Friday, September 30, 2011

Rubble or Eternity...It's a Choice

Solomon's Palace - during Solomon's Life
Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases...







Solomon's Palace today...

 for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them. (Psalm 49:16-17)




Wealth is something admired and often adored in our society. The more you have the more you are seen as "being someone". We have given a 'rank' to wealth, that somehow if you have enough dollars and gold in a bank account you are higher on the totem pole than everyone else.


But wealth is finite; it has limitations to what it can do. Yes, wealth can buy great houses and wealth can build new buildings; Wealth can fund new programs and wealth can support a certain lifestyle.

Wealth cannot: laugh, love, cheer, cry, win, lose, hope, dream, pray...wealth cannot live and wealth cannot go with you when you move from this life to the next.

Wealth can purchase a great deal...but life is not about the purchases; life is about the experiences.

King Solomon was perhaps one of the wealthiest kings in history. He had tremendous palace and built the temple for the Lord and had 800 wives. But at the end of his days he wrote, "Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless." (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

God has given you one life to live on this earth. You have the choice how to live it. You can live chasing after more wealth, more things, more home and more prestige, knowing that at the end of your life the "stuff"will be nothing more than rubble; or you can live life knowing that there is eternal life - and the "stuff" worth chasing after are the things that matter in eternity - love, hope, kindness, faithfulness, self-control, peace, patience, gentleness and joy.

As you live each day, ask yourself if what you are striving toward is rubble or eternity? Your answer will tell you if you are living your life for God or for yourself.

Scripture

Fun Fact
Cattle are probably the oldest of all forms of money. Cattle as money dates back to 9000 B.C. Some cattle were still used as money in parts of Africa in the middle of the 20th century.

They would be seriously heavy in your wallet or your handbag!

Question of the Day

What is your greatest memory - which does not include one dollar being spent?

Just a reminder - GUMY is this Sunday at 5:00 for prep, 5:45 for dinner, and 6:15 for JR/SR.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Have No Fear...Jesus is Near



 “I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, ...that you forget the LORD your Maker, ...For I am the LORD your God, ...'You are my people.’”


"Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself"
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Fears. We all have them and in the modern world of psychology every fear has a known name. Have a fear of spiders? You are arachniphobic. Have a fear of heights? You are acrophobic. Have a fear of tests? You are testophobic (really). We have named, claimed and accepted our fears, almost to the point of pride, but why?

Why in a time and place when there are endless opportunities to try new things, discover new concepts, live each moment to the fullest do we want to stay bound by our fears?

Fears limit our life. If you allow a fear of heights to determine your future you will never climb a mountain, ride a roller coaster, stand at the top of the Grand Canyon, or enjoy the beauty of Tuscany from the top of the Duo mo Cathedral. If you allow your fear of spiders to control you, then you will not go hiking, enjoy nature or go into a basement. And how about that fear of tests? If you are too afraid to take tests you won't graduate high school, go on to college, become a doctor, a lawyer, a firefighter, a police officer, a teacher or apply for countless other jobs.

By giving into fears, we tell God that there is something, we believe in our hearts, that is bigger than He is. Our fears override God's sovereignty in our lives and we forget He has overcome the world for us...could He not handle a spider? or a test? or a little mountain?

What are you afraid of?

Whatever it is - take it to Jesus. Give your fears over to Him and allow Him to heal that part of you that is afraid.

This isn't easy. We are human and we have faults, failings and doubts, but we are also a people of faith. Faith means trusting in what we cannot see. By going to Jesus with our fears, we trust that through His power, not ours, He can transform our hearts, minds and souls; making us courageous.

We cannot overcome our fears....but Jesus can.

Jesus is near and He wants you, and I, to let go of the fears which paralyze us and keep us from obedience to Him. Allow Jesus to give you the gift of peace and freedom from the fears which bind you and keep you from living life to the fullest.

Have no fear...Jesus is near!

Interesting Fact

The term phobia, from the Greek φόβος meaning "fear," is a strong, persistent, and irrational fear or anxiety of certain situations, objects, activities, or persons....There exist more than 600 recognized phobias, many without treatment.

And all they need is Jesus...He's the best treatment around.

Question of the Day

Okay...so we already had this question...but I thought I would try again....

Who is your favorite Superhero? And Why?

Don't forget...if you would like to comment and you don't have a log in...simply click on the "envelope" by the comment section and when the box appears you can use the drop down box and sign in under Anonymous or Name/URL (you only need to fill out the name not the URL). And then write your comment in the comment box and submit. I would love to hear from you!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

To Dream a Dream




I have a dream.

My dream is filled with beauty, peace and unconditional love. My dream can be summed up in one word: Heaven.

The cool thing about Heaven is that it is more than a dream. Heaven is more than a carrot on a stick being dangled in front of us. Heaven is real and heaven is a promised reality from God.

 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”... And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:1-5)

God will make His home amongst. We will be with God always.

There will be no more tears, death, pain or sorry.

God will make all things new.

How amazing does this Heaven sound? No more pain - no more sorrow - no more death.

Just love...

What a wonderful dream...What a wonderful reality.

