Forgiveness Is A Form Of Wisdom

The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. Proverbs 19:11

Bitterness is a form of self-punishment; forgiveness is a means of self-liberation. Bitterness focuses on the injustices on the past; forgiveness focuses on the blessings of the present and the opportunities of the future. Bitterness is an emotion that hurts you; forgiveness is a descision that empowers you. Bitterness is foolishness; forgiveness is wisdom.
When we make God's priorities our priorities, He will lead us according to His plan and according to His commandments. When we study God's Word, we are reminded that God's reality is the ultimate reality. May we live - and forgive - accordingly.

"If Jesus forgave those who nailed Him to the Cross, and if God forgives you and me, how can you withhold your forgiveness from someone else?" -- Anne Graham Lotz

God is Faithful

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalms 16:8

God is faithful. He keeps his promises to us even when we stray far from His will. He continues to love us even when we disobey His commandments. But God does not force his Blessings upon us. If we are to experience His love and His grace, we must claim them for ourselves.
Are you discouraged or fearful? Be comforted: God is with you. Are you confused? Listen to the quiet voice of your Heavenly Father. Are you angry? Talk with God and seek His guidance. Are you celebrating a great victory? Thank God and praise Him. He is the Giver of all things good.
In whatever condition you find yourself, wherever you are, whether you are happy or sad, victorious or vanquished, troubled or triumphant, remember that God is faithful and that His love is eternal. And be comforted. God is not just near. He is here.

"I have a great need for Christ; I have a great Christ for my need." -- C.H. Spurgeon

I'm Back!

My new computer is set up and functioning nicely, and things have calmed down to where I can now keep the blog running again.

Devotionals will run every day. Be sure to stop by often!

Update

Your editor stays frightfully busy, so bear with her when the devotionals slow down sometimes. They will be back starting tomorrow morning.

Check our upcoming events!

Blessed Generosity

The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. Proverbs 11:25

Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." That means that we should be generous with other people - but sometimes we don't feel much like sharing. Instead of sharing the things that we have, we want to keep them all to ourselves. That's when we must remember that God doesn't want selfishness to rule our hearts; He wants us to be generous.
Are you lucky enough to have nice things? If so, God's instructions are clear: you must share your blessings with others. And that's exactly the way it should be. After all, think how generous God has been with you.

"If you want to be truly happy, you won't find it on a endles quest for more stuff. You'll find it in receiving God's generosity and then passing that generosity along." -- Bill Hybels

Sharing Your Stuff

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 2 Corinthians 9:8&9

Are you one of those people who is lucky enough to have a closet filled up with stuff? If so, it's probably time to share some of it.
When it's time to clean up your closet and give some things away, don't be upset. Instead of complaining, think about all the people who could enjoy the things that you don't use very much. And while you're at it, think about what Jesus might tell you to do if He were here. Jesus would tell you to share generously and cheerfully. And that's exactly what you should do!

"The more we stuff ourselves with material pleasures, the less we seem to appreciate life." -- Barbara Johnson

The Joyful Life

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4

C.S. Lewis once said, "Joy is the serious business of heaven." And he was right! God seriously wants you to be a seriously joyful person.
One way that you can have a more joyful life is by learning how to become a more obedient person. When you do, you'll stay out of trouble, and you'll have lots more time for fun.
So here's a way to be a more joyful, happy person: do the right thing! It's the best way to live.

"Joy comes not from what we have but from what we are." -- C. H. Spurgeon.

Your Amazing Talents!

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 1 Corinthians 12: 4 & 5

Face facts: yo've got very special talents, talents that have been given to you by God. So here's a question: will you use your talents or not? God wants you to use your talents to become a better person and a better Christian. And that's what you should want for yourself.
As you're trying to figure out exactly what you're good at, be sure and talk about it with your parents. They can help you decide how best to use and improve the gifts that God has given you.

