Not the END... The Beginning

"Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you."
Carl Sandburg
American Writer & Poet
1878 - 1967

"We hear about the dollar, the Euro and other currencies. For sure the most valuable currency is time, for we cannot manufacture or reclaim a single wasted minute. That's why King David prayed, 'Lord, teach me to number my days that I may spend them as I should!' (Psalm 90:12)

SO WHAT?

As the dawn of a new year approaches, let's determine in our hearts to be better stewards of our time. After all, that's what heroes do!"

Holding Me Tonight

Sometimes it's hard to breathe
When I can feel you here with me
Sometimes it's hard to stand
When you hold me in your hand
Sometimes it seems to scream
The pain that is inside of me
Sometimes it seems so cold
And I feel like I'm all alone

But it's alright
My Jesus is holding me tonight

SO WHAT?

You can't out run the arms of Jesus. Wherever you are in life right now His arms are close to you. But you have to make the choice to let Him hold you. He will keep you secure and hold you as you are going through the hard times of life. Let Him be your father today. He loves you like no one else can.

Trust in WHAT

Proverbs 3

In life trusting in God is not always an easy task because instead we trust in ourselves. If we don’t understand it we don’t trust it.
Sometimes God takes us out of our comfort zones so we learn to trust Him. Last year I was seeking for God’s will in my life. Where He wanted me to go, and what He wanted me to do. I had my own ideas of staying where I was and working for my church but God was like no I want you to wait and I will reveal it to you before you go to Africa for a mission trip. This was totally out my comfort zone because I was not in control. The night before I went to Africa God told me to move to Woodstock, GA. He is so faithful and His plan is so much better than mine.

Proverbs 3:5-7
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on you own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”

When we trust in God with all our heart he will direct our lives. God’s hand is upon a willing heart. Trust in God.

Break out--- Thank you

So Christmas has come and gone...
You've got your presents.
You've had a great time.
Now you are wondering what to do.

BREAK OUT!

Right now go and find a notebook or some cards.
OK? You got them...
Now write some notes to those people who gave to you on Christmas.
Let them know how thankful you are for them and for what they gave you.
Give back to those who gave to you!

Patient VS. Power

It is better to be patient than powerful; it is better to have self-control than to conquer a city.
Proverbs 16:32

CAN YOU DO IT?

Can you become a patient person, can you start changing the way you treat people? YES! You can, so why not start today. Isn't it amazing when someone treats you better than they have to... WE can start treating others like that too.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

LEAVE A COMMENT AND TELL EVERYONE WHAT YOU ARE MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO TODAY...
MERRY CHRISTMAS

If I let Go

Another day has come and gone
I've fallen on my face
And there is something I need to say
Something I need to know

If I let go
Will you still hold on
If I go wrong
Will you still love me
Will you still be there
Standing next to me

SO WHAT?

No matter what Jesus is in LOVE you as much today as he has ever been. All around us people love us based on how they feel. Jesus can't do this. He can't love us more or less, that is not who He is. He is God and He is full of love for you and me. That will never change. Today let yourself feel His love!

Don't Miss this one!

Certainly, you will admit that God is glorious. Is there anyone more kind? Is there anyone more creative? Is there anyone more valiant? Is there anyone more true? Is there anyone more daring? Is there anyone more beautiful? Is there anyone more wise? Is there anyone more generous? You are his offspring. His child. His reflection. His likeness. You bear his image. Do remember that though he made the heavens and the earth in all their glory, the desert and the open sea, the meadow and the Milky Way, and said, “It is good,” it was only after he made you that he said, “It is very good” (Gen. 1:31). Think of it: your original glory was greater than anything that’s ever taken your breath away in nature.

As for the saints who are in the land,
they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.
(Ps. 16:3)

God endowed you with a glory when he created you, a glory so deep and mythic that all creation pales in comparison. A glory unique to you, just as your fingerprints are unique to you, just as the way you laugh is unique to you. Somewhere down deep inside we’ve been looking for that glory ever since. A man wants to know that he is truly a man, that he could be brave; he longs to know that he is a warrior; and all his life he wonders, “Have I got what it takes?” A woman wants to know that she is truly a woman, that she is beautiful; she longs to know that she is captivating; and all her life she wonders, “Do I have a beauty to offer?”

(Waking the Dead, John Eldredge , 77–78)

Let it shine in you! Chose to be his glorious one! It is who you are suppose to be....pray Ephesians 1: 15-20 over yourself today and ask God to help you understand his unique plan for your life! If you listen closely you will be amazed at how it turns something on in your heart!

A Heart Fully Alive!

The poet Yeats wrote,

If I make the lashes dark
And the eyes more bright
And the lips more scarlet,
Or ask if all be right
From mirror after mirror
No vanity’s displayed:
I’m looking for the face I had
Before the world was made.
(“Before the World Was Made” from the poem “A Woman Young and Old”)

Yes, that’s it. When we take a second glance in the mirror, when you pause to look again at a photograph, we are looking for a glory you know you were meant to have, if only because you know you long to have it. You remember faintly that you were once more than what you have become. Your story didn’t start with sin, and thank God, it does not end with sin. It ends with glory restored: “Those he justified, he also glorified” (Rom. 8:30). And “in the meantime,” you have been transformed, and you are being transformed. You’ve been given a new heart. Now God is restoring your glory. He is bringing you fully alive. Because the glory of God is you fully alive.

“Well, then, if this is all true, why don’t I see it?” Precisely. Exactly. Now we are reaching my point. The fact that you do not see your good heart and your glory is only proof of how effective the assault has been. We don’t see ourselves clearly.

(Waking the Dead , 78–79)

So What?
To live in this we have to leave everything behind! How can you have a beautiful flower bed if weeds are growing in it or if you are constantly having to spend all of your time weeding instead of planting flowers and making sure they are growing to their full potential! Look at your life, find the weeds, and rip them out WITH THEIR ROOTS- get rid of them and then the flowers can be planted and a full heart can be found. Roots look like the cause that created bitterness, doubt, fear, the times you were hurt in your life. Give them to God and allow God to heal your heart. That is how you rip out those roots and allow your good heart and your glory to shine through!

Break Out

Tis' the season to be jolly :) Whatever you are dealing with today, this week, or this month lets break out and do something different! No matter what happens today lets change our attitudes and be joyous and thankful for everything God has done and is doing in our lives! Pass-on God's joy today and tell three people why you are thankful God put them here on this earth.

Blindfolded!

Do you remember being blindfolded as a kid and told to walk a certain direction. But to be careful to listen to the person guiding you or else you would crash into something. It's like that with God sometimes. God sees the whole big picture and He is guiding us through all of life's crazy troubles.

Check out this verse...

The LORD is more pleased when we do what is just and right than when we give him sacrifices.

SO WHAT?

I challenge you to begin listening to what God is telling you to do and do that. Don't get stuck in a routine of always doing the same things. Listen to God for the ways He may be trying to change your life and how you live.

Quote on Purity

"Inner purity results in outer power."

Just think about that... How does it apply to your life?
Leave your comments and your thoughts on this very interesting quote.
Is it your thoughts, your feelings, your desires?

Sons and Daughters

Read Galatians 5:1-22

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a Yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:5-6 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

We are all sons and daughters of God and He sees us as righteous through Christ. We are not bound by the law but we choose to follow the law because we love Him. If we try to make our own religious plans and try to earn our way to Christ, we loose sight of what He really did for us.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

SO WHAT?

We as sons and daughters are all free from slavery but are called to have faith and honor Him with love. Love Him whole heartedly, seek after Him with all your passion. Make Him the desire of your heart. Love others as God loves others for this is the desire of His heart. We are not called to slavery but are called to faith and love. Through this we will not live by our own selfish desires trying to gain our freedom and live our lives for ourselves. Instead we live for the one who loves us the most and desire His plans for our lives. What He wants our lives to look like.
What are you living for, who are you living for? You are free by the grace of God.

Free to Run

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan -- this rebirth comes from God.
John 1:12-13 (New Living Translation)

SO WHAT?

Whatever things were in your past that pulled you down or made you feel like you were not worth anything, Jesus has set you free from them. You were born again and all of those old chains can be gone. Today you need to accept that Jesus has set you free and you need to live in it.

