Baby Kate vs. Cow

Tip of the Day...

"DON'T SMASH YOUR FACE!!!"

So I was working out this morning with free weights, and this is what the instructor said on the video I was following.  “Practical,” I thought, getting an early morning laugh out of it.

Something was nagging me, though.  I slept too late to study my Bible and then workout like I normally do.  It’s like the LORD was saying, “You made sure you got your workout in, but what about your time alone with Me?”  Life crowds in so quickly, and if we’re not careful, spiritual things can get run over by our plans, our goals.  Am I saying I shouldn’t exercise?  No.  But if I can get out of bed to exercise, I can get up earlier to meet with Jesus EVERYDAY.  Am I going to go back and get in my Bible today?  You better believe it, especially since you’re reading this!

What "good things" are distracting you from Christ?

Are there things in your life that sometimes bump God out of the picture?  Find out what those things are.  You may need to totally remove them from your life—if it’s something you know is wrong—or you may just need to get things in the right order, like getting alone with Jesus in His Word and then working out.  Do what you have to do to get things right...and DON’T SMASH YOUR FACE.

Written by Matthew McNeil

Nowhere to Go...Thank God (Literally) - by Maryanne Grimmett

Newsflash: The Christian life ain’t always easy.  In fact, sometimes it’s downright difficult.    You, of course, are invincible.  However, I am a mere mortal, and sometimes I find myself disheartened.

But I must give credit where credit is due.  Satan’s specialties are doubt, disappointment, and discouragement.  He thrives on them, and he knows just how to sow seeds of opposition in my life. 

It is in these times that the precious Word becomes even more important.  Funny how God speaks through Scripture just what I need and when I need it.  Today, for example, my morning reading led me to the Gospel of John.  One passage in particular jumped out at me.

Jesus has just shared the simple truth with His followers.  He has described Himself as the Bread of Life and stated quite clearly the path to salvation.  But, alas, according to John 6:66, “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.”

So Jesus, being the straightforward kinda guy He is, turns to His twelve primary disciples and asks, “Do you want to go away as well?”  You see, Jesus is a perfect gentleman.  He doesn’t barge in where He is unwanted, and He sure doesn’t force people to remain in His presence.

But I love Peter’s response: “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.”   

  

I get that.  And when clouds of discouragement fester in the skies of my life, I always go back to it.  The day I committed my life to Jesus Christ, He rescued me, in every sense of the word.  He gave me hope and peace that I had never, ever known.  He has gifted me with His sweet presence.  He hangs out with me now.  There is absolutely nothing for me to go back to.

There will be times when you feel like you are peddling a bike uphill with one foot...and maybe even without the bike.  Just know this: if Jesus Christ lives in your heart, you are not alone in the fight.  Disregard the lies the enemy sneers in your ear, because outside of Jesus, there is no peace, no hope, and no joy.   He alone holds the words of eternal life.  And He alone can hold you.

Suffering in the Light of Scripture

If you have a pulse right now, then you most likely have been through a rough patch in your life. 

Some have had it harder than others: a friend or family member dying, parents getting a divorce, or a hard break-up that left you crushed and confused, just to name a few.  But even if the hardest thing you’ve ever been through is getting a C on a test or losing your pet parakeet, it’s all a struggle in God’s eyes.  He doesn’t discriminate.

As believers in Christ, when tough times come, we know one place we should automatically look: God’s Word.  The Bible has literally hundreds of things to say about hardship in life; there’s even a whole book of the Bible devoted to it called Job.

Many people would like to tell you that God wants to take all your struggles away, but biblically that’s not exactly correct.  Sometimes God does take hard times away, but more often than not, God uses what we are going through to make us more like Him.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we have received.”

Personally, I find it so amazing that God comforts us so that we can comfort others.  And the best part is, you don’t have to wait until your struggle is over!  One of the best things you can do if you are having a rough season is look for ways you can help, serve, and comfort others.  It will make their day, and you will be surprised how it makes you feel, too!  Sometimes when we are hurting, it helps to get outside of ourselves and see we aren’t the only ones struggling.  I Peter 4:19 says, “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”  Don’t wait!

Did you know hard times can be some of the most spiritually productive times in our lives?  Listen to this.  Romans 5:3-5 says,

“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

Isn’t that just like God, to take a rough thing and turn it into a beautiful thing?

If you are hurting right now, cling to Jesus.  If anyone understands what you are going through, it’s Him.  Hebrews 5:8 says, “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.”  Jesus Christ gets suffering.  And He gets you.  He created you with His own hands (Psalm 139).  He will never let go of you, and He loves you infinitely. 

 “In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

For the Dudes...

Join men like yourself at Uplands Reach who have passion for following Jesus, no matter what the cost.
This twenty-five hour (6pm on April 15th - 7pm on April 16th) epic camp-out will challenge you to see yourself as the warrior for Christ that you are called to be.

