dont know if anyone reads this
I thought this was interesting

light and darkness have been used over time to represent good and evil in religion. Dark is bad, Light is good. Darkness is the absence of light, darkness can not be light until light shines on it
If this is true and we are darkness along with the world then Christ is the light and came to take us into the light because only the Light can do this. Other religions do not follow this, they talk about righteousness and goodness but in the end the person has to become light alone without God.
Think about this when you see magnificence of light.

Perfect Love

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him
Lamentations 3: 22-25

I struggle a lot with guilt and often times begin to question His calling on my life. What if I can't do it? What if I'm not strong enough. But the answer to my question is simple... I can't... and I'm not... But the God who can not fail is.

Furthermore who am I to question His reasoning. Guilt is an offshoot of pride... strange huh... It is the assumption that we deserve all that we have, but have failed by our own strenghth. Rather life is a gift that is not hinged on our power, but by His grace. So there is no shame, no guilt, no fear. Just perfect love.

Flyleaf - Red Sam acoustic version

Just wanted to let you know...

No matter what happens, no matter what or who hurts you... there is still a God who cares. The one and only one that holds the truth, and loves you with a passion that could never be equaled.

All Consuming Fire

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12:28-29

If you haven't noticed yet, our books for the month of May never came in. Instead the ones for June did... Oh well....

I was thinking about work today. Work doesn't neccessarily have to do with a job at a store or whatever, but that which we dedicate our lives to do. God has called us to be a certain kind of person. A person who takes pride in their Identity as a child of God. A person who takes the work that God has given them seriously.

I was thinking about the work that I do. When it comes to school, I procrastinate horribly. I don't do the work as I should. My fear is that it would be the same case for the things I do for God.

Here is a good question... are we doing everything in our power to work hard for God? To please Him? It says in the passage that God is a consuming fire, meaning God is not someone you want to mess with. I think as a culture we've forgotten this. When we think of Jesus, we think of him sitting down with children or with a lamb at His feet. While He is kind and gentle, I think we've forgotten that He is God. The one who has destroyed kingdoms, peoples, the one who molded the earth by His hands. I thnk that if we truely understood that we wouldn't mess around when He tells us to do something.

So let's look at Him and work for Him as He deserves. With reverence... awe... respect.

progression of a graduate

something to look forward to when you graduate

Resting Place

I'm sorry I haven't posted anything in a while. I'm in the final weeks of my classes and too much got in the way.


I was thinking about this verse last night. I'm really stressed out right now, and I need a place to rest.

Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

Give ear and come to me;
hear me, that your soul may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.

Isaiah 55: 1-3

During times of stress, anxiety, or fear. Let God be your resting place.

Motivation

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:1-4

What is it that motivates you?

Is it health, fear, hunger... Is it some secrete desire? Is it to make yourself look good? To make other praise you for how great you are?

We are called to love one another. To look out for eachother as a family would. A family is bonded together by blood. So are we... But we are not bonded by a human blood that can fail, but by the pure and Holy blood of Christ. A Holy bond that can never fail, never break.

CBU Theater

a video about the production of Fiddler On The Roof at CBU's Theater
check it out

Legacy

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7

I got my results back yesterday. It turns out that I don't have cancer and I am so thankful to God for this. This whole situation has caused me to re-focus my life. I've been looking at how I act and react at work, what I am doing in school, and how I treat my friends and family. I realize that there are things I need to fix. There are things I need to act on, because I realized that I don't have all the time in the world like I used to think.

Life is very beautiful, but it is also very fragile.

When Paul wrote this verse he knew that he was about to die. He was thinking back on all that he had done and why. He knew that he could die happy because everything that he had done had been for the Glory of God. His legacy, the story he left behind, would be one that honored God.

A life like this belongs to someone who is deeply in love with God. I encourage you to seek Him out, and ask that He would show Himself to you. I encourage you to consider your life and think about the story that you want to leave behind.

hope

Romans 15:1-4

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.
2Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.

3For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME."

4For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

In the rest of Chapter 15 it talks more about hope

hope is that Christ did not please himself but put the wrongs of the world on himself 

hope will not come from this world or from ourselves

it has taken me a long time to understand this, I hope you will see this also

Lost

Ok.... so I lost my book. I'm sure I'll find it sooner or later...

I was thinking today about one of my favorite passages:

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Acts 3: 1-10


As I get to know you better on Sundays, i begin to see the different ways that God has talented you. Some of you are really good at drawing, others at speaking, others at creating beautiful things out of playdo.

We are at a point in our lives where we don't have a lot to give. We don't own a beautiful house or have money to give. But what we do have is the Lord and a relationship with Him which is the most precious thing of all.