You are Free to Run!

Pray at all Times

Today take a minute and spend it praying for the Prayer meeting tonight.
God is wanting to move in amazing ways and our prayers can open up the doors for him to move.

If you want your prayers to be answered, pray them in faith and don't doubt!

Hands and Feet

If we really want to be the hands and feet of God, let us start doing it today!
There is no time like the present to start changing our world.

So What?

BRING SOMEONE WITH YOU TO FUSION THIS WEEK!
See you there.

Awake

We have the example of Jesus in the wilderness as a model for how we must resist Satan (and all foul spirits—for Satan has many subordinates demons working for him). Jesus treats him like a real person (not a human being, but a fallen angel with an intellect and personality). He doesn’t treat the temptations and accusations and assault simply as if they are weaknesses within himself; nor does he act as though they will go away if he tries to ignore him. He directly confronts the demon present out loud, with authority, and with Scripture. Later, in the book of Acts, we are given a similar example through the life of Paul:

Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit [a demon] by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. (Acts 16:16–18 NIV)

Paul commands the demon to leave, out loud, and firmly, “in the name of Jesus Christ.” Meaning, by the authority of Jesus Christ. That is how it’s done. Jesus triumphed over all foul spirits through his cross (Col. 2:13–15). All authority in heaven and on this earth is his now (Matt. 28:18). He gives us his authority to overcome foul spirits (Luke 10:19; Eph. 1:18–21). That is why Paul commands the demon “in Jesus’ name.”

This will become more and more necessary as you rise up as a Warrior, and take back ground that you have surrendered, and begin to advance the kingdom of God. Direct confrontation, modeled for us by Jesus, and Paul.

Your life is the training ground, and when it comes to spiritual warfare, its all live-ammo training. Take it seriously.

(The Way of The Wild Heart , 173, 174)

Break Out- I want to HEAL!

BREAK OUT- Do you often have trouble forgiving people like your parents, siblings, friends, or teachers? Do you find yourself angry with them and thinking of ways to get back at them? When we live with unforgiveness in our heart toward anyone it separates us from God. Jesus says in Luke 6:31 and 32, “Do to others, as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?”

Later in the chapter Jesus reminds us, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged.” We have to forgive others just as our Father in heaven has forgiven us from all the stuff we have done wrong. Everyone messes up, but that is why God gives us mercy, compassion, kindness, and forgiveness when we are undeserving.
Jesus then says this, “For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” He allows us to choose if we are going to love those around us who mess up just like we do or if we are going to live angry with people. But the way we treat others will be how he treats us.

Take time today and think of those people you need to forgive. It might be hard at first but pray and ask God to help you forgive them. Once you have forgiven them, go and apologize to that person for being unforgiving. This will allow God to start healing your heart and free you from anger.

Break In- Explore your Bible

BREAK IN- Find your Bible and open it to a book that you don't read very often. Then begin reading a chapter that you have never read before.

The Old Testament is good. Maybe Joshua or Esther. Take yourself on an adventure of discovering the Bible in a way you never have before. Let it rock your world!

Leave your comments about where you explored and what you discovered!

Life isn't Perfect

I sat in my car yesterday and thought about my life.

I realized my life isn't perfect.

I realized that there are a lot of things I would change if I could.

But I can't change those things.

Then I thought about what God has given me.

I realized that God has given me everything I need.

I realized that I am truly thankful for everything God has given me.

Because, God has given me all I NEED!

SO WHAT?

RIGHT NOW! Thank God for 10 things that He has given you.
NOW! Think of something that God has not given you that you want.
NOW! Thank him for giving you everything that you need.
God is our everything!

What are you Living for?

People who live only for wealth come to the end of their lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day they were born.
Ecclesiastes 5:15

I love getting things as much as anyone else. But the way I look at getting things changed when I went to the hospital over Christmas one year. I saw a man there who was dying of cancer. He couldn't talk and he could barely breathe. I found out that he had spent his whole life gaining things for himself. Things like houses, cars, money, stocks and all the other things that would make him look rich. Now as he lays here on his hospital bed, no one can see his riches.

SO WHAT?
I am positive that the man I saw in the hospital would have giving all of his money, if he could have had someone who was a true friend to be by his side. He was cold, lonely, scared and completely alone! Just like he came into the world. That is what will happen to all who live their lives for wealth. They will never be happy with how they spent their life. Don't be that guy! Don't be the guy who is so consumed about gaining wealth and treasure on this earth that you miss the important things.

KEEP TRUSTING!

You are 12, 15, 18, 21 and before you know it your off to college and getting married. In crazy times like this how are you suppose to concentrate on God when you have no idea what is in your future? Trust! Trust God to prepare the way for you. It says in Jeremiah 29

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

God is going to take us where we need to be and He is going to lay our future out in front of us as we follow Him with our whole heart.

SO WHAT?
Even though God says He knows the plans that He has for you, it is still good to pray and ask God to show you what those plans are. Whatever area of your life that you are seeking answers in right now... Just stop! STOP and pray, ask God to show you what His plans are for you. Sometimes He will show you and sometimes He will ask you to keep walking by faith. Which ever way you go, remember that the most important thing is to KEEP TRUSTING!
Peace OUT!

Living the Life

You see, the life God calls us to is not a safe life. Ask Joseph, Abraham, Moses, Deborah, Esther – any of the friends of God from the Old Testament. Ask Mary and Lazarus, ask Peter, James and John, ask Priscilla and Aquila – any of the friends of God in the New Testament.

God calls us to a life involving frequent risks and many dangers. Why else would we need him to be our sustainer? You don’t need a life-saver if your mission is a couch potato. You need an sustainer when your life is in constant danger.

SO WHAT?
I believe that all through history there were two kinds of people who loved God.
The ones who loved, but didn't follow.
And the ones who loved and followed by giving their all. The people above are the people who gave their all, those are the people who God choose to write about in the Bible.
I want to live a life of loving and following God, that God would want to write about.
DO YOU?

BREAK OUT- OUT OF THE ORDINARY

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy. Your reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9

It is amazing how God calls us to live by faith and not by sight. He asks us to step out of our comfort zones and follow Him with everything we have. When was the last time you totally stepped out of your comfort zone? All of us have comfort zones in our lives. What is yours? Think about it right.. Take just a minute and try to think of an area of your life that you like to be in control of.

BREAK OUT

Why not step out of your comfort zone today... I dare you to find something that you could do that would be totally out of the ordinary.

Leave a comment telling us what you choose to do.

Fully Alive

What did Jesus mean when he promised us life? I go back to the source and what I find is just astounding.

I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and, in the age to come, eternal life” (Luke 18:29-30).

Jesus doesn’t locate his offer to us only in some distant future, after we’ve slogged our way through our days here on earth. He talks about a life available to us in this age.
When we hear the words “eternal life,” most of us have tended to think, “a life that waits for me in eternity.” But eternal means unending, not later.

The scriptures use the term to mean you can never lose it. It’s a life that can’t be taken from you. The offer is life and that life starts now.

SO WHAT?

The glory of God is man fully alive! Now! His happiness and my happiness are tied together! My coming fully alive is what he’s committed to! That’s the offer of Christianity!

The offer is life. Make no mistake about that.

We can take hold of that life TODAY and begin experiencing life FULLY ALIVE!

Thanksgiving is AMAZING!

TODAY OUR CHALLENGE TO YOU IS THIS...

DON'T JUST SAY THANK YOU.

WHEN YOU HAVE TURKEY TONIGHT FOR SUPPER, DON'T JUST SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR MOM FOR MAKING IT.

TODAY WHEN YOU THANK PEOPLE---REALLY MEAN IT, THINK ABOUT HOW THANKFUL YOU ARE FOR THEM.

GO DEEPER AND WATCH HOW PEOPLE CAN TELL A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY YOU THANK THEM.

HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING!

No Matter Where!

When the night is dark
and the cold enters my soul.
Where can I go?
When the road ends
When I've lost my way.
Where can I go?

"There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them."
Acts 4:12

SO WHAT?

No matter where you are at in life right now, God is wanting to come and be a part of it. If your in a place where you are experiencing a rough time in your life, ask God to come into it. Jesus isn't like most friends. When everything is going bad and all your friends are not willing to help you out, Jesus wants to help you. Your life will never be so bad that Jesus won't want to come and be with you. No matter where what is going on in your life today... Right now ask Jesus to come and be a part of it.

