Another Living Christmas Tree is done...

Well, another Living Christmas Tree has come and gone. The last few months have been a bit crazy. We learned the house we’d been renting for the last 5 years was going up for sale. After careful consideration, we decided we did not want to purchase it and began looking for alternate living arrangements. After a long and insanely stressful process we finally closed on our new house and moved a few days before Thanksgiving. We spent the next few days frantically getting the kitchen and main rooms of the house presentable so we could have everyone over for Thanksgiving! In the middle of all this, we were trying to prepare for the Living Christmas Tree. Finalizing music, the script, the cast, countless rehearsals, edits to the script, last minute changes to music….it was completely overwhelming at times. But I want you to know that, even though this has been one of the most stressful times of our lives, it has also been one of the best. We’ve been surrounded by the love of our choir, our congregation & friends and lifted up in prayer constantly. I was not always certain our housing arrangements would work out in a good way. I have been reminded once again that trusting in God’s provision is easier said than done. Boy did God come through in a big way for us. We have been beyond blessed. It was obviously a lesson we needed to be reminded of and at the same time, it put things into perspective for both of us. So we knew if God could do the nearly impossible and find us the perfect house in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas, then He could surely get us through another Living Christmas Tree in one piece. We have come out the other side of three of the most stressful months in a long while and we are happier than ever before. We might have become impatient here and there, but we never got angry. We might have disagreed on a detail here and there, but we worked it out together and came to an amicable solution. We’re a team, in every way and I am blessed beyond measure to have Scott York as my soul mate. We want to say thank you to everyone who was involved in any way with the Living Christmas Tree! It is because of YOU that it was a success! Thank you for your hard work and dedication! I’ve already got an idea for next year! Can we start next week?? I’m kidding of course, well...for you anyway. I do have to get busy writing very soon. I hope that each of you has a very Merry Christmas and that the new year brings wonderful things but most of all “I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”

~ Ephesians 3:14-21 (The Message)

Blessings,

Amy :)

There is no one outside the bounds of God's grace...

“There is no one outside the bounds of God’s grace.”

Think about that for just a moment. It has been bouncing around in my brain all week after I heard it during our Sunday Morning Class. We’re doing a study by Andy Stanley called Why in the World and when he said this, I had to write it down. I’ve not been able to stop thinking about it and so, here it is written down so that I, and I hope you, can understand how significant it really is.

There IS no one outside the bounds of God’s grace.

Right now, at this very minute, no matter where you are or what you’re doing or what you’ve done, you ARE NOT outside the bounds of God’s grace. His grace reaches to the depths of the universe.

There is NO ONE outside the bounds of God’s grace.

NO ONE is too far gone. That’s huge! No one...not the worst of the worst. Think about the worst thing a person could ever do. Even though they may be hopeless and unforgivable in our eyes, that person is not hopeless or unforgivable in God’s eyes. Romans 8:1 says “There is, therefore, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Therefore, ANYONE that chooses can be forgiven and saved.

There is no one OUTSIDE the bounds of God’s grace.

Romans 10:9 says “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  This should give you hope! No matter what it is you’ve done, it is not unforgivable! You do not fall outside of God’s grace! We as humans may find it impossible to forgive something horrendous, but the God who made each of us and loves each of us as His children, can and will forgive anything. It doesn’t mean we won’t have to face the consequences of our sin here on earth, but He will forgive it and remember it no more.

There is no one outside the BOUNDS of God’s grace.

We tend to put boundaries on God. We think that in order for God to love us we have to already be good. If we’re kind and compassionate and follow the rules, etc. We’ve all got a set of rules in our heads that must be followed, in our opinions, to be worthy of receiving God’s love, forgiveness, and grace. We put God in our little box and think that if someone won’t fit within our little box of rules then it cannot be worthy of God’s love, forgiveness or grace. The fact of the matter is, God’s love, forgiveness, and grace are BOUNDLESS! It has no limits!! Psalm 86:5 says, “O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for ALL who ask for your help.” It doesn't say for “some”. It doesn’t say for a “few”. It doesn’t say if you’re “good” or “sinless” or “perfect” or “white, black, blue, green, purple, male, female, young or old.” It says ALL. That means...EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON.

There is no one outside the bounds of GOD’s grace.

If we had to depend on the grace of our fellow man, we’d be in serious trouble. There are some things we find beyond forgiveness. Isaiah 1:8 says, “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord.”Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson they shall be white as wool.” Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the East is from the West, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” We may not get forgiveness from our fellow man, although that would be nice in this lifetime, the only forgiveness that truly matters is the eternal forgiveness of our creator God.

There is no one outside the bounds of God’s GRACE.

Grace is the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings. It is something good that is given but is not deserved. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast.” His grace has brought us salvation. We didn’t deserve it. We didn’t earn it. We are given it as a gift because of His boundless love for each one of us. He offers it to Every. Single. Person. No matter our past or our present, we are each precious to our creator. We are his precious children whom He loves beyond all measure. Whether you consider yourself the worst of the worst or think you’re doing alright, God wants a relationship with you. One day this earthly life will be over for you and you will enter into eternity. Your soul will go somewhere. Either you will spend eternity in hell, hopelessly separated from the love of God, or you will spend your eternity in paradise surrounded by the love of God. I don’t know about you, but that’s a no-brainer for me.

You may be someone who doesn’t believe in intelligent design, a creator, a God of the universe. You may believe that we evolved from some slime in a primordial lake. You may believe that once your life is over, that’s it, you’re dead and gone forever. In order to have this opinion you have to believe that this whole thing started by accident, that every living thing adapted perfectly to its environment by accident, that our intricate bodies are knit together in our mother’s womb by accident, that the moon is the perfect distance from earth to provide tides to keep our oceans from going stagnant and killing everything in them is by accident, that the sun is the perfect distance away to give us survivable seasons is by accident, that all of nature is stunningly beautiful and complex and depends on millions of things happening in synchrony in order to live is all by accident. I’m sorry, but that is more far-fetched than believing in a loving, intelligent God who created us and everything in our universe. I don’t care who you are or what you’ve done, God loves you, even if you refuse to believe in Him. My prayer is if you’ve gotten this far, that you will sit down and read the Bible, and do your best to prove to yourself one way or another the truth about God. I’d rather live believing there is a God who loves me than to die without Him and find out He does exist after all. It is worth your eternity to find out!  