We have a true hope in the future God has promised us.

Each day we gain glimpses through the doorway into heaven. When someone is kind or generous without a motive, we experience God's love in action. When a child is born or when a song is so beautiful it brings a tear to your eye, we experience the delight of God. When God allows us the privilege of sharing His hope with another, we get a chance to glimpse living in Heaven - side by side with our fellow believers.

Heaven is real...and Heaven is a dream.

Only God could be both.

Scripture

Quote of the Day:
We all long for heaven where God is, but we have it in our power to be in heaven with him right now--to be happy with him at this very moment. But being happy with him now means: loving as he loves, helping as he helps, giving as he gives, serving as he serves, rescuing as he rescues, being with him for all the twenty-four hours, touching him in his distressing disguise.
MOTHER TERESA, A Gift for God

Question of the Day:

What does Heaven look like to you?

If you would like to comment or share a thought, click on the comment box below - or you can vote on the devotion too....just scroll down...

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

To Whom Much is Given...


Some days it seems we live in a world of hopelessness. We, as a country, are in the middle of two full blown wars, we are on the brink of economic disaster, we do no have leadership to claim ownership over the disarray, and we are all like spoiled children bickering amongst ourselves because we didn't get the best toy.


We live in a nation which has been one of the most blessed in all of history. We have won nearly every war we have ever entered. We have prospered each generation better than the one before it. We have made developed some of the greatest inventions known in modern history. We have set the standard for freedom around the world. And yet, we are allowing this prosperity -  these blessings from God - to wither in the face of apathy and entitlement.

God has richly blessed us and because of the blessings and as such we are required to give back.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.  (Luke 12:48b)

We have been blessed with so much as Americans. In many ways we are like the ancient Israelites who turned from God when times were good. We have become apathetic in our faith - choosing our religion from a smorgasbord rather than through a heart felt devotion. We have decided to put things and our own selves in front of God, in the name of religious freedom. The Israelites of Judah did this too, and God took His favor off of them and allowed their exile for years in Babylon.  He was disciplining a fallen people - a people who cared more about themselves and their idols than about the God Who had saved them.

But He still loved them - and He gave them hope...

God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will.
Expect love, love, and more love!
(Jeremiah 31:4 - MSG)

And God feels the same way about us. He will never quit loving us - even though we will need discipline - He will never quit loving us. Love is what God wants to shower on us - but our culture turns its collective nose up at God's love.

Our duty as Christians, as ones to whom much has been given, is to go into our communities and share the love that God has given us. A transformation can take place. It isn't too late for our country - if we focus on the love, on our love for others, rather than our love for self - God will move in mighty ways in this place.

The world doesn't change over night; The world changes when one small whisper is joined by another small whisper and another until each one builds on the other and raises from a whisper to a shout to a scream. All it takes is one small voice to start.

Will you be the voice?

Scripture:



Quote of the Day

And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country . My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
John F. Kennedy

...What can you do for God today to make this country, this state, this town, more Christ centered?


Don't forget to comment below if you have a thought to share or insight...Also - be sure to check out the Digging Deeper and GUMY Photo Album pages

Monday, September 26, 2011

Where are you living?


Life is a journey.


Sounds like something you would find on a plaque in a dentists office or shared during a self-help group seminar. Although it may be cliche, it is true.

The journey will take you one of four places: the mountaintop, the valley, the road up the mountain or the road back down. You are somewhere on that path - and likely you have already been in all four spots more than once.

The mountain top... "Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell." (Psalm 43:2-4) Let me be in the place where you are...as people of faith our greatest desire is to reside with the Lord. When we are living on the mountaintop we experience the highest points of our faith experience - of our journey in life. Mountaintop living is not intended for an extended period of time, but rather to rejuvinate you and give you the motivation to go forward on your journey. Montaintop living is like a firework - it is beautiful, powerful, and bright but brief. You cannot stay on the mountain, because there is much work to be done. The mountaintop experiences in your life motivate you to head down the mountain to try and share your love of Jesus with others.

The road down the mountain... Over a third of your life will be spent coming down the mountain and it is on this journey down the path that you will encounter those for whom God intends you to be His hands and feet. On this path you will have the opportunity to share God's love and His peace. It would have been easy to stay on the mountain top - to rest in God's grace and His embrace - but then you wouldn't be able to live out God's call on your life "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). A big reason for coming down the mountain is to influence those around us on behalf of God.

The valley... The valleys we have to walk through are sometimes quite deep. In the valleys of life we face trials that range from failing a test to losing a loved one. The valleys of life have a way of making us long for peace; long to be released from the pain which we are suffering, but the valleys are a way to draw us nearer to the heart of God. (Hebrews 10:22) When we face trials, when we walk through the valleys, we must rely on God to pull us through. We can't "skip" over the valleys - the experiences we have there shape us as fundamentally as those we have on the mountain top. In the valleys we press on, holding tightly to Jesus as He carries us through.

