Favorite Food Fast... Foundation Fasting Challenge Day 2

Monday, May 23rd
Food of Choice Fast
Today, we will challenge ourselves to give up a food that we eat every day. For instance, if you eat chocolate every day, try to go a day without it. Or if you eat bread in every meal, see what it’s like to take the extra effort to cut it out of your meals today. Today Stefani and I are giving up packaged or processed foods; for example, instead of eating poptarts for breakfast, I ate an apple instead; or instead of having pizza rolls for lunch, we will have a fresh salad with lemon juice being our salad dressing.

Today has been quite a journey already. I quickly realized my need to grocery shop. Pretty much everything in my house was packaged and processed. I was able to salvage an apple from my refrigerator of processed and out dated food for breakfast. As my stomach started to growl mid morning I was confronted with the fact that it was really time to grocery shop!

Stefani and I made an amazing salad with greens, orange bell pepper, fetta cheese (sketchy if this was processed or not..but we went with it), black berries, avacado, carrots, and lemon juice. I started eating the salad with the mindset that these are all ingredients that are God designed and created. Each of them were grown from the ground (obviously feta is not grown from the ground...but the cow for sure God created). I enjoyed each unique flavor in my salad.

How many times do we fail to stop and enjoy the food we eat? Sure there are those moments where we are on a sugar high or we crave a good steak... but how many times do we take the time to be intentional about what we eat?

1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." I am pretty sure I don't glorify God by driving through Wendy's (Chick-Fil-A is a different story...God loves Chick-Fil-A) or when I waste half of my food. Do we really eat to glorify God? Do we stop and think about what we eat and why we eat? Do we glorify God by the food we waste?

My prayer for today is that I continue to appreciate his creation and the food that he has placed on this earth for us to enjoy and eat.

May we glorify God by what ever we do... not just today but everyday!

Criticism Fast - Ephesians 4:29

Ephesians 4:29 (New Living Translation)

29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

YIKES! This scripture speaks to the heart of my weakness.

Let EVERYTHING you say be good and helpful.

As I digest my day a little bit I am instantly convicted by my words. Even on this first day of fasting that is concentrated on not being critical or complaining...I have failed miserably on saying good and helpful words.

Words mean so much if we are really honest. We can say "sticks and stones may break our bones but words will never hurt me"... but talk to a person who has been told they are stupid all of their life, or a child who just heard from their parents that they are disappointed in them, or somebody who just found out they lost a loved one. The words we say have weight behind them. I forget that. I forget that God has given us all the blessing and ability to build others up by the words we use. With that blessing comes responsibility.

We are responsible for our words.
Our written words.
The words we text.
The words we post.
The words we say.....

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE.

Are the words we saying good and helpful?

There is a difference in complaining and stating factual information. Its all in our outlook and the results we want to gain from our words. The choice is up to us. Nobody can make you text something. Nobody can make you say anything. The blessing and the responsibility is up to us.

On this day of fasting I am reminded in the silence of my office that silence in our words sometimes is the best option. My prayer for me today is to find silence in the moments of criticism. My prayer is to find the joy and blessing in every opportunity to complain.

Please join me in the few hours left in this day on being aware of our words. Think before you speak, text, post, write.... are your words good and helpful?

John 11:38-44 Unwrapping New Life

John 11:38-44 (New Living Translation)

38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”

40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

I love my job! I truly love my job.
Youth ministry is probably one of the most rewarding occupations you can have if you just stop for a moment and think about the blessings that you see every day.

I have been in youth ministry for over going on 13 years and each day presents new challenges, pain, rewards, and opportunities for spiritual and personal growth.

One of the most rewarding experiences I get to be a part of is when youth experience the unwrapping of new life.

The lives our youth live is unbelievable at times. The youth of our future are faced with some horrific pasts and they are paralyzed in the present. Gone are the times where we need to worry about our youth getting in with the "wrong crowd". Now I am faced with helping youth cope with life changing decisions their parents are making, I am teaching youth to be spiritual leaders in their homes, I am helping teenagers figure out how to overcome some major addictions and heart wrenching pasts.

Its not only about sex, drugs, and rock n roll.... its about abuse, neglect, pressure, and youth learning how to be teenagers and not the heads of their households.

This isn't just one or two youth in my youth group..... it is a whole generation of youth that I am privileged to minister to.

The scripture we are focusing on right now is only 7 verses... but with in those 7 verses is a freedom that we may never really take advantage of.

Mary, Martha, and angry Jesus (still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that Jesus was angry), are standing at Lazarus' tomb. Jesus was ready to unveil his miracle and stated to the sisters "take away the stone". Their response.... what about the decaying stench Jesus?

We do that don't we?

We pray for a miracle. We pray for change. We pray for healing.
And then when it is game time....
We worry. We panic. We start second guessing. We limit God. We don't trust.

We say we want freedom from our past... but when it comes time to act... we worry about the stench.

We get stuck in the dysfunction of our lives because we are unwilling to acknowledge that Christ is in control.

Jesus gave glory to God and called Lazarus out of the tomb... and the death became new life wrapped in cloth.

There is nothing more rewarding than to see youth discover that there is new life in Christ. Leading them to the tomb of new beginnings and new life is an amazing experience. Lazarus didn't just run out of the tomb jumping up and down in a new robe and toms shoes... there was a process of unwrapping.

We are called to put our past lives to death and unwrap our new beginnings. Christianity is a constant cycle of new beginnings. Lent is about new beginnings. Life is about new beginnings.

There is freedom in the process of unbinding our new lives.
There is joy in the process of unbinding our new lives.

I am so honored to be in ministry with youth and adults who are unbinding their new lives on a daily basis. Putting to death their pasts of disfunction and unbinding their new life of freedom and faith.

What is in your tomb?
What new life is awaiting your unbinding?
What new beginnings are in front of you?
Are you willing to risk the stench of death to smell the sweet fragrance of new beginnings?

John 11:17-37 Lets talk about death.

John 11:17-37 (New Living Translation)

17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. 18 Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, 19 and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. 20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”

23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”

25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” 28 Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.” 29 So Mary immediately went to him.

