qualified??

sometiems I feel unworthy...
..maybe you do too...

I feel like there's no way this all powerful God who created the entire universe cares about my needs...or even cares about what i'm doing...

..i don't think i'm the only one who feels this way once in a while...

sometimes I even feel like i'm not good enough...
not qualified enough for ministry...
not good enough for my family...
not smart enough for school...
the list goes on and on sometimes...

I was reading about Zacchaeus today and how he was definitely not the first guy most people thought of when they thought of people who Jesus would hang out with, but yet Jesus picked him over everyone else in the crowd. (Luke 19:1-10)
Zacchaeus was definitely not qualified...
just like me..

but..

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called!!!

the wind an earthquake and a fire...

Sometimes life sucks!
Sometimes if feels like there is no hope and there is no way out…
Sometimes it feels like the darkness is all there is and that the light doesn’t exist…
Sometimes it feels like God has forgotten about us and we’re all alone…

Maybe you’ve been feeling like this lately…
Maybe you’ve forgotten what it’s like to be happy…
Maybe bitterness has overtaken you…
Maybe you feel betrayed…

You might be asking,
“why should I continue? why should I keep going? life seems impossible right now and I don’t know where to go…”

I want to encourage to not give up though…

Elijah had come to a very similar point in his life too…
He wanted to die…
He even asked God to take his life…
Evil people were out to kill him and he had no where to turn…
But God heard his prayers…
And this is what happened…

“The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”

I hope you find as much hope in this as I do…
To know that God will work things out…even though it seems like an earthquake and a great fire are tearing us up God will still speak to us in that still small voice…

Don’t quit going my friends…
God has huge plans for you and He loves you so much…


- Joe

the wilderness...

We’ve all been there…
The wilderness..
The place no one wants to be…
It’s a place of brokenness and want, a place that makes us feel dry and incomplete…
A place of unrest…
Our souls yearn for answers and hunger for hope, and it feels like we’ll never find truth…
We seem to wander aimlessly on a road headed to nowhere…
The wilderness seems to never end!!

You all know what I’m talking about…
Maybe this is how you are feeling right now even…

I want to share something with you though…
There is a promise of hope and beauty that God has planned for you!!!
He has a promise land out there for you and it's flowing with contentment and passion..

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

The plan God has for you is not to have you travel through the wilderness your entire life, but…
You’ve got to go through the wilderness to get to the promise land…

I hope you all will continue to push through the wilderness today...


- Joe

let's make a resolution.

it's a new year and we haven't blogged yet!! epic fail. well here is something to think about...

let's not just make resolutions for this new year that we won't keep, or that we will break by the middle of march... how about a plausible one?

let's make a resolution to be honest with people this year.
let's make a resolution to make our frienships and relationships intentional.
let's make a resolution to embrace our own stories and be willing to share them whenever God presents an opportunity.
let's make a resolution to let God use us in any way that he chooses, whether it is comfortable for us or not.
let's make a resolution to move for something important.
let's make a resolution to love.

you are not alone this year, this month, this day, this hour, this minute. do not fear your pain or your past or your brokeness. seize the moment. if you are hurting, let someone know. i want to encourage you today. you are loved. you are cherished. let's make this year a great one.

we are stronger

I felt like i needed to write this...



through the storm and through the fire there is truth that sets me free Jesus Christ who lives in me
You are stronger you are stronger
Sin is broken you have saved me it is written Christ is risen Jesus you are Lord of all
- Hillsong


I think….no! I know sometimes I forget this…
That Jesus Christ, the same Man who conquered the grave, lives in me…
He lives in me!!

and not just that He lives in me, but He is stronger than anything and everything that I am dealing with right now…

I mean…He straight up died for all the sins I’ve ever committed!!
He died for all of the problems that I am facing!!!
And He’s conquered them all…

I don’t know exactly what you are going through today, but I know that whatever it is Jesus Christ has defeated it…

Galatians 1:4
Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.


I hope that you'll remember that whatever it is you are going though "YOU ARE STRONGER BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST LIVES IN YOU"

don't give up :)


- Joe

rest during the storm!!??

Lately I’ve been in a weird mood...

I’ve been short tempered and somewhat cranky. It’s the end of the semester and I’m tired. I’m sick of school. I’m sick of being tired. I keep trying to do thing on my own power...

and it’s not working!!!


I know I’m not the only person who is struggling with this…

I’ve had at least 3 separate conversations with people who are saying the exact thing, they growing weary and life is getting tough…

we’re sick of doing this on our own…

well….I came across two verses today that helped me and thought they would be an encouragement to you all as well.

