Gets me every time...

One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is all the Christmas specials that come on (Rudolph, The Grinch, Frosty, etc.) I do my best to catch all of them when they are on, and they bring back such good memories of my childhood, and nine times out of ten they always make me cry. Not because I'm sad, but nostalgia always gets to me.

But the one that gets me the most is "A Charlie Brown Christmas". It's my favorite of all the Christmas shows, and it makes me cry every time. Why? This right here:



It's the only Christmas special that tells the true meaning of Christmas, and that is Jesus Christ being born into the world. In fact, I read somewhere that when it was created back in 1965, it almost didn't air because producers were afraid of the controversy the message might cause. According to IMDb.com: "Bill Melendez tried to talk Charles M. Schulz out of using Biblical references (especially Linus's speech) in this special. Schulz reportedly won him over by saying, "If we don't do it, who will?" As it turned out, Linus' recitation was hailed as one of the most powerful moments in the highly acclaimed special."
And that, friends and family, is why the Charlie Brown Christmas special makes me cry...every year.

Merry Christmas!

Reflections on 2010

I think I probably say this every year, but this year absolutely flew by. I feel like I just took a deep breath, and just like that, the year is coming to an end in only a few short days. It just goes to show you that you have to make every moment count because before you know it, it's gone.
And so, that being said, I'd like to recap some of my favorite moments of the year 2010.

In no particular order, they are:
1) My nephew Michael being born.
My sister-in-law and brother-in-law went through a lot before they finally got pregnant with Michael. Heck, they were told they couldn't even get pregnant in the first place! When he finally came, the whole family was overjoyed. Kelly looked so radiant during her last month of pregancy, and I was so proud to finally be an aunt of possibly the cutest baby I have ever seen.

2) Becoming a First Responder.
My job offered me the opportunity to become a first responder at the office. Of course I accepted. Growing up with a mom who is a nurse - it's just naturally in my blood. The course was great. And even doubly so because I am able to use my skills in other places besides work. I even initiated a first aid/CPR course to be taught at my church for all the leaders in children and youth ministry! Luckily, I haven't yet seen anything to gross for me to handle, but at least I'll know what to do if that day ever comes.

3) Soup Suppers
This was the year I finally got to showcase my cream of turkey soup. (Want the recipe? Here you go.) People went crazy for it! They started begging me to make it week after week. Thankfully it's relatively easy and cheap to make!

4) 30 Hour Famine

I love the 30 Hour Famine. This year, I set out to make it my "baby." I let the other youth leaders know that I would take charge and organize everything. It was a total success, and the students loved it too. The Famine really puts things into perspective and really makes you appreciate simple things like food, water, and clothing. This year, we made it not only eye-opening as far as world hunger goes, but also on the spiritual level. We stepped it up a bit and made the worship very intentional, and even had a separate prayer room for those students who were interested. It was great, and I can't wait 'till next year's Famine!

5) Celebrating 5 years of marriage with Evan.
Words cannot express just how much I love Evan. He is my soulmate. Being married for five years has taught me so much, and I cannot think of anyone else I would have rather spent the rest of my life with.



6) Getting to actually meet Michael.

Like I said, I was so excited to finally be an aunt (I don't know why, but I've always wanted to be an aunt)! It was even better when I got to hold my nephew for the first time, and kiss him and hug him and love him! He was so cute, and I had the best time with Kelly and Christian. I miss them so much!

7) The 84th(?) Fleisher Family Reunion

It may surprise some of you to see this on the list, because most of the time, I dread the family reunion. Not because I don't enjoy seeing my family, but because if I don't go, I will hear about it from my aunt until the next one. This year's family party was at my aunt and uncle's house in Flemigton so it was nice and close. We had a really good time. They have a pool, so of course I had to go in. And the whole time, I was playing with my little cousin Savannah, and she kept calling me "best friend." It was great. I got to see relatives I haven't seen in ages, and it was just a great time all around. (Here's us chatting with Grandma Fleisher, Brad & Tina and my cousins).

8) Meeting the O.C. Supertones
For those of you who don't know the Supertones...what's wrong with you?? Just kidding. They are one of my favorite bands of all time, and this year at RevGen, they were playing, and I got to meet them. It was out of control. (The picture is a little blurry because there was a lot of dust in the air).

9) First Giant's game at the new stadium.
I always go to the Giants home opener at the start of football season. This year, we had a new home in the form of a huge new stadium. It was beautiful. Not only that, but we had different seats as well. In the old stadium, we were in section 306, up in the nosebleeds. Now, we are in section 126 (or something), which is field level. Right behind the end zone. Awesome.

10) Corn Maze trip at Etsch Farms

This was something I was looking forward to all year. We found this place online, and their corn maze was epic. It's shaped like Mount Rushmore, so you try to find your way through the president's heads. It was really cool. We didn't have a huge group of students, so it was nice for us considering the only two leaders were me and Karl! This was a lot of fun.

11) Thanksgiving

Duh. I made the biggest turkey I've ever made this year: 20 pounds (for 6 people!). Everything was delicious, and I really enjoyed having my family at our house for dinner. It's no wonder it's my favorite holiday!!

12) IEEE Holiday Party

I am on the party planning team where I work, and man oh man did we throw a spectacular party this year. We held it at a restaurant in Edison called "LouCas" (if you've never been, I highly recommend it). But, during the lunch, we also had a murder mystery team builder going on. We played a real-life game of Clue, and the actors we hired were amazing. They were so funny and we were literally crying with laughter. I didn't hear one complaint from anyone and everyone was smiling at the end. It was a great way to kick off the holiday season. I just don't know how we're going to top it next year!!

