Iron sharpens iron

~Friday for Friends~

" As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)

Who can you help by being kind but honest about something in their life? Whose advice can you listen to? 

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.

Mended

~Monday Movies and Music~

Matthew West has a great song, "Mended." Here are the lyrics.

"On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”" Mark 2:17 (NIV)

"For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

    so great is his love for those who fear him;

  as far as the east is from the west,

    so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

Psalm 103:11-12 (NIV)

How about you? Have you ever felt that you were beyond redemption, healing, and love? 

"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? 

Spur one another on

~Friday for Friends~ 

"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)

Whom can you spur on? Whom can you meet? Whom can you encourage? 

Is truth relative?

~Tuesday Thoughts~

In this world we’re constantly told that truth is relative. “It depends on what circumstance you are in,” the world whispers into our ear.

But truth is NOT relative. And it is found in the Word of God.  We know that “all Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16, NIV) and that God does not lie.

"in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time," Titus 1:2 (NIV, emphasis mine)

It is not bad to find more of God’s truths in nature or society. However, if something contradicts Scripture we know what is correct: God’s Word.

To Save a Life

~Monday Movies & Music~

I have had the pleasure of having my movie review also posted on the online magazine Pursue.

Maybe if Jake was a better friend, Roger wouldn't have killed himself. Jake Taylor's near-perfect life is shocked by the suicide of his childhood best friend. A million thoughts swirling in his head, Jake doesn't feel that being the basketball star with the beautiful girlfriend is as fulfilling anymore. What if he gave Christianity a chance? What if he made his life about something more than just himself?

To Save A Life (trailer) has an amazing script and incredible acting. It deals with topics many Christian movies shy away from: suicide, sex, cutting, and family pressure. It discusses them in an amazingly Christian way that portrays both the reality of these things and the reality of the God who helps one overcome it all.

"At some point you got to ask yourself, 'What do you want your life to be about?'" -To Save a Life

I do not recommend this movie for anyone under 15. But if you're older, this movie can you remind you of truths you'd like to forget and inspire you to do something about them.