Philippians 2:12-16 (New Living Translation)
Shine Brightly for Christ
12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
What would the world be like if we all adopted verse 14 as our motto. What if we actually lived a life without complaining and arguing? How would life really look?
I am an over critical person. I criticize everything and everyone. Nothing escapes my critical eye! (What are blogs for if you can't be honest right). I acknowledge my criticalness to the point where one time I actually went on a criticism fast for several days. During that time I was forced to see the world differently. No more could i point fingers at a situation or at a person without first pointing the fingers at myself. For a few couple of days I think I experienced what this scripture is talking about.
Each day we are given 24 hours to live life to the fullest and not in vain. For 24 hours we are given opportunities to serve others, to be living examples of what it means to live clean lives, and to be the hands and feet of Christ to others. In a given day I might spend a half an hour truly living a clean life and the 23 and a half other hours are spend complaining about how others need to clean up their lives. What kind of light am I shining?
I am encouraged by this scripture to let every hour count! I am encouraged to live with out fear and with happiness. Today I am going to be open for opportunities to shine the light of Christ to others. The thought of living a life in vain just makes me feel sick to my stomach. The thought of living a useless life is enough to encourage me to find areas to be used by Christ.
Today I will be intentional about living out verse 14 to the fullest.... and take advantage of each hour I am given to reflect his love.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
divided loyalty James 1:5-8
James 1:5-8 (New Living Translation)
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
Who would ever say "I am a disloyal person"? Most people, including myself, would like to say that loyalty is one of their best traits. I pride myself on being loyal. I have worked at a total of four different places my whole life, I have had the same friends for a very long time. I have even remained loyal to the type of toilet paper I use.
This scripture really made me start thinking about loyalty. When it comes to faith, I have divided loyalty.
I love that this scripture all starts with wisdom. I rarely take the time to even ask God for wisdom and when I do, I often don't stick around for the answer. I let God into my wisdom instead of asking for Gods wisdom.
This world has a lot to offer. If the world was one terrible mess, it would be easier not to fall into its trap. This world is full of "wisdom" and answers. We can google anything. We can text, email, and call our friends and family in a moments notice. The world does not shy away from providing wisdom. The true answers are found in our loyalty. This scripture challenges us to not only ask for Gods wisdom, but wholeheartedly stay focused on God.
Loyalty in God provides stability in a very unstable world. Loyalty requires endurance,patience,focus, and faith.
I pray that I stop and pay attention to what God has in store for me and my life.
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
Who would ever say "I am a disloyal person"? Most people, including myself, would like to say that loyalty is one of their best traits. I pride myself on being loyal. I have worked at a total of four different places my whole life, I have had the same friends for a very long time. I have even remained loyal to the type of toilet paper I use.
This scripture really made me start thinking about loyalty. When it comes to faith, I have divided loyalty.
I love that this scripture all starts with wisdom. I rarely take the time to even ask God for wisdom and when I do, I often don't stick around for the answer. I let God into my wisdom instead of asking for Gods wisdom.
This world has a lot to offer. If the world was one terrible mess, it would be easier not to fall into its trap. This world is full of "wisdom" and answers. We can google anything. We can text, email, and call our friends and family in a moments notice. The world does not shy away from providing wisdom. The true answers are found in our loyalty. This scripture challenges us to not only ask for Gods wisdom, but wholeheartedly stay focused on God.
Loyalty in God provides stability in a very unstable world. Loyalty requires endurance,patience,focus, and faith.
I pray that I stop and pay attention to what God has in store for me and my life.
The process of prayer Colossians 1:11-12
Colossians 1:11-12 (New Living Translation)
11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.
I was asked to write a prayer for a youth prayer guide and the thought of sitting down to write a prayer is just a bit overwhelming. Why is that? How can I sit down for 8 days (very proud of myself btw) and write a blog about scripture... but I have a hard time writing a prayer that will bring direction and guidance to teenagers.
Sometimes I wish I prayed like the Bible people prayed. It seems like their prayers had it all together. Paul wrote amazing letters describing the prayers he was praying for others. I love the fact that Paul didn't really pray for quick solutions. Instead Paul prayed about the process that people had to go through during their times of trouble. He prayed for patience, endurance, and joy.