2010 has been a great year. I can't wait to see what 2011 has in store!!

Happy Belated Birthday to a Dear Friend

December 14th was my Uncle Walt's birthday. I say "was" because he passed away back in 2008. I also should clarify that he is not my actual uncle, but rather just a very good friend of our family (see this blog post about Aunt Gail - Uncle Walt's wife).
Uncle Walt was such an inspiration to me. He struggled much of his life with cancer. He would go back and forth between beating it, to it beating him, but always managed to keep a smile on his face throughout. He also gave the best hugs IN THE WORLD. If you were ever feeling down about anything, a hug from Uncle Walt would cure it in a second. But the real reason Uncle Walt was such an inspiration was his genuine and absolute love for the Lord. Even though he was battling cancer, and he was sick most of the time, he knew that God was in control, and that there was nothing he needed to worry about because ultimately he was in God's hands. Of course Aunt Gail went through many struggles herself caring for her husband. She was under a lot of stress, but she too kept God at the forefront and took comfort in the fact that Uncle Walt's illness was part of God's plan and that there was greater meaning in all of it.
Hanging in my cubicle, I have a Christmas card from Uncle Walt and Aunt Gail that on the front has a picture of them standing by their car around a license plate that says "LET US GO." This always made me laugh, until I found out why their license plate says that. On the inside of the card, there is a poem written by Aunt Gail that has a different word for "go" to represent each town that each of their family or friends live in.
Like this:
Announce it in Alloway
Bring it to Bellbrook
Carol it in Center Valley
Declare it in Dunellen
Extol it in Enon
Focus on it in Fort Pierce
Go, tell it on the mountain and in Galax
Honor it in Hampton
Inform everyone in Indianapolis
Justify it in Jacksonville
Know it in Kettering
Laud it in Lakewood
Manifest it in Middlesex
Notify everyone in Newark
Orate it in Omaha
Proclaim it in Piscataway
Quote it in Queens
Rejoice in it in Richmond
Share it in Stewartsville
Tell it in Tulsa
Understand it in Union City
Verify it in Vista
Welcome it in Washington
Xerox it in Xian
Yodel it in Yellow Springs
Zip it along in Zanesville
Then, she closes with "Wherever we are, whatever we are doing, let us go and tell the Good News of a great joy...for to you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10a,11)

I love that! They had a town for every letter of the alphabet.

I miss Uncle Walt a lot, and sometimes get all misty-eyed when I think about him. But he has made a lasting impression on my life in that he has made me appreciate God's power and love. No matter what our circumstance, God is in control, even if we may not like it. And if God decides to take us home, we don't have to be afraid because we are going to spend eternity with Him in heaven! So, happy belated birthday Uncle Walt. I love you and miss you, and look forward to seeing you again one day in heaven.

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #30

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” - Revelation 1:8

I can't believe NaBloPoMo has come to an end! It went by so fast! I have really enjoyed sharing some of my favorite verses and passages with you. Of course there are many more I could share, and perhaps I will in the coming days!
I thought it would only be fitting for the last verse of the month to be from Revelation - the last book of the bible. And I thought it would be even more fitting that the verse be something that came straight from the mouth of God. I just love the absolute power in this verse. Alpha and Omega means beginning and end. It's like saying "A to Z." God, who is, who was and who is to come, the ALMIGHTY. What power in that sentence!
As humans, it's hard for us to think of something that never had a beginning, and will never have an end. Everything we know starts somewhere and ends somewhere. But God always was, always is and always will be. Amazing! And yet this same Almighty God is the same God who loves us more deeply than we could ever imagine. He is more compassionate and caring than we will ever know. The God of absolute power is also the God of absolute love. I don't think there's anything more that needs to be said.
Just read this verse over and over to yourself and reflect on God's power, but also his love for you. And all God's people said, "AMEN!"

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #29

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:12-14

I am actually cheating here, because this is actually one of Evan's favorite passages. But I'm sneaking it in here because it makes me think of Evan, what with all the running analogies and all.
One of the most important things any good runner will tell you is to never look behind you. By all means, use your peripheral vision to see what may be coming up beside you, but looking behind you is a runner's death. In the split second you are turned around, you could trip, you could veer off course, you could run into something or someone, another runner could pass you, etc. In order to finish the race strong, you keep looking forward at the road ahead until you cross that finish line.
That is exactly what Paul is referring to here. In the great race of life, we should not be looking back, but always ahead. Looking back can only lead to destruction. We need to press on toward the crown that is promised us in heaven if we are faithful to God and continue to follow him. I've heard a saying that goes, "It doesn't matter if you are crawling, limping, walking, running or sprinting, as long as you're moving forward." I think that is good advice for our Christian lives. The bible tells us to put off our old lives of sin, so we have no choice but to move forward.
We have not yet reached that finish line. The finish line comes when Jesus Christ comes back for us, or he calls us home - whichever comes first. But until then, let's keep pressing on, forging ahead, and focusing heavenward.

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #28

"That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:10


I have this verse highlighted in green in my bible, and I also have the word AMEN! written after it. The green means that this is a verse that represents growth and/or new life. I think that is very true for this verse. It's not easy for us to say that we actually delight in weakness, or any of those other things that Paul says. Most of us just hope that life will be a cake walk, everything will go our way, and nothing bad will ever happen to us. But that is definitely not reality. Especially in the life of a believer. In fact, as believers we will probably suffer even more hardship simply for the fact that we follow Jesus Christ. But Paul gives us encouragement here. We are supposed to delight in our weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties because when we are weak, then we are strong. No, it's not a contradictory of terms. Think about it, when we are weak, we are forced to rely on God to help us through, and through him we are strong! A few verses earlier, God says, "My power is made perfect in weakness." That is exactly why Paul says that he delights in weakness, because it is the time when we can allow God's perfect power to work in us. We may not like it when we are weak, but we have the hope that God's power is made perfect in our weakness. AMEN!