Ephesians 3:14-21

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

How About We Love Like Jesus?

There was a time when our Creator looked down at His beloved people and realized that they were all full of sin. He loved them so much, and wanted to be able to spend all eternity with each of them, but He knew they were too full of sin to be able to enter His kingdom. So, God decided that the only solution was to send His only Son down to Earth to show them the true meaning of unconditional love. His son would preach and teach, showing the people how to love each other and then He would take the blame for all the sin of every person living and yet to be born so that they would each be blameless before God and be able to enter His Kingdom. But, God wouldn't force people to believe Him. They needed to use their own free will to choose to accept this gift of unconditional love and forgiveness. So Jesus came as a helpless baby. He grew up and He taught and preached and modeled unconditional love for the people and many believed. But sin was still alive and well in the world and some men became so resentful of Jesus that they unknowingly fulfilled the will of God the Father.  They accused Jesus of blasphemy, they arrested Him, tried and convicted Him, and sentenced Him to death. He was beaten and scourged until the flesh hung from His body. They shoved a crown of thorns into his skull, then forced him to carry the cross He would be hung on up to Golgatha...the place of the skull. He had been beaten so severely He collapsed and couldn't carry His cross all the way, so they grabbed a man along the road and had him carry it for Jesus the rest of the way.  They stretched Him out on that cross, and they nailed His hands and feet to it and hung Him there to die, just as the Creator had willed it. Then, the blame for all the sins of all the world, every disgusting, depraved, horrendous sin, was placed on Jesus. In that moment His Father turned His back and let Him die so that we could be saved. But...the story doesn't end there because you see Jesus had already told the people that He would be raised on the third day and then He would go back to His Father to prepare a place for them in Heaven. Three days later, inside a tomb that had been sealed with a massive stone and guarded by Roman guards, Jesus arose! The stone rolled away and He came out! The tough Roman soldiers fainted. Jesus made no less than ten appearances to His followers that are recorded in scripture. He instructed His disciples and other followers periodically for 40 days and then ascended from Mount Olive, near Jerusalem while the apostles watched. This is not a fairytale. You can read this for yourself in the Bible. I dare you to read it. So many people out there say it's just a book of fables that can't possibly be true, but if you take any time at all to study it, you see that it can't possibly be false.  The universe we live in is a miracle. There is as much chance of it all happening by accident as there is you placing all the parts to a watch in a bag, shaking it up and a perfect watch coming out. It is statistically impossible. He is evident in every part of this universe and every part of the Earth. The Earth itself is exactly the perfect size. If it were smaller, it couldn't hold an atmosphere. If it were larger, the atmosphere would be toxic.  It is also the perfect distance from the sun. Any further away and we'd all freeze...any closer and we'd all burn up. The moon is the perfect size and distance from earth to create the tides so our oceans don't stagnate, but remain without their boundaries so the whole earth doesn't flood.  The water on earth is perfect for our bodies and the bodies of every living plant and animal. Without it, everything would die. It is so perfectly constructed that is can carry the various required chemicals, minerals and nutrients throughout our bodies into the tiniest of blood vessels. It makes this planet's survival possible. I'll say one last thing, even though we could go on and on. Scientists agree that our universe came into being because of one enormous explosion of energy and light, which we now call The Big Bang Theory, the singular start to everything that exists, the stars, the planets, and the beginning of every living thing and yet, they cannot tell you what caused it to happen. Why was there a colossal explosion that filled the universe with light? I can tell you. It's in the first chapter of the first book in the bible. Genesis 1:3 says "And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and God divided the light from the darkness." And in Genesis 1:16 it says, "And God made two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night, He made the stars also." There's your Big Bang. God said, "Let there be light," and it was so.

I am going to tell you something you might already know. Some people who claim to be Christians are mean, hurtful and judgemental. You may have been hurt by someone like that. You may have been condemned by "church people".  But that is not the kind of love that Jesus taught and many churches have forgotten that. To be a Christian is to be a disciple of Christ...a follower of His teachings. Today it has taken on a derogatory meaning in many people's minds and represents someone who is hypocritical, hateful and judgemental, much like the Pharisees who are described in the bible, they cannot see the forest for the trees. They're so worried about everyone following the rules, they have forgotten that Jesus told us to love each other above all else. I can love you and not agree with your life choices. I can talk to you about the love of Jesus and the way He wants us to live and not say hateful, mean things about you. I can disagree with your belief in something, and still be your friend and show you kindness and love. These days the word tolerance comes up a lot. I think it's used in the wrong context most of the time. To tolerate something is to allow the existence, occurrence or practice of something that one doesn't necessarily like or agree with, without interference.  If we were all practicing tolerance all the time then we'd be allowing murders and abuse and theft and a million other things that we don't agree with to go on without interference. It's a horrible word to use the way it's used today. Forget tolerance...how about loving your neighbor as yourself...how about love people the way Jesus loves them...how about love people regardless of their sins. My friend, you may be doing things that the bible says are a sin. In fact, I'm certain you are. So am I. So is everyone still alive on this planet. That's not the point. The point is that you have this one life on Earth, this one chance to accept the unconditional love and gift of Jesus Christ so that when you die and leave this Earth you can live for all eternity in the fathomless splendor of Heaven. There are no second chances once you die. Jesus is not uncomfortable with who you are. He will meet you right where you are, just as you are...all you have to do is believe Him. He's calling you to something better, to lay down your sins at His feet and let Him help you. Easter Sunday is coming. What a glorious day to begin a new life with Him! Think about it! 

