There were too many hot/cold songs and references to choose from. Sorry my lovelies!

I am a few days late this time, but in my defense I was out of town at 3DYC!! Woot. Anyway, pressing on… *bursts into song* pressing on, all my distress is going going gone! Pressing on… yeah ok anyone who gets that reference rocks my socks.

So today we begin a new topic, one I was going to do last week but didn’t because I did Christmas instead. This is a rough topic, a little harder to digest than most that I have thrown your way. This week we are talking about being lukewarm.

So, what does lukewarm mean? According to dictionary.com, it is “moderately warm; tepid”. I’d give you the definition of tepid, but when I typed that in all I got was 'lukewarm', so I don’t think it would help you much. Basically, it’s like when you stick your leftover pizza in the microwave for the wrong amount of time, and it comes out not quite hot, not really cold… just sort of blaaah. That’s what lukewarm means… in the middle.

In addition to our pizza, our actions can be lukewarm as well. For example, if a performance got lukewarm applause, it was probably not a very good performance. To be lukewarm is to be very borderline. You’re not really this, but you’re not really that. Not hot, not cold; not thrilled, not depressed; not entirely agreeing, but not totally disagreeing. Just sort of there. Get the picture?

“Ok,” You may be saying. “I got it. Lukewarm is indecisive and not really good. What does that have to do with God?” Quite a bit. Just as we can be lukewarm about a cause or a performance or anything else in the world, we can be lukewarm about our faith.

So what would that entail? What might someone with a lukewarm faith look like? They might be someone who is what we could call a ‘Sunday Christian’. You know, someone who talks the talk in Sunday School but walks on a whole other path the other six days of the week. Maybe they’re really passive and quiet about their faith, and friends can talk extensively to them and never know they were a Christian at all. Maybe their heart just isn’t in it, and they sort of glide through life using Jesus as ‘fire insurance’ against hell. Maybe Jesus is just a small part of their life, just another thing they do.

You know, I have several times heard my Christian friends say to me, “I know you’re really into it and all, and that’s cool, but I’m just not as into it as you.” That just about kills me. It’s like, to them, loving Jesus is like liking a certain band. “Oh yeah, I like some of their stuff, but I’m not a huge fan like you are.” That’s not how it rolls, guys!

So let’s look at another view. What might an ‘on fire’ Christian look like? Maybe the stuff they say on Sunday totally matches their actions throughout the week. Maybe they spend time with their Father in Heaven. Maybe they love others the way Christ loved them. Maybe their heart breaks when they see the pain in others around them and do what they can to show others that Christ is the way to healing, be it through their actions or their words. They might not necessarily be a pastor or a leader, but they could be living life the way God calls us to live it! They won’t be sinless or perfect, but they try, and ask God for His forgiveness when they mess up. To them, God is everything. He is more important than their dreams, their friends, their family, their money, their time and dare I say it, even their facebook. Jesus is central in everything they do.

Sound extreme? Sound like I might be asking a little too much here? Well guess what… it’s not me asking. God calls us to be radical for Him. He calls us to step out of our comfort zone and put out a little effort. But being lukewarm certainly sounds easier, doesn’t it? Doesn’t it sound much more comfortable? Well, Heaven sounds a lot more comfortable than a cross too, but that didn’t stop Jesus from coming. Why did He come? Because He loves us. It all comes down to the love, people! How much do we love Him? Do we love Him enough to take a bit of a risk? Do we love Him enough to work a little harder? To be a little stronger? To love a little more? Oh sure, we might SAY we love Him… but actions always speak louder than words, don’t they? Think about it.

Let’s see what God has to say on the subject. It says in Revelation 3:16, “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Other translations use the phrasing, “vomit you out of my mouth.” You see? When we are neither on fire for Him nor rejecting Him, when we are simply there taking advantage of His love and passion for us and reciprocating with a bland familiarity, when we would do more for our cocker spaniel than for Him, it makes Him want to puke!!!

