A Book That Can Save Lives

What in life gives people the ability to push forward, to overcome hardships, find happiness, guidance, and assurance? What do we run to in order to find answers and uncover the truth about life? Some may find this fulfillment through money, friends, or even building up themselves. However, most do not realize that the biggest tool given to us to be able to find fulfillment and encouragement simply lies in a book that is so common that people rarely care to even glance twice at it: the Bible.

                The Bible is a book that primarily reveals the character of God. Everything in it points to him and accentuates his character. In addition to describing our Lord, the Bible also shows us how to live as followers of Christ.  Reading the Word is so important because it is a model for Christians as to how to serve God, but unfortunately is very much overlooked. Recently, I have begun to really focus on reading the Bible, and have found that it is not just a boring book that is hard to understand like I assumed, but instead, every verse is a treasure that tells something about who God is, and who we are and should be as his people. I find that when I am reading the Bible in search for things that will show me who God is and how I am supposed to live my life, I am able to gain fulfillment, encouragement, and refreshment from his Word. The Bible is here to show us how to live to the glory of God, and how to reflect his character through our lives. However, most people don’t care to take the time or effort to read God’s Word because they assume that it is boring and hard to understand.

                Although it might be difficult and a bit boring sometimes to spend your precious time in God’s Word, it is what God commands us to do. He has given this book to us as a guideline for life, and we would be foolish and ungrateful not to spend time with the Lord by reading his Word. The Bible also tells us that we “shall not live on bread alone, but every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3).  Especially today, as we strive to fight against the world’s ways, it is imperative to cling to the Word of God, so that we will find fulfillment in what is just and true instead of shallow and unsteady. The Bible will offer pure fulfillment, and will draw us ever close to Christ.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%208:3&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20119:11&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20119:105&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2030:5&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2015:1-2&version=NIV

Building Up the Body of Christ

In today’s society, going to church is not usually perceived as an opportunity to serve and worship Christ, but rather as a time commitment, or a something that we can check of our list every Sunday. However, it is mentioned several times in the Bible that the church is the body of Christ and its purpose is to work together as one to glorify Christ. The church is also referred to as the bride of Christ, and Christ is known as the groom of the church. Because it is mentioned so many times in the Bible, it is obviously important that the church be a unity and body that focuses on serving Christ completely. A key way for a church to begin in pursuing Christ as a whole is to build up the congregation so that the church is united as one body, founded on the God as the head of the church. Today, it is imperative to have strong churches who strive to worship God, and serving Him by ministering to others. The world and all of its temptations lives to pull anyone away from knowing the truth of God’s beauty and grace, and therefore it is so important that the church have a firm foundation in Christ so that it may encourage others, and also recognize the ways of the world so that it can lead the body of Christ away from them.

                As a student in high school, I believe that being more involved in my church will encourage me to live more for Christ. Also, being part and involved in a church body provides a lot of encouragement and fellowship from other people in the church, and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.   

Ambassadors of Christ

Every person in this world is called to be a missionary, or ambassador of Christ. Those who are Christians, or accept Christ as their savior, belong to Him. As stated in Song of Solomon chapter two verse four, "Christ has brought us to His banquet hall, his banner over us is love." Not only are we one in Christ, but He puts His banner or label over us so that every one else will know that we His. All those who are children of God are intended to be missionaries. It is not necessary to travel to a different country, or go to a special school to be a missionary. It is expected to be a light for Christ and show everyone around you that His banner is over you.
Last Thursday, I had the priviledge of attending a banquet in support of ROCK International,  an organization that provides underpriviledged children in Africa with food and oppertunity to hear the gospel. Nathan Bramsen, the man who helped start this organization is currently serving the Lord in Niger, Africa by being a part of ROCK International and shining the light of Christ to the children of Africa. It was an amazing experience to hear the stories from children who are being shown the love of Christ for the first time. ROCK International focuses primarily on children, and Nathan and some other men in Niger relish the precious time spent with the Nigerian children, and watching God's miracles at work.
Hearing the stories of those children in Africa and how for many, this is the first time they are hearing of the gospel, made me realize how lucky I am to be brought up in a Christian home, and be able to grow close to Christ with an encouraging church and family behind me. So much I have taken for granted in always having access to a Bible, and always having Christian influences around me. Attending the banquet and learning more about the underprivaledged children in Niger influenced me greatly, and made me realize how much I take for granted the priviledge of having people in my life who will encourage me to seek Christ.
Knowing Christ is a priviledge that is many times taken for granted, and as followers of God, we are called to be missionaries to those around us so that others will not miss out on the oppertunity to know such an amazing God. Please pray for the children of Niger and the men that are currently doing the Lord's work there. For more information about the mission of ROCK and the mission work being done in Niger, view the ROCK International website:
http://www.rockintl.org/

Witnessing at School

 

During the past month, I have felt that sitting at the same lunch table every day with the same three girls isn’t fulfilling my goals for the Jesus Mission. Although I love sitting and talking to my friends, usually the lunch time discussions at school aren’t very interactive or glorifying to God. My thought was, “am I glorifying God by where I am, sitting with these girls and not being part of a conversation that doesn’t encourage me to witness to others?” Through this, I realized that I hadn’t been doing anything to encourage others to follow Christ because I was comfortable in my environment.