"God has given you a unique set of talents and opportunities - talents and opportunities that can be built up or buried - and the choice to build or bury is entirely up to you." -- Criswell Freeman

Obedience and Praise

PRAISE ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth in greatly in his commandments. Psalms 112:1

Psalm 112 links two powerful principles: obedience and praise. One of the most important ways that we can praise God is by obeying Him. As believers who have been saved by a risen Christ, we must worship our Creator, not only with our prayers and our words, but also with our actions.
Are you greatful for God's glorious gifts? Are you thankful for the treasure of eternal life that is yours through the sacrifice of God's Son Jesus? Of course you are. And one of the best ways to express your gratitude to God is through obedience to the unchanging commandments of His Holy Word.

"When you suffer and lose, that does not mean you are being disobedient to God. In fact, it might mean you're right at the center of His will. The path of obedience is often marked by times of suffering and loss." -- Charles Swindoll

The Wisdom Of Kindness

The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. Proverbs 11:17

If we believe the words of Proverbs 11:17 - and we should - then we understand that kindness is its own reward. And, if we are to obey the commandments of our Savior - and we should - we must sow seeds of kindness wherever we go.
Kindness, compassion, and forgiveness are hallmarks of our Christian faith. So today, in honor of the One who first showed compassion for us, let's teach our families and friends the art of kindness through our words and through our deeds. Our loved ones are watching . . . and so is God.

"When you extend hospitality to others, you're not trying to impress people, you're trying to reflect God to them". - Max Lucado

God Cares

For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nore taketh reward: Deuteronomy 10:17

It's a promise that is made over and over again in the Bible: Whatever "it" is, God can handle it. Life isn't always easy. Far from it! Sometimes, life can be very, very tough. But even then, even during our darkest moments, we're protected by a loving Heavingly Father. When we're worried, God can reassure us; when we're sad, God can comfort us. When your hearts are broken, God is not just near; He is here. So we must lift our thoughts and prayers to Him. When we do, He will answer our prayers. Why? Because He is our Shepherd, and He has promised to protect us now and forever.

"The next time you're disappointed, don't panic. Don't give up.Just be patient and let God remind you He's still in control." -- Max Lucado

Update

So sorry for how the blog has been neglected this past week, but your editor has been so busy this week that she hasn't had time to do anything on the computer. And my computer has been acting up and sometimes won't let me log into blogger.

But starting on Monday things will be back to normal.

Finding Comfort

But the Lord is my defence: and my God is the rock of my refuge. Psalms 94:22

It is simply a fact of life: sometimes, you worry about stuff. Where is the best place to take your worries? Take them to God. Take your troubles to Him; take your fears to Him; take your doubts to Him; take your weaknesses to Him; take your sorrows to Him . . . and leave them all there. Seek protection from the One who offers you eternal life; build your spiritual house upon the Rock that cannot be moved.

"Give your cares to Him who cares for the flowers of the field. Rest assured He will also care for you." - C. H. Spurgeon

Pictures

I'm working on getting Camp pictures up here, so be patient. :-)

Devotionals will be up and running again tomorrow.

Oh, and the Adults beat the Youth in the Softball game. :P

7/13/08 - A Truly Amazing Day!!

There were four souls saved yesterday...

And I was one of them.

I had gone to the Ladies Retreat and while I was listening to my Mom give her testimony and to Mrs Lenda talking about being sure of your salvation, I started to feel the tug of God on my heart. I spent almost that entire night thinking things over...

And then after the wonderful sermon that Bro Chris preached, and while I was listening to Bro John talk during the invitation, I suddenly knew that I wasn't 100% sure that I was saved. I wrestled with it for awhile, and then I knew that I had to become 100% sure, I had to NAIL IT DOWN.

And so, in the house of some good friends, feeling the tug of the Holy Ghost, I knelt down, and tearfully confessed my sins and asked Jesus to come into my heart and become my Saviour.

I AM SAVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I NEVER need to doubt again!!!!!!! No more worries!!!!!!!!!!! I am now 100% sure!!!! As both my Grandpa and Bro John have put it so well, I now "know that I know that I know" that I am saved... THANK YOU LORD!!

And Congrats to Tim B. & Eric Shirey. (you go guys!!) We also had one saved in Children's Church. Congrats!

Leaving Comments

I know that some people have tried to leave comments and said that it didn't work for them, so I've set it up to where anyone can leave a comment.

To leave a comment you click on "comments" under the post you wish to comment on.

Type you comment in the text box, and then click on NAME/URL, and then type your name in the name box & hit the PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT button.