“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him” (Psalms 37:7)

to think being STILL is something the Lord wants blows my mind…

lately I’ve been thinking I need to be doing something or praying something in order for God to move in my life…

but I was wrong…

He is simply asking us to be patient and wait for Him…


Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

This verse really spoke to me...

Even with all these burdens that I’m carrying around Jesus is inviting me to bring them to Him…

And not just give them to Him but He’ll also give me the rest I need???

What an amazing God we serve…

He loves us so much and yet we think we can do on our own power…

We don’t need to worry about anything…

There is nothing God can’t handle…

the same God who conquered the grave lives in you and me...


I hope if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by life and broken from the unfairness of life that you'll find rest...
that you'll find hope in the One True Hope
and that you wont give up





- Joe



Dedicated to my friends who are hurting (you know who you are) :)

As I sat and listened to my friends stories of pain and yet life, I was reminded of how beautiful life can be when we give it to God...my freinds stories were so amazing and so inspiring...

If you haven't had a chance to listen to a friends story in a while I would encourage you to take some time and listen to a friend share their life with you...

it might be a stretch for most of us, but i can promise you it is worth it :)

what inspires you?

we all have THOSE days.

when you have one of THOSE days, where do you find the inspiration to keep going?
when it seems like everything should just be fading...
or maybe to you everything IS fading...

what gives you the motivation to
get through the next

day...

hour...

minute...


where does your heart get inspired to continue on?

for me, i have recently found my inspiration thorugh the story of a friend. i continue to find strength through her story because the reason she shared and was open was because she heard someone else being honest and sharing. someone else's story inspired her.

i think sometimes we downplay the importance of
every
person's
unique
story.

and we forget the impact it can have on the life of someone else.

we have been blessed in our lives, whether through pain or joy, to be able to share that blessing with other people. we never know who or how our story WILL impact someone's life.

but, if we never share... how will we find out?
maybe someone will one day tell you how great of an impact your story had on them.
you will be their inspiration.

now, do not confuse inspiration and hope.
our hope needs to be found in only One.
our hope cannot be found in a blog. or a sermon. or an person, except Jesus.

Jesus' story is the best.

Jesus never fails.
people. will. fail.

Jesus is ever faithful.
people. will. fail.

Jesus is ever merciful.
people. will. fail.

Jesus is ever providing.
people. will. fail.

Jesus is ever loving.
people. will. fail.

Jesus needs to be our hope. God has written a story, you are just one character in His story. don't keep your little line or paragraph or chapter to yourself. let someone read your part. because it isn't your story, it is God's story. and without you, the story would be incomplete. there would be a missing part. let someone read your part and see how you fit into this story that God has created. and through that, let God's story shine through you to inspire someone else.

be authentic. share. inspire.
-amanda

part two.

because God created us and created us perfectly, we are not meant to live in bondage.
we are not meant to live under or live in the darkness.

maybe you're at a point in your life where you feel like things need to change.
maybe you want to change some things.
you feel like there's a greater purpose for your life, and yet you don't see it.

the cool thing is that we have a choice.
we can either listen to the lies or we can search for that beautiful purpose.
we can dwell on our pain and struggles or we can reach out for help.

the first step in finding that purpose is to be completely honest with someone. share with them what's REALLY going on. share with them your doubts, fears, confusion, and brokenness. reach out for that help and your healing will begin.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says:
“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land”

we need to be humbled before our God. when we take the time to humble ourselves before Him and cast all our anxieties on Him, He will pour out his blessings on us so that we may be healed and free from these chains that bind us.
if we can take these steps in being honest with someone we will start to see ourselves healing. slowly but surely. it's a process. in that process we don't have to be confined to the past.

maybe you already know that though.


we don't have to suffer from our struggles anymore...WHY??
because Jesus has paid it all.


all of our failures.


all our mistakes.


all of our pain.




but maybe we've forgotten that part.
maybe we forget too often.
maybe we just take this for granted.
maybe we take hope for granted.

but our hope is only found in one place. the cross.



our challenge to you today is to remember where you find your hope. hope is not found in a blog or in a sermon or in a friendship, but hope is found through what Jesus has done on the cross for us. our hope is found in God’s word. our hope is found through prayer. Jesus is our hope.

part one.