Men from 7th grade to 12th grade, college-age, and Dads are welcome to attend (this would be a great father/son activity!).

And don't even get us started on how incredible the food is going to be...doesn't anything cooked over an open flame taste better?!

Go to the Upland's Reach website (www.uplandsreach.org) and check out our Facebook event for more info and to print off forms and registration.

Don't miss this camp-out that could change your life forever!

Are We Tempted too Easily? - by Maryanne Grimmett

My dog hates baths like celebrities hate silence.  This is unfortunate, on several levels.  First of all, she is a Basset Hound, which renders her naturally odorous and in frequent need of aromatic assistance.  Secondly, she often accompanies me to feed the horses, where she indulges in a veritable buffet of manure.  Finally, I cannot abide a dirty dog in my house, so I bathe her weekly (at the very least) whether she needs it or not.

            On bath day, we play a little game called Mabel Hears the Water Running and Hides Behind the Recliner.  After that game, we play Maryanne Calls and Calls, But Mabel Never Comes.  Today, however, I was three hours behind schedule and in no mood for games.  Therefore, I resorted to bribery, knowing full well that Mabel is motivated by two things: food and sleep.  So, I grabbed a formidable weapon in this battle…a handful of Cheese Puffs.  (Sidenote: Cheese Puffs, when you do the math, sell for about $12 a pound and are made solely of air and calories.)   Sure enough, after only two measly Cheese Puffs, she was standing outside the bathroom door.  Just one more Cheese Puff later, she was neck deep in warm water getting scrubbed down with Garnier Fructis.

            As I dried Mabel off, I considered how easily she had fallen.  For three years, she’s taken a firm stand against bathing.  For three years, I’ve had to physically haul her to the bathtub, which is easier said than done when dealing with a 50lb. dog dead set against getting clean.  Today, however, she didn’t even put up a fight.  She was a traitor to her own cause, and all because I tempted her with a few Cheese Puffs, and stale ones at that.

            But I am not unlike Mabel.  I have a cause, one that I have staked my eternal destiny on and committed my life to.  I am a follower of Jesus, and I am called to live for Him.  However, I find myself so easily distracted by bribes just as empty as the Cheese Puffs offered to Mabel.  A little extra sleep when I should be spending more time in the Word.  A few moments of silence when I could be sharing my testimony with a friend.  A bad attitude when I ought to be praising the One who has blessed me so abundantly.  Satan’s bribes are so cheap, and I am often too weak to resist them. 

            Fortunately, my God doesn’t change, which means His great love and compassion are unfailing, even for a flawed being such as myself.  And since my salvation is secure, He has, for reasons unbeknownst to me, obligated Himself to join me in the cause and aid my efforts along the way.  I am so comforted to know that the one-and-only Jesus is hanging right there with me, no matter how many Cheese Puffs the enemy rolls out.

Status: Inspired

Here are some awesome Facebook status updates from 
our favorite preacher, Neal Hatfield: 

January 24th:

Psalms 51:6 The LORD wants us real on the inside. The old hymn says: "Prone to wander LORD I feel it, Prone to leave the one I love, take my heart LORD, take and seal it." I want a life that the LORD is pleased with from the inside out.


January 16th:


 Thessalonians 4:16-18 Maybe today is the day the LORD will come back for HIS bride. I want to live like a bride arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. Revelation 19:8


January 8th:


John 3:30 The battle of my life is surrendering to the one who loves me most. 31 years of trying to follow the SAVIOR and I have never regretted the result. Let me learn from my past surrenders and relinquish my present selfish rights.


January 2nd:


I JOHN 1:9 We all have a chance for a brand new start in 2011. Lets confess and forsake any known sin and allow the LORD JESUS CHRIST to cleanse us and use us in a great way. It feels so incredible to be clean with the LORD. 


December 26th:


John 3:16 What an incredible time to serve and love the SAVIOR. The next great biblical event in history will be the return of JESUS for HIS bride. Can you imagine seeing the SAVIOR whom you have served with all your heart, mind, and soul since you got radically saved. Live with an eternal perspective.


December 20th:


Luke 2:1-7 It is so incredible that JESUS loved us so much that he made only one way to get to heaven. We dont need to be confused, HE made it simple. Its all about JESUS, HIS virgin birth, HIS sinless life, HIS blood willingly shed as HE gave up HIS life, the SAVIOR taking my sin, and the great fact that HE rose from the dead and is alive today! JESUS the real reason for the season.


December 13th:


Luke 2:30 I love to meditate on what it must have been like for Simeon to see the everlasting SAVIOR. It is so cool that I will see HIM some soon day.


December 6th:


Colossians 1:20 Peace can only come from the PRINCE of PEACE. The scriptures say, "having made peace through the blood of HIS cross". Seek JESUS and find real peace.