Fasten Your Seat Belts!

S. "Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD. Jeremiah 1:17-19

O. Hold ON!

A. I need to get myself ready! I wasn't even suppose to read this today...or was I??? With what's going on in this crazy brain of mine, I need to get ready! I know that the Lord is going to protect me and use me and love me...but what do I need to do? I have been preparing myself and now I'm getting ready!

P. Lord give me wisdom! Give me the words I need. Make me bold! Humble me:) Let your will be done! Not mine! (That's yelling by the way:))

Love

(I know... kinda sappy sounding title...)

S: Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18

O: We are commanded to love our brothers (everyone) and to be authentic with our love.

A: I need to not just go through the motions, which can seem so easy sometimes, but to be genuine. We are told not to love with words, because anyone can say words. What we do out of love will reflect so much more than some half-hearted words.

P: Jesus, teach me to love with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my mind. Let me be genuine and real, and help my love for you be reflected by my love for others.

I'm excited for life!

S. 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 for the 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. Jeremiah 29:11-13

O. God has some big plans for me...if I seek him out and listen! He expects me to seek him with everything that I have and He wants to bless me! The future looks good!

A. Today, I will rest in what God has for me and my life. I know that He wants the best for me and that he doesn't want to harm me. I will walk with confidence. I will pray and seek what is in store for my life.

P. Lord, show me what you want from me! Let me get past myself and seek you and your will for my life. Let me put my pride, wants and loves aside to see what you really want from me. Let me seek you with ALL of my heart and just listen to my words.

I'm a sinner :( , but I'm forgiven! :)

S: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

O: My God is forgiveness.

A: Humbling myself and admitting I'm wrong is what it takes to be clean. I need to work on that...

P: Help my humility. Please convict me of my wrong doings so that I may lay them before you and be pure again. Thank you for forgiveness.

On my mind...

Lately I've been thinking about a few things from Hume.

The first is a statistic they shared with us.
80% of people who don't go to church would go if they were invited.
2% of Christians invite people to church.
Yikes!!! I haven't been able to even accept that as a reality in my mind. I guess the prayer meeting on Monday really was an encouragement, as that is what it is going to take to change the invite numbers, lots of prayer!

Secondly. in a worship seminar at Hume one of the band members was asked what he does to get the church more into the worship. His reply was simply that there is nothing we can do. it is all God. The only thing we can do is to continue glorifying God and worshiping God with all that we are, but further than that only God can change a person. (I was thinking about this with my last soap.)

And finally, on Sunday Joey talked about Thermometers and Thermostats. I don't know why that hit me... but it did!

Just for your info I don't usually think in an orderly manner like that... (:

Goodnight!

But what about him???

S: "Jesus answered, 'If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me!'" John 21:22

O: Jesus knows how judgmental we are. He knows what my views (and apparently Peters as well) of justice would be. He makes it clear though that it doesn't matter about them, I need to follow him!

A/P: Help me to not be judgmental and to follow you. Let what other people are doing not matter. Thank you for being gentle on me.

BTW the Newsboys Shine is playing right now, seriously, what an amazing song! Go check it out!!

Fat Fish

S. "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. John 21:6

O. These guys were fishing ALL night and nothing! Then this "guy" that was standing on the shore told them to throw the net on the right side? REALLY? They obeyed the man and caught 153 fat fish!

A. I want to try new things! Doing the same ol thing over and over again seems crazy. I want someone yell at me and say, "hey stupid, throw the net on the other side of the boat!" I want to see outside of the box and catch those fat fish!

P. Jesus, yell at me!



Nice shorts!

See!

S. Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. John 20:27

O. Jesus is back! Yeah and he just appears in the locked room? Then he says to this guy here is my hands and side? SEE! Open your eyes! Stop it, stop doubting, start believing, NOW!

A. I want to clear my eyes to see Him clearly! I need to give up "things" that are clouding my vision of who Christ is!

P. Jesus, let me see you clearly! I know that you are the man and that you want the best for me. Help me with me being me. Have patients with me. Love me more and more! PLEASE, let me not doubt and believe! Let me see who you are. Let me see who you want me to be. Let me see you clearly!

