“The Love You've Been Looking For”– Carl Lentz

Check this out guys! This is a banging sermon by Carl Lentz, the Pastor of Hillsong Church NYC. It really blessed me, and I pray it'll do the same for y'all. I know when we're listening to someone preach most of us, like me, are not used to taking notes, but take some notes down in your phone or on paper. I believe taking notes is one of the best things a young Christian can do because it gives us something to look back on and read after the sermon.

God Bless! Love you all!

Through All Of It

A YouVersion Devotional based on Colton Dixon's Song,  Through All of It 

YouVersion Devotional 

 (you can go through this in days, in one sitting, or however you choose)

click on the days to access the devotional link

Day 1

“There are days of taking more than I can give

And there are choices that I made that I wouldn't make again
I've had my share of laughter
Of tears and troubled times
This has been the story of my life”

Day 2 

“I have won

And I have lost

I got it right sometimes, but sometimes I did not

Life's been a journey

I've seen joy, I've seen regret

Oh, and You have been my God through all of it”

Day 3 

“You were there when it all came down on me

When I was blinded by my fear and I struggled to believe

But in those unclear moments You were the one keeping me strong

This is how my story's always gone”

Day 4 

“And this is who You are, more constant than the stars
Up in the sky, all these years, all my life
I look back and I see You
Right now I still do
And I'm always going to”

A word from Max Lucado

The 06/29/2015 edition:

Give Thanks

Today's MP3 Some things just weren’t made to coexist. Long-tailed cats and rocking chairs? Bulls in a china shop? Not a good idea. Blessings and bitterness? The mixture doesn’t go over well with God. Combine heavenly kindness with earthly ingratitude and expect a sour concoction. Perhaps you’ve sampled it. Gratitude doesn’t come naturally. Self-pity does. Bellyaches do. Grumbles and mumbles—no one has to remind us to offer them. Yet they don’t mix well with the kindness we’ve been given. Gratitude gets us through the hard stuff. To reflect on your blessings is to rehearse God’s accomplishments. To rehearse His accomplishments is to discover His heart. Gratitude always leaves us looking at God and away from dread. “Give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians5:20). From You’ll Get Through This

Prayer, Not Despair

Our society seemed to take a seismic shift today. The decision of the SCOTUS regarding same-sex marriage has the potential to leave many Christians anxious and troubled. While those of us who hold to traditional marriage have a right to be concerned, we have no need to despair. What we need is a good dose of this Scripture: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Ph. 4:6,7) It may seem that the world is changing fast, but is it really? The headlines may announce a decision of the Supreme Court, but the actions of our Supreme God are unaltered. He is still the Creator, blessed forever. (Rom. 1:25) He is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Heb. 13:8) His years will never end. (Ps. 102:27) He needs no counselor; seeks no advice. He is equally everywhere. He never wearies, sleeps or struggles. He has never been confused, thwarted or contested. He reigns supreme over every detail of the universe. “He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” (Dan. 4:35) God is still God and His word is still sure. His sovereign grace never changes. Everything else may change. But He doesn’t. So let’s replace our anxious thoughts with prayerful ones. “…in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known…” Now is the time for prayer and faith. Something good will come out of this. Maybe now we can have this discussion where we need to have it. Face-to-face. In neighborhoods. Over dinner tables. Perhaps the hate-filled words will subside and clear thinking will gain traction; the shouting will diminish and the heart-felt dialogue will increase. Now is the time for us all to pursue the highest ideals of our Master: to love God, love our neighbors and, above all, be anxious for nothing. –Max Lucado © June 26, 2015

Forgiveness

Google: Forgiveness 

One of the first things you'll see is this definition below

1. Forgiveness is the intentional and voluntary process by which a victim undergoes a change in feelings and attitude regarding an offense, lets go of negative emotions such as vengefulness, with an increased ability to wish the offender well.

1. I've highlighted some of the key words that make the definition.

• Intentional and voluntary: something you do of free will 

• increased ability to wish the offender well: but how does this increased ability happen?

1. We know forgiveness from God is pardon, a letting go, "Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace." The cost to God was the Cross of Christ. To forgive sin, while remaining a holy God, this price had to be paid." -Oswald Chambers daily devotion.
2. But what about when it comes to forgiving others?
3.  Ephesians 4 vs 32 (ESV) puts it simply
4. "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" 
5. Letting things go IS one of the most difficult things a person can do. And when you think about it, forgiveness is such a bizarre thing

- choosing NOT to hold a grudge when someone has done you wrong?