30 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. 31 When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. 32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. 34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them.

They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” 37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”


Death is a hard thing to talk about.

Sometimes we have the opportunity to prepare for somebody's death... and sometimes death happens with out a warning and we are taken off guard.

Either way there is always a natural progression of thinking about ways the death could have been prevented or recounting the steps that were taken right before the death that occurred.

No matter how much you feel as though you are prepared for somebody's death, you are never fully exempt from the emotion behind death.

This scripture teaches us about death in a very real way. There is emotion in death.

One question I always hear in ministry is "If Jesus is able to stop suffering and death, why do people suffer and die". The short answer is always, I don't know.

When Jesus first found out about Lazarus, he was still alive and holding on. Jesus waited... Lazarus died... and questions were asked.

Both Martha and Mary confronted Jesus head on.
You could have stopped this.
If only you were here sooner.. he would have lived.

We are previewed to two different sides of Christ in this scripture. On one side he is ministering to Mary and Martha. Providing many opportunities for them to really think about the resurrection and faith. On the other side.. he weeps. Sometimes I forget that Jesus had feelings. Its easy to say Jesus loves me... but its hard for me to really think about the fact that Jesus felt love for others. His actions had feelings behind them. (I really hope this makes sense)

Jesus was truly saddened at the loss of his friend...and overcome by the emotions of his friends who were mourning their brothers death.

This scripture speaks to me on many levels.

Life is full of hard times. Hard times that Jesus even experienced. There are feelings behind situations. Feelings that Jesus even took the time to feel.

I don't know why Jesus didn't immediately save Lazarus the second he found out about his situation. My guess is that this was another teaching opportunity. An opportunity to feel. Maybe this was an opportunity to put feelings with the concept of the resurrection.

There needs to be death in order to experience new life. Sometimes we need to experience death in order to appreciate and understand new life. That doesn't mean that death is easy. That doesn't mean that there are no feelings with death. Death is sad. Death causes us to weep.

Sometimes we need to put to death dreams that we are holding onto, bad relationships that we can't let go, habits that are hard to break, guilt and shame that we carry on our backs everywhere we go. Christ could have prevented those things from happening... but there is something about experiencing the emotion of death that is healing.

The death of a loved one is never easy. Nor should it be easy. The thing to remember is that Christ wept with Mary. He was present with Martha. There is hope when we read "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die".

I am thankful for everlasting love.. and everlasting life.

John 11:1-16 Heavenly Pauses

John 11:1-16 (New Living Translation)

1 A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”
4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days. 7 Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”

8 But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”

9 Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. 10 But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.” 11 Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”

12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” 13 They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.

14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”

16 Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.”

Several months back I took an online assessment to find out my strengths. During this moment of discovery, I found out that two of my main strengths are being an arranger and being strategic. I am a fixer and a problem solver. I like to figure out what the solutions to "what ifs". I strive to make situations easier and more effective. I like to believe that I am able to come up with a plan of action for anything anybody faces in life. (One of my other strengths is being Self-Assured.. which I was told was really a strength and not an opportunity for self-centeredness).

I wish I could turn this problem solver fixer part of my brain off when I am reading scripture like this. As always, we can learn a lot from Jesus in this situation. Jesus finds out that the "one he loves" is very sick.

My reaction would be: line up meals, get to their bed side at once, start preparing my speech of "taking things one day at a time and focus on the facts and not the what ifs" (I know there is irony there.. don't judge".

Jesus' reaction: I could use this as a teaching opportunity for my disciples, but first I will wait for two days and then act. He took a little heavenly pause.

WHAT!?!? Two days is far too long to wait when your loved one is sick. My mom was rushed to the emergency room in Houston recently with what they thought were heart problems. Being 3 hours away... I got there as fast as I could. I couldn't fathom not being at her side that second.

And yet Jesus took a heavenly pause.

Scripture really doesn't tell us why he took these two days.

One reason could be the fact that Jewish Leaders in Judea were out to kill him so maybe he wanted to really collect his thoughts and form a plan of action.

Another reason could be that he wanted to get the maximum amount of miracle possibilities by allowing Lazarus to die before he got to his side. That way he could literally raise somebody up from the dead instead of allowing there to be doubt surrounding him just getting better from his medical illness.

I love many things about Jesus.. but one of the main things I love about Jesus is the fact that he took every opportunity in his live to have teachable moments. Vs. 9-10 teach us about light and darkness. There are times to start walking and there are times to stand back and wait. Light is safe. Dark is unsafe. I am sure Jesus meant for this light and dark life lesson to have multiple meanings. Realistically it was and is safer literally to travel in the day time. Somehow I think there is more to this scripture than travel instructions.

Ten chapters earlier we learn this:

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

I think too many times I have great intentions with my reactions to sensitive and emergency situations, but I start walking in the darkness instead of taking a Heavenly Pause and allow The Light to guide my steps. It is one thing to help somebody - but its another thing to bring The Light with you to shine on others. I don't doubt that Christ is with me where ever I go...but sometimes I stumble thinking I can save others and help others. I can't save anybody. Sometimes I think I take it to the other extreme. Jesus has this one.. I can just stand back and let him take care of it. I find myself asking "seriously, what can I do in this situation". The answer is in the fact that sometimes its about the journey and not so much about the actions and words.

Waiting can be risky. Pausing and including Christ in your emergency plans might be time consuming. Every encounter we have with darkness is an opportunity for us to believe in Him (vs.15).

What are you willing to do? Are you willing to take a Heavenly Pause if it means putting your plans and maybe even your life at risk?

My prayer is that I can be as bold as Thomas was when he said "Let's go, too - and die with Jesus."

John 10:22-42 Conflict Management at its finest!

John 10:22-42 (New Living Translation)

Jesus Claims to Be the Son of God

22 It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. 23 He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. 26 But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”

31 Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. 32 Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?”

33 They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.”

34 Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’ 35 And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods,’ 36 why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me into the world. 37 Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. 38 But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”

39 Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. 40 He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile. 41 And many followed him. “John didn’t perform miraculous signs,” they remarked to one another, “but everything he said about this man has come true.” 42 And many who were there believed in Jesus.