And now my dear friends... "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:16-19

Matters of the Heart...for Valentine's Day

     I have been married to Scott now for 28 years and 1 month.  I'd love to tell you that every one of those years has been wonderful and happy, but I can't.  Some of those years were wonderful, some of them were horrible, and many of them were somewhere in between, but they have ALL been blessed. How, you ask, can I say that the horrible times were blessed?  I mean, it makes sense to say the good times were a blessing, but the bad times, the in-between times, how have those been blessed?  It's simple really.  Because God, the One who loves us unconditionally, has never left us and it was in the tough times that we grew even closer to each other.  We learned to depend on each other. We learned that we could disagree and the world wouldn't come to an end. We learned that we are two different people who sometimes have different opinions and that's ok. We learned to rely on each other's differing strengths all while putting our trust in God.  He has never failed us.
     Right now, I can honestly say that I am more in love with my husband than I have ever been.  I thought I loved him more than anything the day I married him.  I thought I could never love him more the day we had our first child, and our second, and our third.  I thought I could never love him more when I was so sick after having some serious health issues and he took such good care of me.  The truth is, every single day my love for him grows deeper.  Now, don't roll your eyes.  Everyone wants to have a love like that.  You know it's true.  I mean, 90% of songs on the radio are about love in some form or another, and how many movies out there are love stories?  We all long to be loved.        So, what's the secret to being madly, deeply, completely in love?  Hold on to your seat for this amazing revelation...it's a CHOICE.  Yep, you read that correctly.  You can choose to concentrate on all the things your mate does that annoy you, or you can choose to concentrate on the good things. You can choose to have a bad attitude and gripe and complain, or you can choose to be positive and encouraging. You can choose to be sarcastic and snarky or you can choose to be kind and loving.  In other words, set out to purposefully treat your spouse the way you yourself would want to be treated. Be kind, listen, encourage, compliment, and be patient with them.  Make time for them and make certain they know you've made them a priority in your life.  Even if your spouse isn't doing these things, at first, they will take notice of the changes in you and it will change their attitude too.
     You'll have to be patient, though, especially if you've had a difficult relationship for a while now. But isn't it worth it?  To be madly, deeply in love with your mate again?  It's a bit like that book, The Love Dare. If I could give you one piece of advice from someone who has been married longer than the average couple, aside from putting God first in your marriage, it would be to treat each other with kindness, gentleness, respect and a sense of humor. Our marriage may not always be perfect, but we've never been happier and I wish the same for you.

p.s. - I love you Scott! 

Thankfulness...

Thankfulness
11-24.15

I was standing on stage at church today, as we had mic checks and rehearsed for the Worship Service, looking around at my family and feeling incredibly blessed.  You see, all three of my sons were up there with me.  Jarod on drums, Alex on guitar, Taylor on bass and singing, my daughter-in-law’s mom and fellow alto, Ann, who is one of my closest friends and, of course, my sweet husband Scott leading the music.  How many people get to do that?  I mean really, when my boys were little, I always hoped that one day this would be a reality, and here we are all these years later together on stage leading worship.  I am wonderfully and incredibly blessed, and not just in that sense.  Whether it’s Taylor serving in ESL, Youth & Music Ministry, or Alex serving with the Youth, Music and Graphic Design, or Jarod serving in the Youth and Music Ministry, all three have grown into strong, Christian, men.  I have a beautiful, talented daughter-in-law who just graduated from OSU with her Master’s in Music and her Dad, Mark, is a kind-hearted, Godly man and a great friend.  My husband is one of the kindest, most humble people I have ever known. He is my mate, the other half of my soul.   We are blessed.  Of course, I wouldn’t be here at this point in my life if it wasn’t for the rest my family.  My upbringing was, to me anyway, quite wonderful.  I struggle to describe it because there are so many components that played a huge part in who I am.  It wasn’t always easy.  It wasn’t always joyous, but it was always filled with love.  I grew up playing outside, going camping and fishing, walking in the woods, building forts in the trees, catching lightning bugs, swimming in the lake, staying outside playing until the street lights came on, and surrounded by mountain music as my family members played and sang about cowboys, sweethearts and God’s unfailing love.  I’ve been taught how to be loving, kind, patient, compassionate, strong, creative, stubborn, joyful, thankful, optimistic, adventurous, determined, tough, persistent, honest, loyal, moral and faithful, and I’ve been taught those things by grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, teachers, friends, my younger brother, my husband and most of all my parents.  I am who I am because they are who they are.  The people who have influenced and taught me, and the circumstances I have faced, both good and bad, have made me into the person I am today, and that in turn has shaped my own children.  I don’t live a charmed life.  I’ve experienced heartache, sickness, pain, loss and fear, but I am so thankful for the life I’ve been given. Because, even though it’s not perfect, it is full of God’s unchanging love for me and for my family, and for that I am truly thankful.

*It’s funny that I wrote this Sunday after church, and then came home to see that my mother had written a similar note about the things for which she is thankful.  We share a love of writing, among other things, so all I can say is “Great minds think alike!”  J  Amy

 Colossians 3:15-17 

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

Soapbox Moment - Definition of a Christian

I'm having a "soapbox" moment:

     I am so tired of anyone claiming to be a Christian being instantly labeled as a judgmental, hateful, racist, bigot, homophobe who wants to kick out all the immigrants and carry my automatic weapons down the street.  If you know someone who fits all these descriptions they are not a disciple of Jesus Christ and if they think they are, they are very, very mixed up.  Please don't put all who call themselves Christian in the same box. 

