chosen

Identity

Guest Post by Kylie Lyday

As a youth director, I hear a lot and see a lot. I perhaps see more than the parents do at times. They don’t know I’m watching or listening when I am. Many of our series and lessons are laid on my heart based off of what I know they’re facing. I know there are teachers and other ministers who can relate to this.

Many times when the Lord shares a lesson with me to teach them, it’s teaching myself as well. I say this because finding our identity in Christ has been a hot topic in our lessons here recently but also in our world. If I’m being honest, we care too much about what others think about us and not enough about what God says about us.

1 Peter 2:9 shares with us,

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are a royal priest, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God. For he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”

We do not have to feel or be chosen by this world. The Lord has already called upon us and chosen us. He wants us to take part in his Holy Nation. He looks at you as a great possession. You do not need acceptance from this world.

I say this all to remind you, do not allow this world or where you are to define your identity. Find your identity in Christ. Listen to what He says about you. With this, allow it to pass along to your children. Train them up knowing they matter, they are enough, and are already chosen. Then they will be a light in such a dark world.

“Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”

1 Peter 2:10

Habits

Guest Post by Colton Deters

As some of you all know, I am a raider athlete. I play sports for the Lumberton Middle School and soon, Lumberton High School. But one problem I have always struggled with are my bad habits. Dribbling too high, side stepping when I run – guys, it’s a mess!

Plus, some bad habits outside of school I have are picking my fingers, messing with my brothers, and not doing chores. I can go on forever. I know there are so many worse things than what I just listed, but little things turn into big things, and those things become who you are. Even people you hang out with…in scripture, if you’ll turn to 1st Corinthians 15:33, it reads—

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Bad company corrupts good morals! You can’t let the people of this world, the flaws of society, or satan himself allow you to embrace bad habits. Habits turn into choices, and our choices make us who we are. Just as influential as bad habits are good habits… praying, studying, focusing on the Lord, and surrounding ourselves with people we hope to be like. Focusing on these things can become your habits, choices, and who you are.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says “PRAY WITHOUT CEASING”.

Praying to God about our habits and friends is the first step in the right direction. Because we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!

Teachers

At this point in the 20-21 school year my tired is tired – like never been this tired before in my life.

So I can only imagine how tired our teachers are. They have truly been heroes throughout this pandemic. Last March – with the flip of a switch – they had to learn and relearn their entire career.

Pedagogy, technology, differentiation, and how to deal with students’ social-emotional ups and downs through a pandemic are just the tip of the iceberg. Let’s not forget this was a brand new situation that they had never faced before – teachers basically just wrote their own handbook on how to teach during a pandemic.

Teachers are resilient.

Teachers do whatever it takes.

It’s hard to understand exactly what teachers have gone through this past year unless you’re in education. They’ve risked their physical and mental health because they love our kids so much.

Teachers deserve a raise.

Teachers deserve praise.

Teachers deserve grace.

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week. I encourage you to reach out to your students’ teacher with a kind word and maybe some coffee. Most importantly, pray for our teachers.

God, thank you for teachers. Thank you for the love and heroism they’ve shown this past year. I pray God that you will give them the endurance that they need to finish this race. Let them know they are truly doing a great work for you. I pray that this summer will bring them the rest that they mentally and physically need. God, thank you for teachers. They are truly the hands and feet of Jesus. In your name I pray. Amen.

“Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.” Psalm 62:1

Trust and Obey

Trust & Obey – For There’s No Other Way…

No, I didn’t write those words, but I’ve whispered them, sang them, prayed them, cried them…and actually this was the first hymn I learned to play on the piano!

2017 was a tough year for me. My trust was sorely tested or maybe my trust was strengthened?

On Jan. 3, my precious mother at the age of 89 stepped into the arms of Jesus.

“Not a shadow can rise”

On April 19, my 93 yr. old daddy (who was still mourning the loss of his bride of 65 years) fell and broke his leg…and would be in the hospital for 4 months.

“Not a cloud in the skies”

On June 18, one of my brothers was diagnosed with cancer.

“Not a doubt or a fear”

On August 23, that same brother slipped into a coma unrelated to the cancer and would be in that coma for 3 weeks and in ICU on life support.

“Not a sigh or a tear”

On August 29, my husband got a boat ride for his birthday. He was rescued by boat from our flooding home. We lost our home of 21 years and everything we owned, with no flood insurance (and I remember praying, Lord, take it all, but please spare my brother…for this was when he was in the coma).

“Trust and Obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Psalm 112:7 tells us “He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.”

I would be lying if I said I didn’t hurt that year or have fear or that I didn’t cry. I cried a lot – I hurt a lot. But each time I cried I heard His voice “Trust me, my child”. I SAID He was my savior, I QUOTED scriptures, I SHARED my testimony…now was my time to step out in faith and truly trust Him. And as bad as everything seemed I KNEW God was with us…we were NOT alone. He was there with me in the hospital waiting room…He took the form of friends who prayed with me or just sat with me. He was there at the flooded house…He took the form of friends and church members who helped us get the filth out. He took the form of a friend who provided a place for us to live for 8 months when we had no place to live. We never felt alone. We never felt abandoned.

In this life we will face good times and bad times…times on the mountain and times in the valley…but in Hebrew 13:5 He reminds us that He will never “…leave you nor forsake you.” Doesn’t mean we will not face trials and tribulations, as a matter of fact the Bible tells us that we will indeed experience those but that again…He will see us through if we will but TRUST Him. Psalm 34:19, James 1:2-4, Romans 8:35

My friends I pray that as you face your “2017s” in life that you will lean into our Father, for He loves you so, and He will guide your steps…He will make a way!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6

Our story didn’t end in 2017…

We rebuilt our home with the help of our church, friends and family; my father and brother both are well today; and my precious mother is singing with Jesus…

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

Oh, for grace to trust You more!