That should work for everyone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank You to all of the people who have supported the blog! You all have been such a blessing to me. :-)

Your To-Do List . . . And God's

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. James 4:8

When you make God's priorities your priorities, you will receive God's blessings. When you make God a full partner in every aspect of your life, He will lead you along the proper path: His path. When you allow God to reign over your heart, He will honor you with spiritual blessings that are simply too numerous to count. So, as you plan for the days ahead, make God's will your ultimate priority. When you do, every other priority will have a tendency to fall neatly into place.

"With God, it's never "Plan B" or "second best." It's always "Plan A." And, if we let Him, He'll make something beautiful of our lives." - Gloria Gaither

Difficult Days

...What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?... Job 2:10

Face it: Some days are better than others. But even on the days when you don't feel very good, God never leaves you for even a moment. So if you need assistance, you can always pray to God, knowing that He will listen and help.
If you're feeling unhappy, talk things over with God, and while you're at it, be sure and talk things over with your parents, too. And remember this: the sooner you will start talking, the sooner things will get better.

"When life is difficult, God wants us to have a faith that trusts and waits." - Kay Arthur

Remember...

if you want to discuss the devotional, you can always leave a comment. Feel free to leave comments about the devotionals, ask questions, etc. You will always be answered.

White Lies?

The righteousness of the perfect shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. Proverbs 11:6

Sometimes, people convince themselves that it's okay to tell "little white lies." Sometimes people convince themselves that itsy bitsy lies aren't harmful. But there's a problem: little lies have a way of growing into big ones, and once they grow up, they cause lots of problems.
Remember that lies, no matter what size, are not part of God's plan for our lives, so tell the truth about everything. It's the right thing to do, and besides: when you always tell the truth, you don't have to try and remember what you said!

"Those who are given to white lies soon become color blind." - Anonymous

Update

Things are finally calming down around here, and the blog is now running like normal again.

Some thoughts from Sunday...

I was pondering over Bro.John's Sunday night sermon, and, looking back over my notes I had jotted down, I realized there there are some things that every Christian should be doing. All of these points came from the sermon.

• We should keep our eyes fixed on Jesus - Hebrews 12:2
• Our ears should be hearing and heeding - Psalms 40:5-8
• Our hands ought to be working - Ephesians 4:28
• Our feet ought to be running the race - Hebrews 12:1
• Our minds ought to be stayed on Him - Isaiah 26:3
• Our hearts ought to be kept for Him - 1 Peter 3:15
• Our bodies should be presented to God - Romans 12:1

Getting God's Wisdom

Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly. Proverbs 16:22

Wisdom is like a savings account: If you add to it consistently, then eventually you will have accumulated a great sum.. The secret to succes is consistency.
Do you see wisdom for youself and for your family? Then you must keep learning, and you must keep motivating them to do likewise. The ultimate source of wisdom, of course, is the Word of God. When you study God's Word and live according to His commandments, you will accumulate wisdom day by day. And finally, with God's help, you'll have enough wisdom to keep and enough left over to share.

"Most of us go through life praying a little, planing a lot, jockeying for position, hoping but never being quite certain of anything, and always secretly afraid that we will miss the way. This is a tragic waste of truth and never gives rest to the heart. There is a better way. It is to repudiate our own wisdom and take instead the infinite wisdom of God." - A.W. Tozer

Sorry for the delay...

It's taking longer than I thought to get everything put back together from being gone away at Camp.

The Daily Devotional are now up and running. And I'll get more updates to put on here tomorrow.

Make Today A Day Of Celebration

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I saw, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4

What is the best day to celebrate life? This one! Today and every day should be a time for celebration as we consider all the things that God has done.

What do you expect from the day ahead? Are you expecting God to do wonderful things, or are you living beneath a cloud of worry and doubt?

The familiar words of Psalm 118:24 remind us of a profound yet simple truth: "This is the day which the LORD has made." Our duty as believers, is to rejoice in God's marvelous creation. For Christians, every day begins and ends with God and His Son. Christ came to this earth to give us abundant life and eternal salvation. We give thanks to our Maker when we treasure each day.So with no further delay, let the celebration begin!

