AIM

AIM is a ministry in India. Please check out this website and sponsor a child. It's only $25 a month. For most of us all it will take is to cut back eating out on Sunday afternoons. At my church we have been going through a series called Mindset through Philippians. It has really convicted my heart. Where is your mind set? Is it out God's kingdom or yourself? Is it on money? Education? Work? Circumstances? There are so many things that get in our way of having our minds set on the kingdom of God. This is just us giving into the work of satan. Please, begin by sponsoring a child. Do it for the kingdom of God. I know most people that read this are probably going to be college students who don't have much money at the end of the month, but remember the money you have is not yours. It has been given to you by God. Use it to further His kingdom as best you can.

Here is the website: http://aim18.org/index.aspx

This link will take you to the ministry's home page. From there you can click on the link "Sponsor a Child" and you can read about the ministry.

To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen!

Psalm 1:1 & Maxxy Poo

Maxxy Poo is my puppy. Well he's not really a puppy, more like a beast. He's a little less than a year old golden retriever. To get Maxxy Poo to go to bed I put a treat in his kennel (he'll chew everything in site if he's not under close watch 24/7). He reminds me on Psalm 1:1 every time.

Let me start off with Psalm 1:1: "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!"

Maxxy Poo = sinful man
Treat = sin

Every night at bed time a treat is put into Maxxy Poo's kennel. Maxxy Poo will get up (walk) and begin to look at the treat (this is where he stands). He will closer and closer to the treat (walking and standing) after every moment of continuing the observe the sin. After a few moments his desire takes over to grab the treat and enjoy a moment of tastiness. End the end he ends up in his kennel with his treat in his belly that no longer satisfies him and all he desires is to get out of the kennel.

Maxxy Poo reminds me so much Eve in the Garden of Eden. This is in Genesis 3. If you don't know the story you should go read it now. Here's a link to the scripture: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%203&version=NIV

We do exactly as Maxxy Poo and Eve do when it comes to sin. We are intrigued by the sin so then we start walking a little closer to it. Then we stop and we desire it so much. Then we get closer and closer and closer and eventually we end up in the sin.

God calls believers to live a life devoted to Him. A life that is missional. A life that counts not for the glory of man, but for the glory of our marvelous Savior, Christ Jesus. Paul especially speaks of this kind of life throughout the New Testament. God has really convicted my heart on what it means to live a life worthy of Christ Jesus and of the Gospel. No one is worthy by themselves. Only through the atoning blood shed at Calvary by Jesus can one be reconciled to God. Jesus Christ is the only way to God.

Anyways, I'm getting a little off topic; it's quite late.

I want to end with Colossians 3:5: "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry."

Don't Waste Your Life

I was driving home one day listening to Freedom is Here by Hillsong United (Pretty much the awesomest song ever.. just sayin) and it was a bright sunny day, the trees blowing in the wind and the beautiful butterflies flying around. As I was going up a hill and then down there was a HUGE (and when I say HUGE I mean gimongous) black bird eating "road kill." I screamed a little and swivered to miss it. Thankfully the road never has traffic so there was no car on the other side of the road when i swerved to miss the HUGE bird. After I got myself back together it hit me that the dead animal was sin, the bird was a Christian still "testing the lines" of sin and my car and I was the non-believer. So:

• Road Kill = Sin
• HUGE bird = Chrstian still "testing the lies" of sin
• My car & driver = Non-believer

You're probably thinking what in the world is Amanda trying to say by talking about road kill and a big bird... Well it's quite simple.

Psalms 1:1 says this:

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;"

The Psalmist here is talking about the progression of sin. The first step is walking by and slightly observing the "sin." The second step is stopping and taking a good look at the "sin." The third step is sitting down with those who are in the "sin." At this point you yourself have entered into the "sin" that you know is wrong.

The bird was like the sinner. He kept repeatedly risking his life by getting hit by the car just so he could have a little taste of the road kill, which is like the sin. The cars (non-believers) would keep coming by and the bird would keep running from the road kill (sin) as fast as he could to save his life. M

My point is non-believers see our actions. We can try to "run and hide" from them when they come around, but they still see them. By just going through the motions and lifting your hands in worship on Sunday's and then going out into the world acting just as wordly as everyone else people aren't going to see who Christ is. Sometimes the only Jesus people will see is through those who are professing Christ. What qualities of Christ are they seeing in you? Are you still "testing the lines of sin" or are you fully committed to striving after Christ and living your as to bring honor and glory to His precious and holy name? Don't waste your life. One day you will stand before God and give an account.

Sharing God's Word

I've been spending a lot of my time on my senior project. These are a few excerpts from my paper.

• As God’s Word says in 1 John 3:13, “Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.” The Bible also says in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” And then again in Matthew 10:22, “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” As Christians, are to live our life for Him, and for the eternal things, not the temporal things, regardless of the apparent and obvious risks that are involved. After all a mighty fortress is our God. He will protect us and guide us if you call upon His name.
• God has called us all to win people over for Christ. It is our duty as followers of Christ to make disciples of all the nations. This includes not only our next door neighbor, people in our schools and workplaces, but also includes those who are overseas and less fortunate than we are. Without the efforts of missionaries many of them would never hear the Gospel, the “good news” of Jesus Christ. Accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is the most important decision a person can ever make, as He is the only one who can grant eternal life. By accepting the gift of Jesus Christ, acknowledging Him as Lord of your life, confessing your sin, and asking Him to forgive you of that sin, one is accepting the greatest gift that has ever been offered to mankind. That gift is most clearly stated in John 3:16 which says “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Jesus has given us an amazing eternal gift that we don't deserve. Jesus lived a sinless life and took on a terrible crucifiction so that we can have a relationship with God and have eternal life. This pretty much amazes me. I lovee my amazing Savior!