaded right now from today’s video!!

Thank you, I hope all of these videos speak to your heart!  See you all tomorrow!

Day 57. March 26, 2015.

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? – Romans 8:31-32

I hope this message speaks to your heart, see you tomorrow!!

Day 56. March 25, 2015.

Today’s message comes from a devotional that really spoke to me.

I hope this message speaks to your heart.  See you all tomorrow!

Day 55.  March 24, 2015.

²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³ I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. – 1 Corinthians 9:22-23

I hope this message speaks to your heart, see you all tomorrow!

Day 54. March 23, 2015.

Sorry for the delay in this post.  Even if it is a day late I wanted to make sure it went up!  Today’s post is to follow.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

– Proverbs 3:5-6

I hope this message speaks to your heart, see you all tomorrow!