Reminder of the day: God is with You.
"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment."
(John 16:7-8)
"He will glorify me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you." (John 16:14)
I know that verse 7 is strange. When I read that it blows me away a little bit. How on Earth could we be better now that Christ is no longer on Earth? How is that possible? How can that possibly be a good plan of action? His disciples were just as confused as I'm sure we would have been if we didn't know the rest of the story...
BUT BUT BUTTTTT. we DO know the whole story. We know why Jesus had to leave, so that the Holy Spirit could come. Our HELPER. The Spirit is not an "it," He is an entity of the trinity. You know the best part though?? He is here to reside in us, to correct us, to convict us and to help us seek righteousness. The Holy Spirit is God with with you. He is with you all day every day, through the good and the bad. He is constant. He remains the same. The Holy Spirit is your guide to life here on Earth. He is our GIFT from God. Our comforter (John 14:26). He intercedes our prayers (Romans 8:26-27). He is GOD with us.
Conclusion: Never forget the POWER residing in you. God is always with you and He is ready to help. "For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you." (Isaiah 41:13)
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
God is Love.
Reminder: God is love.
Late Valentines Day post... Valentines is not exactly my favorite holiday, I have always wondered why we only celebrate love one day a year when it is worthy of celebration every day. So for that reason I decided to write the post about love not on Valentines Day. I want us to begin to celebrate LOVE daily...
John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."
1 John 4:16-18... "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this love perfected with us, so that we may have the confidence for the day of judgement, because as He is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."
John 13:35 "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.Love never ends..."
Four verses about love. I'm sure you have heard of at least one of them if not all of them... but how often do we stop and think to put them together? God is LOVE. God so LOVED us that He sent His son to walk the Earth until He ultimately sacrificed Himself out of His gracious, abundant LOVE for us. Once Christ ascended into Heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit, who resides in us when we are in Christ. With the Holy Spirit abiding in us we are also abiding in LOVE. This is the way people know that we are Christians, if we LOVE one another. Then the beautiful thing is that God produces LOVE in us and through Him we bear fruit. If you go through and replace the world "love" in the 1 Corinthians verse with "God's love in me produces," you will see the kind of person God is forming you into.
Christ LOVES you. His love changes you. His love directs you. His love forgives you. His love protects you. His love perfects you.
Conclusion: Celebrate His love daily. Abide in His love.
Late Valentines Day post... Valentines is not exactly my favorite holiday, I have always wondered why we only celebrate love one day a year when it is worthy of celebration every day. So for that reason I decided to write the post about love not on Valentines Day. I want us to begin to celebrate LOVE daily...
John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."
1 John 4:16-18... "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this love perfected with us, so that we may have the confidence for the day of judgement, because as He is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."
John 13:35 "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.Love never ends..."
Four verses about love. I'm sure you have heard of at least one of them if not all of them... but how often do we stop and think to put them together? God is LOVE. God so LOVED us that He sent His son to walk the Earth until He ultimately sacrificed Himself out of His gracious, abundant LOVE for us. Once Christ ascended into Heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit, who resides in us when we are in Christ. With the Holy Spirit abiding in us we are also abiding in LOVE. This is the way people know that we are Christians, if we LOVE one another. Then the beautiful thing is that God produces LOVE in us and through Him we bear fruit. If you go through and replace the world "love" in the 1 Corinthians verse with "God's love in me produces," you will see the kind of person God is forming you into.
Christ LOVES you. His love changes you. His love directs you. His love forgives you. His love protects you. His love perfects you.
Conclusion: Celebrate His love daily. Abide in His love.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Ash Wednesday
So, I have slacked a little bit over the past few days... School got crazy, and I'm sure you can figure the rest.
Today marks the first day of the Lenten season, Ash Wednesday. For those of you who don't know what Lent is, it is the time where we are to reflect and prepare our hearts for Easter. 40 days... We are encouraged to give up something during this time frame... to sacrifice something that we hold in high esteem. It is too serve as a reminder to pray. We give a small sacrifice to prepare ourselves for the greatest act of sacrificial love ever known.