Who Are You Pleasing?

Matthew 5:1-12
1 One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him,
2 and he began to teach them. 3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. 6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. 7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. 9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. 10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
11 “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. 12 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.

Jesus doesn’t say blessed are the rich for they will be famous. He doesn’t say blessed are the popular for they know how to act like the crowd. He says the opposite. He talks about being pure and merciful, about standing up for what is right and going against the crowd.

SO WHAT?
Today you can live for yourself and conform to the crowd, or you can be transformed and live out Matthew 5:1-12. One way pleases the world and the other way pleases Jesus. Who do you want to please today? How will you please them?

May You Play Your Part Well

We are now far into this Epic that every great story points to. We have reached the moment where we, too, must find our courage and rise up to recover our hearts and fight for the hearts of others. The hour is late, and much time has been wasted. Aslan is on the move; we must rally to him at the stone table. We must find Geppetto lost at sea. We must ride hard, ride to Minas Tirith and join the last great battle for Middle Earth.

Jesus calls to you to be his intimate ally once more. There are great things to be done and great sacrifices to be made. You won’t lose heart if you know what’s really going on here, where this Story is headed and what your father has promised to you.

It is a world of magic and mystery, of deep darkness and flickering starlight. It is a world where terrible things happen and wonderful things too. It is a world where goodness is pitted against evil, love against hate, order against chaos, in a great struggle where often it is hard to be sure who belongs to which side because appearances are endlessly deceptive. Yet for all its confusion and wildness, it is a world where the battle goes ultimately to the good, who live happily ever after, and where in the long run everybody, good and evil alike, becomes known by his true name . . . That is the fairy tale of the Gospel with, of course, one crucial difference from all other fairy tales, which is that the claim made for it is that it is true, that it not only happened once upon a time but has kept on happening ever since and is happening still. (Telling the Truth)

This is the gospel.

This is the Story we are living in.

May you play your part well.

John Eldredge
(Epic, 103, 104)

So What?
How would you live if you believed this to be true?

Break Out- Don't miss this one!

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.

Lets Break out of our comfort bubble today and do something BOLD and Rash that will shake the foundations of our world....lets ask for forgiveness today! Do you have someone that you know you need to ask forgiveness from? Someone that you snapped at, were rude or mean to, somebody that you might have ignored? Lets ask for forgiveness and not expect anything in return... we are not asking so they apologize for what they might have done because we are not worried about how they react but we are working on humility and compassion for ourselves toward others.
The hardest part of forgiveness is what happens after, you have to forgive them and then forget it in your heart so that you are not keeping a record of wrongs but only a record of love, hope, and faith! It will take practice but that is why we are BREAKING OUT!
IF you truly forgive someone it is forgotten! Walk in his power and strength today!

Break In-REFLECTION!

One thing God is teaching me at the moment is to stop during my chaotic days and appreciate all he has done for me and around me. So lets take a few minutes today, reflect and journal on how far he has brought us over the past few months. Think about where you were last year at this time, spiritually, socially, physically, and mentally. How about at the beginning of this summer or school year?

Now right down in your journal some goals in each of the areas (spiritual-with God, socially-goals to be a better friend and family member, physical-being more active, and mental-learning and growing). Having goals helps us grasp where we are going and allows us to better measure where we have been!

Who Are You Pleasing?

Matthew 5:1-12
1 One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him,
2 and he began to teach them. 3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. 6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. 7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. 9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. 10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
11 “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. 12 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.

Jesus doesn’t say blessed are the rich for they will be famous. He doesn’t say blessed are the popular for they know how to act like the crowd. He says the opposite. He talks about being pure and merciful, about standing up for what is right and going against the crowd.

SO WHAT?
Today you can live for yourself and conform to the crowd, or you can be transformed and live out Matthew 5:1-12. One way pleases the world and the other way pleases Jesus. Who do you want to please today? How will you please them?

Those Three Guys

My salvation and my honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
Psalm 62:7

Look at the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These three guys, were told to bow down before the image that the king had built. They REFUSED! They said "O king. we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the image of gold you have set up"

They knew God was a rock on which they could stand. They knew that no matter what happened their God would be with them.

SO WHAT?
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. Today, let's have faith like this! We need to say that God is our rock and our refuge and that no enemy can reach us. Today walk in faith knowing that God is your protector!

SKYDIVING

Last summer I went skydiving and it was the scariest thing I've ever done in all of my life. I remember getting in the airplane and taking off and thinking to myself that I was not going to be landing with the plane. At some point thousands of feet in the air I was going to have to jump out the door and fall to the earth. SCARY!

I thought about this verse as I was in the airplane...

"So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith."
Hebrews 11:6

When I was getting ready to jump, I had to have faith in my parachute.
I had to believe that it was going to catch me and not let me die.
Jumping out of that plane and trusting my parachute took more faith than I've ever had to have before.

SO WHAT?
We need to have faith in God just like I had to have faith in my parachute. We need to trust God to catch us and protect us.
God is way more faithful than a parachute. He will NEVER fail us. Let's start living our lives with more faith than we ever have before. If I can jump out of an airplane, you can trust God to always catch you!

What's the Big deal about Love?

READ THIS VERSE

But anyone who does not love does not know God -- for God is love.
1 John 4:8

READ THIS VERSE

But anyone who does not love does not know God -- for God is love.
1 John 4:8

READ THIS VERSE

But anyone who does not love does not know God -- for God is love.
1 John 4:8

READ THIS VERSE

But anyone who does not love does not know God -- for God is love.
1 John 4:8

READ THIS VERSE

But anyone who does not love does not know God -- for God is love.
1 John 4:8

READ THIS VERSE

But anyone who does not love does not know God -- for God is love.
1 John 4:8

IF YOU KNOW GOD
YOU WILL
LOVE PEOPLE TODAY!

Let Him be your strength!

Let Him In

There is a famous passage of Scripture which many people have heard in the context of an invitation to know Christ as Savior. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in…” (Rev 3:20). He does not force himself upon us. He knocks, and waits for us to ask him in. There is an initial step, the first step of this which we call salvation. We hear Christ knocking and we open our hearts to him as Savior. It is the first turning. But the principle of this “knocking and waiting for permission to come in” remains true well into our Christian life.

You see, we all pretty much handle our brokenness in the same way – we mishandle it. It hurts too much to go there. So we shut the door to that room in our heart and we throw away the key, but that is not going to heal us.

SO WHAT?

Why carry your hurts any longer? Why spend one more day angry or upset with people you love?
LET IT GO
LET HIM IN
Today is your opportunity to release your hurt and anger to God. Let Him take it away and as you let it go, God is going to let His peace, love and joy fall down on you. Do it today! Release your hurts to God and watch what happens.

Break Out

Today lets apply what we learned on Wednesday night and speak words of life over people! This might brake you out of your comport zone but lets all pray for 3 people today and ask that God would make psalm 19:14 come alive in there lives! You could even pray the psalm over them! Just imagine how many people we could impact daily by asking God to raise up a people that beg him to make there words and meditations focused on him!

Break In

Today lets admire God's creation as his colors are displayed all around us! Take a walk and look at the trees. Think about how through the death of the leaves we are allowed to see God's beauty all around us!
What does that mean in your life? What are the things in your life that need to die-be rooted out to display God's beauty to those around you? Your bad words, selfishness, greed, disobeying your parents?

Knowing God

What does it look like to truly know God? This summer we looked at the different ways to know God! They were to know him through investigating and searching out who he is,meditating on him and what he has done, by experiencing him through our 5 senses, by observing him through other people and the world we live in, and direct intimate contact with him through all of these daily!

So What?
Sometimes it is good to reflect and remember what God has taught us in the past so we can remind ourselves of his promises! How can you reknew your vow today to live and truly know God in your daily life? Try giving him a few minutes today and trying out one of these 5 ways of knowing God! IF you are a really bold person try "knowing God" in each of the different ways and journaling about it!

diligent hands

Proverbs 13:4 The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

diligent: constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything: a diligent student.