There is really so much to say about this scripture. I could probably spend all day dissecting this scripture bit by bit. If we take a step back though, we are able to see a bigger picture of tolerance and truth. This scripture embodies conflict management at its finest.

Jesus spoke truth to the Jewish leaders - and in the famous words of Jack Nicholson - they couldn't handle the truth. Sometimes the truth from Christ is hard to swallow, hard to believe, hard to trust and wrap out minds around it. The Jewish leaders were wanting a simple answer to the question of Christ being the Messiah. As if plain words were going to make God's plan of redemption and resurrection easier to understand and trust.

Faith in Christ is not simple.

Maybe its just me... but I picture Christ talking in a strong but calm voice to the Jewish leaders. I admire that strength and calmness. Trying to prove who you are and justifying not only your actions but also your words can cause people to loose it. I get so frustrated at time when I am misunderstood, undervalued, and flat out disrespected. It really gets to me. Sometimes I get so angry that I lash out verbally to my "Jewish leaders" or I bottle it up and like a cartoon character smoke comes billowing out of my ears.

Not Jesus. His conflict management was in the form of direct truth and quoting scripture. While stones were coming his way.. he stood up for who he was in a way that honored scripture. He said what he needed to.. and then walked away. I say what I want to and walk away too... but I am pretty sure my heart and mindset was probably different than Jesus. This pretty much applies to all of my life... my heart and mindset rarely conform to WWJD.

How do you handle conflict? How do you handle situations when truth is misunderstood or when you are faced with unbelief? Can you handle the truth that Christ offers you? Do you look for simple answers and limit your faith journey?

How does this scripture speak to you?

My prayer is that we all take a moment and reflect on how we handle conflict and understanding.

Happy post-Ash Wednesday :)

John 10:1-21

John 10:1-21 (New Living Translation)

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me[a] were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.[b] They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.

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.”

19 When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him. 20 Some said, “He’s demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?” 21 Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Who or What is tending over your life?

After reading this scripture I was left asking myself three questions:
1. What does life look like when "thief's and robbers" are in our lives?
The scripture is very informative and pretty much lays out exactly what the thief's purpose is: to steal, kill, and destroy. Who are we allowing to steal our joy, kill our spirit, and destroy the plans that we have set before us? Is it a family member? Coworker? Friend? Yourself?

2. Who is tending my life? I just got my picture taken for our church directory and the free 8X10 i am going to get in the mail pretty soon of just my beautiful self is framed with a caption that says "As for me and my house I will serve the Lord". I didn't choose that caption. I really didn't even choose the picture. It was a choice that was made for me. As for ME and MY house...do I really serve the Lord? The easy answer is yes... since I work at a church... obviously I serve the Lord... but do I? Serving the Lord and making a bold statement for your household and your life is allowing The Good Shepherd to take over your life. Its surrendering your will and your independence. I need to be dependent on my Shepherd. I like to think I am in charge, I like to think that I have everything under control... but seriously many days I don't. I allow others to get to me. I get angry, lazy, and selfish. I wander off for a while for greener pastures. Its not intentional, its something that happens one little step at a time in the wrong direction. Luckily I have a Shepherd who can guide me back to reality.

3. Do I fully accept and understand vs. 17-18? For some reason these two verses really got me. 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.” Its as if Christ put down his life as a deposit for our lives. He sacrificed his life so that he could have it back again. The thing that got me the most is this line right here "I sacrifice it voluntarily". A voluntary sacrifice. He was created that way. A voluntary sacrifice to keep me from drifting off into life stealing pastures. A voluntary sacrifice to put up with my laziness and sarcastic banter.

What better concept of Ash Wednesday do we have than a voluntary sacrifice? Its much more than the actions giving up Facebook, caffeine, or swearing for 40 days. Its about mirroring the voluntary sacrifice made by our Good Shepherd. What is God asking you to voluntarily sacrifice for the next 40 days?

My prayer for today is that God makes that abundantly clear in my life today. Maybe the next 40 days is about looking for opportunities to voluntarily sacrifice something for somebody else. Maybe its being intentional and open to that concept. Whatever your voluntary sacrifice is for you, my prayer is that we all start a journey for the next 40 days of understanding, questioning and discernment.

Love with whole heart... John Mayer style...

So apparently Mother Nature doesn't feel as if it is necessary for our Foundation Open House to meet and start our Bible Study on the exciting topic of Sex and Dating...

I have decided to blog about it instead..

A confession: I know NOTHING about dating.
An observation: I am not sure if teenagers have great examples in society of what a positive dating life should look like.
A question (or two): How do we even begin to start talking about dating? What is dating?

I think we start talking about relationships before we start talking about dating.

Relationships are key to life. God pretty much spells that out for us in Genesis 2:18 "The Lord God said, "its not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.". God does not intend for us to be alone. We are called to be in relationship with each other AND most importantly we are called be in relationship with the Lord.

The problem is I think we try to keep those two relationships separate. Its as if we draw a line in the middle of our hearts. One side of our heart is for those that are in relationship with us (friends, family, dating partners, spouses, etc) and the other side is reserved for the love we have for God. I feel like most of us get in the trap of running around like chickens with our heads cut off (LOVE that visual) finding meaningful relationships to fill up one side of our hearts.. and we use the God side as a reserve. We focus on our friendships, families, and romantic relationships... and when those relationships are in distress or non existent.... we struggle until hopefully we remember that God loves us too.

I would like to be bold enough to say that maybe we all (adults and teenagers alike) should rip the tape that divides our hearts and allow God's love to flow over to our other relationships. We shouldn't love others AND love God.. we should love others BECAUSE of our love for God.

Mark 12:28-30
28 One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’No other commandment is greater than these.”

This scripture doesn't say "Love your neighbor and when you get bored or disengaged, go ahead and love God with your left overs". This scripture is a commandment. Its up there with don't murder and don't steal. The creator of love commands us to not only love him, but love others the same way.

