A Battle of "Wills"

Every Sunday, I used to come home from church service and immediately blog what was preached. I did this because not only do I love to write, but I often feel overwhelmingly compelled to share absolutely everything. Even though it’s good to blog the things that I learn, sometimes it puts more pressure on myself. I overwhelm my mind when I feel that I am “responsible” for putting everything out there; feeling that I am screwing up or making Him unhappy if I don‘t do His “will“ for me by writing every time I have the notion. I was scared that I was being wasteful of my gift; burying it in the sand like the wicked servant. 

I am well aware of the fact that I struggle with being “all or nothing”. Therefore, I have been a little “low-key” for a while. I still blog, but not as much as I used to. It’s taken a load off my shoulders as I’ve learned to just “be” a little more and blog when I’m overwhelming moved to do so; instead of blogging overwhelmingly because I feel that I always have to move! ;) Having balance and “going gray” is a good thing! Unless it’s a clear cut and absolute “thou shalt not” that God has laid out in His Word, you don’t have to be stressed about every little thing being right and wrong. Sometimes, things really aren’t that black and white. 

This is why I’m blogging the sermon today. I truly felt the undeniable nudge to share this time because David Shepherd’s sermon was about this very concept.  He talked about the fact that we get so caught up in God’s “will” that we stress out about everything and become so indecisive. I can totally relate to that! In fact, that was closely tied into my legalism/perfectionism problem that I was in heavy bondage to for many years. Every now and then, that kind of thinking still creeps up on me and I have to renew my mind (Romans 12:2) and remind myself that I don’t have to do everything “right”. David reminded us that our life and our outlook is directly determined by the kind of thoughts we think (I highly recommend “Battlefield of the Mind” , by Joyce Meyer. It’s a big help in dealing with transforming your mind and learning to have positive and Christ-like thinking. I read it in High School and am now reading it again). 

We put way too much stress on ourselves by over-thinking or thinking negatively. Our lives are the product of our thoughts. Most things are fairly basic and trivial decisions that don’t have to be agonized over, but we get so worried about correctness (or beating ourselves up over the “wrong” things) that we get too caught up in deciding rather than just living and being. That’s how it becomes all about “us” and we truly miss out on the fellowship and relationship we are meant to have with God. It becomes all about “law” and not grace. It’s like a sermon I once heard about being human beings rather than human doings. As David said, God didn’t say to seek His will, He said to seek HIM: 

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. - Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. - Matthew 22:37-40 (KJV)

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. - John 6:29 (KJV)

When I was living in “right” world, I was stressed, fearful, and miserable because I was consumed with doing everything correctly and was scared that God would disapprove and be disappointed in me if I didn’t do exactly what I thought He wanted me to do. I totally missed the fact that He is a loving Father and not a stern dictator with a yardstick in His hand; ready to slap my wrist every time I screw up. The previous verses had been quoted to me many times before by people who cared about me and saw that I was exhausting myself with my legalism. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times people would pray over me and tell me “you are trying too hard” and I couldn’t understand what they meant because I thought I was supposed to give my all to please God and figure out His “will“ for me. Though, the simple truth is exactly what Jesus said: Love God; love others. Believe in the One He sent. Simple faith. Or, as I read in the book “Walking With Arthur”, just find the good that lies nearest and do it (It‘s an EXCELLENT book! Click here to read the review I posted a few years ago). If you’re so consumed with God’s “will” and your ultimate destiny, you will totally miss the “right now”. After all, each moment you live in the present is a stepping stone to where you will be in the future. It’s like a little card I have that says that God isn’t “I was” or “will be”. He is “I AM” for a reason.

As simple as it may seem, it took me a long time before any of this truly stuck. I lived in a persistent state of  perfectionism and condemnation for many years. In fact, it took me 3-4 years for this particular verse, that someone spoke over me, to truly sink in: 

To whom he said, "This is the resting place, let the weary rest"; and, "This is the place of repose"—but they would not listen. So then, the word of the LORD to them will become: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there—so that they will go and fall backward, be injured and snared and captured. - Isaiah 28:12-13 (NIV)

By doing and doing, I was falling backward rather than moving forward. I was doing more harm than good to myself and being held captive in my own prison. How miserably exhausting! I didn’t realize that I was trying to live without grace and that it was for freedom that Christ had set me free so that I would never again be in bondage to another yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1). Without realizing it, I was trying to earn my right to be saved when in all actuality, it had NOTHING to do with me and EVERYTHING to do with Christ and the price He already paid! 

So, what is “God’s Will” and what does it really mean to us anyways? David said it’s pretty simple. There’s His Will of decree; which are the things that are ordained, absolute, and cannot be changed. It cannot be undone and it is what it is. That is, His creation of the world, the plan of salvation, the fact that He is holy and just, etc. Then, there’s His Will of desire; which are the commands that He gives us. He gives us His Word and His Holy Spirit to show us how to live, but our own free-will can obey or disregard it. Then, there’s God’s Will of direction. It’s the character of our lives, His plan and purpose for us (which is usually pretty general; we don’t always know the specific details at every given moment), and who we truly are. Who we are and what we are meant to be isn’t narrowed down by our location, occupation, education, etc. The essence of who we are is hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3) and depends on the character that the Holy Spirit cultivates in us (Romans 5:3-5, Galatians 5:22-23). Money, status, and stuff doesn’t define you or give you character. Furthermore, you don’t have to be wealthy in order to be rich. True riches are in wisdom (Job 18:18, Proverbs 8:11). James 1:5 says that God will freely and generously give wisdom to those that ask. Though, as David pointed out, we truly need to have prayers of faith because the next two verses of James say that we won’t receive if we don’t believe. As David said, “We need to stop pleading with God to show us the future and start living like we understand that He holds the future.” Amen to that! It’s like a poster I once seen that said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” 

The bottom line is, quit worrying and start living! Trust and believe in the One God sent! Love God and love others. When you do that, you are truly doing the Will of God and abiding in Him (John 15:5)! There’s no need to “hyper-spiritualize”, as David put it. Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Stay connected to Christ on a daily basis by renewing your mind with His Word and keeping the prayer flow going! Then, you will make good decisions (more often than not) that are in agreement with the Holy Spirit, as you live moment to moment. Live in the “now” and trust that He holds your tomorrows! Each day is a gift; which is why it is called the “present”. Don’t miss out on the good you can do TODAY because you are wondering about your ultimate purpose. Those little things make up the bigger picture. Don’t waste those “little” opportunities to make a difference because sometimes, those are the ones that matter the most!

Grace and peace to all of you!! God bless you!! 

Crazy for Christ

Yesterday, Scott Kaehr preached the sermon. It was great! His heart really comes through in what he says because he’s passionate about God! In fact, he started out with this photo (and verse). It’s a picture of a space shuttle with the sun in the background:

Scott said that while a man made machine like the space shuttle is amazing, he is more amazed by the One who made that “big orange ball”. How about you? Do you know the One who made the sun? Are you awed by Him? I know I am!!

Scott said that even though God is bigger and greater than the sun, He still chose to humble Himself and come TO us! Jesus literally “moved into our neighborhood” and dwelled among us. What does that mean to you? If you need a weak comparison, think of a celebrity you admire. Now, imagine that he/she is moving in next to you. Wouldn’t you be thrilled that someone of such “importance” was going to be YOUR neighbor? That’s what Scott was trying to convey - only Jesus is much bigger, greater, and more important than any “celebrity” of any kind! Not only is He your neighbor and mine, but He’s everyone’s! Jesus is for EVERBODY!

Scott talked about how the blind man in Matthew 20:29-34/Mark 10:46-52 understood just how amazing Jesus was. He was captivated by Him and was desperate to know and be known by Jesus. He was sitting in a ditch and asked what was happening when he heard the crowd going by. When he was told it was Jesus, he started crying out to Him. The saddest part is, he was rebuked for it! Scott said he wondered who the people were that were telling him to be quiet. Was it the Pharisees? Jesus’ own disciples? They had to be blind themselves to not realize that Jesus wasn’t about the pomp and circumstance. He was all about being with and healing people like that blind man in the ditch.

Scott said he also wondered who the person was that brought the blind man to Jesus when He stopped and asked for the man to be brought to him. Could it have possibly been one of the people rebuking the man just a short while ago, or was it someone else? Scott said that he could just imagine the scene; disciples and people scrambling to be the one to bring the man to Jesus. “Here he is, Jesus. I am the one that brought him to you.” Scott talked about the prideful “pat yourself on the back” kind of stuff that we often do. He said it was something that he even struggles with himself.

Scott pointed out a few more things. One being that the first thing Jesus said to the man (which I have always found beautiful and amazing) is “What do you want me to do for you?” Scott said, “Has Jesus ever asked you that question?” Yeah, He sure has! It reminded me of something I read in the book “Prison to Praise” by Merlin Carothers. He said that he had had a vision of Jesus kneeling and saying that He didn’t want to use him (us) He wants (us) to use HIM! Anything that WE do for others, or that God does for us, is THROUGH Christ (Philippians 4:13). CHRIST is the one being “used”; not us! It’s not through “us” that God’s Will gets accomplished. It’s not Him using US, it’s US using HIM and HIS power and authority! CHRIST does the “doing”. All glory belongs to Him!

