Really?

I'm really becoming less and less impressed with my church. I come to youth today expecting to be fed and have something for the week. Why I would expect this since its hasn't happened before is beyond me, but none the less I expect and want a lesson. Instead we spend the entire time playing a game that has nothing to do with what we were actually supposed to be doing. Is that why we have youth, so kids can come have fun and feel comfortable? Not that I'm opposed to either, but thats not all its about. I wonder seriously if my youth group even has a purpose or if we are just having youth to have youth.

Spiritually Anorexic and ergency prayers

I have to ask this because I was really bombarded last night by God. How much do you read your Bible? Do you read just a little to check it off but an hour later you can't even remember what you read? Do you read for an entire hour and become tomotally engrossed in what you read and maybe not forget? Those are awesome places to start and I'm still stuck there. If Jesus said that we are not to live on just food but on the Bible as well then why do we tend to read only a little in the mornings and that's it? What's the difference between a steak and some corn? Some corn will be digested in less than 30 minutes but a steak takes a while to digest. I propose to solutions to our spiritual aneroexia. The first is to read the Bible three times a day instead of just one time cuz face the fact that it probably does not sustain you against every spiritual attack. Or if you really don't have time memorize a couple verse and keep saying them over and over in your head. Basically be a spiritual glutton instead of a spiritual aneroexic.

Has anyone noticed that emergency credit cards are used in a lot of non emergencies and continuous prayers are used only in case of emergency? Maybe you aren't the best at praying? Just try.

A jealous God

Ever thought about how odd it is that we serve a jealous God. Let me rephrase cause that sounds like a bad thing. We serve a God that is so incredibly loving that He not only gave His only son but he wants our thoughts and actions to be about Him. How much time do you spend daily in fellowship with God? 15 minutes, an hour? Before I get all preachy I will admit that I spend a very little bit of time with God. It has improved from the past, but it is so easy to forget God when going through the everyday motions. There is something for me to resolve to do this year, spend more time thinking on and worshipping the creator of the universe. How about you? How often do you think of every single thing in your body that has to be working perfectly or you have major complications. My oldest sister a year and a half ago nearly lost her husband (26 at the time) to a cardiac arrest because he had a weird heart condition, he survived because by the grace of God my sister happened to wake up and perform CPR until the paramedics arrived. She has drawn so much closer to God in giving thanks that everything in her body is working and that each and every day she and her husband have life. I honestly cant think of the last time I thanked God I was alive and well. Can you? What about instead of fitting God in your schedule which is nearly impossible do to His greatness, fitting your schedule into God's. That may mean that some things you do daily that you dont really need may have to be removed.

Two for the price of one

Im just going to post two in one because I'm a little behind here.

December 28, 2009

It is insane to think that God uses not just ordinary people but also weak hopeless failures (then again i suppose His options are limited. God's Word commands us to surrender everything to Him. Well what does that actually mean (my order may not be perfect if you expect perfection I will direct you to another blog)? First we have to come to grips with the reality that we are sinners, hopelessly lost without God and need Him. Then God starts to mold us into who we need to be, as we become more filled with the Spirit our desires start to shift. Slowly, but surely we break old, bad habits and new ones start to take root. But some habits are difficult to break, some seem to have a tight grip on us. We are in bondage to them and even through we know full well we can't make it without God and maybe this sin we are in bondage to is wrong we still serve it because it is comfortable and it seems to be safe. Maybe you have broken out of those or maybe your still struggling, we are all at a different place in our walk with God. What I have been struggling with over the past several months and am still struggling with is bitterness and anger which when left alone leads to depression, and from depression I spend less time with God. Depression or feeling down is hardly a sin, but when it takes the place of God it definitely gets to that. The last little bit of surrender needs to be talked about a little. It is the surrender of the will. If you are even the least like me a strong-willed control freak, the thought of surrendering control is difficult terribly frightening. In the past I have found myself bargaining with God, trying to keep some control while surrendering it. Then just when I think I have God under my thumb I fail to keep my side of the bargain and the crazy thing is that God still loves me. Surrendering control will likely be a life long battle for me but hey I've got God on my side.

January 9th, 2010 (that is weird to type)

Satan has been tormenting me for the last several weeks with different thoughts. Most of them lay with what I feel God is calling me to do over the next few months at my youth group and also school. Most of them deal with failing the task even with God or tempting me to crawl deep back down into depression where its safe and comfortable. But being comfortable won't do a single thing for me, or anyone. I know what I am to do so why stop for fears. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." We as Christians are running and race and we should expect that Satan will do all in his power to trip us up.

Christmas

Of course I have to post something about Christmas. As you exchange gifts and spend time with one another take time to reflect upon God's gifts to you. What has he given to you this year? You are insanely blessed by God. I hear stories from time to time about kids in Africa who praise God dancing and clapping, but what is even crazier to think about is that most of these people have lost their families, don't have a penny to their name, and yet they praise God because they have life and more importantly salvation in Christ. I don't know about you but when I hear about this I really start to see how incredibly self absorbed I am. If my day goes badly I don't feel like praising God. That's why I am doing this 100 hearts of hope thing, because the way I see it God gave me a talent in crochet and if I don't invest it what am I doing here? I encourage you to look at what you are good at and use it to glorify God. I did not think there was any way that I could possibly glorify God with crochet but there is always a way. Some interesting things about these hearts I'm making are that they each have 3 equal parts (triune God) and each part has 12 major stiches which if you know the Bible at all, 12 is all over it (12 tribes of Israel, 12 disciples, 12 apostles, 12 churches in Asia which is mentioned in Revelation).

100 Hearts of Hope

I have been thinking about for awhile how to take my hobby, crochet, and use it to glorify God. I can make crosses and all but that really did not seem to be it. Today I was struck with an idea that could have only come from God. What if I make 100 crocheted hearts (I can make one in about 20 minutes) and give them to people around me and took that opportunity to also share with them the good news of Jesus Christ? Hmmm..... that sounds like a mighty fine idea. Tell me what you think?

Year end calculations

Look back over the past year... Where were you this time last year? Have you grown spiritually since then? Have you made positive improvements on your life? Or has everything remained the same? Have you kept the resolutions you made last year or did they evaporate?

One year ago I was not exactly the same person I am right now. A year ago I was not very open with anyone (except for one person up in Canada) about my life. I pasted the happy face on and prayed I would make it to the end of the day. I know I have a lot of growing up left to do, but I have to say that there were some improvements over the past year, most of which happened during the summer. It was summertime that I finally got up the guts and told a few teachers my testimony, was baptized, and learned a lot about God from the kids at the camp I served at. I am still of the opinion that the teachers met and planned what they were going to write out in my year book. If you don't know my testimony and would like to know just come and talk to me sometime.

This may come as a shocker but after Christmas I plan on not crocheting or knitting anymore.