Monday, November 23, 2009

SF 11.23.09 - New Moon, Old Lie

The following Devotion is from Soul Fuel for Dare2Share (the author of the book we're going through on Sunday Mornings).
 
Have you seen "New Moon?"  I have and I dragged Frank to go see it with me.  Granted, we went to a 21+ theater to see it, but I was amazed at the huddles of 40+ women who clammored for the perfect seat to watch the 2nd installment of the Twilight Movie series.
 
And, I agree wholeheartedly with what the write has to say about the theme of the book: love.  Read on to get some great insight and awesome reminders from the true Author of love, God.
 
A Meandering Sidenote...
 
As a reminder, Frank and I will be out of town for a few days visiting my sister and her family in Colorado!  Pray for us that we will have an uneventful flight out there, travel safety and uneventful flight home.
 
I would ask you to pray for my dad, me and my sister, Judy, as this time.  Though we are all really happy to spend Thanksgiving together, there will be a constant reminder of who is missing from our family reunion of sorts: our sweet mother.  I confess, this has hit me much harder than I was prepared for.  Frank has been awesome to be a listening ear and encouraging heart.  Though we do rejoice that mom is in heaven...we still miss her earthly presence.
 
There was only one other time in my life when I didn't have Thanksgiving with mom's cooking, and that was when I was in college at Tennessee Temple in 1983.  It was a horrible time and I was so homesick!  At that time I realized how important and special the Thanksgiving Holiday was to me and for me to be with my family, especially mom.  Here we are some 26 years later and I am so thankful I did have those 26 Thanksgivings to be with my mom, but it will make this particular one just that much harder.
 
I also won't be with my son, Jameson.  That kinda adds insult to injury for me right now.  He, like me, is sentimental and enjoys Thanksgiving possibly more than I do.  Due to his college class schedule, etc., he was unable to go with us.  Pray for him that he will have a special time, regardless.
 
I apologize for this being all about me...but, this is all about me and how I'm dealing with loss, family traditions and not the "typical" Thanksgiving I've come to love and appreciate, more now than ever before.
 
So, as you celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday...be thankful!  Hug your family tight and celebrate them.  Enjoy overeating.  Enjoy the endless football games.  Enjoy the pumpkin pie.
 
More than anything, however, be thankful for the ultimate gift from God: salvation!  It is only because of Jesus that any of us have hope of spending eternity with God.  Because my mom put her trust in Jesus, I am confident she is with Him now in glory.  And, though I really wish she were here to enjoy this Thanksgiving with us, I am thankful she is with the Lord!
 
I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

 
Soul Fuel

New Moon, Old Lie

So it turned out pretty much as expected. A massive opening night with millions of Twittering Twi-Hards clutching their preordered tickets and finally embracing the über-anticipated sequel, The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

To sum the movie up - one girl…two guys…cool vampire (literally)…hot wolf (here boy!)…and, like, danger-lust-romance-mystery…OMG!!!

Picture the rival gangs in Grease, only with superpowers, much better stylists and costume designers.

In my mind, the siren call of this movie to the tweens and teens of this generation could be summed up in one word -

Love.

Wouldn't you agree?  Behind all the fangs and fur is a syrupy sweet repetition of "I love you, but I'm a vampire, and I can't protect you," and "I love you, but I'm a werewolf, and I can't protect you."

Don't misread me here, I'm not a Twilight hater.  The idea of the movie is interesting and the effects are cool, but what is not cool is the picture of love being portrayed here.  The normal moviegoer might conclude that relationships as consistently, codependently fiery and passionate as Edward's and Bella's are normal and should be desired in life.  As one writer put it:

"Twilight and New Moon are essentially uncritical celebrations of that overwrought, obsessive passion that is the hallmark of immaturity - passion that wholly subordinates all sense of one's own identity and elevates the beloved to summum bonum (highest good), or even the sole good…" *

But that kind of love relationship isn't healthy, nor does it portray what real love is really like. In other words, enjoy the movie, but don't buy the love lie. Romance is awesome and an amazing part of life, but trust me, it can only come from a proper understanding of love.

Which then begs the question… what is love?  Well, before you answer with "baby don't hurt me!", perhaps we should consult the Person who invented love in the first place?

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends (John 15:12-13).

