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?  

"It was Your picture"

~Saturday Stories

“I taught you to look at the special gifts and qualities God gave you. ... Actually, we shouldn’t call it self-confidence. We ought to call it God-confidence.” - Kathleen, Here's Lily

"It's not about being good or living a good life. It's about believing that God is God, that he's good and he loves us, and that we need his forgiveness. That's it!" -Gloria, The Fight

"I couldn’t see the whole picture. You did, though. It was Your picture." -Kim, Found in Translation

How about you? Have you remembered that you are in need of God's forgiveness and that He loves you? Have you placed your confidence in God? Have you trusted Him with His picture? 

Can't Live Without

~Monday Movies & Music~

Hollyn has an amazing song out: "Can't Live Without." Here are the lyrics. 

Her new album is releasing February 10th, and I'm so excited for it! Here's the trailer for the album, "One Way Conversations". 

"“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."" John 15:5 (NIV). Read the full chapter here. 

It's so crazy. Really, it's so crazy to believe that we can do NOTHING OF VALUE without our Savior. It's so easy to forget that by ourselves, we cannot bear any fruit whatsoever. But with Christ - oh, the wonders of what can happen when we remain in Christ! 

Everyone is busy

~Friday for Friends~

We're having finals next week. It's really easy to start comparing my workload with someone else's and start complaining. However, one of my friends told our community group this week, "Everyone is busy. It might not look it, but everyone is busy this week. We should remember that." And we should strive to remember that, as we struggle, others are probably also struggling. 

That is not to say that we cannot unload ourselves on our friends and let them help us in our struggles. However, we should also be ready to do that for others. 

"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

"I can't be who God wants me to be"

~Saturday Stories~

"Well, you know a tree is an apple tree when there are apples on the tree, right? It's the same idea. ... When somebody really loves God and wants to follow Him, there's evidence. Things you see in their life that show you that's what's in their hearts. None of us will be perfect, but you will see true Christians trying to follow God." -Beka's dad, The Masquerade

"I can't do it. I can't be who God wants me to be."

"Sometimes it seems all wrong at the time. And sometimes it is wrong. I personally am so grateful that God takes us from where we are. As long as we put our hand in His and let Him lead us, He will." -Jacie and her mother, Stuck in the Sky

"...I'm the only one who can fix my life now - and keep it fixed. Well, with the help of God, that is. I'm fully aware that I can't do this alone. Thank God I don't have to!" - Emily, Faded Denim

How about you? Is there evidence that you follow God? Do you let Him lead you? Are you grateful that we can't and are not expected to be perfect? 

God bless y'all! 

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!

"It's all right to cry" and more quotes

~Saturday Stories~

"You girls need to ease up on yourselves. Just enjoy life for what it is and be thankful that God gave you all that he did. Things could be worse." -Mr. Clark, Faded Denim

"It's all right to cry." - Dr. Peter, Sophie's World

"I just hope I have the strength to do what's right. Hopefully, I'll actually know what's right when the time comes. And I'll keep praying that God will show me. I'm sure that he will." -Caitlin, Becoming Me

"It has always seemed to me that we who consider ourselves God's servants must be prepared to do part of God's work. And the Bible tells us to bear one another's burdens." -Elizabeth Fry, The Thieves of Tyburn Square

How about you? Are you being too hard on yourself? Do you allow yourself to cry?  Have you had a time when you were unsure about a choice? Are you prepared to do God's work?

Be merciful

~Friday for Friends~

"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 children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:35-36 (NIV)

Who can you love today? To whom can you do good? To whom can you lend? To whom can you be kind and merciful today?

Do nothing out of selfish ambition

~Friday for Friends~

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)

Hard couple of verses. It is so easy to focus only on ourselves, to care only about our own successes and failures. But we are supposed to put God first and others second, no matter how overused that phrase might sound. We are to imitate what Christ has already done (Philippians 2:5-11). 

So what can you do today for others? 

Do to others

~Friday for Friends~

"'Do to others as you would have them do to you.'" Luke 6:31(NIV)

What if we actually tried to do this? What if we really stopped to think about what we were about to do and what effect it would have on others? What if we remembered what Christ did for us and tried to reflect Him in this world?