The blind man had been literally screaming for Jesus. He was desperate for Him. Scott even talked about the part where the Bible says he threw off his coat. Why? He didn’t want anything tripping him up. He was throwing off his old life and anything that could get in the way of him getting to Jesus. Jesus was all that mattered. He would stop at nothing; just like the people who tore the roof off a house to lower their friend down to Jesus so he could be healed. They were crazy for Christ! Are we?

Can you imagine being that blind man? Can you imagine the eyes of Jesus being the first thing you see when your sight is restored to you? That’s undoubtedly what that blind man saw! It’s what Scott saw, because he said that he was that blind man for a long time. He was sitting in the ditch, in the mud, until he finally threw off his coat and started screaming for Jesus. Can you relate? Are you screaming for Jesus to heal you? Are you throwing off everything that is getting in the way of you and Him? That’s what Scott invited us to do as he closed the sermon and many of us went up to pray. He came around to those of us who were there and asked if we had gotten what we came for. I know I did! I was hoping and praying that all I experienced in the past week would continue on forever. I was praying that the kind of peace and presence I felt last week would remain with me always and that I would learn how to blot out the distractions and stresses of the world.

Grace and peace to all of you! May you all throw off your coats and scream for Jesus! May you all find what you’re looking for. Christ has it, and He will freely give it to you! Come to Him!! God bless you all!!

**By the way, if you want to see this sermon (and I highly recommend it!), the video will be uploaded soon on YouTube!! http://www.youtube.com/user/MissionOfLIfe Last week‘s sermon is already on there, in various parts (since YouTube limits how long the videos can be)**

Are You Sandy Or Rocky?

Last week, Chad finished the “what’s so great about Jesus?” series. Throughout the series, he had been featuring testimonies from www.iamsecond.com . This time, however, he featured a testimony LIVE!! Life Church member, Rick Elwell, shared his testimony onstage about how he almost got a divorce, but that Christ brought him through his marital distress and restored him. Amen to that!!

Not only did we get to watch a live testimony (great job Rick!) but we got a great sermon too!! Chad talked about something I never really thought of before. He talked about Jesus and how He gave Simon the name Peter. Back then, Simon was such a common name. You had to be called “Simon son of…” in order for people to know WHO you were talking about lol! However, Simon wasn’t common. Just like all of us, we have purpose (and a calling). Jesus knew this. Jesus even gave Simon the new name of Peter in Matthew 16:17-18 after Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ.

It’s such a beautiful thing! Sometimes we grow up thinking that we are common and ordinary; much like Simon Peter thought. Ordinary man, ordinary job, ordinary life. Not so! God calls us to so much more! He made the distinction with Peter by giving him that new name. We know that Peter means “rock.” Chad illustrated the transition onstage with sand and a rock. Sometimes, we are unstable and unpredictable as shifting sand. But, with Christ, we are solid as a rock!

So, was that a done deal? Far from it!! Spiritual growth is a PROCESS! You don’t go from sand to a rock overnight!! In fact, that’s what was so great about Chad’s sermon. He used the life of Peter to show us that just like it was with him, so it is with us. Peter didn’t always act like the “rock” he was destined to be. It’s amazing to see his progress!! The letters that we read from him (and what we also read about in Acts) show a more disciplined, certain, and solid “rock” than what we see from him during the ministry of Jesus. So many times, we read where Jesus once again called him Simon (even after He named him Peter). “Simon” fell asleep when he was supposed to be keeping watch (Mark 14:37-38). “Simon Peter” drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest‘s servant (John 18:10). Jesus asked “Simon” in John 21:17 if he loved Him. On and on we see the journey (and sometimes back pedaling) of Simon/Peter. Yet, look how he ended up! It’s a process and a journey. Jesus wasn’t finished with Peter when He gave him a solid name. It was only the beginning! Likewise, we are also works in progress. He’s not finished with us yet!!

If we want to be able to progress in our walk with Christ, we have got to pursue Him with our whole heart (and allow Him to do the work in us). Like Chad said, “He’ll work it out.” ;) Amen to that!! Sometimes, that old name reminds us of the fact that we are acting like our old self; rather than the new self that we are meant to be. When he was acting like “Simon” hearing his old name likely reminded him of that. Those moments likely made him stop in his tracks and examine his actions. It can be very humbling, but what person doesn’t rethink their actions when they get a gentle rebuke/reminder? “Simon, Simon….“ or “Simon Peter….“ When your parents used your full name, didn’t that make you straighten up? LOL I know that when I would hear “Melissa Kay” that always made me stop and think!! ;) And, just as a parent disciplines the child they love, so God does with us (Proverbs 3:12). Refining isn’t always pleasant or pretty, but it’s necessary!!

Grace and peace to all of you!! It’s hard to transition from sand to rock, but it’s worth it!! God knows your true name (ask Him)!! It’s not common or ordinary, but precious and solid!! He knows who you are and who you are destined to be!! May you all bring glory to His name!! God bless you!!!

GREAT Input!

Today, Chad continued to talk about “what’s so great about Jesus.” It can hardly be fully explained in a sermon series because what’s so great about Jesus is the fact that there is SO MUCH that you just can’t explain it all!! He’s always so fresh and new! Every breath and every new day and experience is something great about Jesus. Like Chad said, Jesus isn’t contained in the pages of His Word; and for that matter, neither is the enemy. As explained in the last two blogs, both our ally and our adversary are very real. Though, like one of the gals on the worship team said today, we are bigger than the enemy because God is bigger than the enemy. And since the Holy Spirit is inside us, we already have the victory over Satan. We just have to believe that and claim the power and authority given to us by Christ!

Indeed, that’s the “great” part. That’s the stuff we’re supposed to be carrying in our heart and being filled with. Chad talked about Proverbs 4:23 in which Solomon tells us to guard our heart because it’s the wellspring of life. Chad said that the heart is a place of both input and output. The kind of things that get poured into your heart are the things that are going to spill out of your heart. Therefore, we must certainly guard it because not all that gets poured in are things that we want to pour out. We need to reject that garbage and take out the trash whenever the bad things want to pour themselves into us. Chad illustrated it as a vacuum cleaner. He mentioned that his kids are always seeking to absorb and suck in good input. He said those things are significance, security, acceptance, love, and praise. They are essential needs of every human being. If we aren’t getting enough of that (or are getting the opposite of that) our heart can get very messy. We can even get to the point where we close it off so that it doesn’t take anything else in; whether good or bad. Sure, you seal yourself off from negative stuff, but you also eliminate the possibility of accepting any good stuff.

Once again, Chad featured a testimony from http://www.iamsecond.com/ . A lady named Priscilla Nicoara talked about the kind of “input” that got poured into her heart as a child. Her mother never wanted her (and had had several abortions prior to her even being born). She said she was always reminded by her mother that she was never really wanted. She didn’t have any of those crucial elements of need in her life; no love, praise, significance, security, or acceptance. The only place she felt she had that was from her father who absolutely loved her. Then, when she was a teen, he died unexpectedly. It devastated her and she felt all alone. It wasn’t until a man invited her to know Jesus that she discovered just how loved, accepted, and wanted she was. She explained how she went from feeling like garbage to feeling like a princess when she realized that she was God’s child; that He adopted her into His family, loves her, and chose her. Amen!!

Priscilla learned to empty her heart of the garbage that was brought in and allowed Jesus to meet her deepest needs and fill her heart with good things. Isn’t that great?! Yes, it’s great - it’s Jesus!!

We are going to have a lot going in and out of hearts during our lifetime. So, we must be alert! We need to take our thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) renew our minds (Romans 12:2) and think on good things (Philippians 4:8). If bad input tries to get in (or if it’s already there) we need to reject it! We need to pour it out! We don’t want to be filled with that! It’s like if you have an empty stomach and you have the choice between drinking something good or drinking poison. Fill up on what is good. Drink that! Don’t drink poison!! Pour it out! Don’t accept it! Or, if you have, puke it out (sorry, don’t know how else to say it). ;) You can’t be filled with good things if you are contaminating your tank with the bad. Empty it out so you can be filled with real fuel!

Grace and peace to all of you!! I pray that you will be emptied of and guarded against bad input. I pray that you will be filled with God’s good and glorious outpouring of input into your heart and that it will spill out to others!! Jesus,….GREAT!! “Great” input!! God bless you!!

CrAZy About YOU!!

What’s so great about Jesus? Have you ever thought about that? That’s the current question that Chad began delving into last Sunday. Whether you’re a new Christian, mature Christian, or not at all, you’ll hopefully see in a very real and beautiful way what is so “great” about Jesus.

Above any other “god” or “religion” Jesus is a cut above the rest; not solely because the gospel is true, but because of His love and passion. It’s all about this point that Chad really drove home: He’s crazy about us!! Do you know that? He’s crazy about you!! He loves you and loves you deeply!! He sacrificed His own life for you and is (at this moment) preparing a place for you in heaven to join Him. He came once to save us and to spare us from condemnation (John 3:16-18) and is coming back AGAIN to take us home! Is there any other “god” that pursues like that? Is there any other “gospel” that speaks of such passionate love? Is there anything that promises and delivers like Jesus does? Is there any other that has sacrificed his life for you and is coming back for you (and that is WITH YOU in the meantime)? Jesus said He is always with us (Matthew 28:20). His presence comforts and sustains us in this world as we wait to be with Him.

