not for good, just for now!

John 3:16-17

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Thought:
So after nearly 8 years of writing, printing and posting blogs, I have come to a close.  Thoughts, many thoughts have been shared and discussed through those years.  My hope is to return, but now I need sometime to re coop some thoughts and re organize myself.  I have been debating this for quite some time now, and I just feel that on episode 200 of this blog is the time to do it.  Not for good, just for now though.  Plans to get back to it are still there, but i just need to reconvene with myself and God  before I do.  Many thoughts to share though on this last show!  So I begin with an exert from Fil Anderson's book "Breaking the Rues" I share this thought about church in today's society. "Authenticity is a key component to living AS the church today.  I have been asking for courage for years in my prayers, so it is time to share the courage that God has provided me in the words of this book...
Somehow I find the courage to risk being more authentic.  In the process I discovered that the rewards for being my true self are often greater than the consequences of pretension.  I believe the same is true for all followers of Jesus.  The major battles confronting followers of Jesus is not issues like abortion, homosexuality, and politics.  The real front-burner issue is authenticity.  When outsiders look at Jesus' followers, they long to see people living in intimate union with God who are unafraid of their blemishes, because their blemishes point to an unblemished character of Jesus, who loves us as we are, not as we should be."

So remember this, love does not just happen, it does not just sit there waiting.  It is something that we are given.  God did not send His Son to condemn us and to make us feel bad about who we are.  He sent Him to show us love...ALL OF US!!!  I hope, truly hope that you have found something over the past 8 years to read and enjoy, and shared with others.  Learned how to love or look at it in a different way.  Opened your eyes and your mind to it!   My simple rules that I follow:
1. Love/ respect God
2. Love/ respect others
3. Glorify God in all you do and say, if it is not don't close your day out until it does.
4.  BE REAL!!!-no one likes a fake.

Be good, loving, and kind to EVERYONE!!, not just your friends.  Christ died on the cross for friends and enemies.  

Peace & Blessings to you all...
until next time.
Love you and God Bless,
Craig Sager

Quick Gospel

Acts 1:8a
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem 


Thoughts:
To witness to someone means to speak to them of Jesus and his love, and what they can gain by that understanding.  To be a witness though to say an accident, or a spectacle.  So then to witness to someone means that they should get to see something as evidence of Jesus' love.  Look around you, there is proof of that everywhere you look.  You might disagree with me on that though, you might say but what about all the harshness of the world, the wars, the violence, the corruption, the materialism.  I say to you, they are of this world, not of Jesus.  we are called to not be or fall for things of this world...I direct you to look at the love of a mother and father to their newborn, or the love of a couple celebrating 25, 50 or 75 years of wedded bliss.  Look at the moon shining at night or the sun rising in the morn.  Those are the places we are called to find Love.  these are the things we are to be using in our daily witness to others and ourselves for a solid foundation in who we are with God.  Open your eyes...what will you see today and what will you show others?

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,  give me your eyes to see the world the way you do.  In it there is love.  Give me your hands to show others that love.  Give me your feet, to carry me all over to bring glory to you in all I do. Amen.

Quick Gospel

Galatians 6:2

New International Version (NIV)

² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Thought:

We can not do life alone, we just can't...

When we try to is when we walk on paths that lead us to more temptation, troubles, and trials.  When someone is by our side they guide us in directions that will help us, keep us on the path that God has chosen for us.  I know I can, and I bet you can think of someone that could use a hand today.  What are you waiting for this scripture is an open invitation to care and be there for others.  The hard thing to get over is we feel and think that they might not be worth the time or effort.  Which I say back to you, what if Jesus ever thought that you weren't worth the time and effort?  Look at the cross, it's proof that you are worth it and so is the person that God is tugging on you to help out.

Prayer:

Awesome God, give me the strength to do what you ask us to do in this scripture, the wisdom and courage to carry it out as well.  Amen.

Tuned in Tuesday

Thanks Trevor, and Andrew for the inspiration to keep trying life and stand in the fire. "Life is not tried if your standing outside the fire" In all that we do as youth or adults we view things in different perspectives. Jesus tells us that we can only enter the Kingdom with a childlike heart... It might be hard but, we need to finish the race that we start.

Nevan's Homecoming

God grant safe travels for Nevan's homecoming today.  Bring him home safely from the battlegrounds of Afghanastan to his homeland.  Thank you for keeping your hedge of peace around him during his time of duty.
We have missed him and will be glad to have him back home.

Quick Gospel

Genesis 17:5
 No longer will you be called Abram^[b]; your name will be Abraham,^[c] for I have made you a father of many nations.


Thought:
Sometimes despite our understanding.  God puts us in places that we don't understand and he promises us stuff that we don't get.  Yet, he blesses us for abiding in His understanding and not ours.  God changes us, for his will, not ours.  This concept is hard for most to understand-despite our faith in God.  


Prayer:
Creator of galaxies ,and the universe!  make us and mold us for your works.  Change us to do thy bidding, not ours.  Amen.

Tuned in Tuesday

Lord I want to be your hands and feet... Casting Crowns this week with "Until the whole world hears" Hope all have a great and blessed week!