There are many things I don't understand. I don't understand dispensational theology. I don't understnad babies. I defintatly don't understand parents either. Maybe you are going through crap right now. And maybe you feel like nobody understands you. Maybe you feel alone right now, and that nobody understands anything about you. Yet deep down inside you know you are broken and that you need a change. Maybe you don't want to hold your brokeness inside any longer. Maybe you just need to be honest with yourself. Maybe you have questions...What does honesty look like? How can we take that brokeness and turn it into healing? In this mess of a person that you've become, how can you find peace?

I know someone who can help...

I know someone who understands.
He has taken all of your pain.
He's taken all of that confusion.
All of the doubt.
All of that shame.
He's taken all of that brokeness and nailed it to the CROSS...

If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ I can promise you that "He who began a good work in you will complete it."(Phil. 1:6)

God will never give up on you.
God will always be there.
God has a great plan for you.
God wants you to have life.

Don't give up.

Today is a NEW day.

You are not a screw up, or a mistake.
You are beautiful, and made perfect, exactly as God wanted.

... (to be continued)

small dipped cone.

Has your mind ever been wandering and you just think of how many people there really are in this world? In thinking about this, have you ever thought how limited your connections are, or how very few people you truly know... or how very few people truly know you?

Today I had this revelation sitting eating my lunch at the mall. I went to the mall by myself to return something and ended up hanging out there for a couple of hours. I was just wandering aimlessly, eventually I grabbed something the eat and sat down at a table with a book I had just bought at barnes and noble. At one point I looked up and realized just how many people were around me. There were about 40 people (parents and kids) in line for the merry-go-round, about 10 people in line at subway, about 10 people in line at A & W, not to mention all the people sitting around me at tables, the people climbing the stairs, taking the escalator, in the other lines, and shuffling in and out of all the stores in the mall. Everyone seems completely oblivious to everyone else there, with the exception of those that they were there with. Then I got to thinking, if there are this many people in one mall in Grandville, Michigan... how many people are there in malls across the county, or across the state, or across the US, or across the world. And that was just thinking of all the malls!! After I finished my lunch I sat there reading my book for a while longer and then decided I wanted some ice cream. So Dairy Queen it was. I was the 8th person in line at Dairy Queen where I waited while getting walked around, walked in front of, and in one case walked into by many people until it was finally my turn to order. So I told the girl my order. A small vanilla cone dipped in chocolate. I paid and stepped to the side so that the next person could order while the girl in the back made mine. As I was waiting I turned to think more about how many people there are in the world. I was kind of zoned out but after she called my order twice, I realized she was talking to me. "Small dipped cone" was how she addressed me. I was no longer Amanda. I was "small dipped cone."

How impersonal have we gotten?

Sometimes I feel like I am just a number in this world. One thing that scared me about going off to a big college was that I would be "just a number." Then I came to Grace where not only was I not "just a number" but I was recognized as a person with a story. I was not "small dipped cone" I was Amanda. So the two boys in front of me, were not just numbers 6 and 7 in a line for ice cream. I don't know their names, but God does. God knows every person who was in every line I saw today. God knows all the people who were going in and out of every store today. God knows the hearts of all of these people. God knows everything about them, right down to the number of hairs on their head. God wants a relationship with every one of them.

This week has been kind of rough for me. It has been great too though. I have transitioned into a new roommate, so it is going to take some getting used to as far as the way she likes things. I have been getting up earlier than I have for the past three months. I have been immersed in God's word twice daily among my other reading. I have lost a job. I have made some new friends. I have had some hard conversations. Joe and I had the opportunity to talk to some youth pastors about going to speak at their youth group which was both exciting and scary. But through it all I have realized that God knows my heart and he knows what is going on even when I don't. I need to trust more in him and beleive my lies even less.

At the job I just lost I was not Amanda. I was number 84065. That was my identity. I was just a number. But God has shown how much he truly loves us. He tells us that we are his children and that he cares for us. He knows everything about our lives and that is so spectacular.

Today I am not a number. You are not a number. I encourage you to get out and meet someone today, find out something new about an old friend, and just experience life as people meant to care for people. Let someone else know that they are not just a random number, let them know they are cared about and loved.

Be Blessed. Be Honest.
Amanda

Blessings Among Pain!!!

Have you ever thought, “God why does this continue to happen to me?” We go through the struggles of life and we give them to God.

We completely give them to God, but yet they seem to keep on coming back. They seem to not understand that God has taken care of them.

I know that I’ve found myself saying this to myself many times. I’ve been so confused so many times. I’m like “God! This is yours now. I’ve given this to you. Why does it keep on coming back bother me?”