You want to know how crazy God is for you? Consider the story in Luke 15:8-10: “Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”

The last verse is the kicker; about how there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Think about that. Someone is rejoicing like crazy in the presence of the angels. That someone is GOD Himself!! The Father in heaven is celebrating like CRAZY when a lost one is found!! He is CRAZY ABOUT YOU!!! It doesn’t matter if you have been lost a little while or a long time. Whenever you come home, there is rejoicing! He loves you; and it’s an amazing and passionate love like nothing else!! Unconditional, sacrificial, beautiful, perfect love!!

How do you feel about knowing that? Is it hard to take in for one reason or another? Maybe you feel like what Chad described as he held up a t-shirt; the dirtiest shirt he said he had seen. His son was wearing it one day and he commented about the filth. His son brought his arms inside his shirt, flipped it around, and put his arms back through the sleeves. So often, we do the same thing. Our lives are filthy. No matter how much we flip it around, or even turn it inside out, it’s dirty. How are we going to clean it? “We” can’t. The shirt (us) needs to be washed. Who’s the launderer? Jesus. His blood (detergent) washes and purifies that shirt. Ah, a clean shirt! Doesn’t that feel good?!! Chad said Jesus is just like a clean shirt. Indeed, He makes all things new!! Your life can be a clean shirt!! Come home! Surrender the “shirt.” Let Him wash it! Don’t be ashamed by the filth. He welcomes you and rejoices over you no matter how “dirty” you are! Every single one of us needs a clean shirt, and Jesus is there to provide it. That love on the cross is what washes us!

Isn’t that a beautiful and refreshing thought? Or, are you still not convinced? Is the idea of God’s craziness for you just plain foolishness in your mind? 1 Corinthians 1:18 says that the gospel is silly to those that are perishing but POWER to those who are being saved. Two perspectives based on two different choices; salvation/life or condemnation/death. If it’s foolishness to you now, know that it’s not too late to make a new and better choice; a choice of salvation, life, and power. Why miss the power of God NOW and for all eternity later?

Even if you are already a Christian, maybe it’s still a little “foolish” to you because you can’t comprehend how much He loves you. Whatever the case may be, perhaps you need a little more proof. Chad shared a website with us called “I Am Second”. It’s full of amazing video testimonies from people talking about their stories of how Jesus became first in their lives (and now they are second). In fact, Mitch loves the site so much that he’s watched nearly every video by now! Some of the videos that will likely catch your eye are those of Joe Gibbs, Josh Hamilton, Stephen Baldwin, Jason Castro (former American Idol contestant), Darrell Waltrip, and Brian Welch (former member of the band “Korn” - and fellow band member Fieldy has converted as well!). There are also many non-celebrity testimonies too, like the one of Richard Ellis that they showed during service last Sunday. I wish I could talk about each and every one of them, but I wouldn’t know where to begin!! They are all AMAZING!! I encourage you to visit the site for yourself and watch as many as you can whenever you can! Let them tell you their own stories (it’s better hearing it from them rather than me anyways). ;) I really liked Brian’s and Josh’s. They had some amazing stories and profound statements as they talked about the junk they went through, the turning points in their lives, and how Jesus changed it all!!! I also really liked how Chris Plekenpol talked about how he could have saved the life of a suicide bomber in Iraq, but that he wasn’t willing to risk his life for his enemy. Yet, Christ died for all of us; whether we care for Him or not. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

I hope that through those video testimonies (and even your own story) you can see what’s “great” about Jesus. There’s no one and nothing else like Him!! Maybe I’ll make a short video sometime and share my story as best as I can. As they all said in theirs, so I’ll say now, “My name is Melissa, and I am second.”

Grace and peace to all of you!! I would love to read (or watch) your “I am second” story!! Feel free to share!! God bless you!!

The Strength That Is In You

Last week, Scott Kaehr gave the message at church entitled “The Other Side of the Gospel.” He talked about how the gospel is more than just salvation. Being a Christian is more than just having “fire insurance.” Not only are you forgiven at the point of salvation, but you are FILLED with the Holy Spirit.

The fact that we are filled with the Holy Ghost is wonderful news!! After all, apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5). If we think we are the ones who are righteous and good, we have missed something! Like Scott says, it’s Christ in us that does the work (Philippians 2:13)!! And, in Philippians 4:13, it says that we can do all things THROUGH CHRIST who strengthens us. Over and over again we see in God’s Word that it’s the Holy Spirit IN US that is enabling us to fulfill God’s good purposes.

Scott even sited Mark 9:17-29 in which the disciples are asking Jesus why they couldn’t drive an evil spirit out of a man’s son. Jesus told them that that kind could only come out by prayer and fasting. Scott says that “we” miss the fact that “we” cannot drive out spirits, perform miracles, etc. apart from Christ. If we aren’t in communion with God through prayer and fasting, “we” won’t be able to carry out God’s Will because we won’t know what His will even is!

Scott reminded us that in whatever we go through or encounter, the victory is accomplished through Christ. We can’t achieve real or lasting victory on our own. Anything “we” can do is incomplete without Christ and it will not stand. It’s castles in the sand. If you want to see a good example of this, watch Clem Reinhard’s testimony. He said that he was once addicted to alcohol but now, he’s addicted to Jesus! He experienced true victory, freedom, and recovery through the strength of Christ! He’s a beautiful example of what happens when you surrender to the will of God and let Him take control!

A few final thoughts are some things Scott mentioned about dealing with his own stronghold; anger. He said it’s something that he continually gives up to God. Surrender and deliverance is one thing, but maintaining freedom is very tough! Satan doesn’t give up on you! He’s stubborn!! He would love nothing more than to enslave you to the same things you were delivered from! That’s why Scott reminded us that we have to continue to take our thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). He said that when the anger comes up, he just brings it to God and says, “it’s not mine, it’s yours.” We need to keep giving those things over to Him to deal with - that’s the whole “Christ in me” part that we have to take hold of. Keep laying your struggles and strongholds at His feet; He’ll deal with it. There’s nothing too big or too small. If you fight your battles on your own, prepare to suffer loss!!! You’ll only get victory through HIS strength and through abiding in HIM!

Here’s another good illustration; brought to you from the talented and gifted guys over at Knocking on Heaven’s Door.This particular comic is even printed out and posted on my fridge so I can see it and be reminded of it EVERY DAY:



Grace and peace to all of you!! If you want to learn more about deliverance and recovery, check out the sermons of Blackhawk Baptist church. They are doing a series right now that deals with the steps of finding freedom from all sorts of bondage (we watch them on TV before going to our church’s services every Sunday). God bless you, and I pray that you will find deliverance and freedom through the strength that is in you - which is Christ!

Heart Tugs

Tomorrow. What kind of word is that to you? Sometimes, it can mean the date in which we will get something done, or PLAN to get something done (if we are a procrastinator). Tomorrow is a lot of things, but one thing that it never can be is CERTAIN.

Last Sunday, Craig preached on “tomorrow.” Just as Jesus said in Matthew 24:36-44, we won’t know the day or the hour that He will return. Therefore, we need to be prepared. It’s just like the story Craig shared about when he was in Boy Scouts. He and his friends were up at camp and the scout master had to leave for a little while. He wanted them to take care of a few tasks while he was gone so that they would be prepared for the evening later (that is, they needed firewood stocked up, provisions gathered, etc.). They thought he would be gone a good while, so they put it off until “later” and had fun swimming instead. Much to their surprise, their scout master returned earlier than expected and he was very disappointed that nothing had been done.

Not only is this story important to remember in the event of Jesus’ coming, but also for the things that we are supposed to be doing while we’re waiting. Craig said that there are undoubtedly things on our hearts that we know God wants us to do; but we haven’t done them yet. When asked the greatest commandment in Mark 12:28-34, Jesus essentially said “Love God, love others.” THAT is what we are supposed to be doing while we are waiting!! That’s what matters most and that’s what we need to be demonstrating; our love for God and our love for others. To get a good picture of what that means, refer back to the sermon Chad preached on love; the one I entitled “Getting Off Your Donkey.” It’s one of my favorite sermons and one that I always think of when pondering how to best love and serve others.

What it all boils down to is that God’s business is our business. In fact, Jesus said the same thing about Himself many different times (John 4:34, 5:30, 6:38, 7:16, 12:49). He always talked about doing His Father’s will and speaking the words that God the Father had Him speak. We need to be like-minded; concerned about God’s Kingdom and not our own. Can you imagine how much the world would change if we were all focused on that?

So, what sorts of things has God been nudging your heart to do? What words has He been wanting you to speak? What things has He been urging you to do? Craig said that for one, he needed to make a point of calling his Mom every week and that he also needed to visit some people who haven’t been to church in a while. We don’t know how long we have before our unfinished business remains that way forever. Time is precious! We must utilize all we have and make the most of it!! Do whatever it is that’s been tugging on your heart; call or visit that friend, forgive that person who wronged you, finally give your heart to Jesus, etc. It’s different for all of us, but the urgency is the same. Putting things off will cheat yourself, and others, out of a blessing! Don’t put off the good that you ought to do (Proverbs 3:27, James 4:17). Listen to those “heart tugs” from God!

