Take the time to.... TALK WITH SOMEONE

~Friday for Friends~

This is the third post in the Take the Time series. The first is Take the Time to Listen and the second Take the Time to Encourage.

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." Colossians 4:5 (NIV)

This world has many, many lonely people. Really, just look around. So many sad eyes, distant looks, faces peering into a phone to hide the fact that loneliness is creeping into the heart.

Will we not show the world that we care? That there’s a Someone who cares even more?

Who can you talk to today and show that there is, in fact, Someone who loves them? God bless you when you do!   

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? 

Courageous

~Monday Movies & Music~

Courageous is an awesome Christian movie my family has watched numerous times. 

Adam Mitchell is a cop, trying to balance his job and his family. And then his daughter dies. Adam searches for answers in the Bible, trying to learn what God wants of him as a father. He and his friends commit, before God, to be leaders of their family. But the road is anything but easy...

Courageous is a beautiful movie that blends faith with action and tears with laughter. One minute you can be dying from laughter and then in the next tears will creep into your eyes. The truths about God and the Bible seem to be everywhere. 

One great scene from the movie is when Nathan, Adam's friend, shares the gospel. The way he shares it is stark, clear, and completely ruins the "good deeds vs. bad deeds" theory. 

How about you? What's a great Christian movie you have seen?

Escape from the Slave Traders by Dave and Neta Jackson

~Saturday Stories~

"Wikatani looked as if he was fighting for his life! One man held him securely from behind while another man tried to bind the boy’s feet with cords. Frightened, Chuma barely held back a scream. What should he do? Should he rush to the attackers and try to free his friend or hold back until he figured out what was happening? Just then Wikatani must have bitten the hand of the man who held him because the man yelped, and Wikatani began yelling again: “Chuma! Chuma! Run for help!” Quickly the man clamped his hand back over Wikatani’s mouth and looked at Chuma."

Two young boys, Wikatani and Chuma, have been captured by slave traders. Where are they being taken? Will they survive? They do not have the answers to those questions. Their only hope is David Livingstone, a missionary and a man against slavery. But will he take the time and effort to save two frightened boys?

Genre: adventure. Age: for those 12 and under. Issues dealt with: slavery, missionaries.

Escape from the Slave Traders 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 figure David Livingstone making history interesting.

‘Assuredly, I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Mathew  25:40b

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

Take the time to… ENCOURAGE

~Friday for Friends~ 

This is the second in the “Take the Time" series. The first is “Take the time to Listen."

You know that feeling when everything seems to be going incredibly awful? When you're feeling worthless? Unnoticed? Unloved? And then someone comes up and- almost out of the blue- says, "Hey, I really like how you do that" or "You're really talented" or "I missed you last weekend, how are you?" And then you stand there and think Wow. Someone does care.

We can do that to others. We can encourage them and let them know that we care, that God cares.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV) says, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 

And Hebrews says, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

Take the time to encourage someone today. You just might be encouraged also. 

Proverbs 31 and the 21st century woman

~Tuesday Thoughts~

The 21st century respected woman, as portrayed in media, is a beautiful and self-sufficient one. She is always busy and on the go. She does not depend much on her husband; her financial income and status would be almost as good without him. The virtuous woman loves her children, but doesn’t have much time for them. She juggles work, child-caring, and household errands. Her growing “self-sufficiency” is also portrayed by her attitude to God: “I can do as well without Him”.

The Bible’s vision of a virtuous woman is found in Proverbs 31: 10-31. She works (vv. 13-19, 24) and cares for her family (v. 21-22, 27). However, she is not “self-sufficient.” She fears the Lord (v.30) and brings good to her husband (v. 11-12, 23). She also is “clothed with strength and dignity” (v.25), speaks wisdom (v.26), and helps the poor (v. 20). She is not necessarily beautiful (v.30).  This wife is “worth far more than rubies” (v.10) and should be praised (v.28-31).

From a secular viewpoint, many would say that the 21st century woman is much like the Bible’s virtuous one, arguing that they both work and are busy. However, the other attributes portrayed in the Bible do not match the contemporary “I'm enough by myself” attitude.

How about you? What are your thoughts on the topic?

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?