No joke as I am writing this blog entry John Mayer's famous song "Half of my Heart" is playing in the background. This song is just an instant reminder of loving with half of your heart. We are asked to love God with our whole heart.. not a divided heart. Don't put Gods love off into a reserve pile.. but instead allow God's love to empower you to love others. What would your family look like if you loved them the way God loves you? What kind of friendships would you have if you only loved your friends with the intensity that God loves you? Just imagine what Jersey Shore hook ups would look like if the "grenades" were treated with the same amount of grace and love that God invests in you? (ya... I just made a Jersey Shore reference). Love starts with God... don't let it end with you. Love with all of your strength... in fact use all of your strength and focus to love and not to stress out if you are going to find "mr. or mrs. right"... or even a valentines date. Invest love into yourself. You are worth it.

A confession: all relationships are not perfect..and many of my dating relationships from my past (actually all of them) were not based off of God's love
An observation: I believe and have witnessed God's amazing grace and love at work when I love him with all of my heart and allow his love to spill over to all of the other relationships in my life.
A question: are you willing to risk it? Youth, are you willing to not date or have fewer friends if that means that the relationships you are in are based off of loving God with all of your strength and ALL of your heart? Adults, are we ready to look at the relationships in our own lives (including our relationship with Christ) and be honest with ourselves about where our love is divided ?

Lord, I pray that you help us today and everyday to love with our whole heart and all of our strength...and allow your love to overflow onto other relationships in our lives.
Amen.

Sex and Dating Series

This week Foundation Student Ministries is about to undertake one of THE MOST IMPORTANT and critical topics of discussion and focus.... Sex and Dating.

This focus has been in the works for quite a while and has been wrapped in prayer for over 3 months. Every day I am reminded about the stress and pressure that surrounds our students on this topic. If you don't believe me.. all you need to do is read their Facebook walls, observe their actions, or sit down and have an honest conversation with them.

We will start this Wednesday with a look at Boundaries and what they mean. I have been offering a Sunday School class for the past two weeks for parents to learn about the curriculum covered during this series. The first week we had 4 parents, yesterday we had 1. I will continue to offer this sunday school class for the next two weeks... because I feel this topic is way too important to back down. I would like to strongly encourage all parents to join me for the next two weeks as we discuss girl issues and guy issues. I have a committed group of 10 youth sponsors who are excited and ready to support and listen to the youth of our community as they discuss these topics on Wednesday nights. I am constantly hearing an undertone from teenagers that they feel that nobody is listening to them or hearing what they have to say. To those amazing and brave individuals I would like to say... "We are ready to listen".

I am asking for prayer for our students, parents, youth sponsors, and myself as we intentionally take a look at what is going on in our society and hearts of our teenagers. I will be blogging through out the next four weeks and have suggested activities and prayer focuses that will help parents and youth take an honest took at what effect Sex and Dating is having in their lives.

Please feel free to contact me via.. email, text, call, Facebook, or any other form of communication if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, insights, or topics you think I should cover regarding this topic.

Ways to contact me:
email: amanda@fumcwax.com
text/call: 817-455-9640
facebook: Amanda Sargent

Below are the meeting times for both youth and parents:
Parents:
Sunday February 13 - issues for guys
Sunday February 20 - Issues for girls
**Both of these classes are held at 9:45 in the upstairs of our main building room 215

Youth:
Wednesday February 9th - boundaries
WEdnesday February 16th - role of dating
Wednesday February 23rd - issues for guys
Wednesday March 2nd - issues for girls

-Amanda <><

A Call for Prayer

This past weekend our church sponsored a 24 hour prayer vigil to prepare our hearts and minds for the season of Advent. I waited for the last minute to sign up for a time slot because I wanted to make sure I could sign up for a time that was hard to fill. The time slot that was open was 10pm to 1am on Saturday.

I would like to say that I did a lot of preparation for my 3 hour prayer slot on Saturday... but instead it became this thing that was looming in my future... it was something that I HAD to do. I put off all of my youth ministry reading until that time so I would have "something" to do. I was not in the greatest frame of mind to be in prayer and meditation for 3 hours. I was busy, tired, worn out, burnt out, and frustrated with life in general.

10pm I showed up to the church with a cup of coffee, a book, and my cell phone.

I read over half of the book The Godbearing Life....which pretty much changed my life and the way I look at ministry. It took all of my ministry frustrations and anger and opened my mind to so many things I really needed to think about. (totally another blog entry).

Then I was left with an hour to concentrate on prayer. I had several people send me prayer requests via text messages and facebook. When I was done with those prayers... I had a really crazy idea....

Why don't I go through all of my contacts in my cell phone and pray for them individually.

Wow.. What an experience!

I learned so much about myself and my contacts in just 30 min. of prayer.

In 30 min. I prayed for 178 contacts in my phone... and that was just A-J. ( I plan on praying for K-Z the rest of this week)

I found myself praying for youth that i was in ministry with 7 years ago..and now they are adults.
I prayed for the youth that are currently in my life and that have blessed my life in so many ways.
I prayed for the doctors that saved my dads life on multiple occasions.
I prayed for businesses like Dish Network and Apple Computer Inc.

I prayed for guys that I dated in the past, former coworkers, and people that I am not friends with any more. (This would be a category of people I really just keep their numbers in my phone so I know not to answer it).
There was so much healing in those prayers.

My eyes filled up with tears as scrolled down my contacts list and saw the name of one of my former youth that passed away suddenly earlier this year. I prayed a prayer of thanks for God placing this young man in my life and I prayed for his family as they are experiencing this holiday with out him for the first time.

I realized that I save people under some weird names.... like Dan the basketball supply guy (the guy who sold me basketball pads for our Upward basketball goals) and Hair... which is the number for the lady that used to cut my hair a long time ago.

I prayed for churches and ministeries of contacts that were in my phone.
I prayed for people I talk to all of the time... and people I haven't talked to in years.

Although it was only a half an hour of prayer... and although it was for all of those in my contacts A-J..... it was probably the most powerful prayer experience I had in a long time.

I laughed... I cried... I thanked... I apologized.... I forgave.

I needed that time to reconnect with my heart and the blessings I have in those God has placed in my life.

