"God will use you"

~Saturday Stories~ 

"God looks at our hearts, Jacie. At our intentions. God will use you if you want. Just not always in the way you expect." - Jacie's mother, Stuck in the Sky

"Just because you take the opportunity Jesus gives you doesn't mean everybody does. You can't decide for another person. You can only give them the chance." - Dr. Peter, Sophie's World

"God chooses to use us, Jake, but really, He can do it all on His own." -Angel Eyes

How about you? Has God used you in ways you never expected? Have you told others about Jesus? Have you marveled about God's amazing blessing to us to be part of His plan? 

Say "yes" to Jesus

~Friday for Friends~

"... Hey, start saying yes to Jesus. He's the best friend you'll ever have." -Todd, A Whisper and a Wish

How about you? Do you spend time with Jesus? 

Do not be anxious

~Tuesday Thoughts~

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

What have you been anxious about that you can give to God?

All eyes on You

~Monday Movies & Music~

OBB's song "All Eyes on You" (lyrics) reminds us that everything we do, we should do for God. We should point people to God. We are not great people by ourselves. No, but we serve a great God. 

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17 (ESV)

Let us point to Him and not us in our successes and run to Him and not ourselves in our failures!

The hurt feelings that I muffle

~Saturday Stories~

The blue I see in the sky, Lord,
They say I have that in my eyes
But when I look into them, Lord,
I just see the pain and the hurt

The hurt feelings that I muffle
The broken stories I shuffle
Around so nobody will hear them
So nobody will see me torn

The "A"s in my GPA, Lord,
They say reflect my hard work
But when I look at my resume, Lord,
I just see useless unappreciated work

The hurt feelings that I muffle
The broken stories that I shuffle
Around so nobody will hear them
So nobody will see me torn

The time on that clock, Lord,
Says I run fast and can do much
But when I see that time, Lord,
I see the time that I waste beating myself up

The hurt feelings that I muffle
The broken stories that I shuffle
Around so nobody will hear them
So nobody will see me torn

Let me open up, Lord,
You know how hard it is
Where I am, Lord,
And everyone seems to have
Bigger problems than me, Lord,
So I shut my mouth up
And don't speak out loud, Lord

Let me open up, Lord,
You didn't make this path for me
To travel all alone, Lord,
You said You'd never leave me,
So just let me open up and be healed, Lord
There are people who would listen
But I bottle myself up, Lord
I say my problems don't matter
While I fail at solving them all, Lord

Lord, just let me open up
Heal me by Your grace
Let me taste Your love
Let me feel Your peace
I can't solve my problems,
I'm the epitome of weak
But You have my hand
And You can heal

You can heal

Life in community and life alone

~Friday for Friends~

A community group I go to is reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together. The second and third chapters discuss life in community and life alone in the Christian life. It's interesting how Bonhoeffer stresses that both have value and that one without the other is just wrong.

"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe[a] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)

 "Blessed is the man[a]

    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

  but his delight is in the law[b] of the Lord,

    and on his law he meditates day and night." Psalm 1:1-2 (ESV)

Do you spend time with fellow believers? Do you spend time alone with God?

Belief is a choice

~Tuesday Thoughts~

"Belief is always a choice. And it's a choice no one else can make for you." -Jake in Shannon Dittemore's Angel Eyes

"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”" Joshua 24:15 (ESV)

Have you chosen to follow God? 

Heart of Stone

~Monday Movies & Music~

Britt Nicole has a great song, "Heart of Stone." Here are the lyrics. 

"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)

Are you completely honest with God? He loves you and wants you to give all your worries to Him. 

The Vanishings by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye

~Saturday Stories~

"Judd was afraid, but he wasn’t puzzled. As the pilot came over the intercom, pleading for people to remain calm, the full realization of what had happened hit Judd. He didn’t know how many other people on the plane had any idea, but he sure did. Christ had come as he promised and raptured his church. Judd lowered his face into his hands and shuddered. It was the worst nightmare imaginable, and he was wide awake. He, and most of the passengers on that plane, had been left behind."

God has come back for His church. Teenagers Judd, Vicki, Lionel, and Ryan are now all alone, except for each other. Their future is uncertain, and their lives seem pointless. As they are told the truth they have two choices: to believe or to not believe.