When my friends, family, or youth are going through something rarely do I pray for them to have endurance and patience. I cut to the chase with God and I ask God to remove the obstacles in their way. I pray for instant comfort and relief instead of joy in the process of healing.
Maybe Paul was onto something. Maybe the process is the most important part of prayer. I am a fixer. If i see somebody hurt I want to fix them immediately. But sometimes a band aid prayer is not what is needed. Maybe instead of asking God to remove pain, I can ask God to prepare my loved one for the pain that they will have to endure. Instead of asking God to wave the magic wand, maybe I need to ask God to bring patience to my youth who are facing adversity. Instead of yelling at God for all of the wrong in the world, maybe I need to ask him to show me joy in all situations.
I believe with all of my heart that God can heal instantly. I believe that God has the ability to wave a wand and remove pain. But I also believe that God is not a god of quick fixes. Sometimes we need to feel pain so we understand each others pain. Sometimes we need to endure situations to experience the fullness of the blessing God has waiting for all of us.
Today I want to pray for all of you to be "strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light."
I am going to print out this scripture and pray it the rest of the week as I pray for others.... and I want to challenge all of you to do the same.
11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.
I was asked to write a prayer for a youth prayer guide and the thought of sitting down to write a prayer is just a bit overwhelming. Why is that? How can I sit down for 8 days (very proud of myself btw) and write a blog about scripture... but I have a hard time writing a prayer that will bring direction and guidance to teenagers.
Sometimes I wish I prayed like the Bible people prayed. It seems like their prayers had it all together. Paul wrote amazing letters describing the prayers he was praying for others. I love the fact that Paul didn't really pray for quick solutions. Instead Paul prayed about the process that people had to go through during their times of trouble. He prayed for patience, endurance, and joy.
When my friends, family, or youth are going through something rarely do I pray for them to have endurance and patience. I cut to the chase with God and I ask God to remove the obstacles in their way. I pray for instant comfort and relief instead of joy in the process of healing.
Maybe Paul was onto something. Maybe the process is the most important part of prayer. I am a fixer. If i see somebody hurt I want to fix them immediately. But sometimes a band aid prayer is not what is needed. Maybe instead of asking God to remove pain, I can ask God to prepare my loved one for the pain that they will have to endure. Instead of asking God to wave the magic wand, maybe I need to ask God to bring patience to my youth who are facing adversity. Instead of yelling at God for all of the wrong in the world, maybe I need to ask him to show me joy in all situations.
I believe with all of my heart that God can heal instantly. I believe that God has the ability to wave a wand and remove pain. But I also believe that God is not a god of quick fixes. Sometimes we need to feel pain so we understand each others pain. Sometimes we need to endure situations to experience the fullness of the blessing God has waiting for all of us.
Today I want to pray for all of you to be "strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light."
I am going to print out this scripture and pray it the rest of the week as I pray for others.... and I want to challenge all of you to do the same.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Pick your battles..... and make the right choice Proverbs 17:14
Proverbs 17:14 (New Living Translation)
14 Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate,
so stop before a dispute breaks out.
"Pick your battles".......... I had a conversation with somebody a couple weeks ago and this phrase was said toward the end of our conversation and has stuck with me ever since.
What does it mean to pick your battles? What battles are worth picking? What is my battle line?
I have always had a hard time figuring out what is worth battling and what I should let go. At one point in my life I always took one for the team. I have never really been the fighting type. As I have grown more confident in who I am and what I believe in.... I have had the opportunity to stand up for myself and my beliefs. When I start to disagree with somebody the battle line gets blurred and I have a hard time figuring out what I am disagreeing about.
I love the serenity prayer:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
--Reinhold Niebuhr
I think picking my battles means that I need to accept the things I cannot change in a situation and have the courage to change the things I can change. I just wish I slowed down enough to sift through the quarrel or stressful situation to figure out when to apply serenity or courage. When we don't slow down and see where we fit into a situation, we open up floodgates and more often than not, say things that we shouldn't say or do things we shouldn't do.
My actions and words can provide opportunities for anger, frustration, and hurt... and I have the responsibility to control my words and actions before the floodgates open. Stopping disputes before they even happen means taking responsibility for your side of the street and realizing that the other person or persons may never clean up their side of the street. We need the serenity to know that when the other side of the street is dirty, we don't need to focus on that dirt. We need to focus on the future.