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Are you seeing the glaring difference here?  Twilight tells us to look at love as an emotionally driven rollercoaster ride that is greatly impacted by circumstances, appearances, and expectations being met.  It's a flame that builds when the winds of passion are present, but it can grow cold with a mere unkind word or unfaithful action.

Yep, that's pretty much our culture…but there is a better way.  There's a love that stays as constant and burning as the North Star, because the fire is fueled from the inside out.  It's a love that says, "I'm committed to you no matter what.  If the emotions are there, great, but if not, you are still the object of my dedication."

This is the kind of love that "never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."

This is also the love that drives people to "lay down their life for their friends."

And did you know that you are already the object of that kind of love?

Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:7-8).

God loved you before you were born.  He loved you when you were unlovable. He still loves you when you doubt and disbelieve.

He loves you so much that He gave His only Son to die rather than live in eternity without you!

That's the kind of love that lasts, and when a relationship is built on that kind of foundation, there is passion and romance that no book or film will ever come close to portraying. And when we are consumed with the love of God for us, earthly love will fall into its correct place on our list of priorities and desires.

And speaking of "laying down your life for your friends"… have you lately?  Do their needs come before yours?  And most importantly, have you put your coolness on the line by sharing the good news of the love of Jesus with them?  That's real love - a love that this cold world desperately needs.

* "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" Review by Steven D. Greydanus http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/movies/reviews/2009/newmoon.html

 
Flash Point
Pray and look for opportunities this week to love your friends by "laying down your life" for them. It may be looking out for their good before your own, even when it's hard, and it especially may be a chance to boldly tell them about the Friend they have who already gave His life for them!
 
Accelerant

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'" (Matthew 22:37-39).

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you" (Luke 6:27).

"I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:23).

 
 
 

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--
Mary E.Hickcox
www.CalvaryBaptistSM.org
http://mary-neotes.blogspot.com/

Monday, November 09, 2009

Not About Me...Still!

So often, I wonder what it would've been like to be in Peter's shoes when he stepped out of that boat and onto the water toward Jesus.  You can read about it in Matthew 14:23-33.  Today's PW Devotional made me think about Peter again.
 
I am torn between which would've been more crazy and amazing...actually SEEING Jesus walk on the water toward me or having Him command me to "come" to Him...you know, getting out of the made for floating on the water boat and walking on the water, with my made for walking on solid ground feet.  What is even more interesting is Peter told the Lord, " Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."  Jesus did command him to, and Peter climbed out of that boat and started walking toward Jesus.
 
Many preachers will tell you "the storms of life swirled around Peter, catching his attention and taking his focus off of Jesus..." that is why he began to sink.  I disagree. 
 
I think Peter had the same problem you and I have today.  When anything good starts to happen involving Jesus, we do that internal stall and think, "look what I'm doing for Jesus!"  Like Peter, our focus shifts off of Christ and onto ourselves.  It's like we're taking a huge spotlight and swiveling it onto us and off of Jesus.
 
That's wrong.
That's pride.
That's all about me.

Which leads me to today's PW Devotion.  I thought it was an excellent reminder that this Christian life we're living, isn't about us at all.  It is still all about God.  His glory.  His power.  His plan.
 
Our part to play?  To say YES!  To be an obedient tool for His use, His glory and His purpose.
 
May we all shine the spotlight on Jesus today and every day! 

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals 


LIve Different: Use God's Power

Posted: 08 Nov 2009 09:00 AM PST

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:10-11)

It's easy for us to walk around with the wrong idea of what Christianity is all about. We can get sidetracked into thinking Christianity is intended to make us better versions of ourselves -- as if Jesus came and lived and died and lived again just to make me a little nicer and better at helping people.

That idea is wrong in two huge ways.

First, Christianity isn't about us, at all. It's about God. It's about Him being praised through Jesus Christ and getting all the "glory and power for ever and ever."

Second, Christianity isn't about making us better. We're not close enough to being good that getting better would help all that much. Nope, God wants us to do His work with His power, with His words, in His strength. God wants to be God through us -- not for us to be good enough on our own to accomplish His mission.

Think: What are some ways God has asked you to serve Him with His gifts and His power? Would you say you're using His power to serve other people? What does that look like?

Pray: Ask God to help you to use the gifts He has given you to serve others with His words and His strength.

