What ONE word describes you? What FIVE things represent you? Would you rather be known by a word, by five things, or by being a follower of Jesus?

Jesus says that we must be willing to be servants for God. Jesus said that we must be willing to be the presence of Christ. Jesus said that if we do these things, then God will honor us. How cool is that?

All the words and stuff that people might say to describe us is not nearly as outstanding as having God honor us, on earth and in heaven!

Bo Prosser

Here is something cool for you to think about today: A candle loses nothing by giving its flame to another candle!

I think this is what Jesus is talking about today. We have to share ourselves to make a difference. Sharing our faith makes a difference in our lives and in the ones with whom we share. Awesome!

What does Jesus look like? Take a minute and Google images of Jesus. (We’ll wait on you!)

There are thousands of images: young, old, long hair and beard, curly hair and smiling, red, yellow, black, white, brown. The more important question is, “What does Jesus look like to YOU?”

The Greeks came with a simple request, “We would like to see Jesus.” So would we! Look today into the eyes of the Risen Christ - in the homeless person, the little child, your bff’s.

On your journey today and in the days to come, look for Jesus. You might be amazed at what you see.

After ten years overseas, one of the new buzzwords I’ve discovered in US slang is “repurposed.” It is somehow stronger than any of the usual “re-” words — reduce, reuse, or recycle, for example. It suggests a more profound change — a change of meaning, of direction, of intention.

Both of the symbols alluded to in today's passage have been repurposed. Snakes were a symbol of plague and sudden death in the desert until Moses lifted one up on a stick. The cross was a symbol of capital punishment and humiliation throughout the Roman Empire until Jesus was lifted up on Golgotha. In both cases, the symbols have been repurposed, becoming signs of healing, wholeness, victory, and new life.

In what ways might God be calling you to repurpose your life? How is God offering you healing, wholeness, victory, and new life?

Peter Hanson

Love

Love has its reasons, they say.

Love has its purposes too. It's not out there "just because," only to make us feel good, or even, as it does sometimes, to drive us crazy.

Love intends a result; love has an end in mind. When we say "God is love," we need to remember that.

d365.com

Identifying your passion is a matter of figuring out what drives you, what pulls you, what captures your imagination. It's almost as though you can't help but give it your attention.

God has a passion for the renewal of life and the reconciliation of all God has made. When a person gets close to the fire of that which drives God, it can set that person aflame.

d365.org

Sermon Stuffs

Alright - I want a place where I can keep stories, ideas, devotionals, and other things that I think may help me in sermon preparation and in general working with youth and young adults in my church. This is where I will keep it all...

I will always give credit where I can...if you stumble across this blog and use something - please give credit to the original source, not to me - unless I post something personal. Thanks.