Do you ever really want something so bad you can taste it? We all live or life wanting and desiring things yet how many of us really try to get it? God has really been pushing me to live a diligent life, consistantly trying my hardest to live a life after God's own heart! Yet so many times what I truly want takes effort and work.

So what?
Do you have dreams or thing that you desire? To get that desire and be truly satisfied with the outcome we have to put work and effort into it! Write down 3 things you desire today (to go the college, get better grades, buy a car, read the bible more consistantly) and then write 3 things you can do each day to work at accomplishing those desires (get a job, get up in the morning and read the bible, go to study groups to get better grades, ask your teacher for help)
Are you willing to work to get and be truly satisfied?

In Everything We do

Ephesians 5:1-2
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

In everything we do we are supposed to live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. This always seems like such a hard thing to do. But really it’s so simple. It is the one thing that God is so passionate about and some times we don’t focus on this at all. We live in a world were people live in so much anger and hate. They a full of such darkness and really they hate being there. We can show them the light of Christ and truly love them. In the bible it says make the most of every opportunity. So every moment, in everything we do is to advance to kingdom of God and show them who He truly is, His passion.

In every thing you do today, have on your mind the love of God. See how you react differently and live differently throughout your day.

Children of a Father

The point of the story of the prodigal is not primarily about the prodigal. It is about the father’s heart. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20 NIV). This is the kind of Father you have. This is how he feels about you. This is the purpose for which Christ came.

Jesus has paid a price for us that we will never be able to repay. Because of His love for us we can live everyday being loved by Him in complete fullness. When we don't feel loved by anyone else, Jesus is loving us. When all is lost and our lives seem crazy and out of control, Jesus is still there loving us.

SO WHAT?

It does not matter what is going on in your life right now... JESUS LOVES YOU! If your life is great and everything is making sense, then rejoice in the love God has for you. If your life is going crazy and you are looking for answer, never forget JESUS LOVES YOU!
Today, right at this moment you are loved by Jesus! Live in His love today.

Becoming Family

1 Samuel 18:1-3
Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

I have been thinking recently about how people become family and I was reminded of one of my favorite stories. In 1 Samuel 18 Saul brings David into his household and David becomes best friends with Jonathan, Saul's son. They become more then friends very quickly, they become brothers. Jonathan makes a covenant with David, a bond unbreakable because he loved David as himself. With that comes a lifetime of them serving each other, pushing each other to be the best in all of Israel, watching out for each other, and ultimately making sacrifices for each other that cost each of them everything at one point or another. Yet it did not matter to either of them because they were brothers, they were two people who loved each other greater than themselves.

So What?
Is this a depiction of your friendships? Do you push your friends to be the best they can be? Do they stick with you during the toughest of times, standing by you no matter what? Would you die for your friends? If the answer is no then you should look for others that will build you up as David and Jonathan did. That might take effort to continue as life gets hard but it is worth every second. It also might take you growing with friends in this, they will not be able to do this perfectly-just like you cant. So give everyone grace! Lets become a generation of men and woman who walk boldly together as a family just like David and Jonathan. WE can change to world one relationship at a time.

BREAK OUT- Before you go to sleep...

I remember growing up as a little boy and Mom and Dad would sometimes come into my room and pray with me before I fell asleep. Sometimes even after I was asleep they would come in and pray. Normally when they did this I kind of woke up, but I wouldn't open my eyes because I didn't want mom and dad to know that I had woken up. When my mom and dad did this, it made me feel so loved and it helped me know that God was really right there with me in my room.

It's time to BREAK OUT!

Tonight before you go to bed if you have little brothers or sisters GO and pray with them. If your parents send your younger siblings to bed, go and sit on their bed and pray with them before they fall asleep. Always remember that your siblings look up to you, you have a huge area of impact on their futures.

If you don't have younger siblings, DO THIS! IT WILL ROCK YOUR WORLD!

Before you get in bed, kneel down beside your bed and pray for your parents. Pray for your week and any other things.

I know it might feel kind of funny, BUT BELIEVE ME... It is amazing.

DO IT... I DARE YOU!

Have a great week!

BREAK IN! I LOVE MUSIC

How many songs do you think you here a day? 30, 40, 50?
As your driving you have the radio on, or as your checking Facebook you will have music playing on your computer.

Today we are going to BREAK IN to Jesus by using our music.

Every time you listen to a song today, listen to the music and the words.
How does each song make you feel?
Do the words encourage you or depress you?
When you get done listening to that song are you inspired?

Every where we go in life, we hear songs and music. We have to realize that the things we listen to can change the way we feel.
Today take time and really listen to the music you hear playing around you. See how it effects your thoughts, feelings and eventually your actions.

Love you all-and because Destinee commented about how much she loved the "peace out" that we left.....

PEACE OUT!

Intoxicating

Ephesians 5:18b, 19 says, “…be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms,
hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.” NIV

When someone gets drunk they are under the influence of an intoxicating substance. We are not to be con-
trolled with alcohol but with the Spirit of God! How do you let God intoxicate you and put you
under His influence? You just read about it in Ephesians. We are to sing spiritual songs. It has a “Spirit filling”
effect on us.

Take 30 minutes today by yourself and worship God with your whole heart! Go in your room, close the door, put on your headphones, do whatever you need to get away from the world and focus completely on God! Then, jump around, lift your hands, scream at the top of your lungs, read a psalm (middle of your bible), worship your God with everything in you!

Warning: if you do this once it will become so addicting that your life will never be the same. Consider this with extreme caution because once you worship God with everything inside of you there is no turning back! You will be hooked for life!

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but...

Proverbs 12:18

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

God has been really working on my words lately. I find so often that my words of sarcasm, or shortness really can take a toll on those I am around. Have you ever heard the term- every sarcastic comment has truth in it? How much easier would it be to give someone a compliment or speak life into someone rather than say a sarcastic remark that has no meaning and ultimately is useless in the kingdom of God. If every action and word we say is held accountable at the end of my life, I want to make sure I spend my time speaking life and using my words to heal hearts rather than using worthless words that mean nothing.

So what?
Will you take the challenge and speak words of life that bring healing today or will you fall to words that cut into people? Go to war today to make your words worth something on this side of eternity! Find at least 10 people today to give a compliment to. Instead of fighting with your parents and siblings tell them how much you appreciate and love them. Lets change the world through our words!

What are you going to live without?

I spent years of my life, doubting the forgiveness God had for me. I had so much junk in my life and I knew the Bible says that God forgives, but I couldn't believe that God would really forgive me of everything. I doubted God, I doubted the Bible and I doubted the love that Jesus had for me. Then I found this quote:

The more you doubt, the more you'll have to live without.

After I read that quote I realized that every day I doubted God's love, was a day I was living without it. If I couldn't believe in what was true, then I was living life without it. God desires us to get past our doubts and believe that He can forgive us. Not only that, but God wants us to believe that He wants to forgive us.

God wants to forgive us with all of His heart, but we need to accept it. We need to accept that God wants to forgive us.

SO WHAT?

Don't go today doubting that God loves you.
Don't go today doubting that God is there for you.
Don't go today doubting that God has forgiven you.
Don't go today doubting!

Knights with Magic Shields

An ancient legend tells of a land in which a castle of valiant knights protected the people of a forest plagued by dangerous giants. These knights had silver shields created by a magician, and a knight’s shield would shine brighter the more good the knight did in the land. However, if a knight were lazy or cowardly or vain, the knight’s shield would become increasingly cloudy until the knight would be ashamed to bear it. In rare cases in which a knight showed exceptional valor and devotion to duty, a golden star would appear in the center of the shield.
One day dangerous giants gathered together to try to drive the knights from the land. Seeing their preparations, the lord of the castle gathered his knights together to ride out to battle. Young Sir Roland had only recently acquired his shield, and dreamed of distinguishing himself. But the lord of the castle ordered him to stay behind and guard the gate, to prevent anyone from entering the castle until the knights returned.
Sir Roland was very disappointed, but stood at the gate to do his duty. Eventually a lone knight rode up wearily, shield dull. The knight offered to trade places with Sir Roland, and let Sir Roland seek glory while the knight would guard the gate. Sir Roland almost leapt at the chance, but realized he had promised to stay at his post, and so he refused the offer.
In a while, an old woman approached the castle, begging for food. She said she had been near the battle, and that the knights were doing poorly. She mocked the young knight for being afraid to join his companions. Sir Roland gave the woman food, but resisted the temptation to prove to her his bravery by doing something he had committed not to do.
Next, an old man in a long cloak appeared across the moat. The man claimed to be a magician, and to have a magic sword with which Sir Roland could save his friends from destruction if he would leave the gate and join the battle in the forest. Sir Roland was so tempted that he had to move back and raise the drawbridge to cut himself off from the strange man. Suddenly, the “magician” threw off his cloak, and began to grow. He turned into a great giant, and howled at Sir Roland in frustration before turning back to the forest.
Eventually the company of knights rode back, tired but victorious. As they approached the gate they stopped in wonder. There, shining on Sir Roland’s shield, was a golden star. Some knights did not understand how someone who had not fought in battle could earn such honor. But the lord of the castle knew, and explained that some of the hardest battles of all are not against an armed foe. In disciplining himself to do his duty, Sir Roland had fought the hardest battle of the day.

