THURSDAY, July 10th, 2008

Today We Are Going To Sunsplash! Dont forget to be at the church by 8:30a. We are going to have a great time! I hope you came to church last night: we had a great time!

Don't forget to begin thinking about who you are going to have as your "devotional blog accountability partner"! When you think of who you partner will be and you ask them, then let me know on this blog so that I can keep track of all the groups. I think this will be a helpful and creative way to keep each of us even more faithful!"! A "Three Cord String" is not quickly broken!!! (You, Your Partner, and God)

A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
In K C UR Wondering: Who are you? We are glad that you are on here... But... Who are you?
Mallory: I DID NOT MIS SPELL YOUR NAME!! You are slightly confused :) Are you coming to sunsplash today?
Jeff: Well, I was fine with you joining us, but apparently I found out last night that the "silly songs" club is exclusive?!?! Who knew?!?!
Grace: We missed you last night!
Pastor Lee's lil' Sister: Love You! Thanks for joining us! Come back anytime or all the time :)
Josh L: Wow... that is all I can think to say... Wow... You are crazy!
Alex: What is up with the name change AGAIN!!?!?!?
Marvino: Dude! Where is the application??
Kervin: Hey man that was some good stuff! "if we can't give God 100% then we need to figure out what is limiting us from God.
My Two Cents: I am sure this sick little game is fun for you, but don't get to complacent... we are on to you like white on rice... :)
Rachel: Great Job Girl! I think most of us do exactly what you said... mix a little of God in with everything else that we do in our life... but most arent willing to admit it like you did. That is the first step. Admit is and the fix it. Lets do it!

John 12:27-36

27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.
31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”
33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
34 The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.
36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

Wow there is so much here: I am going to mention only two great thoughts about the passage... each of you find the rest!

This passage is where Christ begins to tell His followers that He is going to die... As you will see, they never understand what He means, (not even after He dies). The benefit that we have over the followers back then, is that we have God's word. Christ predicted that He would die, all the way down to the detail of "being lifted up" on the cross. Christ knew this would happen all along. That is why verse 27 is so powerful: Christ admits as He is 100% God that He is still 100% man. And because He was 100% man, His heart was nervous about being crucified on the cross... But Still... Jesus Christ Chose to "Do Hard Things" for you and me! What hard things do we do for our savior? Many times we cannot even stand up to our friends for Christ's sake, let alone Die for Christ. We must FULFILL OUR PURPOSE, because our example fulfilled His purpose by going to the cross for our sins! By the way: Our purpose is to GLORIFY GOD! To live every moment of our life not for ourselves, but for Him!

My second thought came in the last two verses... Jesus once again compares himself to the light... The fact is that Jesus is the light of the world.

When we went on the campout in June, I remember being out there when we were playing with the glowsticks and we had no light with us. It was very dark, I think I actually have it on video where I am walking and I trip... Luckily I did not fall all the way down, I caught myself... BUT when we walk in the darkness of life... it is not as easy so catch ourselves from falling. When we walk without applying the truth of God's word, then it is like walking through a pitch black forrest without TURNING ON THE FLASHLIGHT! Or better yet.. Without Turning on the SUN!!! Turn on the Son in your life and allow Him to shine brightly!!

Love you all! Call up your partner and tell them to do their devotions!