Open the Gift

When someone offers you a gift, what do you do? You take it. This analogy is often used in the Christian realm- Jesus is offering you the gift of salvation. The only thing you have to do to get it is take it! But this summer, I realized there is a catch. Taking the gift doesn't mean you've actually received it.

There are a lot of people who have the gift. But they leave it sitting in a closet, accumulating dust over the years. They technically have the gift. And they tell people, yes, I've received the gift.
But they never open it. What good does the gift do you if you can't experience it? You see other people who have opened it, and kind of know what it is and how it works. But you've never experienced it for yourself.

Sometimes you want it. You're excited at the realization that you can experience the benefits of the gift if you merely open it. So you rush to the closet, open it and clean out the closet, looking for the gift, which has been shoved to the very back of the shelf. But then you begin to look at it- it's dusty. And unappealing.

Sure, you could fix that fairly easily with a wet rag. But, you'd rather not do that. It really can't be that great.

What we need to realize, is that just having the gift isn't enough. We need to open it. There are so many people who don't realize this. They tack the label of "Christian" on themselves, but live just as if they had never heard the name "Jesus" before.

If you are one of those people, and you know if you are, I have a challenge for you. Open the gift. Take the time to fix it up after all the years of neglect, and use it.

Tori

Immesurably More

Christmas is in the air! Ok, not really. But here in Orlando we have had some relatively cool temperatures over the past few days. And it's only October! Needless to say, I've been enjoying it greatly.

So, I found a really good verse the other day. I had heard it, and I knew that it was there, but I don't think that I had ever really read it.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." -Ephesians 3:20& 21

I don't know about you, but I have a pretty good imagination. Especially when it comes to things that I want, there's tons of things that I could ask for, and a ton of things that I do ask for. I often find myself imagining my future, and trying to make my plans for it. But are my plans really better than God's plans? And in this verse Paul isn't just saying that God can do more than all we ask or imagine, which to me is completely awesome. He uses the word immeasurably. It literally means impossible to measure. We can't even begin to fathom how much more He has planned for us. And I can guarantee you that it is better than anything that you can imagine too.

All this is according to his power at work within us. We cant' come up with any of this on our own. We have to let Him do it, and trust him through it. It then goes on to say "to Him be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!" God deserves all the glory forever anyways, but when we see how he is working his plans in our lives, doing more than anything we could ever ask, it serves as a constant reminder that He really is worthy of all the glory.

Challenge:
Trust Him to do more than you could ever ask Him for, and remember to give Him the glory when He does.

Bethany:)

The Little Things

We go through life never knowing how the little things we do may be effecting those around us. I don't know about you, but I tend remember the little things. Most of my favorite memories are special interactions with special people. One thing that someone said to encourage me. Just a smile when I was having a rough day. A hug from the cutest 3-year-old I know.

Usually we don't realize how big of an impact the little things can have on people, until we are touched by a "little thing" that someone did that meant so much to us. This summer while I was at camp, I had many moments that could have been my favorite. Getting to lead worship. Doing a dance with our church. Crazy fun games with friends. But the moments I remember, the ones I treasure are ones like the time that someone I didn't really know stopped me in the gift shop to encourage me. And getting to do the chicken dance with my children's pastor's 3-year-old daughter. But the one I remember the most was when one of the camp pastors took the time to ask me how I was, and listen for an answer.

I learned a lot of things at camp this past summer, but I think that the most important lesson I learned was to do what I can to encourage people with the little things. How about you? Do you find ways to encourage others in your everyday interactions? You may not ever know if you make a difference in someones life, but you will never know if you don't try.

Overcoming Rejection

Context:

Tori went to a youth retreat this summer. She goes every other year. Some kids who go stay for two whole months, and some stay for just the last week. Previous summers, Tori had gone for the whole two months, and built a "core group" of friends- but she had missed the last time, and was only staying for a week this time. All her old friends- except one, who this story is about- weren't there. Names have been changed.




Part One:


Being with such a large group, I couldn't see every one's faces. We were at Six Flags and I had partnered with an old friend, Trina, on this outing. She was a two-monther, however, so had a rather large group of friends- seeing that same group almost every day. One of the girls in the group looked so strangely familiar. I finally got a full view of her face, and knew her in an instant:
"Kaycee!" I said, as I darted up next to her. I was so excited- now, finally, I had someone to closely hang with, talk to, and you know... be my friend. Don't get me wrong, Trina was doing all she could to help me get along, but I still felt somewhat left out.

Now you can imagine my feelings as she turned to me, as if she was an un-concerned adult and I was an eight year old, and said "What do you want?"


I don't know what I said. I tried to collect my scattered thoughts and say something. I probably mumbled a few sentence fragments and a "nothing."I was wounded. And confused. Kaycee was one of my best friends, an original member of my core group. Suddenly, it occurred to me that she didn't remember who I was. That was it!

I walked back up to her, and when she wasn't conversing with another in the group I said, "You don't remember me, do you?"


"Yeah, I do. You're Tori, right?" I was only a little angry-mostly hurt. I had never experienced rejection before. And this was one person I least expected it from.




Part Two:


Every time I saw Kaycee after that, my heart sank, and I looked the other way. I had "gotten over" it- accepted the reality that Kaycee had rejected me, for whatever reason. But it still was constantly in my thoughts and it still made me sad.

On the last day, I decided that I needed to tell her that. I wasn't trying to make her apologize, but maybe she didn't know how she had made me feel.