     The definition of Christian is: a person who exemplifies in his or her life, the teachings of Christ.  Now, in order to "exemplify the teachings of Christ" you have to actually KNOW what those teachings are.  His teachings are of love and forgiveness.  He is not in the condemning business.  He wants to restore even the most broken and wicked people.  His passion is to see the broken, sick and weak become strong, healthy and whole in His Kingdom.  He spent very little of His time on earth telling people why they were wrong and condemning them, but instead spent His time practically loving them and extending grace to the worst of them.  I'm afraid there are too many who call themselves Christian who operate on the assumption that it is their job to point fingers, and tell everyone else what is wrong with their lives.  We are ALL sinners.  Just because I am a follower of Christ doesn't mean that I am miraculously able to never sin again.  It means that, by the amazing and undeserving, unconditional, grace of Christ, I am forgiven.  That forgiveness is for ME, for my own peace, my own hope, my own eternal future, and has nothing to do with whether anyone else believes me worthy of it.  Jesus deemed me worthy.  He also deems YOU worthy.  He draws no lines as to who is worthy of that gift.  It is a gift He gave for every single person on earth....young or old, good or bad, every color and creed, because we all have that empty place in our hearts that longs for the One who created it.  We try to fill it up with all kinds of things...wealth, love, material things, work, drugs, alcohol. The list could go on forever.  The problem we all face is, there is only one thing that will fill up that void in our lives no matter how hard we try to fill it up with other things, and that is Christ.

     If you claim to be a Christian, I encourage you to be a follower of Christ...not the definition the world has given us, because it's completely wrong.   Loving people the way Christ wants you to doesn't mean you have to agree with their lifestyle or their choices.  We are to show His LOVE to the world, to be a lighthouse in the darkest, stormiest seas....helping, listening, having compassion and understanding for our fellow man so that they will see Christ in us and be drawn to His unconditional and eternal love.  

• “I have not come to condemn the world, but to save it.” John 3:17 ESV
• “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”- John 8:11 ESV
• “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven..." - Luke 6:37 ESV
• “If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen." - 1 John 4:20 ESV

"Doubt Truth be a Liar, but Never Doubt I Love." What's the Secret to a Happy Marriage?

This post is dedicated to my soul mate, the love of my life, my gift from God, my husband.  

     I've had people ask me, "You've been married a long time.  So what's the secret to a happy marriage?"  That usually makes me laugh.  Not because mine isn't happy, because it usually is, but because I cannot fathom why someone would think I know!  I do realize that being married, and staying that way, is a bit out of the ordinary these day.  Let me begin by saying that I've had wonderful examples in my life.  My parents, grandparents & great grandparents all stayed together and they were happily married.  I never thought about divorce when I was growing up.  It was never an option in my mind when I got married.  Now, I will stop there to say that IF I had married someone who was abusive, that would have been a deal breaker.  So don't think for one second I am telling you that kind of behavior is OK to live with, because it's not.  I have been blessed with a very gentle man....often stubborn, yes....but gentle.  I'm very stubborn myself, so if we ever have issues it usually stems from that character trait.  If I had to say who is more stubborn...well I have to confess, it's probably me.  I have known my sweet husband since 1987 when he became Choir Director at my little church in Chattanooga, TN.  After knowing each other for about a year, we started dating, and 2 months later we were engaged. We were married 6 months after our first date and moved to Fort Worth, Texas for him to complete his Master's at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  The rest, as they say, is history.  Twenty-seven plus years later, here we are.  Through those years we have raised 3 boys, lived in 5 different states, served at 7 (I think) different churches, and somehow managed not to kill each other!  Truly, we have had some very difficult times.  Things that, if not for the grace of God and our mutual trust in Him, could have driven us apart.  You have to come to terms with the fact that you are both imperfect.  Now I'll tell you a little secret.  I love my husband beyond measure, truly.  When I think about how much I love him, it makes my heart overflow.  To think of my life without him brings me physical pain.  Truly he can exasperate me sometimes, especially when he's being grouchy or impatient.  But I have learned that if he is being grouchy then I need to try to encourage him in some way.  If he is very impatient, I need to help him refocus and try to understand the situation...smooth the ruffled feathers so to speak.  You see, I am his polar opposite in many ways.  I don't always get it right.  Sometimes I snap back.  Sometimes I sulk.  Sometimes I grouch right back.  But these days, I do try to stop, take a deep breath and think about how I can smooth things out for him.  I'm a pretty relaxed person.  I take most things in stride. He's a bit more high strung, tends to panic and get worked up over things.  He's is a musician after all, haha!  I have a pretty positive outlook on life and like to dream.  He's more realistic and in the moment.  We are both pretty reserved, although I tend to be a little more outgoing once I get to know you.  We both require some "me" time each day to recharge our batteries.  I can get so overdrawn in the "me" time department that I simply cannot deal with social interaction on occasion.  When that happens and I start to shut down, he seems to know instinctively, whether consciously or not, and lets me stay home to regroup.  We compliment each other in so many ways.  I have found that when we are at odds it is because one or usually both of us are being selfish.  In marriage the two separate people become one.  You wouldn't slap your right hand because it got the cookie before your left one would you? (If so may I suggest professional help)  You wouldn't stomp your right foot because the left one got ahead would you?  Well...not on purpose! What do you do when you cut your left finger?  You use your other hand to sooth it, bandage it, help it heal.  Your mate is your other half.  Your mate is the right to your left.  You are one.  When my mate is upset or unhappy, so am I and I want to do what I can to sooth him, ease the hurt, and help him feel better.  That way we will both be happy.  All that said, the most important equation in all of this is our personal relationship with God.  If you're relationship with God is not at the center of your relationship with your spouse, you are missing the key to happiness.  We've had seasons where we were at peace, and we've had seasons where we were hanging on by a prayer.  Without a loving God to show us how to love each other, how to care for each other, how to forgive each other, we'd have lost the battle long ago.  So, what's the secret to a happy marriage?  I'm still learning, even after all these years, and I will still be learning on the day God calls me home.  But this one thing I do know, it would not be possible without God at the center of it all.  

Genesis 2:22-23
Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.  The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman for she was taken out of man."

Proverbs 31:10
A wife of noble character, who can find?  She is worth more than rubies.

Ephesians 5:28
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies.  He that loves his wife, loves himself.



Proverbs 15:15
A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song.

What's Your Story?

