Never too many mistakes

~Monday Movies & Music~

Unspoken's song "Who You Are" (lyrics) is a gentle reminder that we can never mess up too much that God won't see us through. 

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

    never will I forsake you.”[a]" Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

How about you? Do you ever feel like you have made too many mistakes for God to love you?

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. 

Forgiven

~Monday Movies & Music~

Sanctus Real has a beautiful song - "Forgiven" - that reminds us of the forgiveness that God offers us. Here are the lyrics. 

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 (NIV)

His forgiveness overwhelms and cleanses us! Let us take this truth to heart. Let us confess and then live as forgiven. And let us tell others about this.

Have you been living in the reality of forgiveness?

The Cure

~Monday Movies & Music~

Unspoken has a beautiful song, "The Cure." Here are the lyrics. 

"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)

It is so grand, this truth that Jesus Christ is the Cure for our sin. Only He can save us from disaster; only He can love us as He does - enough to die for us.

Stop judging people already!

~Tuesday Thoughts~

Ever been told "stop judging people already!" or "he/she is big enough to make his/her own decisions" and "not everything that's right for you is right for everyone?" 

Eeeeer. Big, big sigh...  I want to address the first statement in this post. The whole "stop judging, what are you, better than everyone else?" statement. 

Many times when that is said, I'm not actually judging anyone. Sometimes I am, and I am seriously sorry for that. But sometimes I'm just pointing out that a certain lifestyle and/or decision is wrong. That the Bible says so. I don't believe in abortion because the Bible teaches that life starts in the womb. I will not support gay rights because the Bible claims homosexuality - as well as adultery - to be immoral. I don't cheat on tests because I believe I should not lie. I believe that Christianity is the only religion that is right, and that every other religion is wrong. 

I AM NOT saying everyone else is a horrible person, and I'm perfect. No way am I perfect. And I'm really really sorry for those times that I do judge people. Those times do happen, sadly. What I am saying, though, is that some acts and beliefs are wrong. Just... wrong. That's what the Bible says. 

But if I'm not saying all this in love, please tell me. 'Cause that's the way I should be doing it. 

I'd encourage y'all to read this post on criticism and how it should/should not be done. 

How about you? Have you ever been blamed for "judging" others? Have you ever accused someone of it? Have you ever judged others in the wrong way? What are your thoughts on the topic?

Saying no?

~Friday for Friends~

"When I first became a Christian, I was saying no to everything: No to drugs, parties, my old friends, everything. Pretty soon, I was a total loner. I felt like the weirdest creature on the face of the earth ... Then I figured it out. Hey, I have to start saying yes to something. I mean, no is a good place to start but being empty doesn't satisfy. So, I started saying yes to Jesus." -Todd, A Whisper and a Wish

It is a good idea to say no to things and people that constantly bring us down, inciting us to sin. (Although we are the ones technically responsible for each sin).

"If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell." Matthew 5:29-30 (ESV)

Yet Jesus Himself spent time with sinners, telling them of the amazing Good News. 

It's a delicate balance for us. Are our friends influencing us to sin or are we influencing them to learn more about God? Each relationship requires deep prayer and trust on God's guidance. But, whatever happens with our friendships, whether we say "yes" or "no" to each of them, we always need to say "yes" to God.

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Mark 1:35 (NIV)

How about you? Do you have friendships you are unsure if you should continue or not? Do you spend time with Christ, asking about those friendships or just talking and listening to our Savior?

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? 

Through Your eyes

~Monday Movies & Music~

Britt Nicole has a new and great song, "Through Your Eyes." Here are the lyrics.

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:1-7 (NIV)

God is so good!

How about you? With whom can you share this amazing truth? 