I love boys!

Just wanted to let you know:)

Thanks for struggles.

S: Then Jesus told him,"Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed." John 20:29

O: Jesus is making it clear that there will be many people who will not get to know him in flesh, yet will still choose to believe in him.

A: Jesus know how hard it will be for us to believe. I need to realize that Jesus knows what are struggles will be, even before we struggle with them.

P: Keep me close to you. Let the struggles come so that you may be glorified. Thank you for putting hard times in my life, so that I may see your power as you alone take care of them.

You choose

S: "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. 'Don't you realize I have the power to either free you or crucify you?' John 19:10

O: Pilate tries to exhibit his power over Jesus, but Jesus yells him that he has no power, unless it was given from above. AKA God!

A: I need to stop pretending that I have any say in what God chooses to do. I can pray, but He knows what is best.

P: Let me give my choices and decisions to you. You have overcome the world, I'm positive you can handle my life!

The Man

S. Pilate said to them, "Here is the man." John 19:5

O. Ok, so Pilate wasn't giving him a compliment when he said here is the man! But that's how I want to read it! That's how I see it, that Jesus is the man! Jesus was the man! And He will forever be the man!

A. I want to be the man! I want to live my life like Jesus. I want to serve how he served. I want to love people like he loves people!

P. Jesus, make me more like you!


ps...my Jesus DOES NOT look like this guy!

The Word of God, The Word of Men

S. Let the prophets who have dreams tell their dreams, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully . . . "Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? . . . "Therefore," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me . . . But you must not mention 'a message from the LORD' again, because everyone's own word becomes a message from God. So you distort the words of the living God, the LORD Almighty, our God. - Jeremiah 23:28, 29, 30, 36 (TNIV)

O. God has some harsh words for the prophets and priests. It has become their practice to marvel at each others dreams, words, and ideas. They go on repeating these dreams, words, and ideas to anyone who will listen. Clearly they had an audience. These were words the people welcomed and praised them for. God's words have a specific result; it is a fire and hammer to the stubborn hearts of people.

A. Jesus, how are my words? Am I speaking what you talk to me about? Or do I simply repeat the dreams, words, and ideas of others? It is certainly tempting to re-use the words of other pastors. They range from simple, wise, powerful, to unique. They certainly sound good and seem to be helpful. Even my own words sound pretty good from time to time. I want to speak your words and teach your Word. I hear Jesus asking me to "turn now, each of you" . . . in other words, follow through on the time of personal revival so that I would be certain where my strength, words, and actions come from.

P. Here we go Jesus. I want to make a renewed commitment to Prayer, Purity, and Purpose. Help me Jesus in my unbelief. Continue to correct and discipline me through your word.

No Of This World

S. "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." John 18:37

O. Jesus likes it when you agree with him Pilate is asking??? telling??? him that he is the king. Then Jesus drops some knowledge on him by sayin that was the reason for him being born! To bring truth! And he brought it! Then he ends it by reinforcing that he is the TRUTH!

A. I want to listen to Jesus more and more! To be in the center of his truth and will is where I want to be. His only reason for coming and being the king was to bring truth...I want to live in the truth! I want to be known for the truth and living the way God wants me to and have nothing come between that.

P. Please make me a man of truth. A man that listens to your words and does something. A man that jumps at opportunities to speak your name and tell our story. Lord give me wisdom, patients, love and truth!

Like a pregnant woman!

S: So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. John 16:22

O: Jesus is comparing child birth to his coming. It is painful and hard, but after it is so worth it and something to be proud of!

A: I, like a pregnant woman, need to be ready and expecting pain. I need to understand that soon joy will come.

P: Help me hold onto that. Help me to remember you are coming and that it'll be ok soon!

A Call to Personal Revival

S. Therefore this is what the LORD says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them. I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you," declares the LORD. Jeremiah 15:19-20 (TNIV)

O. In Jeremiah 15:15-18 we see Jeremiah's trust, devotion, delight, and frustration with God. He longs for God's presence and work in the midst of a religious system and nation that has turned its back on God. Verse 19 is the foundation of God's prescription for Jeremiah. Personal revival.