Makes sense, really. Can you imagine it in human terms? Say one of your friends gets into a relationship. He sacrifices everything, his plans and dreams and possessions and even physical comfort and safety. He is deeply, madly in love with this girl, and would do anything to have her with him. Now say that she belittles him to her friends. She only comes around once, maybe twice a week. In public, she pretends like she doesn’t even know him. She sleeps around with other men, spending more time chasing them and her other interests than she does with him. All the while she takes advantage of the good things he provides for her, while giving nothing in return. How many of you would want to see someone you cared about in a situation like that? I know I would be saying, “Mm-mmm, honey! You best be leavin’ that girl, she ain’t worth your time!” *insert Z snap here* You would probably want to murder that chick for being such a jerk, and yet we do the exact same thing to God when we don’t give Him everything we have.

Now I want you to take a good, long look at yourself. I’m serious, now. How are you treating God? Are you giving Him everything He deserves? Do you love Him enough to be on fire for Him? If you do, how are you showing it? Do me and yourself a favor. Pray. Right now, before you leave this page. Ask God if you are on the right track, and if not, get there. It is so worth it, my loves!

And so ends another study. I love you all, and you (as a collective group) will be in my prayers.

xoxoxoxo

Awww, man! I KNEW I should have checked my list twice!

MEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRYYYYYYY CHRISTMAAAAAAAAASSS!!!!! Hohoho!

That was my Santa Clause impression. So obviously, Christmas is coming up very soon. And I mean VERY soon. I mean, six days? That’s madness! So I guess you are probably expecting me to talk about the true meaning of Christmas. Well you are absolutely righhhh… WRONG! Haha, faked you out, eh? I think you get enough of that shoved down your throats every year, I wouldn’t be saying anything you hadn’t already heard a bajillion times. No, this week we are actually talking about giving.

I wonder, how many of you got up at three in the morning and went shopping on Black Friday? Hunting for that perfect gift for that certain someone, and at a lower price! I won’t lie, I was out there. Me, my mother, and my grandmother in our holiday tradition, braving the cold, snow, and crazed shoppers. We’re not like, hard-core or anything, but we have fun with it. Now those of you who know me may be able to attest the to fact that I am NOT a morning person. I like sleep. Me and the sandman are good buddies. I tell you what, there had better be one heck of a good reason if I’m going to be getting out of my cozy covers at 3 a.m.

So what IS that good reason? Even those of you who got a decent amount of sleep after Turkey Day have likely emptied your wallets and maxed out your credit cards in preparation for this one special day. Why? What’s our motivation? The love of shopping and being shoved and honked at by lunatics in Santa hats? The pleasure we get from paying bill after bill when it’s all over? I don’t think so. How about this… is it because we enjoy seeing the people we love happy when we give them something? Do we go to all this trouble simply because we care for people, and all this festivity is a good way to show it? Hmm. Could be.

I want you to do me a favor. Mentally run down your Christmas shopping list. Who did you buy for this year? Now (you don’t have to tell anyone else), how many of those were obligation gifts? You know what I’m talking about. Those gifts you buy not because you really want to make that person happy, but because you have to give them something for one reason or another. Maybe you don’t want to hurt feelings, or you know they are getting you something so you have to give something in return, or you gave some mutual acquaintance a present and you gotta get one for them now, or they are family but you don’t like them very much, etc, etc. Don’t act all high and mighty, I know you have at least one of them on your list. So what’s our motivation in this scenario? Well, as already mentioned, obligation. Or perhaps it’s just tradition, just something you have always done this time of year and always WILL do this time of year.

So I’m certain you are wondering, “What in the name of Rudolph are you getting at? What does my Christmas shopping have to do with God?” Well, let’s think about it. Jesus is the “reason for the season”, right? We’re all celebrating His ‘birthday’, aren’t we? So after you got gifts for your friends, your mom, your cat, your Auntie Myrtle, your boss, your pastor, your mailman, your babysitter, Joe the Plumber, and every other possible friend and acquaintance… what are you giving Jesus this Christmas?

