The Gospel

~Monday Movies & Music~

Guys, this is such a great song! Ryan Stevenson recently uploaded "The Gospel" (lyrics).  

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—" John 1:12 (NIV)

The gospel is such a great thing! How can you let others know about it as you go about your day?

Terrifying yet vital

~Tuesday Thoughts~

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

This is a terrifying verse. I'm on a mission trip at the moment, and this is one of the verses that we were supposed to really apply to our lives in preparation and during the trip. 

I (think) I am getting better at briefly mentioning that I am a Christian. For example, people ask me where I'm from and I say, "My parents are missionaries in [country]." Or to "What did you do this weekend?," I can answer, "I did homework, worked, spent time with a friend or two, went to church." When asked where I work, I say that one of my jobs is in the nursery at church. All of these are true, and I love bringing up Christianity in this nonchalant way. 

However, openly discussing the good news of Christ and why we need His love - that seems terrifying to me. But it is such a vital skill to learn. I am hoping that, throughout this week, I get better and better at doing this. Something that has been encouraging is that the leaders say that even for them this was hard at first. But you get used to it with practice. Not that they're perfect at this business, but that it really takes practice to get better, to feel less awkward, to get bolder*. 

And it for sure takes God's strength.

How about you guys? Are you scared by the idea of sharing God's Word with others or do you feel more comfortable with it? Do you have any stories of you sharing it that you'd like to share?

*I am speaking of the good kind of bold. I am NOT encouraging being bold and coming off as rude and obnoxious to anyone you pass.

Does anybody hear her?

~Monday Movies & Music~

"Does Anybody Hear Her" is a great song by Casting Crowns. Here are the lyrics.

 "All we like sheep have gone astray;
    we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6 (ESV)

Let us remember this truth and tell of it to others! 

Save a life

~Monday Movies & Music~

Manic Drive has a thought-provoking song, "Save a Life." Here are the lyrics.

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”[a]" Romans 10:14-15(NIV)

Can you tell someone today about the precious news of our loving Savior? Can you bring truth into a world full of lies? 

Rest

~Friday for Friends~

I heard a passionate speech on these three verses this week. Let us come to Him when we are tired and let us tell others about this caring God who wants us all to know Him!  

"“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”" Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

Move

~Monday Movies & Music~

Audio Adrenaline has a cool song, "Move." Check it out! Here are the lyrics. 

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”[a]" Romans 10:14-15 (NIV)

Is God calling you to share the gospel with someone? 

Stuck in the Sky by Lissa Halls Johnson

~Saturday Stories~

Typical Jacie: "I couldn't do it. I had the perfect chance, and I couldn't think of the words. All the things I know suddenly sounded stupid and awkward and what is real to me suddenly disappeared from my head."

Art? Stale with no opportunity to grow. Faith? Real, but very very hard to share. Everybody expects Jacie to be perfect in both these areas. She can't! She just can't! The only person that seems to see that is the "bad" boy in town, who, really, isn't all that bad. Of course, he might not be a Christian, which would complicate matters. But not if she keeps it a secret. The secret weighs on her heart, and she tries to mask it. Is there even a way out of this mess?

Stuck in the Sky deals with issues many teenagers face: family relationships, guy/girl relationships, and sharing your faith. The way Jacie's emotions and feelings about the boy were described depicted mine so well! The books also declared that sharing your faith can be done in more ways than one!

Stuck in the Sky is the first in the Brio Girls series. The other eleven are Fast Forward to Normal, Opportunity Knocks Twice, Double Exposure, Good-Bye to All That, Grasping at Moonbeams, Croutons for Breakfast, No Lifeguard on Duty, Dragonfly on My Shoulder, Going Crazy Till Wednesday, When Stars Fall, and Bad Girl Days. There are other authors also involved in the making of these books.

For more on  Lissa Halls Johnson, visit her website and her Facebook page.

Peace and thankfulness

~Tuesday Thoughts~

This is the fourth post in the series on Colossians 3 and 4. The first three are On Things Above, Put to Death Your Sins, and No Gentile or Jew . The first category in the NIV Bible for this passage is called "Living as Those Made Alive in Christ." Let us do so!

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15 (NIV)

Peace... It seems like such an elusive thing these days. And being thankful? Seriously? Right now?
So many things make life hard that it seems like there is nothing to be thankful for.

But with God's help, we can overflow with both peace and thankfulness. Perhaps when we do, the people around us will recognize that both of these things are God's gift to us. Not something we earn. Not something we could get by ourselves. But some of God's amazing gifts.

Counted Worthy by Leah E. Good

~Saturday Stories~

Typical Heather: "I clenched the Bible until my hands ached. These pages held the words of life, but how many would have to die to preserve them?"