Grace and peace to all of you!! Have a blessed weekend!!

Don't Be A "Rich Man"

Last week, Chad finished up the “Things Above” series. He brought up the interesting story found in Luke 16:19-31 about the rich man and the beggar named Lazarus. When both of them died, Lazarus was comforted in heaven and the rich man was in agony in Hell. The Bible says that he could look up and see Abraham with Lazarus by his side. He begged for pity and that Lazarus could cool his tongue with just a drop of water from his finger. But, Abraham told him that neither side could cross to the other; there was a great chasm between the two. The rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his brothers so that at the very least, they might not end up where he was. Abraham told him that that was what the prophets were for and that if they didn’t believe them, they wouldn’t be convinced even if someone were to raise from the dead. 

Chad talked about the interesting points about this parable. The fact that both sides could see the other (but not cross) and the fact that the rich man could remember his brothers. He made the point of saying that if those in heaven could see those in Hell, how “heavenly” would heaven really be? He compared that to what John described in Revelation 21:1-4 about the new heaven and new earth and how the old ones passed away. It is only after that is done that the word says that there is no more death, morning, or pain. It is only then that everything is final and everything is renewed and restored. Like he said, being able to see people in Hell with no hope of escape would be torture for us to observe/know just as it would be torture for them to see and know that they will never be free from torment. At least Revelation assures us that heaven will be the paradise it’s meant to be after it’s all said and done. Maybe the heaven that’s existing right now is sort of the “waiting room” for the heaven to come? It’s hard for me to wrap my brain around it all. 

Those are interesting things to think about. Since Jesus gives us a window into what heaven is and what it will be like at the very end, we should be mindful of those things when considering our choices here. If we are like the rich man and care only about our “heaven” on earth, that’s all the heaven we will get. If we are nothing but self-absorbed and concerned about our own selves, the only comforts we will have are the comforts that we seek and receive here. But, if we are humble and poor in spirit (yielding ourselves to God and seeking HIS will) our comfort will be our reward in heaven when we die and go to be with Him. 

Whenever I hear that parable, I always think about how awful it would be to be the “rich man.” I also think about how awful it would be to see people we knew on earth suffering on the other side of that chasm. Therefore, it makes me all the more concerned about telling others about Jesus so that they will not be like the “rich man.” I don’t want others to suffer in Hell; neither do I want to SEE them suffering. I will continue to live and speak the truth as best as I can so that that doesn’t have to happen. Though, it’s ultimately the choice of each person’s individual free-will. There will undoubtedly be people who choose NOT to be with Christ by denying and rejecting Him on earth. It saddens me that there are those that make “rich man” decisions to ignore Christ for the sake of temporary earthly pleasures. Why be so short-sighted? NO ONE escapes death! EVERYBODY dies! It’s an absolute certainty (for those that believe that there are no “absolutes” how do you answer that one?!). With that being said, shouldn’t we be concerned about where we will spend all eternity? Wouldn’t you rather be a Lazarus than a “rich man”? 

I hope and pray that you’re a Lazrus!! If you’re not, or you’re not sure, please don’t hesitate to talk to me!! I want to see you WITH me when this life is over; not on the “other” side. 

Grace and peace to all of you!! May the miracle of the resurrection of Christ be your greatest joy as you celebrate redemption today!! 

BAD Judgment

Last week, Chad started a new series: “Things Above” (Colossians 3:2). We who are on Earth should definitely learn about “things above (in other words, heaven) so we know what to expect when we get there.

Chad says that knowing a glimpse of what’s ahead can (and should) change how we behave in the present. They way you approach each day will change the more you can foresee how it affects the future (and more importantly, eternity). It kind of makes one think about Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol”. After seeing his past, present, and future, it definitely compelled him to change his attitude and behavior. Likewise, when we ponder the things in our lives, we can better gauge what our future will be like (and how we can make our lives better by changing the things in our lives that need changing).

Therefore, Chad thought it was important to extend that view into eternity. The Bible gives us various glimpses of what that is going to look like. Hebrews 9:27 says: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” So, since death is an absolute certainty for every single person (and we’re all going to be judged after we do) we need to know more about that. Though, understandably, judgment is a scary thing for people to consider. After all, who likes to be judged? Well, there’s good news and bad news about that. The good news is that if you are in Christ, there is no condemnation for you (Romans 8:1). The judgment you receive determines your REWARD in heaven. The bad news is, if you didn’t choose Christ while on Earth, your destination is eternal separation from Him. YOUR judgment is determined by your deeds as well, but it’s to determine your PUNISHMENT in Hell. Rewards vs. punishment. Plain and simple. The difference between the two is Jesus Christ. Your judgment is based on the answer you lived out in your life; the answer to the question “is Jesus your Lord and Savior?” Calling on HIS NAME and saying “yes” to Him is what puts YOUR NAME in the book of life and exempts you from eternal punishment!! Hallelujah!!

Chad used a typical heaven stereotype to try to illustrate the point. He had a bunch of people standing in line waiting to get to heaven. They had a person checking for their names in the book of life and if it was found, they went to heaven. If not, a trap door opens and they go to Hell. It doesn’t matter if you were a “good person” or not (or even if you’re a Colts fan - as one of the guys was dressed up as……he went to heaven by the way. ;) LOL). No one is righteous (Romans 3:10). What matters is Jesus. Chad said he didn’t want anyone to have to be “waiting in line” thinking “I wish I would have known!!!” You only have a lifetime on Earth to decide. If you’re “waiting in line”, it’s too late! There’s no purgatory. Either your name is in The Book or it’s not.

If you’re reading this, you still have time to choose Christ if you haven’t already! If you’re on the fence, what are you waiting for? How much time do you think you have?! Life can be stolen from you in an instant. You never know what day is going to be your last! The longer you delay an affirmative answer, the more you’re risking an eternity in Hell as time ticks away on the timer of your life! You only got the dash between the dates on your tombstone to live. Make the most of that dash and answer the question wisely, because the dash determines the eternity you’ll have forevermore!

I know I have shared this video before, but it’s just as powerful and true now as it ever was!! It’s a video by KJ-52 called “Life After Death”. It’s thought provoking and the message is right on!!! Watch it, think about it, and if you’ve never said “yes” to Jesus, PLEASE do so!! Feel free to talk to me about it! I care about where you spend eternity!! Through Christ, you can escape BAD judgment!

Grace and peace to all of you!! I’ll be sharing today’s sermon momentarily (and it’s also on judgment - though, the GOOD kind of judgment!). God bless you all!

The Word No One Wants To Hear In Church!

Last week, Chad talked about a topic most people don’t like to hear mentioned in church (or at all for that matter). Chad’s wife, Brande, hated the thought of it when he told her what he was going to preach on. He said that she was like, ‘and they are just starting to like you.’

So, what’s this dastardly topic that makes people cringe and Chad’s wife beg him not to preach? Care to take a guess? I’ll give you a hint: it’s something that everyone wants their hands on, but is in very short supply these days (unless you are the diluted Barack Obama with a so-called “plan” to create more of it). That’s right!! We are talking about MONEY!!

Ok, before you roll your eyes, groan, and forget you ever seen this blog, humor me and continue reading (this isn‘t MY favorite thing to talk about either! LOL). In fact, humor was also the route Chad decided to go in starting off his sermon. Ladies and gentleman, please treat yourself to this "rap video" in which three Life Church homeboys give you the 411 on money and tithing. Though, it was much funnier and entertaining when we watched it live; but I’m sure you’ll love it just the same!! (THANK YOU DAVE for getting it uploaded - by the way, he’s the dude in the Colts jersey in the video!). Great job Rick, Tyson, and Dave!! We loved the old skool moves!! Rock on!! LOL




Now that we’re warmed up a little bit, please continue reading…… ;)

Chad reminded us (in case we had forgotten - as we often do) that God is the Creator and everything is His. As he once said before, “my stuff is not my stuff.” We are just the managers and stewards of what God has graciously given to us and entrusted us with. In the beginning, God created everything, and then He created Adam and put him in charge of managing it.

The tradition continues today. Though, we often miss the point of what it’s all about. So often, we work and toil just to accumulate. Though, as Chad said, “what you call yours today, a stranger will call theirs tomorrow.” Nothing we have goes with us when we die; it just gets passed on and divided up. The only thing that lasts is our legacy. Therefore, as Jesus wisely told us, we should be storing up treasures in heaven. It’s there that true wealth accumulates; moth and rust can’t destroy it and no one can take it from us (Matthew 6:19-20).

Though, that’s not to say anything we own or work for is bad. We just need to keep it in perspective. Solomon realized that too much toiling under the sun for stuff that doesn’t last is “meaningless.” What REALLY has meaning is if every “work” is an act of worship to God (Colossians 3:23). You may be working at a “job” but treat it as if you are working directly for the Lord. Maybe then, your attitude would change towards that nasty boss that doesn’t appreciate you, or your negative co-workers, or whatever struggle you may be facing in a job you may not like. Regardless, give thanks for that job that God has provided for you (and especially in a time like this!) and “work it” for Him!