Peter and John were the same way. They were nomads without a home or wealth, but what they did have they gave. I challenge you to see the talents and gifts that God has given you and use them. More importantly I challenge you to share your faith with others.

When this crippled man was healed, he jumped for joy and praised God because he knew that it was God who had healed him through Peter and John. The world... our neighborhood... our friends and family... they need to know. They need to find the joy in the only One who can give it.

Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you

Live Strong

I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15: 50-58

Ok... so one of my goals in life is to become a little old 75 years old woman. You know the kind... 4'10" hair pulled back in a bun, huge glasses, and a lot of attitude. I'm 5'5" which means I have to shrink a couple inches to reach my goal. I'm sure I'll one day need glasses, my hair is pretty much always pulled back in a bun, and in regards to attitude... I'm sure I'll have plenty by the time I'm old.

The sad reality is that not many people make it to 70. Not many people make it to 60 or 50. In fact I've had people I've loved or known die as early as 33 or 19. We are all still very young, so we don't think about death. But its a reality.

Last week I briefly talked about what was happening with my health. There is no fear because there is freedom in Christ. when I was younger I asked God for one thing, that He wouldn't let me die until His work through me was done. I know that He granted me this one request, and God is not someone who will let you fall flat on your face.

So you see..With God there is the sure knowledge that whatever happens, it'll be ok.


Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Confident Living

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Hebrews 10:32-36


I'm sorry for not posting yesterday. Wednesday is my worst day.

Our last entry was about perserverance. About how we struggle with life. It's amazing to think that because we serve the one true God, all of our work will not be for nothing. Even if in serving God we lose our home, or money, our very lives, when we enter heaven all of what we had will seem like nothing compared to what we just gained.

Endurance Test

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1: 2-4


While my father was never in the Military, he raised his three daughters as if he had been. It is one of the reasons why I am the way I am today. If I ever fell and ran to him crying, he'd ask, "Are you Bleeding? Is something Broken? If not get back out there and play." In short he told me to "suck it up, pick yourself up, and keep on going."

While I hated him for it at the time, I now love him for it. If he didn't treat me that way, I wouldn't have the drive and passion I have now.

In the same way, God is telling us to "suck it up". Whenever life pushes against you push back. It's all a part of becoming that man or that woman that God wants us to be.

Good and Bad

He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Job 2:10

Many things pop out at me from verses 1 to 10. When it comes to the story of Job, we tend to focus a lot on Job, and that is a good thing. But, I can't help but notice the character of Satan... Let's talk about him for a minute.

This is what I've noticed about him.

1) Satan can enter God's presence
2) Satan literally roams the earth
3) Satan has the power to cause us harm.
4) Satan can only go as far as God will let him.

The United States, as a people and culture, do not recognize Satan and his demons as a threat. This is a problem... We are most likely to get attacked when we don't see it comming... when we don't recognize the warning signs.

Satan is very real. His demons are very real... But he is still under the rule of God. He can only go as far as God will let him. This is just another example of God's amazing power. We've been talking a lot about submission to God lately. Even Satan has to obey. No one can escape Him.

Job was a Godly man who suffered a lot, but through it all he never stopped worshiping God. He cursed the day he was born, but he never cursed God. He fully understood that nothing could escape from God's control. What ever happened to him was because God wanted it to happen, and that gave him peace.

He took the good along with the bad.

This is a very complicated issue. There is so much about it that it can not all fit here. If you have any questions please contact one of us.

Holding Nothing Back

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"
"Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.
"The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.

"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

Genesis 22: 6-14

Think about your most prized possession.... Is it your family, friends, computer, car, camera...? Is it something that can't be held like pride?

Abraham's whole life was wrapped up in this child. His future depended on the fact that this child was alive. He freely gave that up to the Lord.

How many times do we rely more on the things that surround us than we do the Lord? I love my family, we have our issues but we are always there for eachother. It would be easy for me to place my trust in them before the Lord. I am also a very pridefull person. I would rather trust in myself to get the job done and not allow anyone to help. This could lead me to not relying on God.

God asked Abraham to let go of his son, so he would realize that it wasn't his son that would determine his future but God. In the same way God is calling us to let go of everything that might take the place of God in our lives.

Don't worry about letting go... Like the passage said, "The Lord will provide."

Costly Sacrifice

I want to go back to what I talked about on monday about limitations.
Matthew 19:26 Jesus is tells the disciples after talking to a rich man that it is hard for a rich man to be saved and the disciples wonder who then can be saved. Christ responded with verse 26

 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

with Christ limitations change we can not help but follow the sinful path but with God it is possible to not be a sinner and enter His Kingdom. 

