Can't find a positive news article today :(

But I'm open to suggestions. :)

Obama speaks up on his religious beliefs

Obama's religious beliefs - in his words
Being intrinsically suspect of any politician, I would like to believe that he  believes what he is saying.   I  also pray that he would use Jesus' teachings within his job. 

Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.  1 Timothy 2:1-3

Wind Parts the Red Sea

Wind Parts the Red Sea

I'm slightly amused by this news story.  I'm amused because I read it and think about the people that are going to look to is and say - see! it wasn't God or Moses, it was wind.   What they are going to fail to consider is that God controls the wind.  Of course wind could have parted the Red Sea, but it was God sending the wind - if that is indeed how he did it - to do the job.

The news story doesn't actually say that it wasn't God, but I know that's how it's going to be taken by many individuals reading it.  So while this isn't technically a good news story, I thought I'd spread a little "Good News" using it.

Disabled Youth Create Comic Book Heroes

Unity Through Comic Books?
" 'They were empowered by their own disabilities, and they should not be seen as a source of weakness,' he said."

American and Syrian disabled youth working together.  Pretty cool.  

Good News - Family reunion in the nick of time

God's work
I think this one definitely falls under "It's a God thing."

A truly selfless act

Heartbreaking but still falls under Good News
Here's someone who lived the scripture John 15:13.  I pray that God watches over this mother and child, they were truly blessed to have the man they had in their lives, even though the child will not meet him in this lifetime.

Four Way Kidney Transplant

Four-way Kidney Transplant
I already had a "good news" article picked out but decided that this was pretty awesome itself and right in our backyard... well, right in our backyard if you are from Chicago and reading this.

I see God's hand all over this one. Transplant is one of the ultimate gifts of giving.

Fields of Growth International

Lacrosse Missionaries Take Sport, Philanthropy to Uganda

 This is a pretty cool thing that they're doing.  I hope that their work spotlights the poverty and that brings other groups to help the area in other ways.

Good News - Raising Teen Awareness

Celebrity Taking Some Responsibility

I hope that Christianity comes up, although I don't know her beliefs.  What she is doing is commendable and I hope that it can somehow bring kids closer to God as well.  Maybe her help will make them more open to His message, who knows?   It's a good start though.

2 Timothy sounds alot like current society

2 Timothy 3:  ¹You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. ² For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. ³ They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. ⁴ They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. ⁵ They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

  2 Timothy4:  ³ For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

If you watch the news at all or just pay attention to people when you're in public you can easily see that these passages fit in extremely well with current times.  I don't have solutions, other than the obvious bring the Bible to more people, but I just thought it was interesting to see that the Bible has us pegged.  And I'm sure we're not the first generation that this has applied to, but I'd sure like to be the last...or raise our children to be the last.  Wishful thinking I know, but we have to keep growing and striving to be more like Christ.  The attitudes and actions listed above would melt away if we all turned to God and followed his most important commandments -
 
Matthew 22:³⁶ “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”  ³⁷ Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  ⁴⁰ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Good news for the day :)

It's a couple days old, but a good story none the less.


http://www.gnn.com/article/zach-bonner-now-a-director-ends-2478/1278831

Good News

I'm tired of the bad news I hear all the time, so I'm going to try to find good news articles and post them.  I'd love to do it everyday, but I'm not sure if I'll have the time, but we'll see.  If I can keep doing it long enough maybe it will become a habit.   If you read something that  you think might fit in with this, let me know.   

Here's the first one.

Good News Story

Prayer for 9/11

Father, continue to be with the loved ones of those lost on 9/11 as they remember that day and how it has affected their lives.  Protect all our soldiers and first responders as they put their lives on the line for us and be with their families as well to comfort them and give them peace from worry as they send them off either on deployment or to their jobs as policemen, firemen and paramedics.  Please bring them home safely.

Father, put the greatest commandment on the hearts of all people.  "Jesus replied, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important:'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"  Matthew 22:37-38.  Father we need that commandment to become part of our lives, from the children on the streets to the Pastors and heads of government.  Be with us and our country and help us to do better and walk in your ways.

In Jesus' name. Amen

Fall Kick Off 9/12/10

I want to invite everyone I know, and even those I don't,  to the First Church of God's fall kick off on September 12, 2010.  And if you're not sure about it, you can consider it an early birthday present since my birthday is 2 days later.  :) 

The fall kick off consists not only of the start of a 4 week series on "The Strange & Unique Call To Life in God's Kingdom", but it is also the kick off for the children's ministry Promiseland!  There will be superheroes and puppets involved!  Who could ask for more?

In addition to that, there will be a special purity series starting at 11:00.  The lesson will cover topics like gossip, clothing and abstinence.  The girls invited are 6th grade and up.  There is a permission slip involved in the abstinence lesson on the 19th.