The road up the mountain... Just as coming down the mountain will be where a large portion of your life will be spent, so going up the mountain will also be a significant part of your life. On this journey out of your valleys, you will have the great opportunity to allow others to minister to you - those coming down the mountain and even those on their way up. Your heart will be tender after living in the valley and thus more open to what God has to say to you and likely through you to others on the journey.

Life is about the journey. Understanding where you are on that journey is important so that you understand what God's purpose is for you in your life.

Don't fear the journey or where you are - embrace each step and know that you are exactly where God intends you to be.

Scripture
There are a couple today...
Psalm 23; Psalm 43: 2-4; Luke 9: 28-36 (The Transfiguration...we might see this again soon...)

Quote of the Day
(just to change it up)
There never was a great soul that did not have some divine inspiration
Marcus Tulluis Cicero

Here's hoping that you are divinely inspired today!

Question of the Day

What was your greatest montaintop experience?

Sunday, September 25, 2011

The Key to Success...Wisdom



I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try and please everybody.
Bill Cosby



You are going to try many different things in your life. At some things you will be a master and at some you will be less than average. Trying new things helps you to figure out who you are and what calling God has on your lives.

In the midst of the "trying" you must always take care to see what God is truly calling you to do.

A variety of people will want you to do a variety of different things - of course they will you are amazing! But it is up to you to decipher what is good and right with God and what is not. Mr. Cosby had it right - "the key to failure is to try and please everybody."

Part of growing up, of becoming an adult, is to chose wisely the activities and the people with whom you associate. Sometimes it will seem that you do not have a choice but to follow along with a group - to do something you know is wrong - but you always have a choice. Making the right choice may not make you popular, but it will lead to wisdom.

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.
(Proverbs 19:20)

Gaining wisdom is often the road less traveled. Being wise isn't touted amongst teenagers as the coolest thing to be - but you are only a teenager for seven years. You are an adult for decades. Wisdom is a skill that comes through being mature enough to accept advice from wise counselors and friends. Wisdom is knowing Whose you are. You are God's child; His chosen child. With each decision you make your place in His family should be foremost in your mind.


Life isn't always easy, but choices can be, if you seek out God's will in the action. God has given you an internal gauge to know when something is right or wrong - - you know if what you are doing is God's will or not.
 Maybe you are saying that your gauge seems to be malfunctioning because you always seem to make the wrong choices - - the best way to recalibrate your gauge is to seek out the Word of God; to study His words through the Bible, to attend worship regularly, to surround yourself with other Christians who will hold you accountable.
Wisdom in life isn't an easily acquired skill, but it is a skill which will serve you well all the days of your life.
Scripture:
Fun Fact:
This is more of a random fact: no piece of 8 1/2 by 11 paper can be folded in half more than seven times....go ahead I know you are going to try...I'll wait....
Question of the Day:
What is the best thing you learned last week?

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Crossing the Gorge

We all go through pain. We make mistakes - some big and some small - and through those mistakes we face heartache over our poor decisions. We want to go back - to start over - to begin again and wipe out the mistake - like it never happened.

Mistakes come in all shapes and sizes - lying, cheating, coveting, stealing, and so on and so on...

Some of those mistakes come at a price we feel is too high to pay.  But there are consequences for each of our actions - - some are good and some are painful - - but consequences always come with the decisions we make.. Ultimately, the mistakes which result from our choices are the sins in our lives - - but Jesus can build a bridge from our mistake to our salvation.

In Psalm 51, David - who was called 'one after God's own heart' - was suffering through the consequences of choices he made. Because of his desire for another woman, he caused the death of her husband and set his palace into turmoil. As he struggled with the mistakes of his choices and the consequences he suffered, he turned to God for comfort and healing, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10)

David knew he made awful mistakes, that he sinned against God, "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight" (Psalm 51:4). He recognized the sin and went to God seeking redemption and forgiveness. He claimed his choices and asked God to release the burden from him.

And God did. Although David's life wasn't perfect, and he faced many trials and suffered the consequences for his actions, he found peace with God. God released him from the sin he had committed. He cleansed him.
 
Jesus can do the same thing for you and me. We all make mistakes - we all sin against God with our choices, our actions and our thoughts - but Jesus can release you from the burden of guilt which comes with those choices.

We stand on one side of the gorge and God and His peace are on the other. Sin - our choices which lead to mistakes - separate us from God, but Jesus, through his sacrifice, is the bridge for us to be reconciled with God. Jesus is the "hyssop" which cleans us. Jesus grants each of us the joy of salvation.

Many of us carry the heavy burden of guilt from our poor choices. Often the guilt is worse than the consequence we had to endure and the guilt perpetuates the pain of the sin. But Jesus can release you from that burden - - all you have to do is ask. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

The choice is always yours. You can choose to carry the burden of guilt from your past mistakes or you can choose to turn toward Jesus and allow him to, "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7). And you will be forgiven.


Scripture:

Fun Fact:

At more than 18,000 feet deep and 150 miles long, the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon in Tibet, China is regarded by some as the deepest canyon/gorge in the world, and is slightly longer than the Grand Canyon, making it one of the world's largest.

Question for the Day:

What is the coolest natural formation or preserve you have ever seen in person?