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #27

"But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be." - 1 Corinthians 12:8


The "body" Paul is referring to here is not an actual physical body, but rather, the body of believers. Every person has a special place in the body. We are all one in body, but we all represent different parts. God gave us each special talents and abilities so that collectively, we can carry out the works that God has commissioned us to. Think about it, if all of us had the ability to be pastors, there would be no one to shepherd. If all of us had the ability to play guitar and sing, who would play all the other instruments in the world? At work, we have a saying that says, "None of us is as good as all of us." That means that none of us is as good on our own as we all are together. That works the same way for the body of Christ. We can't do it alone, so God has surrounded us with other believers who can help us on our way. And according to this verse, God has arranged us just the way he wants us. Like I have been saying all along, God's plan is perfect. I know a lot of us say things like, "I wish I could sing like her," or, "I wish I could preach like him," etc. But the truth is, God gave you specific and special talents and skills for a reason, and it's perfect! Maybe your talent is playing an instrument, maybe it is caring for children, maybe it is cooking, maybe it is hospitality, maybe it is writing. Whatever it is, it is special and perfect because that is exactly how God wanted you to be. No one can do everything, which is exactly how God wanted it. So I encourage you, whatever your talent or ability is, embrace it, thank God for it, and get out there and use it!

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #26

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." - 1 John 3:16


Seemingly everyone knows about John 3:16, probably the most famous verse in the bible, but not everyone knows about 1 John 3:16, which I think is just as good! It is very similar in nature to John 3:16, in that it talks about Jesus laying down his life for us, but it goes one step further to say that we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. Why? Because that is how we understand what love is. Is there anyone in this world you would be willing to die for? Your spouse, your kids, your friends? Anyone? I have heard often that parents would die for their children, but I don't hear much beyond that. You don't often hear someone willing to die for someone else, especially someone they've never met. But that is the challenge here. Our "brothers and sisters" are our fellow believers in Jesus Christ. John is telling us that in order to display true love, we ought to be willing to die for our brothers and sisters in Christ, just following the example that Christ set for us on the cross.
So, ask yourself now, who are you willing to lay down your life for?

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #25

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." - Colossians 2:6-7


Seeing as how today is Thanksgiving, I thought I would take a moment to reflect on how thankful I am for all the things God has given me. I am so beyond blessed that I often take it for granted. I sometimes don't realize just how much God has blessed me with and how privileged I am. I am most thankful that God has shown me how I can have a deep and meaningful relationship with him (as it mentions in this passage), and that I can continue to grow in his love and in my faith. That is really the only thing I will ever need in my life. Everything else, I consider a "bonus." I have the most wonderful husband I could ever ask for, and I love him more every single day. I have a beautiful family who loves me, and I love each and every one of them. I am so thankful for their love and support. I am so thankful for my friends who have stood by me through thick and thin. I am so thankful for every single one of my students at youth group. They have brought so much joy to my life and I love watching them grow in their faith and in their walk with God. 
There are so many other things I am thankful for: my house, my cats, my job, may car, etc. But I am most thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ and all of the many things he has done for me. 
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #24

"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." - Psalm 84:10

This is one of my favorite because it is the inspiration for one of my favorite songs, "Better is One Day." We used to sing it all the time back in the "Mindset" days, and we sing it often at church. Instead of giving an explanation, I will just let you listen to the song. The "video" is a little boring as it is just a shot of the cover of a Matt Redman album, but concentrate on the words and sing along if you know it!

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #23

"Jesus wept." - John 11:35

Known for being the shortest verse in the bible, I really like this one because it reminds me that Jesus had human emotions just like you and me. Jesus wept here because Lazarus had died. Lazarus was the brother of Martha and the Mary who poured perfume on Jesus' feet. When the sisters took Jesus to see where Lazarus was buried, Jesus wept when he saw him. This brings Jesus to a very human level because he was deepy saddened by the death of his friend Lazarus. And it doesn't just say "Jesus cried." It says he wept. When do we weep over something? Often it is over the death of a loved one. Sometimes when we've been hurt very badly, we weep. (Some of us even weep over really sad movies!) But here, Jesus is weeping over Lazarus. Then it says that the Jews who were with Jesus at that moment were amazed at his love for Lazarus. “See how he loved him!” they said.
I know that there are times Jesus weeps over us. When we lose our way and grow far apart from Jesus. He weeps over us until we return, to which he welcomes us back with open arms. Then he is weeping over us because he is so happy we have found our way back to him.
Jesus loves us so much that when something terrible happens to us, he weeps for us. Even though Jesus is on the same level as God, he was still a human being with human emotions. That way, Jesus is able to relate to the things that we are going through and is always there to help us out.

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #22

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

I always think of the two books of Timothy like a father writing to a son and instructing him on the ways he ought to live his life. These verses are great, and they are ones that I often use with my students at youth group. If there is ever any question as to whether or not God's word is true, these verses help to answer that. It says that ALL scripture is God-breathed, meaning that nothing was written without God's divine inspiration. As I think I mentioned in an earlier post, people are constantly trying to find fault with God's word, but they will ultimately fail because God is perfect. And since it says that the scripture is God-breathed, that means the bible is perfect too. There is no need to change around words, no need to add or take away from the text. It's perfect just the way it is. As some people say, "It is what it is."
Paul says to Timothy here, that since the word of God is perfect, it is also useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that we are thoroughly equipped for every good work. But as I said before, the way to equip yourselves properly is to read the bible for yourself. Read it over and over, pray over it, and ask God to reveal his truths to you. The more you learn about scripture, the more you will know how to detect false prophets and how to rebuke, correct and/or train them. You can also use your scripture knowledge to teach those who know very little about it. Of course, very few of us will ever be bible scholars, but God doesn't want to hide his truth from us. The more we get into the word, the more we will learn and know. Then we can help others to learn and grow as well.

