My Life, I Choose...: March 2011

Friday, March 11, 2011

Lent Day 13: Shine!

My life, I choose for Lent....

*to sacrifice_________ for forty days and give that time to God.
*to read scripture each of these days.
*to spend time talking to and worshiping God

Matthew 5: Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

You are probably not planning to hide under a bowl, but do you hide in your church or church youth group? Or maybe even hide in your Christian school? Why we need time with fellow Christians to build ourselves up and encourage one another, we need to be careful not to hide in those places. God has chosen us and commanded us to go and be the light in a dark world. How are you shining light in the dark?

My Life, I Choose...
*to memorize the verse I chose yesterday.
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for not shining for Him.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to help me speak truth and love to a lost world.
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, open my eyes to see how I may shine light on others.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God

Lent Day 12: No Sting

My life, I choose for Lent....

*to sacrifice_________ for forty days and give that time to God.
*to read scripture each of these days.
*to spend time talking to and worshiping God

Death has no power, it has no sting!! There was victory at the cross!!

I Corinthians 15
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”[i]

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Marvelous Light
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTkB6cBJGZg&feature=related

My Life, I Choose...
*to memorize the verse I chose yesterday.
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me.
*as I brush my teeth, thank God for the victory of the cross.
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, open my eyes to see how I may serve today.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God

Lent Day 11: God of this City

My life, I choose for Lent....

*to sacrifice_________ for forty days and give that time to God.
*to read scripture each of these days.
*to spend time talking to and worshiping God

Listen to this song. Where you are is God's city, are you willing to be part of the work that has to be done?

God of This City
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d61LamkXfwk&feature=related

Lent Day 10: Serve Today

My life, I choose for Lent....

*to sacrifice_________ for forty days and give that time to God.
*to read scripture each of these days.
*to spend time talking to and worshiping God

I Corinthians 15
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”[i]

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Today, I want you to give yourself fully to the work of the Lord. Open your eyes and see those who you can serve today. Whether it be in the store parking lot, a neighbor, a teacher, a friend, serve the Lord today.

My Life, I Choose...
*to memorize the verse I chose yesterday.
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me.
*as I brush my teeth, thank God for the victory of the cross.
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, open my eyes to see how I may serve today.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God

Lent Day 9: What Will You Do With What You Have Been Given

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

God has given us all gifts and talents. But it is up to you to choose to use them and to use them in a way to bring glory to God. And remember every gift is important to the kingdom of God. Start choosing to use the gifts you have been given and see what will happen. (And just imagine what would hapen if we all used our gifts and talents.)

My Life, I Choose...
*to memorize a verse.
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for not using the gifts he has given me.
*as I brush my teeth, thank God for belssing me with special gifts.
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, open my eyes to see how I can use my gift. *as I get dressed, put on the armor of God

Lent Day 8: Don't Just Say, Do

My life, I choose for Lent....

*to sacrifice_________ for forty days and give that time to God.
*to read scripture each of these days.
*to spend time talking to and worshiping God

Matthew 21: The Parable of the Two Sons

28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

As we talk about giving, spending time with God, it is easy to say I am will try. But my friend, God does not ask us to try, He is asking us to do what will say we will do today. Your desire to serve Him and know Him better is not enough. It is time to put actions with our words.

Today, choose God, choose to serve, choose to love, choose to forgive, choose to believe.

My Life, I Choose...
*to memorize a verse.
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for not doing what He asked.
*as I brush my teeth, to use my mouth to share His Word.
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, open my eyes to see what I can do. *as I get dressed, put on the armor of God

Lent Day 7: Again, Are You Willing?

My life, I choose for Lent....

*to sacrifice_________ for forty days and give that time to God.
*to read scripture each of these days.
*to spend time talking to and worshiping God

Mark 10: The Rich and the Kingdom of God

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[d]”

20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[e] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Are you willing to give up or scacrifice something, anything to share the love of Christ with another? Does anything God ask us to give up evne compare to the sacrifice of His Son on teh cross?

God may ask you to make a small or big sacrifice in you life, but never forget when you give up something for Him amazing things will happen. I am not talking about riches, but about about eternal rewards and the lost coming to know Christ.

When He ask, what will choose?

My Life, I Choose...
*to memorize a verse.
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for my selfishness.
*as I brush my teeth, thank God for giving me so much.
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, open my eyes to see what he may need me to give up for him.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God

Lent Day 6: Are You Willing?

My life, I choose for Lent....

*to sacrifice_________ for forty days and give that time to God.
*to read scripture each of these days.
*to spend time talking to and worshiping God

As you read the passage, read it like it is the first time and ask God to open your eyes and heart.

Mark 12: The Widow’s Offering

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

She had little but yet she gave. No matter your age or wealth, you too should desire to give to others, to Christ.

