Stop Listening And Start Doing

"In life, whether at school, at work, at church or wherever it may be, there always comes a time where you have to stop listening and start doing.

Education, encouragement and exhortation can only take you to the starting line. There is a  point at which you have to start putting into practice what you have learned."

- An excerpt from Child Sponsorship Week-Over To You by Peter on his blog Rediscovering the Church

Asking For More, Surrender, Changing Your Life

"I often think of it backwards, that God is somehow filling me with more, but how can He fill what’s already full?

When I ask for more, I’m surrendering and letting go of my junk to receive His best.  The situations He leads me into will allow me to get rid of what was hindering and know Him a little (or a lot) better.

As I prayed for more of Him, I was giving Him the right to more of my heart and life at which He said, “no take-backs.”  It’s not easy, but Christ is more brilliantly displayed in me, I find out who He really is, and I walk into grace that brings a transformation."

- An excerpt from No Take-Backs by Jason on his blog Connecting to Impact

Who Is Your Savior?

“My greatest disappointments in life are when I ask anyone or anything other than Jesus Christ to be my savior.”

Have you ever done that? Have you ever unknowingly said to a new job, “OK, new job. Here are my expectations. I want you to make me happier, filled with joy and more content as a person. I expect you to save me from my previous job and magically make me a better person.”

Or maybe you’ve done that with a relationship. “OK, new boyfriend. I need you to fix all my problems. I have some hurt in my life, some emptiness in a few spots and I need you, in the context of this dating relationship, to fill me with a light that shines bright and true and perfect. OK, go!”

Or maybe for you it’s stuff...

But it didn’t and it won’t.

Why?

Because that’s Christ’s job.

He and he alone is in the Savior business. He and he alone can rescue you from deep waters. He and he alone can save you from powerful enemies. And you know why? You know why God does that? It’s not because He has to. He doesn’t do it out of obligation. Not at all. Psalm 18:19 says “He rescued me because he delighted in me.”

- An excpert from Having Savior Moments by Jon on his blog Stuff Christians Like

The Gift Of Words Through Community

"...God has given us the gift of words through community.

It’s been said that talk is cheap.

I disagree. We all need to hear words of affirmation. Words that speak truth, that help us see a glimpse of who we truly are.

Words change and shape us.  Sometimes for the worse, but thankfully, other times, for the better.

Community is like that, I think.

Just as others have slayed me with their words, God has healed me through others.

I wouldn’t be where I am today, if it weren’t for the lifegiving words of some who were generous with their encouragement and friendship.

These friends made time to listen and stand with me in the process of becoming.

True community isn’t “pretty” because it’s human.  It’s imperfections can hurt, but it opens opportunities to love.  God has used community to open my heart, beyond the borders of myself."

- An excerpt from Community: The Gift of Words by Bonnie Gray on her blog Faith Barista

Giving Is The Essence Of Love

"Giving, at its core, is the essence of love. You spell “love” G-I-V-E because that's what love’s all about. When you love someone you want to give to them. You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving. It is impossible to do that. You say you love God, then it’s going to show up in your generous lifestyle. I can claim to be a Christian, a follower of Christ. I can claim to love God. But the Bible says there is one way to really test the sincerity of your love. 2 Corinthians 8:7-8 says “But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.” God tests the sincerity of our love by looking at our giving."

- An excerpt from How Can We Express Our Love to God? by Kevin Martineau on his blog Shooting the Breeze