A. I have been confronted by three ideas lately. Prayer... through the difficulty of circumstances and the movement of prayer at CBC. Purpose... a consistent reminder about avoiding Pharisaical living. In other words, to love justice, mercy, and walk humbly with God. Purity... a call to holiness. I came across www.theburningheartcontract.com last night which summarized these things into those words. It also has a possible track for a 21 day personal revival. Then I read the verses above today about personal revival. I definitely hear Jesus calling me to a new season of life with him. I am worried about not being faithful for the 21 days, and whether, if I make it, it really makes a difference. I think I am going to start next Monday.

P. Jesus, thanks for speaking so clearly through people, circumstances, your Word, and your Spirit. I hear you calling me to restoration and revival. Thank you for the example of the students meeting in D.C. for prayer and fasting. Help me see clearly the things that may cause me to trip up in the next 25 days.

Plant it!

S: Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. John 15:4

O: Jesus is reinforcing the fact that the disciples need him. They can not mature spiritually with out him.

A: I want to grow spiritually, so I need to constantly be remaining in Him.

P: Help me to grow spiritually by remaining in you.

My Life is Not My Own

S. LORD, I know that people's lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps. Discipline me, LORD, but only in due measure— not in your anger, or you will reduce me to nothing. Jeremiah 10:23-24 (TNIV)

O. Jeremiah is clear in his mind that his life is not his own. God is the expert on him and his life, so Jeremiah trusts him to direct his steps.

A. My life is not my own. It is not for me to set up my calendar. It is not for me to determine how I spend my money. It is not for me to set the agenda for a meeting. It is not for me to shape my relationships. It is for me to follow Jesus' lead!

P. Lord, no one likes discipline when going through it. But Lord I am confident that it will be good. And I want to learn how to have you direct my steps. So teach me, discipline me, and care for me.

Speak through me.

S: The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father living in me, who is doing His work. John 14:10b

O: Jesus is explaining how He and the Father are one being.

A: I know Gods words must be powerful if Jesus, who is sinless, says his words are from God. I want to be just like Jesus! I want everything I say to reflect God for He is good.

P: Thank you for being good. Help me to learn your ways and to listen to your words so that I may glorify you.

Um...... Ok.

S: He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." John 12:6-8

O: Jesus humbled himself to be a blessing to his followers, and they resisted him.

A: I need to trust God because he sees more than I can. I also need to learn to say OK Lord, so that He may be glorified.

P: I know I struggle when I don't know why things are happening. Help me to take comfort in you, who knows all things. Let me be able to just say "Yes!"

Hate Life!

S: The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:25

O: Jesus says that it is a must to not be loving life... But what about taking like as a gift? Should it be disregarded and hated?

A: I need to love the things that are from God and not from this earth.

P: Help me to discern against different things. Show me what is good and from you.

It's all for You.

S: When He heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified though it." John 11:4

O: Jesus doesn't give up! He knows the reasons behind everything, and just has to remind people of that sometimes.

A: We can't give up either. Everything is for the glory of God! No matter what pain or anything else we are going through, everything becomes worth it when God is glorified.

P: Let us remember You. Tet us remember You have the power in all things and that all things need to be for You, and You alone!

Cry Baby;(

S. Jesus wept. John 11:35

O. There are so many people that see Jesus not as a man. Not as someone that feels what we feel. Not someone that knows pain. HE WEPT! Not cried, but wept. That is deep loss felt by Jesus for a friend.

A. I want to be everything that Jesus is. More and more I read from this guy, He is so good! Money! He cares for people, loves his friends and wants to heal the hurting. 

P. Let me be open and transparent! Let me put my pride aside and show feelings. Give me chances to be Jesus to people everyday that I am alive. STrengthen me, give me wisdom, let me care, let me love and everything else I need. Equip me as I read your word.

He is with me.

S: "They will fight against you but they will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," Declares the Lord. Jeremiah 1:19

O: God is making a promise to Jeremiah as he is unsure about all of the coming events God is preparing him for.