Friday, September 23, 2011

Service vs. Duty




Everyday someone is serving you. Your parents wake you up for school or make you breakfast. The bus driver drives you; your teacher educates you; your classmates help you learn a new lesson; the janitor cleans your classroom and your bathrooms at school; firefighters are watching out for you; police officers are keeping your street safe; and soldiers are fighting for your freedom. You have more servants serving you than you could possibly count in one day.

Who are you serving?


How do you act as a servant to your parents, your siblings, your friends, your teachers, or your community?

"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people" (Ephesians 6:7)

Each time you perform an act of service you are serving the Lord as much as you are serving another person. How differently would you feel about helping someone in your family do the dishes or clean the house if you thought about helping as serving Jesus? Whenever we make a decision to help - to serve others - we make a decision to serve the Lord.

However, service is not duty. Rather, service is a reflection of the love we have been given by Christ and our desire to share that love. If you perform your "service" merely as something to check of a list or because you are required, you are acting out of duty. Truly serving - serving wholeheartedly - means serving another out of the loving service Christ has shown to you.

We have a lot of duties in life: homework, work - work, cleaning, etc. How could those duties be transformed if we chose to fulfill those duties as acts of service?

Today is a new day - - filled with awesome opportunity...

How will you serve Jesus, by serving another?

Scripture:

Fun Fact:

Today, there are approximately 155,000 active career fireman and 920,000 volunteer fireman nationwide serving you.


Question of the Day:

What is your favorite family activity and why?

Thursday, September 22, 2011

You Complete Me....



You have searched me, LORD,
and you know me.
(Psalm 139:1)

In 1996, the movie Jerry Maguire hit the theaters and was an instant romantic classic. The story had everything...a main character with enormous flaws, a sidekick with perfect comedic timing, a beautiful ingenue with a heart of gold and a cute kid - age 5. This movie left our country with a classic movie line which has been quoted innumerable times, "You complete me..."

You complete me. What a beautiful romantic thought? One person's love filling up another person making each complete beings. A perfect ending to a perfect romantic movie - and Hollywood had it partially right...we are incomplete beings looking for a wholeness in life. But, where Hollywood missed the mark is implying the completeness we seek can be found in another person. Completeness can only be found in Christ.

Too often in our culture people seek out all sorts of things to try and fill up the hole they have in their heart. People try and fill the holes with shopping and food; alcohol and drugs; books and magazines; and yes, other people. But no amount of filling one's self up with outside things, people or places will be able to fill the hole that is in the heart. Only Jesus can fill that space, because it was a spot designed for Him right from the beginning of your life. 

Jesus takes His rightful place in our hearts the moment we turn to Him and seek Him as our Savior. Through that acceptance, the broken, holey places in our hearts are healed and filled with His love.

There is a God shaped hole in every heart - - and only He can make you whole.

Turn to the Lord and seek Him to complete you....And He will open His arms to you and say:
"You had Me at hello..."

Scripture (click on the link below):

Fun Fact:
No fun fact today...just two YouTube clips....enjoy

Question of the Day:

What is your favorite kind of doughnut? (get it - doughnut "hole" ;) )






Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Thing Worship


Thing One and Thing Two cause a great deal of trouble for Sally and Dick - but it was all started by the Cat in the Hat and all of his tricks....

Scripture Link: Isaiah 44:9-22

Things. We all have them. We all want more of them.

We want a bigger TV or the latest version of Wii. We want a new iTouch or iPhone. We want more money or a bigger house. We want new Nikes or new JBrand jeans. We want different food or different pop. We want the latest thing that our friend has...because our new thing is now old. We want...

We want and we want and we want...

But what do we need?

Wanting isn't bad. It is part of human nature to want something better than we have today; to strive for improvement in our own person; to better our own situation. This inner desire helps to move society along to advancements in medicine, charity, literature, music, education, etc. But when wanting turns to coveting (which is a fancy old-fashioned word for desiring), then we make the thing we want more important than everything else. Including our families, our friends, our churches, and most importantly: God.

Maybe your "thing" money - are you constantly worried about money or focusing on getting more money?  Maybe your "thing" is TV - are you consumed with thoughts about the latest TV show or what sports event you might be missing tonight? Maybe your "thing" is clothes - are you searching the internet or fashion magazines for the latest trends wondering how you will get your parents to buy you $295 boots or jeans?

In our scripture lesson this week God tells us that, “All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless.” (v. 9) When we have a “thing” first in our thoughts, first in our wants– it is an idol and it makes God anything but first in our lives.  God tells that the “things” we treasure above Him are worthless. Things – One or Two – are just tricks of this world. Things have no real value…they are worthless treasures. But God promises, “I will not forget you…Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” (v 21-22) What is your Thing One or a Thing Two? God can help you “smash” your things – so that He can take the #1 spot on your want list…because He is already the #1 on your need list.


Fun Fact:

Dr. Seuss wasn't really a doctor and his name wasn't Seuss...Dr. Seuss's "real" name was: Teodor Giesel....And he went by Dr. Seuss because his father always wanted him to be a doctor...and his middle name was Seuss.

