To seek and save

~Friday for Friends~

"All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”" Luke 19:7 (NIV)

"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 19:9-10 (NIV)

These verses are from Luke 19, which, among other things, shares with us the story of Zacchaeus. I love this passage. I love how it speaks of God's mission while showing a clear example of that mission. Jesus was here to seek and save the lost. And now that we have been saved, there is no better mission than we can try to be a part of. 

God makes the call

~Saturday Stories~

“I don’t want you to get hurt,” I repeated. ...
 “Me neither.” He started up the stairs. “But God gets to make the call on that one. Not you. Not me.” -Heather and Bryce, Counted Worthy

"...it starts with trusting that you don't know everything. That God does. That His decisions are better than yours, even when they hurt. You do that for a while, and you realize that regardless of what He allows, God's our best hope. Our only hope." -Jake, Angel Eyes

"Just remember that, no matter how dark life becomes, there will always be a reason to hang on 'til tomorrow. ... Always." -Cassie's grandpa, Unwritten Melody

How about you? Have you experienced hurt lately? Have you had a time when it was hard to trust God's choices? Would you mind sharing? 

Unstoppable

~Monday Movies & Music~

Matty Mullins features Jordan Feliz in his recent song, "Unstoppable." Here are the lyrics.

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39 (NIV)

It is with this unstoppable love that Our Savior loves you!

Picture-Perfect

~Saturday Stories~

Do I look like I know what I’m doing?
They tell me I have more confidence now
When I’ve just become a better actress
It’s fun sometimes to pretend that life’s okay

Other times I just wish no one saw my life
As picture-perfect
Because it’s not even close
And I go to bed praying I don’t wake up

How about you? Have you ever felt that nobody really saw the struggle behind you nice-looking life? Have you given all your cares to the One who will always be there for you? 

Apply it today

~Friday for Friends~

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Galatians 5:22-26 (NIV)

To whom can you show love? What can you rejoice over? How can you spread peace or represent patience? How can you apply these verses to your life today?  

Fish, scorpions, and God's perfect love

~Tuesday Thoughts~

"“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[a] a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:11-13 (NIV)

Some of our earthly fathers are amazing or at least good. Still, no father is perfect. And some might not even be good fathers at all. And maybe for some of you, if you ask for a fish he would give you a snake. 

But God is the perfect Father who loves you like crazy. His love knows no measure. And while He is not a machine that just pops out presents when you "pray enough," He does delight in giving good gifts to His children. 

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17 (NIV)

What is a gift God has recently given you? 

Found in Translation by Roger E. Bruner

~Sunday Stories~

My weekend has been full of people and socializing and not going onto the computer much not to appear rude and great bunches of great food. And I missed yesterday’s post. But I want to make up for it! So, here we go: Sunday Stories. 

Typical Kim: "I didn't regret having to pay seventy-five dollars for the overweight extra suitcases, though. I needed everything I'd packed: a professional-quality hair dryer; enough matching shoes and purses to have a fresh look every day; a treasure chest of my best cosmetics and toiletries; enough clothes to wear separate day and night outfits for the next fourteen days; a steam iron and travel-sized ironing board; and a small, high-power portable karaoke system with dozens of accompaniment CDs and tons of extra D-cell batteries. Oh, and I'd packed a thick Spanish-English Bible I hadn't taken out of the box yet."

Kim is ready for her mission trip. Except for being late to her plane, that is. Then it turns out she missed a few important emails about the trip. Changes were made, and they are now headed to the middle of nowhere to help a small community after a windstorm. What?! With most of her stuff now useless and herself confused, Kim sets out on a trip only God could make anything out of. A trip where God uses her to an immeasurable extent, even if in unusual ways.

Found in Translation is a great book where Kim learns to trust God in all circumstances and with all plans. No matter how unlikely the plan, God can work miraculous things out of it. She learns about forgiveness and giving others second chances. Although somewhat predictable, this is was still a story that makes one rethink how we use our lives.

This is the first in the Altered Hearts series. The second, third, and fourth are A Season of Pebbles, Overshadowed, and The Flowers of His Field For more on Roger E. Bruner, visit his website and Facebook page. 

How mighty and glorious is our Father

~Tuesday Thoughts~

"Lord, you have been our dwelling place

  throughout all generations.

Before the mountains were born

  or you brought forth the whole world,

  from everlasting to everlasting you are God." Psalm 90:1-2 (NIV)

It's easy to forget just how mighty and glorious our Father is. But He has existed forever and ever. His strength is unending. His holiness is awe-inducing. He is both just and loving, both holy and forgiving of sinners. He is the One who controls the world, and He is the One who He hears our prayers. 

And we should join the chorus praising the One who made us:

"Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

    be praise and honor and glory and power,

for ever and ever!”" Revelation 5:13 (NIV)

When you can't combine two worlds

~Friday for Friends~

It's summer time, and I am with my family again. I am SO happy to be around my crazy bunch of siblings as well as with my parents. But what that also means is that I am miles and miles away from my two best friends. Which is not fun. 

I don't get just to text them about anything and get a million random texts in return. I don't get to ask last minute if I could bring a movie when I'm invited to one's house. I don't get to complain about homework with them (because there is none - that is beyond awesome!). I don't get to have lunch with them. Or come in randomly to the Egg and I where one of them just found a job. I can't just have an hour-long discussion about crushes and jobs and roommates and God. 

Don't get me wrong - I love spending time with my family. I love playing games and walking the dog and watching movies we've watched a million times and gathering together to watch YouTube videos.... But it still hurts when you can't combine those two worlds. Because no matter how amazing email and Skype and Facebook are, there will never be a suitable substitute for hanging out. 

These are obviously not my words, but the words of Paul to the Philippians. But I just want to repeat this for my friends now and for my family for all the time I was gone for college last year and will be next year. 

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3-8 (NIV)

How about you? Have you ever been far away from people you loved? How did you get through it?