                As a Christian, you cannot live a life that is unnoticed. “Your faith should be public, not private,” said Nathan Bramsen, leader of Youth Conference at Camp Hope (http://www.camphopega.org/). Christians should be so in love and ultimately drowned in God’s love that they cannot contain the excitement of his love to us, which will result in a life that is shining Christ through all things. I realized that my light was not shining where I was at lunch because I was so comfortable with these girls that I wasn’t pushing myself and putting myself out of my comfort zone to encourage others. Because of this, my friends and I moved to a different table with a lot of different people during lunch, so that I would be out of my comfort zone and more willing to be a witness to other people.

                Even though many people at school say they believe in God and are Christians, it is obvious by looking at the choices they make and what they invest in as to who they really are. My goal these next few months is to witness more to others and not be afraid to share my faith with others, even if they say they are already a Christian.

How can I make God my main priority?

Over the past weekend, there has been a reformation of the ‘Jesus Mission.’ My friends and I decided to make some changes because we felt that even though we were praying at lunch and such, we weren’t doing enough to show God’s love throughout our school. We laid out a new plan for the whole entire week:

·         Monday- no make-up Mondays. This basically means that every Monday, my friends and I aren’t going to be wearing any make-up. Now you might say that that’s not a challenge at all, and lots of people don’t wear make-up to school. However, we put a new twist on it. Along with the no make-up, we need to not complain about our body image, and also, we are going to encourage everyone, and let them know how beautiful they truly are.

·         Tuesday- Tuesdays are bible study day. We’re hoping to start a bible study during our lunch hour. The bible studies will hopefully be based off a podcast by called Unfiltered. http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/nathan-bramsen-unfiltered/id521169605.

·         Wednesday- Wednesday at lunch, we plan to read a book called ‘Crazy Love’ http://www.crazylovebook.com/.

·         Thursday- this day is similar to Monday, in the fact that our mission is to take every opportunity to share God’s love. I mean how many times have we let that opportunity pass? My goal is to be so full of Christ’s love that I can’t even shut up about it!

·         Friday- after school on Friday, we plan to have a thirty to forty five minute prayer meeting. I want to give people the opportunity to pray about anything that’s on their heart, or simply pray a prayer of praise.

This is a lot to handle on top of my school work, and extra-curricular activities, but I believe that God has really laid it on my heart to be drawn closer to Him by taking this chance, and doing something I’ve never done before. It has always been a challenge for me to witness to others, and now I’m growing close to God by doing this. I want to put Him first, above all else, and am hoping that this 'Jesus Mission' will encourage me to do that. Something I learned shortly ago was that God doesn’t simply send us out to witness to others. Instead, we should be so overflowing with His love that we are witnessing without even trying. I pray that my friends and I will be able to make a difference in our school, and in our own lives.

Prayers at Lunch

                Standing up for what you believe in is very hard, and I definitely a good reminder of that this week. One of my goals has been to pray before eating lunch every day at school, so that everyone at my lunch table can witness to others throughout the school. I’ve been praying at lunch daily, and I have felt much better and more confident about my faith, and being able to share it with others.

                Unfortunately, I realized not everybody wanted to be exposed to what I believe in. I have had some people call our table group ‘freaks’ just because we pray before we eat. That was a little frustrating and discouraging. God tells us that we will be persecuted for His name’s sake, and considering how much He endured for me, the least I can do is give up myself for Him.

                Even though it was difficult to have people discourage me from praying, there were also some other people from school that mentioned seeing us pray and appreciating it. Hopefully our prayers will encourage more people to not be ashamed about their religion and feel more comfortable to witness to those around them.

                Hopefully I can encourage my classmates to stand up for what they believe in and don’t be afraid to share the gospel with others.

               

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2 Corinthians+12:10&version=NIV

The Jesus Mission

Have you ever felt the need to make a difference? To do something to impact someone more than just the people close to you? Have you ever had the realization that your life is about more than just serving yourself? I have. That’s why my friend and I are starting what we call the Jesus Mission.

                Last year at school, I was quiet, I had just one circle of people I hung out with, and we all faded into the background just doing the norm. This year however, my friend and I have really felt the drive to live for more than just ourselves. We want to live for Jesus; we want to serve Him in everything we do, in school and outside of school.  Our plan or ‘mission’ as you might call it, is to be radical, to step out of our comfort zone, and be on fire for God. We want to be Jesus Freaks. This year, we’re going to make an impact on our school.

So yeah, this all may seem a little farfetched, but we can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13). Not only that, but I have a plan. This is how it’s going to work:

·         Pray at lunch

·         Reach out to ALL people not just our own table group (don’t be afraid about sharing the gospel to those around you. “When you shine light into light, who will see it? We need to be a light in the dark because when we group ourselves together, how are we serving God?”)

·         Get involved with FCA-possibly lead it

·         Starbucks bible study!!!!!!! (I mean who doesn’t love Starbucks??!!)

·         Christian movie night on Saturday night

So these are just some ideas of how I can make a difference in my school. I’m not here to fit in with the crowd of people following the world; I’m here to live for Christ!

Hebrews 10:24-25

John 3:30