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #21

"Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD." - Psalm 150:1-6


This one goes out to every person who has ever complained about the music being "too loud" at church. (Just kidding...sort of). I particularly like this passage because it says to praise God with the flute, and being a flute player for over 17 years, this one is special to me. 
I'm pretty sure that this is the only place where we get actual direction on how to praise God (don't quote me on that, there may be others). But the impression that I get is that when we are praising God, it's supposed to be LOUD! Look at the instruments the Psalmist mentions: trumpet, harp, lyre, tambourine, strings, flute, cymbals (twice!). There's also dancing in there. As we've talked about already, God is so awesome, that I can't think of a better way to praise him for who he is than with awesome loud music! Now, praise is a little different from worship, although often the terms are used interchangeably. Worship involves so much more than music. You can worship God silently, you can worship God by serving him, you worship by following what it says in the bible, etc. Praising God mostly involves music. We can also praise God by speaking, but it most often is correlated with music. For me, I am a very musical person. God has given me many musical gifts that I use to praise his name. I play the flute, I play the bass guitar, and I sing. It is the best way I know how to praise God because I am playing and singing for him and to him. 
So, as I somewhat jokingly mentioned before, to all those who have ever complained that the music in church is too loud, or to much like a rock concert, I say, that is what it is supposed to sound like!! In fact, turn it up! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #20

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one--I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." - John 17:20-23


Just the mere fact that Jesus prayed for us before he was taken to the cross is awesome enough. But look at what his prayer is for us. Above all, he wants us to be ONE! He wants that so that others will believe in Jesus Christ. Think about that, if every believer in the whole world lived as one the way Jesus prayed for, how could anyone NOT believe in Jesus Christ? If we all lived the way God calls us to live in the bible, and we all lived in complete unity, no one could ever say that God isn't real and that there is no such thing as Jesus Christ.
Now, I understand that living in complete unity scares some of you. It would be close to impossible to live in complete unity. There are so many divisions of churches, so many versions of the bible, so many different teachings, there are even divisions within families! How could Jesus have prayed such an unrealistic expectation of us? But look at what he says, "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one." If only we would spend our lives trying to give God the glory that we have been given, we would live in complete unity. The main reason there are so many divisions among us is because we spend too much time trying to give ourselves the glory, when God is the only one who deserves it. Think about what it would look like for you to give God the glory in everything you do. It doesn't sound easy, does it? But that is ultimately what we are called to do. If God gets all the glory, the divisions will fade away and we can live in complete unity because we are all obsessed with giving God the glory that is due to him.
Do you pray this prayer for your fellow believers? Is it your wish to live in complete unity with other Christians? It's hard, but how awesome it would be if Jesus' prayer for us was manifested in our lifetimes.

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #19

"And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”" - Revelation 4:3-8


Ok, I know this is kind of a long one, but it is just such an awesome picture. This is what John actually got to see while writing the book of Revelation. Go ahead and read it again, I'll wait.......isn't that just incredible? John was actually seeing God on his throne in heaven, and doing his best to describe what was going on and what he was seeing. Can you imagine if you saw this? This is probably the best picture we have of what we will see when we finally get to heaven. I try to picture this image every time I sit down to pray by myself. It gives me this incredible sense of reverence, and helps to put my prayers into perspective. Before I start rattling off this laundry list of things I need from God, I remember that THIS is the God I am praying to. You'd be amazed what this does to your prayer life.
I don't really want to say much else about this passage. It's just so amazing. I can't wait to see this when I get to heaven, and we will join with the creatures in singing "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come!"

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #18

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself." - Galatians 5:13-14

Take a minute and think about the magnitude of these two verses. Think about what it might look like to "serve one another humbly in love." Here, Paul says that we are called to be free (from the law, that is), but that we should not use that freedom to just do whatever we want, and so serve ourselves, but rather we should serve others. Think about that. We live in a world that says that we should look out for ourselves, we should be independent, we don't have to share our things, etc. But the bible says quite the opposite.
Imagine if everyone in the world really did love their neighbor as themselves, what the world would be like. That is why Paul says the entire law is fulfilled when we keep that one command. If everyone genuinely did love their neighbor, everything else would just fall beautifully into place. It sure would make it a lot easier to follow the rest of God's commands. It is indeed a challenge to love everyone, but think of how much more pleasant the world would be if we did.

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #17

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." - 1 Peter 3:15, 16

This verse should be at the top of everyone's list of favorites. It's like the Boy Scout motto for Christians :) Just as Boy Scouts should always be prepared for survival, we should always be prepared to share our faith, and why we believe what we believe. There's a catch though. We can't just go thumping people over the heads with our bibles until they believe in Jesus. We have to speak with gentleness and respect, and keeping a clear conscience. While I'm sure sometimes we might feel like thumping people over the heads, it's not the best idea. Why? So that no one can say anything bad about us. Think about it, when have you ever heard someone say something like, "Oh that Aubrey, I hate it when she is so gentle and respectful!" Probably never - it's just silly!
So how do we become prepared? Well, through reading the bible of course! Praying helps too. But don't just breeze right through the bible or rely on what you've been told about the bible. The secret to really reading and understanding the bible is to read it for yourself (and by yourself), without any preconceived notions about the text. We call this type of reading "exegetic" (derived from the word exegesis - which just means to interpret the text). The other type of reading is called "isogetic" which means that you project your preconceived notions onto the existing text. This is not the way to read the bible. Read the bible as though you've never heard it before, meditate on it, pray over it, and come up with your own conclusions. Don't just take people's word for it, don't rely on other sources. Read it for yourself. Ask God to write his word on your heart so that you can be prepared. And keep this verse close to your heart as you read.