I wonder if I’ve had the wrong perspective this whole time. I wonder if God kept those struggles in my life so that I can be more BLESSED?

Blessed.

That’s an interesting word to use when talking about problems in our lives, or struggles that we face everyday. But I believe that God wants us to view these problems as blessings.

Think about it.

Looking back at my own life I don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for the hard times that God allowed me to go through. I probably wouldn’t be pursuing youth ministry. I then probably wouldn’t be at Grace Bible College. Which would mean I wouldn’t have grown in my faith as much as I have.

God had a plan when I was going through those seemingly impossible times in my life. When it was happening there’s no way I would have guessed I would be where I am today, but God knew, and I doubted His perfect plan for my life.

Another blessing that has come from my own struggles has been the opportunity I’ve had to be able to witness to others because of our common bond of brokenness. God blessed me with brokenness and struggles in my life so that I can better help others feel like that they are not alone. We all have had some sort of pain in our lives and there’s no better way to use that pain than to allow it to be used by God!

So I challenge you to find your struggles as blessings today. Think of them as opportunities to defeat satan by bringing God the glory.

Just Being Honest,
Joe

Brokeness and Sunsets!

Lately I’ve been talking with a friend who is going through some amazingly hard times in his life. His future has totally changed and he has lost a big part of his life. As I talk with him though there seems to have such a peace about what he’s going through. He even says to me that “If all of this wouldn’t have happened some of the greatest things in my life right now may have never happened.” He has had a great support group surrounding him and he has turned to God amidst all this adversity. He knows that all of this is happening for a reason and that even though it’s hard there has been some great beauty brought forth from it.

The way he is handling all of these oppressions reminds me of a sunset.

Even though the sun goes down and loses its heat, it brings beauty to the sky around it. It’s a much prettier sky when the sun is setting than when it is at its highest point. That seems to be the case for my friends as well. Even though this isn’t the highest point in his life and he isn’t feeling that “hot”, he is leading a much more beautiful life in Christ.

I hope that the pain you are experiencing in your life will become as beautiful as the setting suns sky. That you will see the positive things in your life each and every day. That you would turn to the Creator of your life for the answers that are missing in your life. That you would never give up on life. That you would allow the people in your life to help you get through whatever it is you are going through.

You are not alone!

Let your pain turn into a beauty that the world can’t ignore.

My Flag is turning WHITE

Lyrics to Surrender Saved My Life :
I have had enough,
buying ashes with my love
I don't need this
I'm pursuing counterfeit
I'm worth so much more
than this
I don't need it
I don't need it

My flag is turning white
I need Your hope tonight
For the first time
Surrender saved my life

When will all this end?
Must I open up again?
I don't need this
Healing hurts a little more, but I'll be stronger than before
Yeah, I need this,
I know I need this

Keep my eyes focused, You are the long run
There's no time for giving up
We'll make it
We'll make it

Surrender Saved My Life [This Beautiful Republic]

I just did one of the hardest things I may have ever had to do. I forgave someone who wronged me. It was eating me up inside. For a couple of years I have thought that I had fully forgiven this person, but when I took a step back I realized I was just saying that I forgave them, in a very weak attempt to make myself believe it, in hopes that some day it would become reality. Today is that day. But I couldnt just tell myself that I forgave this person. I had to tell the person. I had to write them a letter/message/note whatever you would like to call it, and I told them that although they hurt me, I was forgiving them. I couldn't let what this person had done have control over me any longer. I have found freedom through forgivin someone else. I know that this journey may still be rough, but with God as my strength I can make it. I waved my white flag high and proud today to surrender this situation to God.

Is there someone you need to forgive today?

Ephesians 4:32- Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you.

be blessed. bless someone.
Amanda

so whatcha think?

So how about this for a logo?

Little Things

This last week I've been challenged to help others I wouldn't normally help. I can sense the Spirit pushing me to do this or that, and every time I get that feeling I start to think, "I can't do much for them. There's such a need, but I can't do much for them." I start to feel like I can't do anything for this cause of that cause because I can't completely make their problems go away.

But then these last couple of days I've been challenged to think about the little things. I was challenged to think about how if we all did something small there would be great change in the world. We don't all need to be doing these huge things that take up our whole lives. Think of how much we could effect the world if we all did things in our own community that would bring glory to God. Even if it is just helping out in the nursery at your church or making cookies for an elderly couple that you know.

All God needs is our obedience to make a difference in this world. Are we going to obey God's call to us as believers to be a light to this dark world???

