I feel like this is one of those "Christian-ese" words that we use, but I'm convinced we have no idea what faith really is!
Hebrews 11:7
By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn't see, and acted on what he was told. The result? His family was saved. His act of faith drew a sharp line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the believing world. As a result, Noah became intimate with God.
Okay, check this out! We've been told it hadn't rained on the earth and all the sudden God tells Noah to build an ark! He's going to destroy the earth because the people have corrupted it. Right? Yeah, looks take a closer look. Noah was FIVE HUNDRED YEARS OLD!!!! WHAT?!!! Five hundred just by the time he had three boys, THEN God told him to build an ark!
I don't know about you, but to me, faith is trusting and following God when everyone around you is telling you "No, bad idea". Noah was walking so closely to God that God chose HIM out of EVERYONE on the earth! God found Noah blameless.
I want to have more faith in a God like that!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
This is what it looks like!
Acts 2:42-47
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and good, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
I am a big fan of the book of Acts simply because it gives a very raw, down to earth picture of what the church actually looks like! It has been about 3 years since I have been shown this verse and really explained in great detail what it means, looks like, and the great impact that it can have for a community!
As I read this I am even more excited about small groups starting in 3 weeks and very excited about the impact that they could have in Tyler! God is doing great things at Dayspring and I am incredibly blessed to be a part of this body!
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and good, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
I am a big fan of the book of Acts simply because it gives a very raw, down to earth picture of what the church actually looks like! It has been about 3 years since I have been shown this verse and really explained in great detail what it means, looks like, and the great impact that it can have for a community!
As I read this I am even more excited about small groups starting in 3 weeks and very excited about the impact that they could have in Tyler! God is doing great things at Dayspring and I am incredibly blessed to be a part of this body!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
It's not enough to be challenged....
We must be CHANGED in order to be FORMED!
Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Being not only a sarcastic person, but someone who speaks their mind on......too much......this hits home!
I would love to say that I speak truth and speak things that lift others up, because I do, but not as much as I'm supposed to! I need a big banner in front of me that says "Don't let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth EVER!"
So this is my challenge today. To me, and to you!
Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Being not only a sarcastic person, but someone who speaks their mind on......too much......this hits home!
I would love to say that I speak truth and speak things that lift others up, because I do, but not as much as I'm supposed to! I need a big banner in front of me that says "Don't let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth EVER!"
So this is my challenge today. To me, and to you!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Encouragement from our good friend James!
I love the book of James. SERIOUSLY! I am so encouraged when I read it and I feel like I understand so much of it when I do, but also learn something new everytime I open it up! So now, all you.....okay, both of you, that read this blog, you will now see a peek into WHY I love James so much!
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James start out telling you that you're GOING to face trials. Life's not gonna be picture perfect. James doesn't waste much time though saying the purpose of it all is so that we may be mature and lack nothing! LACK NOTHING!!! We won't be formed into the image of God simply by being challenged. We must be changed. That is when we must realize that trials are a part of the life and the joy comes from knowing that God has chosen to form us into the image of Christ.
The challenge for us......Don't stop! Don't just look at life and go through it's course and say "Man, God is really challenging me." When you are changed, THAT'S when you are FORMED!
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James start out telling you that you're GOING to face trials. Life's not gonna be picture perfect. James doesn't waste much time though saying the purpose of it all is so that we may be mature and lack nothing! LACK NOTHING!!! We won't be formed into the image of God simply by being challenged. We must be changed. That is when we must realize that trials are a part of the life and the joy comes from knowing that God has chosen to form us into the image of Christ.
The challenge for us......Don't stop! Don't just look at life and go through it's course and say "Man, God is really challenging me." When you are changed, THAT'S when you are FORMED!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Small Groups
This has pretty much consumed my life the past 2 months! I didn't realize what a task this was going to be until I began! Not sure that I have completely mastered the task, but God has amazed me at how he has worked through me in order to get everything needed done!
My pastor gave me a book to read about small groups and an almost idiot proof way to organize them! =) The title of the book is Activate by Nelson Searcy and Kerrick Thomas. They are both pastors of the Journey Church in NY. www.journeymetro.com I never expected a book about small groups to challenge me to the core! It did! I just want to share one of the things that kicked me in the butt!
"When you ask someone to lead a group, you are not asking that person to help you out; you are offering the opportunity to embark on a spiritual adventure, to make a difference, to engage in what God created them to do."
YEAH! So how bout I HATE asking people to help me. Hate it! I have always wanted to do things on my own. It's not a pride thing at all, which most of you are probably thinking "yeah right!". Seriously though. I have always been the type of person to rather do things myself than ask for help. A "pride" issue may be closer to it!