God can do amazing things in the midst of stress and conflict. Picking my battles means picking the Christ-like behavior and not the worldly solutions to conflict. Picking my battles means seeing the whole street and not just the "other" side.
God builds up walls for a reason. These walls are set in place for us to respect and love one another as Jesus did. When we start chipping away at these intentional walls........ the flood of anger, frustration, judgement, and fear come pouring out... and things are done and said that we can never take back.
14 Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate,
so stop before a dispute breaks out.
"Pick your battles".......... I had a conversation with somebody a couple weeks ago and this phrase was said toward the end of our conversation and has stuck with me ever since.
What does it mean to pick your battles? What battles are worth picking? What is my battle line?
I have always had a hard time figuring out what is worth battling and what I should let go. At one point in my life I always took one for the team. I have never really been the fighting type. As I have grown more confident in who I am and what I believe in.... I have had the opportunity to stand up for myself and my beliefs. When I start to disagree with somebody the battle line gets blurred and I have a hard time figuring out what I am disagreeing about.
I love the serenity prayer:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
--Reinhold Niebuhr
I think picking my battles means that I need to accept the things I cannot change in a situation and have the courage to change the things I can change. I just wish I slowed down enough to sift through the quarrel or stressful situation to figure out when to apply serenity or courage. When we don't slow down and see where we fit into a situation, we open up floodgates and more often than not, say things that we shouldn't say or do things we shouldn't do.
My actions and words can provide opportunities for anger, frustration, and hurt... and I have the responsibility to control my words and actions before the floodgates open. Stopping disputes before they even happen means taking responsibility for your side of the street and realizing that the other person or persons may never clean up their side of the street. We need the serenity to know that when the other side of the street is dirty, we don't need to focus on that dirt. We need to focus on the future.
God can do amazing things in the midst of stress and conflict. Picking my battles means picking the Christ-like behavior and not the worldly solutions to conflict. Picking my battles means seeing the whole street and not just the "other" side.
God builds up walls for a reason. These walls are set in place for us to respect and love one another as Jesus did. When we start chipping away at these intentional walls........ the flood of anger, frustration, judgement, and fear come pouring out... and things are done and said that we can never take back.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Day 6: The unexpected ordinary....
Psalm 89:11 (New Living Translation)
11 The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours;
everything in the world is yours—you created it all.
Last night the Lord truly expanded time so that I could finish some much needed housework. I am not sure why I put off doing housework because once I start on my housework I am reminded about all that I have.... and all I have to be thankful for. For instance I am very thankful and have a huge appreciation for the new Bounce Dryer Bar that you can use in the place of dryer sheets. I always forget to put in dryer sheets when I am changing over the laundry. As a result, my laundry is stricken with static cling and my clothes don't smell as April fresh as I would like them to. The Bounce Dryer Bar has honestly changed my life. Every single time I open my dryer... I am hit with the smell of clean clothes that are free from static and mediocrity.
As I was folding the laundry last night, I caught myself saying out loud "Thank you God for Bounce Dryer Bars". After I said that awkward phrase, I really started to think about the words. Rarely to I find the love of Christ through random laundry supplies.
Jesus is our everything. There is a song written by Tim Hughes that speaks to me every time I hear it:
God in my living
There in my breathing
God in my waking
God in my sleeping
God in my resting
There in my working
God in my thinking
God in my speaking
Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything
God in my hoping
There in my dreaming
God in my watching
God in my waiting
God in my laughing
There in my weeping
God in my hurting
God in my healing
Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
You are everything
Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
Be my everything
How many of us find God in our laughing AND in our weeping? How many of us can sit in line at the grocery store or doctors office and happily say to ourselves "God is in my waiting"?
This song and the scripture found in Psalm 89 remind us how huge God really is. We say God is big, but until we start thinking that God can be our everything.. big is a word we can't even start to use to describe God.
Is God your everything? Is God in everything that you do? When you laugh do you think about how God is in your laughter? With each breath that you take, are you reminded that God is the one who gave you breath in the first place? When you are about to fall asleep after a long hard day, do you think about how God is there in your sleeping? When you do the laundry and your clothes are not sticking together or stinky, do you think about how God is in your laundry products?