Heather's dad just got arrested. The government had tracked the Bible to their house. Now alone, Heather struggles to know what God wants of her. Should she try to help her dad, and how can she when the government has the general population tricked? But with the underground Church and friends that never leave, Heather is about to learn about God's amazing power. And she might not be the only one.

Counted Worthy, though set in the future, reminds of the drastic reality of persecution many people face today. Their faith is illegal. A Bible, if found, could get them killed. In times like this, the people can only call out to the One who has delivered others before. Never sure of their present deliverance, they can know that their Savior has died for them and will be waiting for them on the other side of death.

Though a little slow at the beginning, the story picks up and causes one to turn pages later on. A story reminding of a difficult truth, Counted Worthy will help you value God's Word.

For more on Leah E. Good, visit her website, Facebook page, and Twitter account.

His energy

~Tuesday Thoughts~

"Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me." Colossians 1:28-29 (English Standard Version)

It's really not us being amazing and strong. It is God working through us. Praise be to God!

Telling others

~Friday for Friends~

Britt Nicole has an awesome song, "The Lost Get Found." Here are the lyrics. 

"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”" Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

Who can you tell about Christ today? Do you have a friend - or an enemy or someone you really are indifferent about- that needs to hear the good news of Christ's death and resurrection? 

God's Not Dead 2

~Monday Movies & Music~

All she did was answer a question. In a history class where they were discussing Gandhi and Martin Luther King Junior. Was it really all that bad to answer a question comparing their methods to what Jesus taught? Apparently, yes. Teacher Grace Wesley has gotten into so much trouble for that half a minute where she let herself quote God's Word in a public school. Now it'll take great courage, others' encouragement, and, most importantly, God's help to prove to the jury that her license does not need to be revoked and to the world that the Bible can be discussed in the classroom. 

God's Not Dead 2, the sequel to God's Not Dead, explores whether or not teachers - or anyone else, for that matter - can discuss God and Christianity openly. While the beginning was not overly interesting, the ending gripped my emotions. However, like a good friend of mine told me, it would be nice to see more nice and polite non-believers, instead of making most of them pretty vehement about their stance against Christianity. 

God's Not Dead 2 dives into a topic that is well in need of a discussion. What do you think? Should teachers be allowed to discuss God in public schools?

Believer

~Monday Movies & Music~

Capital Kings has a pretty cool song, "Believer." Here are the lyrics. 

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

How about you? Do you have any ideas about how you can be a light? 

Sharing...

~Friday for Friends~

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Do you have friends who do not know God's joy and peace yet? How can you try to share it with them? 

Sharing the joy

~Friday for Friends~

"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people."" Luke 2:10 (NIV)

"Joy for all the people" includes, well, all people. Who can you share this joy with?

What has God done in your life recently?

~Tuesday Thoughts~

So... Wanted to ask you guys. 

• What has God done in your life recently? 
• What joy have you felt? 
• Have you felt His peace? 
• Have you told others about Him? 
• How has He blessed you? 
• How has He reprimanded you? 
• Who has He used to help heal you? 
• What grief has He helped you through?
• What has He taught you? 

Tell the world

~Monday Movies & Music~

"Tell the World" is a really good song by Lecrae. Here are the lyrics.

We have been made new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Should we not share this amazing news?

^"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

Who can you share this awesome truth with? Could you do it today?

Sold out

~Monday Movies & Music~

"Sold Out" is a good song by Hawk Nelson. Here are the lyrics.

Everything we do should be done for God's glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). We are not our own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Let's live for Christ!

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21 (NIV)

How about you? How can you be different from the world and help the world in a way that portrays Christ?

Actually speaking

~Tuesday Thoughts~

  ^" I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
    among the throngs I will praise you."

Psalm 35:18 (NIV)

   Sometimes we're scared about telling others about Christ. We live our lives and perhaps try to do good works so that others "may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, NIV). And that is a good thing.

But sometimes we should do more. We should actually speak.

"Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." Luke 9:26 (NIV)

Who can you tell about God today?

Are we ashamed?

~Tuesday Thoughts~

"Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." Luke 9:26 (NIV)

"Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God."John 12:42-43 (NIV)

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." Romans 1:16 (NIV)

"So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God." 2 Timothy 1:8 (NIV)

Sometimes we are scared to say that we are Christians, that we follow Christ. We try to avoid the topic and we start talking about all sorts of things just to postpone – or avoid – the “and, um, well... I'm a Christian.”

I'm not saying everybody does that. And I'm not saying we do that all that time. But it can be easy to not speak about God and it can be hard to dive into a conversation that is fully centered on God and how awesome He is and the many great things He has done.

Let us pray God gives us the courage to speak to others about Him!!!

How about you? Are you sometimes scared to talk about God? When was a time you spoke about Him?