"God began a very good thing" and more quotes

~Saturday Stories~

"God began a very good thing when he made you. I know he's very proud of you." -Dr. Peter, Sophie's World

"It has occurred to me today that it's definitely God's will for me to remain a virgin until the day I marry (that is if I ever marry - and who knows?). And so, on this day (May 26) I am making a vow to God to totally abstain from having sex until my wedding day." - Caitlin, Becoming Me

"If we wallow too long in our sin, we’ll start believing that’s as good as it gets.” - Pastor Scott, Worth the Time

"It's very easy to feel hopeless when we are in something all by ourselves. When we invite other people in to help us, it spreads out the burden, and things don't seem as awful anymore." -Renee, The Masquerade

How about you? Do you believe that God began a good thing when He formed you? Have you decided whether or  not you will abstain from sex until marriage? Have you remembered that it is not sin we need to focus on, but God? Have you let others help you? 

Put to death your sins

~Tuesday Thoughts~

This is the second post in the series on Colossians 3 and 4. The first is On Things Above. The first category in the NIV Bible for this passage is called "Living as Those Made Alive in Christ." Let us do so!

"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[a] You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." Colossians 3:5-10 (NIV)

God calls us to give up the sins we like. Some of the ones listed above that I struggle with are lust, greed. anger, and filthy language. What about you? No matter which sins we have been entangled in before, God delivers us. We are being renewed. 

"No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

How about you? What sins are you entangled in? Have you asked God to help you with them? 

On our own vs by God's grace

~Saturday Stories~

On our own we are

Sinful

Burdened

Weak 

Dirty

Scorned

Alone

So messed up. 

By God's grace, we are

Forgiven - 1 John 1:9

Helped - Psalm 54:4

Nourished - Matthew 4:4

Cleansed - Isaiah 1:18

Loved - Romans 5:8

Wanted - Revelation 3:20

By such an amazing God

"You're so amazing, God" and more quotes

~Saturday Stories~

"You're so amazing, God! Thanks for caring about everything we're going through." -Mick, Grace Notes

"Now is always the right time for forgiveness." - Heather, So Over It

“And that’s how God sees us: dirty from sin, but worth the time spent standing on the porch watching for us to return. And He’ll wait until we’re ready to turn from our sin." - Pastor Scott, Worth the Time

"Thank you, God. I can see I've been a fool, and I'm really sorry. I'm not even totally sure what the next step is for me, but I pray that you will show me. I pray that I won't question you, and that I will obey. Thank you again for taking care of me. And once again I'm really, really sorry. Amen." -Caitlin, Becoming Me

How about you? Do you think God cares about what you are going through? Do you have somebody to forgive or somebody you should ask for forgiveness? Do you appreciate and thank God for waiting for you for so long? Have you cried out to God for direction?

"Trust God always" and more quotes

~Saturday Stories~

"Trust God always. He’s in control, and His plans are perfect. Stay close to Him in prayer, for that relationship will be your best protection in any circumstance" - Spencer's mom, The New Recruit

"Nobody really knows why bad, hard things happen to us. Sometimes it’s because we make bad choices. But God forgives us and helps us through. Sometimes it’s because other people make bad choices. God forgives them and helps us through. Sometimes it doesn’t make any sense at all. God comforts us and, again, helps us through." - Lydia, You Can't Sit With Us

“If... you know you have made decisions that make you less than pure, take comfort. Realizing that fact is one of the most important moments in your life. Because when you see sin for what it does and how it harms you and the people around you, you have the opportunity to ask God to step in and make you pure again." - Pastor Bill, Like Moonlight at Low Tide

"Remember that giving is something you get to do, not something you've got to do." - I Like Giving

How about you? Which quote do you like best? Which speaks to you?

Chains break

~Monday Movies & Music~

"Chains Break" is a song  by Austin Adamec. Here are the lyrics. 

"But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." Romans 6:17-18(NIV)

How amazing it is that we are now no longer slaves to sin!!!

How about you? What is something you can praise God for today?

He looks at the heart

~Tuesday Thoughts~

"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”" 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

Isn’t it amazing that God doesn’t judge us on our appearances? He doesn’t ignore us because we aren’t pretty enough or are too sloppy or can't concentrate on one thing for more than a minute?

He looks deeper – right into the heart. Of course at first He sees a big mess. But when He cleanses our hearts they become more beautiful than we can imagine. All because of grace and love.

"“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord.“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;though they are red as crimson,they shall be like wool."" Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)

Isn't that cool?