I am reminded of a story that Tony Chaney once told us in a sermon a long time ago. He talked about how his kids love McDonald’s french fries. He said that one time, he went out with his kids, got them some fries, and sat down with them. I think he said he just got himself a coffee; wasn’t really hungry. However, he casually reached over to snitch one of his daughter’s fries - just to see what she would do. If I remember correctly, he said that she exclaimed “nooooooooo”, pulled them back, and hoarded them from him. LOL His point was that he really didn’t want or need her fries. In fact, he could have just went to the counter and got his own. What he really wanted was for her to be willing to share with him what he was kind enough to give her in the first place. He wanted to have that fellowship and interaction with her; to delight in her gratitude for being so generous to her by giving back and sharing with him.

That’s what God wants from us. He doesn’t “need” our money. What is money to God anyways? What he REALLY wants is our act of worship; or what Paul more precisely calls “cheerful givers” (2 Corinthians 9:7). He wants us to give from our hearts as an act of acknowledgment and thanks to Him. Jesus made that point clear as well when he frowned upon the Pharisees for following “the law” without the attitude of love behind it.

I know some may say that tithing is “old school” or under the “law” and does not apply. I have read some blogs that have actually condemned tithing (or even just using the word!). I’m not going to do that here. Like Chad said, there’s a few places in God’s Word where tithing and giving to God is mentioned (in both the old and New Testament). Malachai tells us not to “rob God” (Malachai 3:8-10) and Jesus said to “give God what is God’s” (Mark 12:17). And personally, (just like the song in the video said), I don’t think moving the decimal point and giving 10% is all that hard to do. Is it really that painful and difficult to share a few “french fries”? Are we really stingy old scrooges; closing up our wallets (and our hearts) screaming “noooooooo…..it’s mine…….all mine!! Muah!!” God gets ten, you get ninety. That’s doable. I’ve done it since my first job when I was in the 8th grade. God has always taken care of me (and still does!). And, what I/we give helps God’s Kingdom advance as that money is put to use in all the various areas (church maintenance, missions, ministries, outreaches, etc.). Chad breaks it all down and explains it a lot better than I can!! Check it out on the website when the audio is uploaded: www.missionoflife.com

See,…..now wasn’t that painless? LOL That wasn’t so bad was it? Nah, piece of cake right? If it was hard to swallow, maybe it’s time to really take an “audit”. Not a literal kind of audit, but just as our former pastor Rick Fiechter used to say…..you’ll know where your heart is by looking at your checkbook. Where does all your money go (Wal-Mart right? LOL)? He said that when he gets paid, he makes sure that the “tithe check” is the first one he writes - so that it’s never the “I’ll give God what’s leftover” check. We do the same. It’s that statement of faith: “God, You come first! Thank You for all You’ve given us. Our stuff is not our stuff!” Though, as Chad also said, this isn’t about giving just so you can “get back” from God. This isn’t a big “prosperity gospel” like some pastors preach and use. Like he said, it’s not really about the money. As always, “it’s all about the heart.” Be a cheerful giver and give what God calls you to give!! Even the widow who gave out of her meager money was more blessed than all the rest who gave out of their wealth!

May you all continue to be blessed with all that God has given you! Grace and peace to all of you!!

"The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread"

Last Sunday, Craig Cortright spoke about a very common question that everyone has: “Who am I?” Do you define the question by your occupation? Your status? Your stuff? Are you who you think you are (or who others think you are)? Who are you?

The answer to the question depends on where your focus is. Do you identify with the world, or with Christ? Do you chase after the wind, or do you chase after God? Only one pursuit leads to life and joy. The other is merely a dead end.

If we want to know who we are, we got to passionately pursue that question in the right direction. What actions we take in knowing and pursuing our purpose will hinge on who we believe ourselves to be. Craig gave us a good example. He told the story of the guy that founded Upwards Basketball. He wanted to give every kid a chance to play, and the chance to hear and know that they are a winner and that Jesus loves them. To make a long story short, the program just started booming! It got to the point where they ran out of space and had to put kids on a waiting list. It was soon pointed out that if any child had to be put on a “waiting list”, they were pretty much being told to go to Hell. When the creator of that program realized this, he knew he had to do something. So, he made more room and saw to it that ever kid got to play. When they were once again out of room, the next step was to expand the program and get more churches involved. Now, we have the Upwards program (basketball, cheerleading, football, soccer) in churches nationwide (in fact, my son participated in basketball for the first time and the end of the season awards ceremony is tonight)!

If that man didn’t know who he was and what he was purposed to do, he could have very well been beaten down by the fact that he was shamed and criticized for the “waiting list” he had had. However, he didn’t get “offended” and pick up his stuff and move. He decided that he was going to listen to what was said and do something about it. He KNEW in His Spirit that that was the right thing to do because just as he knew his own worth, he knew that every child was worth it too! Therefore, he had to make sure no one was left behind!

How can we learn from this? Well, Craig pointed out something rather amazing. He showed us that in Matthew 26:26, Jesus took the bread, broke it, and gave it to His disciples. He alluded to the fact that we are “bread.” We are God’s children (John 1:12) and we are blessed as such (Galatians 4:7, Ephesians 2:8). Though, what good is bread all by itself? Bread is meant to be broken, shared, and used for nourishment. Can bread do all those things if it stays in the basket? Do we just “get saved” and that’s it? No, we are meant to share ourselves with the world by fulfilling the purpose for which we are created! Every talent and trait we were given is to be shared with others for their benefit and nourishment!

The key element that Craig wouldn’t let us forget is that before bread can be shared and given for the benefit of someone, it HAS TO BE BROKEN! I know, it’s painful. Being broken isn’t exactly “desirable”; but it’s necessary!! How would the hurting ones get help if not for someone who had already been “broken in”? We who have experienced pain (and subsequent deliverance) can readily share that brokenness with others that are broken. In my case, legalism, self-worth, and food addiction would be but a few of the “broken” things that I have to share with others who are broken by the same bondages. How would I be able to relate, share, or help others through those things if I hadn’t experienced them myself? It wouldn’t be the same! It’s kind of like when women (and men) share their abortion stories with me. I feel for them, and I pour out my love and compassion on them, but I have not been where they have. I can only go so far. However, my other friends who have been through it can minister to the hurting ones even MORE because they have that same pain in common. They have walked in their shoes and therefore, they have those scars to bear and share with others that are marred by the pain (my kudos to those brave friends of mine - you know who you are!!!).

What’s your pain? What brokenness do you have to offer the world? Craig said we discover that brokenness in prayer with God when we are all alone. Then, we place that brokenness under the blessing of knowing who we are. It is then that we will know what to do with all those broken pieces. God will reconstruct them into something more beautiful!! It’s kind of like a mosaic; the jagged and broken pieces come together for a much bigger picture. The broken becomes beautiful!!

I leave you now with a song that most of you probably know. It’s by Mark Schultz entitled (what else?!) "Broken and Beautiful". Be bread everyone!! Discover your brokenness in your time with Jesus. Then, allow Him to make the brokenness beautiful as He distributes you throughout His Kingdom to bless and nourish others!! Let your testimonies be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Well, you know what I mean! ;) Grace and peace to all of you!!

Be Aglow

A while back, Scott Kaehr gave the message at church. Since I didn’t blog about it as quickly as I usually do, I will probably miss a lot of details. As always, though, you can listen to the church sermons online at www.missionoflife.com

Scott talked about how God provides for us; just like He provided the manna for the children of Israel. Each day, they gathered their daily bread. They were only supposed to take what was needed for that day. If they took more than that, it would spoil. The whole thing was an issue of trust more than anything. Would they trust God to provide that same manna the next day, or would they hoard more than they should for fear they wouldn’t have enough? If one truly knows the unfailing nature of God, they know the answer to that question. God loves His children and He provides for them.

So, do we have that same trust when it comes to our personal calling? Do we have a passion for it; real and righteous passion like the kind of passionate pursuit that God has for His people? What is the mission that rests in the core of your soul? What ignites the fire? Scott said something really neat: “Let Christ set you on fire and people will come and watch you burn.” Amen to that!! Christ IS the light! If He sets you on fire, people are going to notice!!

To burn as brightly as possible, Scott talked about how we need to continue to allow God to work on us. We have to allow Him to prune away the dead branches and chip our old selves away chunk by chunk. One by one, issue by issue, we keep getting refined in the fires that we persevere through. Every small step we take is just a greater step in the bigger picture of things. Then, as we look back on our progress, we see just how far we have come!!

Scott encouraged us to “Be aglow.” If there is anything stopping us from shinning, we need to take it to Jesus. He said we should ask the question: “What keeps me from loving you?” Tough to ask isn’t it? We don’t always want to hear the answer do we? Sometimes, dealing with the answer is more than we think we can handle. But, as Philippians 4:13 assures us, we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us!!! NOTHING is impossible!!

In a world that seems darker and colder than ever, I pray that this world will heat up with the fires that should be ablaze in the hearts of God’s people. May we all be aglow; burning brightly and turning up the heat as we radiate His love!! God bless you all, and may His grace and peace be with you!!

"I'm here for you!"

Yesterday, my family and I went to the rally and march for life in Fort Wayne. The speakers and the testimonies always inspire me. I am always touched by the fact that we have people like Mark Souder who continue to fight for what’s right in Washington. He spoke at the rally, and his words were encouraging (despite the fact that fighting for life will be even harder with Barack Obama in office).