A: God is preparing a road for me, including people to talk to and different things to do... I need to take God's promise, and to take courage in it.

P: Help me to be courageous, to follow your guiding wherever you want to take me. Help me to hear your voice.

Everyday!

S. They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to  the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. Acts 2:42&46

O. The early church had it. They got it. They wanted it. That's how you become a true community , by meeting everyday. By eating together and praying together!

A. I want to lead our church, students, into meeting everyday. To be connected is what we need. I love eating together so I want to have more people over! That's why I love church so much:)

P. God give me the vision for what you want me to do with this. Give me a laser vision and let me execute it. Let people see the good and be inspired to love you more.

Morning by Morning

S. The Lord within her is righteous, he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame. Zephaniah 3:5

O. Sometimes  the truth is so truthful. Open your eyes and see! God looks at you as new each day and wants to pour himself on you. Morning by morning. That's so assuring and comforting.

A. I want to be blessed daily by his words. I want to be aware of shame when I'm wrong. I want to wake up tomorrow and see what God will do with me!

P. God renew me daily! Make me new. I want to live right and have you just pour yourself on me. I want to be  a blessing to you. god let me love and be the best Jesus I can be!

Am I a disciple?

S: To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold my teaching, you are really my disciples." John 8:31

O: Jesus was talking to the crowd and some people easily came to God as He spoke.

A: 'If you hold my teaching, you are really my disciples.' There are MANY times in my life that I don't stick to God's path. It is clear here that to be considered a disciple I need to be constantly working to be on Gods path!

P: Help me to always desire to be right with you. I want to be your disciple, for I know that you are more than worth anything this earth could ever offer.

Devil Children

S. If God were your Father, you would love me for I come from God and now am here. I have not come on my own, but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your fathers desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. WHen he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you don not hear is that you do not belong to God. John 8:42-47

O. Jesus is trying to get through to these guys. He keeps on breaking it down and they still don't get it. He is speaking right to them and they still don't hear or understand his language. Then Jesus says that they only understand the devil because he is all about lies. He is telling the truth but when they hear it, it's nothing. You need to know God and understand the truth.

A. Today I will seek out truth. Listen to what God is telling me because I have him and act on that truth. I want to stay far away from lies, liars and the devil, but look to those who can't hear the truth and pray for them.

P. God I know that I'm a bad representation of Jesus. Thank you for having patients with me for being me. I want truth! I want to speak truth! I want to live in the truth! Keep temptation away from me and give me the discipline to walk and run away from the devil. I want to serve you with everything I have. Let me serve in your POWER!

Judge right, if you're gonna judge at all!

S. I did one miracle and you are all astonished. Yet because Moses gave you circumcision, you circumcise a child on the Sabbath. Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken. Why are you angry with me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath? Stop judging by mere appearance, and make a right judgement. John 7:21-24

O. Jesus' words are so powerful! Very logical and plain but they stick. These guys are giving him a hard tim for healing a whole man but let other things go. He cares for people and cares about every part. He is the judge and he is telling them to make right judgments. 

A. P. I want to speak the very words of God strongly! So when I open my mouth I want people to listen because they are the words of God?!?!?! To see past me and hear what God is sayin, that's what I want. To have no one judge me for me , but to judge the word of God

Prove it!... or not.

S: "No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." John 7:4

O: Jesus' followers still did not believe in Him. They continued to follow Him only in search for proof that He is Christ.

A: Again, I don't wan to be like them. I want to let Jesus show Himself, without me trying to get Him to prove it.

P: Help me to be receptive of You and what You do. Thank you for not being pressured into things, for you know what needs to be done, when the time is right.

I've seen it... now can I believe it?

S: But as I told you, you have seen me and you still do not believe. John 6:36

O: Jesus has proven himself time after time to his followers. He has healed and fed them, but even that was not enough, people were still doubting who he was.

A: I have seen Gods power in many situations. I know what he can do! I don't want to be like one of those followers, blaming it on coincidence, but I want to accept it for all He is.

