New Years Resolution #1: Faith

It was by faith Able brought a more acceptable offering

It was by faith Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying

It was by faith Noah built and ark to save his family

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave his home

It was by faith Sarah was able to have a child

It was by faith Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice

It was by faith Isaac blessed his two sons

It was by faith Jacob blessed Joseph’s sons

It was by faith Joseph, when he was about to die confidently spoke of God’s bringing Israel out of Egypt

It was by faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months

It was by faith Moses chose to share the oppression of God’s people

It was by faith the people of Israel went right through the red sea

It was by faith Rahab the prostitute did not die with all the others

It is by faith  INSERT YOUR NAME HERE

Having been raised going to church since I was a child, I read all the names above and recall many things I learned about each of these men and woman of faith. How they obeyed God, how they overcame obstacles, how they made hard choices, how they knew God. Heard God. Followed God. How exciting things happened because of their faith.

So often I want the exciting outcome, but I am too afraid to step out in faith to what God has called me to do.  This January, as much as I want to lose weight, keep up with the laundry, and read more books, those will not be what I will resolve to do.  I want to resolve to step out of the comfortable. To obey even when it does not make sense. To grow my faith in God. To live a story of faith for the generations to come.

As 2015 comes to an end and we look back on a year filled with highs and lows, faith and failure,  let us rejoice that we serve a God that wants to use us. Let's celebrate that His mercies are new EVERY morning.

So, even though we do not know what God has in store for us, let’s agree in 2016 we are going to be, as we say at GiveSendGo.com,  Living life Waayyy better!

Wow- isn't God Amazing?

After being greeted  by Angels, getting pregnant while still a virgin, giving birth in a barn while shepherds visit saying they saw a choir of Angels... I would think that nothing would surprise Mary and Joseph. They had witnessed so many miracles in such a short time, they head to the temple to perform the Jewish rituals.  While they are there it just so happened that the Spirit ( here He is again ..) led Simeon to the temple that same day because of a promise God had made to him that he would see the Messiah before he died.  So Simeon sees 8 days old Jesus and takes Him in his arms and praised God acknowledging Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior. The light to reveal God to the nations.

And in Luke 2 vs 33 " Joseph and Mary were amazed by what was being said about Jesus."

When was the last time you were AMAZED by Jesus?  By what He is doing in your life ? I know in my life I get caught up in the routine of things . When I get amazed it is at Churches doing great things, and people that are doing great deeds.  But when do I stop and say "wow God you are amazing at what you are doing in my life"
I want to live a life where I see God doing amazing things not just around me but through me. But I think that takes stepping out of the comfortable, out of the routine, Keeping our eyes open and hearts willing for God to do AMAZING things through us.
A CHALLENGE:  Ask God to do something AMAZING in and through your life today. I think He is waiting for us to be willing to take that step, to talk to the person He puts in front of us, love the person that seems unloveable, forgive the person that doesn't deserve forgiveness...
ASK GOD TO BE AMAZING IN YOUR LIFE TODAY..Then let us know what He did so we can all say
"WOW isn't God AMAZING!! "


GiveSendGo.com
Where people are experiencing our Amazing God. Check it out! 

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What does your worship say?

1 Corinthians 14:25  ( Speaking of unbelievers coming into our worship services)  As they listen, their secret thoughts will be laid bare , and they will fall down on their knees and worship God , declaring ,  "God is really here among you"

I have been to many church buildings over the last few years.  Seen many different worship styles, heard many sermons ,  seen big groups of people and small groups of people. Experienced different "philosophy" on how ministry should be done.  And all the while I am trying to figure it out for myself as well. What should the church look like? What should be our goal?  How do you stop it from becoming a business?  Are our meetings suppose to be for Christians or non christians or both?  How real are we presenting the Gospel? Are we just nice people allowing people to come to a place where they can "fit in" if they agree with us?    

Then I read the above verses.... When non believers see our worship to God , do they fall on their knees and also worship God, recognizing HIM and how real HE is?     And I think that pertains to us not just in a Church building corporately worshiping,  as we leave our "churches" and walk out the doors... can unbelievers see our worship to God...  and would it cause them to fall on their knees and recognize that God is REAL?


Good question.

Your spiritual report. How good are you?

We are still studying Ephesians in small group. I love getting together with people that are not afraid to go right to the Bible and read it word for word and discuss it. We talk about hard questions, challenge each other in our preconceived thoughts and ideas. 

Last week we ended with a very familiar verse to most Christians. 