"We will never be happy until we make God the source of our fulfillment and the answer to our longings." -- Stormie Omartian

Update

Camp was outstanding! Even though I wasn't a camper, I still had an amazing time.

And the Perrys Concert on Saturday turned out very well.

Devotions will start back up tomorrow.

Remember!

Tomorrow morning after the AM service, is the final meeting about CAMP. We will be having Nachos, so everyone stick around.

The College and Career classroom is freshly painted and looks very nice, stop by and take a look-see!

Tomorrow night after the PM service we are having a Cake Auction. Be sure and try to bring something! As I type this, my sister is in the kitching working up a storm on her beautiful cake. She's had the idea for this cake for weeks, and it sure is a pretty one.

Then Monday we leave for camp. I'm almost packed, but there is still so much to do!

See everyone tomorrow.

His Love Lasts Forever

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. John 10:11

Have you heard the song "Jesus Loves Me"? Probably so. It's a happy song that should remind you of this important fact: Jesus loves you very much,
When you invite Jesus into your heart, He will be your friend forever. If you make mistakes, He'll still be your friend. When you aren't perfect, He'll still love you. If you feel sorry or sad, He can help you feel better.
Yes, Jesus loves you . . . and you should love yourself. So the next time you fell sad about youself . . . or something that you've done . . . remember that Jesus loves you, your family loves you, and you should feel that way, too.

"He created us because He delights in us!" -- Beth Moore

Learn From Ants

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Proverbs 6: 6-9

The Bible instructs us that we can learn an important lesson of a surprising source: ants. Ants are among nature's industrious creatures. They do their work without supervision and without hesitation. We should do likewise.
God's Word is clear: We are instructed to work diligently and faithfully. We are told that the fields are rip for the harvest, that the workers are few, and that the importance of our work is profound. Let us work hard for our Master without hesitation and without complaint.Nighttime is coming. Until is does, let us honor our Heavenly Father with grateful hearts and willing hands.

"If you want to reach your potential, you need to add a strong work ethic to your talent." -- John Maxwell

God Solves Problems

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Hebrews 13: 5 & 6

Do you have a problem that you haven't been able to solve? Welcome to the club! Life is full of problems that don't have easy solutions. But if you have a problem that you can't solve, there is something you can do: turn that problem over to God. He can handle it.
God has a way of solving our problems if we let Him; our job is to let Him. God can handle things that we can't. And the sooner we turn our concerns over to Him, the sooner He will go to work solving those troubles that are simply too big for us to handle.
If you're worried or discouraged, pray about it. And ask your parents to and friends to pray about it, too. And then stop worrying because no problem is too big for God; not even yours.

"He is always thinking about us. We are before his eyes. The Lord's eye never sleeps, but is always watching out for our welfare. We are continually on His heart." -- C. H. Spurgeon

Hit Counter

I found a hit counter and put it up here. Now we can see how many people have visited the blog.

Sadly, it doesn't look like that many people have looked at it. Come on, guys! This is a great place to get your devotional and keep updated on what all is happening!

See everyone tonight.

Celebrating God's Handiwork

Read Colossians 1.

When we consider God's glorious universe, we marvel at the miracle of nature. The smallest seedlings and grandest stars are all part of God's infinite creation. God has placed His handiwork on display for all to see, and if we are wise, we will make time each day to celebrate the world that surrounds us.
Today, pause to consider the majesty of heaven and earth. It is as miraculous as it is beautiful, as incomprehensible as it is breathtaking.
The Psalmist reminds us that the heavens are a declaration of God's glory. May we never cease to praise the Father for a universe that stands as an awesome testimony to His presence and His power.

"Today you will encounter God's creation. When you see the beauty around you, let each detail remind you to lift your head in praise." -- Max Lucado

Are you ready..

for Camp!!??

We leave next Monday.

A sincere THANK YOU to all of the youth & sponsers that helped out with Vacation Bible School. I, personally, had a lot of fun teaching, and I bet that the youth who helped out had fun as well. :-)

I'm supposed to be getting some VBS pictures taken of the youth that helped out. When I get them in, I'll post them.