We think its silly or juvenile to really think about how big God is let alone thanking God out loud for things. This scripture reminds us that EVERYTHING is God's. We don't own anything. Everything we have has been loaned out to us for a short time. When we stop the daily routines we have created for ourselves, and start thinking about what we are doing with what God has given us... and acknowledge his presence in everything, we are able to just see a small part of what Christ has prepared for all of us.
I want to issue a challenge to all of you who read this, look for God not in the extraordinary, but in the ordinary today. Look for God in the unexpected instead of the expected. Once you find God in the unexpected ordinary... comment on this blog and tell about where you found God. May God be your everything.......everywhere!
11 The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours;
everything in the world is yours—you created it all.
Last night the Lord truly expanded time so that I could finish some much needed housework. I am not sure why I put off doing housework because once I start on my housework I am reminded about all that I have.... and all I have to be thankful for. For instance I am very thankful and have a huge appreciation for the new Bounce Dryer Bar that you can use in the place of dryer sheets. I always forget to put in dryer sheets when I am changing over the laundry. As a result, my laundry is stricken with static cling and my clothes don't smell as April fresh as I would like them to. The Bounce Dryer Bar has honestly changed my life. Every single time I open my dryer... I am hit with the smell of clean clothes that are free from static and mediocrity.
As I was folding the laundry last night, I caught myself saying out loud "Thank you God for Bounce Dryer Bars". After I said that awkward phrase, I really started to think about the words. Rarely to I find the love of Christ through random laundry supplies.
Jesus is our everything. There is a song written by Tim Hughes that speaks to me every time I hear it:
God in my living
There in my breathing
God in my waking
God in my sleeping
God in my resting
There in my working
God in my thinking
God in my speaking
Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything
God in my hoping
There in my dreaming
God in my watching
God in my waiting
God in my laughing
There in my weeping
God in my hurting
God in my healing
Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
You are everything
Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
Be my everything
How many of us find God in our laughing AND in our weeping? How many of us can sit in line at the grocery store or doctors office and happily say to ourselves "God is in my waiting"?
This song and the scripture found in Psalm 89 remind us how huge God really is. We say God is big, but until we start thinking that God can be our everything.. big is a word we can't even start to use to describe God.
Is God your everything? Is God in everything that you do? When you laugh do you think about how God is in your laughter? With each breath that you take, are you reminded that God is the one who gave you breath in the first place? When you are about to fall asleep after a long hard day, do you think about how God is there in your sleeping? When you do the laundry and your clothes are not sticking together or stinky, do you think about how God is in your laundry products?
We think its silly or juvenile to really think about how big God is let alone thanking God out loud for things. This scripture reminds us that EVERYTHING is God's. We don't own anything. Everything we have has been loaned out to us for a short time. When we stop the daily routines we have created for ourselves, and start thinking about what we are doing with what God has given us... and acknowledge his presence in everything, we are able to just see a small part of what Christ has prepared for all of us.
I want to issue a challenge to all of you who read this, look for God not in the extraordinary, but in the ordinary today. Look for God in the unexpected instead of the expected. Once you find God in the unexpected ordinary... comment on this blog and tell about where you found God. May God be your everything.......everywhere!
Monday, February 22, 2010
God's exchange policy...
Philippians 4:6-7 (New Living Translation)
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Its honesty time...
I am stressed out! Work is crazy right now. My house is a hot mess. I am just stressed. My mind is filled with what ifs and what nows. My to do list is long and my fuse is short. I am on edge about pretty much everything.
Needless to say, if there were ever a time for me to not "worry about anything, and pray about everything" it is today. Thank goodness God placed this scripture in my lap.
Here is what I need....
I need direction. I need peace. I need to know what to do next.
Wouldn't life be easier of this scripture said: "Amanda, don't worry about work, I have it all covered. All you need to are these three things and you will feel so much better... in fact take some time off and I will send somebody to your house to clean it and do your grocery shopping... I am God... I have this covered!"
I am not telling you anything new when I say, life is not easy. But I think sometimes we make life harder than it needs to be. We sit and worry.. instead of exchanging that worry for peace. Its all about our focus. I choose to focus on what needs to be done instead of what God has already done to get us to this point.
This scripture clearly states two things: 1. Tell God what you need 2. thank God for what he has done.
I don't have a problem with #1............ but many times I lose focus on #2.