   What’s your story?  We all have one.  Some of them are happy stories, some of them sad, some of them simply miraculous, some of them very dark.  No matter what kind of story you have, one thing is certain; your story, your history, has influenced who you are today.  Our stories are powerful.  I don’t think a lot of people understand just how powerful they can be.  However, our story, our past, cannot be allowed to define all that we are today.  Some people who have a very sad or dark past allow that to define who they are, and use it to justify all sorts of bad behavior.  In short, they use it as an excuse.  That is not what God intended your life story to be.  It’s not an excuse for drug abuse or self-harm.  It’s not an excuse for bitterness.  It’s not an excuse for holding grudges.  It’s not an excuse for being difficult to get along with, prideful or overly sensitive. Your life story can be used to inspire others who have had the same experiences.  Your life story can be used to draw others to God’s unconditional love and acceptance.  Your life story could save someone’s life…..someone’s eternity!

 

   What are you using your story for?  Are you using it as a crutch?  Do you use it to justify the way you react to those around you?  I want more than anything for you to understand that no matter how horrible you think your story to be, God loves you without condition.  He is waiting to take that burden from you.  All you have to do is lay it at His feet.  You may already be a disciple of Jesus and you may have been for a very long time, but you never laid that burden down.  You never gave it to Him because you thought it was too dirty, too shameful or you had gotten so used to it being a part of you that you were afraid there would be nothing left when it was gone.  It’s not true.  Those are satan’s lies trying to rob you of joy; trying to keep you from ever using it to point someone else to Jesus.  God loves you.  Do you understand the significance of that?  THE one who hung every star in the sky, THE one who knows every one of those stars by name, knows YOUR name and loves YOU beyond measure.  He has seen it ALL.  He knows it ALL.  He wants you lay it down at His feet.....let go of it.....RELEASE it.  I challenge you today if this is you, to lay those hurts down at His feet once and for all.  Allow God to use your story to point others to HIM.  If you've never known a relationship with God, it’s quite simple.  Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, believe in it your heart, and you will be saved!  Once you've done that, there is absolutely nothing in your past, present or future that will ever separate you from His love!  

2 Corinthians 1:4
"He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."

I swear.....

In Matthew, Jesus tells those wishing to follow him that they must make a difference in the world.  They must be the "salt of the earth".   The salt is "the flavor" or the good works believers are to do that are to shine like a light on a lampstand and offer a witness for Christ.  If salt loses it's saltiness, it's not good for anything.  But as we all also know, too much salt can ruin that "flavor" and is unhealthy.  And we must admit....sometimes we are all a bit too "salty".  

Do you swear?  I have to admit that sometimes I do, although thankfully it is infrequent.  I try very hard not to, but I am also very human.  That might shock some of you, knowing I'm a Minister's wife.  Others who know me very well will not be shocked at all.  My children certainly aren't.  Just because I married a minister, doesn't mean I'm something other than human.  I am nowhere near perfect as anyone who knows me will attest.  I don't know why we do it, I mean, there are so many other lovely words in the English language to describe our feelings...lovely words.  And yet, we seem to revert to some basic instinct to say disgusting words that shouldn't ever grace our tongues.  Now, I will clarify that I do not take the Lord's name in vain.  That is something I cannot do.  Do I think you're going to hell if you do it?  No.  We're human, and we sin.  The reason I am even writing this is because of my frustration with every single movie I have seen lately.  They seem to know only one way of expressing themselves.  It's almost like there is only one curse word left at their disposal.  I don't know the origins of the "F" word.  I really don't care.  It is a word that is used in epidemic proportions by everyone, in every situation it seems.  Why?  Is there a rule book out there that says unless you say the "F" word at least 100 times it's not a good movie?  We're becoming desensitized to it, hearing it over and over again until we just accept it as part of every day language.  Some would say, it's just a word.  Who cares.  If you are a child of God, you should.  Everything you say on a daily basis is judged by those who are not Christians.  If you say you'll pray for them in one breath and then proudly shout an explitive the next, don't you think that sends a bit of a mixed message?  I'm not one to curse in front of other people.  It tends to sneak up on me when I've injured myself or someone really scares me.  It's frustrating because I think afterwards, why is that the word that comes to mind instinctively?  Some people swear when they're angry, others when they're depressed, and more often than not it's done to look "tough" or "cool" in front of ones friends.  I've never been perceived as tough...or cool for that matter, so I always thought cursing just for the sake of cursing wouldn't do me any good anyway.  My point is, as disciples of Christ, we have to do everything we can to be a good, decent example out there in a very dark world.  Most of the time, that's not easy.  Most of the time, that's not cool.  But try to see the bigger picture.  What if your behavior stops someone from ever even considering coming to Christ?  What if you are so like a non-believer that they see no difference and don't see any reason to even think about what Christ could do in their life?  It doesn't just apply to cursing.  You don't have to think hard to come up with other examples.  1 Corinthians 8:9 says to "be careful that your actions don't become a stumbling block to the weak".  James 3:10 says "from the same mouths come blessings and cursing.  My brothers, this ought not to be so."  It's tough.  Why do you think the psalmist said, "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth and keep watch over the door of my lips."  It is obviously something we have struggled with for ages.
That's my thoughts for this post.  I hope you can take something positive away from it.

Titus 2:6-8 ESV

Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

This changes everything....