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #16

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." - Hebrews 13:8

This verse really speaks for itself. It is one of my favorites because it reminds me that in this ever changing world that we live in (is that a song lyric?) that there is only one thing that remains constant and that is GOD. These days, it seems like things change by the second: technology, television, video games, the job market, healthcare, even people. People who you think are your friends could backstab you at any moment. People in your own family could turn their backs on you. People who you thought you could trust betray you. But we have a hope that when the world fails us, there is one who will never fail us: Jesus Christ. I think I have said this before, but there is a saying that says, "There is nothing you can do to make God love you more, and there is nothing you can do to make him love you less." God loves you the same no matter what, and he loves you the same as he did yesterday, and five years ago, and fifty years from now.
As humans, it is hard for us to grasp the concept that God didn't have a beginning, and he will not have an end. Everything that we know has a beginning and an end. God just always was. And the best part about that is that he was the same before the world was even created, and he is still the same today, and he will still be the same hundreds and thousands of years from now. The God who never changes, created us a world that constantly changes so that we could rely on him to be the only thing that is true and constant in our lives. Praise God!

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #15

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." - Ephesians 6:10

My youth group students will know why this is one of my favorite verses. This is the "theme verse" to our Sunday night youth group, which we aptly named "610." I love that we picked this verse as our theme because it is such a great reminder of God's power.
So many of our students are going through struggles in their lives. In fact, probably every single one of our students is struggling with something. When we remind them that God is sovereign and that he has more power than any of us can ever imagine, and that he is in total control of whatever is going on in their lives, it gives them hope. They may not always understand it, but they know that there is a God who loves them deeply and has them in his mighty hand. Whatever we are going through, we have the strength through God to overcome it.
So, here's to my 610 students...you guys rock!

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #14

"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." - Romans 1:20

*I just realized that I posted this without writing anything about it!!*

This verse is awesome. This verse is basically saying that you have no excuse not to believe in God. God's power is demonstrated through things we experience, and so much so that you get to a point where you think there must be a God - how else could that have happened? And think about that imagery: "God's invisible qualities...have been clearly seen..." So even though we can't see God, we can see him. Amazing isn't it? God is at work through everything that we see every day.
So how can you believe in something that you can't see? There is a quote from a DC Talk song that goes something like this: "I've never seen the wind. I've seen the effects of the wind, but I've never seen the wind." That's how it is with God. We can't see God, but we see the effects of what he is doing. There are certain things in this world that just can't be explained, other than that something supernatural is going on. That's God.

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #13

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." - Colossians 3:23-24

This was one of the very first verses I highlighted in my bible when I started reading on a regular basis. This verse keeps me motivated especially at work. Sometimes I drag myself to work, and the second I sit down at my desk, I am asking "Is it time to go home yet?" Sometimes things happen at work that get me really frustrated, or really down and it makes it harder to get through the day. Sometimes I have so much work to do, I have no clue how I will get it all done before quitting time. Sometimes, I just plain feel like quitting on the spot. When these things happen, I think of this passage. I have to remember that I am working for THE LORD not for man. Yes, I have a human boss whom I work for. But ultimately, I serve the Lord in whatever I do. At work, I receive bonuses and raises every year, and every now and then we will recieve little gifts here and there. But what I am ultimately "working" for is that inheritance from the Lord. The fact that I get to spend eternity with him in heaven is worth whatever I am going through down here on earth. So on those days when I just don't feel like working, or my work is making me frustrated, I remember this passage and remember that it will all be worth it one day when I finally see His face. Amen.

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #12

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." - 1 Peter 3:3-4

In my old bible, I have this verse underlined with the word "Wow!" written next to the words "unfading beauty." 1 Peter 3 is one of those "wives submit to your husbands" passages, but these verses are so amazing, and I just love them. How many of us women are concerned with how we look every day? I confess that I have spent mornings just staring into my closet because I can't decide what I want to wear. I don't have a lot of jewelry, but the pieces that I have are very special to me, and I wear them often. And I don't know that I've ever worn an "elaborate hairstyle," but I have sure seen other women do it!
When I came across this verse, it put all of this into perspective (the bible has a knack for doing that!). I should not really care so much about what I look like on the outside, but that my inside is beautiful. I have met plenty of people who are beautiful on the outside, but inside they are very ugly. It's almost a shame when you meet someone like that because their outsides don't match their insides. Sometimes, I am like that, and I hate it. I try to think about this verse when I am doing something that makes my insides clash with my outside.
My favorite part of these verses is that it says a gentle and quiet spirit is of "great worth in God's sight." That is so amazing. God doesn't care what we look like on the outside, because after all, he made us in his image, so he knows it's perfect! God cares about our insides - our gentle and quiet spirits. Awesome.

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #11

"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." - 1 Timothy 4:12

This is a favorite among us youth leaders because we are constantly reinforcing this with our students. I also take this verse very personally because I am always thinking that people do look down on me because I am so young. I have always been mature for my age, and I am always trying to prove to people that I can hang with the grownups just as much as I can hang with the kids.
This verse really encourages me, and helps me to stay focused on my mission. The second part is really the most important part - "set and example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." As a youth leader, setting a good example is critical. We have to practice what we preach, because otherwise our entire ministry could be rendered useless.
So, to all you young'uns out there, make this verse your mantra. Keep it close to your heart, just as I do.