I read this earlier, and thought it was funny. I've been in churches before where this was all too true. :P

"Most church members are 100 percent willing - 50 percent are willing workers and the other 50 percent are willing to let them."

See y'all later,
Bethany

For God So Loved The World

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

For Christians, death is not an ending; it is a beginning; for believers, the grave is not a final resting-place, it is a place of transition. For Christians, death is not a dark journey into nothingness; it is a homecoming.
God sent His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Through Jesus, we are redeemed. By welcoming Christ into our hearts, we have received the precious, unfathomable gift of eternal life. Let us praise God for His Son. The One from Galilee has saved us from our sins so that we might live courageously, die triumphantly, and live again - eternally.

"The central Christian belief is that Christ's death has somehow put us right with God and given us a fresh start." C.S. Lewis

The Plan According To God

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Psalms 32:8

Maybe you've heard this old saying: "Look before you leap." Well, that saying may be old, but it still applies to you. Before you jump into something, you should look ahead and plan ahead. Otherwise, you might soon be sorry you jumped!
whne you acquire the habit of planning ahead, you'll usually make better choices. So when it comes to the important things in life, make a plan and stick to it. when you do, you'll think about the consequences of your actions before you do something silly .. . or dangerous . . . or both.

"It's incredible to realize that what we do each day has meaning in the big picture of God's plan." -- Bill Hybels

The Possessions We Own, And Vice Versa

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothingn out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 1 Timothy 6: 7&8

How important are your material possessions? Not as important as you might think. In the life of a committed Christian, material possessions should play a rather small role. In fact, when we become overly enamored with the things we own, we needlessly distance ourselves from the peace that God offers to those who place Him at the center or their lives.
Of course, we all need the basic necessaties of life, but once we meet those needs for ourselves and for our families, the piling up of possessions creates more problems than it solves. Our real riches, of course, are not of this world. We are never really rich until we are rich in spirit.
Do you find yourself wrapped up in the concerns of the material world? If so, it's time to reorder your priorities by turning your thoughts and your prayes to more important matters. And, it's time to begin storing up riches that will endure throughout eternity: the spiritual kind.

Beyond Anger

Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath. Proverbs 29:8

Your temper is either your master or your servant.. Either you control it, or it controls you. And the extent to which you allow anger to rule your life will determine, to a surprising extent,the quality of your relationships with others and your relationship with God.
Anger and peace cannot coexist in the same mind. So obey God's Word by turning away from anger today and every day. You'll be glad you did, and so will your family and friends.

"Life is too short to spend it being angry, bored, or dull." -- Babara Johnson

Trusting The Quiet Voice

For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest ye shall be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. Isaiah 30:15

Whenver you're about to make an important decision, you should listen carefully to the quite voice inside. Sometimes, of course, it's tempting to do otherwise. From time to time you'll be tempted to abandon your better judgment by ignoring your conscience. Don't do it!
Instead of ignoring that quiet little voice, pay careful attention to it. If you do, your conscience will lead you in the right direction - in fact, it's trying to lead you right now. so listen . . . and learn.

"Arm yourself with the Word of God, and your conscience will sound off loud and clear when you're headed in the wrong direction." -- Charles Stanley

It's Not Hard To Be Kind

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Colossians 3:12 & 13

How hard is it to say a kind word? Not very! Yet sometimes we're so busy that we forget to say the very things that might make other people feel better.
We should always try to say nice things to our families and friends. And when we feel like saying something that's not so nice, perhaps we should stop and think before we say it. Kind words help; cruel words hurt. It's as simple as that. And, when we say the right thing at the right time, we give a gift that can change someone's day or someone'e life.

"When we do little acts of kindness that make life more bearable for someone else, we are walking in love as the Bible commands us." -- Barbara Johnson

Know When To Say No

Discretion shall perserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; Proverbs 2:11&12

It happens to all of us at one time or another: a friend asks us to do something that we think is wrong. What should we do? Should we try to please our friend by doing something bad? No way! It's not worth it!
Trying to please our friends is okay. What's not okay is misbehaving in order to do so. Do you have a friend who encourages you to misbehave? Hopefully you don't have any friends like that. But if you do, say "No, NO, NOOOOO!" And what if your friend threatens to break up the friendship? Let him! Friendships like that just aren't worth it.