Question of the Day:

If you could change your name...what would you like to be called?




Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Being Bold Enough to Ask....


Have you ever made a request - asked for something - that changed the course of your whole life?

When I was a sophomore in college, I asked to live in Washington, DC for a semester.I was a little afraid to ask my parents and my school to let me go, but I knew that the semester was an opportunity I had to try. In five months my whole view of the world and myself changed. The journey to DC led me to Oxford and to my summer internship with a fashion retailer which led to my first job out of college and to the job I am in today....and that job led me to stay in Columbus, which led me to my calling to be a youth leader. All because I asked with a motivation to experience something new - my entire world was transformed.

One request, one decision can change your whole life....sometimes you must be bold enough to ask.

Imagine you are Moses...God has spoken to you through a burning bush; He has called you to lead His people out of slavery; You have witnessed His miracles through the plagues and the parting of the Red Sea. Pretty much, God has been moving in and through your life in mighty powerful ways. And now you are in the wilderness...God has taken care of His people...and you are on your way to the Promised Land (maybe by way of 40 years wandering in the desert...but it's there).

So now what do you do?

Do you kick back and think, "Job well done, Moses...Got those kids out of Egypt...I'm good to go...." and wipe your hands of your calling?

Probably not....

You are Moses...you know the power of seeking out God in all things. You know the power of asking God to be present. You have heard God's message in an audible voice and have witnessed His miracles first hand.

And you want more...because from the first day when God spoke to you from a burning bush you were on fire with a desire to know God more...to experience more of God...

And so when God tells you He is pleased with you, and that He will do whatever you ask of Him, you make the ultimate request...

“Now show me your glory.”  (Exodus 33:18)

Moses made a BIG request...no one could see the face of God and live. But Moses chose to be bold and ask God for the unthinkable out of a pure heart to know Him more.

God granted Moses request, because He recognized Moses' deep desire to be as close as He possibly could be to God. And Moses was never the same.

You don't have to be Moses to boldly seek God's calling in your life. God wants you to come before Him and seek His face...to seek His calling for your life.

Maybe He is calling you to be a friend to the kid sitting by himself at lunch or maybe God is calling you to play on a team that will lose every game, but He wants you to be the voice of optimism. Maybe God is calling you to mentor someone or to simply be the quiet example of respect in your classroom.

You won't know what God is asking of you until you boldly go to Him and ask.

Moses wouldn't have seen God's Glory if he didn't ask.

One request, asked with a pure heart can change your life - you just have to be bold enough to ask.

And once you ask...be bold enough to change your life forever.




(Cool Video - Show Me Your Glory - by Third Day)


Scripture: (click on the link below)


Fun Fact:

 Children laugh about 400 times a day, while adults laugh on average only 15 times a day.

I think we should take Jesus' advice, and be like the little children!

Question of the Day:

What is the best (or worst) knock-knock joke you know?


(Want to Dig Deeper into the lesson from Sunday Night....Check out the "Digging Deeper" page for more insight...

Sunday, September 18, 2011

D-Day...Beginnings

D-Day was the day. It was the beginning of the end of WWII. It was the day that the Allies stormed the beaches and said to the world, "Freedom is important." Under the leadership of their commanders,the soldiers pressed on through adversity towards a goal of freeing the oppressed - giving hope to those who had been living in darkness for nearly a decade.

D-Day is a symbol for new beginnings. D-Day's occur at the first day of school, the opening day for baseball, High School or College graduation, the first game in football, opening night for a new play, and even the day you were born.

D-Day is all about hope in what will come - in the anticipation of the future joys which are awaiting us.

Today is a D-Day of sorts...it is the first day of the first session of GUMY for 2011. We have the opportunity to make this a day of hope - - to make today our D-Day.  GUMY this year can be about hope - -about new beginnings and a faith that grows and compounds each day.

If we declare this day as D-Day, we also declare that God will be at the center of all that we do in the coming months. He will be the driving force in all of our sessions, activities, and attitudes. By claiming today as our D-Day, we claim Jesus as our leader and the freedom and hope which is a part of being one of His followers.

Today is D-Day - - from this moment forward we take each step towards hope...each step towards the love that is our faith in Jesus Christ.

We can do it, because we have the greatest Commander of all!

Scripture


Fun Fact,,,Quotable Quote
"The steady discipline of intimate friendship with Jesus results in men becoming like Him."
Henry Emerson Fosdick - Theologian


Question of the Day
What is you best memory of a special "first day" ?

Saturday, September 17, 2011

1 Day...Everything Changes in One Day





One day...Twenty-four hours....

We don't think much about what happens in a day. The average person lives more than 28,000 days in life, so what is so special about - one day?


On this day, September 17th, in history the following things occurred:
  • Poland was overtaken by the Soviet Union during WWII and would remain an occupied territory throughout WWII and an oppressed nation of Eastern Europe until the late 1980's nearly fifty years later.
  • On this day in 2001, the Stock Market reopened after the tragedy of 9/11.
  • In 1978, the Camp David Accords were signed leading to a tentative peace in the Middle East
  • In 1873, 19 students attended the first class at The Ohio State University.
  • And, on this day in 1787 the US Congress adopted the US Constitution...changing the course of how our country would be governed for over 200 years.
Today is not just "one day", nor is tomorrow.