I would suggest you all check out this amazing organization that is bringing everyone together in making a difference in this world. Check them out. They've been such an encouragement in my life and I'm sure you'll be challenged as well.

http://www.i-heart.org/


Just Being Honest,
Joe

Let's change the world.

I'm finding it hard,
hard to take
Mistakes we have made
Ignoring the ones
that we hold dear
Out of selfishness

All these things distract
our eyes and steal our time

Why do we keep fighting, but saying everything's alright?
We all see the same things why can't we stand side by side?
United together, we can change the world

I'm learning to take the smallest steps, and making a way
Can You take anymore?
Can You stand by while our world crashes down?

Be the spark,
forsake your pride,
set things right

Why do we keep fighting, but saying everything's alright?
We all see the same things why can't we stand side by side?
If we have each other, we can change the world

Change The World- This Beautiful Republic

This song says so much. I feel like today, as a day that the world mourns the death of two great american icons, today is a day that gives me even more passion to change the world. The death of Michael Jackson has made me wonder how many celebrities truly know who Jesus is and what he did for them. I am fairly certain that Michael Jackson did not know Jesus, but I can't know for sure, only God knows that. But the thought of a man who revolutionized the music and dance industry and culture completely, spending a Christless eternity just really saddens me. His death makes me wonder, how many people in this country and in this world have put Michael Jackson before Jesus. As I watched the news today I saw Michael Jackson fans gathering outside the hospital where he was pronounced dead, I saw people gathering at his home, I saw people gathering at his childhood home, I saw people who literally worshipped this man. There were people talking about the impact that Michael Jackson had on their lives. It made me wonder what it would be like if we could or even would talk about Jesus on television or the radio like these people were talking about Michael Jackson. On a couple of radio stations the DJs were having a time where they opened up the phone lines for people to call in and tell stories about how Michael Jackson and his music had affected their lives. What if we sent videos to the public tv station or called into the secular radio station to tell them about how Jesus has affected our lives... they wouldn't play it. Our country and our world has our values and morals all backwards. We as the general public or general society worship people who woship things. When that happens, we begin to value the same things that our idols worship. Things like money, pride, power, and appearance.

Can You take anymore?
Can You stand by while our world crashes down?

I don't want to stand by and watch our world fall apart, watch it crash. Our world needs to realize the power given us through Christ. We as Christians need to live Christ out, especially in times like this. I am not saying we need to shove religion down people's throats, I am saying we need to be the body of Christ. When the body comes together and works together we can change the world. Christ is the head to our body and the head holds the brain. When the body works together that means we let Christ decide what we need to do, we just have to listen to what our brain is telling us and go do something about it instead of just listen. We need to live out our faith; we need to love; be honest with people; share life and care for those who are just going through life with no purpose and no direction.

Be the spark,
forsake your pride,
set things right

Let's change the world... what do you think?

Tonight I begin by praying for the family and friends of Michael Jackson. I also pray tonight for the family and friends of Farrah Fawcett.

Good night my friends.
Amanda

Sleepless Morning (written at 3 a.m.)