This book discusses life after Rapture for those who are left behind. Very God-focused, The Vanishings helps us stop and consider our faith in a new perspective. We do not want to be left behind when Christ comes for His children. This is part of the Left Behind: The Kids series.

Mathew 24: 40-41: “Two men will be working in a field. One will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain. One will be taken and the other will be left.”

Find out more about Jerry B. Jenkins (website, Facebook) and Tim LaHaye.

Loves at all times

~Friday for Friends~

"A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17 (ESV)

Who can you help and love today? 

Altar call?

~Tuesday Thoughts~

The altar call was an important part of revivalism. Historian Ian Murray argues that this device reflects the theology where man does something and comes to the Lord, as opposed to the Lord having grace and saving a sinner. Murray believes this to be wrong.
 

Conversion is a collaborative event that involves the actions of both God and the person. God is the One who calls a sinner to Himself, and without His call no one can be saved, altar call or not (John 6:44). However, the person also has responsibility: he needs to admit that he is a sinner, ask forgiveness (1 John 1:9), and turn away from his sins (Ezekiel 18:30-32). The person’s actions are more visible in an altar call, but for the conversion to be real God has to act in the person’s soul.

Thus, an altar call can be a legitimate part of revivalism. Although the action itself does not save, God’s call and the sinner’s reaction are visually portrayed in it, and those do save.

How about you? What is your opinion on the altar call? 

My everything

~Monday Movies & Music~

Owl City has a song named, "My Everything." Here are the lyrics. 

"casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 (ESV)

"I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,

    and I will glorify your name forever." Psalm 86:12 (ESV)

Can you run to God when everything seems bad? Can you praise Him no matter what?

"I'm tired of being lonely"

~Saturday Stories~

"...I prayed. And I could feel God saying to me that I was forgiven. That in his eyes, I'm just as pure as the day I was born." -Heather, So Over It

"I believe in God, but I also believe we have an enemy. I think the Enemy has been lying to you for years. Telling you that there is now way out.  ... But it's all a lie."  -Renee, The Masquerade

“I’m tired of being lonely.” ...

“You never have to be again ... The Lord be with you.” - Kirsten and Frankie, The Merciful Scar

How about you? Have you been lied to by the enemy? Do you feel lonely? Can you feel God's forgiveness? 

Just do it!

~Friday for Friends~

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV)

Sometimes lifting others up seems SO much easier than being vulnerable enough to tell someone we have fallen. We want to deal with everything on our own. We don't want to be weak. Weak is bad, right? That's what we've heard at least. And we're strong enough to handle this, right? No big deal. 

WRONG. IT'S A BIG DEAL. 

God's Word tells us that together we can be stronger. And we want to throw that away for what - a 20-sec-long feeling of I-can-handle-this before we fall head-first into another bout of depression. Wow, that's really smart. Really, Sofia, you're a genius.

Why can't we be more vulnerable with each other?   

Intermarriage?

~Tuesday Thoughts~

 
 In the Old Testament God told the Israelites not to marry those of other nationalities (Deuteronomy 7:3-4).  However, this was because the Israelites could be led astray by the others’ false gods.
 
In the New Testament it is declared that “there is no difference between Jew and Gentile” (Romans 10:12, NIV) and, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28, NIV).

What we should consider when we are thinking of marriage is the other’s faith, not race. 2 Corinthians 6 tells us not to “be yoked” with unbelievers “for what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?” (v.14-15).

Idea from https://gotquestions.org/interracial-marriage.html.

What are your thoughts about this?

I'm doing well?

~Saturday Stories~

I'm doing well.
What about you?
School is pretty good;
The homework load okay.
I have a couple papers due,
But it's all manageable.
Made friendships over the summer;
Continued them in the fall.
Roommates? Roommates are good.
We get along well, yes.
Just "As" and "Bs"
I probably get more sleep now
Than I did last year.
Work is manageable.
Finances look okay.
Church is supportive.
All's good, right?
Right?

If on the outside everything looks good,
That doesn't mean I feel good.
I can smile to you
And cry five minutes later.
Don't just ask me questions.
Look into my eyes,
Spend time with me,
Pour into my life.
Then feel free to ask me questions.
And pressure me for honest answers