218/365: Staying Accountable to Your Faith

"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other." ~ Jesus Christ in Mark 9:50

Has your faith ever felt like a roller coaster? Sometimes you ride high, sometimes you race to the bottom? If so, you aren't alone.

Jesus teaches us to hang together to smooth out our ride. When we begin to lose our focus, stray, or get a little bland with our faith - our brothers pick us up and keep us salty.

All guys belong to some type of small group. We aren't built to be a lone wolf. Maybe your group is a few friends fishing, golfing, working, or hanging out at the coffee shop. Maybe your crew is a few regular buddies who hang out just down the street.

No fancy meetings necessary. Keep hanging out - just simply inject God into the conversation. Be intentional about being the best version of a man you can be and challenge each other to do the same. Feel free to use the Live Bold App as your seasoning.

GO DEEPER: Hebrews 10: 19-25

Next Step: Let's take the next step and agree to keep one another salty with faith. Get your group together.

M.J. Austin

on 08/07/2023 at 10:19 PM

@ Mathew Brown. I appreciate your comments on this, and no, I am not married to the Mother of my Son. I understand what you are saying about a feeling of wanting the most "perfectly compatible" person, but I am also well aware that we are individuals with our unique traits that we bring into relationships. I know that these unique traits can balance out a relationship in terms of one person being strong in one area but weak in another area while the other person could be strong in that area. I think what I was getting at when I said getting to know the real me is the question of do you know what things/issues in life are really important to me and are these same things important to you? In the case of the Mother of my Son, we just didn't know enough about each other and what is really important to us as individuals, before we found out she was pregnant. Since that time and through the birth of my Son, I have realized she doesn't take seriously a lot of things I take seriously. This is where I realize too, that there will be many many challenges in raising our son. I obviously can't force her to be more serious about the things that I take seriously, but at the same time, I don't feel I should lessen my stance on certain things I've taken seriously my whole life. I am praying for God's strength and patience to navigate through all of this. My Son is so young, and I want to raise him right while honoring God in the process.

Matthew Brown

on 08/07/2023 at 05:02 PM

@ MJ Austin. Sadly the modern culture has beat into our heads that in order to be happy in relationship we have to be perfectly compatible and too often we blame our unhappiness on our spouse’s inability to understand or being different then we expected. It sounds by your comment that you are not married and I believe that alone will keep you from truly knowing each other to the level God has designed marriage. Not to say getting married will instantly fix everything but it will allow you to experience the amazing , powerful, intimate relationship that God designed. Although I did get married after a short time of living together it is something I am just learning about after unfortunately wasting many years in selfishness and addiction.

Jim Rauscher

on 08/07/2023 at 03:16 AM

@Will - echo the same - if you need some brothers to just work through your muck with feel free to message me or others who have offered here … turning things over to God doesn’t always mean it’s going to be easy unfortunately … but he promises to be alongside us as we go through it … I had the hardest time surrendering to that notion as well - why bother turning to him if it’s not the outcomes I wanted to see … the hardest part sometimes is trusting that in the end he has it all under control … and honestly giving up the control ourselves is also very hard to do as men … I know it’s hard to be vulnerable … I still feel that nauseous feeling myself when I share my struggles and stories with other men … but the worst thing we can ever do is isolate … a bored and isolated man is a dangerous man ! Peace brother and keep fighting the good fight … you ARE NOT ALONE!

Old Dude

on 08/06/2023 at 10:59 PM

As long as we have some self-righteous idea that we can carry out our Lord’s teaching, God will allow us to continue until we expose our own ignorance by stumbling over some obstacle in our way. Only then are we willing to come to Him as paupers and receive from Him. The knowledge of our own poverty is what brings us to the proper place where Jesus Christ accomplishes His work. ~ Oswald Chambers