Christian is defined as a "person who believes in the teachings of Jesus Christ".  Ask anyone you know what a Christian is and you'll probably get a different answer from each of them.  They might say it's someone who believes in God, or someone who believes that Jesus is God's son, someone who goes to church a lot, or perhaps someone who has been baptized or has prayed to ask Jesus into their heart.  But, believe it or not, the Bible say much about being "Christian".  I've learned all this in the last few days from a bible study we're doing in Sunday School by Andy Stanley called "Christian, it's not what you think".  It has completely changed my perspective.  Stanley says, if we're honest, a lot of people would define  Christians as: "judgmental, homophobic, moralists who think they are the only ones going to heaven and secretly relish the fact that everyone else is going to hell."  That made me laugh, but it is truly what some people think, and I believe what we often fear that others will think about us.  The fact is,  a Christian can be defined in a million different ways.  The word Christian only appears three times in the bible and it's not defined!  It was actually a derogatory term used by people outside of the "Jesus community" to describe the ones who were inside it.  The people inside the "Jesus community" never used it to describe themselves!  Let me say that again, the followers of Jesus never called themselves Christians.  The bible does define the followers of Jesus, but it is not as Christian....it is as Disciples.  Disciple is defined in Webster's as "one who accepts the teachings of and who assists in spreading the doctrines of another.  An adherent follower."  That's very different from simply believing in Jesus Christ.  The bible says even the demons believe in Jesus.  They know exactly who He is, and they fear Him.  Anyone can believe.  But, believing is very different from actively participating.  It's very different from being an adherent follower.  So, the next question is....Are we disciples, or are we just Christians?  Are you a disciple of Jesus or are you a Christian?  Are you an active follower of Jesus, or do you just believe in Him?  It's a disturbing question isn't it?  It makes us uncomfortable.  It's very specific. Because if you define yourself as a disciple of Jesus, it requires something specific of you.  It's not broad like the word Christian.  Jesus gave specifics about being a disciple and it wasn't anything lengthy at all.  As a matter of fact, it was quite simple.  In Romans 10:9 it says if you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  Declare it, believe it.  The evidence of that salvation is spoken of in John 13:34.  "A new command I give to you.  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another."  Let's just imagine for a moment that all of us in the church who claim to be Christians, lived as Jesus asked the disciples to live and we LOVED one another the way Jesus loved US?! Stop...let that sink in....Blows your mind doesn't it? What if the people looking in on our "Christian" lifestyle looked in and saw us and said, "Look... how... they... LOVE!"  Wow!!  What a witness for Christ that would be if we treated each other with the same kind of love that Jesus showed US!  Jesus went on to explain it in  John 13:35 when He said, "By THIS, EVERYONE WILL KNOW that you are my DISCIPLES, if you LOVE one another."  Jesus wants other people to look at the relationship you have with your  brothers and sisters in Christ, and be drawn in by the way you LOVE each other.  He wants us to create a community of people who are characterized by that kind of  unconditional, generous, compassionate, giving, almost ridiculous kind of love.  Can you even imagine the transformation in our church if we loved that way?  What about the transformation in our families?  This is EPIC!  This is WORLD SHAKING!!  Do you understand how this could change the ENTIRE world's view of what a "Christian" is?!  We're not some broad spectrum of loosely based rules and beliefs.  We are to be Disciples of Jesus....not just believing, but actively loving each other the same way Christ loved us! We are to be adherent followers, striving to be like Him and HE... IS... LOVE.

1 John 4:16 - And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  GOD IS LOVE.  Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in them.   

"Christian, it's not what you think" by Andy Stanley

Watch the video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK6Ohz5DH0o

Are You Out of Focus??

At Christmas time our focus often shifts to our frantic schedules of buying gifts, finding the perfect tree and getting it decorated, baking cookies, attending parties, getting pictures made with Santa, moving that blasted Elf on the Shelf every night, getting ready for Christmas Musicals and traveling to see loved ones.  It can be quite stressful in many ways and to the ones who’ve lost loved ones during the year or won’t be able to go home for Christmas, it can get quite depressing.  With a world so focused on “wants” and “getting more stuff” we can sometimes forget about the whole reason we celebrate to begin with.  

Just like the Grinch discovered, Christmas will come without packages and bows, without parties, decorations or feasts because Christmas isn’t about those things at all.  Christmas is about a Savior, sent to us as a little baby.  The only perfect gift ever given.  And, there were no twinkle lights, Christmas trees or packages with bows.  No one sang Christmas carols or drank hot chocolate or ate sugar cookies.  Mary & Joseph didn’t spend it with their families.  They spent it in a barn with the live stock.  But Christmas came….in a precious child, laid in an animal’s feeding trough and wrapped in a cloth.  What we celebrate at Christmas, what we need to focus on, is the fact that God loved each and every one of us so much, that He sent His only, beloved Son here to take all the sins of mankind, our sins, to the cross to pay the price for them…..so we, you and I, wouldn’t have to.  He sent Him in the most humble way.  

The way we celebrate these days couldn’t possibly we considered humble.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE all the decorating, lights, presents, cookies, parties and all that goes with it!  I LOVE to celebrate and I think if you don’t at least put up a wreath and a nativity for Christmas, well...you might possibly be related to the Grinch after-all.  It’s a GOOD thing to celebrate the awesome gift of Jesus!!  Go all out if you can!  But, in the midst of it all, don’t lose the reason for the season my friends.  Don’t let the stress of the holiday madness get to you.   Don’t let who you do or don’t get to spend Christmas with define your celebration.  

And one last thing….a challenge.  I challenge you to do at least one good thing for someone else every day until Jan. 1 (and then make it your New Year’s resolution!).  It can be big or small, but whatever it is, do it with a BIG smile on your face.  Do it with JOY!  Do it whether anyone sees it or not!  Because Love is always the perfect gift!!

What in the world....

Sometimes I wonder what this world is coming to.  I look around and see so much pain, so many people hurt and broken, so much hate and destruction.  I see people so empty that they will try anything to fill that void they have inside.  No drug, no cause, no person, no thing, no good work, no pleasure, no revenge, no amount of money will ever, EVER fill that void.  You cannot fill a God-shaped hole with a world-shaped peg.  No amount of pounding will make it fit.  In the end you're just left empty and cold.  What’s wrong with this world?  It is full of empty, cold people running from one thing to the next desperately trying to figure out how to fill that hungry, aching void inside of themselves.  They're frantic, terrified of not finding what they need to fill it up before it’s too late.  Sometimes they think they've found it, filling it up temporarily with fame, fortune, even rage or love, but it all drains out like water through a sieve and they're left cold, empty and alone...again.  I've seen some that have gotten to a point where they simply can't try anymore. Numbing their pain with drugs or alcohol. They've given up.  I saw many of those on the streets of New York City, shadows of their former selves, alone, disgraced, wishing for death, the light nearly gone from their eyes.  I've seen some filled with the fire of rage, standing on street corners screaming for their causes.  It fills them up for a brief time until the flames they spew at others, consume them instead.  There is but one thing in all the universe that can fill that empty void inside of every human.  It is the acceptance of a tiny baby, born in Bethlehem, who grew up to bring the good news of a Savior, who took all of our sins...yours and mine...and nailed them to a cross.  He is the answer.  He is what you’ve been searching for.  He is the one and only thing that will drive away the darkness in your soul and fill it up with His glorious light...forever.  All you have to do is ask! He is the only one who can complete you. His name, the one you've been looking for all your life to make you whole...is Jesus.  