 ........................................

What if we obeyed Luke 6:31?  

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? 

Do good

~Friday for Friends~

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV)

Who can you do good to today? 

Secretly or not?

~Tuesday Thoughts~

"“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."" Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

"“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

  “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."" Matthew 6:1-4 (NIV)

These two passages from consecutive chapters look like they're contradicting each other. How are people supposed to see our light if we do it all in secret? I am not entirely sure myself about how this is supposed to work. 

But we can do good without getting the trumpets out. We can be kind to others and let them see something different in us. 

So, how about trying that? 

"God knew how I'd ached" and more quotes

~Saturday Stories~

"God knew how I'd ached." - Skylar, So Over It

“Jesus told his disciples in the book of John that people would know we are His by our love for each other. Not how we look or how much we do for His Kingdom, but by our love. It all comes down to love.” -Scott, Worth the Time

"Seriously, if God hadn't intervened in my life, well, I don't know where I'd be right now. Maybe I'd be dead like Lisa." - Andrea, Harsh Pink

"You're going to make enemies, you two."

"It's about time." .... "I never thought I was going to get any enemies here." ... "I figure if nobody hates me, I'm being too wishy-washy."  -Mrs. Abbey & Wyatt, "B" is for Bad at Getting into Harvard

How about you? Have you ached? Have you shown Christ's love or noticed it in others? What has God saved you from? Have you made enemies while standing for what is right? 

Only a number of days

~Saturday Stories~

There are only a number of days

That we will live on Earth. 

There are only a numvber of days 

That we will jump and play in, 

Work and laugh and dance in, 

Sing and talk and argue in, 

Hope and thump and zip in, 

Dream and love and be happy in. 

So do not waste these days 

On doing something boring. 

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10 (NIV)

How can you live today to make a difference? 

An impossible ideal?

~Tuesday Thoughts~

            “When we think we have it all figured out, that’s when we stop considering how we can be better.” Author Stephanie Morrill’s words ring true. Room for improvement always exists, especially in areas of faith, love, and good works.

`           However axiomatic these sound, love and good works mean a lot when thought about through the lenses of Christian faith. The world, if it tries at all, grasps at these two without giving the last a second glance. When so inclined, the world strives to love others and perform numerous good works. However, without faith these prove pointless. Works do not save men (Ephesians 2:8-9); they provide no more worth than filthy rags if done without God (Isaiah 64:6). Yet after becoming a Christian, one acquires the privilege of showing the world around him his faith by these two characteristics and many more. In the end one will never measure up to the perfect example of Christ. However, the importance of pondering His actions and trusting Him to work in us (Philippians 1:6) cannot be underestimated.

            Few Christians can boast of a faith that permeates their lives every day. Usually it serves as a side dish. Although on the plate, it serves neither as the main course nor as the much desired sweet. Waking up, most glance at their phones, not their Bibles. However, seeing it as an obligation, they will once in a while take the time to dust off their Bibles, missing the enjoyment and nourishment the Scriptures can provide. When problems come, most turn to other sources: doctors, counselors, self-help strategies that promise much but accomplish little. Often the idea of coming to God in prayer does not enter one’s mind until everything else has proved useless. Even going about their normal days, many entertain an agenda and try not to get “distracted.” They rarely go beyond others’ masks or dig deeper to see what others would want or need.

Jesus Christ has exemplified all these aspects of faith – reading Scripture, praying, reaching out – in the best way possible. Christ constantly quoted the Scriptures (for example, Matthew 22:41-46), showing the importance they held for Him. From resisting temptation (Matthew 4:1-11) to explaining prophecies (Luke 24:25-27), Scripture contained an answer, an application. Jesus, although God himself, constantly came to His Father in prayer. He gave thanks for the fish and loaves (Matthew 14:19) and prayed over His disciples and all believers (John 17:6-26). He rose early in the mornings specifically to pray (Mark 1:35). And even in the darkest, most painful hours He called out to God from the cross (Matthew 27:46). Also, for Christ, good works meant more than a hobby or extracurricular activity performed every once in a while. Executing God’s work nourished Him (John 4:34). Speaking to the Samaritan woman (John 4:1-26) and washing His disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17), He opened up an entirely new perspective of servitude.