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #10

"All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”" - Daniel 4:35

Awesome words spoken by King Nebuchadnezzar. I came across this verse while I was going my "read through the bible in a year" plan, and I was reading through Daniel. Daniel is one of Evan's favorite books of the bible, so I paid careful attention while I was reading so I could figure out why.
Read the verse again. Really think about what it says. To give you a little background, Nebuchadnezzar had just been thinking to himself how great he was, because he had built the city of Babylon for his own glory. That was when God spoke directly to him and basically said, "now you see it, now you don't." God took everything away from him. All his riches, his authority, and his entire kingdom was taken away in one fell swoop, and God made him go eat like the oxen, and he became like a beast. After that was all over, Nebuchadnezzar spoke these wise words because he finally understood the fullness of God's power. God is in control of everything. There is nothing anyone on earth can do to hold back his hand, or to try and convince him that his plan is not the best plan. There is nothing anyone can say to make God change his mind. Not even if all the people in all the world got together and said, "God we really don't agree with [fill in the blank]." God would say, "That's nice, but it's still my Word, and it's not changing."
It's true that God does things that we may not agree with, or that we may not even like, but it's GOD! He is in total control, and no one can hold back his hand. I absolutely love this verse.

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #9

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God." - Psalm 42:1

This is such a simple passage, but definitely one of my favorites because of the image it conjures up. I don't think I've ever seen a deer panting, but I have seen a dog panting - it's a hot day, he's been running around the yard playing, and he's so thirsty, his tongue is hanging out of his mouth and he can hardly catch his breath. I imagine it is a similar scenario with a deer.
When a deer is so thirsty that he (or she) is panting, that deer will stop at nothing until he finds a source of water. Nothing in the world is more important than getting that drink of water.
I always think about that image when I hear this verse. The same way that a deer will stop at nothing to get that drink of water, so our souls should stop at nothing until we get that Living Water that is God. God is the only thing that will quench our spiritual thirst, and He does that through His word, and through our prayers. This verse is almost like my personal "mission statement." This is the way that I constantly want to live - panting for God's Living Water. I confess that sometimes I don't always live that way, but I try to keep focused and remember that no matter what, God is everything that I will ever need.

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #8

"The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." - Psalm 23:1-4

This passage is most commonly known as the "funeral Psalm" as it is often read at funerals. But as I was doing my bible reading one day, and I came to this passage, I really just stopped and carefully read it, and just fell in love with it. It paints a beautful picture of how God is always by our side protecting us. I love how it says "he refreshes my soul," and that it says "I lack nothing." That is so beautiful. God is the only thing I will ever need, because with Him I lack nothing. This passage also reminds me that there is nothing I need to fear because God is always with me.
These verses inspired one of my favorite songs by Matt Redman called "You Never Let Go." Listen to the song, and really meditate on the words. It is a great reminder that no matter what is going on in our lives, that God never lets go, and he is always with us.

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #7

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:9

This verse comes right after my favorite passage from yesterday, but it too is really great (I think I've said that almost every time now.) This verse gives me a lot of comfort when I really stop and think about it. It reminds me that God's thoughts are always higher than my thoughts so, although I may not understand what God's plan is, I know that he has it under control. He knows what he's doing...I mean, this is GOD we are talking about! The truth is, we can never fully understand God's thoughts. We often want to know what the plan is for our life. But our plan is probably and likely not the same as God's plan. We might not understand it, we might not even like it or agree with it, but we should remember that God's way is the best way (to steal a quote from Veggie Tales).

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #6

"Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon." - Isaiah 55:6-7

This little passage brings me way back to my old Sunday School days at Terrill Road Bible Chapel, singing songs with my Uncle Gus playing guitar. He had written a song that took the New King James version of this passage and put music to it! It was always one of my favorite songs to sing in Sunday School. In fact, Terrill Road used to have "Youth Music Nights" where the youth of the church could show off their talents, musical and otherwise. So one year, my cousin Taylor and I sang this song together with Uncle Gus on guitar. Everyone just loved it, because as cousins, our voices blended quite nicely together.
Aside from it being a great song, it is also a great passage! It promises that the Lord will have mercy on the sinners (that's us) and will freely pardon us from our sins. The NKJV says "abundantly pardon." How great is that?! This passage is a great encouragement to those who do not yet know Jesus, or who are lost in their sin. He will welcome you in with open arms and will abundantly pardon you from your sins!

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #5

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

I don't think 2 Corinthians gets as much "play" as it's counterpart 1 Corinthians, but if you dig in, 2 Cor. is packed full of great stuff! This passage is definitely one of my favorites. It helps to keep me focused on eternity, rather than on the present life. It helps me remember that whatever I am going through - whether good or bad - it is only temporary. Whatever we are going through in our lives, it will all be worth it when we finally get to see God face to face in all His glory in heaven.

What a promise that inwardly we are being renewed every day! Every day we wake up, we are a new creation inside. I know that probably most of us do not like the way our bodies look on the outside, but this passage encourages the fact that it is only temporary. We are wasting away outside, but inside, we will live for eternity with God!

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #4

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39

I love, love, love these verses. There is nothing, and I mean NOTHING that can separate us from the love of God. God's love is accessible to us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, and 365 days a year. Now, those of you who know me really well know that this verse is special to me because it is part of an old Mindset song called "Praise." At one point in the song, my friend Karl would read this passage from Romans, and when he got to this verse, he would always start getting louder, and then at the very end, he would shout "AMEN!" It always put a smile on my face, and it still does today.