It should be like this: "Lord I need direction with what I need to do with work, but I want to thank you for placing me here and surrounding me with loving people and an amazing place to work"
-Or-
"Lord I need you to expand the time for me to get all of my laundry done for the week, and I want to thank you for providing me with every item of clothing I have and the ability to do laundry in my home."
I am very blessed. The Lord has blessed me with an amazing job with amazing people. I have more than I could ever ask for and more than I could ever need.
It takes scriptures like this one to help you focus your heart and your mind. The peace from God is an amazing gift that is always open to us.
Lord I need your peace... thank you for the unconditional love you have given me and this time that you have provided for me to focus on you and your word today.
I feel better already. :)
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Its honesty time...
I am stressed out! Work is crazy right now. My house is a hot mess. I am just stressed. My mind is filled with what ifs and what nows. My to do list is long and my fuse is short. I am on edge about pretty much everything.
Needless to say, if there were ever a time for me to not "worry about anything, and pray about everything" it is today. Thank goodness God placed this scripture in my lap.
Here is what I need....
I need direction. I need peace. I need to know what to do next.
Wouldn't life be easier of this scripture said: "Amanda, don't worry about work, I have it all covered. All you need to are these three things and you will feel so much better... in fact take some time off and I will send somebody to your house to clean it and do your grocery shopping... I am God... I have this covered!"
I am not telling you anything new when I say, life is not easy. But I think sometimes we make life harder than it needs to be. We sit and worry.. instead of exchanging that worry for peace. Its all about our focus. I choose to focus on what needs to be done instead of what God has already done to get us to this point.
This scripture clearly states two things: 1. Tell God what you need 2. thank God for what he has done.
I don't have a problem with #1............ but many times I lose focus on #2.
It should be like this: "Lord I need direction with what I need to do with work, but I want to thank you for placing me here and surrounding me with loving people and an amazing place to work"
-Or-
"Lord I need you to expand the time for me to get all of my laundry done for the week, and I want to thank you for providing me with every item of clothing I have and the ability to do laundry in my home."
I am very blessed. The Lord has blessed me with an amazing job with amazing people. I have more than I could ever ask for and more than I could ever need.
It takes scriptures like this one to help you focus your heart and your mind. The peace from God is an amazing gift that is always open to us.
Lord I need your peace... thank you for the unconditional love you have given me and this time that you have provided for me to focus on you and your word today.
I feel better already. :)
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Do as I do.....not as I say....
Psalm 19:14 (New Living Translation)
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
"Actions speak louder than words." this popular phrase is one of the most honest phrases I have ever heard. When did that happen? When did words lose their importance? When did actions become loud? In a society where well choreographed press attended official apologies are analyzed word by word, I really wonder if anybody really believes words anymore. We hear lies all the time. We are surrounded by people who say one thing but do something completely different. We are manipulated by politicians, ministers, family members and friends. With all of these words that we are confronted with on a second by second basis, no wonder actions speak louder than words for most.
This scripture reminds us that our words mean something. I never really think about how pleasing (or let's just be honest, displeasing) my words can be. When our pleasing words mirror our pleasing actions we might just experience a glimpse of what "Christlikeness” looks and feels like. I want to live a life where my words speak just as loud as my actions. This scripture helps me to focus on the power of words and the intentions behind my words.
This is my prayer today.
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
"Actions speak louder than words." this popular phrase is one of the most honest phrases I have ever heard. When did that happen? When did words lose their importance? When did actions become loud? In a society where well choreographed press attended official apologies are analyzed word by word, I really wonder if anybody really believes words anymore. We hear lies all the time. We are surrounded by people who say one thing but do something completely different. We are manipulated by politicians, ministers, family members and friends. With all of these words that we are confronted with on a second by second basis, no wonder actions speak louder than words for most.
This scripture reminds us that our words mean something. I never really think about how pleasing (or let's just be honest, displeasing) my words can be. When our pleasing words mirror our pleasing actions we might just experience a glimpse of what "Christlikeness” looks and feels like. I want to live a life where my words speak just as loud as my actions. This scripture helps me to focus on the power of words and the intentions behind my words.
This is my prayer today.
Finding strength
Joshua 1:9 (New Living Translation)
9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
I can't believe I am about to admit this, but I am heavy lifting impaired. For many of you who know me, I know that this completely shocks you. The truth is I always think I am stronger in my head than I really am. I think I can move a huge piece of furnature by myself and then I go to move it and it won't even budge. Pair this infomation with the next secret I try to keep (I hate asking for help) and you can see the predicament I am in.
