Right where we are

~Tuesday Thoughts~

"“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”" John 4:21-24 (NIV)

This is part of Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman. How wonderful that story is! And how amazing is it that we don't have to go somewhere to worship our Father, but can do that in spirit, right where we are! 

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:6 (NIV)

How about you? Have you ever felt that you need to be in church to pray? Where do you feel closest to God?  

Without You

~Monday Movies & Music~

Ashes Remain has a beautiful song, "Without You." Here are the lyrics. 

"'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)

We are nothing without Christ. He is our everything. 

The Thieves of Tyburn Square by Dave and Neta Jackson

~Saturday Stories~

Typical Betsey: "Hot tears sprang to Betsey's eyes. Why were the people so mean? Why was the judge sending her mother away? Would she ever see her again? And what were she and Loren going to do now?"

Betsey's mom has been sent away to Botany Bay, "the gateway to a living hell," for stealing. Now Betsey and Loren, her older brother, have to survive by themselves. They are sent to one of London's workhouses, where they are extremely overworked. But then they are caught for stealing, and the real struggle begins. Is there no one at all who will look on them with kindness and help them?

The Thieves of Tyburn Square is part of the Trailblazer series. This book doesn’t really have God at the center of everything, but it does show how a life can change through contact with Christians. It introduces the historical Quaker Elizabeth Fry and makes history interesting.

For more on Dave and Neta Jackson visit their website and Facebook page.

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? 

Boiling emotions, confused thoughts

~Tuesday Thoughts~

Sometimes life is extremely hard. We try to make it livable, but it doesn't seem to work. We pretend that everything's okay. We smile and loftily avoid the "how are you doing?" question. Or we give white lies. We're doing okay, aren't we? For sure no one needs to know how broken and confused we are. How many times we have cried in the safety of our bedroom. Except, is it even safe, if that's when the suicidal thoughts come in? If that's when we tell ourselves we're worthless? Where should our worth come from anyway? And why does it seem that everything that used to define us is suddenly lost? Who are we when everybody who used to care has moved on? Are we supposed to move on after having feelings for someone who will probably never have feelings for us? What are we supposed to do with the anger that keeps arising when we don't get what we've been promised? Why do we promise way more than we can do? What are we supposed to do when we don't measure up to our own standards?  

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so far from saving me,
    so far from my cries of anguish?
  My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
    by night, but I find no rest.[b]
  Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
    you are the one Israel praises.[c]
  In you our ancestors put their trust;
    they trusted and you delivered them.
  To you they cried out and were saved;
    in you they trusted and were not put to shame. Psalm 22:1-5 (NIV)

No matter how confusing, annoying, harsh, and depressing life can get, we can always lean on God. This might seem like an overused statement, but God is really always there. He does not have to care for us. He wants to. He has never left His children before; the world is full of stories of His amazing love and grace. There is absolutely no one who will always have our back except Him. His unfailing mercy won't fail on us. We can cry out to Him and know that He hears our cry - or our yell. He will answer. Perhaps not when and how we want Him to, but He will answer. Amen? Amen!

This is living

~Monday Movies & Music~

Hillsong Young and Free has a pretty great song featuring Lecrae: "This is Living." Here are the lyrics.

"'... the joy of the Lord is your strength.'”  Nehemiah 8:10b (NIV)

"'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)

We can live life to a fuller extent than we ever dreamed of - through God. What a wonderful truth!  

"I might need some help" and more quotes

~Saturday Stories~

 "Oh, God, help me to figure this all out. And help me to be true to you. I love you, God. I want to choose you above all else. But I might need some help. Amen." - Caitlin, Becoming Me

"I don't think I really started to heal until I forced myself to talk about it, to share the details. I hate to think of what might have happened, of the stunted person I might have become, if I hadn't opened up." - Amy, So Over It

"I'm yours now, God. I guess I always have been, haven't I?"- Grey, Jupiter Winds

"God, help me ... Please, please, help me, dear God. I know that something is wrong with me, and it's probably all my fault for the way I've been treating my body. I've been stupid, God. I'm sorry. Please, help me, God. I want to change. I'll do my best. I don't want to die." - Emily, Faded Denim

How about you? Have you asked God for help in choosing Him over everything else? Have you shared with someone about a hard time in your life? Have you treated your body as you should? Are you ready to say that you are God's?