Something happens every day and everything can happen in just one day.

Maybe you will meet someone today who will be the best friend of your life, or maybe someone you know will have a baby and a new life will begin. Maybe a tragedy will occur or maybe a celebration.

One day can change the course of your life. In fact, one day will change the course of your life; and more than likely several one days will transform your life. What you do with your one days is what matters.

You have the chance to spend this one day creating something great - living out loud for Christ and His purpose. You have the chance to positively react to something which is negatively impacting you.

And one day, Jesus will come. He will catch up His believers and carry us to Heaven to be with Him. We do not know when that one day will be, but it is our opportunity and our challenge to make each one day between now and then count; to live with the fire of Christ burning in us.

On this one day you can change a life... will it be yours?

Scripture (click the link below)

If you could do ANYTHING today...what would it be...and why?

Fun Fact...GUMY Top Ten Memories...

#1....The people....

My number one memory from GUMY is a blend...it is of all of the leaders and students who have been woven through the ministry over the last twenty plus years - since I was in middle school.

I think about Kevin Teeters and him driving three eighth grade girls four hours to Kentucky...or about Joyce Galbraith and her willingness to teach a middle school Sunday School Class. I remember Danny Howser being a willing servant and the countless adults who made youth important when I was young.

I think about Kathryn and Jack whose ministry changed my life. I think about Jeff and our friendship and how we accepted Christ at the same time. I remember Mandy and how friends who met at four years old have a bond thirty years strong.

I remember the first youth meeting I attended as a leader with Amy & Jeff & Libby and we had Erik, Jessica & Jenny as our GUMY's and how they were the foundation from which great things blossomed. I think about my parents, Larry & Jean Ann and their willingness to step up and teach a group of high school kids on Sunday mornings. And I think about Keith and Vicki and that you can never go on a camping trip without either of them (Keith can make anything with a pocket knife and some duct tape...). I think about Libby and the years it was just the two of us. And I remember Hannah and Haley coming to the parking lot to look for my car to come to youth group. I remember Michelle, Tiffany, Danielle, April, Jeremy, Ben, Becka, Whitney, Nicki and  Crissy, and their desire to learn and their decisions to follow Jesus. I remember Sarah's willingness to get up and dance and show her love for Jesus in the midst of the Columbine tragedy.

I think about the revival God is creating now in our church. I think about Zoe and Kendra and the beautiful friendship God has blessed there. And I think about Luke and his desire to share his church and his faith with his friends.I think about Logan and his great desire to do the right thing. I think about Gavin and his insight; Katie and her joy and her contagious enthusiasm; Margaret and her smile and love for people; Jamie and her sweet presence; Kaleigh and her unfiltered love of life; Audrey and her commitment and willingness to try new things; I think about Chris and his desire to help and to create; I think about Harry and his pure vision of Jesus. And I think about Alex and how awesome it is to share this experience with my nephew and to watch him grow in his faith. I think about the number of youth who have come one or two times but have touched my heart in numerous ways.

I am so thankful for the adult leadership who have stepped up to serve: For my sister Jennifer who will do anything to get the word out about GUMY and help in any capacity to make sure it is a success; For Paige and her willingness to be a leader and her passion for making youth a priority in our church; for Kathi and her desire to make sure we have as many people involved as possible; for all of our listeners: Nora, Mike, Mark, Bob, Kelly, Jim, Jim & Rikki...and the dozen more who signed up this year. I am thankful for our meal preparers: Jen, Paige, Kathi, Margie, Larry & Patty...and the dozens who sign up for this year!

And I am thankful the parents, over the last decade plus, who have had the faith to trust us with their children for a few hours a week to share the Gospel. And I am particularly thankful for my parents who have given tireless hours of support to make this program a success.

But most important, I am thankful to God for how He knit this community of people together in a tapestry. I am amazed each day by how much love and support encompasses the youth program at GUMC. I am humbled to be a part of such an active ministry for Jesus and so very grateful for the opportunity to serve.

I can't wait for tomorrow!

Friday, September 16, 2011

2 Days....Shining a Light in the Darkness


"Words which do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness." Mother Teresa



Our words have power. They can build up or they can destroy.

Think about a time when someone gave you a compliment...Maybe that person told you that you were pretty or that you were smart or that you were strong or that you were brave.

How did those words make you feel?

Sometimes a compliment can embarrass, because we don't necessarily believe what the other person is saying, but in reality those words are intended to build you up; to show you the reflection of God that shines through you.

What about when someone has thrown words of hate at you? Maybe that person told you that you were stupid, or that you were fat, or that you were weak.

How did those words make you feel?

In one word: awful.

Words of hate tend to stick with us more than words of love. We remember when someone is nasty towards us - unable to let the pain of the moment go. The words pull at us like gravity - forcing our feet to the ground when all we want to do is run away.