"You will get untold flak for prioritizing God's revealed and present will for your live over man's . . . but, boy,is it worth it." -- Beth Moore

Answered Prayers

And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him. 1 Chronicles 5:20

God answers our prayers. What God does not do is this: he does not answer our prayers in a time and fashion of our choosing, and He does not always answer our prayers by saying, "Yes." Sometimes our loving Heavenly Father responds to our requests by saying "No", and we must accept His answer, even though we may not understand it.
God answers prayers not according to our wishes but according to His master plan. We cannot know that plan, but we can know the Planner. . . and we must trust His wisdom, His righteousness, and His unending love.

"What God gives in answer to our prayers will always be the thing we most urgently need, and it will always be sufficient." -- Elisabeth Elliot

Directing Your Thoughts

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

How will you direct your thoughts today? Will you obey the words of Philippians 4:8 by dwelling upon those things that are honorable, pure, and worthy of praise? Or will you allow your thoughts to be hijacked by the negativity that seems to dominate our troubled world?
are you fearful, angry, bored, or worried? are you so preoccupied with the concerns of this day that you fail to thank God for the promise of eternity? Are you confused, or pessimistic? If so, God wants to have a little talk with you. He wants to remind you of His infinite love and His boundless grace. As you contemplate these things, and as you give thanks for God's blessings, negativity should no longer dominate your day or your life.

"If you want to know whether you're thinking correctly, check it out in the Word." -- Charlest Stanley

Busy Times...

are ahead, people!!!

VBS is this week. 6 - 8:30 PM. I know that I'm working it every night. So yea, I've got a long, but fun week ahead of me. Then I can turn focus my sights on CAMP!

Anyway, tonight was the Softball game. It was a lot of fun, although my team lost. But I had a blast, and I know that pretty much everone else did also.

It's late, I've got a ton of stuff to do, tomorrow's devotional is already typed up so that means I can have some free time tonight.

Have a great week!

Choices That Make A Difference

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

There's really no way to get around it: choices matter. If you make good choices, good things will usually happen to you. And if you make bad choices, bad things will usually happen.
The next time you have an important choice to make, ask yourself this: "Am I doing what God wants me to do?" If you can answer that question with a great big "YES," then go ahead. But if you're not sure if the choice you are about to make is right, slow down. Why? Because choices matter . . . a lot!

"God and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance." - C.S. Lewis

God's Greatest Promise

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. John 6:47

It's time to remind yourself of a promise that God made a long time ago - the promise that God sent His Son Jesus to save the world and to save you! And when you stop to think about it, there can be no greater promise than that.
No matter where you are, God is with you. God loves you, and He sent His Son so that you can live forever in heaven with your loved ones. WOW! That's the greatest promise in the history of the universe. The End.

"God has promised us abundance, peace, and eternal life. These treasures are ours for the asking; all we must do is claim them. One of the great mysteries for life is why on earth do so many of us wait so very long to lay claim to God's gifts?" - Marie T. Freeman

God Decides

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Sometimes we must accept life on its terms, not our own. Life has a way of unfolding, not as we will, but as it will. And sometimes, there is precious little we can do to change things.
When events transpire that are beyond our control, we have a choice: we can either learn the art of acceptance, or we can make ourselves miserable as we struggle to change the unchangeable.
We must entrust the things we cannot change to God. Once we have done so, we can prayerfully and faithfully tackle the important work that He has placed before us: the things we can change.

"Acceptance is resting in God's goodness, believing that He has all things under His control." - Charles Swindoll

Beyond Stubbornness

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

Since the days of Adam and Eve, human being have been strong-willed and rebellious. Our rebellion stems, in large part, from an intense desire to do things "our way" instead of "God's way". But when we pridefully choose to forsake God's path for our lives, we do ourselves a sincere injustice . . . and we are penalized because of our stubbornness.
God's Word warns us to be humble, not prideful. God instructs us to be obedient, not rebellious. God wants us to do things His way. When we do, we earn lots of blessings - more blessings than we can count. But when we pridefully rebel against our Creator, we sow the seeds of our own problems and we reap a sad, sparse, bitter harvest. May we sow-and reap-accordingly.