Ever thought much about that? I haven’t. But it only makes sense, doesn’t it? We give gifts to people because we love them and want them to be happy. Why shouldn’t this apply to Jesus, who really ought to come first in every aspect of our lives? Maybe you have thought about this, and drop a little extra cash in the plate at church every Christmas Eve. My question to you is… where is your heart as you are giving? Is it obligation, because this is just what you do every year? Or is it given out of love and thankfulness, a true heart offering to God?

So let’s say that you are thinking about this for the first time. What do you get for a person who literally has EVERYTHING? Well thankfully, God isn’t one of those people who give you absolutely NO Christmas list or ideas to work from (I do that sometimes. My friends don’t like that much. Teehee!). Let’s take a look at what Jesus might want from us this Christmas.

Genesis 4:4- “But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering” No, you don’t have to go out and kill a sheep this Christmas. Abel gave the best of what he had to God, not what was left over. In other words, he made God a priority. Hmm, what a splendid idea! Where could we make God a priority… in our time, maybe? Our money? Our thoughts? The possibilities are endless!

Matthew 25:40- “The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” What does this mean? God is saying that when you do things for people who need it, it’s like you’re doing it for Him. Let’s see now, how can we apply that… why not stop by a soup kitchen this week? Maybe drop a little more than spare change in the bell ringer’s bucket. Bake a batch of cookies and send them to that little old lady down the street. Maybe just tell someone that you love them and God loves them. Use your imagination!

Ephesians 5:1-2- “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” This one is sort of twofold. The first part is this… Live and love like God. Love unconditionally, irrevocably, inexplicably, and irrationally. Love everyone! Your friends, your family, your enemies, your acquaintances, the strangers you meet on the street, the cashier with an attitude and nose ring, EVERYONE. Now here’s the second part… in this living and loving, we may be required to sacrifice something of ourselves. Nothing’s free, you know. This may not be money. It could be our pride. It could be our time. It could be our comfort, or our immediate happiness. Let me tell you now, though… no matter how much you sacrifice for Him, isn’t He so, so worth it? Yes. Yes he is.

Mark 1:35- “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” What is God asking for here? Time. Time spent alone with Him. Do we get enough of that? I probably don’t, although I am doing far better than I once was. You know, I bet Jesus was dead tired. He had been walking all over the place, dealing with huge crowds, preaching, healing people left and right… man, if anyone deserved to sleep in it was Him! But He didn’t. He got up early and made time for God. Why don’t you give that a try?

Don’t get me wrong here. God should be the center of our lives all year round, not just at Christmas time. But I mean, I’m certain you don’t neglect all the other people in your life the rest of the year either… Christmas is just a time of giving a little extra. So in all your wrapping and decorating and shopping and baking and giving, don’t forget the Person who gave you the greatest give anyone could ever give. And if you haven’t already, maybe this is the time when you can accept that gift and make Him your savior. Think about it.

Merry Christmas, my loves. May God bless you all!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

I'm coming back to the heart of worship, and it's all about You. It's all about You, Jesus

We’re baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!! Miss me? My deepest apologies for my abandonment of you, my readers. I do not hesitate to say that the lack of blogging is entirely my fault, and I hope you can read back over one of our first studies and forgive me for my lapse in attention. Thanks. Anyway, pressing on.

This week we’re going to be talking about worship. Some of you might be thinking, “Oh! I know all about that. That’s where we sing a few songs in church before I start texting my friends… erm, I mean, before the sermon starts.” (That was hypothetical, guys. DON’T TEXT IN CHURCH!) Well, those couple of songs are an aspect of worship, certainly. But it goes a little deeper than that.

Essentially, worship boils down to giving praise and expressing love. Now this doesn’t have to apply to God. People worship all sorts of things in this world. Some people worship money. Some worship other people, be it someone they really look up to or just someone they care for. You can worship your job, your social standing, even yourself. But that, my dear children, is called idolatry, and is in fact frowned upon in most societies… well actually it isn’t, but it’s certainly a no-no in God’s book. Idolatry is putting something in place of God. That’s another topic though, and I’ll go deeper on that another day.