I heard from somebody a while ago that "The time that you don't want to do something like go to church or pray is the time you need to do those things the most". This was one of those times. I didn't want to spend three hours meditating and praying. I wanted to lay on my couch and watch tv or go to sleep.

God knew just what I needed and spit me out of the whale and placed me at my cell phone.

I would love to challenge all of you to spend 30 min. and pray for all of those in your cell phone. Scroll down and take just a second or two in prayer for each contact. It will be very eye opening and amazing!

Matthew 5:17-18 Orange lights

"Don't suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures- either God's Law or the Prophets. I'm not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God's law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's Law will be alive and working."
Matthew 5:17-18

I would like to believe that I am a lawful person. I am pretty much a rule follower... except on the open road. There are a few rules or laws that I stretch a little to fit my needs. Here are two examples:

1. Yellow lights - We learn the meaning of stop lights at a very early age. Green means go, Red means stop, Yellow means sssssllllllooooowwww down. Except when I am in a hurry. Then I add a color that is not seen by the naked eye. That color is Orange. The non visible yet ever present light that appears when i am in a hurry. The orange light allows for grace when you are in a hurry. It goes like this - Green means go, Red means stop, Yellow means hurry up before the light turns red, Orange - the light was in between yellow and red and so was my car.

2. Speed limits - I look at speed limits as a mere suggestion. Everybody knows that there is a five mile above the speed limit cushion before you can get pulled over. Why not live on the edge and go six miles above the speed limit... or seven, or eight. I mean maybe the cushion is different depending on what road you are on.

Now that I have put a huge target on my back... and presented a case for you not to allow me to drive you or your children around... its time to get to the point.

But what is the point?

Laws were kind of a big deal back when Jesus was talking to this crowd of the committed. Before Christ came in the picture the world was full of chaos and many different laws were thrown at everybody to try and restore some sort of sanity. My study Bible pointed out that "God's moral and ceremonial laws were given to help people love God with all of their hearts and minds". The moral and ceremonial laws were the laws that were in place beyond the civil laws. The problem was in the Old Testament days... people tried to stretch the moral and ceremonial laws in order to fit their lives and their own vices. (insert orange light concept here). Instead of people growing closer to God and loving them with their whole heart and mind... the laws became a huge confusing mess and people concentrated on the laws instead of the creator of the laws.

That is where Christ came in.
Christ came to pull it all together!
Christ came to show us that there is a panoramic purpose to God's law.

Sometimes we get bogged down with the politics of life.
We get focused on the rules and not the Ruler.

Then there is chaos.

I am not saying that disobeying or making up your own traffic laws is a great way to go... in fact we are called to obey civil laws as well as God's laws.

But obedience is about focus.

What are you focused on?

God's law and love is everlasting.

Christ was brought onto this earth so we can see things clearly, so he could restore us to sanity.

"God's law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet."

God's everlasting law encourages us to love.

Do we focus on the fact that worship on Sunday morning is boring or too early... or do we focus on that being an opportunity for us to experience and share The Love.

Do we focus on scripture being too complicated or the Bible being too big... or do we focus on the life and direction those words give us?

Do we focus on the fact that some people are too inconvenient to love .. or do we focus on the fact that God is Love and we are to be Christ's heart to others?

Laws are rules.
Rules are hard.
Life is hard.
Christ is life.
Life with Christ is everlasting.

It is not our job to see the bigger picture sometimes.
It is our job to be obedient and faithful knowing that when we chose to love others, when we chose to love Christ, we are choosing something so much more than just obeying a law... we are choosing life.

Matthew 5:14-16

"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bring out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-barers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:14-16

My prayer for today:

Heavenly Father,
I am overwhelmed with this scripture today and the weight of its words.
It is hard to believe that you would trust your light in somebody as ordinary as I am.
I take your light for granted.
When you place me on the mountain top to shine your light... sometimes I mistake your light for mine.
You ask us to be open - but most of the time I close myself off from the opportunities you place before me.

Help me to reflect your light in love.
Help me to stand in confidence.
Help me to be generous and open.

Provide specific opportunities for me to stand firm and share your light today.

Thank you for entrusting me with your grace and love today and everyday.

Amen.

Matthew 5:13 Bring on the God-Spice!

"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage."
Matthew 5:13

Its an unwritten rule in life...that every woman should have a favorite pair of jeans. This pair of jeans just fits differently than all of the rest of the jeans she has in her closet. This pair of jeans has been through thick and thin with her. This pair of jeans can be dressed up with a nice pair of boots or dressed down with a tennis shoe or sandal. There may be holes, it may be worn in places, but this pair of jeans is the one thing that the woman can turn to at a moments notice for comfort and familiarity.

Until that one dreaded day where you decide.... the jeans are not wearable any more.
The jeans that you used to fit in with ease... are suddenly too tight (even when you do lunges down the hallway to help loosen them up).

The jeans that used to cover you like a security blanket are literally falling apart - the button is missing, there are way too many holes in the jeans for you to say that it is fashion anymore, or in some rare cases they are too big for you and they just plain fall off of you.

A woman's favorite pair of jeans serves a purpose in their lives...so it is a sad sad day when you have to choose to take your favorite pair of jeans off of life support and send them to the trash can grave prepared for them. It truly is a time of mourning as you try to decide which pair you are going to bring off of the bench and have them be promoted to the varsity team of jeans in your closet.

Don't worry... I really have a point.

There are many times we find ourselves saying "What is the purpose of this" or "What is the point" or "Why am I here". This scripture prints it in black in white.

We are here to be the salt seasoning. We are to bring out the God-flavors of this earth.
We are to serve as a favorite pair of jeans. We are to bring God's security and comfort to those who live in fear or discomfort. We are to be useful.

Do you bring the flavor? (pretty much love this phrase)

We are called to bring the flavor! We need to bring the God-spice into the world!

Quick story:
My Nana makes the best homemade applesauce EVER! There is something about her mixture of Granny Smith apples, cinnamon and sugar that just makes her applesauce so wonderful. One day Nana was cooking her homemade applesauce in my kitchen. The amazing culinary organizational specialist that I am... I put all of my baking supplies in ceramic containers.

