1. 19
    Oct

    I am NOT ashamed!!

    I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.  -Romans 1:16

    Last Friday at youth group JR used this verse in his message, ever since then it has been stuck in my mind. Am I really “not ashamed” like I say.. well that thought has definitely kept my brain busy these past couple of days. While we were sharing stories last Friday an old friend popped into my thoughts; his name was Alex. The reason I say “was” is because he died of Cancer the year we graduated high school (2006). I met him my Junior year, I was ashamed and thought I would be seen as a religious fanatic and so I never gave him the gospel, till this day I still wish I could turn back time and make it all better, whether he would have believed or not, at least I could’ve planted that seed in his heart. However, I never did. I have asked God to remove this sad memory from my thoughts, but I think he has chosen to leave it there just as a reminder so that even though I cannot change my past I can still make a difference in my present and future and also the eternal future of those around me. So am I ashamed? I will ignore my flesh’s desire to be still and not speak. I will conquer my fear of speaking to people about salvation.. and you know how I’ll do that? By the power of the Holy Spirit, I will not be ashamed to share the gospel “because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes”.

    I pray that God continues to remind me of this everyday, and also that he speaks through me and prepares the hearts of those I will speak to in the present and future. 

    -Liz

  2. 4
    Oct

    So.. I haven’t written in a while. I feel like 24 hrs in a day are just not enough..

  3. 9
    Jul

    Luke 19

    Yesterday night I was reading Luke 19, when I realized “oh wow.. this is exactly what JR is teaching about on Sunday at KSU” though he is using the book of Matthew not Luke.. but I thought it was funny that I had just made his powerpoint slides for this exact same topic.. using your talents for God. Luke 19 is pretty long and has different stories, but I mainly focused on the “Parable of the Talents”.. How many times are we like the third man in the parable that just keeps the coins safe, wouldn’t it have been better for him to invest them.. of course!! Whether they are musical, cooking skills, helping in the children’s ministry: either babysitting little ones, or maybe God has given you the talent of teaching and you can teach the older ones. Maybe you’re very social and outgoing, you can also put that to good use being an usher or a greeter. How about Powerpoint.. you see the’re so many things we can do to serve the Lord, and those talents God has given us can also be used outside the church, such as reaching out to your friends at school or work.. some people even go a step further and join the mission field. 

    We are responsible to use well what God has given us. The issue is not how much we have, but how well we use what we have.

                       

    Luke 19: 11-27

    11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. [fn1] ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

    14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

    15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

    16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

    17 ” ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

    18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’

    19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

    20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’

    22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

    24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

    25 ” ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

    26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them–bring them here and kill them in front of me.’ ”

  4. 1
    5
    Jul
  5. 15
    Jun
    “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”  Acts 20:24 What kind of race are you running today?

    “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”  Acts 20:24

    What kind of race are you running today?

  6. 13
    Jun
    Matthew 6:25-33 (NIV) Do Not Worry  25“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? 26Look 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? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

    Matthew 6:25-33 (NIV)

    Do Not Worry

     25“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? 26Look 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? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

     28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

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