"God uses broken things: broken soil and broken clouds to produce grain; broken grain to produce bread; broken bread to feed our bodies. He wants our stubbornness broken into humble obedience" - Vance Havner

The Path To Maturity

"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11

The path to spiritual maturity unfolds day by day. Each day offers the opportunity to worship God, to ignore God, or to rebel against God. When we worship Him with our prayers, our words, our thoughts, and our actions, we are blessed by the richness of our relationship with the Father. But if we ignore God altogether or intentionally rebel against His commandments, we rob ourselves of His blessings.
Today offers yet another opportunity for spiritual growth. If you choose, you can seize that opportunity by obeying God's Word, by seeking His will, and by walking with His Son.

"God's goal is that we move toward maturity - all our past failures and faults notwithstanding." Charles Swindoll

Good Devotional today

Sorry it's late again, but hey - it was worth the wait!

I'm trying to gather all of my June activities info to put up here by tomorrow. I'm also trying to get the new voting poll put up, but for some reason I can't get it to work right now. I'll keep on trying.

Hope everyone is have a good week so far.

Mistakes: The Price Of Being Human

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. Psalm 107:13

Mistakes: nobody likes 'em but everybody makes 'em. Sometimes, even if you're a very good person, you're going to mess things up. And when you do, God is always ready to forgive you - He'll do His part, but you should be willing to do your part, too. Here's what you need to do:

1. If you've been engaging in behavior that is against the will of God, cease and desist (that means stop).
   
2. If you made a mistake, learn from it and don't repeat it (that's called getting smarter).
3. If you've hurt somebody, apologize and ask forgiveness (that's called doing the right thing).
4. Ask for God's forgiveness, too (He'll give you it whenever you ask, but you need to ask!).

Have you made a mistake? If so, today is a perfect day to make things right with everybody (and the word "everybody " includes yourself, your family, your friends, and God).
Mistakes are the price you pay for being human; repeated mistakes are the price you pay for being stubborn. So don't be hardheaded: so learn from your experiences - the first time!

Expecting God's Blessings

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Psalms 23:5&6

Face facts: Christians have every reason to be optimistic and hopeful about life here on earth and life eternal. Mrs. Charles E. Cowman advised, "Never yield to gloomy anticipation. Place your hope and confidence in God. He has no record of failure."
Sometimes, despite our trust in God, we may fall into the spiritual traps of worry, frustration, anxiety, or sheer exhaustion and her hearts become heavy. What's needed is plenty of rest, a large dose of perspective, and God's healing touch, but not necessarily in that order.
Today, make this promise to yourself and keep it: vow to be a hope-filled Christian. Think optimistically about your life, your education, your family, and your future. And then, when you've filled your heart with hope, share you optimism with others.


"It never hurts your eyesight to look on the bright side of things." -- Barbara Johnson

Sorry It's Late

Sorry about the delay in getting the Monday devotional up, and getting the blog updated. I tried to get in last night, but I'm having computer problems and couldn't get it done. Was going to do it early this morning, but then Mom & I had to take the Van into the shop.

Now finally, I'm back and the blog is updated.

Christianity Here And Now

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: they spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Psalms 143:10

God doesn't want you to be a run-of-the-mill, follow-the-crowd kind of person. God wants you to be a "new creation" though Him. And that's exactly what you should want for yourself, too.
Nothing is more important than your wholehearted commitment to your Creator and to His only begotten Son. Your faith must never be an afterthought; it must be your ultimate priority, your ultimate possession, and your ultimate passion.
You are the recipient of Christ's love. Accept it enthusiastically and share it passionately. Jesus deserves your extreme enthusiasm; the world deserves it; and you deserve the experience of sharing it.

"God's purpose is that we be disciples and then make disciples." -- Charles Stanley

Eternal Life: God's Priceless Gift

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Song of God. 1 John 5:13

Christ sacrificed His life on the cross so that we might have eternal life. This gift, freely given from God's only begotten Son, is the priceless possession of everyone who accepts Him as Lord and Saviour.
God is waiting patiently for each of us to accept the gift of eternal life. Let us claim Christ's gift today. Let us walk with the Savior, let us love Him, let us praise Him, and let us share His message with the world.