We also heard from Shawn Carney, who is one of the original founders of the Forty Days for Life campaign. One of the most moving things that he said was that it’s not about making abortion illegal, but UNTHINKABLE!!! Indeed, THAT’S the goal!! We can change laws, but what REALLY needs to change are hearts!! (Pray!!)

Actions really do speak louder that words! We have to be active, involved, and hands on! We have got to SHOW that we care, and we do that through prayer, providing help/aid to those that need it, and being the hands and feet of Jesus instead of just His mouth. In fact, Chad has been addressing that very thing in his recent sermons (haven’t blogged the sermons lately…sorry!). He has been reminding us about what “church” is (and it’s not a building! It’s PEOPLE!). Each “faith community” of Christian brothers and sisters combine together to make up ONE CHURCH - the body of Christ. And because we are a BODY, we need to be a body that moves!! The hands and feet of Jesus need to be going and doing. Yes, rest has its place, but we need not be the “butt” of the body all the time.

So, how do we get moving and start seeing real “change” in this world? Well, you have got to demonstrate that you care and that comes through continuing to spread the Good News (and doing it in the most gentle and compassionate way possible)! We’ve got to keep standing together, helping each other, reaching out, and actually DOING things that support what we stand for!! For example, there are LOTS of people that say that they are pro-life, but what good is it if you merely say it and don’t DO it? Why is everyone so afraid of rolling up their sleeves and getting involved? I’m not just talking about marching, talking about it, or pestering our senators and congressman to do what’s right. What I’m especially pushing for is people to say “you can count on me!” It’s about helping out your crisis pregnancy centers, giving help/counsel to a scared pregnant mom or a post-abortive woman who is hurting, providing a soft place to fall/shoulder to cry on, developing a connection with the people you help, etc. It’s not just a “cause”; it’s PEOPLE!! Putting it more simply, the cause IS people and investing yourself in them by building a relationship/connection and fellowshipping with them. How much more is a person’s heart touched based on a personal relationship connection? How often do we display our love and compassion by pouring out our hearts in service to others? How often do we drop to our knees in humble service (literally or metaphorically) and wash peoples’ feet like our own Savior did?

Talk is cheap. Though, it’s not to say that words are not necessary or effective. Most of you reading this know that I am a “words” kind of girl (you can tell by how much I blog! LOL). I write to motivate, inspire, and encourage because it‘s one of my spiritual gifts. Words ARE important, but they are only worth as much as the heart that‘s behind them. Many of you reading already know this because I have been “active” in your lives (and you in mine!). When I say I’m there for you, I MEAN IT (and prove it!). Lots of people, including myself, say “if you need anything, I’m here for you“. I can’t speak for everyone, but sometimes that phrase is taken a little too lightly. It kind of loses it’s meaning because that phrase isn’t always a reality when it comes to ACTING on it. So, I would like to make it perfectly clear to EVERYONE that when I say “I’m here for you. If you need me, let me know!” I ABSOLUTELY mean it!! I don’t throw that out there for the heck of it. It’s not just empty words from me! Though, it’s not to say that I’m superwoman or the greatest person in the world. I do the best I can however I can, but like I tell everyone, I am human and I have my failures. So, don’t expect miracles/perfection out of me (or for me to be a complete doormat either!). Even with my flaws, though, I’m HERE and I do mean what I say. Plenty of you out there can vouch for the fact that I back it up - and I appreciate those of you that return the favor and back up your own words as well!

So, with that in mind, don‘t be afraid to call on me if you need a friend. I want to be as helpful and effective as possible, so feel free to tell me what you need (or don’t need lol) from me. I know that at the very least, I can keep working on trying to keep my blogs shorter (when possible! LOL), talk a little less, and work on my conciseness (I am such a work in progress!! LOL). And, I know that I will continue to use my gifts to blog, volunteer, listen, e-mail/call/IM friends who need someone to talk to, provide encouragement/counsel/aid, etc. I’ll keep trying to be the kind of friend that one can depend on for love, compassion, and support (just like I receive from many of you).

I guess all that’s left to say is “who’s with me?” Chad is saying the same thing. Are we all in this together? I know some of you already are!! There are a faithful few of you who I can consistently count on; the ones who always put their whole hearts into people (and you know who you are!!!). These are the people that back up their words with actions. They devote time, money, resources, and love to helping the broken and getting them through whatever they are struggling with. They know as well as I do that we need to give and do as much as we can. Alone we are one, but together we are many! The WHOLE body of Christ needs to network together in order to have maximum impact!! So, THANK YOU to my true family and friends who ALWAYS have my back; and the backs of others!! THANK YOU for always saying “yes” when I ask you to help me aid a friend (or even help me personally in any number of ways), give back to the community, etc. You are more than just the “mouth” of Jesus; you are His hands and feet. You’re going, doing, and caring!! I feel the urge to name some of you one by one, but I know you all are humble servants and I don’t want to embarrass you (or cause the less than humble people to give me grief if I didn‘t mention their name lol). You know who you are, and you have my infinite love and gratitude for all you do!

Grace and peace to all of you!! God bless you and may you be a blessing to others!

The Promise On The Other Side

**Sorry I haven’t been around to blog much. I know I haven’t blogged several of the church sermons (and I don’t think I’ll get caught up). If you’d like, can always listen to the ones you missed at www.missionoflife.com**

Last Sunday, Craig preached about being “hard-pressed” in our faith. He asked: “What do you do when you’re a Christian and life’s a mess?“ He started off by talking about the testimony of C.S. Lewis. I’m sure many of you know who he is. He is the author of “The Chronicles of Narnia” books as well as many other renowned books like “The Screwtape Letters“ and “Mere Christianity.” (If you want to read more about C.S. Lewis, you can look him up on www.wikipedia.com where they have all the details). Though, for the sake of this blog, I will just tell you a little bit about him: 

C.S. Lewis was raised in church, but turned his back on his faith and became an atheist when he was fifteen. He later returned to his faith in his thirties. I remember watching a documentary about him in the bonus features of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe”. I remember how they said that he had ideas for Narnia before he was saved, but that it didn’t come to life until after he had dedicated his life to Christ - as if God had unlocked his mind. I just LOVE that because there are just so many things we DON’T know or can’t accomplish until we are totally opened and surrendered to God. THEN, he unlocks our mind and shows us all that we’re missing and all that He wants to accomplish in us and through us!! That’s exactly what He did with C.S. Lewis! 

C.S. Lewis eventually fell in love and married a woman named Joy later in life. She had cancer, and he hoped and prayed that she would recover. After being in remission for a while, the cancer came back and she died. It was devastating for him. 

Craig said that C.S. Lewis was able to get through his pain through realizing how much pain God’s own Son had gone through. Jesus wasn’t spared hardship and pain, even though He’s the one and only perfect man to ever walk the earth and the Savior of mankind. We live in a fallen world full of sin, so bad things are bound to happen to everyone.

The question we all have, though, is “why?”  It’s a question with no easy answers - and sometimes no real answers at all. We may never know the “whys” behind everything, but Craig pointed out the scripture form John 9:1-3 in which the disciples asked Jesus whose fault it was that a man was born blind. Jesus said that it was neither the man’s, nor the parents’, fault that he was blind but that the power of God could be displayed in Him. This is the same scripture that has always personally touched me because my son was born hearing impaired. I had the same thoughts of “fault” at first. Craig says that we do that because we are too “past and causal.” We are so focused on the past and what mistakes and bad things have occurred to “cause” what happened that we miss out on the fact that God is going to shine through the circumstance. It’s ok to wonder and ask “why”, but if we remain stuck in those “whys” we will never move forward. That is why I resolved to move on quickly once I found out that Casey had hearing loss. We prayed that maybe it was a temporary thing and that God would heal him and make it alright, but when that didn’t happen, we let go and moved on. The verse that was on my mind at the time was Job’s response to his wife’s urging to “curse God and die” (that phrase sums up Satan’s ultimate goal for all of us doesn’t it?!) Job told her: “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Faith is a piece of cake when everything is good isn’t it? But, the minute anything goes wrong, is God suddenly not good anymore? No, of course not! James 1:2-4 says: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Any hardships we go through tests our faith and builds our character. Does anyone develop a mature faith without experiencing tests? Does a doctor become an expert without demonstrating  and perfecting his knowledge and skills with each medical crisis he is faced with? How does one learn without being tested and disciplined? God disciplines those He loves (Proverbs 3:12). 

I know that no matter what, God is going to do mighty and wonderful things through my child! He has chosen him to be a shining example of His power and glory; whether that‘s ministering to others as he is or whether God chooses to miraculously heal him for all to see and believe in!! In my son’s life so far, he has been a blessing to everyone that knows him! He’s the sweetest most compassionate child you would ever meet and melts the hearts of those around him. What God has allowed to happen in Casey’s life is all for His  glory and the purpose to which my son is called (Romans 8:28). 