I don't want you to just give up something, I want you to be active in doing something as well. My challenge to you over the next 40 days is to read John 16-21 once a week... I know you're probably like that is so redundant, why on earth would I read the same 5 chapters 5 or 6 times? My answer would be because every time you read it you will get something new out of it. Take notes, ask questions. See how God meets you during this process...
What are you giving up for Lent? I want to know! I want to know how to pray for you. Also, as you're reading the chapters (if you choose to) ask questions or write your thoughts on here! Share them with us. That's how we learn and grow, by listening to each other talk it out, by fellowship.
Conclusion: Christ gave his life for us, what are we willing to give in order to prepare our hearts for the celebration of his resurrection?
Today marks the first day of the Lenten season, Ash Wednesday. For those of you who don't know what Lent is, it is the time where we are to reflect and prepare our hearts for Easter. 40 days... We are encouraged to give up something during this time frame... to sacrifice something that we hold in high esteem. It is too serve as a reminder to pray. We give a small sacrifice to prepare ourselves for the greatest act of sacrificial love ever known.
I don't want you to just give up something, I want you to be active in doing something as well. My challenge to you over the next 40 days is to read John 16-21 once a week... I know you're probably like that is so redundant, why on earth would I read the same 5 chapters 5 or 6 times? My answer would be because every time you read it you will get something new out of it. Take notes, ask questions. See how God meets you during this process...
What are you giving up for Lent? I want to know! I want to know how to pray for you. Also, as you're reading the chapters (if you choose to) ask questions or write your thoughts on here! Share them with us. That's how we learn and grow, by listening to each other talk it out, by fellowship.
Conclusion: Christ gave his life for us, what are we willing to give in order to prepare our hearts for the celebration of his resurrection?
Friday, February 8, 2013
Hard Things
Reminder of the day: Just because it's easy doesn't mean it's right, just because it's hard doesn't mean it's wrong...
So many times God requires us to do the hard things. The Bible is full of hard situations. Sometimes they seem strange. Sometime they make no sense. But just because they make you feel a certain way doesn't mean that God doesn't have a plan. We have not been called to a life of "easy".. Luke 9:23 says, "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" I don't know how many of you read this and say, "Oh, that's easy. Carrying a cross, and denying myself is the simplest thing I've ever heard." No... I'm pretty sure none of you say that because the fact it isn't easy. But it is RIGHT. We are to follow His example... For us he denied Himself and carried His cross all the way to Calvary where He demonstrated His love for us. I'm sure more than anything that that was not easy, but He did it out of the abundance of His love for us. In the same way, we should live for Him out of our love for Him. There will be times that we fall short and it happens daily. BUT, that is the beauty of God's love... His grace abounds more and more. Stand back up and continue following Him.
Conclusion: Mirror your life after Christ's, and while that's not always the easiest thing to do... It is the best possible decision you could ever make.
So many times God requires us to do the hard things. The Bible is full of hard situations. Sometimes they seem strange. Sometime they make no sense. But just because they make you feel a certain way doesn't mean that God doesn't have a plan. We have not been called to a life of "easy".. Luke 9:23 says, "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" I don't know how many of you read this and say, "Oh, that's easy. Carrying a cross, and denying myself is the simplest thing I've ever heard." No... I'm pretty sure none of you say that because the fact it isn't easy. But it is RIGHT. We are to follow His example... For us he denied Himself and carried His cross all the way to Calvary where He demonstrated His love for us. I'm sure more than anything that that was not easy, but He did it out of the abundance of His love for us. In the same way, we should live for Him out of our love for Him. There will be times that we fall short and it happens daily. BUT, that is the beauty of God's love... His grace abounds more and more. Stand back up and continue following Him.
Conclusion: Mirror your life after Christ's, and while that's not always the easiest thing to do... It is the best possible decision you could ever make.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Walking.
Reminder of the day: Pick up your feet so you don't trip.