Genesis 22:1-5
1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.
2 Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

It is not about who we are and our own power but about who God is and his power. Abraham trusted in God and believed he was Good and that He keeps his promises. 

Free to Be

When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:20-23


I'm the kind of person who doesn't like to think in terms of Black and White. I like to see what else is out there. Could there be another solution to the problem? Another answer?

But when it comes to certain things the answer is black or white. Like the question of who we belong to. We either belong to God or we belong to sin, there is no other alternative. One leads to an eternity with God and the other to eternity in Hell.

In class we've asked whether or not you consider yourselves Christians. All of you have raised your hands. Have you ever stopped to think what that means? It means freedom, it means we have been cleansed from the sin of the past. We have become someone who does not have to be ashamed of what we did because that person no longer exists... a new person has been born. The person who engaged in sexual acts is gone, the person who did drugs is gone, the person who hated themselves is gone.

We find this kind of freedom in Christ alone.

Like Andrew said, we love you guys. If there is anything you need just tell us.

mathew 4:18-22

hey guys

I have been going all day just got back to my room at 9:30pm I just didnt want to read the thing really quick and then come up with some past experence to share. Id like it to something that will keep you guys interested. I want you guys to know we don't have it all together. We are doing these things because we love you. Something that I don't do very well is express love to people. 

here is a picture of some college students in Turkey .. enjoy ill try and find better cool stuff

Go with God

But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"

And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."

Exodus 3: 11-12


Think of all the promises that have been made to you... How many of them have been kept? How many of them were just forgotten or taken back? The Lord is not this way.

God has called us to do great things. Among all the things that He made, we are His favorite. We were creatively created by the Creator of all creation. Where ever He sends us and whatever He calls us to do... we do not go alone. The Lord will be with you through it all. Have you ever seen siamese twins?... yeah... it's like that. Nothing can separate the two, just like nothing can separate us from God.

When we go and do where God has called us to go and do, we automatically know that He will give us success. Moses was not the smartest man, he wasn't the best speaker. In fact I think he has a studder or some other form of speech impediment, but the Lord chose him to rescue the people of Israel. The Lord not only promise he would successful, but that he would return alive to that same place to worship God.

God can not break His promises. If He did, He could not be God.

Limitations

8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Something I have learned about life is its limitations. For example a person can't pass a test if he/she does not read the book or listen in class. There are limits to what we can do. Abraham accepted these limits, he realized he could not control whether or not he would create a nation through his children. He put his faith in God to bless him and all peoples through him. Look at the different limits that we have, think about how following the Lord deals with these limitations. What does our culture say to do with these limitations? from the tv? what does it say about sex? happiness? love? whats fun? whats funny? 

i wish i could fly but jumping of a building may be a dream of mine but there is a limit of possible dieing 

thats horrible, a sad part of life on earth... parachutes cost money ;/  maybe one day 

Going, Going, Gone

So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.

Genesis 12: 4, 5

So yesterday’s blog was about obeying God, being a blessing to others (By blessing we mean using what you have to help others out) and about being careful it is God’s road that we are following and not some lie.

Today’s blog is going to be about trusting God.

Abram was 75 years old when he chose to obey God and move. Imagine your grandpa taking all he has: his wife, kids, grandkids, furniture… everything and moving it to Thailand. I would be totally scared out of my mind and I am sure that Abram was too. I am sure he was thinking, “Where am I going to live? What is my family going to eat? Will I be safe?” But you see… we are not defined by what we think, but by what we do. Abram was scared but he chose to obey God because he knew who God is. He knew that if God had told him to move everything would be ok because it was God who would take care of everything and never leave him.

Whatever it is that God is telling you to do, do it without fear. The God of the Universe will not leave your side.

Road Trip

I like road trips ... what is going happen .. going somewhere different kinda cool ... sorta lame at times ..
Hey Its Andrew Im going to try and post some things for you as well. Hopefully with two of posting it will better than just one of us.
Genesis 12:1-3

1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
2 "I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you."
So before this in Genesis 11 we have the tower of babel which is where God scattered humans by giving them different languages which is what created the different people groups like the chinese ect... Then this where God calls Abraham to go to a different land which eventually becomes His people the Jews. What a nice time to create a nation when everyone is scattering?  I think what is important to understand is verses 2 and 3. He told Abraham to leave the place he called home in order to make a nation. But not to just to have a big country say like America and be like "yeah thats cool". God created the nation to be a blessing to the whole world. Thats who God is. America is great and it is a blessed country. We have nice beds, takes showers, have a couch, dont worry about food. What are we going to do with this riches that we have, just use it up? God blesses his people and we can be apart of what He does by taking what we have and blessing others. God created us. We can see his goodness in his creation in the sun that warms up on a nice day and the joy we get when we are having fun doing something. Im sorry but there is something bad here also. There is the road that take us away from God and the road that is following God. So be careful. Trust the Father. 