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #3

"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." - Ecclesiastes 4:12

Keeping in step with the whole marriage thing from yesterday's post, this verse also means a lot to me in terms of my relationship with God and with Evan. Evan and I together are stronger than we are as individuals, and we are even stronger with God at the head of our relationship.

When Evan and I were preparing to get married, we faced a lot of opposition. Not necessarily from people, but there were a lot of snags in our preparations - we almost didn't even get to go on our honeymoon! It was clear that "someone" did NOT want us to get married because together, we were even stronger. Evan and I have grown so much in the 5 years that we have been married, all while keeping God at the center. It's not always easy, but it is always worth it to know that not only do we have each other, but we always have God.

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #2

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. " - Proverbs 31:10-12

This passage is particularly special to me because Evan's cousin Linda read it to me on my wedding day. We shared some tears (happy ones!), and a hug, and later that day, I married Evan with that passage ringing in my ears.

I still think of this passage from time to time when I look back on my relationship with Evan, and I know I have stayed true to it. I love how it says that the husband "has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value." How wonderful it is for your husband to have full confidence in you as a wife!

Now, if any of you know my husband, you know that he didn't exactly have an "easy" life. Things were often hard for him, and he struggled with many things. When I met him, he said that he was born with a broken heart. Well, I set out to mend that broken heart, and 9 years later, it is mended and then some. It is my job to bring "good, not harm," all the days of my life.

It really meant a lot to me when Linda read this to me, and it still means a lot to me today!

NaBloPoMo - Blog Post #1

NaBloPoMo is short for "National Blog Posting Month," and November is the official month for it! I confess, I did not participate last year, but I am going to try my darndest to do it this year. So, without any further ado, here goes Blog Post #1!

I can't believe November is already here. There are 24 days left until Thanksgiving, and 54 days until Christmas. 2010 is flying by so fast, I barely even have time to blink!

I think I will use NaBloPoMo to share 30 of my most favorite verses/passages from the bible. I will give you the verse or passage, and then tell you a little bit about why it is a favorite of mine. Enjoy!

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1:2-4

This is not only one of my favorite passages, but it also comes from my favorite book of the bible: James. I love this passage because it tells me that even though my life might be hard right now (and often it is!), that through it, I am developing perseverance and maturity in my faith and my relationship with God. And I love that it says that when I am mature, I am complete and not lacking anything. It's really hard to praise God in the midst of trial, but ultimately, that is what we should do. When we come out on the other side of our trials still praising God, we have persevered and we have matured. I just love that! It gives me that much more motivation to stay close to God and to thank Him not just for the good times, but the hard times as well because He is the creator of them all!

Why Worry?

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" - Matthew 6:25-27

I had a night all to myself, being that Evan was at school. So, I wanted to get out of my house for a little while since it was such a gorgeous night, so I decided to pack up my bible and a blanket and go to the park to have some quiet time with God. I sat myself down on a bench between two big shade trees, facing a pond. As I was sitting there reading through my bible, I looked up a noticed a little goldfinch sitting on the branch of a tree that had fallen into the pond.Every now and again, he would fly up into the air, flutter around, and land back down on the tree. It took me a minute to realize what he was doing, but I figured out that he was catching bugs in mid-air. Sometimes he would catch two or three in the same flight. I watched him for a good five minutes and was fascinated by what was happening right in front of me.

As I was watching this adorable little goldfinch catch his dinner, Matthew 6:26 came into my head. I started thinking, "Here is this little bird, who doesn't have any real purpose to his life, and yet God is providing food for him to stay alive." I had not eaten dinner yet, and I thought to myself, "I am going to go home shortly and I am not worried whether or not there will be food for me to eat when I get home. I know I have food at home. I know I also have clothes to wear, and a house to live in." I had to stop and say a thank you prayer to God. God takes care of my little goldfinch friend, and He takes care of me. I have nothing to worry about.

Just then, a beautiful blue heron swooped down out of the sky and flew across the pond. Blue herons are probably my favorite birds in the world because they are so majestic and beautiful.
The blue heron landed on the bank of the pond and out of my line of sight. A few moments later, he swooped back to the middle of the pond, right in front of where I was sitting and stood in the water, perfectly still. I could see him peering into the water and every once in a while he would move ever so slightly to get a better look. He was hunting for fish. So, now I had two completely different kinds of birds being fed by my Heavenly Father!

I was so moved by this seemingly ordinary scenario. I was so thankful to be sitting there witnessing all this. We have nothing to worry about because our Heavenly Father takes care of us, just as he takes care of the birds of the air. Thank you Jesus!

Jesus' Prayer for You and Me

John 17:20-26
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

Read It For Yourself

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11

Think back to when you were a child, sitting in Sunday School, listening to the teacher tell you about all the best Bible stories: Adam & Eve, Noah & the ark, Moses & the Red Sea, Abraham & Isaac, Jesus & the 12 Apostles...the list goes on and on.
Now think ahead a little...you're sitting in church, listening to the preacher tell you those same stories, and many others, just a more "grown-up" version of them. Now let me ask you this: has most or even all of what you know of the bible and of God been told to you by someone else? Or, have you read and studied the bible for yourself, drawing your own conclusions, and asking God to reveal His truth to you?

For most of my life, the former question was true of me. Most of what I knew about the bible and God came from what other people had told me, only occasionally reading the bible for myself. It wasn't until the past couple of years that I actually started really reading the bible for myself, asking God to write His word on my heart, and help me to understand what the text is saying. How many times have you been reading a passage, and you just breeze through it without actually taking the time to understand what it really says?

