oneDay

COMING BACK TO GOD

Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for your sins have brought you down. (Hosea 14:1) NLT

Have you ever felt like you were drowning in sin? It wasn’t long ago I found myself back in a lifestyle of sin. I was so full of guilt I was afraid to even tell those I was accountable to. I didn’t look anyone in the eye and I even stepped back from ministry. I was overwhelmed, brought down, with sin.

I had been told that God would take me back, but why would I believe that? I knew the greed and shame in my heart and I knew the righteousness of God. I didn’t deserve to even breathe the same air he does, let alone talk to Him. How could I go back to God when I couldn’t even face Him.

But, I started to realize that my way wasn’t working either. I was sinking fast. I had drown in a world of sin. I was too deep to pull myself out anymore. So, I crawled back to God….I didn’t run back, I groveled. I came into the presence of God weeping and ashamed. He led me to Hosea 12:6--”So now, come back to your God! Act on the principles of love and justice, and always live in confident dependence on your God.”(NLT)

He reminded me that it was the right choice to come back. He didn’t remind me of my sin. He didn’t turn me away. He told me what to do from here. He showed me that I did have a ministry (we ALL have a ministry) and reminded me to act with love.

But, above all he reminded me why I fell in the first place and how to prevent it in the future. I stopped living in “confident dependence.” I realized that when I was living in totally dependence on Him and acting in confidence because of that dependence, I was joyful and free. I could have that back. All I had to do was completely and fully rely on Him once again.

My friends, are you drowning in sin and afraid to go to the Father? Are ou afraid he will turn you away like the world does, that He will reject you like people have in the past? I can speak as one who understands when I assure you he won’t turn you away. He won’t throw your mistakes in your face. He won’t hurt you more than you already hurt. He will pick you up, set you back on track, and remind you of your purpose. My precious siblings in Jesus, you are worth far too much to lose to the battle of sin. Talk to your God today—let Him pull you out of the mire of sin.

ONE NIGHT

NO DEVO??? WHAT!?!?!

OH, YEAH TONIGHT IS ONE NIGHT!

The one night a week that we all come together as a group and worship ONE GOD and Listen to his word together!

So, come out to ONE Student Ministries @ 6:30 !!!

We cannot wait to see you here!

SEEKING JOY

Luke 15:3-6  And He spoke this parable to them, saying,  4  What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost until he finds it? 5  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  6  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost."

Back when I was a youth pastor, our youth had two favorite games, and since they are both played in the dark, we would play them on the same night.   Playing "Sardines" is a great time.  One person goes to hide somewhere in the church while the others try to find them.  Upon finding them, you must stay with that person until the last person found them and thus became "it".   I always loved that game because knowing the layout of the church like the back of my hand, it made it fun to hide and see who would find me. The other game that was so awesome was "Murder In The Dark".  One person was "it" and another the investigator.  While the rest of the people were the victims.  The "it" was to try to find all of the people and pick them off before the investigator found out who "it" was.   I used both games for some pretty good illustrations.    

How great it feels to be able to find the person that is hiding!  You soul just illuminates with joy all over because you have found the person, or the person is found out.  That is the same way that Jesus feels when a lost soul comes to know Him, and the same joy that we feel when we see someone come to know the Lord as well.   We are called to be the planters and the harvesters.  Why is it that we are not doing our job and out harvesting lost souls?  We need to see that joy come within our hearts, and want to have a passion for that joy.  What would happen if you went and told that friend of yours about Christ today?  Even if they did not come to know the Lord today, there is still that joy that floods the soul.  Today, be challenged to go and find that joy of seeing a lost soul come to know the Lord, and seek it whole heartedly!

JESUS: THEN AND NOW

“So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in a manger.” Luke 2:14 (NASB)

How easily I could take this verse and minister a Christmas message. However, that’s not where I’m going with this. Luke is giving us a visual of what the three wise men walked into as they found the manger. I’m sure as all new parents are; Mary and Joseph were amazed at the little baby in the manger. The three wise men found Jesus being totally dependant on his parents as all babies are.

The great revelator, John, gives us another look at the same man. Revelation 19:11-15 says, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

The two pictures we see in the texts are so amazing, yet so contradictory. Luke shows us a baby, and john shows us a warrior; a man of authority and power. Jeremiah had the privilege of declaring that God knows the plans he has for us. As He saw his son laying in that manger totally dependant upon his parents, God knew the role Jesus would play as the savior of the world, and who would take the authority from the devil.

How does apply to us? We’re going to feel like babies at times, and God knows that, and that’s why we have spiritual parents in our life. But He also knows where our lives are going. Keep reading the verses in Revelation 19, and you’ll see that we’re in that battle with Christ. The bible records that the armies of God rise up in victory in the war. As Christ reigns in victory, so do we, for it is in Him we live, move and have our being.

ONE SMALL GROUP

Don't forget to come to small groups tonight. Click HERE to find out more information about small groups meeting in your neighborhood. Hope to see you there.

BEAUTY

“Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD . "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18a) NIV

I’ve always thought this a wonderful verse. But, it took on a whole, beautiful, new meaning to me today. I was trekking across campus, coming back from my car while snow was pouring from the sky and the wind carrying it in whirlwinds in front of me. I looked out at the hill beside my dorm and it was covered in a smooth, glistening blanket of snow. It was so beautiful.

I thought to myself: how pure—white snow settled on the cold ground. And I could almost hear God laughing. “What?” I questioned sincerely. Then, I remembered: snow is the farthest thing from pure. It is actually the IMPURITIES in the clouds that has to be purged and falls down to earth. But, these particles…the rejects of the clouds…form something so beautiful!