We all go through pain and struggles. It’s hard, and sometimes there’s no good reason or explanation. Sometimes, we go through times like Job did. Like Job, and like my son Casey, things will work out for good (Romans 8:28). There is a promise on the other side of our suffering if we will walk through it and persevere. And, we are not alone! There are those that have gone through the same things and know our pain. We have friends to walk through our struggles with us (and of course, we have Jesus). Whatever hardship you are going through, you’ll make it!! If you need someone to “make it” with, let me know!! I’ll walk through it with you as best I can!! 

God bless all of you!! May His grace and peace be with you today, tomorrow, and always!! 

Do You Have A "Morning Mist" Heart?

Last Sunday, Chad began talking about the blessing of Christmas and all that there is to celebrate. Though, as he pointed out, it is all too easy to get swept into the worldliness of Christmas and lose sight of the real thing.

Chad described being excited about finding that “perfect” toy for one of his children and how he just got a joy and a rush from it. He said that just that quick, he became convicted as he thought about how we so often miss that joy and that “rush” when it comes to Jesus. When was the last time we got that feeling of intense joy when we thought about or experienced Jesus?

The thing that I liked most about Chad’s message was when he touched on the core aspect of what God wants (and has always wanted) from us: our hearts. God is ALWAYS bringing this phrase to my mind: “It’s all about the heart, Melissa” as well as, “It’s not about you.” Indeed it’s true. It’s not about me, you, or anyone else; it’s about HIM. It’s about the HEART and not “stuff” or our meager attempts to do everything “right” and “perfect” all the time. He wants sincerity and authenticity. He wants intimacy, depth, and a heart-to-heart relationship with us.

Chad used these scriptures to illustrate things:

I know all about Ephraim; Israel is not hidden from me. Ephraim, you have now turned to prostitution; Israel is corrupt. "Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD. (Hosea 5:3-4)

"What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears. Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth; my judgments flashed like lightning upon you. For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:4-6)

What is He going to do with us? It’s just like a parent sometimes says to their child, “What am I going to do with you?” I know I feel that way sometimes!! When children are stubborn and willful, you just get so frustrated and wonder how you are going to manage them. It would be nice to have some compliance and obedience - or at the very least, acknowledgment. Both scriptures talk about acknowledging God. He wants more than our rituals and “religion”, He wants our hearts to be in it. He desires the obedience and love that comes from turning from our ways and repenting. He doesn’t want the “morning mist” hearts. He wants TRUE hearts that are hungry for Him and that separate themselves from idols.

At this time of year, we celebrate Jesus’ birthday. So, where are HIS gifts? What are we doing FOR HIM? What are we giving Him? Are we giving Him our hearts; REAL hearts? Are we giving to OTHERS in His name? Where is our focus? Who or what is our joy? I pray that our joy would be Jesus and that our hearts will belong to Him. I pray that His love will thrill us and fill us as we remember that everything really is all about Him.

In closing, I would like to invite all of you who live in my area to help give back and have the chance to give from your hearts by giving your time. My friend, Jama, works for the Salvation Army, and she has asked for volunteers to help sort toys, etc. Myself, and a few of my friends, will be in Fort Wayne on December 13th in order to help. So, if any of you would like more information, please send me a message and I will give you the specific details so that you can join us in helping out and giving back! Though, even if you can’t volunteer, I hope that maybe you could help out by donating items or funds to the Salvation Army. The most heartbreaking thing that Jama has to do is deny applications for help because they are simply overwhelmed with requests right now and are having a hard time meeting the demands that they currently have!! Please donate if you can (I know, the economy is tough for everyone right now). The need is greater than ever!!

God bless all of you!! I pray that the grace and peace of God will be with you as you enjoy the celebration of Christ’s birth!!

Boundless Love

Last Sunday, Scott Kaehr preached the message. Scott is the husband of our church counselor, and also a mentor to Chad. Chad had been wanting him to preach a message for some time, because he really felt like he had an awesome message to share (and indeed he did!).

Scott talked about the love of God. As cliché as that would seem for a sermon, it's not really cliché at all when you think about it. After all, does hearing about God's love ever get old? Does it ever lose its power? Is the message of God's love ever something that we should get tired of? God's love is so glorious, boundless, and multi-faceted! The more we hear about it, the more we understand. Though, I'm sure we won't fully grasp the depth and wonder of it until we get to heaven!! It's just SO BIG!! Like the Chris Tomlin song says, it's "Indescribable" !! 

This is one thing that is just so hard to put into words! The love of God sometimes just renders me speechless (and it's one of the few things that can! LOL). So, I don't know if I will even have much to say other than a few of the hard-hitting aspects of Scott's message. One being that God is a God who loves us, pursues us, and created us so that we could have a deep, personal, and intimate relationship with Him. In fact, His love is so pure and true that He even gives us the freedom to CHOOSE to love Him. He didn't just make us to be robotic people and demand our worship and fellowship. A relationship is nothing if it's not genuine. 

As if that weren't enough, God just kept on loving us even when we chose sin and independence and rejected Him. In the garden of Eden, and since then, so many of us have chosen to live our lives without Him; though His love remains. He loves us anyways; even if we don't love Him back!! How awesome is that! It's easy to love the ones that love you back, but to love those that don't….WOW!! 

His ultimate proof of love was demonstrated by sending His son to die for our sins; even if we couldn't care a lick about that generous gift. Isn't it amazing that even after displaying such love and mercy, we could STILL spit in His face? Yet, some of us do, but He STILL loves us!! Period!! AMAZING!! 

Do you have that fellowship with Him? If you haven't, you CAN! Or, if your fellowship has been broken, you can return! No matter what the case, you can make that "U Turn". You can repent, turn you back on all the things that pull you away from His presence, and turn to Him. His offer is always there: "Come!" He lays out the beautiful banquet table for you and offers you to come and fellowship with Him and indulge in all the wonderful things that He has to offer you. We can lay everything else down; our ways, our burdens, our heavy weights around our necks. We can "yoke up with Jesus" (as Scott put it) and He will carry those things that we needn't be carrying anyways. He will lift us up and out of all that drags us down, and replace it with good things that will enrich our lives. He will fill us with the fruit of His Spirit and our cup will overflow! 

Scott encouraged us to have a "bench mark" day. He said he had a time not that long ago that he had strayed away, but that looking back, he can see how far he has come. Our faith should be like that. We should be able to look back a year from now and say that we are stronger in our faith than we were before. We should be able to look back on our journey and relish the joy that we are even closer to God than we were before! It's kind of like a joke Mitch and I always say (which we heard from a comedian). The joke is this: "Did you know it was a year ago today?" Did you get it? LOL It most definitely WAS a year ago today! It's a year ago, a month ago, a week ago, etc. every day! What has happened in that passage of time? What will your bench mark be? 

May the wonderful love of God bring peace and joy into your heart today - and every day!! Grace and peace to all of you as you bask in the simple but profound truth that "God made you special, and He loves you very much!" (Yes, I borrowed that from "Veggie Tales"!). 

"Red Letter" Days

Over the past few weeks, Chad has been talking about the tough questions of our faith. It all leads up to our response to the gospel. How will we react? What will we choose?

In our bulletins, Chad has lots of scripture listed there. It was the “red letters” of Jesus. Do we cling to the “red letters”? Will His words lead to “red letter” days for us? Will there be people who are praising God because of the “red letters” that are being displayed in our lives?

We are a light to the world (Matthew 5:14-16). We need to be shinning!! We shouldn’t be hiding our light, or letting our fires dim and fizzle out!! Because of the dark places all around us, there are people crying out for light!! We need to be taking our light into those dark places; and leading people out!! We shouldn’t be the type that just shines our light in the dark, remind people that they are dark, and then just expect people to get out if we don’t lead them. We need to extend our hands to the ones that are searching for something to hold onto. We shouldn’t just shine in a stationary place and expect people to come to us if we aren’t coming to pursue them too!

What kind of light are we then? Does our light go to others, or do we just expect others to come to us? You know, it’s like something I read once about darkness not existing unless there is an ABSENCE of light. But, where there IS light, there is no darkness! So, the LIGHT has to go to the darkness in order for it to be eliminated. Darkness doesn’t seek light, because darkness cannot exist where there is light. LIGHT seeks the darkness to make the darkness light!!

How do we be the brightest light possible? Well, Chad said we have to be a student of our master. The better student we are, the more effective we will be. We will be “salty” and create a “thirst” in others. They will crave the living water that will quench their thirst!! Chad illustrated how well of a drummer he was in order to show the relationship between student and teacher. He showed us the best he could do on the drums, which was a drum solo that he was taught when he was in school. He played a timid “little drummer boy” solo, that he performed in a Christmas program, and that was it. Then, he had one of our praise team drummers perform a drum solo (which was astounding!). And, it definitely had me “thirsty” because his salty solo had me wanting to clap my hands and tap my feet! When his solo was over, I was thinking “Ah, come on! Play some more!! That was awesome!” THAT, my friends, is how we need to be!! We need to be a seasoned and experienced student of our master in order to be able to have that kind of effect - having people desiring “more.” If all we put out is “little drummer boy” efforts, we won’t attract much!

Chad ended the sermon by having us all write down our responses on a piece of paper. We wrote about our personal response and mission, and our prayer requests for it. He even had a few envelopes placed around the auditorium at random (and each envelope had “seed money” in it). He said those envelopes had God’s resources in it, and that he was challenging everyone (envelope or no envelope) to invest in God’s Kingdom by planting seeds. The church’s mission is to live out the “red letter” messages of Jesus!