Anyone who knows me well knows that I am not a big fan of Christian books. Not that they are bad, and that they shouldn't be read, but I am very wary of them because they are just one person's opinion and interpretation of something. Anyone can write a book. My problem with books is that often, people will place higher importance on those books than on the bible itself. Just because they read something they happen to like or agree with, then it must be the truth. This is a tremendous mistake. The only absolute truth out there is the written word of God - the Bible.

Reading the bible for ourselves also helps us identify false prophets. If we know what it says in the Word, we will know when someone is misinterpreting or misusing it. It will also help us to be able to respond when people ask about our faith. 1 Peter 3:15 says "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."

God's word tells us everything we need to know. But we have to read it for ourselves. We cannot go through life depending on other people to feed it to us. Not your parents, not your siblings, not your friends, not even pastors. It's good to listen to your pastor, and to others, but ultimately, we answer to the one who resides in heaven. Reading the bible is one of the best ways for us to grow closer to God. It helps us understand his character, and how we should be living. If you are doing something that doesn't line up with what it says in the bible, you know you are not behaving the way God wants you to. Bottom line: read it for yourself.

What's Mine is Yours....or is it?

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19-20

I recently had a conversation with a coworker about having kids, which morphed into a conversation about having someone to whom you can pass your stuff and your money to when you pass away (i.e. your kids). We were talking about having kids vs. not having kids, and she said something to the effect of, "I like to know that I have someone that I can pass on my things to when I die, and that it doesn't go to just anyone, like my next closest relative or something." She then asked me if I agreed.
I immediately answered, "I really don't care. When I'm gone, I'm gone, I really don't care what happens to my stuff. It's just stuff anyway - even the money."
She seemed a little taken aback by my response. Nevermind that she was trying to convince me to have kids, I think she was shocked that I would have such a blasé attitude about my stuff. While I didn't get a chance to get into a whole spiritual discussion with her, I tried to explain that stuff is just stuff. I can't take it with me when I die, and when I do die, I'm not going to care either way who gets my stuff because, well, I'll be dead and partying with Jesus up in Heaven!
She then replied, "Yeah, I know it's just stuff, but it has memories attached to it." To that I said, "The memories are in your heart and in your head. Even if that thing that has the memory is gone, the memory is still within you." Now, I know a lot of people like that sentimental value that certain items have, and I do too, to an extent. There are things that I have saved from my past because they are tied to a nice memory, or someone gave it to me as a gift and I don't have the heart to throw it out or give it away. But in the end, what is it really worth? Will my life be any worse if I were to give those things away, or throw them out? There are plenty of things I have thrown out over the years that had great memories attached to them, but I do not wake up every day regretting that I ever got rid of them. Life goes on, and I am not ruled by my stuff. In fact, Evan and I are getting rid of a lot of our stuff (DVD's and CD's especially), because we realized that we don't need them. Sometimes what we will do is sell the DVDs and CDs back to a store or on Amazon, and then give the money we get to someone else who needs it. We're not trying to brag, we are just doing what the bible says: "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" - 1 John 3:17 and "Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need." - Acts 2:45
Stuff is just stuff. There are so many people in the world who hardly have anything, so who are we to worry about where our stuff will end up when we are gone? I have more in my cubicle at work than some people have altogether. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that having stuff is bad, but I am saying that ultimately Jesus is all we will ever need. There are people who have literally risked their lives just to have more of Jesus. There are people who have died because of their belief in Jesus. Do you think those people are concerned about stuff? I doubt it.

Heavenly Father, I pray that we would all recognize that our stuff is just stuff. I pray that we would realize that YOU are all we need to survive, and that you provide for us everything that we need. You have said that we are much more precious and valuable than the birds of the air, and yet even they are not worried about food, clothing or shelter. Thank you for all that you give to us, and thank you for the opportunities to help those who are in need. In your most holy and precious name, amen.

My Dog Ate My Homework

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

I heard someone say recently that when we and/or if we get to heaven one day, God is not going to ask us to give an account for everything we did while we were on the earth, but rather, He is going to ask how many people we brought with us.
So, I ask you, how many people are you bringing with you to heaven? Because that, friends, is the assignment. Jesus gave us a very clear assignment to complete during our short time here on the earth. We are to make disciples of all nations, not just a few of our closest friends.
But what does "make disciples" mean exactly? Well, a disciple is defined as "a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another; a follower." So based on that, we are supposed to get other people to follow Christ, just as we do. But let's not ignore the second part of this command, and that is to teach them to obey everything I (Jesus) have commanded you. Did you catch that? Teach them to obey EVERYTHING. Not just some of God's commands, ALL of them. And those commands are clearly laid out for us in the bible.
Matthew 28:19-20, known as "The Great Commission," is the last thing that Jesus tells us to do during his time on earth. To me, that signifies that it is one of the most important commands that he gives us.
Imagine that one day you were walking along, and you found a key on the sidewalk. Attached to that key was a note that read, "This key opens a door to the greatest and most valuable treasure known to man, and it can be yours absolutely free. If you open the door, you will never have a need for anything ever again. Everything you will ever need is behind that door. However, once you open the door and see what is behind it, you must share it with as many people as you can and invite them to come with you." How would you respond? Would you keep it to yourself? Would you share it with others? Our society has bred us to be very protective of our valuables. What's mine is mine, and I don't have to share if I don't want to. But God's word tells us quite the opposite. What God has to offer us is the greatest and most valuable treasure known to man, and that is salvation. It is given to us for free, but the catch is that we have to tell everyone about it. That is our homework.
So, how many people will you bring with you en route to heaven? One is better than none, but none is unacceptable. Greater things have yet to come...but let's not keep that to ourselves.