Do: Talk to your parents or youth leader or mentor about what your spiritual gifts might be and how you could use them best to serve God by serving others.

 


--
Mary E.Hickcox
www.CalvaryBaptistSM.org
http://mary-neotes.blogspot.com/

Monday, November 02, 2009

Finish Well

Did you miss it?  Some of you did!!!

Yesterday was the deadline to get in your application for our upcoming Missions trip summer of 2010. 

I tried to send out a text message reminder to those of you who didn't get your apps in on time to let you know you had until mid-night to drop off your application...but, the text message I was trying to send...wouldn't go...it just tried, and tried, and tried...and then failed!  I was SO frustrated.

I know some of you misplaced your application!  I will email it again later today...and, let you know you have a grace period.  We need to receive your application BEFORE Wednesday.  So, you have all day today and all day tomorrow to drop it off at our house.  If you show up on Wednesday night with your application in your hand, we'll be super happy, but you'll have an extra step to do...which you won't find out about until, well,  you show up on Wednesday with your application.

SO!  Complete your application today and drop it off at our house today or tomorrow!  You can EVEN drop off your application at the church...just have Miss Mindy or Miss Debbie initial, date & timestamp the time your drop it off...so we know you did it before Wednesday!  I'm really trying to make this uber, super easy for you.

Many of you who didn't go with us to Guatemala, said later you wished you had!  So, you know you'll be sad if you miss out on our Missions trip to Seattle, WA.

This PW Devotional reminds me of the struggles Youth Leaders (and Pastors, I'm sure) face when working with teenagers.  Y'all get excited about church, God and events...and then you go MIA.  You get...distracted.  You get...busy.  You get...preoccupied with school, sports, Scouts, relationships, family, future plans, etc.

Some of you are divided in your devotion.  You've bit off more than you can chew, so to speak.  You want to stay invovled in so many things that pull at you full-time.  When you do that, usually your relationship with God is what suffers.  And, Satan wins.  You get so preoccupied with doing so much, you end up doing little that mattters for the Lord.

Frank's and my heart desire is for you all to finish well!  We plan all of these events and activities, not to be your social calendar coordinators, but to give you all opportunities to grow in your relationship with Jesus, invite your unsaved friends to hear the Gospel and fellowship with other Believers.  We love each one of you dearly and only desire God's very best for you.

This is why we are pushing the 2010 Missions Trip!  Together we can raise the money so each of us will be able to go!  Together we can learn about serving Christ, each other and those in our community.  Together we can spend a week with others who are excited about serving Christ, each other and those in their community.

Fill out your 2010 Missions Trip application.  Turn it in.  You'll be glad you did!  In July, when the rest of us are off having a stellar time in Seattle, you'll be home, bored, sad and wondering "why didn't I just go?!"  It's not too late!

C'mon...finish what you started!  You all expressed a desire to go on this Missions Trip.

Follow-through and fill out your application. 

Drop it off today!

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals 


Be a Finisher

Posted: 01 Nov 2009 12:12 PM PST

"Tell Archippus: 'See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.' " (Colossians 4:17)

Our final role-model from Paul's buddy list this week isn't actually one of the guys working with Paul in Rome. He's probably Philemon's son back in Colosse, where this letter is headed. He was maybe taking care of some of Epaphras's ministry duties back there while E. was with Paul.

Paul tells Archippus to "see to it" (or "look out") that he finish the "work" (or "ministry") God gave him to do. Either Arcippus was dropping the ball or Paul knew that things were about to get tough for him. He urged everyone to remind Archippus to keep going and finish strong. Talk about accountability!

Has God called you to do any ministry work that you've left hanging -- or that you're thinking about giving up on? Maybe it has to do with helping with something at church or telling a friend about Jesus or even just making it your job to encourage other Christians in the jobs they're doing for Christ.

Don't give up. Be the kind of Chirst-follower who finishes what you start. Hang tough.

Think: What ministry work have you "received in the Lord"? Are you still working at it? If you can't think of any ministry you're supposed to be doing, what are some ways you could start serving Christ, especially in your church?

Pray: Ask God to help you to finish what you start for Him.

Do: Make a plan for some specific ways you can "keep going" in serving God this week. If you don't have a regular way that you serve in your church, ask your youth leader for some ideas about what you could do