Then I thought of a verse I love: “…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes…” (Isaiah 61:3) NLT. Aren’t we so similar? We are the rejects. We are sinners and screw-ups. We are dirty and stained. We are unwanted and useless. Well, we WERE. Then, God decided to change the rules. Just as He uses the impurities in the clouds to cover our world with beauty, He uses the impure among us to add beauty to our world.

My friend, you are, like me, a sinner who fails and screws up and dirties the clean heart God gave us. But, He doesn’t see you that way. He looks at you the way we look at glistening snow—a sign of awe and beauty. He doesn’t see the impurity. He sees your beauty.

So, the next time you feel you have screwed up beyond the limit of forgiveness, you have failed beyond the limit of humanity, and you have stained your heart far too much to ever be clean, remember the snow. My sibling in Christ, remember that God sees only your beauty. Just as the snow took my breath away and made me glow with joy, so you steal our father’s heart. He’s in love with your overwhelming beauty. Let that thought become reality to you today

190 HOURS IN...

Accountability. Christians need to surround themselves with other Christians who are going to challenge and encourage them. It doesn't mean we need to exclusively hang out with other believers, but it does mean we can't afford to let Christian friendships be sacrificed in an attempt to rescue others. No one is perfect. Romans Chapter 3 gives a great insight about how bad we can be at times. We need others to keep us in check, and tell us when we're slipping. We need others to keep us focused and asured in our faith. We also need to keep others accountable. Letting ongoing sin slide is not beneficial to your friend or to you. When you don't speak up in defense of a better way of life, your friends will lose confidence in the way Jesus calls us to live. Jesus calls us to live the most amazing and fulfilling life possible, to do anything less is sin. But we need instruction and others to hold us to that instruction's account. Think of 2 friends that you admire for their faith and discipline, and ask them to keep you accountable. Write them down now.

Friend #1 - Because this reason
Friend #2 - Because that reason

And before the day is over, ask them to keep you accountable in bible reading, prayer and community. The best part about the lives we lead is we don't have to lead them by ourselves. Help eachother out. Jesus prayed, "Father, may they be one as You and I are one." Be One in Jesus Today.

165 OURS IN...

Community. One of the biggest things overlooked as a Christian is the need for real community. Followers of Jesus need to be able to hang out and discuss issues they're dealing with as well as challenge eachother to go further with God. Community is the thrust behind small groups and ONE nights. We are able to worship Jesus and study His word anywhere, but we come together for community study and praise. Our faith is not meant to be solo. We need others to keep us accountable and push us in our walk with Jesus.

Hebrews 10:23-28 (English Standard Version)

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Our hope in Jesus is strengthend as we meet together. We need to make time foreachother and be real with the time we have. Being here at ONE night and small groups gives us this opportunity, and as Christians we should take advantage of them. We're in this faith together.

 

130 HOURS IN...

Listening up.  It's normal for us to find the time to tell God what we need done or fixed in our lives.  But how often do we give God time to speak when we are praying?  Communication is a crucial element in any initimate relationship...including God's.  Jesus talks about doing what God's will is but in order to do that, He had to know how to listen.  So many times we see CHrist  praying for what to do or to get through something. 

God speaks through His Word and with impressions upon our heart and mind to which we then line them up directly with God's Word.  That's our guide always.  So let's try listening for a change. 

DO THIS:  Get out a journal, or even the back page of your Bible.  Somewhere where you will be able to go back and look at what you wrote and that you will "treasure" this moment.  Write down a prayer of thanks to God for who He is or for what He is doing in your life.  Now, with your heart open and your spiritual ears open, ask God one of these questions about your life and write down what God speaks to you or a Scripture verse he puts in your mind:

Who are you speaking to me to reach out to?

What are you calling me to do this school year?

When do you want me to step out and trust You in the area of ________________?

Where are you in my situation of ________________?

After you write it down, does the Bible line up with what you think God spoke to you?  Do not go step further until you confirm it with God's Word.  Then share it with your friend AND with your youth leader or Pastor Alan.  Writing down prayers and what your heart speaks to you about God is one of the best ways to hear God's voice in your life.

108 HOURS IN...

When growing in Godliness, in our devotions, getting away to be by yourself to pray and read is hard to do.  Think about these people in the Bible:  Moses, Abraham, Paul, John the Baptist, Jesus...they all sought out some "quiet time" before they began to influence the world.  Read Mark 1:37-38

35 Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. 36 Later Simon and the others went out to find him. 37 When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

Before Jesus started His day, His ministry, He prayed.  The morning is the best time of day as it's fresh and you're mentally, morally and physically refreshed.  What if we sought out God FIRST every day?  What would your life look like?  Matthew 6:33 says something about it,

33But SEEK FIRST his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

A morning quiet time before we do anything, gives you a clear head for the day and it ensures that nothing will INTERUPT your time as it's the FIRST thing you are doing for the day.  If you are like most of us, you might not be a "morning person" but the truth is, you wil do something first every morning.  Why not make it somethign that really counts? 

TASK:  Tomorrow morning, set your alarm clock for 20 minutes before you're supposed to wake up.  Put some worship cd on or put a playlist in your ipod.  Get out your Bible and read Psalm 5.  It speaks about God hearing our prayers in the morning.  Read this Psalm and then devote a few minutes to pray.  Then when the day is over, reflect how different your day was when you start it out with God.