And as if that wasn't enough, September 12th will be the first weekend of registration for the MOUNTAIN MOVERS.  The moms and daughters Tuesday night discipleship class that meets from 6:30 until 8:00.  There are crafts, a snack and then a lesson.  Topics being covered this term are How to Make Good Friends, How to Make Good Choices and How to Grow Fruit of the Spirit.  It's a fun group! The age range is 1st through 8th grade.  And if you aren't a mom but you have a niece, neighbor, much younger sister, cousin, random child off the street that likes crafts, your welcome to come.  However, if you've picked a random child off the street I'm going to need a permission slip from the parents.... :)

Seriously, First Church of God at 4600 W. 111th Street, Oak Lawn, IL  is a great church and I hope you consider coming.  You can hear Pastor Dan's messages online at www.visitusonline.org - click on Media.

My testimony

It dawned on me the other day that I've never really told my story.  It's not an earth shattering story, nothing that would make you sit back and ponder what appears to have been a miracle... although I think seeing God's hand in any situation is a miracle in itself.  But I was reading recently and came across a passage that said "..you don't need a dramatic account in order for your testimony to influence someone for Christ."  The quote is from The Unexpected Adventure by Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg. 

Don't get me wrong, I've told a few people, but not many.  I guess because I grew up believing in God, so why would I think I had a testimony?  And I did grow up believing in God.  I just didn't grow up understanding Him.  I didn't understand how much of an impact He could have on my life if I let Him.  I didn't fully understand Grace - not that I can wrap my head around someone dying for my sins now, but at least I understand well enough to appreciate how big of a deal that is.

I grew up going to church but had stopped as an adult.  And didn't really think much about it although I did have the notion in the back of my mind that once my daughter was old enough to start grasping ideas we needed to think about what we were going to do.  It was around this time that I began to notice something missing.  I felt like I was supposed to be doing something, something that required studying.  I ignored it for a while, but it was very persistent.  I wanted to study...something...I just didn't know what.  So I began applications to get my MBA.  I had everything done for the application, references written but something was stopping me from sending it in.   Then I decided to read the Koran.  Then the Torah.  Then the Bible.  This obviously wasn't a month long process, that's not exactly light reading.  I also read books about Christianity, Islam and Judaism. 

Then came the day when it was time to find a church.  I didn't want to go back to the religion I had grown up in, mostly because I felt like I had just learned more about the Bible in the self-study I had taken upon myself than while I was being instructed in my earlier years.  I didn't, and don't, have any hard feelings about that, but I wanted to find something else.  Being one of those people that looks just about everything up online, I set about trying to find a few churches to visit until we found one that my husband and I both felt comfortable in.  I was never a big fan of small churches because I wasn't comfortable with people at church knowing me. (I'm going to pause now in case someone from my church is reading this and needs to take a moment to laugh.)

I knew I wanted to look at this "non-denominational" thing.  That was perfect for someone who couldn't make up their mind. I just wouldn't pick a denomination.  I came up with a list and happened to be driving by a church one day and realized it was one of the churches on the list.  And I noticed that there was a humorous message on the church's sign.  We went there the next Sunday.  I don't know what I was expecting, but it was not to find myself crying from the moment the worship team opened with "Here I am to Worship" until the Pastor finished his closing prayer.  There was such a tangible feeling that the Holy Spirit was in that church it was amazing.  And I knew, although it took coming one or two more times to get the family on the same page, that I was home.

And I continued to study, although now I was able to direct my studies towards my spiritual growth.  And I haven't stopped, I have no desire to, it's an unquenchable thirst.  One I am thoroughly enjoying.  And I have learned alot about myself.  That dislike of people knowing me?  That was totally me not wanted to be held accountable.  That's changed.  It can be hard at times, but it's worth it.   I was baptized this past October because I felt like I had never made a conscience decision to commit to God, it was something I felt I wanted to do for a God that loves me so much that he sent His Son to die for me.  I wanted to make a statement to Him that I was committed to do my best to live the life he wants for me, to serve Him by serving others and to be a light showing Him to the world.  I know I'm going to have my ups and downs, I know I'm not going to be perfect, but I know He will be there to help me and to pick me back up when I've fallen.

I give a lot of credit to my pastor for helping me, knowingly and unknowingly, in my walk with Christ.  I know that God works through him.  And in case anyone wants to come check out this church and Pastor Dan, the church is linked -  First Church of God.  I encourage you, if you're anywhere near the Oak Lawn, IL area, to check it out.  Or listen to Dan on the website by clicking on the Media tab.

1 Corinthians 1:18

"The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed to destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God." [Paul]  1 Corinthians 1:18 NLT

 For quite a while now this has been heavy on my mind.  Not because I don't believe that Christ actually died for me.  I do.  And while I may have momentary flare-ups on occasion when I think "Really? Can it be?", I always turn back to the fact that I absolutely believe that Jesus died for us.

