No Man 04/05/2012
 
1 Corinthians 4:8
 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!  

Paul reminds us of a very important fact in today's verse.  It is easy for us to become attached to those who are mentors and teachers in our Christian journey, so much so that we can link them with God.  When my former youth director left to fulfill a call elsewhere, I struggled immensely.  Paul reminds us that God has made us great, God has blessed us, God has made us rich in love.  It is good to have people we love and care about teaching us, but we must know that God is the true center and source of all that is good, and we can access that ourselves.
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Judging 04/04/2012
 
1 Corinthians 5:12
What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  

Judging, unfortunately, can be what some Christians do best.  Paul asks us here who has the right to judge, both in and out of the church?  Though we hold ourselves to a standard of behavior and morals, we must focus inward on these things and not outward on others.  We are all works in progress, but only we, with God's help, can change us.  So judge not, and do your best to become the best you possible.
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Inside Us 04/03/2012
 
1 Corinthians 3:16
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?  

Ever have one of those days where you can't help but feel like you just aren't enough?  I have.  Some days we have the deck stacked against us and nothing, and I mean NOTHING, seems to go our way.  On days like that, I like to remember this verse.  The power of God Almighty dwells in me, and with it, there is nothing I cannot survive.  With all the hardships and troubles I may run into, I know that everything will be alright.  
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Take it slow 03/29/2012
 
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 
Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly mere infants in Christ.  I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.


Spiritual growth takes time.  You cannot start off too fast too soon.  We must take it one step at a time, learning and growing.  Even seasoned Christians have questions and doubts they struggle with, so delving in too deep too quickly can do more hurt than good.  Be patient and have faith.  Read your Bible and seek help with your questions, find followers to learn along with you and take it slow!
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What is OURS? 03/28/2012
 
Ephesians 2:17-18 
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.  For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 

We have become a culture of "OURS".  We pray that God bless OUR country.  That OUR God bless OUR church.  We have created a culture in the church and society that views others as outsiders.  That OUR God is maybe not their God, too.  That OUR country should be blessed in opposition of theirs.  This attitude is flawed and must be beaten, because we our God's, not the other way around, and we all belong to Him, not just our friends, youth group, church, city, country or religion.  God is the God of all, even those that currently do not believe.  Jesus died for them, too.  Only after we understand and embrace this can we find the kind of unity and peace that Jesus brought.
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Christian See... 03/20/2012
 
Ephesians 5:1-2
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 

Have you ever heard the expression Monkey See, Monkey Do?  When I was young, something my sister and I would do to bug each other was to mimic what the other was doing, repeating the actions and words the other was doing at the time to the best of our ability.  That's what this verse is asking of you, to mimic Jesus - to live a life of love and to give of yourself.  How?  By doing what Jesus did, living as Jesus lived, to the best of your ability, by repeating the actions and words He said.  Treat one another with respect and love.  Put others before yourself.  Be an example of love in everything you do for those around you.

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Out, Not In 03/19/2012
 
Matthew 15:10-11
"Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' " 

In the time before Jesus, there were all kinds of rules deeming things "clean" and "unclean". There were things you couldn't do, eat, touch...the goal was to remain clean. In this instance, Jesus was being criticized for not washing his hands in the traditional manner. The people who criticized Jesus were more concerned with the ritual of washing their hands than why they were washing.  So Jesus reminds them that being "clean" ultimately resides within you - you have the power to be good. Goodness isn't something that comes from someone else, what you eat, read, watch on tv or wear.  Goodness is what you choose to say, think and do . So be good.  Speak to those around you in goodness.  Act out in your community in love.  Let all that you do show the goodness you hold inside.

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For this week's Friday Reflection Piece, I have selected a quote from one of my favorite authors, C.S. Lewis.

"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."

Please share your thoughts and feelings about this quote!  And spend this weekend thinking about finding true happiness in God.
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Romans 8:38-39
"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."

Today, some words of encouragement. There is nothing that can separate you from God's love. "Duh, I know that," you are probably saying, but I want you to truly understand it.  Nothing you can do can separate you from God's love - nothing.  I know we all have that bad thing we've done that we think that if God only knew this one thing about me, He'd go running for the hills.  But nowhere you go, nothing you do or say, nothing you have done before can make God love you any less. He loves you, past-present-future, sins and all.  So remember this in your daily lives, if God can love you and your sins, why can't you love someone else and theirs?  God's love is not meant to be contained, but shared.  It not only fills you, but over flows, so share it with everyone!

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Take Care 03/14/2012
 
Psalm 18:32
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

In this time of trials and tests, I know the way can become tiresome.  Some days, no matter what we try, everything seems to go wrong.  It's very easy to feel frustrated and distant from God during these times, but He never leaves you.  Remember that God is with you, even in the times of great stress and that everything will be alright. Pray for strength, and welcome God into your heart and mind, and you will find peace.

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