I asked a girl who I know had hung with Kaycee two years ago how she treated her now. I wanted to be sure I hadn't misinterpreted Kaycee's actions, tone and words before confronting her. But I got the answer I had expected- she was in a clique and had ignored her this year.

I found Kaycee in a group and waited for her to break away for a moment. When she did, I asked if I could talk her for a moment. "What you did to me at Six Flags really hurt me." She looked confused, and asked what I meant. I wasn't crying, but I was getting slightly choked-up. I did whenever I thought of it. "You ignored me, and it really... hurt me."


"Oh, I’m sorry it made you feel that way." She said, looking genuine but not really sounding it. "I really was happy to see you. For a moment I was like, 'who was that,' but hen I knew it was you, and I really was happy to see you."

But then one of her friends came up to her, and she took leave of me- a quick hug and an "I'll see you in two years"




Conclusion:


Now that I’m back home, I don’t worry about it too much. I have my best friend, Bethany (who isn't in a clique, and I know will never reject me). I don't have to worry about who will partner with me, and sit next to me on the bus. I don't start to cry whenever I think about Kaycee. But I still have a memory of when I did.

I like to believe her apology was real, but I know it probably wasn't. She was happy to see me, and in consequence, ignored me. She was sorry I felt that way, but not that she did it to me. A poor choice of words? Maybe. But actions still speak louder than words.

Tori

Make it Matter

It has been about a year now since our dream was born, so I wanted to take the time to share with you some of our history and to encourage you to make a difference in your community.

About a year ago Tori and I found an article in Brio magazine, a magazine published by Focus on the Family for teen girls. It was called Make it Matter, and it featured Natalie Grant and some things that she was doing to "Make it Matter". There was also an opprotunity for girls to write in and share what they were doing to make their lives matter. So, even though we knew that we would be too late to submit it as a contest entry, Tori and I decided that we wanted to find something that we could do to make our lives matter.

Our idea was to minister to kids living in single parent homes. It has been amazing to see how the mission has stayed the same over the past year, but the dream has changed several times. While we are still working on what our exact means of ministry will be, our heart is still in the same place.

I wanted to share with you a quote from the article. "She (Natalie Grant) is striving to make her whole life matter. 'When I was in high school, I was consumed with blending in instead of doing stuff to stand out and motivate people,' She says. 'I really regret that. I wish I'd been consumed with standing out to make a difference.'"

Find something that you can do to make your life matter. You won't regret it.

What If?

I was thinking the other day, and I started wondering... What if?What would happen if the church were to arise and take her rightful place? What if we lifted the name of the Lord as a banner over our city? If we said “no more.”? What if we actually tried to make a difference? If we firmly took hold of every promise that God has given us? If we found our confidence in Him? If we stopped looking to the ways of the world? If we took a stand for truth?



What if enough of us took a stand that we could turn our nation back to God? What if loving God and turning souls to Him was all that really mattered to us? What if we were to turn from our sins and confess Jesus as Lord? What then?


Would it make a difference? Could you be the one to make the change? Are you willing to hunger after God for all that you’re worth? Would you devote your life to something this big, focusing on a heavenly reward? Make the change. Stand for Jesus.



Romans 12:2 ~Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)



1 Peter 1:14 ~As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. (NIV)



Bethany:)

Where We've Been on the 'Net

I decided to copy a favorite blog of mine, and show you "A trace of where we’ve been on the web this week:"


Please Pass the Tie-Dye If we are all fearfully and wonderfully made, why dress up? Why wear makeup? Why wear matching socks? Read on as Beauty From the Heart's Hannah Farver shares her thoughts on the subject.


Covered While reading one of our favorite blog/webzines, Crosseyed, we found this article about how big Jesus' sacrifice for our sins really is. We know you already know everything there is to know about it already, but this article puts a new light on the subject, and is worth a few minutes of your time.

There Will Be a Day A blog post inspired by Jeremy Camp's song of the same name. It discusses Heaven and having an eternal perspective. We found this on Bloom!, the blog we got this posting idea from (though we don't plan on doing it weekly).

Others May, You Cannot We read a post on the blog "Whatever Is," which really inspired us. It was an excerpt from what we thought was another's blog. But when we looked for the blog so we could just link you to it, we found that it was an excerpt from Buell H. Kazee's book Faith is the Victory. So, now we're just linking you to "Whatever Is."

Hope these posts are encouraging and inspiring,

Tori and Bethany:)

Building Up

I meant to post this earlier this week, but life has been crazy! Any prayers for me and my family would be greatly appreciated. We are going thrugh a big remodel.... But, enough about my life. Here is the post!!

Ephesians 4:29, NIV Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Italics added)

The words we choose to use say a lot about who we are and what we value. The words we say can build others up and encourage them. Or, we can cut them down and make them feel awful. What do people feel after talking to you? Do you honor God and others with your words?

Tori alerted me to the No Cussing Club (www.nocussing.com). Even though I don't have much of an issue with it, I am going to take the challenge to bring awareness to it. I encourage all of you to do the same. Honor God with all that you say.

I won't cuss, swear, use bad language, or tell dirty jokes. Clean language is a sign of intelligence and always demands respect. I will use my language to uplift, encourage and motivate. I will Leave People Better Than I Found Them!

Click here . . . I ACCEPT THE NO CUSSING CHALLENGE!

If you go for one week, you are an apprentice. One month, a journeyman. One year, a master. Will you take the challenge? I did.