This statement alone empowered me beyond anything anyone has ever said to me in my life. I suddenly looked at calling people and asking them to be a small group leader in a whole different light. I was excited to ask people to lead. There were few that said no, but I never felt knocked down because of it.
I feel like I am in the middle of a HUGE learning curve in my life. It is exciting, adventurous, and empowering! I have never been more certain of where I am now and more confident in the abilities that God has given me!
I LOVE MY GOD!!!
My pastor gave me a book to read about small groups and an almost idiot proof way to organize them! =) The title of the book is Activate by Nelson Searcy and Kerrick Thomas. They are both pastors of the Journey Church in NY. www.journeymetro.com I never expected a book about small groups to challenge me to the core! It did! I just want to share one of the things that kicked me in the butt!
"When you ask someone to lead a group, you are not asking that person to help you out; you are offering the opportunity to embark on a spiritual adventure, to make a difference, to engage in what God created them to do."
YEAH! So how bout I HATE asking people to help me. Hate it! I have always wanted to do things on my own. It's not a pride thing at all, which most of you are probably thinking "yeah right!". Seriously though. I have always been the type of person to rather do things myself than ask for help. A "pride" issue may be closer to it!
This statement alone empowered me beyond anything anyone has ever said to me in my life. I suddenly looked at calling people and asking them to be a small group leader in a whole different light. I was excited to ask people to lead. There were few that said no, but I never felt knocked down because of it.
I feel like I am in the middle of a HUGE learning curve in my life. It is exciting, adventurous, and empowering! I have never been more certain of where I am now and more confident in the abilities that God has given me!
I LOVE MY GOD!!!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
I Am Blessed
I truly am! Every morining that I wake up I am reminded that God loves me more than I deserve. That thought usually doesn't come until AFTER I've taken a shower, brushed my teeth, put on makeup, and decided what to wear! HOWEVER, the thought comes to me every morning.
On my way to work each day I have tried to make it a point to pray the majority of the time I am in my car. I cannot even put into words how much I have been blessed by that time. God has truly shown me exactly what to pray for....in some cases. Here's the case that he hasn't.
There are certain people that I pray for and I know exactly what to pray as soon as I pray for them. I feel like God is telling me, in that moment, what to pray for them about. HOWEVER, there are others that God has been convicting me about my heart while I am praying for them.
James 4:3 says "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
I have heard that verse several times, however, never applied it when I prayed for someone else. Only when I was praying for my own "wants/needs". I never applied it when I was praying for someone else. We don't know what God's Will is for someone else so therefore we can only pray that His will be done and that clarity be brought to that person in order to see His will!
So that's my convictions as of late! Welcome to the world of "Wanting to grow closer to God"! It sure is hard sometimes! BUT through it all, I am still very blessed, and cannot believe all that God has given me!
On my way to work each day I have tried to make it a point to pray the majority of the time I am in my car. I cannot even put into words how much I have been blessed by that time. God has truly shown me exactly what to pray for....in some cases. Here's the case that he hasn't.
There are certain people that I pray for and I know exactly what to pray as soon as I pray for them. I feel like God is telling me, in that moment, what to pray for them about. HOWEVER, there are others that God has been convicting me about my heart while I am praying for them.
James 4:3 says "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
I have heard that verse several times, however, never applied it when I prayed for someone else. Only when I was praying for my own "wants/needs". I never applied it when I was praying for someone else. We don't know what God's Will is for someone else so therefore we can only pray that His will be done and that clarity be brought to that person in order to see His will!
So that's my convictions as of late! Welcome to the world of "Wanting to grow closer to God"! It sure is hard sometimes! BUT through it all, I am still very blessed, and cannot believe all that God has given me!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Good Morning World
During the change of this season I have become more and more aware of God and His creation. It's been around me forever and I have neglected the beauty of it all. I have allowed myself to take in the glory of nature and have been astounded more and more of my creator. He made this day for me! And he gave it to me to enjoy the splendor and beauty of Him!
Every morning on my drive into town (which is about an hr) I drive across many lakes and see acres upon acres of trees changing colors. It is one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced. I feel like I have never had site before and God just opened my eyes and said "Look over here. Look at that. Look at this. See what I created for you? Do you like it?"
I have been given so much so much by this Amazing God that desires for us to worship him in His beauty!
Every morning on my drive into town (which is about an hr) I drive across many lakes and see acres upon acres of trees changing colors. It is one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced. I feel like I have never had site before and God just opened my eyes and said "Look over here. Look at that. Look at this. See what I created for you? Do you like it?"
I have been given so much so much by this Amazing God that desires for us to worship him in His beauty!
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