- choosing NOT to take revenge when you're completely in the right to do so?

But we are commanded to do so just that " as God in Christ forgave you" 

 If God can forgive us our sins, and the price it took to forgive them being death on the cross, who are we to not forgive others? It costs nothing, and will only benefit us. 

How do we do it? 
We have to humble ourselves, and it does take time because forgiveness is more of a process, than an event.
 But if we seek God's help, we can do it! 

Tips for forgiving

1. Don't deny that you've been hurt. Forgiving isn't denying 
2. Make a decision to forgive others (Luke 17 vs 3-5)
3. Don't seek revenge or repay evil for evil. Let God handle it (1 Peter 3 vs 9)
4. Pray the Lord will release any anger inside you (Ephesians 4 vs 26-27, 31)
5. Pray for those who hurt you (Matthew 5 vs 44) 

Life Lessons on Forgiveness

 
Condition Your Heart (click here for video)
Danny Gokey shares words of Solomon from Proverbs 4:23 and discusses why he advises us to guard our hearts above all else 
-KLOVE.com 

Forgiveness by Matthew West

                                                The story behind the song 

Beautiful YOU

1st Peter 3 vs 3-4 (NCV)

3.It's not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful 

4.No, your beauty should come within you-the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that will never be destroyed and is very precious to God.

1 Samuel 16: 7 (ESV)

Song of Solomon 4:7 (ESV)   

Psalms 139:14 (NIV)

Psalms 34:5 (ESV)
Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

Read more: Resource

ToxicThinking and Positive Belief

Happy Wednesday !

Here are some snippets from this really encouraging article on dealing with negative people (or your own thoughts)  in your life 

Giving Love when it's not given back equally 

• As Christ followers, we strive to give love from a pure heart that doesn’t require a person to love us perfectly in return. But sometimes the person we give our love to consistently betrays and wounds us. How do we give 1 Corinthians 13 love in that situation?

Not giving up

• He is waiting to transform the lives of everyone leaking nuclear emotions and throwing verbal grenades. The controller, the abuser, and the too-easily angered are not immune to the power of God’s Word. We are promised that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37, Mark 10:27).

• God created those who hurt us. He has a good plan for their lives. He knows the “why” behind their destructive behaviors. He knows the lies they believe about themselves. He knows what stands in the way of their wholeness. He is a Shepherd who pursues every sheep that wanders away from all He offers.

Praising and Prayer

• When we arm ourselves and pray, we salute His authority and partner with His plan for the family of God.

• Praising God is a powerful first line of defense. We can worship and adore Him, our wonderful counselor and supreme relationship expert.
• We can choose to live prayerfully and humbly before God. He can help us love those who do not love us well with a pure heart.
• Praying for your enemy is like training for the Christian Olympics. The stakes are high. The requirements are intense. But the reward is far greater than any gold medal. Your prayer can be used by God in a person’s life, their family, and the generations after them.

Resource: Bible Study Tools.com/ 

How to Pray for the Toxic People in Your Life

Jennifer O. White

Read the Full Article

Read Romans 4 vs. 18-21 

From Battlefield of the Mind: YouVersion Daily Devotional

Positive belief in God's promises yields good results because the Good One sends them to us. Refuse to give up, and you will see the results of your positive belief.

For the things you hope for but have not yet received 

Pray: Dear Father in heaven, forgive my lack of belief. Forgive me for allowing Satan to deceive me or make me think I'm worthless or unworthy of Your miracles. I am worthy because You made me worthy. You are the God of the impossible, and I ask You to help me wait on You and never give up. In the name of Jesus Christ my Lord, I pray. Amen.

Another resource: keep your head up 

Anger Management

Controlling my anger has always been, and is still, a battle for me. But nothing (even a flaring temper) is impossible for God. Here are a couple of Bible reading plans I've used and am using now to help.  

From the YouVersion Plan Battlefield of the Mind 

Read: Proverbs 23 vs. 7

As We Focus

Years ago, I learned an invaluable lesson: Whatever we focus on, we become. That simple statement taught me a great deal. Wherever we put our energies or our attention, those things will develop. Another way I like to say it is, "Where the mind goes, the man follows!"

If I begin to think about ice cream, I will soon find myself in my car pursuing ice cream. My thought will stir my desires and emotions, and I will make the decision to follow them.