"The gift of God is eternal life, spiritual life, abundant life through faith in Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God. -- Anne Graham Lotz

Making Better Decisions

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Provers 4: 5 & 6

Decisions -- you've already made millions of them, and you've still got millions more to make. Most of these choices are of the smaller variety -- like what to do at a given moment, or what to say, or what to wear, or how to direct your thoughts. But a few of our decisions will be BIG, like choosing to be a Christian, or deciding whether or not to stay in school, or choosing a profession.
Whatever choices you face -- whether they're big, little, or somewhere in between -- you can be sure that the quality of those choices will make a huge difference in your life.
How can you make better decisions? A great place to start is by talking things over with God before you spring into action, not after. While you're at it, you can check things out with your parents -- or with other concerned adults, like grandparents or teachers. And, you can learn to listen carefully to your conscience.
During the the next year, as you think about the lessons we'll be putting up, please take these idea seriously. When you do, you'll make decisions that will please God and improve your life.

Spending Time With God

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Palms 46:10

Where does God fit into your day? Do you "squeeze" Him in on Sundays and at mealtimes? Or do you talk to Him more often than that?
These short devotionals that we'll be putting up here ever day are ones that you can read in just a few minutes. So, if you read one every day, for an entire year, you will have given God your undivided attention for at least a couple of minutes each day. And make no mistake about it: the emphasis in the previous sentence should be placed on the words "at least". In truth, you should give God lots more time than a few minutes a day, but hey, it's a start.
Even if you're the busiest person on the planet, you can still carve out a little time for God. And when you think about it, isn't that the very least you should do?

"I suggest you discipline yourself to spend time daily in a systematic reading of God's Word. Make this "quiet time" a priority that nobody can change. -- Warren Wiersbe

Last Night's WNL Service was...

A success! I don't know the exact number of teens that attended, but I'm willing to bet that we had....oh, say maybe close to 50? It was a good crowd.

We had the privilege to hear a few special songs sung by members of the youth department. Robert & Taylor, accompanied by Bro Jody sung "Little Is Much", the Praise Team did a nice job on "I Can Only Imagine", (with help from the audience) and Bro Chris sang "Cry Out To Jesus". Great job everyone!

Devotionals are now up and running, it's up a little late today, but the plan is to have them up by 8 AM each day.

I guess just about everyone is either out of school or getting out in a few days. Bet y'all are really looking forward to Summer, eh?

Still in progress

I apologize for how long it's taking to get the blog up and running. It's taking me longer than I thought to get everything gathered and organized. And we are still in the progress of finding a good devotional book that we can use.

To the people that are going to Camp, are you ready? I believe we are having one more fund raiser, a bake sale. I can't remember the date, but when I find out I will put the information up.

We are getting a new Air Conditioning Unit installed in the L1FE room. I know that we will all appreciate that!

Be sure to take a moment this Memorial Day and remember our fallen Heroes. They have given their all so we can have our freedom. But remember, there is more than one kind of Freedom. The one, true Freedom you can only obtain through the blood of Christ. If you are free in Christ, then you are set for life.

In a few more days we are going to start a Bible Trivia challenge. Each Monday, some Bible Trivia questions will be put up on the blog. Email me your answers, and everyone that answered the questions correctly will be given a ticket the next Sunday, and there will be a drawing for something off of the wall. That will start a week from today.

We also had a member of the youth group saved yesterday. Congratulations!

I hope that everyone has a great Memorial Day.

Great Night

We had a great WNL Service last night!

Our attendance was 50! I believe that is our largest group yet. Keep it up and we will be soon be able to expand our room.

Last night was the last night of "Welcome to the Planet". Bro Chris talked about our Mission here on Earth. Once you are a Christian, our mission is to witness to other people.

We also had TWO saved last night! Welcome to the Family of God!

Over the next week or so, I plan to have the blog finished up. Keep checking back for more details!

Later,
Bethany

Welcome to L1FE Youth Ministries!

Welcome to the L1FE blog!

A big thank you to Brother Chris for allowing to set this up! I really enjoy working on it.

I plan to have the daily devotional back up soon.

We'll also keep it updated with news from L1FE as well as pictures, upcoming events, etc.