P: Help me to always give you the credit and leave nothing to coincidence. Help me to see who you are today.

Shut up and do what you're told!

S. On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? What is you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe." John 6:60-64

O. These guys question Jesus? Saying his words are too hard? Then Jesus lets them have it. Just believe...what do you want? Just do what you are told!

A. I know that His words are strong, powerful, perfect and the truth. I want to accept them even if they are hard. Knowing He wants the best for me...get to work!

P. God, give me an accepting heart and spirit. These guys walked with you and had a hard time. Me being me and following...that's hard! Give me a strong desire to seek and find what you want from me!

John 8:7

S: "When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them ' If anyone of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.'"

O: This verse is saying that the only one who can judge another is one without sin which leaves only Jesus, because all of us have sin and if we are going to stone a woman for her sin she should throw some rocks at us for all of our sin and it goes in a huge circle. this is why Jesus should be the only one judging because he is the only one without sin.

A: All of us do it sometimes without even knowing we are. I know i do a lot that's why this verse stuck out to me. I need to realize that i do not by any means have the right to judge anyone.

P: Help me to have self-control and not to judge people.

Keep Working

I got this verse too!

S: Jesus said to them, "My father is always at His work to this very day, and I too, am working." John 5:17

O: Jesus has been traveling around, doing Gods work. When asked about His motives, especially what He does on Sunday, He tells them this! ^

A: Just as I see through Jesus, I need to always be doing Gods work (In season and out.) I need to be in constant prayer, and modeling my life for Christ.

P: Help me to be always "on the job!" Use my life to display you and give me the perseverance to press on for you.

He's a HARD worker!

S. Jesus said to them, "My father is always at his work to this very day, and I, to, am working." John 5:17

O. God is always at work. His job never ends and He is always looking and seeking out people. And Jesus is following suit and working all the time:)

A. I want to be seeking out problems and people everyday. I want to work when my eyes are open and see who needs help and encouragement.

P. God give me energy! Give me patients! Give me a servents heart and let me live a full life!

Just Breathe

On Wednesday night at the beach Mike talked for a little bit about breathing, like really breathing in life. I don't remember all the specifics but I really came away with something from it. I started writing it for myself but decided that I'd post it....sorry it's a little choppy and disjointed ;-)

"i'm gonna try breathing from now on. summer's almost over but stressing and worrying about it isn't gonna make it any longer or more enjoyable, so i'm gonna just take it one day at a time and breathe. same with next year. yes i'm gonna apply to college and do my homework, but i'm gonna take time to just be and breathe.....i don't want to let my senior year pass me by. i want to be living in the here and now and not worrying about things that i can't change or about trying unsuccessfully to slow down time. so i'm gonna start breathing from now on ."

This summer has not been the renewal experience I had expected or hoped it would be. I barely made it through this last school year at the end of my rope and was looking forward to being rejuvenated through the summer. I start school in two weeks and feel almost no different. So I'm making it a priority this year to slow down and breathe regularly, not to just wait until I have time. I'm sure I'll forget, so if you see me ask me if I've been breathing lately :-)

PS The whole subject of breathing reminded me a lot of this video that I've seen. It's by that one guy who does all those Christian videos...I think his name is Rob Bell? It's about breathing in God every minute. It's really good, you should check it out!

Wed. Night

I thought the message on Wednesday was really great. It showed how we are a part from God in such a graspable way!

At the very end of the night right before we left the beach, something really spoke out to me! We were praying for Scott's dad and during our prayer the church next to us was singing "How Great is our God." To me it stuck out as through it all, our God is never changing. In that, we should never change our praise to Him.

Heaven

S: "Behold, I will create a new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind." Isaiah 65:17

O: Once Jesus comes to claim earth, things will be different. What we do now on earth won't even be a memory... There is only one thing that we need to do during our time on earth, and that is to accept Christ, and to be born again like John 3 tells us.

A: I must not do things just for the now, but I should be constantly preparing for eternity with Christ. In this I need to be telling others about Him.

P: Help me to focus on the later and not to get caught up in the now.