Seek Him

Guest Post by Mrs. Faith Sanchez

As humans we tend to seek what makesus happy, those things or people we can see, to fulfill in us a void that we long to fill. We seek those people, places, or things that bring us instant gratification and seek to continuously find new people, places, or things to ensure our gratification endures in order to believe that the unfulfilled need is not there.


We seek so many things, places, or people that we don’t stop to realize that all of those “continuous gratifications” are temporary. These are all temporary solutions to an unfulfilled void that so many try so hard to deny its existence. Like most, dealing with temporary solutions, they are frustrated to a point of such aggravation that it will manifest and grow negatively in their lives. Those that love the unfulfilled person will not understand, for the most part, because in some ways they too have the same or similar struggles that they try to deny as well.


SO WHY NOT SEEK A PERMANENT SOLUTION?


God teaches us that if we seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness that all of your needs will be fulfilled. With that we have assurance that any unfulfilled void can be permanently filled!


Yes, seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness takes work! It takes us wanting a relationship with God by spending time with Him, reading His Word, praying, fasting, and a willingness to Honor Him in all that we do, say, or think. Most of all it takes us loving Him with our whole mind, body, and soul.
Don’t give in to the Devil’s lie that the permanent solution is too hard or you aren’t worthy. Jesus died on the cross to ensure it can be done and that you are worthy through Him!

Keep it simple

How do you have a conversation with God?

You talk to Him.

And the more you talk to Him, the more you’ll hear Him talking to you.

How do you talk to Him?

▪️Praying

▪️Reading His word

▪️Praise and worship

God did not intend a relationship with Him to be complex, so don’t over complicate things. It’s really quite simple – just love Him with your whole heart.

Simply talk to Him today.

He wants to hear from you.

He wants you to hear from Him.

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.” Psalm 145:18-19

It’s your choice.

Grocery shopping is my least favorite adulty thing to do. And trust me, I’m acutely aware of how ridiculous that statement is.

This last week I didn’t have my life together enough to get a grocery order in, so Sunday I had to go into the actual store. Again, I know how ridiculous I sound.

Nonetheless, I found myself staring at my steering wheel in the H‑E‑B parking lot – wheeling my self to get out of the car and go inside the store.

Pun intended.

Yes, I went in.

Yes, I whined underneath my mask about it.

Yes, I followed a janky list made in five minutes.

Since I’m already putting all of my ridiculousness out there, let me go ahead and confess that when I got to the cookie aisle and discovered that the gluten-free Oreos had been raided I just about cried.

I seriously sat there silently sulking for a good ten seconds before I looked up and saw the lady in front of me. She was wearing a shirt that had the words to “How Great Thou Art” on it.

How Great Thou Art. My God.

Talk about a much needed attitude check.

I get to work a job that I love.

I get to buy my family groceries.

I have a stove.

I have a refrigerator.

I have a family to cook for.

I get.

I have.

Y’all, there’s always going to be things that we just don’t want to do – because flesh. We just need to remember that we have a choice to waller around in that miserable mud-hole, or we can flip the script in our mind and focus on the good instead.

I don’t know what tasks you have to do today that you don’t want to do, but I would like to encourage you to find something positive within that to-do list.

It’s there. It’s your choice.

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23

All of my Hope

🎶 I’m calling on the name
That changes everything, yes
God, turn it around
God, turn it around
God, turn it around
All of my hope
Is in the name
The name of Jesus
Breakthrough will come
Come in the name
The name of Jesus🎶

Whatever struggles or trials you are facing today let me remind you of this sweet, sweet promise – God can turn it around.

Call on His name.
Believe in the power that His name holds.
And whatever you do – don’t give up hope in Him.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” Romans 12.12

He’s Coming

🎶One day His trumpet will sound for His coming

I’m about to get really real because this is real.

That trumpet is gonna sound sooner than later.

Are you ready?

Who have you told?

What have you done to prepare?

This is a beautiful promise from God that you can count on. So when this world gets grim – almost too much to bear – just remember His promise.

He is coming for you.

He is coming for me.

He is coming.

In the meantime, my hope for all of us is that this promise is what we are truly focused on. We’ve got work to do, y’all.

Every. Single. Day.

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Matthew 24:36

Gather Round

Don’t you just love a good campfire? The sound of the wood crackling. The amazing smell (as long as it doesn’t get in your hair) and the peace that comes with quietly sitting and gazing into the flames.

Over the past three years I have traveled across the country with my family. During that time we have watched as words like “relationships,” “community,” and “gathering” have changed. While much of the country has been shut down, if I’m being honest, not much has changed in our lives. We were already homeschooling our three boys and working from home, but we were also already in the habit of working to create community around us.

And that’s part of the reason we love a good campfire. There is something about circling up your chairs that opens people up and helps them to drop their guards. We’ve seen it time after time. The fire gives people a little mental barrier, like that wall of fire is helping keep them safe. And because they aren’t gazing at a screen their mind is free to wander. So it does. The warm glow almost always leads to conversations that go deeper than the weather. It allows everyone that sits inside its influence to begin to dig into their wants and desires, their hurts and hangups.

You probably remember the command we are given in Hebrews 10:25:

“…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…”

But do you remember the verse before it?

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,”

The gathering is a precursor to the love and good works. The two are tied together.

So today, let me encourage you to press in to your community. Let me encourage you to set up some chairs, gather some wood, stack up some rocks around them, invite some friends (or people you would like to become your friends) and light a fire in a real and a figurative sense. Be intentional about how you can build community where you are, and by so doing, how you can encourage others toward love and good deeds.