Challenge

My challenge to you is one that I myself have taken. It is this: take all the items that you’ve held on to that remind you of the past, weather it be relationships, something bad that you’ve experienced, something symbolic or connected with some kind of pain AND BURN IT!
I know that this challenge seems extreme, but the strongholds it will break off of you are amazing.
My two best friends and I took this challenge tonight. We’d done it before with the youth group back in ’09. But even then I didn’t burn everything that I should have. The things that I held on to seemed to be apart of me, so if this is something that you face trust me I understand what you are feeling. But one of my best friends challenged me to let this stuff go because she knew that things from my past could be hindering my relationship with God. I fought her but ultimately I saw the point she was making, so I pulled out all of my old photos and my box of memories and went through it to see what things I needed to get out of my life. I ended up with a shoe box filled with roses, photos, poems I’d written, stuffed animals, letters…all of these things I’d held on to from my ex’s because they reminded me of the people they were related to. But tonight I burned them all, and the release I felt made me understand that I really needed to get all of those things out of my life. My friend made a valid point when she was trying to convince me to do this, she asked me “what are you going to do with all of these things when you get married, even though it’s in the future think of how your husband will feel when you move into a new house that is filled with all these memories of other men?” This made me open my eyes and see that until then all these things are doing is reminding me of people who are no longer a part of my life and relationships that stole things from me. But when we burned them I could feel the weight that was lifted from my shoulders. I burned things that I have been holding onto for more than five years.
I give you this challenge now because the New Year is upon us, and with a new year you can make a new you! So think about it, you can even do it with some of your friends like I did.
I read this scripture around the fire tonight, “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 3:13-14) I realize now the true importance of letting things go. Even if you don’t realize it, these objects are holding you back. When you pull them out you will instantly start remembering the life you lived when the memories attached to them were created. They are holding you back from your total potential in God.
Consider my challenge wholly before you dismiss it. Burn the bridges you’ve maintained to pain and sin. Let them go and give way to a new life of God.
“…freedom reigns in this place, showers of mercy and grace, falling on every face, there is freedom…” –Jason Upton freedom
This is one of the songs we sang after praying and burning our past. It helps you feel the weight of the bondage you’re letting go.

THE Name

Many of us, no matter how long we've been attending a church, have heard the phrase, "there is power in the name of Jesus." All things in the name Jesus...
have you ever stopped to consider what this means? have you ever stopped to think about why we use the name of Jesus as a weapon, a refuge, or even calling a friend? We use the name, and all its glory because when we hear the name of Jesus, we are reminded of all that he has done for us.
matthew 27:50-51 "Then Jesus shouted out again, and he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtian was torn in the Temple from top to bottom."
This amazing thing Jesus did. this is what saying his name should make us remember. i have made you contemplate why the name is so important because of this...
take a moment to think about what God thinks, what he rememebers when he hears your name.
Will he be proud of all you've done to further his kingdom, or disappointed because you choose to turn from him and love the world? WHAT DOES GOD THINK WHEN HE HEARS YOUR NAME?
i understand that when you weigh your life to others you may come up short, but i'm not asking for that. in no way am i asking you to compare yourself with anyone...i am simply asking you to weigh the good against the bad, then decide which way the scale is tipping.
ecclesiastes 7:1 "A good reputation is more valuable that the most expensive perfume..."

When God consumes your heart you will begin to change in ways you didnt even know needed changing. you will begin to love people and to love life. you will begin to better yourself as well as try to better the world around you. so consider this when you decide what god thinks when he hears your name.
if he were to come to your school, your job, your home; how would the people he meets describe you?? in some circumstanses this may be a harsh reality to face. maybe you are saved but still retain anger and bitterness that affects the way you communicate with the people in your life..that is effecting your reputation and god can see it all. remember that god is always with you, he knows your every move, every word, and every thought. he knows your reputation better than you do.

so if you want to reinvent your name, consider this:
god is the source of joy and the holder of everlasting, neverending grace. ask him into your life and repent daily. consider the downfalls of your life and pray for them often. confess to be a christian and take time to ponder on exactly what god has brought you through.

this message has become so important that i share because i myself had to do the same thing just this morning. i cleared my mind and really focused on what God brought me through, the very gates of hell stood before me and God come to save me. he never gave up on me. and i am determined to make my reputation one that counts to the lord not the world. and i pray that you too realize that Gods not giving up on you either and your reputation may be the very thing that can open someones eyes to God himself.