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Ephesians 2:8-9

WE CAN’T EARN SALVATION. No matter how much you serve at church, in your community or at the homeless shelter. You can’t earn it by praying enough, reading your Bible enough or by being a good person.

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

I think a lot of time we (meaning Christians) make each other feel like we have to earn or prove our relationship with Lord to each other. 

 We go to church and instead of rejoicing in the Grace that has brought us there, we eliminate the very Grace of God, by trying to prove to each other that we are worth it.

That is something that I struggle with. I so often want to ‘earn’ God’s favor.  To try and follow the rules so I can feel there is something I have done to deserve it.  I want to get all A's on my "Christianity Report card".  That’s not what God wants.

The verse doesn’t end in verse 9, it goes on to say;

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

A masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ.

Let me say that again. HE has created us anew in Christ.

And He finishes up with the Why –

So we can do the good things HE planned for us long ago.

Let’s stop doing good things simply to prove ourselves to God, or our Church, our neighbors or facebook . :)

GOD MADE US HIS MASTERPIECE. HE CREATED US TO BE NEW IN CHRIST. So we can do the things HE PLANNED FOR US long ago.

Notice it’s not about us. We can’t take the credit. Let’s keep it that way.

 (and lets stop making others pretend for us as well) 

When "Church" ≠ "Love"

I have been hurt.  By Christians. By the people that are called the church. I have my fair share of stories of unfair, unloving and downright mean ways the church has treated my family and I.   I make sure to read posts when they come down my newsfeed about how the  Church/Christians fail or are not doing things right, so that I can feel justified in my “hurt” after all there are a lot of people out there with the same hurts, frustrations and anger at what we see the church has become.

Then last week at small group we were picking apart Ephesians and we came across this verse:

¹⁵ That is why, ever since I heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and of the love you have for Christians everywhere,   Ephesians 1:15 TLB

It stopped me for a minute.  Paul was commending the Church, the body of believers, the people that attended one of the churches in Ephesus, for the rumors he was hearing about their strong faith and love for Christians everywhere. 

Now most of times, we, the hurt,  would take that verse and want to try and make it about how the church or church staff aren’t doing its job…

“Paul would have never written this to (Insert Church name)….”

“That’s what I have been saying (insert Pastor’s name) doesn’t show love….”

“That ministry should be doing things differently to show love…”

But what if you were to stop and ask yourself, like I did, “Would Paul have written that to me?”  Would he have heard about my faith and how I love Christians everywhere? 

No.

Not even a little bit.

I have been frustrated with the Church. I have been frustrated with Church People. I would rather blast different Churches for their differing beliefs, their 

shortcomings, and their mistakes, especially if they hurt me.

This verse challenged me.

I want to be like the people Paul was writing to.

So I asked myself-

What would it look like if we the Church extended Grace to each other? If we lived in humility knowing we all fall way short. What would it look like if each one of us that make up the Church, loved each other through the hurts, the disagreements about programs and wall colors, the bad choices and mistakes? What if we forgave freely, like Christ has forgiven us?  What if we loved each other like Christ loved us, unconditionally, even when it doesn’t make sense or doesn’t feel good.

What if?

Author:
Heather Wilson
Co-Founder GiveSendGo.com

GSG Challenge: Spend some time on Facebook!

GSG CHALLENGE! 3/9- 3/15

This week's challenge should be easy for you. Since you are reading this, I am assuming you spent some time trolling around Facebook, came across this link and clicked on it. You are reading it and then you will go back to Facebook to see if anything else catches your fancy. Does that sound about right?

Before you go, here's our challenge for you:

EVERYDAY this week. STARTING today.  SPEND time on FACEBOOK. (hmmm,  that seems too easy....)

Ok, Let me clarify, not just spend time on Facebook. Scroll through your friend list. Pick one friend a day (or more if you are an over achiever) and write them a personal private message.  Let them know you are thinking of them and offer some encouragement. You can let them know how they impacted your life, or just share some favorite memories. Pick people that you do not connect with on a regular basis.

Think of the moment of joy and encouragement you will bring to someone that least expects it.... and it costs you nothing!

Are you up for the challenge?

GSG Ketchup Challenge!

Oh, did I say Ketchup?

Oops.

I meant Catch-Up!

This week we challenge you to go back and look at the challenges that GSG has been making since the beginning of 2015. You can then decide to pick one you may have not participated in, or one that you want to re-do.

Regardless of the order you do the challenges, our desire is the same. We want to help you have a more meaningful year, a year full of great stories, memories and a year that marked a difference in the way you chose to Give. Send. Go.

Scroll through our past blogs here http://givesendgo.blogspot.com/