I am the same way in my relationship with Christ. I think I am stronger in my head than I actually am. When push comes to shove I think I can do everything on my own. When I am faced with a conflict or major problem I automatically think I can solve it on my own. This scripture reminds us that we are never alone. It tells us to be strong and courageous in the Lord. The scripture does not say be strong and courageous in Amanda. Instead of offering advice to friends I am going to offer them this scripture. I want to be strong in the Lord not stay week within myself. This is my prayer for today.
9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
I can't believe I am about to admit this, but I am heavy lifting impaired. For many of you who know me, I know that this completely shocks you. The truth is I always think I am stronger in my head than I really am. I think I can move a huge piece of furnature by myself and then I go to move it and it won't even budge. Pair this infomation with the next secret I try to keep (I hate asking for help) and you can see the predicament I am in.
I am the same way in my relationship with Christ. I think I am stronger in my head than I actually am. When push comes to shove I think I can do everything on my own. When I am faced with a conflict or major problem I automatically think I can solve it on my own. This scripture reminds us that we are never alone. It tells us to be strong and courageous in the Lord. The scripture does not say be strong and courageous in Amanda. Instead of offering advice to friends I am going to offer them this scripture. I want to be strong in the Lord not stay week within myself. This is my prayer for today.
Day 2: pews full of sheep
John 10:14-18 (New Living Translation)
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. 18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”
Most youth ministers would agree with me that there are some moments in youth ministry that you want to freeze in your memory. Last night was one of those moments. I had the honor of sitting with the youth last night at the Ash Wednesday service. As I sat there waiting for the service to start, I looked around at all the youth surrounding me and instantly I thought about their journey to the service that night. Some had walked to our church right after school got out, some were dropped off early to help serve our Wonderful Wednesday meal, most had come specifically for the Ash Wednesday service. One girl sent me a text message that was full of panic saying that she had a ton of homework and she was trying to finish it all so she could make it to the service. Not only did she make it to the service... but she brought her younger brother too.
It was overwhelming to be surrounded by all of these youth who weren't even members of the church. Most of these youth have life stories that would either bring you to tears or inspire you to be a better person. All of us had been on a journey leading up to the service last night. Our Christian Journey is made up of many choices. The pews filled last night who chose to come to the service. with people last night were full of choices. This scripture reminds us that we are all sheep in search of a shepherd. There is one flock with one shepherd.
Many times we follow our calendars, friends, and teams rather than our Shepherd. Many times laziness, guilt, and selfishness stand in between the sheep and the shepherd. Last Wednesday the youth and I talked about words like guilt, shame, broken relationships, bad choices, drugs, food, sex... all of which stand in the way of having a true relationship with our Shepherd. Then words were written by the youth. Words that are only known by the youth and the Shepherd. Those slips of paper were burned. No longer could we hold onto those words. Those choices that we made were no longer ours. They were in the form of ashes. Ashes that symbolized forgiveness. We had put to death those choices so that new life could come.
Last night those ashes were combined with the ashes created by our Palm Sunday palms. One by one those words formed a cross on the foreheads of the congregation as a symbol of the everlasting life and forgiveness given to us by our Shepherd. Choir members, ministers, committee chairs, children, and youth alike all had the ultimate symbol of love placed on their foreheads. All of us took a step on our journey together.
At the end I thought about the magnitude of this service. There was a sense of celebration coming from the youth. A sense of excitement as they asked if their ashes would last until baseball practice tomorrow. Excitement as they immediately took pictures and posted them on facebook. These crosses were symbols of hope, symbols of freedom, and symbols of the unconditional love that was sacrificed voluntarily for our sins.
I praise God that I can learn from the youth. I praise God that my excitement for Him is magnified by the excitement the youth have for their Creator. I praise God for moments in our journey that we can just freeze and remember always.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. 18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”
Most youth ministers would agree with me that there are some moments in youth ministry that you want to freeze in your memory. Last night was one of those moments. I had the honor of sitting with the youth last night at the Ash Wednesday service. As I sat there waiting for the service to start, I looked around at all the youth surrounding me and instantly I thought about their journey to the service that night. Some had walked to our church right after school got out, some were dropped off early to help serve our Wonderful Wednesday meal, most had come specifically for the Ash Wednesday service. One girl sent me a text message that was full of panic saying that she had a ton of homework and she was trying to finish it all so she could make it to the service. Not only did she make it to the service... but she brought her younger brother too.