But those kind words - words of love - can begin to heal the pain caused by the evil words; we just need to hear ten times more of the kind words than we hear the nasty words.

Those are the words you hear...but what about the words you say?

Your word bank should be filled with kind and generous words to give and to share with those around you. Think how different your world would be if you consciously chose to share words of kindness each day - each hour.

If you spoke every kind word which came to your mind and stifled every nasty thought, what impact could you make in the lives of those you see every day?

Darkness loves evil. It feeds on the pain that negative words and mean spirits put into the world; creating a place where it is difficult to see or to be. But love feeds on the words of light. Love grows when we share kindness.

In a dark room it only takes one small candle to light all of the corners and show the way. The same can be said for words of kindness - one kind word to someone in pain might be the ray of hope they need to step out of their darkness and into the light of Christ.

With your words you have a choice to share the love of Christ or to allow the darkness to overshadow your world.

You can be the light of Christ. The choice is yours.


Scripture (click below for the link)

Fun Fact...Top Ten GUMY Memories
#2....Session on Stewardship -2009

Last year we had stewardship campaign in the church which included lessons being taught in all of the Sunday School Classes, Worship Service and in GUMY. During our session on stewardship we talked about how we as a youth group and a church are supporting various ministries across the globe. After talking about the Compassion International Child we sponsor, we began to discuss the Liberian Children's Fund and the kids that we as a collective church body sponsor. When we walked down the hall we talked about how different it was for the kids in the pictures versus us and how important it is for us as a community to support those less fortunate than we are.
As we were making our way back to the fellowship hall, one student asked how many kids we were sponsoring in Liberia. I told him about 127. Then he asked, "How many people go to church here?" I told him about 150 give or take on a Sunday morning. Then he asked, "So why don't we sponsor 150 kids?"
Which is a pretty good question I didn't have an answer to....

Question of the Day

It is Friday...so what is your favorite thing about Fridays?

 

You can be Christ's light....one kind word at a time.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

3 Days...The Power of a Brushstroke



Acrylics are a marvelous medium to work with as an artist. It is a sturdy paint - unlike oil paints or water colors - it holds its place and dry quickly. Often an artist will have several dollops of color around a palette to quickly take small bits of different colors to blend the exact right color; moving in brisk brushstrokes in the center of the palatte or on a canvas to achieve the desired affect.

Acrylic paints can be touching - sitting side by side - and they will not "run" into the other; only an outside force - the painter and the brush - can force two colors to blend together to make a new one. 

A skilled artist can take two colors and blend them to make a more beautiful color, but if the proportions are wrong - the color is ruined. The artist cannot take the two colors and separate them again. One color will overtake the other.

Something similar happens to us when we allow the world to creep into our lives.

The divide between the spiritual and the worldly can at times become blurred. In our efforts to be tolerant and to love all of God's people "where they are at", we can allow ourselves to become influenced or swayed by the things of the world. A blending begins to occur.

By tolerating behaviors and choices that are sinful, we at times accept actions which are not acceptable to God. In an effort to love unconditionally, we have begun to accept all things unconditionally - blending the godly with the ungodly. The struggle between accepting a person and disapproving what the person does is not an easy battle to face; even as I write these words I am having an internal struggle with whether this message will be "politically correct" or whether I might hurt some one's feelings. We all want to be accepted, but it is more important to live our lives for God and His will.

Our goal should be to be like the paint dollops - sitting side by side with those who are struggling with sin. Supporting them and loving them - but not allowing their sinful behavior to be blended into our lives. And just as we need to support our brothers and sisters who are struggling with worldly things, we must also support our family in Christ and allow God to mix their colors with ours.

 Ultimately, God's brushstrokes, blending colors together, are the ones on which we need to be focused.  This world will try and blend it's colors into you in simple and in complex ways, but you must be aware - keeping your eye on the Master Artist and what color He desires for you to be.

Scripture...click on the link below:

Fun Fact...Top Ten GUMY Memory...
#3 Worshiping in 5 Senses...

The second session for GUMY prep was in the Fall of 2008 and we had a lesson focused on worshiping God with our 5 senses (if you are in GUMY prep now - - you just might see this in the future!). We discussed how we worship with our eyes by what we see and where we worship; with our ears by the music we hear; with our sense of smell by the aroma of candles; with our sense of taste through taking communion; but it was the sense of touch which revealed the presence of God to me in a powerful way. Pastor Jim Meredith came to give us communion as part of our devotional time, but when we came to the part of the lesson on worshiping through our sense of touch we talked about how we can lay hands on each other in prayer and ask for healing. And just like that a group of six fourth & fifth graders surrounded Pastor Jim and prayed for healing with his Parkinson's. These 4th & 5th graders prayed out loud and allowed the Holy Spirit to work through them in a way most adults wouldn't be open to. I was truly moved by the presence of the Holy Spirit and the faith of some quite remarkable pre-teens.

Question of the Day

Do you dream in color or black & white?

(I know it is random...but this was a heavy devotion - we need to lighten it up a bit!)


Please share your comments below ... if you are having trouble click on the "Name/URL" link in the drop down box and add your first name to the name....