"You may be the only Bible some people read." -Chris "P.C." Moore

A Call to Worship

Matthew 4:10, Jesus says, "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only."
Worship:
to honor
the object of adoration
to be devoted to
the condition of being worthy
a submission of any created being
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/worship

Worship comes from the word worth. Everything in our lives contains a certain amount of worth we give to it. Something we spend a great deal of time engaging, thinking about, or talking about is given a great amount of worth in our eyes. This is a type of worship. The basis definition of worship is devotion. What have you devoted yourself to in your life?
When God becomes our personal Savior we are called to worship him—devote ourselves to Him. He asks us to spend time with him; this alone is a form of worship. Worship by devotion. By worshiping God we must humble ourselves and show God and the world that we place Him above ourselves. Pride will fight you the whole way telling you that you can do this on your own. But the truth is, nothing is done without God.
He longs to build a close personal relationship with you, but in order to do that he needs you to spend time with him—devote ourselves to him. So when you claim to know God, contemplate how much time you truly spend with him. Determine where he falls in your life. Do you put him first and spend time with him? …worship him by sacrificing things of this world for him? He calls us to do just that. He tells us to be set apart from this world. Only a close relationship with God will truly set you apart. So when you find that the time you spend with God is outweighed by time spent in the “pleasures” of this world…stop and take some time to worship your Creator, your father, and your God.
John 4:23 says, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks."
Worship is not just raising your hands, jumping around, or singing in church. Worship is a state of mind, heart, and spirit. You can worship God by simply following his word or honoring his will. Worship is something you can do every moment of everyday by setting your heart and thoughts on your Savior.
"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deut. 6:5)

Through Every Trial

God has called every person to be his follower. To love him, praise him, honor him, receive him, and share him with the ones around us. And there comes a time in everyone’s walk when the journey gets tough.
I know the feeling you get when you first receive Christ. You feel like nothing can touch you…like you could take on an entire nation and never fall. But we have to be realistic and realize what it means to be a true Christian. Being a Christian is like stamping a target for the enemy on your forehead. When you are lost in sin the Devil is not interested in pursuing you. He has no need to fight for what he has already won. But when God fills you and you begin to change from the inside out the enemy is threatened. He attacks you in everyway he knows how, cutting us down, and feeding off our weaknesses. God never told us that we would not endure trials. But he did promise us that by remaining faithful through these trials we would gain much through him.
James 1:2-4 “My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience. Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do. Then you will be perfect and complete and will have everything you need.”
God tells us here through James that we will receive patience and “everything we need” when we remain faithful through the trials set before us. So when you feel like giving in to the temptations the Devil has set before you, remember to use this time to draw closer to God. Surrender to him fully and allow him to lead you.

Trials can be a way to grow in your relationship with your Abba (father). When you feel like the Devil is tempting you, simply stop and seek God’s face. Scripture tells us that light and darkness cannot dwell within the same space, therefore, if you seek God and he fills you the Devil cannot. So when you feel your about to give in to something from your old life, or you feel guilt or depression, take that time to bow your head and tell God how much you love him and how you so desperately need him within that moment--and every moment.
Hebrews 10:32 “Don’t ever forget those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.”
God tells us here to simply remain faithful through your suffering. Remember the feeling you had when he first saved you. That feeling that you could take on a nation and remain standing…God will take care of you, simply rely on Him.

Sometimes Letting Go Makes Us Stronger

Matthew 26:39 "After walking a little farther away from them, Jesus fell to the ground and prayed. "My father, if it is possible, do not give me this cup" of suffering. But do what you want, not what i want."
Let this be and example to all of us. Even Jesus had things he didn't want to do, but unlike most of us, he left it in God's capiable hands.
Most of us, me included, think that we can do things by ourselves. And most of us walk only where we have carefully crafted a safety net. Therefore if we fall, we always have something to fall back on. But this is not what God wants from us. It's not what he's asked from us. In this scripture Jesus falls on his knees asking his God not to give him "this cup." A lot of us do the same thing when we want, or am trying to avoid something so badly.
But God tells us several times throughout the bible to remian patient.
"Be glad for all God is planning for you, Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful." Romans 12:12
Sometimes we cling to things we feel comfortable with. But God asks us to abandon what we know and walk in faith. To leave our safty nets and to rely on Him for all we need. We get so caught up in the things we want and the outcomes we despratly try to minipulate into reality, that we don't take the time to think about God's will. He asks for all of us when we come to him. He asks us to humble ourselves and even abandon all we know for the trust we can find in him.
The Lord is our provider. He tells us that he will gives the things we need if we simply live in abandon and walk with faith. But i am well aware that abandon seems like anything but simple. But the rewards we will achive when we take that step will be unimaginable.
God knows what he is doing, even if we are obilvious to his plans. So if you live in faith and seek to become closer to God, he will give you everything that you need.
"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
He will craft a future for you that you cant even imagine. All you have to do is trust in him and live by faith.
"Watch and be astonished at what I will do! For i am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't belive even if someone told you about it." Habakkuk 1:5