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Christ, the Lord.” ~ Luke 2:8-11

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” ~ John 3:17

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~ Romans 15:13

To write or not to write....there is no question.

We've been doing a study in Sunday School that has really gotten my wheels turning in terms of writing.  I really, truly want to be a writer, and not just any writer....I want to be successful.  I know that God has given me the ability to express myself through the written word.  I've enjoyed writing my entire life.  I find comfort in words.  I think it's because if you have taken the time to actually write something down, then you must have really thought it through and it must sincerely come from your heart.  It's a bit like singing, which I also love.  Julie Andrews, one of my favorite things, once said that "Singing is opening up your heart and pouring out your soul." and I think writing can be the same.  When God puts something on my heart, it's as if the words type themselves.  I can't stop until they're all out.  I think that I don't write as much as I should because I allow so many other things to get in the way.  Right now the writing comes in spurts.  A poem here, a short story there, an occasional blog post, but  I want to do more.  I want to write every day, but I don't.  Sometimes it feels impossible and I think I should just give it up.  Why bother.  I'll never be a successful writer.  No one in the publishing world even knows I exist.  I've sent stories off to publishers and been rejected every time.  But then I read one day that Agatha Christie was consistently rejected for five years.  J.K. Rowling was rejected twelve times and was told to "get a day job"!  C.S. Lewis' stories were rejected for years!  Beatrix Potter's "A Tale of Peter Rabbit" was rejected so many times that she finally decided to self-publish it.  It went on to sell 44 million copies.  Those are just a few!  So, maybe my name will never be in the company of these famous writers, but I'm not going to give up.  I have an idea I'm going to be starting on soon, and I feel really good about it!  So do me a favor....pray for me.  You know that old song, "I Just Feel Like Something Good is About to Happen", that's how I feel about my next project.  One thing I know for certain after this bible study I just finished....the ultimate in faith is thanking God in ADVANCE for what you've asked Him to do.  It's not denial of reality.  It's facing the facts, with hope!

Hebrews 11:1 - "Now Faith is confidence in what we hope for, and assurance about what we do not see."


http://www.literaryrejections.com/best-sellers-initially-rejected/

Who's Your Daddy...

The word "Abba" is mentioned 3 times in scripture.  In Mark 14:36, Jesus cries out to God, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You.  Take this cup away from me, nevertheless, not my will, but thine."  Paul wrote in Romans 8:15, "You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba Father."  Once again in Galatians 4:6, Paul wrote, "Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out Abba Father."  

When looking up the meaning of the word Abba, here's what I found;

"In Scripture there are many different names used to describe God. While all the names of God are important in many ways, the name “Abba Father” is one of the most significant names of God in understanding how He relates to people. The word Abba is an Aramaic word that would most closely be translated as “Daddy.” It was a common term that young children would use to address their fathers, like "Dada" or "Papa" is used today. It signifies the close, intimate relationship of a father to his child, as well as the childlike trust that a young child puts in his daddy."

Often we focus only on the fact that God is God, and lose sight of that fact that He is also our Father....our Daddy.  It is, of course, important to remember that He is the Creator of all things, the One who hung every star in its place, however, we cannot let that keep us from having an intimate relationship with Him.  "Abba, Father" has a double meaning.  The affectionate, intimate, Abba, expresses a child-like love, as well as trust and comfort.  The more formal, Father, conveys an understanding of our relationship to God the Almighty Creator.  When the two are combined, it encompasses our emotional attachment and intelligent comprehension of our heavenly Father.  

Many people believe that God is uninterested in us, that He simply watches us from a distance and isn't concerned about our individual lives.  But God has told us over and over in scripture just how much He loves us and wants a personal relationship with us.  

• He knows us by name. Isaiah 43:2 says, "Fear not for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; You are mine."  
• He knew us before we were born and He thinks about us all the time.  Psalm 139:13-18 says, "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother's womb...You were there when I was being formed...You saw me before I was born...How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly!  I can't even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me.  And when I wake in the morning, you are still thinking of me!"  
• His love for us will never end.  Jeremiah 31:3 says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love."  
• We are His beloved children.  1 John 3:1 says, "How great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we might be called the children of God." 
• Nothing can ever separate us from His love. Romans 8:38-39 says, "Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, not height, nor depth, nor any created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus." 
• Finally, lets not forget that the God of the Universe, loved us so much that He gave us His only Son to die on the cross to save us!  That's a love so deep I cannot fathom it!  1 John 3:16 says, "This is how we know what love is, because He laid down His life for us." 

Have you ever considered what all this means?  It means that you are the beloved child of the One who has ALL authority in Heaven and on Earth.  Our "Daddy' is the King of Kings!  What can we ever want that He cannot give us?  What can we ever need that He cannot provide?  He loves you, even if you don't love Him!  Jesus didn't die for just a select few, He died for ALL of humanity...ALL...Even the ones who don't believe in Him.  The choice is yours, and it's very simple. Romans 10:9 puts it as simply as it can be said, "If you confess with your mouth, that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved!" 
Revelation 3:20 says, "Look!  I stand at the door and knock, and if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in...". 

So let's wrap this up shall we?  

• God loves you with an everlasting love that nothing can ever take away.
• God knows you intimately, inside and out, and cares about every detail of your life.
• The one who has ALL authority in Heaven and on Earth, knows your name and wants a personal relationship with you.  You just have to let Him in. 

Bottom Line....

The King of Kings is your Daddy!

