Ewell Youth Ministry

So I have recently completed my final year of collegiate level football, and what hobby have I picked up? You probably never would have thought of this…. READING!

Last week I picked up a copy of Max Lucado’s Facing Your Giants up off the bathroom floor of my dorm room and started reading. This book captivated my attention and hit so many points that I struggle grasping and realizing in my life. One key quote from this book has been etched in my mind over the past week. “FOCUS ON YOUR GIANTS AND STUMBLE, FOCUS ON GOD AND YOUR GIANTS TUMBLE!!” This quote is derived from the story of David in 1 Samuel 17. There are at least 5 times (verses: 26, 37, 45-47) before and during David’s encounter with Goliath where David mentions God’s deliverance. This is exactly what we should do as Christians when we are faced with giants in our life. These giants may not be actual giants but may very well be: divorce, lust, pride, apathy, etc. Regardless of the specific sin, we all have that one sin we can’t ever seem to gain victory over. However, the solution to victory is seen in this simple statement, “Focus on your giants and stumble, Focus on God and your giants tumble.” David lived this statement in 1 Samuel 17. He could see how big Goliath was, BUT he also knew God would deliver him. We must turn our attention to God’s wonderful GRACE, and away from our sin’s guilt.

My challenge this week is simple… turn you focus to God and away from your giants and watch your giants tumble under the mighty power of God’s grace, deliverance, and love.

JROB

The other day I was at work, bent over, and the cross necklace that I wear kept swinging out and blocking my vision.  After several attempts to finish my work, and a fight with frustration, I ended up having to tuck the cross inside my shirt to keep it out of the way.  Afterward, a thought came to me:  How often do we put Jesus away because He’s “getting in the way” of what we want to do?  We know that Jesus would be unhappy with what we are into, but instead of not doing it, we tuck Jesus away, then drag Him back out once we’ve had our fun in a sinful moment.  We must remind ourselves that Jesus goes everywhere we go and sees all that we do, whether good or bad.  We can’t just put Him away, He’s always there.  Take time today to pray to God and thank Him for always being there.

Hello to all! I was granted the privilege to post a little blog on the Youth Website. So, I’m taking advantage of it early! I will probably be hitting up a little blog every Tuesday so be on the lookout for it. I have a simple challenge for everyone today.

I was recently doing some personal devotion time, and I came across this verse that really hit home with me. It goes a little something like this “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2) This verse completely jumped off the page at me, and immediately kind of gave me a knuckle sandwich. I struggle with a thought presented to me by my roommate; “Do we truly know and understand Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made for US?”

In this one sentence from Paul in  1 Corinthians I was challenged. What does Paul mean by this? I started searching and this is what I came up with… Paul tells the people of Corinth all he wants to know is Jesus and understand the price he paid on the cross of Calvary. Jesus’ death on the cross screams one thing “LOVE”!!! Once we grasp the example of LOVE Christ displayed for us, this is when we truly appreciate it and will then begin to grow in our relationship with Christ. The LOVE Jesus showed us on the cross does a few things 1.) it gives us value, 2.) it gives us an example to live by.

When we exemplify this LOVE of Christ we dig into God’s word because we are so consumed with the LOVE of God that we can’t stand a day without his company. We pray because we can’t stand the thought of not speaking to Him. We serve Him because we understand the LOVE that was shown to us, so we use our gifts and talents to bring God glory. We serve others so we can display to them the same LOVE we understand.

LOVE is the key!! LOVE is what made, makes, and will make LIFE possible!! So “Do you know Jesus?? Do you understand the sacrifice Jesus made?? Do you display the LOVE Jesus displayed?”

JROB

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (Mt 12:36)

You probably remember an old proverb that went something like:

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me…”

I recall using this phrase when someone loosed verbal venom my way, how about you? Let’s be honest, though, the whole reason we said it was because we really were hurt. There are things that have been said to me that I will never forget, and they still sting like the day they were spoken.

O.K. so we all agree that we should control our tongues and not slam people to their face. That’s why it’s so much easier to do it behind their backs, then deny it later- right? Check out this story:

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, “Do you know what I just heard about your friend?”