The largest has flour, second largest-sugar, third largest-salt, smallest - misc. sugar and sweetener packets.

You don't have to be Betty Crocker to know the difference between looking at flour and looking at sugar. You do however have to be a chemical engineer or "Amanda-mind reader" to know the difference between salt and sugar.

Poor Nana added salt instead of sugar. Not just a little salt... a lot of salt was added to her homemade goodness.

Lots of salt + granny smith apples + cinnamon - sugar = Really bad grunt like sound coming from Nana because her Applesauce was ruined.

I cried a little tear as i saw the salty apple creation make its way to the trash.

Do we consider ourselves bringing the FLAVA but really we are bringing the wrong FLAVA?

Are we spicing things up with our spice and not God- spice?

Do we add salt when we should be adding sugar?

God-spice helps other experience a world of Godliness.

Just like a good pair of jeans.. we can lose our usefulness when we aren't bringing the God-spice to others. We are useless when we aren't being useful.

God calls us to bring it! God calls us off of the bench and into the game. God calls us all of the time.. not just once a week or when we need to feel good about ourselves.

Where is God calling you to be the salt-seasoning and bring out the God-flavors in this world?

Nana acted quick while making the applesauce.. in a routine move she added what she thought was the right ingredient.
Being the God-spice and bringing the God-flavor means not being routine... it means trying things out.. it means knowing who you are and what you can do before bringing the God-flavor.

Sometimes we are worn out like our favorite pair of jeans. Sometimes we need to throw out the old way of doing things and allow God to bring out new spices with in us. Maybe God is calling you to try on something different in this life... open your eyes to a new part of this world that needs to find out what this Christ person is all about. If we keep going back to the old way of life (the old jeans) we fall into a routine.

Its time.

Be useful!
Be salt-seasoning!
Bring out the God -flavors!

Today I ask God to show us all how to BRING IT today and Spice up the world we live in with his love!

Matthew 5:11-12 Christ's words > other's lies

“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
Matthew 5:11-12 (New Living Translation)


Sticks and stones may break my bones.. but words will never hurt me.
If you don't have anything nice to say... don't say anything at all.
It's easier to attract bees with honey than with vinegar.

And my personal favorite...

I'm Rubber, you're glue - Whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to YOU.

How many times have you heard or even better said any of these catchy phrases?
**Blog challenge... I challenge you to say one of these phrases at least once today..**


Ladies and Gentlemen.. we are talking about persecution yet again today... awesome!
This scripture talks about so much more than persecution... it talks about words.

Words are powerful.
We learned about the weight of our words the first time we were grounded or sent to time out when we lied to our parents. The first time we used a forbidden word or obscene word we were reminded of its inappropriateness or offensiveness by having a bar of soap in our mouth.. or experiencing the embarrassment once we found out what that word really meant.

Words have weight.
I love you are words that are thrown around without a second thought these days.
I hate you are words that are thrown around without a second thought these days.

Apparently this is not a new concept in this scripture either...
Jesus is on a hillside talking to his committed walking companions and he is telling them the honest truth.. people will literally hate them and lie about them because of being committed to Him.
Nobody can escape the hate... not even Christ.

But the weight of words can only be determined by the power you give them. "I don't love you anymore" can only hurt as much as the power that you assign to those words.

Christ calls us to be happy and be very glad when somebody lies about you or says evil things about you. What? You want me to be happy when somebody is spreading rumors about me? What? You mean I can't post something mean on facebook about somebody who said something mean about me? What?

Christ calls us to find joy in Him.
Joy is contagious.
When we find true happiness in our Creator... the rest is just words.

Allow the words Christ gives us to have more power over our lives than the lies spread about us.

I am going to say it again...

Allow the words Christ gives us to have more power over our lives than the lies spread about us.

Christ's words > others lies.

In the word battle Christ's words are stronger than anything we can say or hear.

Thats why it is so important to speak the truth... to speak in love... because Christ is love.

My prayer today is that we remember that life is not easy. We are going to be persecuted... but allow Christ's words flow from your mouths and finger-tips. Allow Christ's words to take root into your heart and replace the words of others that have lived there for so long.

Christ's words > others lies.

Amen.

Matthew 5:10 "Persecution Provoking Commitment"

"You are blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom."

I have highlighted and deleted the section below this point about 5 different times today. For some reason this scripture is hard for me to talk about. I actually sat down to start this blog today at 9:30am.

Then I took a break. (and pressed delete)

I switched my music inspiration from my itunes self created playlist "Country songs that are in my head" to another self created playlist "Amanda's Top 14 Christian Favorites" thinking that would get my inspirational writing juices flowing.

Fail.

I took a long driving lunch to get a change of scenery so I can really center myself on persecution. (while listing to "Everything" by Tim Hughes).

Nothing.

I then sat down a bit ago and started to write a bunch of fluff.. just to say i finished this blog today.

Highlight - Delete.

Currently I am trying to think of why it is so hard for me to write about Persecution.

I am lucky enough not to suffer persecution.

Maybe I am making this scripture too complicated.

Maybe the focus on this scripture should be less on the persecution that happens as a result of your God commitment and more on the actions you make to provoke the persecution.

Maybe I should be asking myself "How is your God-commitment provoking persecution?"
Maybe I don't experience persecution because my God-commitment is not strong enough to provoke persecution.
Maybe the persecution I am experiencing is coming from other things that are buying for my commitment with God.

Maybe the "I don't want to's", the "I am so angry's", and the "I would rather's" are my self inflicted persecution.

Maybe persecution has more to do with commitment than you and I would like to believe.
Maybe the reason why I don't feel like I have been persecuted against... is because I am not doing anything that is persecution worthy. My commitment is not on the radar. My commitment is not challenging.

Does your God- Commitment provoke persecution?

There really is not a right way to wrap up this devotional with a nice bow today.

Maybe there is a reason why I needed to marinate on this scripture today.

Maybe this will be continued in my thoughts, prayers, and actions.

If persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom... then I need to challenge myself to have a persecution provoking commitment to God.

Matthew 5:9 - HEB, Texas Rangers, and Norm.