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"What Does It Mean That God Is Our Abba Father?" GotQuestions.org. GotQuestions.org, n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2014.

"Looking Unto Jesus - Abba, Father." Looking Unto Jesus - Abba, Father. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2014.

Hear my Heart....

This post has been sitting in my "drafts" since last winter.  I had written it on my iPad, copied and pasted it here for later editing, and then forgot about it.  I do that sometimes.  Anyway, I rediscovered it today, and I think it has a pretty good message so I'm posting it sans editing.  I hope it hits home for someone out there.  Oh, and I still need to learn this song.  :)  Amy



I heard a song this morning that I had actually downloaded quite a while back with the intention of learning it so I could sing it at church.  But then, I got severe laryngitis, and before I could recover from that we all got the Flu, and then separately battled Bronchitis and Pneumonia.  I have been unable to sing much since the last performance of The Living Christmas Tree!  I've been a little bit paranoid, knowing that viruses can permanently damage, even paralyze vocal chords.  I've done a little singing, very carefully, in choir and praise team recently, but my full range and voice have yet to completely return.  I do feel it improving from week to week so I am quite certain it will fully return....soon I hope!  It is very hard, for someone who sings all the way to work every morning, to suddenly just sit there silently and listen to songs I normally enjoy singing along with.  As a matter of fact, it is often insanely annoying!  Singing is not something that has ever come easily for me for various reasons, mostly my severe allergies & honestly... fear.  I have always envied people who seem to be able to do it without any effort.  When I first start singing for the day, I sound a bit like a rusty old truck trying to start.  I have to warm up a while to get rid of the "cobwebs".  At any rate, difficult or not, I love to sing.  Being able to sing was, when I was in school, pretty much the ONLY thing that made me feel was special about me.  I wasn't pretty.  I wasn't outgoing.  I wasn't a genius.  I wasn't great a sports.  But, I could sing.  It gave me an identity and made me feel special during my teenage years when I really needed it the most.  Please don't think I'm saying that I think I am some phenomenal singer.  Not at all.  But I can carry a tune and get a song across to people without a lot of displeasure on their part, so I know it's not half bad at least, and I enjoy it immensely.  Because of my own childhood experiences, it has always been very important to me to help my kids find that "thing" that they were "really good at".  It has always been part of my prayers for the boys that they would find "it" and that God would give them the opportunities to use "it" for His glory.  Along with having a personal relationship with Christ, which is essential, it's also important for kids to feel special in some way, especially when navigating the rough days of their teens.  I think a lot of times we forget how hard it was when we were that age trying to "fit in", be accepted by our peers, and be successful in our social circle.  However, when we were kids, we could at least leave that pressure at school.  We could leave and go home and not think about it again until the next day back at school.  These days, the pressures are 24/7.  They cannot "leave it at the schoolyard".  With the internet, email, social media, cell phones and texting, that pressure goes where they go.  It never stops.  In Jr. High I was skinny, had frizzy hair, bad skin, crooked teeth and was painfully shy.  I was a perfect target for teasing, but as much as I was teased in Jr. High back then, I can only imagine how it would be amplified these days. I don't think I could have handled it 24/7.  I remember my only goal being to get through the day without being noticed, to be as invisible as possible, and I was pretty good at it most days.  Once I entered High School, and the miracle of hot rollers and flat irons were invented, I became a little more confident in my appearance, although not much, but I also discovered I had a voice.  I'm not sure what might have happened to me had I not discovered that voice, but I do know that discovering it changed me forever, for the better.  The name of the song I listened to this morning, the one I was going to learn, is called "Hear My Heart", and basically the message is this....I may be going through a really hard time right now.  I may be feeling very down and don't understand why it's happening. I may not even know what or how to pray about the situation so God....Hear my Heart.  This blog post has more than one message.  The first one is, it's very important for your kids to find that thing that makes them feel special.   It's essential that we as parents help them to discover what that special thing is, support them in it, and let them know you believe in them.  My parents and family members did that, and it really made a difference.  The second one is, in your teens, you can think that there is nothing special about you at all, that your world will never be happy, that no one will ever love you and nothing will ever change...but you are wrong.  God has given everyone a talent and/or gift, and we all discover them at different times in our lives.  Keep exploring, keep trying, keep going and one day you will discover it and I bet you will realize it's been there all along!  The third is, when you are at your wits end and you don't even know how to pray about the situation, simply ask God to "Hear your Heart".  He hears the groanings of our hearts when we cannot even utter a word in prayer.  He knows us by heart and He never, ever leaves us.  I could not have navigated my teen years without knowing that He loved me, even when it seemed like no one else did.  He heard my heart.  

Stress...

Stress is not about what happens to us.  It's about how we react to what happens to us, and our reaction... is a choice.  You can choose to react negatively, get angry, pitch a fit, or you can choose to react calmly with the understanding that it is only temporary, and it will eventually pass.  The way we as Christians react to situations or to others who have made us angry or just plain gotten on our nerves and stressed us out, says more about our walk with Christ than any words we could speak.  Simply put, "actions speak louder than words".  Any Dr. will tell you, stress is a killer.  It causes high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, cancer.  I believe the secret to handling any kind of stress is in keeping a constant, open dialog with God.  1 Thessalonians 5:17 says "pray without ceasing."  I remember hearing a pastor quote that verse when I was much younger and thinking to myself, "Yeah, right.  There's no way I could pray all the time."  But what that actually means is, keep the dialog open during your daily life.  Talk to God like He's sitting in the seat beside you... He IS with you always.  It was hard at first, but now it's second nature.  I whisper little prayers all throughout the day.  I thank Him for victories and happy moments. I praise Him for the beauty I see around me.  I seek His comfort when I'm upset or angry.  I ask Him for help.  Just that simple act in a moment of anxiety, stress, anger, or panic of whispering to God, "oh help" releases a hundred pounds of stress from my shoulders because I know He IS my help.

Psalm 54:4 - "Surely God is my help.  The Lord is the One who sustains me."

Psalm 121:2 - "My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth."