Hope and Inheritance - by Livia

“and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Whatever God does becomes a means toward something else that He is planning to do.   God doesn't save us to sit down and enjoy life with our feet up!!   No!!!

His provision and what is before us is always greater than that which is behind us.  We are saved to be a light and to build His kingdom.  This is NOT a figure of speech.  This is truth from the word of God. 

He gives us hope and an inheritance to be shared by loving people with our lives.  

 

Garbage Day - by Tim

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:7-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let's pay attention to Paul's (the writer)  life a little bit.  He considers everything , everything garbage in comparison to knowing Christ.  Really knowing.  

All the great things we have done and may do are all rubbish if we don't KNOW Jesus in it.  If we don't point to Him as the reason.  We can get so caught up on the busy-ness of doing God's work and truly not even know Christ.  

Let's get back to some basics of just knowing Jesus intimately.  

 

Blame Someone Else - by Devin

“The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭NIV‬

Our human nature is to blame, blame, blame.  See how quickly Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent??

We do not want to accept guilt of our sin. It's easier and less painful to blame someone else. 

We all testified this morning to times in our lives when we have blamed others and times when we "owned our own crap". ( ya that's how we said it!!). 

We all agreed that it's much better to just own it because if you play the blame game eventually there is even more mess to clean up.  

We pray to embrace humility and to quickly acknowledge our wrong.  To forgive quickly, apologize quickly and love unconditionally. ( one of our family creeds). 

 

I Never Knew you

http://youtu.be/3jYYLx4HUmg

So this video  has messed us up a bit , in a good way.  It's a little less than 4 mins and it's worth watching to the end.

We want to be challenged and transformed. We don't want to stay the same !  We don't want to become numb and go through the motions of what "church people" do. The Bible tells us God is love and light. 

So if God is in you how can you walk in darkness?  If God is in you how can you hate?  

None of our thinking about God is important if it doesn't not make God an active, transforming power in our lives.  

Do you have God in you?  True faith. binds you to God - you just can't stay the same!!!  

 

 

Close to Him

“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭16:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Staying close and aware of His presence is a matter of life and death!   One can so easily follow "the rules", write the check and volunteer their time and not truly know Jesus.  It's a matter of the heart. 

We challenged the kids this morning that they are in danger of this kind of living since they have been raised to make good choices, to show respect and honor and to follow the rules given.  They easily could fall into habits and make minimal effort with no thought on these matters.  However this type of daily living will give you a false sense of security, killing your soul into a comatose condition.  Yikes!!!

Let us become more aware of His presence and let us keep our hearts centered on Him by living close to Him. 

 

He knows !

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 34:17-18 NIV

Sometimes all we can think about is the pain we are going through and yet when we cry out to God he brings deliverance. He truly can and will replace those thoughts with His truth and move you toward victory.  I read recently that you "can't hold the VICTIM card up at the same time you hold the VICTOR card."  It's one or the other !!!!  Good word. 

Life breaks our heart.  We are never promised we won't have trouble,  but we are told to take heart that He is close to the broken hearted and that he saves those who are crushed in Spirit.  

Closing our eyes this morning ... Pausing in His presence to capture His great love and kindness for us. Receiving His love.  

Let's live loved.  Let's live in the fullness of God everyday of our lives no matter what our circumstance.  

Back at it!!!

“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!””

 Luke 11:13 NIV

2016 come on!??? 

Our first week back to school was amazing.   First of all, mom grabbed a jet plane right after everyone got to school on the first day to attend a worship conference in Orlando. Ah...Mazing! I am so full of Jesus right now and that's a good thing for our family!!!  The family handled EVERYTHING without a glitch - I had no doubts.   Tim killed it all week with interviews and networking and soon we will be sharing our plans for what is next and new in our family !!!

Second, Kadin went "back to Brighton" after being at CSPA for 2 years. These 2 years have been the best for Kadin.  We watched him move from a shy guy to a confident young man.  Now off to a big school and lots of potential. 

Devin has been driving for almost a year now and while at first it was nerve racking, now he's a great taxi service for the other two!  Lol!  He's kicking it at his studies and excited to embrace his junior year and all that means for college planning!!!

Liv is a gem!  10th grade this year and handling it like a boss.  She's gonna visit ONU this weekend and start thinking more seriously about her future and career. 

Finally - and certainly not last - our Jesus, has been faithful and true to us.   He is our source , our light , our provider, our healer - nothing is impossible with Him.  

We are on a journey , stepping out in faith, putting our feet where He tells us and we refuse to do this in fear. Refuse.    We will trust Him and see Him through it all.   

Glad to be back blogging for another school year - this one is bound to be a great, most amazing season eva'!!!