So, what’s my “red letter” mission? Well, many of you know that it’s my passion to write. Therefore, I blog and share my heart online and otherwise. I do my best to serve, minister, and encourage others, work for good causes, use my talents in the church (writing, drama team, prayer team) etc. I’ll continue to do all I have been doing, and will look forward to having more opportunities to use them!!

May you all have “red letter” days and use your gifts to “shine” and serve!! Grace and peace to all of you!!

Life or Death?

On Sunday, Chad continued the series of tough questions. The latest question was “What difference does Jesus make?” In other words, do we exhibit the changed life that occurs when we become a child of God, or are we no different than anyone else?

It’s an important question to consider. After all, if Jesus has made such a difference, shouldn’t others be able to see the fruit of that? Or, is there a big gap between what we say we believe and the actual evidence of our faith? What is faith without action? It isn‘t enough to just “believe in God“ - even the demons “believe“ and SHUDDER (James 2:19). So, what sets us apart from a head-knowledge belief, like a demon, and true faith? It‘s our FRUIT, my friends!! It‘s our ACTIONS!! James 2:26 says “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” Basically, practice what you profess!

How much “gap” is there between the faith we profess and the actual evidence of what we say we believe? Chad said that the gaps “diminish Jesus.” In all actuality, NOTHING truly diminishes Jesus. What Chad meant was that the more our testimony displays a poor witness, the more that unbelievers will look at our lives and say “if that’s what a Christian is, than Jesus is not for me!” All my life, I have tried hard to make sure that there was as little “gap” as possible. Though, I am not infallible. Being that I have a sin nature, I am prone to mistakes. There are times that I won’t measure up to someone’s ideals, but that’s ok. I don’t live to please the world; neither can I be the “savior” of the world by my testimony alone. Laying down the legalism and perfection was something that was very tough for me to realize and cope with, but living on the side of GRACE is so much better than trying to act as though everyone’s choice to accept Christ depends on me! Through Christ, I will do the best I can, but everyone is responsible for their own response to God’s Holy Spirit. If they don’t like the message of truth that I proclaim, that’s their choice. In fact, let’s talk about the ability to “choose” for a moment.

Chad said that REAL love gives a choice. True love cannot exist without freedom, because love is not demanded. God NEVER demands our love. In fact, He communicated to Adam in the garden of Eden that he was FREE to eat from any tree in the garden, but that he must not (He didn‘t say “you can‘t“ just that he shouldn‘t) eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or he would surely die (Genesis 2:8-17). He gave Adam a CHOICE; whether to choose the tree of life, or the tree that would lead to death. Adam made his choice, and it’s that choice that caused the separation between us and God (which God so graciously decided to restore by giving us a second chance at life through Jesus sacrifice for our sins! ISN‘T GOD AMAZING, GRACIOUS, LOVING, AND COMPASSIONATE?!).

Of course, one might argue that if God is so “loving” why does He give us rules? Some may view rules as a restriction, but what are the purposes of rules anyways? Rules are for OUR benefit and protection. If their were no guidelines, boundaries, or standards, how would there be any peace? God is our Father, and He tells us the “yeas” and “nays” for OUR own good; just as any parent instructs a child. One makes “rules” out of love. Of course, we can “choose” to disobey, but we will suffer consequences. Though, if we DO obey, we reap the benefits of positive results that flow from good choices and we spare ourselves pain. It’s like I tell my children, “Casey, Gianna, don’t jump off the couch or you’ll get an ouchie.” They can “choose” whether or not they want to obey, but their choices have consequences one way or another. Giving them a command is for their benefit, because I love them and don’t want them to get hurt. However, they are still free to see for themselves what jumping off the couch will do if they don’t believe me. Regardless of their mistakes, I will comfort them; just as God comforts us even when we defiantly go against His good plans for us. His love for us never changes, just like my love for my children doesn’t change no matter how much they disobey.

The choice is truly ours; and it really is a “life and death” choice. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 says:

“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

Blessings come when we choose LIFE! Destruction comes when we choose death. Which would you rather have? Life by the Spirit which is real LIFE, or life in our sinful nature which is death? (Romans 8:13) Choosing ourselves results in death, but choosing God equals life - FOREVER!! God freely gives you the option. It’s up to you to DECIDE! I pray you will choose life and that the separation from His presence wouldn‘t be something you would desire!! May grace and peace be with you!!

The Million Dollar Case

Today, Chad continued talking about the tough questions that many of us have. Today’s big question was “Is Jesus the only way?” That was the question that was debated in a skit, that a lady and I performed, at the beginning of the service. We made the arguments that a lot of people make; the ones like “there are many ways to God” and “whatever works for me….whatever makes me happy” and the “intolerance” of Jesus saying that HE is the “only way.”

What about these claims? IS Jesus the only way? Doesn’t every belief system get you to heaven? Some say yes, but what about the question I proposed at the end of the skit “What if we’re wrong? Have you ever thought about that?”

In order to ponder these things a little, Chad talked about the difference between Christ and a few different “belief systems” - including Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. He presented it kind of like “deal or no deal” in which he had people bring out cases with the names of the religions on it. He said that all our “sincerity” believes that our “system” is the right one. But does every case contain the million bucks? No, of course not! Not everyone wins! It’s not all balloons and confetti every time is it? If that’s how things go in a GAME, how much MORE important is it for us to win in life (and the after-life)?

Chad explained the different kinds of beliefs. You can listen to his descriptions of them when the sermon is uploaded at http://www.missionoflife.com/ Or, you can visit http://www.wikipedia.org/ to research it. I am just going to be brief about the three religions mentioned by saying that it all boils down to legalism and self. How can you earn your way to eternity. How can you “make it” on your own efforts? In those systems, you are exhausting yourselves to meet standards that most will spend their whole lives obsessing over and trying to be “good enough” to attain. It must be discouraging and stressful!! I know that I could never measure up!! And, through it all, none of those “cases” hold a million bucks!! (Oh well, you can always be “reincarnated” and try again right? LOL)

Not one of those cases contains salvation because there is no Savior to do it (except “yourself”). I don’t know about you, but I CANNOT save myself! I am not my own salvation or my own god. Someone greater and bigger than me made all you see here. Therefore, it’s His rules, His world, and His way. And, it’s not “intolerant.” Just like a parent disciplines their child and does everything out of love for them (even when it’s tough or the child rebels) so does our heavenly Father do with us. EVERYTHING He does is out of love - which no other “belief system” preaches. If you are in Christ, you believe in the ONLY ONE who ever LOVED AND PURSUED YOU (and is COMING BACK FOR YOU)!!! He DEMONSTRATED His love for you by dying on a cross for YOUR sins so He could provide to you THE WAY to heaven! Salvation is HERE and it‘s for YOU! HE took care of it!! Getting to heaven doesn’t depend on anything that you do or earn! Whew!! What a relief!!

Shouldn’t that be great news? You are loved and pursued by your Maker; God cares about you and HE PROVED IT!! Romans 5:8 says: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Do you see the beauty in that? We don’t have to save ourselves! Christ already has!! All we have to do is believe; confessing with our mouths and believing in our hearts that He is Lord (Romans 10:9-10). And, you don’t have to be “perfect” to make that confession. That’s the whole point of Romans 5:8. He died for us “while we were still sinners.” He died for us “imperfect” people in order to give us “perfect” salvation! We can’t clean ourselves up first before we ask Him to save us. How much sense does that make? If you could save yourself, what need do you have for a Savior? That’s like trying to take a shower without water. You can’t wash away the dirt without that cleansing water. All you will do is just spread that grime around with a filthy rag - that’s what our own “righteousness” is: filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). We can’t clean ourselves without the purifying blood of Jesus Christ that washes away our sins! If we try to present ourselves to God without that cleansing blood, He will not be able to accept us or look upon us in all our sin stained glory. In His perfect, just, and holy being, He cannot look upon it. It’s through Jesus’ blood, that filter of grace, that He sees us and we are purified and made clean!! That blood washes our black sin as white as snow!! Praise God!!

Do you want to know how I know that Jesus is the only way? I know it because I have experienced it! Those who are in Him have these “God stories”. Several people shared theirs today onstage (if you can listen to the sermon on our website, I highly recommend it!). I have tons of “God stories.” There have been countless times where God has demonstrated His reality and presence to me in miraculous and unexplainable ways that can ONLY be attributed to Him! He’s the real deal!! Take the deal!!! Have the assurance of that “million dollar case.” Don’t just pick a man-made belief system. Screw the “systems”!! God doesn’t want our religion, He wants a RELATIONSHIP!!

If you’re just “hoping” that you make it to heaven, I encourage you to “know” that you’re going to make it by accepting Christ!! Confess, believe, and LIVE (eternally!!). Say “no deal” to all the rest and choose JESUS!!

I’ll leave you with two videos that I think fit beautifully with today’s message. The first one is the song/music video “What If” by Nichole Nordeman and the other is the song “Perfect People” by Natalie Grant.

Grace and peace to all of you!! May God bless you this week (and especially as you go out to VOTE!! Vote values America!!! Vote McCain/Palin!). ;)