What’s the reason for that?

Sometimes I sit and wonder why I do the things I do.

Matthew 6:1

Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

 

So this brings me back to the purposes I carry out my daily life. I know I reference this book a lot, but in the book I read by John Eldridge, Walking with God, there is a section entitled, “Motives”. Eldridge makes the arguement that “Everything we do has motive behind it.”

We’re all born with the desire to please ourselves.

I wonder what would happen if we all really understood the concept that every day our own selfish motives consume our thoughts, and then took that relevation and gave it to God. How much different would our lives be if we stopped trying to show off in front of others. I know I am convicted of this sometimes… Why did I just wait to write out my tithe check during the service and around my friends… Couldn’t I just give online? Why did I just talk about volunteering on Sunday… Am I trying to brag? Granted, these things are all good- giving through tithes and serving others. But am I doing it for the right reasons?

Matthew 6: 17-18

¹⁷But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

I love free resources:

For a future reference for myself:

Some awesome free communications resources for churches…

http://open.lifechurch.tv/

http://www.creativemyk.com/

http://www.muddyrivermedia.org/

http://www.newspring.cc/series

http://www.flasheezy.com/

http://www.stufficanuse.com/

http://insidenorthpoint.org/admin/

http://www.mynorthside.com/creative/

Notes on Matt. 7: 7-12

“7Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

I recently went back home to visit my mother and sisters. My small yorkie lives with them, and one of my favorite things about seeing my family is getting to see her. What blows my mind is how she seems to love me, even when I haven’t seen her, talked to her, or loved on her for months. She always puts me in a great mood after I see her. On the drive home that night, I started thinking. When was the last time I’ve talked to God, seen Him work in my life, or told Him how much I appreciate what He’s given me?

Lord, forgive me for not talking to you on a daily basis.

Your love is so great. Your power is so amazing.

Because Christ is in me I am able to ask, seek, and knock.

Thank you.

Oh Easter Bunny, Oh Easter Bunny…

I really enjoyed this post by Resurgence on the Easter bunny. But this Easter was incredibly real to me this year.

God is continually showing me his love through my volunteer time at church. Seeing 322 people give there lives to Jesus completely fired me up. Last Wednesday, I went to the Chris Tomlin concert at Furman University. The song “God of This City” brought some serious truth. It made me think about the future church plant, and how God is using the church I am a member of now to bring more and more people to Christ in Anderson, South Carolina. My prayer is that he will use myself and the others around me to bring Christ to the hurting in a new city.  The Gospel is what Easter is all about. What good news we have to spread!  I am so thankful to be a part of a church that is bringing people to Jesus…

Joy

Have you ever met someone who was just completely happy most the time? Have you ever met someone who always had something nice to say, or could find the good in anyone and anything? Have you ever met anyone who truly had joy?

In the book I’m reading, Walking with God, by John Eldridge, he explains that his biggest battle in life is the battle “against his joy.” 

God wants us to be joyful in life. I believe that’s one of the reason’s he’s created us. In homegroup over the summer we went through all of the fruits of the spirit from Galatians 5:22-23. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Joy is a fruit of the spirit. 

Our joy can be taken from us by stress, sin, or anger, but take a little time out of your day today to experience the joy that God wants to offer you.  Having joy will bring you one step closer to become whole and holy, and therefore, one step closer to Him.

My purpose, my prayer…

Paul says in Colossians 2:2

“My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and unified in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

• God is calling us to encourage others in the Faith. We are the body, and we are called to lift one another up because we are unified with the message of the Gospel. 
• Because our feet are planted in Christ, we do not waver. We are called to build each other up on this foundation of Christ. When we do, we both will receive “wisdom and knowledge” that comes from being more like Him.
• When was the last time I said something that encouraged someone? Am I consistently striving to be more like Christ? Do I see His creation the way He does? 

God, I am thirsty for You. Fill me up and allow me to be closer to You so I am able to show others your love and mercy that you freely give to me daily, even when I don’t deserve it. Teach me to see as you see.

AFCU… update

Today in my Advertising and Promotion class we found out who won the AFCU tagline challenge.

We didn’t win. 

Like I thought we wouldn’t. I’m not a pessimist, and I know we tried very hard, but like I said earlier in this post, that little “something special” that is needed in a tagline was not present in any of our taglines. In Principles of Marketing we learn that in order to gain any share in target market, we have to gain their attention first. Do you think that the tagline that won gets your attention?

“Right time, Right place.” 

According to the credit union, in these tough economic times, they want their target market to know that this is the “Right time” to put money into the credit union because they are very secure. 

Perhaps they have that “special something”.

Which comes first?

So, earlier this week, Seth Godin added this post about which comes first- the product or the marketing? 

Today, on Church Marketing Sucks Website, they added this post disagreeing with Godin’s opinion that the product must be made first before marketing can happen.

In my opinion, the product and the marketing needs to be working together. The product won’t be heard if there is no marketing, and the marketing doesn’t work without a product. 

In the church, the message and the people need to work together. It needs to be consistent, unified, and delivered in a way that reaches people.

I’m a broke college student…

What a terrible thing to say, even though I’ve been caught guilty of saying that alot. 

I am blessed beyond belief. I live in a country where I am not punished for loving Jesus. I live in a land of opportunity. I am a woman in college. I have a computer with internet access. I have a car. And these are just a few. Wow. Thank you Jesus for blessing me so much! 

I have a good friend who once told me this:

“You came into the world with nothing. 

You deserve nothing.

Everything you have is a free gift

So, it doesn’t matter when you lose it. “ 

AMEN!

25 random facts about me…

This is a random note tag game floating around on facebook and I thought I would share my 25 random facts with yall! 

1. I can play expert on guitar hero. I can also play Halo pretty well.

2. I’m going to Scotland, England, and Ireland in March.

3. Number of years I went to All-State choir in high school.

4. I’m kind of a nerd. I love Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter.

5. Number of jobs I’ve had since high school. One of those being daycare. :/

6. I have every Coldplay album ever produced. (Besides the singles and the special EPs.) They’re my favorite band.

7. My family calls me Durl.

8. I don’t really like chocolate, especially really rich chocolate. I’m more of a vanilla kinda girl.

9. When I was a child, I got a baby lamb for Christmas one year. I was born in the country on the farm.

10. Is my lucky number. I was born on 10/10 at 10:10.

11. Number of states I’ve been to.

12. I was an undeclared major until sophomore semester, and I wasn’t even sure about the major I had chosen. I was going to be a Music-Ed major.

13. My first car was a 95 Jeep Cherokee.

14. I was Dorothy in the middle school production of Wizard of Oz. haha.

15. Coke Zero and Diet Dr. Pepper are my favorite drinks ever.

16. I’ve started blogging recently. Should be interesting.

17. I took several years of piano but none of it stuck and I hated it.

18. I can cry like a baby during a movie.

19. I eat sandwiches and burgers from the outside- in.

20. The first thing I do in the morning and the last thing I do at night are the same- I have to go to the potty.

21. I have never played a sport on an actual team. Just for fun.

22. I used to be in love with Orlando Bloom. Like, ridiculously obsessive.

23. I’ve been to a Brad Paisley concert and been backstage even though I hate country music now. I was taller than him… and it was pretty sad.

24. I used to be in a Christian rock band in high school called Last Issue.

25. I love Jesus with all my heart! Right now God is teaching me so much about patience and trusting in Him.