SO WHAT?

You may not see the importance of what you are asked to do today. Like Sir Roland you may want to do something completely different. Remember, if we can do what our king has asked of us, we will be doing exactly what we are called to do. And when we are doing exactly what we are called to, we will truly be serving God the best way we can.

Thoughts = Actions

Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Do you remember us talking about this Wednesday night at Fusion? We talked about how we can choose to live a life of Godly character and if we do, God is going to transform our lives to go along with His will. And once our lives are being lived inline with God's will, then God is going to open us up to a life that is good, pleasing and perfect to Him.

I know I want my life to be pleasing to God. I know I want my life to be good. However, I know that I will never get there if I don't let God renew my mind.

SO WHAT?

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. TODAY do your very best to let God control your thoughts. Then watch how you act... I promise if you let God change your thoughts, you will start realizing your actions are changing too. If we begin thinking like Jesus, we will automatically start acting like Him. Keep your thoughts focused on God and your life will be a true reflection of Him. Peace out-

Make the Call

I have many different friends who live all over the country.
Montana, Ohio, Colorado, Florida, I mean really all over the place.

Every once in a great while I'll get a call from them that will just make my day.
Whether they are just calling to say hi, or if they want to thank me for being there for them in the past, it is always a huge thing to me.

Today think of a close friend who you haven't talked to in a long time and give them a call.
Tell them all the things you haven't told them in a long time. How much you miss them and stuff like that. Talk about old times and the fun you had together.
See if maybe God would want you to tell them something important that they need to hear.

Like me, one day I was feeling horrible and one of my close friends just called me and was like "I believe in you man". I know God used him to call me that day.

Let God use you today and MAKE THE CALL---BREAK OUT

Break Out!

How many times do you eat out a week?
How many times do you spend money on yourself a week?
These are questions that I have asked myself over the past week that have somewhat startled me. I find that I spend large amounts (for a youth pastor :) ) of money every week on small little things that really add up.
Imagine if we gave up just one meal at McDonalds, Chick-fil-a, or where ever you go out to eat; and used that $5 to bless someone else.
Today I challenge you to give up just $5 dollars and give it in a creative way to someone throughout your day. That might be walking into a restaurant and paying for someones meal, handing someone a drink from QT, or just giving someone the money as they are walking past you.
As a body of Christ we are called to bless those around us because we have been blessed by our God! Lets represent Jesus today!

Walking, without the talking.

Saturday Break In (Breaking into God)

Today is a day to open your heart up to what God is doing all around you.

Go on a walk for 30 minutes.

During your walk find 5 things that show God is all around you (like the sight of a beautiful sunrise, watching animals play, the smell of flowers, families being together or feeling the cool breeze on your face.)
When you get back from your walk, grab a piece of paper and write a letter to God thanking Him for what He is doing all around you.

Paint Ball-It's On!

I love paintball! I love the excitement of heading out into the woods with my team and not having any idea when the enemy is going to poke out from behind a tree and scare the crap of me. Not to mention "Lite me up with paintballs". I love how my team comes up with a plan and we all commit to do whatever it takes to win. If it means running full speed across the battlefield to grab the flag, then we'll do that. I mean paintball is brutal and when you play you play to win. No one wants to lose! When I play paintball I'm in the middle of a fight.

Thinking about this has made me think of the Desperation song "I'm counting on God". In that song it says:

"I'm in a fight not physical, I'm in a war, but not with this world".

We need to start realizing we are in a war. Just like when I go out and play paintball I know I'm in a war. We need to know that we live in a war. It's not physical, it's spiritual.

SO WHAT?

The Bible says in Romans 12:21 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Today when you come up against evil, when the devil tries to throw something in your face... Remember that you are in a battle. Stand up and fight! Turn some worship music on and start praying. If the devil attacks us with things that are spiritual, then we need to fight back with the things God has given us. Do it today. Realize you are in a BATTLE and fight, do good and watch how you are able to overcome it.

Can I Really Do That?

Lately, I've been struggling like crazy to trust God for the things in my life that are really important.
I feel that it's easy for me to trust God with feeding the children in Africa and it's easy to trust God to love me, but when it comes to what I'm suppose to do today I get confused. Everyday we make so many decisions and they all impact our lives in huge ways. Choices we make in our relationships with our parents and friends can change the quality of our lives. If we make the right decisions then we will live a great life, or if we make the wrong choices our lives are going to take a nose dive. I had been getting so caught up in trying to make sure I didn't make a stupid move that I was driving myself crazy. Then I found this verse:

Proverbs 3: 5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

I realized after reading this verse that I don't need to be freaked about every choice I make. I need to trust God to lead me.

SO WHAT?

God will only lead us if we stop trying to run our own lives. If you are tired of spending most of your time wondering if you are making the right choices, then just STOP! Stop trying to make your own life happen and start trusting God. Lean not on what you think you should do. Take time to let God speak to you and make sure you take time to listen.

Captivating-For the Girls

FOR the GIRLS!
Over the years we’ve come to see that the only thing more tragic than the things that have happened to us is what we have done with them.

Words were said; painful words. Things were done; awful things. And it shaped us. Something inside of us shifted. We embraced the messages of our wounds. We accepted a view of ourselves. And from that we chose a way of relating to our world. We made a vow never to be in that place again. We adopted strategies to protect ourselves from being hurt again. A woman that is living out of a broken, wounded heart is a woman who is living a self-protective life. She may not be aware of it but it is true. It’s our way of trying to “save ourselves.”

And, we also developed ways of trying to get something of the love our hearts cried out for. The ache is there. Our desperate need for love and affirmation, our thirst for some taste of romance and adventure and something to be wanted for is there. So we turned to boys or to food or to romance novels, we lost ourselves in our work or at church or in some sort of service. All this adds up to the woman we are today. Much of what we call our “personalities” is actually the mosaic of our choices for self-protection plus our plan to get something of the love we were created for.

The problem is, our plan has nothing to do with God.

The wounds we received and the messages they brought form a sort of unholy alliance with our fallen nature as women. From Eve we received a deep mistrust in the heart of God towards us. Clearly, he’s holding out on us. We’ll just have to arrange for the life we want. We will control our world. But there is also an ache deep within, an ache for intimacy and for life. We’ll have to find a way to fill it.

(Captivating, 74-75) Eldredge

So What?
God is here to captivate your heart! Find your love and significance in the God that desires to have a relationship with you!
Take a look at your heart today and see what hurts have shaped you into the woman you are today. Write those down and start to give those hurts to God! Allow God to come in and give you freedom.

The Reason For The Warrior -Guys

GUYS READ
Our God is a Warrior because there are certain things in life worth fighting for, must be fought for. He makes man a Warrior in his own image, because he intends for man to join him in that battle.

One day the young man Moses, prince of Egypt, went out to see for himself the oppression of his kinsmen. When he witnessed firsthand an Egyptian taskmaster beating a Hebrew slave, he couldn’t bear it, and killed the man. A rash act, for which he becomes a fugitive, but you see something of the Warrior emerging in him. Years later, God sends him back to set all his people free, and, I might add, it is one intense fight to win that freedom. David also fights, battle after battle, to win the freedom of his people and unite the tribes of Israel. Something in the man compelled him, that same something that wouldn’t allow Lincoln to simply sit by and watch the Union tear itself apart, wouldn’t permit Churchill—despite the views of many of his own countrymen—to sit by and let the Nazis take over Europe unopposed. For he knew that in the end they would have England, too.