As I sit here at nearly three o’clock in the morning I have been laying in bed for over and hour trying to get to sleep. Maybe it is the heat, maybe it is the fact that I slept in until one o’clock this afternoon, maybe it is because my brain just isn’t tired yet, or maybe it was God trying to get my attention. I sat here and many things have gone through my head in the past hour. I thought of the girls I coached in cheerleading at The Potter’s House Middle School last winter. I wondered what they were up to now; whether this summer they are making good decisions. Many of them just graduated from 8th grade and I won’t have another chance to impact their lives, so I wondered if I impacted them at all… especially the girls who quit. From those girls I moved on to the little girl I have been praying for from the orphanage my future roommate is working in, in Haiti. Then I began thinking of Maryann (future roommate) who is currently (at least as far as I know) in a hospital in Haiti. I wondered how her surgery went yesterday, hoping that she is recovering from it quickly and safely. I was thinking about when we will be roommates. The thought of it made me smile. Then randomly I moved on to where I am going to put the rest of my stuff in my apartment when I get it out of storage. That got me thinking about where I am going to get a new apartment when I graduate from Grace next May. Who will be my roommate? Just thinking about that made me realize that although I am unusually flexible with my plans, I still always want somewhere steady to call home. My move out of the dorms officially was actually a really tough decision for me. Room 102 has been my “home” for the last three years (minus summers) and the thought of leaving my “home” is scary for me. But I know that my move to the apartment was a good choice and will serve as a good transition for when I have to actually move away. Another random thing popped into my head though, changing topics in my head; I tried to figure out if the lamp I saw in my friend’s apartment last week had always been there or if it was new, but I know I have seen the lamp before, so I thought maybe it was gone for a while and was back… but why did it matter? Then I thought of my friends Anna and Shelby. I was thinking of memories I have with both of them and how great of friends they both are and how much I absolutely cherish their friendships. Thinking about them got me thinking about all of my friends in general. I thought of how I view my friends. The majority of them I see them as such amazing people and see their strength to get through certain situations. I thought of their ability to deal with the things going on in their life and from where I sit I could see their strength. I thought why would they want to hang out with me? I am so broken. I am so weak compared to them. I immediately looked to my weaknesses, but something about that seemed very wrong to me so I looked at it from a different angle. I had to turn it around and view the situation as if I were not the weak one, but the strong one. Because I am not weak; I am strong, I just can’t always see that. As much as I can sometimes only see my weakness, sometimes I can only see their strength. But we are all broken and we are all strong in our own unique ways. I think that is why we all get alone so well, because in the areas some of us are weak, the others are strong and can encourage and build us up. But I know that none of us could be strong in our own strength. It is the strength of Christ that we lean upon when someone else is weak to lift them back up. Again I thought of things that many of my friends have said to me that have impacted my pattern of thinking or my actions that they probably didn’t even know that what they were saying was being recorded in my mind. I thank God so much for all of my friends. I thank God that I don’t have to go through life alone. I love my community of friends who I can rely on for basically anything ever… I definitely recommend getting together with a group of people to go through life together.

Sorry this was super random. I think I am tired enough now to fall asleep. Just remember you are not alone. Not in your joy and happiness, and not in your struggles and pain.

Have a great night friends!
Amanda

p.s. Something else to think about... What kind of impact can you have on someone else when you tell them your appreciation for the little things they do? What kind of impact can you have on someone if you let them know what they really mean to you and how thankful you are for them? Let someone know today that you appreciate them.

The Two Legged Dog!!!

As I was waiting for my coffee at Bigby with my good friend Amanda we saw this 2 legged dog walk across the parking lot. It was so random, yet it brought such joy to my life. It only had its front legs so it balanced on them and it's butt stuck way up in the air. It was quite an amazing thing to see. The craziest thing was that the dog got around just fine with only its two legs. It's like the dog didn't even notice it had a problem. He just walked around like any other dog pretty much.

As I sat there catching up with my friend I started to think about that dog. How he was just as mobile as any other dog and he seemed okay with only having two legs.
I also pondered how I sometimes find myself thinking that "God can't use me. I'm still really young and I'm not the strongest Christian" I sometimes feel like that dog, but instead of using what God has given me I start to think I'm unworthy.

Do you feel that way sometimes??? Do you feel unworthy of God's love and grace in your life??? Do you sometimes think that you're not good enough to be used by God??? Or that you've screwed up too much for God to use you???

Let me tell you something. You are good enough for God. Why? Because of what Jesus did on the cross some two thousand years ago. He paid the price so that we could be good enough.

I hope that you'll remember what Jesus did you for you and me. And that you'll remember that you are good enough. No matter what you've done God will always accept you :)

Just think about that dog that only has two legs, and he gets around just fine...and so can we


just being honest,
Joe

three little words.

"I'm dead inside"

That is a text I got from my cousin a little while ago. She took off and left me here without saying where she was going or when she would return. When I sent her a text asking her where she was, this was the response i got.

I can remember feeling like this. Completely hopeless, completely helpless. I hate that someone I love feels this way. I don't know how to communicate to her in a different way than I already have that she doesn't have to be dead inside. But I have to try to remember what got my attention when I was that low... It was people caring. People asking me how was REALLY doing. People loving me.

Maybe today you feel like you are dead inside or maybe you feel like you have no more hope left. Maybe you are stuck in a rut feeling like there is no way out. I am here to tell you that today you are not alone and someone cares for you. You do not have to live a life of bondage anymore because Jesus came so "that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10)."

Maybe today you are someone who has a friend who is hurting and you want to help but you feel helpless. Remember this "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." You can be the hopeful for your friend or family member. Together you can overcome more obstacles than you could have ever imagined.

For me, I am no longer dead inside, but rather I have the life of Christ in me to be thankful for and to keep me strong when I am weak.

Be Blessed
-Amanda