1 Peter 4:10-11

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies-in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The Cross Centered Life

http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?seriesOnly=true&currSection=sermonstopic&sourceid=b3th3l&keyword=The+Cross%2DCentered+Life&keyworddesc=The+Cross%2DCentered+Life

Why I Stopped Trying to Fit In, And Why You Should Too (therebelution.com)

In 10th grade, this was my biggest goal in life. I did everything I knew how to, in order to be cool enough. I wore the right pants. I styled my hair. I made sure I always smelled like I stepped out of a Bath & Body Works store, and, I exercised like my life depended on it, making sure the number on the scale was as low as I could possibly make it.

It was a lot of work, trying to keep up with all of this in order to look good to my peers.

Our identity is found in Christ alone, we’re NOT defined by other people’s expectations or accusations. We as Christians are children of the Most High God, given grace, love, worth, and an inheritance that can never be taken away.

So why should I be afraid when someone thinks I’m too “weird” or “boring”, or even if I’m accused of thinking or doing something I had no part of?

I’ve always been a people-pleaser. But oftentimes I will turn it into my first and only priority, something I worship, when there should only be One who has that place in my heart. I am robbing Him of His reign in my life & in my heart, replacing Him with another.

“So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” — Hebrews 13:6

“If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” — John 15:19

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” — 2 Timothy 3:12

” … For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7

And there’s nothing wrong with trying to smell good, and look clean (in fact, I highly recommend it), but when we go to extremities in order to impress others, simply, we are wasting our time.

I wish someone would’ve walked up to me a year ago and said that I shouldn’t care if people think I’m not smart enough, or skinny enough. That it doesn’t matter if I don’t reach their standards of perfection — or society’s. That I should just focus on my relationship with God, and showing Christ’s love & truth to all who come my way.

So, I hope I can be that someone for you, dear reader. Don’t waste your energy and concern on others’ opinions. Jesus died, resurrected, said “Fear not, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33), and yet we’re stillafraid of not fitting in? Of someone judging our appearance, or our actions? Of people belittling us, and maybe not accepting us?

Jesus will always accept us. Not because we’re perfect. Not because of anything good we’ve done.

But because He loves us.

http://therebelution.com/blog/2014/03/why-i-stopped-trying-to-fit-in-and-why-you-should-too/#.UzWMWe-9LCQ

Saviour Please

https://www.youtube.com/embed/lPvPcF_eKww?autoplay=1

Getting ideas

What are some ways you and your family share the Gospel and show Christ's love to others?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Check out the real story of St. Patrick here http://dadsdisappearingsalsa.com/real-story-of-saint-patrick/

"Discouragement is dissatisfaction with the past, distaste for the present, and distrust for the future. It is ingratitude for the blessings of yesterday, indifference to the opportunities of today, and insecurity regarding strength for tomorrow. It is unawareness of the presence of beauty, unconcern for the needs of our fellowman, and unbelief in the promises of old. It is impatience with time, immaturity of thought, and impoliteness to God." -Peter Kennedy

Check out this giveaway for Growing Up Duggar by the four oldest Duggar girls! I have already read it and cannot recommend it enough!

http://www.chelsyrenee.com/2014/03/book-giveawaygrowing-up-duggar.html?m=1

Don't quit!

http://mitchellbontrager.blogspot.com/2014/03/dont-quit.html?m=1

"We know that a godly girl is not someone who has lived a 'perfect' life but is someone who has received God's forgiveness and is seeking to put the past behind her and choosing to live every day for Him." ~ Growing Up Duggar

Duggar quote

"Jesus did not say to make friends but to make disciples!" ~ Growing Up Duggar by Jana, Jill, Jessa, and Jinger Duggar

Our pastor is in the Dominican Rebublic doing some pastor training. Here is his latest blog post!

http://kevinivy.blogspot.com/2014/02/mission-surge-dominican-republic-update.html?m=1

Gifts

Romans 12:3
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Paul begins with humility, and in the verses following outlines that while the body of Christ is one body working together, the many members do not have the same function. As members of Christ’s body, we have different gifts enabled by the grace of God, and we should offer those gifts according to our faith. We each have a measure of faith, and God has done the measuring. It is not a good idea to compare the offering of the gifts that God has given us with the gifts of others. This leads us to jealousy, envy, and distracts us from what is important: our ongoing relationship with the Lord. The gifts of the body of Christ are offered for the good of the body, and God delights in all of that offering. Trust in Him to lead you by the precise measure of faith given to you.

Verse/Commentary courtesy of 'Verse-A-Day' app.
http://www.verse-a-day.com/Apps

Prayer

"For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you--that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine."
                             ~ Romans 1:9-12

"For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." ~Phil 1:8-11

"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." ~Col 1:9-14

"To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Thess 1:11-12 

Paul's prayers were earnest and overflowing with love for these brothers in Christ. My challenge for us is that when we pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ, that our prayers be as fervent and filled with love as Paul's were, not just a routine. As Christians, we are on a battleground and desperately need people who are on their knees interceding for each other. There is power in prayer because the One who hears those prayers is all-powerful and He loves us.

This is really good!

http://therebelution.com/blog/2014/02/lessons-from-a-three-year-old-2/

Happy Valentine's Day!

How To Have Happiness and Holiness

Focusing on the character of God helps us to take our eyes off our circumstances. ~ Unknown

Check it out at http://livingfortheway.webs.com/the-parent-project !

This song has become my prayer. "Lord, give me Your eyes!"

"Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter." ~ Francis Chan

The Cutest Christmas Present

Anyone interested in a cute little puppy this Christmas/New year?? He needs a good home! (There are 2 more pups available) Message me for more info.

Exodus 34:23-24

Commentary:
Achievement and anxiety can be traps that keeps us from spending time with the Lord. Good things, at times, are just as much a danger to us as temptation toward sin. We can be working hard at good things, and not making time for the Lord God in our lives. While I believe it is important for both men and women to take time out to commune with the Lord, there is a specific call here to men to make time to do this. The Lord promises to take care of things as we live a lifestyle that prioritizes relationship with Him. Take time out and seek the Lord your God.

Verse/Commentary courtesy of 'Verse-A-Day' app.
http://www.verse-a-day.com/Apps

Others May, You Cannot

http://kevinivy.blogspot.com/2013/11/others-may-you-cannot.html