I know some people who think that Christ didn't really die on the cross and that the resurrection was more of a symbolic act than a real event.  That scares me for them.  And it scares me as I wonder how many people also may think that...and if any of my family members may think that.  

I have a hard time talking about my beliefs.  It's something that I am trying to work on, though truth be told, I could be working harder on it.  I can write, but actually speaking about them, while it feels wonderful once I have, is hard for me. (I have a hard time talking about my feelings too, so this isn't a new thing for me. lol )

But I feel this point, Christ's death and resurrection, is SO important.  It's the key, isn't it?  The Bible even says it is.  In 1 Corinthians 15:17 Paul says "And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins."

It is real.  It happened.  Would you let yourself be tortured and killed for something that did not really happen?  The disciples were tortured and, with the exception of Peter, killed for their belief in Christ's resurrection and his place as Son of God.  

I'm sitting here on my first day of vacation (okay, it took me a few days to get to the cafe with internet access - so it's not actually the first day of my vacation anymore, unfortunately).  My first day outside the craziness that is my beloved town, Chicago.  The first day in the Northwoods that have always recharged me and that I have to come back to annually.  And when I read the words "the message of the cross...is the very power of God", I was led to write.  I have never felt led to write before.  I hope I was led because someone needed to hear.

God bless you!  And if you are a family member reading this, and even if you aren't, believe! believe! believe! (if you don't already).  I love you!

The Greatest Commandment - Love God and Love Others

There is a page in Facebook that I'd like to share.  I know not everyone is on Facebook, but you can find quite a bit of inspiration out there and it may be worth it for only that reason.  We need to start using the technology we have been blessed with for the sake of good.   The link is below.  I just wanted to share.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-God-And-Love-OthersThe-Greatest-Commandment/236001620687?v=wall&story_fbid=139066406117440&ref=mf


By the way, I know I haven't posted as much as I had intended, but I am praying for help in time management so that I can post more often. 

Romans

In our daily reading we are in Romans.  I love Romans because there are so many great messages in Romans.  A few of my favorite can be found there.   It helps that I love Paul's story.  I love that he went from persecuting Christians (or followers of the Way) to becoming one of them through the direct intervention of Jesus after his death.  There is no reason that Paul should have done a complete 180 in this thought process, suffered and eventually died to spread the Good News unless he truly, truly believed it with all his heart.  Would you die for something you weren't sure about?

Romans 5:3-5 is where I go when I'm troubled.  "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For  we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." 

I think one of the things that draws me to Paul is that he is one of us.  He has trouble doing what is right, he doesn't claim to be above all the temptation in the world, he's right there in it.  Romans 7:21 "I have discovered this principle of life-that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong."  I'm sure no one I know can relate to that right?  (That was sarcasm)  I can totally relate to that.  But then, just as you're wondering how that struggle is going to affect your eternal life, you get to Romans 8:1 "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus."  Whew.  Praise God!   Romans 8:39 helps as well. "No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

I was reading Romans 10 today and came across a verse that pretty much says it all.  Verse 9 says "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heard that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."  And that means really raised.  I don't understand people who think that Christ's actual bodily resurrection did not take place.  I don't understand why anyone would think that the twelve disciples would die for a cause that was only "representative" of someone being raised from the dead.  And I know I'm getting out of Romans here, but in 1 Corinthians 15:17 Paul says "And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins."  Your faith is useless, that's how strongly Paul felt.  And since "all scripture is God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV), it stands to reason that God feels that way too.

 

I'm getting the message...

I feel like I'm being sent a message today.  And, in part, I think God is using Facebook to do it.  No, I'm not kidding.   I get a daily scripture reading on Facebook.  This is what it said today.


Here is your Verse of the Day:

Proverbs 10:11 (NIV). The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked....... Thoughts on This Verse... Want to know the difference between a righteous person and a wicked one? Simple. Check the fruit of their lives. One ...of the most obvious forms of fruit in a person's life is his or her speech. The righteous person finds a way to impart life with his or her speech. The wicked will nearly always reveal themselves by what their mouths say.
 
Our daily Bible reading with my Church has within it "And I t ell you this, you  must give an account on judgement day for every idle world you speak.  The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you."  Matthew 12:36-37
 
So I'm thinking that I need to pay particular attention to my words.  Apparently Someone is sending me a message.

Happy Easter!!!

He is risen!  He is risen indeed!

You know what's really amazing about the crucifixion and resurrection?  Christ went through everything he went through for EVERYONE.  Whether you believe in Him or not - he believes in you, loves you and wants you to come to Him.  Never think you're alone.  You're not.  You just have to turn to Him and He will be there.

Happy Easter everyone!