So let’s say, hypothetically, that you wanted to give praise or express love to someone or something. How would you do it? Maybe you’d totally talk that person up to your friends. Maybe you’d write a song or a poem, or draw a picture. Maybe you’re not the artsy type, so you write a letter. Maybe you just take time out of your day to think about this person, or even *gasp* talk to them. If it’s someone you really look up to or respect, maybe you will check out the stuff they’ve done or the books they’ve written or the videos they have on youtube. Maybe you would want to emulate them, to try to be like them. Maybe you’re just unique and can find a way to express love and praise with a hanger, two pop cans and a toenail. Who knows?

Application time! Look back over that list. Chances are you have done some of that stuff. I know I have (For the record though, no toenails were ever involved). If we use such a wide variety of ways to express love and praise to the people in our lives, why should we limit our praise for the Almighty God of the Universe to a few off-tune songs every Sunday?

Don’t get me wrong, there is absolutely NO PROBLEM with worshiping through music. For some of us that’s a great way to connect with God, and singing in church is an awesome way to commune with your brothers and sisters in adoring God. There is just so much more to it than that! It says in 1 Peter 4:11, “Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.” Did you catch that? Then everything you do will bring glory to God. EVERYTHING. If you’re a musician, great! Do it for the glory of God. Are you an athlete? Cool, do it for the glory of God. Are you an actor, a reader, a dancer, a writer, a gamer, a photographer? Do it for the glory of God. Maybe you make a mean grilled cheese sandwich. You grill that cheddar for the glory of God! Get the picture?

This brings up another point. It says for the glory of GOD… not the glory of *insert name here*. I’m not going to lie, I all too often have trouble with this one, and I need a TON of God’s strength to overcome it. Myself, I’m a performer. I act, I sing, I play, it’s what I do. Well not long ago I was part of a singing group called Teen Team. We went to different churches and sang, then we went on a mission trip to Spain. Confession: I would often get caught up in the performing aspect of it… how we sounded, if we looked good, who was watching, what they thought of me, etc. My focus shifted from God to myself. It took a lot of prayer to shift it back, and by the time I finally got my act together (no pun intended), we had reached our last performance. Now that’s not to say that every time we sang I wasn’t worshiping… just a lot of the time. I look back on that with regret, because I don’t know how God could have used me if my heart had been in the right place.

It’s all too easy to get caught up in making ourselves look good. We work so hard for others to think well of us! What happens then? We lose our focus. Sometimes even the way we worship God in church gets tainted because we fear the thoughts of others. For a while I didn’t want to raise my hands or close my eyes in church because I thought that if I did, people would think I was just doing it so that they would think I was super-spiritual or something and I would look fake. It’s like reverse psychology, only I did it to myself and got all psyched out! I’m willing to bet that something like that has happened to most of us. The Holy Spirit may be guiding us to let loose and say ‘Amen’, but we keep our mouths shut. Maybe, if we’re really honest with ourselves, we might find ourselves shouting hallelujah with the best of them not to praise God, but to look good.

The point is that worship is about where your heart is, not your actions. You could sit in the back pew and do no more than sway with your heart in the right place, and you could make God happier than a worship leader who didn’t. It’s not about what you do… it’s about who you do it for. It’s not about us… it’s about God.

So this week, I have a challenge for you. As you go about your normal routine, think “How would I do this if I were doing it for God?” Then, well, do it! Give it a shot. See what happens. I’m all for success stories, so if you see God doing anything particularly cool in your life through this, leave a comment! Let us know.

So, that’s it for this week my dears. Oh, and if you could… pray for me please? I don’t know why, but I have had an immensely hard time getting this Bible Study up and running lately (obviously). Thanks darlings. Talk to you next week!!

XOXOXOXOXOXO