As we focus on the cross this Lent season, what are you willing to give for the person who gave up their life for you? Make a choice today to find way to give others this next few weeks. Choose ways to give of your time and possessions to others that will share the love of Christ.

Ideas:
Pull weeds in a widow's yard.
Pick up trash in a park.
Make cookies for a lost neighbor.
Eat lunch with someone who is usually alone.

My Life, I Choose...
*to memorize a verse.
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for my selfishness.
*as I brush my teeth, thank God for giving me so much.
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, open my eyes to see those who I can give to today.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God

Lent Day 5: Celebrate

Today just worship your Father who stands there with open arms waiting for you. The one who rejoices when you come home.

You Never Let Go by Matt Redman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y83-vMeWc9E

Mighty to Save by Hillsong United
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBvuAK-f8OE&feature=related

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Lent Day 4: More Rejoicing

8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Do you see it again? A sinner repents, heaven rejoices!!! You were lost, Christ found you, heaven rejoiced. You sin, you repent, God forgives, heaven rejoices!!

Being too ashamed to admit your sin, your failures hurts you. Releasing, repenting, and turning from your sin makes the Heavens rejoice and sets you free!!

As we approach Easter, are you going to hold onto your sin or take them to the cross? My friend, my prayer for you is that you take it to the cross and let the Heavens rejoice!!

My life, I choose…

*to memorize the verse I chose yesterday.
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for my sins. (confess each one).
*as I brush my teeth, thank God for taking my punishment.
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see my friends who are lost so I may tell them the heavens want to rejoice because they will come to Christ.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God

Lent Day 3:Arms Wide Open

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Where are you lost daughter? Are you still in rebellion, disobedience against God? Are you lying in the muddy pit (consequences of sin)? Are you wanting to come back to your Heavenly Father, but worried He has given up hope on you?

Read verse 20 again.

Daughter of God, no matter where you are right now whether in sin, in the pit, or longing to come home, your Father is waiting with arms wide open and will welcome you home.

Flee from sin, get out of that pit and run to your Father. Confess your sins and receive his forgiveness and love.

God does not say wait till you get your life together to come to me. He wants you to come right now no matter how muddy you may be today.

My Life, I Choose...
*to memorize the verse I chose yesterday.
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for my sins.
*as I brush my teeth, thank God for loving me in spite of my mistakes.
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, open my eyes to see God there with arms wide open.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Lent Day 2: Lost and Alone

My life, I choose for Lent....

*to sacrifice_________ for forty days and give that time to God.
*to read scripture each of these days.
*to spend time talking to and worshiping God

Luke 15

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

More than likely you have read this passage once or twice or heard the story, but this time read it again like it is the first. As you read it see yourself as the lost sheep and as you look in the distance, Christ is coming. Not only is he coming, but He is calling your name and looking for you.

My sweet friend, do you realize you not only have the privilege to call out and come before God, but Christ first called out your name because you were lost. Even before you realized you were lost, Christ was looking for you. How awesome!!! And heaven celebrated when you were found!!

So celebrate that you are not lost because the Shepherd found you!! And pray for your lost friends to hear Christ calling them.

My life, I choose…

*to memorize the verse I chose yesterday.
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for running from Him.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to give me the courage to share Christ with my friends.
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see my friends who are lost so I may tell them God is calling.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God

Lent Day One: Choose To Sacrifice...

Hello my sweet friends!! I am sorry I have been away from the blog. I was trying to heal my hurt hand. But now I am back!!

As you know yesterday was a big party for Mardi Gras. But did you know that the party stops at midnight so Lent may began? Lent is a time of sacrifice and focusing on Christ the forty days before Easter. This year, I would like you to sacrifice something that will help you set more time aside for God.

I do not want you to give up food or change your diet, but I want you to think of something that takes away your time like TV or Facebook. Would you be willing to give up 30 minutes each day of one of these things and dedicate that time to God for the forty days? I will post scripture and discussion each day on here for you. Will you choose for 40 days to give God 30 minutes of your time?

My life, I choose...

*to sacrifice_________ for forty days and give that time to God.
*to read scripture each of these days.
*to spend time talking to and worshiping God.

Day 1 Scripture: Jesus himself spent 40 days fasting in the desert and was tempted. Read the passage below.

Luke 4
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted[a] by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’[b]”

5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’[c]”

9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[d]”

12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[e]”

13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[f]

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.

23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”

24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy[g] in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

Did you notice that Jesus withstood temptation because He used the Word of God to battle it? My question for you to think about today is do you know scripture in your heart to help you battle temptation? Are you willing to dedicate time to learn verses so you will be prepared next time you are tempted?

My life, I choose…

*to write the verse from above on my mirror and memorize it.
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for not knowing His Word.
*as I brush my teeth, thank God for His Word and its power.
*as I put on eye make up/contacts, help me see the importance of knowing His Word.
*as I get dressed, put on the armor of God.