There are certain things worth fighting for. A marriage, for example, or the institution of marriage as a whole. Children, whether they are yours or not. Friendships will have to be fought for, as you’ve discovered by now, and churches, too, which seem bent on destroying themselves if they are not first destroyed by the enemy who hates them. Many people feel that earth itself is worth fighting for. Doctors fight for the lives of their patients, and teachers for the hearts and futures of their students. Take anything good, true, or beautiful upon this earth and ask yourself, “Can this be protected without a fight?”

(The Way of The Wild Heart , 140,.141) John Eldredge

What are you willing to fight for today? Your relationships, your God, your Fusion, the bag boy at Kroger that doesn't know God?
God wants you to realize the battle is all around you....can you see it?
We need to start fighting now because our time is now! If we want to live in God's purpose for our lives today we need to fight for it and those around us daily!

Happily Ever After Has Been Stolen

Our Enemy is a thief, and of all the precious things he has stolen from our hearts, his worst act of treachery has been to steal our future from us. He has stolen all the magic and promise and wonder of the happily ever after. Very few of us live with hope. To those without faith, he has whispered, “Your story ends with an accident, and then . . . there is nothing. This is as good as it gets.”

Small wonder people drink too much, eat too much, watch too much TV, basically check out. If they allow themselves to feel the depth of their actual longing for life and love and happiness, but have no hope that life will ever come . . . it’s just too much to bear.

But to those who search in faith for the ending of the Story, our Enemy has whispered an even more diabolical lie, harder to dispel because it is veiled in religious imagery: “Heaven will be a never-ending church service in the sky.” All those silly images of clouds and harps. I’ve heard innumerable times that “we shall worship God forever.” That “we shall sing one glorious hymn after another, forever and ever, amen.”

It sounds like hell to me.

Seriously now—even though we were given Eden as our paradise, this whole wondrous world of beauty, intimacy, and adventure, in the life to come we will be sent to church forever because that’s better somehow? There is no hope in that. That’s not what’s written on our hearts.

I mean, really. We have dreamed better dreams than God can dream? We have written stories that have a better ending than God has provided? It cannot be.

I have some really good news for you: that’s not the so-called Good News. Not even close.

John Eldredge ( Epic , 79, 80)

Waking the Dead-John Eldredge

Once more, lend a mythic eye to your situation. Let your heart ponder this:

You awake to find yourself in the middle of a great and terrible war. It is, in fact, our most desperate hour. Your King and dearest Friend calls you forth. Awake, come fully alive, your good heart set free and blazing for him and for those yet to be rescued. You have a glory that is needed. You are given a quest, a mission that will take you deep into the heart of the kingdom of darkness, to break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron so that your people might be set free from their bleak prisons. He asks that you heal them. Of course, you will face many dangers; you will be hunted.

Would you try and do this alone?

Something stronger than Fate has chosen you. Evil will hunt you. And so a Fellowship must protect you.

Honestly, though he is a very brave and true Hobbit, Frodo hasn’t a chance without Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. He will need his friends. And you will need yours. You must cling to those you have, you must search wide and far for those you do not yet have. You must not go alone. From the beginning, right there in Eden, the Enemy’s strategy has relied upon a simple aim: Divide, and conquer. Get them isolated, and take them out.

You see this sort of thing at the center of every great story. Dorothy takes her journey with the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Lion, and of course, Toto. Maximus rallies his little band and triumphs over the greatest empire on earth. When Captain John Miller is sent deep behind enemy lines to save Private Ryan, he goes in with a squad of men. And, of course, Jesus had the Twelve. This is written so deeply on our hearts: You must not go alone. The Scriptures are full of such warnings, but until we see our desperate situation, we hear it as an optional religious assembly for an hour on Sunday mornings.

Imagine you are surrounded by a small company of friends who know you well (characters, to be sure, but they love you, and you have come to love them). They understand that we are all at war, know that the purposes of God are to bring a man or woman fully alive, and are living by sheer necessity and joy in the Four Streams. They fight for you, and you for them. Imagine you could have a little fellowship of the heart. Would you want it, if it were available?

That is our destiny.

(Waking The Dead , 186, 187 )

Honor them and I will honor you

Break-Out

Jesus tells us to honor our parents. That is one of the reasons we do it. The other reason is because they need it. Your parents need to know that you are thankful for everything they do for you.

Today take a couple minutes today and make a note for your mom and dad. It can just be a letter, or you can make a really cool looking card. In it, tell them how much you love them and tell them something you really like about them.

Then go and hide it somewhere your parents will find it. See how many days it takes them to find it.

Your parents are put in your life by God. Even if things are hard sometimes, if you make the effort to honor your parents, God will see that and He will bless you for it.

Never Alone

BREAK IN-

You know you are never alone right?
You aren't. No matter what you do, or how you feel, you are never alone in this world.
God is always right there. Though it may not feel like it right now, He is.

STOP!
Right now just stop and be quiet. Turn off the TV or stereo. Ask God to show up in your life. Ask Him to come and be part of your day today. Pray that God would teach you things today and that you would be able to be a witness for Him.

Try to talk to Jesus every hour of the day today. Just take a minute and pray. Make Jesus a huge part of your life today.

And see how it changes your day. I'm sure you will get a lot out of it. Then try to make it into a lifestyle.
Later

“I’m Not Here” from Wild at Heart by John Eldredge

Incredible. What a self-indictment. “Nothing dangerous is happening here.” Those men have already been taken out because they’ve swallowed the Enemy’s first line of attack: “I’m not here—this is all just you.” You can’t fight a battle you don’t think exists. This is right out of The Screwtape Letters, where Lewis has the old devil instruct his apprentice in this very matter:

My dear Wormwood, I wonder you should ask me whether it is essential to keep the patient in ignorance of your own existence. That question, at least for the present phase of the struggle, has been answered for us by the High Command. Our policy, for the moment, is to conceal ourselves.

As for those who want to be dangerous (cutting-edge), take a close look at 1 Peter 5:8–9: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

What is the Holy Spirit, through Peter, assuming about your life? That you are under spiritual attack. This is not a passage about nonbelievers; he’s talking about “your brethren.” Peter takes it for granted that every believer is under some sort of unseen assault. And what does he insist you do? Resist the devil. Fight back, take a stand.

(Wild At Heart , 159, 160)

How will you take a stand today? How will you fight back? How will you resist?
Write out a list of things you can do today to answer these questions!

Take control of your thoughts

Step it up!

Proverbs 20:24
24 A man's steps are directed by the LORD.
How then can anyone understand his own way?

Do you know what is feels like to walk by faith and not by sight? When I was in twentyfourseven we had a lot of different experiences that allowed you to put your faith to the test; in God, yourself, and your team. One exercise required you to put on a blindfold and allow your teammates to direct you from one point to another through a maze of obstacles. As you can image, at first it is hard to trust your teammates as they tell you to move 3 steps to the right, 1 up, 2 over, all the while feeling that you are about to hit objects all around you. I remember one step that I didn’t trust them with and I moved the other direction right into a giant bush. However, as I placed my trust in my team that was directing me I found it was almost freeing to allow them to direct me to the finish line. Taking my blindfold off, I was impressed that they led me through so many obstacles and tight situations.

So what?
God sees our life like the obstacle course. He can see your start and finish and all the obstacles in-between. Whether we follow step by step as he directs us or we continually fall into bushes, he has a plan for us and wants us to live walking by faith and not by sight. Take 10 minutes today and ask God how you can follow him by faith; tell your friend about Jesus, walk the old lady across the street, or pay for someone’s lunch. Then follow through and walk it out at school, home, anywhere you are! Walking by faith may pull you out of your comfort zone but after you do it God will give you boldness and courage to continue walking as he directs you!

Proverbs 24:3 and 4

Proverbs 24: 3-4
By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

Wisdom:
knowledge of what is true or right fused together with just judgment as to action; discernment
discernment: The act or process of exhibiting devoted insight and good judgment.