Wednesday, September 14, 2011

4 Days...Have a Little Faith...

"When the road gets dark, and you can no longer see, let my love throw you a spark...have a little faith in me..."
 (Have A Little Faith in Me - John Hiatt)


When the road gets dark...sometimes life can seem too big. We wake up in the morning and all we can see are the problems lying in front of us - we struggle to see the good. We read the paper or turn on the news and we see wars, rumors of wars, sickness, bank failures, job loss and on and on the sorrows go.

And you can no longer see...we feel darkness surrounding us and we want to grasp at anything that may give us....something. The pain of the world, of our country, of our community, of our home, of our own lives seem all too much to bear.

Let my love throw you a spark... but we have something to give us hope. We have Jesus - who will be there to give us light in a world filled with darkness and pain.

Have a little faith in me...we just have to have faith in Jesus. Our faith in His power, justice, and love is what sets us a part. The quality of our faith can guide us down the road following His light or our lack of faith can lead us to despair.


There are multiple stories of healings throughout the Gospels but one of the consistent messages Jesus gives with each of His healings is the faith of the person helped the healing.

Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. (Matthew 9:20-22)

This woman believed so deeply in the power of Jesus that she knew if she could only get as close as the hem of His garment, He could heal her; that is faith. Jesus is the one with the power to heal, but we have to have the faith to seek out the healing.


God can and will do amazing things in your life - but you have to have the faith to ask Him.

Have a little faith...

Scripture (click on the link below)

Fun Fact...Top Ten GUMY Memories...

#4 ALIVE

ALIVE is a huge music festival in Northern Ohio. It is four days long  - - which means camping. I dislike camping (and yes that is an understatement), but the other youth leaders and parents were great sports and they drove up to Canal Fulton on a HOT Wednesday in June to set-up camp. I arrived on Friday and was greeted with overwhelming joy. We had several youth who had committed themselves to Christ the night before and they were on fire spiritually... And physically, everyone was on fire! It was extremely hot and humid, and there was no relief. So, the next morning I drove into town and bought every water gun & water balloon I could find and we proceeded to have a water fight with our camp and the neighboring camp. And then, Keith built us a GIANT slip and slide out of tarps down the hill. We were having so much fun that the ALIVE photographers caught us and we made the cover of the ALIVE brochure the next year - - complete with our GUMY t-shirts!!

Question of the Day...

When is it hardest to display faith for you?

Even if you do not comment on this question - I encourage you to pray about your answer and ask God to help strengthen your faith.

Bonus...click below for a link to the song "HAVE A LITTLE FAITH IN ME"




Tuesday, September 13, 2011

5 Days...Not easily broken




A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

You all know the girl code: Girls always go to the bathroom in pairs...or groups....

But it isn't just a girl code...most of us do not like to be alone. We don't want to go to a party by ourselves, or go out to dinner alone. Many people aren't comfortable living alone or going shopping by themselves. We like to be with other people. Most of the time we find joy spending time with those we love or those we are learning to love.

But being connected with others is more than simply going out to eat or going to the bathroom in pairs; Being connected is how God created us to be. Our lives are meant to be intertwined; knotted together to form a beautiful tapestry and woven inseparably to create a force of strength and support.

We need one another, not just for friendship or companionship, but we need each other for support - we need each other to experience the fullness of life.

When something really great happens to you - like winning a softball game or getting an A on a test or getting a part in the play - what is the first thing you do?

If it is me, I call my mom or my dad or my sister to tell them about the amazing thing that has just happened to be - because sharing my joy with them increases the joy.

How about the opposite? When something not so good happens - like getting cut from the basketball team or breaking your arm or getting picked on by a bully - what do you want to do first?

If it is me, I call my mom or my dad or my sister because I know that they will support me and love me regardless of what has happened - because sharing my pain with them decreases the hurt.

God created us with a place in our hearts that only He could fill - but He also created each of us with an innate need for each other - for human companionship. He formed you, you parents, your friends, even your classmates, to be woven cords to support each other.

But the cord is a three braided cord - one for you - one for another - and one for Jesus. True support - true joy - comes from having Christ intimately woven in each of your relationships - each of your connections with another person.

God gave each of us a rainbow of people in our lives. Ask Him to be the strand that weaves all of you together in love.


Scripture (It's a two-for day...)

Fun Fact...Top 10 GUMY Memories...
#5 Friendship Bracelets...

About two years ago, we used Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 for a youth lesson. Each of the GUMY's braided a friendship bracelet to give to a friend or a family member. They picked two of the three colors - with the third color representing God.

A few weeks later, a special young lady handed me an envelope and inside was a letter and my own friendship necklace. I still keep that necklace wrapped around my pocket Bible (I still have the letter too) as a reminder to keep God at the center of all of my relationships.

It's super cool when I am a student and am taught by one of the GUMY's using one of our lessons.


Question of the Day...

What was your high moment of the day? (or this week?)



Love to read your comments...if you would like to comment below...and aren't signed in...you can simply click on the "Name/URL" in the drop down box and then write in your name (leave the URL blank)