"You are blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family."
Matthew 5:9

Amanda -1
Lady at the grocery store who I was competing against in shopping cart racing (without her knowledge) - 0

"Friend" i was trying to avoid at coffee establishment - 1
Amanda using her stealth ninja avoidance skills - 0

Amanda - 1
Norm - 0
(This was a race to see who could make it down the hallway faster.... let it be known that my cat Norm through down the challenge... and I had to accept)

As you can tell by reading these stats... I am a fierce competitor. Life is a competition with me.. ALWAYS a competition.

So imagine my surprise when I read this scripture.

Not gonna lie.. this is how I read this scripture the first time today..
"You are blessed when you can show people how to COOPERATE instead of compete or FIGHT. That's when you (and by you i mean everybody else but myself) discover who you (not me) really are, and your (not my) place in God's family."

I then formulated a plan of action to somehow NOT make this a message about competition and rather about cooperation and fighting. I figured with my advanced writing and avoidance skills (don't let the above scoreboard fool you.. I am a champion avoider) I could somehow blog and fool your mind into not reading the word compete.

Then I instantly thought about the Texas Rangers play off turning point in my life.

I discovered a whole new side of myself while watching the Texas Rangers play the New York Yankees. Apparently I went from being a relatively civil and kind hearted youth minister... to a rough around the edges cursing like a sailor rage machine. Praise the Lord I was in the privacy of my own home when this Hulk-like transformation took place... but none the less... it was frightening.

I was yelling at the TV, screaming out words my Nana would be ashamed of, and cheering at any sight of injury or struggle that the other team showed.

Who was this person I had become.

Fast forward to today.
Reading this scripture a second time... here is what I read...
"You are blessed when you can SHOW people how to cooperate instead of COMPETE or fight. That's when you discover WHO YOU really are, and YOUR PLACE in God's family."
Matthew 5:9

You see when you really think about cooperation and fighting.. you can't help but think of competing. Who is winning the fight you are having? Was that verbal punch I just threw good enough to advance me to the next level? Did that text I just send or passive-aggressive email or Facebook posting allow me to have an upper hand in that relationship? Did I just prove that I was the bigger person by cooperating?

We receive blessings when we show people who we are in God's family. When we treat others as a part of God's family. A little less talk and a lot more action. (I am pretty sure that is not what Toby Keith had in mind for that lyric... but just go with it).

I find that I am most competitive with the people I know the least. The less I know about their heart and the core of who they are the easier it is do dehumanize them and think of myself as better than them.

Lets be real.. life is full of competition... I am going to go to a varsity volleyball play off game in an hour....
Its unrealistic to say that we should all think of ourselves as equal and do away with all sports, grading systems, awards ceremonies, and all other competitions.

What is realistic is changing the way we think about competitions and our competitors.. and basically everybody we come in contact with.

Galatians 6:9-10 tells us:
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Yikes!

That means the poor lady that had no idea she was taking part in the very first HEB 500 Grocery Cart race, my "friend" who I have grown a part from because of conflict and thus tried to avoid in a coffee shop, and all of the New York Yankees (even the over paid and over hyped players) - ALL of them belong to the family of believers.

We need to realize who we are fighting and what our actions (or words) are showing others.

I would love to believe that each game, fight, argument, or time that I was the "bigger person" would be kept in some heavenly scoreboard.. but the reality is God doesn't care who wins.. he cares who LOVES.

Its all about our focus.

This scripture gave me way too much to think about.....
Please join me in thinking about ways to become weary from doing good.

Matthew 5:8 What in the world....

"You're blessed when you get your inside world -your mind and heart- put right. Then you can see God in the outside world."
Matthew 5:8

Have you ever noticed how many cords we use on a regular basis. I wireless and cordless world... I find that I have way too many wires and cords ruling my life.

Take my phone for example. My wireless cell phone requires a power cord that I can plug into the wall, a power cord that I can plug into my car lighter, and a computer cord. All of these cords are important and bring life to my phone. With out these cords I would not be able to text, tweet, check my email, update my status... oh ya and make a phone call. And that is just my cell phone.

My digital camera is a different story. For my digital camera I have a battery charger and a cord to plug my camera into my computer.

My laptop computer.. also has lots of cords. I can plug in all sorts of stuff into my wireless computer. I have to plug my computer into an outlet to get power. I have to plug my printer into my computer to print.

Cords equal power.

Cords make the insides work.

With out a battery - my computer, phone, camera, tv remote, toothbrush... all useless.

The batteries are the brains.

That is why this scripture is so important.

We need to make sure we are plugged in-empowered-energized in our hearts and heads. Our insides need to be right in order to appreciate what is happening on the outside.

I had an amazing dinner with a bunch of 9th grade girls last night. We just sat around and caught up. I haven't seen many of these girls consistently since school started. Between school and other activities.. these girls are worn out..stressed out...and completely out of energy. And I know that they are not alone.

When we are worn out, stressed out, and out of energy... our hearts and minds are emptied... just like the life of a battery. When our minds and hearts are empty - we are not able to experience God to the fullest.

God is love and when we are love-empty, we are not able to share God's love.

Scripture tells us:

Deuteronomy 11:18-19 (New International Version)
18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

and

Luke 10:27 (New International Version)
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”

These two scriptures have two very distinct actions for us to take:
1. inside world focus - bind His words on our hearts and minds, love the Lord with all that we are (heart, soul, strength).
2. Outside world focus - teach His words to others in everything you do, and love everybody.

Outside focus cannot happen without the Inside focus being right.

You can't teach or love if you don't know what your teaching or what this love is all about.

I try so hard to live in the outside world. I want to see God working through others and working around me... but I can't see those things or experience those opportunities without first being right with God.

I can't be completely heart and mind focused because then I will lose out on the opportunity that God has for me to be others focused.

God desires for us to live in the inside world and the outside world. That means that there needs to be a point of transition. A time where we figure out what world we are living in and what it would take for us to transition to where God is calling us to be.

God may be calling for you to take a little mind and heart inventory and make things right. OR God might be calling you to get out of your inside world and check out how He is working in the outside world with others.