Just like building a house, God wants to build each of us into a temple- a house where he is the found. To build his house we have to make sure the foundation and the walls of the house are solid. That comes from wisdom, continuously knowing and getting to know God and listening to his voice and acting on it. As you grow in this wisdom you start to understand how to build your house sturdier and how to use it to help others and launch God’s purpose. Over time God gives you rare and beautiful treasures to fill the rooms of your heart through the knowledge of who God is and how he works in your life!

So what?
What is God’s building plan for you? Take time and think of ways that you can get to know God better so you can start building yourself up to be a house where God lives! Then start to think about the treasures that he has already started to give you to fill those rooms in your heart, your parents, the things you love to do, the purpose he has created you for, understanding an idea of who God is, etc.

Don't want no MORE, no more

Have you ever just gotten tired of the normal routine of life? Get up, hit the alarm clock, fall back asleep, finally get up, eat breakfast, go to school, come home and do more homework? I mean it just gets old. We all love new things, right? I mean think about Christmas. Who doesn't like getting new things, no one. We all love the adventure of opening up a box and finding out what is inside. Well if your just feeling kind of tired of the normal, check out this verse

Lamentations 3:22-24 (New Living Translation)

22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends![a]
His mercies never cease.
23 Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!”

New every morning. What do you think about that? No longer should we wake up and be "today is just another day". Every day is full of God's blessings and is mercies are new every morning.

SO WHAT?

If your feeling like today is just one of those days. Stop right now and close your eyes and imagine God pouring out His mercies on you. He is in heaven doing just that right now. Believe and spend the rest of your day today, living like it.

Your Not Strong Enough

What are some things in your life that are reliable? Alarm clocks, sunrises,
mom telling you to eat your vegatables. I remember my mom, if I ever got a cut on my finger or a scratch on my knee, she would be right there with band-aids to fix me up. She was amazing. I always knew she would be there for me. I relied on her to help me and I never doubted that she would be there. Now that I’m older I understand that my mom can’t do everything for me. She isn’t always with me, but God is. I’ve realized that now that I’m older I need to look first to God and rely on Him more than anyone else. We can’t even rely on ourselves. God is the only person we should be looking too.

2 Corinthians 1:9 says

“Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”

SO WHAT?

Today realize that God is your strength. Remember that you can rely on Him to help you in your time of struggle. If you are going through any kind of difficulties, or if you just need a helping hand throughout your average day... Look to God! He is waiting to be your help. RELY on Him.

Break In

We are all created for a purpose! Give God a few minutes today to speak his purpose into your life! Take 5 minutes and listen to worship music and clear out all of the distractions from your week; things you did wrong, homework, everything.

(If you don’t have any worship music get on YouTube and type in desperation band)

Pray Jeremiah 29: 11 -13
“For I know the plans I have for you, “declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Now take another 5 minutes and ask God to tell you his plan for your life, clear your thoughts and just let him speak. He might give you a picture in your head, a word, a book, a bible verse, etc. If you don’t get anything don’t be discouraged. Try getting up and walking around or clearing your brain of everything you are thinking about.

Examples: I want you to speak to children, Africa, Doctor, Pastor, Prophesy, I love when you work with your grandma, I have sent you to change nations.

Write in your journal and on the comment page what you heard and think over it and pray about it. Let someone know what you heard.
How do you think you do what God has called you to do? Write 3 things you can do this week to start walking in God’s plan for your life.

Where am I Heading?

Have you ever made plans to do something that you really wanted to do? Maybe you were heading on vacation and you were making plans to do something, or some friends were getting ready to hang out and you were all talking about how you were going to stay up all night. Making plans are so much fun, especially when they happen just like you had planned them. Do you know that God makes plans for you? That He has dreams for you everyday of your life. Here is what Jeremiah 29:11 says

“I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”

How cool is it to be a part of God’s story? To be a part of the plans God has for you is like being part of the most amazing thing ever. His plans are all about making your life incredible. God wants to take you places and do things in your life that will blow you out of the water.

SO WHAT?
Take time right now and think about some things God has already brought into your life and how they have effected you. Pray and thank God for the plans He has for you. Then take some time and ask God what are some plans He might have for you in the coming future. I know He has plans for you, get ready to begin experiencing them.

Live Strong

How strong are you? Really, on a scale from 1-10 how strong would you rate yourself? One being you have trouble picking up clothes off your floor, ten being you look like someone from the Power Team. ha ha. We all see ourselves in many different ways, sometimes we may think we are strong and other times we may feel like we’re the wimpiest person around. Do you know that it doesn’t matter how strong you think you are. The great part about having God in our life is that He is going to be your strength. It says in Phillipians 4:13

13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Jesus is always giving us strength. All we need to do is reach out and grab hold of the strength Jesus is giving us. In ourselves we really are not that strong, but with Jesus living inside of us we have all the power in the world.

SO WHAT?

Today as your working and doing school. Ask Jesus to come and be with you. Ask Him to give you the strength that He has. Trust Jesus to make you strong through him and you’ll find new strength each and every day.

Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak.
In Colorado Springs where I lived before coming to Georgia there is a massive mountain that overlooks the whole city called Pikes Peak. It towers over everything and you can see it from pretty much anywhere in the city. When you climb or drive to the top of this 14,000 Foot high mountain, there is a café and look out where you can see far and wide. But my favorite view of Pikes Peak is at night. Many nights I would be driving home from a long day and would look up to the top of the mountain. On the very top of the mountain is a light. It shines all day, every day.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5: 14, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Every night as I looked at this mountain and the light on it, God reminded me that I am suppose to be a light to all those around me and it takes sacrifice and hard work to get to the top of that mountain to shine your light.

So What?
Where has God asked you to sacrifice so you can be a light to those around you? Has he asked you to step out of your comfort zone to talk to people or to be more excellent with how you act around people so they can tell there is a light inside of you that shines on them? Think of 5 ways that you can be a light to those around you today.

It's time for something different

I remember being in school and getting into trouble, a lot. When I wasn’t behaving my teacher would make me go and stand in the corner. I would stand there with my nose pushed into the corner and close my eyes. I could hear all the other kids in the room talking and laughing and having a good time. My teacher didn’t want to put me in the corner, but she had to because I just wasn’t behaving. Do you remember when someone who loved you had to punish you? When you look back on it you can see how it was because they loved you and wanted to help you from making the same mistake again. Jesus does the same thing. Jesus sees all of the things we do wrong and the mistakes we make and He wants to help us learn from our mistakes. It says in the Bible

 Good friend, follow your father's good advice;
   don't wander off from your mother's teachings.
Wrap yourself in them from head to foot;
   wear them like a scarf around your neck.
Wherever you walk, they'll guide you;
   whenever you rest, they'll guard you;
   when you wake up, they'll tell you what's next.
For sound advice is a beacon,
   good teaching is a light and it is the way to life.

Jesus has told us that we need to listen to Him and do what He says, but He also tells us to listen and obey our parents. Just like my teacher in school had to punish me and make me stand in the corner, sometimes your parents will have to punish you. But always remember they love you.

SO WHAT?
What are somethings that your parents are trying to teach you? We all let our parents down sometimes, but the real question is “then what?” When you let your parents down what do you do? Do you allow them to help you and teach you like Jesus wants you to or do you blow them off and not listen to them. If your parents have tried teaching you something recently and you have not listened to them, today is the perfect time to go and talk to them about it. Tell them you are sorry for not listening and tell them you are going to try your best to listen to them from now on. I believe in you and Jesus is always there to help you listen to your parents. Let’s start becoming people who love Jesus and who love our parents.

I Believe I can Fly

There are many reasons that we follow God. We follow Him because He saved us from our sins and died on the cross for us. We follow Him because He loves us and we love him. Today let’s look at another reason to follow God.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28-30
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Jesus tells us to follow Him, because He has rest for us. He tells us to follow Him because He sees all of the stuff going on in our lives that is hard for us to deal with. Jesus has made a way for us to give all of the baggage we carry to Him and he will carry it for us. He is the strongest person ever, He is God. He died for us so that we don’t have to carry the baggage by ourselves.

SO WHAT?