Robert McFaddin

on 08/06/2023 at 07:24 PM

@Will J ——— hang in there brother. God is with you. He will use this time. If you don’t have anyone find some godly men to help sharpen you and you them. Go to your pastor. Feel free to private message me or other guys on the messenger tab in this app. It’s not about feelings. They are nice, but they follow facts. Jesus loves you. God said he would never leave you or forsake you. He has promised to complete what he started in you. Keep praying. Keep reading scripture. Persevere. God will persevere you. He will help you through. If there is sin in your life and you maybe don’t know it (or you do), then ask God to reveal it. Confess any sin and turn from it. Btw, just bc we struggle does not always mean there is sin. It could just be God working on us to build our faith muscles and to help us get more spiritually fit.

on 08/06/2023 at 06:55 PM

Thank you men for sharing your thoughts and feelings and being vulnerable your own ways. I am the type of guy who really (genuinely) wants to get to know someone. I'll ask a lot of questions, and listen intensely as I get to know someone. The issue I have, is that I rarely meet anyone (men or women) who take the same approach in getting to know me. This is discouraging in forming any kind of real relationship with anyone, because so often someone does something that I don't like, or I find has a directly negative impact on me and I'll say to myself: "Well, if you really knew me, you wouldn't act that way or say certain things around me." Needless to say, I don't think I have a "best" friend in my life today. I'm 46, in a (complicated) relationship with a Woman who says she loves me, but sadly I think doesn't actually get me. We have a 19 month old son (who we didn't plan for) and we only really knew each other for maybe 6 months before she got pregnant. I can't put any blame on her for not understanding the real me. I know I can be a complicated guy to figure out, so I put the blame on myself for getting involved with someone who I never got to really know myself before she became pregnant with our son. My life has been turned upside down the last 3 plus years, and to say I've made poor life choices would be an understatement. I am trying to get back to focusing on God because it's all about him. I'm sorry Lord, for the thing I've made it, when it's all about you Jesus!

Daniel s. Reyes

on 08/06/2023 at 05:15 PM

Its not easy when you live in the suburbs where there is not much to do. On top of that although I live with family and my little dog I get lonely sometimes. I longed for face to face companionship where I can be around like minded people. I wish I could find a meetup group for people who are physically challenged. The other thing I don’t have a license to drive and that too adds to my loneliness feeling isolated. I wish God can put someone on my path who will be a trustworthy friend.

Gary George

on 08/06/2023 at 05:11 PM

This was what I needed today. I made some bad choices a few months ago in relation to the internet with chatting and sharing inappropriate talk and pictures. It created rough times between my wife and I but as we worked it out we have become stronger. My prayer is that my relationship with my sons and their wives will get better and we will be able to see our grandchildren again. I want to stay diligent with this group of guys in this app to help me be the husband, father, and grandfather I need to be. Thanks in advance for your prayers.

Will J

on 08/06/2023 at 05:08 PM

I, like many, struggle with this because it involves vulnerability. One thing all men struggle showing. Most of the time I just want to be alone. Having these groups makes me feel forced into going and then I dread having to do it. I’m really struggling with my relationship with God. I cannot feel Him in anyway lately. I cannot in anyway make myself feel better about life. When I hand it over to God, usually something bad happens and I’m stuck wondering why? I thought the good things come when you go to God? There is no peace in my life whatsoever. Even when I’m in prayer or reading scripture. I find no peace.

on 08/06/2023 at 04:49 PM

Thank you to all the men who are faithful to share the ups and downs of their faith journeys on this app. We are not here to develop a spiritual life of our own, or to enjoy a quiet spiritual retreat. We are here to have the full realization of Jesus Christ, for the purpose of building His body, the Church. LIVE BOLD. Welcome Nicholas! 🙏🏻

Nicholas Vanoven

on 08/06/2023 at 04:20 PM

I downloaded this app just under 20 minutes ago. I recently am going through a breakup and had realized that the people I once held close to me as friends have somewhat wandered off and have grown distant from me. I think it’s safe to say that the breakup happened for a reason. It brought me closer to God and brings me closer the people I hold dearly so that we may help each other in our faithfulness to him. Excited to grow with everyone here

Abran Enriquez

on 08/06/2023 at 04:07 PM

Good morning! I opened my app after. Several weeks of not doing so to this passage. I rarely post or comment but I feel compelled to say thank you and if you are a member of a group please let me know.