Today I was walking on campus... And I tripped 3 times within a timespan of 5 minutes, you laugh, but how many of you have had these same days? It got to the point where in my head I was telling myself, "Pick up your feet so you don't trip." At the same time I was wondering what I was going to write for the day and it hit me. "Pick up your feet so you don't trip." We are all on a journey with Christ, walking along side of Him. He is our guide. But even with Him walking beside sometimes roots and cracks pop up here and there. These roots and cracks symbolize the temptation for sin in our lives. The beauty is that God gives the ability to step over those cracks. To flee from those temptations. "...God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). He gives you the way out. He helps you pick your feet up. He helps you get away from those things, but you have to do some of the work! Just pick up your feet. Just decide in your heart that you want to avoid tripping. Keep your feet in sync with Christ's and you will not fall.
Conclusion: (1 Timothy 6:11) "But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness."
Keep on moving :)
Today I was walking on campus... And I tripped 3 times within a timespan of 5 minutes, you laugh, but how many of you have had these same days? It got to the point where in my head I was telling myself, "Pick up your feet so you don't trip." At the same time I was wondering what I was going to write for the day and it hit me. "Pick up your feet so you don't trip." We are all on a journey with Christ, walking along side of Him. He is our guide. But even with Him walking beside sometimes roots and cracks pop up here and there. These roots and cracks symbolize the temptation for sin in our lives. The beauty is that God gives the ability to step over those cracks. To flee from those temptations. "...God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). He gives you the way out. He helps you pick your feet up. He helps you get away from those things, but you have to do some of the work! Just pick up your feet. Just decide in your heart that you want to avoid tripping. Keep your feet in sync with Christ's and you will not fall.
Conclusion: (1 Timothy 6:11) "But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness."
Keep on moving :)
Work for Good
Reminder of the Day: God works for your good.
You all know the story of Joseph... The one where his brothers throw him in a pit out of jealous. Sell him. He is brought to Egypt. Works for Potiphar. Thrown in jail for false accusations by Potiphar's wife. Interpreted dreams. Lifted to Pharaoh's right hand man. Put over all of Egypt. During a famine, reunited with the same brothers that threw him in that pit so many years earlier... They came to him asking for food without realizing who he was... You get the gist of it. If you haven't read it I highly encourage you to do so. [Genesis 37-50]... This brings me to what I want to talk about...
Genesis 50:20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." This verse is such an encouragement, and the person who said it is so beyond credible.. He was imprisoned and could have been killed because of what his brothers did to him, but God spared him. God had his own plan. God wanted to make Joseph's life a beautiful masterpiece. He wanted to make something of Joseph. He wanted to give him a bright future. So He did exactly that. Even though evil was done, God still used it.
This applies to your life. This is what God has in store for you. Don't ever think that anything is too big for God to work through. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." ALL things. Not just some things... but ALLLLL things. Let that soak in. God has bigger plans for you. God wants to make something of you. He is the masterful artist and He is creating something beautiful in your life. Sometimes those trials help shape up into that end result. Ecclesiastes 3:11... "God has made everything beautiful in its time."
Conclusion: He has good things prepared for you.
Keep your head up.
You all know the story of Joseph... The one where his brothers throw him in a pit out of jealous. Sell him. He is brought to Egypt. Works for Potiphar. Thrown in jail for false accusations by Potiphar's wife. Interpreted dreams. Lifted to Pharaoh's right hand man. Put over all of Egypt. During a famine, reunited with the same brothers that threw him in that pit so many years earlier... They came to him asking for food without realizing who he was... You get the gist of it. If you haven't read it I highly encourage you to do so. [Genesis 37-50]... This brings me to what I want to talk about...
Genesis 50:20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." This verse is such an encouragement, and the person who said it is so beyond credible.. He was imprisoned and could have been killed because of what his brothers did to him, but God spared him. God had his own plan. God wanted to make Joseph's life a beautiful masterpiece. He wanted to make something of Joseph. He wanted to give him a bright future. So He did exactly that. Even though evil was done, God still used it.
