Value

Titus 3:5
    "He saved us, not because of the righteous thins we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit."


Boring background info:
    -The term "value" originally comes from the Latin term "valere," which means "to be strong, be worth."
    -The dictionary definition of the noun "value" is the quality (either positive or negative) that renders
something desirable or valuable.
    -The dictionary definition of the adjective "valuable" is having worth or merit or value.

The first thing that I like about the passage from Titus is that I feel a little sarcasm coming from this feller :)

"...not because of all the righteous things we had done..."

This guy has a sarcastic sense of humor, in my opinion. Titus and I would have been great friends!

The second things I absolutely LOVE about this passage is that it talks about God saving us :) I mean, we've heard people talk about our Savior a billion and four times from a thousand other places in the Bible, but each time I read about how He saved us and how He loves us, I just get overjoyed! :)

Even though, Titus was maybe being a bit sarcastic about how righteous we are, he was absolutely correct in what he said, God did not save us because of anything good we've done. I mean come on...let's face it. We're not exactly the nicest people ever. BUT God saved us because of his mercy. His grace. 

He values us.

He WANTS us. 

"He washed away our sins..."

God DESIRES a personal RELATIONSHIP with each and every one of us.

Do you value yourself like God values you?

Sacrifice and Serve

From the passage of Luke 23:

"Two others, both criminals, were lead to be executed with [Jesus]. When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross...

Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.'

The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. 'He saved others,' they said, 'let him save himself if he is really God's Messiah, the Chosen One.' The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. They called out to him, 'If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!' And a sign was fastened to the cross above him with these words: This is the Kind of the Jews! ...

Jesus [said to the criminal], 'I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.'"

So, this week I have just come home from spending three fantastic days with a bunch of 5th and 6th graders at preteen camp. Even though there were a few moments every now and then where I just wanted hide and get away by myself, I absolutely loved every minute of it! And I learned something that put everything into perspective. I learned the true definition of sacrifice.

I am not my own.

Think about that for a second....

I think we understand that the things of this world do not belong to us because God is the creator of the world and everything in it. Well then, doesn't that mean that God created us? Therefore we are not our own. We are God's. 

We are not owed  anything!

I feel as though we as humans get into this mindset that because we have worked so hard at this, or been at this company for so long, etc. etc., that we feel like we are owed  the best that people have to offer. The best cars, the best houses, all the time in the world, and all the people we need and want to do our bidding. 

Guys, this is NOT what God wants from us as Christians! 

God has called us to serve. 

Did ya catch that??

We must sacrifice our time and wants, and serve. 

Matthew 20:25-26

    "You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them. But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you mush be your servant..."

Matthew 20:28

    "For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."

Even while Jesus was nailed to the cross and dying, he was serving others by forgiving them and accepting their love.

Jesus knew his life was not his own. He sacrificed his reputation as Savior and Healer; he sacrificed his life so that we may be with him for all eternity. 

We must recognize that things of this world are not our own. We are not our own. 

When we live selfLESSly, then we will become like Christ.

When we live to serve others, the we will become like Christ. 

That should be our goal.

JOY

Isaiah 60:4-5
    "Look and see, for everyone is coming home! Your sons are coming from distant lands; your little daughters will be carried home.
     Your eyes will shine and you heart will thrill with joy..."


-- JOY --
It's not about happiness.

What?? So, if I'm happy, then I'm not joyful? Or if I'm joyful, then I'm not happy? 
...Let's keep reading.

The word "joy" does not necessarily equal the word "happy".
Joy is about what is fulfilling.

Hmm....okay. Keep it coming.


We, as the beautiful human beings that we are, feel empty. And we try to fill our lives with friends, family, music, computers, phones....the list is endless!
But in the end we still walk away with the same feelings. We walk away with that void, that space, that gaping hole.
It's still there.
And we've created this cycle of moving from one thing to the next, trying to fill that gaping hole.
Eventually, the things we try to fill our lives with may turn into addictions.
And this is where people REALLY get into trouble. They have only made the hole they are trying to fill deeper.
They've become trapped.

So, we come to the question, "How do I get out of this? Is there an escape??"

"A foolish man falls into a hole once, but a wise man falls into the hole twenty times."


Uhh...I don't understand. What does that mean?


The foolish man only falls into the hole once because he doesn't have the will or want to get out. He just sits there, and lets himself remain trapped.

The wise man continuously falls into the hole because he doesn't want to remain trapped. He will push and persevere and try with all his might to get out.
And with God's help, he can do that.

If we run with God, He will guide us along the correct path that avoids the holes we fall in.

Everyone makes mistakes. That's just a part of being human.
But it's what you do once you've fallen that defines who you are.

Are you going to stay trapped in your own sin?
or
Are you going to reach for the hand of God to help pull you back up?
Will you let God be your JOY and fill that gaping hole?

1st Samuel

So, here is a little bit of something from my devotions this morning...


1 Samuel 3:4-10 
       Then the LORD called Samuel.

       Samuel answered, “Here I am.”  And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

       But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

      Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”           

      “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

       Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

       A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

        Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down,  and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

      The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

      Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

My Thoughts: 

  1. The Lord calls Samuel but Samuel does not know God's voice.

        --From my experience, people will say they so badly want to hear God's voice, but for some reason God is not talking to them....Wake up and smell the coffee! (And I'm preaching to myself here, too.) God speaks all the time. We just don't spend enough time with Him to know His voice. God speaks in a still, small whisper. (1 Kings 19: 11-13) So, therefore WE must be still and quiet and intentionally listen for God's voice.

  2. Samuel was only a boy, so why did God call him??

       --As "young people" we must not underestimate ourselves and the great plans God has for each and everyone of us! 

      1 Timothy 4:12

          Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

        I know we've heard it time and time again (or at least I have) but for me, this is something difficult to always remember. God has big things planned for all of us. And if we accept him, everyone's path will end the same way...in eternal life in Heaven with our Father. 

To Take With You:

  Spend so much time with God that it is impossible NOT to hear his voice! :)

New to blogging

So, my name is Lauren. This is my first blog and I just wanted to see how this works and if it will even get any followers. haha.

A little bit about this blog :: My idea for this was just kind of to share my thoughts and ideas about what it means to be a Christ follower. My faith is very important to me. I am in love with Jesus Christ, the Creator and Savior of this world, and I feel, as a Christ follower, that it is my duty to share with others the love that God has for us and do my very best to expand His Kingdom.

Well there ya go! There's a little bit about me and my ideas/thoughts haha! Feel free to leave comments and whatnot. I'll add more, I promise!