May I never lose the wonder...

Everything by Lifehouse

The hardest part of being a disciple is truly accepting what God has done for you. For YOU.

Unlike many of you, I didn't grow up in church. In fact, I was 13 till I knew anything about what the Bible said. So I didn't grow up hearing how much Jesus loved me. So many of us hear it so often that we get used to it, we take it for granted. But when I heard that some guy had been brutally tortured, and crucified on a cross with nails driven through His body... for ME, giving up His life, sacrificing everything... because he loved me. I couldn't believe it, I couldn't understand. Why?

Why would anyone in their right mind give up their life for me?

Because of love. We are so deeply and truly loved that God gave the greatest sacrifice he could muster, himself. He become human just like us, experienced the same pain and hunger, the same disappointment and bitterness... sadness and heartbreak. All because of LOVE. We go to church on Sunday and then we go through the rest of our week. We walk around as if the most amazing, extraordinary thing wasn't done for us.  But it was. He died... so we could live.

How can I stand here with You and NOT be moved by you?

Do you get it?? Realizing what God has done for us should be the most transformational realization we EVER have. We CANNOT stand here, we cannot look at the cross & NOT be changed by it. If we TRULY recognize what He has done... we HAVE to be different.

This information is life-changing. 

The first step in being a disciple is allowing God to completely transform you. To let the realization of what He has done, permeate your entire being. You are loved more greatly and deeply than you can COMPREHEND. Go ahead and try to wrap your head around that one.

...the WONDER of the cross.

Then you will shine among them

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed -- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence -- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and purse, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation." Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from you faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Phillipians 2:12-18

Welcome & kudos to you for checking out the blog.

So here's the thing friends..

There's supposed to be something different about us. As Christians, we're not supposed to be like the rest of the world. We're supposed to stand out and shine brighter, "like stars in the sky." Right now, some of you might not know what that means for your life. Yeah, okay, I'm going to shine like a star... ?!? It's okay, you're not alone!! In fact, that's the whole point of this blog. I want to help you shine brighter. I want to give you every opportunity to grow & become the person God created you to be, the very best of who you are, to fulfill your fullest and most wonderful potential. I can see that in all of you... I can see that God is calling you to so much more. You just have to let Him work in you. I say "just" but really that involves giving up everything... letting Him have full & complete control... of you... of your entire life... of everything you have ever and will ever want... Yeah, you just have to let Him... piece of cake right?!

But if I can help you get even just a step closer or push you to live out your faith in even the smallest way, then all this will have been worth it. So I'll spend hours creating a blog, writing a newsletter, coordinating events, & planning activities, all with the hope that YOU will make it worth it. God can & will do wonderful things in you, this I know... You just have to let Him. I'll help, that is my promise to you. I'll do whatever I possibly can... all I'm asking is that you meet me halfway.