If we focus only on the negative things in our lives, we become negative people. Everything, including our conversations, becomes negative. We soon lose our joy and live miserable lives--and it all started with our own thinking.

You might be experiencing some problems in life--not realizing that you are creating them yourself by what you're choosing to think about. I challenge you to think about what you're thinking about!

You might be discouraged and even depressed and wonder what caused it. Yet if you will examine your thought life, you will find that you are feeding the negative emotions you are feeling. Negative thoughts are fuel for discouragement, depression, and many other unpleasant emotions.

We should choose our thoughts carefully. We can think about what is wrong with our lives or about what is right with them. We can think about what is wrong with all the people we are in relationship with or we can see the good and meditate on that. The Bible teaches us to always believe the best. When we do that, it makes our own lives happier and more peaceful.

Pray: Dear patient and loving God, I ask You to forgive me for focusing my thoughts on things that are not pleasing to You. I pray that You will help me fill my mind with thoughts that are clean and pure and uplifting. In Jesus' name. Amen.

From the book Battlefield of the Mind Devotional by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2005 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Read: 

Ephesians 4 vs. 26, 31-32 

Resource: You Version Plan: Working Through Anger

Guard your Heart

Guard Your Hearts... and Fix Your Eyes  Max Lucado  The 04/29/2015 edition

Guarding Our Hearts

Today's MP3 For most of us, thought management is, well, un-thought of! We think much about time management, weight management, personnel management. But what about thought management?  Shouldn't we be as concerned about managing our thoughts as we are managing anything else? Jesus was. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.” Jesus guarded his heart. If he did, shouldn’t we do the same? When Peter was about to question the necessity of Calvary, Christ blocked the doorway. Jesus says in Matthew 16:23, Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works. Jesus wants you to have a heart like his. That is God’s goal for you. He wants you to think and act like Christ Jesus. But how? We can be transformed if we make one decision…submit our thoughts to the authority of Jesus!   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fixing Our Eyes  This may be easier said than done, but guarding our thoughts is just as important as  guarding our prized possessions. Our thoughts=our hearts= our actions.  The “heart” includes the mind and all that proceeds from it. Someone said that every sin we commit, we commit twice, once in our thoughts and again when we act upon those thoughts." So instead of letting anything get the best of us,  whether it be violence or negative self thoughts, revenge or 'getting back at' some one let's instead   Not to say that this will be our mindset always, because things happen and life isn't all fluffy clouds and rainbows.  But we can rise above all the fudge that life throws and keep our eyes not on the mountains ...  I lift up my eyes to the mountains— (the problems,  the disasters, betrayals)  (when you start to wonder... remember) where does my help come from?    2 My help comes from the Lord,  the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121 vs. 1 (NIV) Think on that: when you're going through it remember whose got your back, always and forever.  Be encouraged :)   Philippians 4 vs 6  "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." (NLT)  Now for a listen  Psalms 121 The Playlist ; watch and really listen References and Resources: Take Control of your thoughts Rick Warren- Guard Your Heart Filtering what you see How to Guard your thoughts  Keep your walls up- Positive Thinking

SOMETHING FUN

This is for all the youth in middle school and high school sent to me from 

Sr. Daphnee Vieux 

1 st Annual Project S.T.E.A.M. Awards

 CALLING ALL STUDENTS GRADES 6-12 

FOR A CHANCE TO BE THIS YEARS RECIPIENT 

OF THE 2015 4th District Future Producers Award 

To Enter, All Students Must:

•  Create a 2-minute video using the media source of your choice (camera, phone, tablet, etc.) showcasing the 5 S.T.E.A.M. elements. 

(Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) 

• Write 2 paragraphs explaining WHAT your video is about, WHY you chose the topic, WHO could benefit from watching it.

•   Submit your video, essay, contact information and the name of your school to PhillyTVFestival@gmail.com by April 20, 2015.

 *All finalist videos will be viewed at awards ceremony and aired on television.

 *Winner will receive grand prize.

 Project S.T.E.A.M. Award Ceremony 

Saturday, May 9, 2015 ~ 12:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.

 622 N. Frazier Street Philadelphia, PA 19131 www.projectsteam.tv

Good Friday to you!