Brandon Pembleton

on 08/06/2023 at 03:45 PM

Thank you fellas for keeping me salty! This app and all the shares everyday is pretty amazing. Those of you wondering how to join a group well this is the first step here. Share openly and read what others share. That’s probably my favorite part of this app is getting to read everyone else’s interpretation and such. It gives me a much wider lens to view Gods word through. It has been said today and many other days that iron sharpens iron. Hearing and reading others experience with it showcases there’s a lot more of others than of me and a lot more to be learned from others than by myself studying. Whether you’re brand new or a 40 year veteran of the Bible. Sometimes the new guys have the greatest stuff to read to me because it’s filled with such great enthusiasm and it makes me feel very fresh and confident in my faith. God bless all of your people today and may as many people as possible realize how amazing life really is today with the massive networks of support that can be created. Thank you for your guidance and love God. I love you amen 🙏

Bruce Sanders

on 08/06/2023 at 03:24 PM

Good morning brothers. Just wanted to say we serve and are loved by an awesome God. Holy Spirit is so loving, comforting, and yet convicting. I woke up this morning as I do many mornings feeling a little down mostly because of choices that I have made. Are usually don’t write on this app And I was not even going to open it this morning, but holy spirit convicting me to do it, because he knew exactly what I needed. I through certain circumstances in my life I have learned to walk life alone, and realize I cannot do that anymore. Thank God for this app and I think God for each and everyone of you who post and give words of encouragement. Starting today this will be the new me. I will make a choice. Thank your brothers and have a blessed day.

waynesworld

on 08/06/2023 at 03:23 PM

Iron sharpens Iron!! We need to keep each other accountable, not by judging each other but by encouraging and uplifting each other.

Mike S

on 08/06/2023 at 03:10 PM

God Bless you all on this Sunday. I thank each one of you for your inspiration and testimony. My prayers I send out to you. Stay strong and blessed. Have a great week ahead.

on 08/06/2023 at 03:00 PM

I have been a part of a Saturday morning group for several years. I just started going to a different group on Thursday evenings. I have even participated in a Sunday evening Zoom Promise Keepers group a few times. My wife is upset bc I’ve committed to so many different groups but do little to nothing with her. So, I am going to cut back and maybe just do the Thursday group regularly and maybe Saturdays every now and then. Idk. I need the fellowship it offers. Sunday mornings just don’t cut it for me. There’s no “real” there/then. Fake smiles. Fairness. Fronting. It’s not designed for encouraging each other as much. Plus, my groups are just guys. It’s what I need.

James W

on 08/06/2023 at 02:52 PM

Good morning, I'm interested in joining a study group. Could use some help though.

on 08/06/2023 at 02:29 PM

I have been leading a small group of men for the past 5 years - we meet weekly and mix in check-ins, some in-depth Bible study, service work and even once a month just going to do something fun together. I look forward to that time every week to continue on our journey together … don’t go it alone in this world - get some regular brotherhood and accountability in your lives! And don’t be intimidated to start one up on your own … I never felt worthy or qualified being someone who continues to struggle with addiction - but all I have found is acceptance and grace and me sharing my story leading to others willing to be real and vulnerable with other like minded men. You may be helping more then just yourself …

michael f vinning

on 08/06/2023 at 02:09 PM

It has been a few years since I’ve belonged to a small group but joining one on Tuesday coming with my son who’s about to turn 14. I am looking forward to it. I pray God uses that time and other men to speak life over my son and reinforce the lessons I’ve tried teaching him over the years!!

Boyce Moses

on 08/06/2023 at 01:56 PM

We each need our time alone and our time with brothers. Each is important to become/continue to be the men God created us to be. Reach out to other brothers and help them as well as yourself maintain your saltiness. Love you Jesus! 🤍🧡💛💜

Barry

on 08/06/2023 at 12:54 PM

Good morning my precious brothres. I always look forward to our times together, it is such a blessed time. My daily prayer is that we never loose our salt and that in some way we always reach out to the lost. God bless all of you on this great Sunday.

218/365: Staying Accountable to Your Faith

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