“Hold on a minute,” Socrates replied. “Before telling me anything, I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.”

“Triple filter?”

“That’s right,” Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?”

“No,” the man said, “actually I just heard about it and…”

“All right,” said Socrates. “So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now let’s try the second filter, the filter of goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?”

“No, on the contrary…”

“So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about him, but you’re not certain it’s true. You may still pass the test though, because there’s one filter left: the filter of usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?”

“No, not really.”

“Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?”

- Author Unknown

James (the brother of Jesus) put it this way: (Jas 1:26) If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

In other words, one of the primary ways we show that we are truly members of God’s family is by keeping our mouth shut when we’re tempted to gossip. It really gets scary when you think about what Christ said in Matthew 12:36…notice He didn’t say that we would have to give an account for ‘most’ of our idle words, or for the worst things we said, but for EVERY unkind utterance. Our speech is under heavenly surveillance, and we are all building up quite a dialogue database.

So…got gossip? Perhaps today you should start triple filtering so you don’t get double whammied on judgment day.

Questions:

1. How would your conversations be different if you ‘triple filtered’ everything?
2. Are you nervous about giving an account for what you have said?
3. Does your speech reflect your relationship with Christ? Why or why not?

Thanks to Greg Stier from Dare2Share.org for this great devo!

“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true…This is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).  Jesus came to earth and took on human form not only to bridge the great divide between us and God, but to bring an understanding of who God is and what He is all about.  Through the life and teachings of Jesus we can recognize God for who He truly is.  A God of love and forgiveness, but also a God of judgment and a God who is intolerant to our sinful ways.  We have an understanding that we have a life through Christ and that He dwells within us.  The truth of God is revealed to us through Christ and in Him we have a hope of eternal life.  Take time today to pray to God and thank Him for your eternal life.

“He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation (reconciliation) for the sins of the people.  For in all that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are temped” (Hebrews 2:17-18).  For Jesus to be able to bring forgiveness of sins, He had to become like us.  He had to put off His crown of glory and put on flesh.  He had to be like us, tempted and tried in every way possible.  How else could He know how we feel when temptations arise?  How else could He truly understand our hopes and fears, our dreams and desires, if He didn’t experience them firsthand?  What an amazing God He is.  Take time today to pray to God and thank Him for truly understanding your life here on earth.

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins“(Colossians 1:13-14).  Do you struggle with understanding why God would take on the form of humanity and become flesh for you?  Do you have trouble accepting the fact that God accepts you just the way you are?  God doesn’t want you to try to change who or what you are before you come to Him.  He wants you just as you are so He can change you into what He wants you to be.  The blood Jesus shed on the cross covers you multitude of sins; from the ones in your past, the ones in your present, and even the ones in your future.  He did it all out of love for us.  Take time today to pray to God and thank Him for accepting you just as you are.

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).  Getting forgiveness from God is only half of the formula for forgiveness.  The other half is us forgiving those who have hurt us.  If you don’t do your part in forgiving others, you block the avenue from which God’s forgiveness comes to you.  You must always be ready and willing to forgive others, no matter how earth shattering or trivial the offence may be.  When you readily forgive others, it helps them to see how God really is and how He is ready to forgive them, no matter how bad they think they have been.  Take time today to pray to God and ask Him to help you have a forgiving spirit.

“But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant…He humbled Himself” (Philippians 2:7-8).  We often get so busy with our day to day lives that we forget about other important things.  Living day to day, running errands, paying bills, doing school projects, doesn’t leave much time for anything else.  We need to step back from the grind and ask “Is there more to life?”  And the answer is yes.  There is Jesus.  God in the flesh.  He could go anywhere and do anything.  He was all powerful, yet humble.  He didn’t do things for Himself, He spent His time serving others.  He loved others unconditionally and invested His time and life in them.  And He did it all through obedience to God, not for personal gain.  Jesus served others and we should do the same.  And when you serve, focus on others needs, not your own, or what you could gain.  Love others with the love of Christ.  Take time today to pray to God and ask Him where He wants you to serve today.