A word from MAX LUCADO  An Anchor for Your Soul

Today's MP3 Six hours, one Friday. To the casual observer the six hours are mundane. But to a handful of awestruck witnesses, the most maddening of miracles is occurring. God is on a cross. The Creator of the universe is being executed! It is no normal six hours; it is no normal Friday. His own friends ran for cover. And now his own father is beginning to turn his back on him, leaving him alone. What do you do with that day in history? If God did commandeer his own crucifixion. . .if he did turn his back on his own son. . .if he did storm Satan’s gate, then those six hours that Fridaywere packed with tragic triumph. If that was God on that cross, then the hill called Skull is granite studded with stakes to which you can anchor your soul forever! All rights to Max Lucado

She Walks in Beauty

 

"A worthy woman, who can find? For her price is far above rubies"

Proverbs 31 vs 10 (ASV) 

Worthy. Other versions say good, excellent, virtuous, of noble character.

 In this modern day, we all know the "ideal" standard of beauty is a list of requirements centered around physical features and maybe a handful of characteristics.

But as women of God still trying to make it, lets put down the lip gloss and eye shadow for a minute, because yeah it's fine to enhance what you've got but it's just as important to work on the inside (even if the world thinks otherwise).

Besides, Romans 12 vs. 2 reminds us not to "conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...." (NIV)

Your mind: your thoughts, your perceptions, your beliefs.

Lesson 1: Having the right focus

Devotions

Hey guys. So I'm thinking we can start this devotion type thing to increase our relationship spiritually with each other and at the same time grow closer to God. Here's what it'll be:
Anyone can bring
* a verse
* a devotion or passage from the Bible
* anything that encourages, or really makes you think (video, poem, song ect)

Basics
It will be once a week
The person that brings the verse or devotion can lead the discussion either online or at the youth meeting
-that person can talk about why they chose what they did 
-how it effects them
-and any other thing that relates to their content

 

 

Weekly Devotions

A Home For Gods Spirit

For those that are baptized, we get baptized because we believe that God is real, and we believe in Him.

 If you are born again, Jesus lives on the inside of you through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The question is: Is God comfortable in you? Does He feel at home within you?

Even though the Spirit of God lives within you, other things can live in you too. 

For example, imagine if you're living in a beautiful apartment but it's not the first apartment you've lived in. Your land Lord is the greatest land Lord you've ever had. He doesn't charge you a lot for rent, He cares about you genuinely, plus he gives you every other amenity that you need to live well, for free. 

But also imagine your old land lord, someone who doesn't care about you. All he cares about is you paying him the outrageous amount of rent every month.Yes, he says he will give you all the great things you desire for your apartment, but those are all empty promises. Empty promises he makes just to get you to commit to him, and the contract for the apartment. 

The only reason you were able to leave your contract with your old land lord was because your new land Lord found a loophole in the contract, a loophole that freed you from the the old land lord and his contract. If you hand the choice, wouldn't you take the opportunity to leave the old land lord for the new land Lord?

Now you're happy, but imagine every so often your old land lord would come to your apartment, and you would let him in. Every time he would come, he would come into your apartment and trash the place up. He would keep coming back but every time he would leave, your new land Lord would clean your apartment up, fix it up, and put it back to normal. These things don't mix, wouldn't you rather have your new land Lord be your one and only land Lord friend, instead of continually letting your old land lord in?

This is a battle a lot of us fight with as Christians. You are the apartment, your body is the temple of God, you are a home for the Holy Spirit. Your old land lord is the Devil, and all the evil things he comes with. Your new land Lord is God, He picks you up, cleans you off, and brings you back to normal. 

• If we want to be a comfortable "home" for the Spirit of the Lord:
• We must give up all things that cause us to forget about His presence or are offensive to Him.
• Stop grumbling, and allowing strife and unrest inside of you.
• Start forgiving people!
• Don't harbor any resentment towards anyone, or anything

• Instead we need to make sure our inner lives are engaged in things that please and honor God presence. Our mouths should be full of praise and thanksgiving. 

Wake up every morning and say " Good morning, Lord. I want you to feel at home and be comfortable in me today. " 

Our inner lives is Holy Ground where God has chosen to make His home.
Commit to making Him comfortable in us.

       Make sure you are a comfortable home for the Spirit of the Lord.

                         Ephesians 3:17

" And I pray that Christ will make His home in your hearts through faith. 

           I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love,"

God Bless. Love you all.

Honoring God

 

 

 Honoring God is more than just turning in your tithe, going to Sunday worship and prayer services

Here's a devotional I'm reading now that reminds us:

 

God should be 1st priority, not an after thought or tradition

 

YouVersion Devotional: Pray While You Prey