This applies to your life. This is what God has in store for you. Don't ever think that anything is too big for God to work through. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." ALL things. Not just some things... but ALLLLL things. Let that soak in. God has bigger plans for you. God wants to make something of you. He is the masterful artist and He is creating something beautiful in your life. Sometimes those trials help shape up into that end result. Ecclesiastes 3:11... "God has made everything beautiful in its time."
Conclusion: He has good things prepared for you.
Keep your head up.
Hard Words
Reminder: Speak truth.
Sometimes telling someone what is right, be it yourself or your friends, is not always easy. Sometimes we want to avoid the glaring truth. But as believers and brothers and sisters in Christ we are supposed to help one another and keep each other accountable. "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1Thess5:11) But remember, before you start telling other people what's right, make sure you are doing it out of love and not judgement. It is never our place to judge, it is our place to love. People know we are Christians by our love, not by us shaking our fingers at the world out of disgust. "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." (Proverbs27:17) Be in God's word, let your life begin to reflect that word. In fellowship we help one another grow and stand firm in the Truth. My small group leader once told me that sometimes those hard conversations that we want to avoid, are exactly the ones that we should be having.
Conclusion: Love one another in spirit and truth...
Remember to smile.
Sometimes telling someone what is right, be it yourself or your friends, is not always easy. Sometimes we want to avoid the glaring truth. But as believers and brothers and sisters in Christ we are supposed to help one another and keep each other accountable. "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1Thess5:11) But remember, before you start telling other people what's right, make sure you are doing it out of love and not judgement. It is never our place to judge, it is our place to love. People know we are Christians by our love, not by us shaking our fingers at the world out of disgust. "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." (Proverbs27:17) Be in God's word, let your life begin to reflect that word. In fellowship we help one another grow and stand firm in the Truth. My small group leader once told me that sometimes those hard conversations that we want to avoid, are exactly the ones that we should be having.
Conclusion: Love one another in spirit and truth...
Remember to smile.
God is Good.
Reminder for the day: SLOW DOWN.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Psalm 34:8
Tasting and seeing... Senses that require action... This action may very well be over looked in the whirlwind of the day. It is so easy in thinking of the next assignment, the next project, the next game, the next event that we forget to see all the many ways we encounter God during the day. Slow down to taste. Slow down to see. Look for Him in everything you do, and you will be surprised just how intimately involved he is with every aspect of your life. God is good. All the time. My prayer is that you begin to get a grasp on just how incredible He really is.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Psalm 34:8
Tasting and seeing... Senses that require action... This action may very well be over looked in the whirlwind of the day. It is so easy in thinking of the next assignment, the next project, the next game, the next event that we forget to see all the many ways we encounter God during the day. Slow down to taste. Slow down to see. Look for Him in everything you do, and you will be surprised just how intimately involved he is with every aspect of your life. God is good. All the time. My prayer is that you begin to get a grasp on just how incredible He really is.
Stand Out
Reminder of the day: Be bold for Christ.
I hate to tell you... But you're born to stand out. I know so many times it is EASY to fit in and desire acceptance. But that's not what God has created you for. You are to be a beacon of HIS light to shine forth HIS love. It is however a process, no one is perfect. God is the potter and we are the clay, and he is forming our lives. There are no greater hands for us to be in. He wants the best for us. His plan for our lives is what is the best, it is good, acceptable, and perfect. We should desire this. We should desire him. May this be a constant reminder for us today, conform to God's ways, they truly are the best :)
Conclusion: Romans 12:2.. "Do not be conFORMED to this world, but be transFORMED by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Remember to smile. :)
I hate to tell you... But you're born to stand out. I know so many times it is EASY to fit in and desire acceptance. But that's not what God has created you for. You are to be a beacon of HIS light to shine forth HIS love. It is however a process, no one is perfect. God is the potter and we are the clay, and he is forming our lives. There are no greater hands for us to be in. He wants the best for us. His plan for our lives is what is the best, it is good, acceptable, and perfect. We should desire this. We should desire him. May this be a constant reminder for us today, conform to God's ways, they truly are the best :)
Conclusion: Romans 12:2.. "Do not be conFORMED to this world, but be transFORMED by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Remember to smile. :)
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