            Faith portrays itself in love. One cannot love if he does not know God, and if one knows God he cannot help but love (1 John 4:7-8). Unlike what this world proclaims every day, love does not come and go away. Love is an action (1 John 3:18) and incorporates selflessness (1 Corinthians 13:5). With its constant advertisement of comfortable living, humanity encourages selfishness. It loudly declares the idea that if hardships arise one can give up on his loved one. How many divorces have been registered for the simple reason that it “got too hard”? The world puts so much into the feeling of love, it fails to consider the action of love. It applauds the first kiss much more than the first sacrifice of one’s plans for a friend or partner. 

            Christ, however, demonstrates the perfect example of love. The living God, He did not have to come into this world. Yet He came (John 6:38). He did not have to heal and teach; He does not have to be with Christians today. Yet He did (Matthew 12:15, Mark 1:21-22), and He is (Matthew 28:20). Dying for us and then rising (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), Jesus executed more action for worthless sinners than anyone on Earth can ever expect to accomplish. With an example so majestic no doubt can exist about His love and His ability to teach this love to His followers. 

            Another aspect of Christ’s life, His good works, often merit an in-depth discussion. Many people will hear of improvement and instantaneously think of “good works.” However, faith and God’s mercy always overpower whatever good works could offer. Works do not save (Ephesians 2:8-9), but can demonstrate one’s faith (James 2:18) and the transformation made by love. Over and over again the Bible tells us to remember the poor (Galatians 2:10), to encourage each other (1 Thessalonians 5:11), and to proclaim the Good News (Matthew 28:19-20). Yet today few people continually reach out to the poor or put away time in their schedules to encourage one another. Few go about a typical day searching for someone to share the Gospel with or for an opportunity to fight for justice.

Jesus, on the other hand, constantly served. He healed the sick (Matthew 12:15), encouraged His disciples (John 14:16-21), and proclaimed the nearness of His kingdom (Matthew 4:17). He died for this world (Romans 4:25)! Although He could have easily passed on all the hardships involved with coming to Earth, He did not. Everyone can greatly benefit from imitating His example of serving.

            Where can one get the strength to put faith first, to love others, and to help them even when that means self-sacrifice? God calls Christians to imitate Him (Ephesians 5:1), and He will not leave His disciples (Matthew 28:20) helplessly wondering how to accomplish that. One can do anything through Him (Philippians 4:13), including the improvement of his faith, love, and good works. God’s Holy Word promises in Philippians 1:6 (NIV), “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.”     

Step by step

~Monday Movies & Music~

"Step by Step" is a song by Rich Mullings. Here are the lyrics.

Christianity isn't just one leap (with God's help) from unbelieving to being perfect. It's also about doing, not just listening, about picking up our crosses and following. Through God we can do anything, and He can lead us day by day, step by step.

"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." Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

Deciding factor

~Tuesday Thoughts~

It doesn't seem fair sometimes that teachers can take one assignment- the test - and base your whole grade on that. What about that whole other time? Didn't all your homework matter?

It is somewhat similar in our lives. We can do a thousand good things, but if we don't know God it doesn't matter. If we die before we know Him, there's only one place to go, no matter how "good" we were. Maybe you think that's unfair. That all our good deeds should count towards something. And I'm not saying not to do anything good anymore. I'm saying that if He's not our God and we're not His child, it's not going to save us. Only one thing can.

There is only one way to get to heaven and to be with God. That's His Son. Only God can save us. Only Christ's death and cleanse away our sins.

"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 (NIV)

This doesn't mean that we shouldn't do good things. We should. And we're even promised rewards.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

But that reward is something so small compared to actually being with God forever and ever. And we get that by mercy and grace.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9(NIV)

In the end, only one thing decides if we'll spend eternity with the Creator or not.

Yes, it isn't fair. It is mercy. 

Doing good

~Friday for Friends~

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6:9-10(NIV)

"Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can." John Wesley (disputed)

Good works do not save; we are saved by grace. However, when we know Christ and are filled with His love it should be natural for us to love and help others. Sometimes it will be hard; sometimes it will seem totally crazy. But it's worth it.

How about you? How can you share God's love today?