"God will use you"

~Saturday Stories~ 

"God looks at our hearts, Jacie. At our intentions. God will use you if you want. Just not always in the way you expect." - Jacie's mother, Stuck in the Sky

"Just because you take the opportunity Jesus gives you doesn't mean everybody does. You can't decide for another person. You can only give them the chance." - Dr. Peter, Sophie's World

"God chooses to use us, Jake, but really, He can do it all on His own." -Angel Eyes

How about you? Has God used you in ways you never expected? Have you told others about Jesus? Have you marveled about God's amazing blessing to us to be part of His plan? 

Say "yes" to Jesus

~Friday for Friends~

"... Hey, start saying yes to Jesus. He's the best friend you'll ever have." -Todd, A Whisper and a Wish

How about you? Do you spend time with Jesus? 

Do not be anxious

~Tuesday Thoughts~

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

What have you been anxious about that you can give to God?

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!

The hurt feelings that I muffle

~Saturday Stories~

The blue I see in the sky, Lord,
They say I have that in my eyes
But when I look into them, Lord,
I just see the pain and the hurt

The hurt feelings that I muffle
The broken stories I shuffle
Around so nobody will hear them
So nobody will see me torn

The "A"s in my GPA, Lord,
They say reflect my hard work
But when I look at my resume, Lord,
I just see useless unappreciated work

The hurt feelings that I muffle
The broken stories that I shuffle
Around so nobody will hear them
So nobody will see me torn

The time on that clock, Lord,
Says I run fast and can do much
But when I see that time, Lord,
I see the time that I waste beating myself up

The hurt feelings that I muffle
The broken stories that I shuffle
Around so nobody will hear them
So nobody will see me torn

Let me open up, Lord,
You know how hard it is
Where I am, Lord,
And everyone seems to have
Bigger problems than me, Lord,
So I shut my mouth up
And don't speak out loud, Lord

Let me open up, Lord,
You didn't make this path for me
To travel all alone, Lord,
You said You'd never leave me,
So just let me open up and be healed, Lord
There are people who would listen
But I bottle myself up, Lord
I say my problems don't matter
While I fail at solving them all, Lord

Lord, just let me open up
Heal me by Your grace
Let me taste Your love
Let me feel Your peace
I can't solve my problems,
I'm the epitome of weak
But You have my hand
And You can heal

You can heal

Life in community and life alone

~Friday for Friends~

A community group I go to is reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together. The second and third chapters discuss life in community and life alone in the Christian life. It's interesting how Bonhoeffer stresses that both have value and that one without the other is just wrong.

"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe[a] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)

 "Blessed is the man[a]

    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

  but his delight is in the law[b] of the Lord,

    and on his law he meditates day and night." Psalm 1:1-2 (ESV)

Do you spend time with fellow believers? Do you spend time alone with God?

Belief is a choice

~Tuesday Thoughts~

"Belief is always a choice. And it's a choice no one else can make for you." -Jake in Shannon Dittemore's Angel Eyes

"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”" Joshua 24:15 (ESV)

Have you chosen to follow God?