Just like our phones, computers, and cameras we are called to be used to our full capacity... but all of us are called to re-charge and make things right.

What good is a fully charged cell phone if its just going to sit there? What good is a camera that has dead battery?

What world are you living in?

Is God calling you to charge up and make things right... or is God kicking you out of your inside world so you can be blessed with the outside world of blessings he has placed before you?

Matthew 5:7 Risk taking care-full ness.

"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-ful', you find yourselves cared for."
Matthew 5:7

"I don't care" how many times do you find yourself saying that during the day.

Where do you want to go to lunch...........I don't care.
What time do you want to leave............I don't care.
What do you want to watch on TV...........I don't care.

I think we are lacking in the care department.
Its as if we have given up on having an opinion about something.

Time and time again i hear from parents whose A student is suddenly failing classes because they don't care to turn in their assignments.

I hear from teenagers all the time that wishes that their parents cared enough about what the youth are doing in their everyday lives.

The Bible can be misinterpreted many times over and over again... but the one thing in the Bible that cannot be misinterpreted are the verses that talk about loving one another. Jesus is very clear when he tells us to "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34.

Jesus calls us to care.

Caring requires engagement.
Caring requires action.
Caring requires you to be intentional.

We lack in the caring department.
Many times I talk to youth about this very topic.

Jesus doesn't give us the responsibility to judge.. that's his job.. instead he gives us the responsibility to care.

Its easier to not care. Its easier not to chose where you are going to eat lunch, what radio station you will listen to, and what friend you are going to talk to during the day. Caring requires you to take risks. Care us a 4 letter word that hit us right where it counts sometimes.

You risk rejection when you care.
You risk heartbreak when you care.
You risk failure when you care.

But not caring also takes risks...
When you don't care for others - you risk not having anybody care for you in return.

I saw this quote today on someones facebook that just hit me between the eyes:
"I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least." - Dorothy Day

I really only care about God as much as I care about the person I love the least.

Christ calls us to care.

Think about the person you love the least... and love them more!

Care about the person who just cut you off in traffic.
Care about the person who makes you spit fire because they make you so angry.
Care about the careless.

Take a risk today and care. :)

Matthew 5:6 Food for thought...

"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat."
Matthew 5:6

I love everything that has to do with food! I love to eat! I love to cook! I love to watch shows about eating and cooking!

I want to believe that I have developed an appreciation of food as I have grown older.

As a child I could critique any form of candy you place before me. There was not a kind of candy that I did not try at least once.

As I got older I learned to appreciate the finer things like the best cuts of beef, the best way to cook vegetables, and the best cheese to go with the best wine. (but who am i kidding.. I really love eating salsa and chips, chicken fingers, and of course grilled cheese sandwiches).

When my friends and I get together we eat at all of the places we love. Very few times do I plan an event that doesn't require food. I find pleasure out of finding new recipes and sharing those recipes with others. There is just something about food that makes everything better.

---Then Matthew 5:6 came along and made me think---

What would working up an appetite for God look like? I can tell you that I have already thought about what i will have for dinner tonight and what i will eat for breakfast tomorrow... but sadly I haven't even begun to think about when the next time I will pray would be or the next time I will open up the Bible (beyond Matthew 5 of course).

Its funny how we socialize around food... but rarely do we socialize around God. We plan for food in our daily lives... but rarely do we plan for our DAILY bread.

I could talk about food for hours - but could i talk about God for an hour?

God is the best we could ever have! Its hard to believe that anything is better than a great piece of chocolate or a nice juicy steak. But God is better than anything we could ever want in our lives. I want to limit God and place him on the menu under appetizers or insist that God is the main course... when in all actuality.. God is the whole menu.

Food is such a great analogy for God. We need food to survive. We need God for eternal life.
We can eat enough food just to survive. We can take in enough God just to get by..just to feel better about our lives.

God can be for more than just survival.

I am so very thankful that the relationship I have with our Creator is beyond just survival. I serve a God who guides my steps. I serve a God who never leaves my side. I serve a God that wants only the best for me and provides so many opportunities for me to have the best.

While we can gorge ourselves with feasts and fast foods.. we will never be able to gorge ourselves with God.

There is no such thing as being overweight with God's love.

Our cups overflow with his love and mercy.

We thank God for our food... but do we ever thank our food for God?

In the Food Vs. God challenge....... God is the champion.

"He's the best food and drink in the best meal we will ever eat"

Amen to that!

Matthew 5:5 You be You.

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are - no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."
Matthew 5:5

I love reality television! Reality television fascinates me to the core of who i am. I love watching people. I love finding out who people are. What makes them tick? Why do they make the decisions that they make? Who are they when nobody is looking? I love the reality of reality television.

I know that "Reality television" is only half real....but then again... aren't we only half real sometimes as well?

How would your life play out on reality television? How real would you be? I think "being real" is so in right now in society. We have a hunger for what is real. In this day in age where people are downsizing and re-prioritizing due to the economy being real is all some of us can be. No more can we hide behind big houses, named filled closets, and fancy cars. We have to live in the reality.

This scripture poses a real challenge... being content with who you are...no more, no less.

Being content with who you are.

Content is not vanity.
Content is not unreachable.
Content is reality.

We are called to be real with who we are. And if we are being honest with who we are right now.. I can tell you that being real with myself is one of the hardest things I can do. Living an honest life is a hard thing to do. Its much easier to live the life I want others to think that I have.

The reality is...sometimes my life is stressful.
Sometimes I make mistakes.
Many times I am lazy.

Along with the challenge that this scripture gives us.. It also gives us grace. The minute we live in reality we are able to see that reality is not about pricey things.. but instead its about priceless opportunities and relationships.

The reality is that although my life is stressful..I have an amazing job that allows me to blog about scripture everyday!
The reality is that although I make more mistakes than I would like..I have friends and family that show me grace with each wrong turn that I take.
The reality is that although I am lazy..I serve a Lord who loves me beyond my laziness.

My prayer for all of us today is that we become content with who we are...no more and no less and that we realize that we were created by somebody who loves us just the way we are. :)