Growth Potential

Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."

To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.

John 3: 25-30

Before Jesus came along John the Baptist was the main guy that people were comming to. All of a sudden, here comes Jesus, freshly baptized, baptizing others and becoming more and more popular.

The way I see it... John had one of two options. Either he could get angry at Jesus for taking away some of his followers, or he could accept it.

John accepted what was happening because he knew who Jesus was and his own place in the ministry. He understood that he was not going to be the one to save people. His job was to prepare the way so that people would be ready to come to Jesus.

He humbly stepped aside so that Jesus could come into the spotlight. In the same way we need to step aside and allow God to be the Hero in our story.

Perfection

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10

As students, as children, as male and female we are pressured to be something or do something everyday. We have have to be strong, we have to be smart, we have to be considered beautiful or handsome. In short, we have to be perfect.

When we are weak, He will make us strong. When we don't understand, we trust that He will give us wisdom and direction. When we see ourselves as anything less than what He created, He is there is there to remind us that by His mercy He has made us clean, He has made us beautiful.

The world demands that we work to become perfect. Well we are not, and that's ok because we serve a God who is.

First Love

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
Revelation 2:4


According to Dictionary.com Motivation or Motive is:

1. something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc.; incentive.
2. the goal or object of a person's actions: Her motive was revenge.
3. (in art, literature, and music) a motif.
–adjective
4. causing, or tending to cause, motion.
5. pertaining to motion.
6. prompting to action.
7. constituting a motive or motives.
–verb (used with object)
8. to motivate.

It is the reason why we do things.

I love writting. I have been writting stories and letters for the last five years for the purpose of telling others about God. But a year ago I stopped doing that for a couple months. The reason why is because I started to really like the compliments I would get. Very soon it was not about writting for the purpose of bringing people to God, but for people to know how great I was. I enjoyed the attention and praise. Because of that a beatiful gift became ugly, and the letters I wrote were not as good as they were before. God gave me a gift so that He would be gloryfied, not me. I stopped writting in order to get my mind back on God.

You see... God has to be our first love, because He is the only one worthy of that. Since refocusing my attention I am able to write again as I once did.

I am asking you to look at your own life. What are your gifts? Are you a good speaker? An amazing artist? A writter? A great listener, friend, and counselor? and if so... how are you using your gifts and what for?

Inheritance

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1: 3-9

I've been think a lot about what it is that I hold most precious. I love my family and would do anything for them. I love my friends and would provide them with anything they need. I'm not going to lie... I love my little car and screamed out a couple weeks ago when I thought I was going to get in a car crash. First because I was afraid that my friend next to me was going to get hurt, and second cause I really love my car.

But all these things go away. One day I'll get married and may end up living in another state. I'll still have a strong relationship with my family, but things won't be the same. The same goes for my friends... Some of them have gotten or are in the process of getting married or are graduating. Relationships change... people change... cars eventually break down. But the Lord is forever, and forever are His promises.


Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6: 19-21

The Goal

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3: 7-11

I want to know about your passions. I want to know about your desires. Think about it and I'll ask you guys on Sunday

Wide Eyes

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 1: 18-20

When a baby first opens their eyes, all they can see is blurryness. It isn't till later that things start to be focused, and even later still when they are able to see in full color and take in all that's around them.

This is is my prayer for you, that you would begin to become aware of all the things around you. That you would begin to see how God is moving and has been moving in your life. That as He comes into clearer focus in your life, you would fall in love with Him. That you would come to know the fullness of what He is.

Love in Action

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9

Love can be shown in many different ways. It is seen in the way we speak to eachother. By using words that encourage others instead of hurting them. It can be seen in the way we physically help eachother. By helpng a friend carry their books to class, or when we help another person stand up after they've fallen or are about to fall. It can be seen in a good hug. Whatever way love is shown, it is shown in action. It is not enough just telling another person we love them, we need to show them.

The ultimate example of this can be found in Jesus Christ. He gave up everything, for the sake of rescuing us.

Law of Love

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.

1 John 5:1-4

Like we have talked about before, love is submission to another. But to submit does not mean you are weak. It says here anyone who calls themselves a child of God has overcome the world. This means all the bad things that surround us can not hold us down as love as we are found in obedience to God, as long as we are found in His Love.

Tough Love

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Luke 6:32-36

Ok... so we've been talking a lot about love lately....don't really know why... Valentine's Day was a while back ago...