If you have crazy stuff going on in your life right now, go back and read Matthew 11:28-30 out loud and then spend time praying. Ask God to take the baggage you’ve been carrying away from you and ask Him to give you a new start in life. Remember, baggage doesn’t have to be big huge sins, it can be anything. If your worrying about school or if you and your best friend are going through a hard time, you can give that to God and He will carry it for you. Today is a day to let go of the things that weigh you down and to let Jesus come in.

"Nothing is permanent in this wicked world - not even our troubles."
Charlie Chaplin

BREAK OUT- LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

Do you often have trouble forgiving people like your parents, siblings, friends, or teachers? Do you find yourself angry with them and thinking of ways to get back at them? When we live with unforgiveness in our heart toward anyone it separates us from God. Jesus says in Luke 6:31 and 32, “Do to others, as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?”

Later in the chapter Jesus reminds us, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged.” We have to forgive others just as our Father in heaven has forgiven us from all the stuff we have done wrong. Everyone messes up, but that is why God gives us mercy, compassion, kindness, and forgiveness when we are undeserving.
Jesus then says this, “For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” He allows us to choose if we are going to love those around us who mess up just like we do or if we are going to live angry with people. But the way we treat others will be how he treats us.

Take time today and think of those people you need to forgive. It might be hard at first but pray and ask God to help you forgive them. Once you have forgiven them, go and apologize to that person for being unforgiving. This will allow God to start healing your heart and free you from anger.

BREAK IN, I LOVE...

Get out your journal and at the top of the page write in big letters,

THINGS I LOVE TO DO

Then take time to fill the page up with what you love to do.
Baseball, cooking, sports, running, talking, watching movies, drawing, playing guitar,
climb mountains, hiking, singing, camping, eating supper with my family, walking my dogs, smelling roses, worshiping, reading my Bible, and the feeling of being on a roller coaster.

Ok so we can see what we love to do, now go to the next page and write

HOW CAN GOD USE IT

You know God has given you things you love to do and there must be a good reason for them. On this page write out how God can use the things you love to help you live for Him. If you love cooking write

Cooking- God can use me to make cookies for someone who is sick.

or if you love walking your dogs, write

Walking my dogs-God can use that to help me meet other people who I can tell about Him.

Keep this paper somewhere that you can go back and look at it.
Have a great day.

Training Camp

The first day of football practice, I can remember it just like it was yesterday. I had no idea how to put on my pads, so I had to have my coach and my friends help me get it on. Then after I got it on, I remember that I couldn’t even move, it felt so weird having this huge piece of plastic hanging on me and I looked really funny too. Before long though, I was getting used to it and after I took that first big hit, I was like “Thank God, I’m wearing this stuff”. The Bible talks about this same thing. When we first become Christians it feels different than how we were used to living. We need Jesus (our coach) and other Christian friends to help us. Here is what the Bible says:

Colossians 2:6-7
 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Just like I had to learn how to play football, we need to learn how to live as Christians. We need to keep following Jesus and everyday we follow Him, He is going to teach us more and more. It is the greatest adventure we will ever go on. Better than a roller coaster, better than a safari, better than a haunted house. Living and growing with Jesus is mind blowing.

SO WHAT?
Think about an area of your life that you need to follow God more closely in. Are you overflowing with thankfulness like the verse says? Are you able to live and be kind to your friends and your family all the time? Today, commit to follow God more closely in one area and keep following Him in that area until you can live it the way God wants you to.

"I have long since come to believe that people never mean half of what they say, and that it is best to disregard their talk and judge only their actions."
Dorothy Day

You Can Be A Jason!

Proverbs 3:1-4
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
       but keep my commands in your heart,
 2 for they will prolong your life many years 
      
and bring you prosperity.
 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; 
      
bind them around your neck, 
       write them on the tablet of your heart.
 4 Then you will win favor and a good name 
       in the sight of God and man.

I once had a friend who I really liked a lot. One day I thought to myself “It’s like Jason is friends with everybody”. After that I started watching him more closely. I watched how he talked with teachers, I listened when he talked to new kids at school and I heard how he joked around with his close friends. Know what I found out? Jason was a friend to everyone. It wasn’t because he was the football star, or because he was popular or had money or was cool. Everyone liked Jason, because he never talked bad about anyone. He never went behind anyone’s back. He was always making people smile and he would always go out of his way to do something kind for anyone.

SO WHAT?
Because of how Jason lived he was responsible for 100’s of kids from his school seeing that Jesus was real and full of love. Everyone knew he was a Christian and he showed everyone what a true Christian is really like. He didn’t conform to the rest of the kids at his school, he let God transform him into a amazing Christian. How can you show your school that Jesus is real and full of love? What do people who know you say about you when your not around. People always talked about how Jason was always smiling and how he would always say hi to them and ask them how they were doing. Something as simple as that can make you a Jason in your school. Try it! There is no reason not to.

"Just How Much?"

Think of someone you know that really loves something. It could be someone who loves sports, cars, music, anything. Just think of one person who loves something with all that they have. A person who would stay up past midnight watching a football game, or someone who would spend tons of money on their dream car. These are the kinds of people who have serious love for material things. They can’t get enough of it. You know those music lovers, they always have music on and they are always telling you about the latest new bands. People become addicted to things they love.

Deutoronomy 6:4-6
 4 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.[a] 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.

SO WHAT?
Is that how you love God? Are you willing to spend hours with Him, because you can’t get enough of Him? Take some time and think about the things you love, do any of them take up more of your time that Jesus? If they do you should take some time and pray about them. Make sure they are not an idol to you. We are suppose to love God with all we have everyday, not what is left for Him Sundays.
Spend extra time with God today and allow Him to transform some of things you love.

He is right there, Waiting.

Does it ever seem like your trying to juggle17 different things at the same time and you wonder why your life seems out of control? Could it possibly be due to the fact that we were never suppose to worry about those things in the first place.

Luke 12:22-30
22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
 27 “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.

Jesus says that there are things that are out of our control that we need to trust Him about. Think of what God does everyday. First He makes the sun come up, then He is right there beside you when you wake up (whenever that is), He goes through your day with you and is always wanting to be there for you. Before long, He sends the sun away and brings out the night sky. Then He waits for you to fall asleep and wake up, so He can be with you again. Our Jesus is the most amazing thing ever.

SO WHAT?
As you woke up today did you think that God was waiting for you? He was! He is waiting right now for you to spend time with Him. As you go through your day today be willing to take a few moments to stop and thank God for being with you. Remember that He is always taking care of the things that are out of your control.

Today, let's just do it!

Sunday Break Out (Breaking out to others)

We love Jesus and because we love Jesus we want to give to Him. Today, take time and do something for your parents that you wouldn’t normally do. If you honor your parents, you are really honoring Jesus. When you show love to your parents it’s just like showing love to Jesus. Colossians 3:20 says,  “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” When we honor our parents we please God. Do it today and after your done take time to think about how you made God feel by doing it.
-He is definitely smiling.

Sin is a Disease.

Do you have sin in your everyday life that you want to get rid of, but don’t know how? Here is how. Don’t give yourself time to sin. CAUTION--don’t read any further if your not 100% committed to getting rid of the sin in your life.
Verse: Romans 6:11-14

11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.
12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.
13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.
14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

"Sin is what happens when there is too much time and too little purpose in our lives." Erwin McManus

Ok here we go. What you are going to need to start doing is be willing to spend time every morning with Jesus. This will bring your body into line with your heart, where Jesus is living. Open your heart to Jesus and pray about the sins you want to get rid of. Then you will need to have a notebook with you and you are going to write down 5-10 things you want to do today.

Hang out with Jason at lunch.
Go skateboard after school.
Tell Laura that joke I heard.
Come home and finish cleaning my room.
Help mom make supper.
Call Grandma and ask her if they are coming over this weekend.
Do my homework, if I have any.
Watch the Office.
Read my Bible before going to bed.
Tell 7 people I love them.

If you do this you’ll be amazed at the difference in how much better your day turns out. You will be transformed from living life with no purpose and no direction, to living a life full of meaning and importance. Plus, it will cut out your time for sinning.

SO WHAT?
Look all around you and you can see people who don’t have a reason to live. Then look at people who are doing important things and making a difference. You can do like either one of them, which one do you want to be?

Jesus Time

STARTS NOW!