It was overwhelming to be surrounded by all of these youth who weren't even members of the church. Most of these youth have life stories that would either bring you to tears or inspire you to be a better person. All of us had been on a journey leading up to the service last night. Our Christian Journey is made up of many choices. The pews filled last night who chose to come to the service. with people last night were full of choices. This scripture reminds us that we are all sheep in search of a shepherd. There is one flock with one shepherd.
Many times we follow our calendars, friends, and teams rather than our Shepherd. Many times laziness, guilt, and selfishness stand in between the sheep and the shepherd. Last Wednesday the youth and I talked about words like guilt, shame, broken relationships, bad choices, drugs, food, sex... all of which stand in the way of having a true relationship with our Shepherd. Then words were written by the youth. Words that are only known by the youth and the Shepherd. Those slips of paper were burned. No longer could we hold onto those words. Those choices that we made were no longer ours. They were in the form of ashes. Ashes that symbolized forgiveness. We had put to death those choices so that new life could come.
Last night those ashes were combined with the ashes created by our Palm Sunday palms. One by one those words formed a cross on the foreheads of the congregation as a symbol of the everlasting life and forgiveness given to us by our Shepherd. Choir members, ministers, committee chairs, children, and youth alike all had the ultimate symbol of love placed on their foreheads. All of us took a step on our journey together.
At the end I thought about the magnitude of this service. There was a sense of celebration coming from the youth. A sense of excitement as they asked if their ashes would last until baseball practice tomorrow. Excitement as they immediately took pictures and posted them on facebook. These crosses were symbols of hope, symbols of freedom, and symbols of the unconditional love that was sacrificed voluntarily for our sins.
I praise God that I can learn from the youth. I praise God that my excitement for Him is magnified by the excitement the youth have for their Creator. I praise God for moments in our journey that we can just freeze and remember always.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
And so it begins....
Genesis 2:7 (New Living Translation)
7 Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.
Genesis 3:19 (New Living Translation)
19 by the sweat of your brow
will you have food to eat
until you return to the ground
from which you were made.
for you were made from dust,
and to dust you will return.”
I am GREAT at starting things… I have many projects lying around my house that I have started. My bookshelf is filled with wonderful captivating books that I started to read and then never finished. I have several snack bags that I started to eat but never finished.
Just this morning I started emptying the dishwasher… but then it came time to empty the silverware container (my least favorite dishwasher emptying tasks) and I decided it could wait until I get home from work tonight.
Starting new, starting fresh, starting anything is fun and exciting. For example, there is nothing line a brand new start to a tube of toothpaste. The first squirt is always the best one. But come the middle of the tube I forget about the first toothpaste squirt of the tube and I have to wait that tube out before starting a new one.
Today as many of you know is the starting line of Lent. I have struggled for a couple of days trying to figure out what I am going to add or take away for Lent. Today is the start of me adding on intentional scripture focus in my daily walk. I have decided to blog about it so that I am held somewhat accountable. J
For the past week I have really been thinking about life. Life is a precious and fragile thing. We are reminded of this every time we turn on the news, read the newspaper, or even log onto Facebook. Just this week I heard from a friend who almost lost a family member unexpectedly. Through countless prayers and medical attention she will be okay… but you can't help but think about how precious life is at a time like this.
These scriptures remind us that we are merely dust. We were formed from dust and God breathed life and His image into us. That was our start. We started from dust. We started with one breath. We are one breath away from life or death.
Our journey is not just about our start… it is about what we do with the breath that has been given to us each day.
Lent is not just about our start… it is about what we do with this time that we have been given.
Lent is a time of reflection. It's a time of renewal. It is intentionally slowing down enough to breath and thank God for the breath you have been given.
Tonight as I worship and have ashes placed on my head I want to be reminded of life that comes from death. I want to be reminded that I can start on this journey again tomorrow with the same excitement that I had today.
Please join me in thinking about life…. And the everlasting life we receive by the one who taught us how to truly live until the last breath.
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