Anyway... We've talked a lot about how we are to love others just as God loved us. This is easy when it comes to close family and friends, but what about those in your inner circle that have hurt you? Even more how about those you have absolutely no connection to whether it be family, a former friend, or whatever? Like that guy that really got on my nerve last week, the one I wanted to beat up.How hard is it to love a person like that?

We are called to love even people like that. People who get on our nerves, or people who you just want to smack around. This not only proves to the world that there is an amazing God who is strong enough to show us to love even our enemies, but that He lives within us molding us to be the people we are called to be.

I may not like the person who angered me last week, but through God I can begin to love him.

Reflection

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We love because he first loved us.

1 John 4: 18-19

In class, we have talked a lot about God's characteristics. How He is our Father, protector, guide, shield, in all ways God. We also spent a lot of time talking about how God is the source of all things. If we want to find joy, we should ask Him to fill us with Joy. If we want to be able to Love, we need to ask Him to fill us with love.

Perfect love is one that is without fear. As the verse states fear is born out of punishment. The idea that you will be hurt because what you do may be wrong or not good enough. Perfect love does not have this fear because perfect love is not punishable. It is always welcomed and always accepted no matter how it is done.

Love can be in a kind word, it can be in a hug, it can be in doing something to help another person. When all these things are done in love, it is perfect no matter the outcome.

So I encourage you guys to love eachother, and not be critical of others when they show you love in ways that are diffrent than yours.

Lay it Down

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

John 15: 12-13

Laying down your life does not neccassarily mean that you allow yourself to die in order to save another. That's only one definition. To lay down your life is to make another person more important than you. To make sure another person is happy, well fed, or comfortable. Even if it means you have to be unhappy with what happens, have to go a little hungry, or be physically uncomfortable.

True love is sacrifice, we are called to sacrifice for one another, we are called to love as Jesus loved.

Follow the Leader

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16

This passage goes back to the one we covered two days ago. About maintaing focus on what is good.

Another good passage is:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableif anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

There are so many things in this world that are fighting over our attention. Family, school, friends, sports, work, the need to work, and other things. While these are all good thngs, if they are in any way causing us to do bad things, then we need to separate ourselves. It is important that we keep our focus on God and what He has for us. On the good things and the pure things. They are the things that will not harm us, but make us better.

Family Ties

Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
Galatians 4:6-7

The desire to belong is a very powerful one. We want to be told we are liked. We want to be told we are wanted. No matter how hard we try to convince ourselves and others that we don't need people... the truth is we do.

That's one of the things that is so beautiful about God. We are always loved, we are always wanted, as one of my friends said, "I am loved by a God that just can't take His eyes off me."


Because of Jesus, we will always belong. We will always be taken care of by the one we call "Daddy"

Change of Mind

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

Romans 8:5-8

There are these things called "Blinders" that horses use. In order to keep them focused the rider straps on the head a little headband that has little flaps that go right next to the eyes. It prevents them from looking at what's around them and only see what is in front of them.

In the same way we need to stay focused on what's ahead of us, and not on all the things that can take us out of focus. This is especially true when it comes to sin. We are called to be pure and to ignore anything that might cause us to sin.

Purchase Price

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

There are a lot of reasons why we do the things we do. Some things are done out of fear, some to prove how brave we are, others out of anger, and some because we truely love someone. What ever we do... we do it for a reason.

I've shared parts of my past with you in class. It is my hope that you see in me all the wonderful things God can do. How He can rescue someone from anger and hate to live a life that truely loves and constantly fights for the joy that can only be found in Him.

I know the God I serve, and I love Him. It is for God that I do the things I do... live the way I live... and nothing is too hard for Him.

Control Issues

Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!
1 Cor. 6:12-15

As children of God we have freedom in Christ. If we look at the Old Testament, we see a people who were tied to laws. There was certain food they could not eat, places they could not be, and people they shouldn't talk to. We are no longer under the Law of the Old Testament, but rather we have freedom in Chirst. We are free to eat what we want, be were we want to be, and talk to who ever we want.

But... just because we have freedom we shouldn't take advantage of it. The simple definition of Grace is forgiveness. We have been forgiven of our sins, and God will never throw them back in our face. But that doesn't mean we can do what we want trusting that it'll be ok with God as long as we ask forgiveness later. We are still to not do anything that can be sin.

In the same way, just like we have been given freedom in Christ, we have to be careful to always put God first. If there is anything in your life that is more important than God, you don't have to get rid of it, just make God more important than it.

Feel free to share your thoughts

-eva

Start of Something New

To all who come to this place, this is a safe place. Feel free to share.