Give

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” —Luke 21:1-4

Give joyfully and do it without expecting something back. I am trying my best to be like the family on Blindside:-) What a great movie.
Also, I just wanna say I thank God for Organized religion. I am tired of saying and hearing all the negatives of it, although I understand being hurt by it personally. Its just that Im thankful for a building, a time, worship leaders, sermons, giving, serving and being served by my family and body of Christ. We are all guilty of being hypocrites christian or not, Over It!
Blessings
J

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

—James 2:15-16

I am OAK

INTRO:
My obsession with Oak trees may seem weird. I get it. This is me and everything I feel right now written down. "Keep moving forward" is my Brothers final words. A road side bomb hit his Humvee, his side sending shrapnel through his insides instantly and he still gave his men the one order that saved their lives, and one order that has saved mine.




I wish I was, I will be, and I am an OAK. I grow everyday in slow time but I grow stronger that way. I am forced to stand tall during high winds, rain, in ice and snow storms I can get through. I have the deepest roots of all trees thanks to these hard times. My creator knew exactly what I was before and He still knows what I am today and He knows me and my tomorrow. Its tough at times, we all have different seasons to battle through, and we all have the Beautiful and Abundant Grace of God to rejuvenate during the good seasons. For another Bad one is on its way and I will not know the day, but I will be ready for it when the time is here. In the midst of my storms and crack I cry, bleed, and I also have nights and days that I am afraid. But there is something my creator told me..."Be Still, and know that I am Lord". It takes the edge of pain right off of my bark covered back, and in that same voice I hear so perfectly is my forgiver. In my pain and knowing the battles that have come, and gone, I know there will be more around me soon on this earth that can shake me, and scare me real bad too. Here is my choice to make. I choose to except Gods Grace and for the storms to come as they may, because God knows what I was before, He knows my size and how strong I am now, He knows my final breath. He is in control and when the Storm comes, the storm that could be my last, I will freely ride it home, and for the first time feel the grasp of my savior before me. But...That is all in Gods timing. Today I must grow more, focus and steady myself on strong foundation, continue to root further and allow my Creator to have control. Fight through knowing that with Christ in your heart you have already won the War. Just allow God to live in you and use you! If you are in one now, KEEP MOVING FORWARD. When you are in one, KEEP MOVING FORWARD. When you are not, KEEP MOVING FORWARD. Do not be afraid, and KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
Be real. and instead of focusing on yourself, focus on God. Then you will learn to focus on each other and self comes naturally, like breathing.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

ISAIAH 41:10


I love you,
JARED

Obedience

	This Praying without ceasing has not been an easy task, and sometimes I really think Im crazy for ever saying i would try. I still have hope that its possible and today my mom sent me this devotion that was really cool. I mean I love dogs more than most things and so it has to be good. Love love Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you." Genesis 41:39-40 My two dogs love to run free. Whenever I go for a run, I'll open up the gate and they both come running to the car. Like little kids, they fight for the front seat, (though usually the weimaraner gets it over the retriever). Those dogs know that I'm about to drive them to an open canyon where they can run free, and they love it. But when I take them for walks, it's a different story. I'll open up the gate, and as soon as they see the leash, they're both perfectly still. No excitement, no fighting to see who's first -- they don't like the leash. But without a leash, they'd run way out ahead of me, or out into the street, and get themselves into all kinds of trouble. Without a leash, they would never walk close to me. Sometimes the Lord allows us to experience pain and suffering so that we'll learn to walk closer to Him. Like a leash, trials teach us obedience. Joseph was a man who knew pain and suffering. He had been abandoned by his family, shunned and almost killed by his brothers, rejected by his boss, abandoned by his friends, and forgotten by his enemies. At the age of 17, he found himself in a foreign land where he didn't know one person, and didn't speak the language. He'd been abused, imprisoned, and mocked. By age 30, he very likely could have been a bitter, hardened criminal. But he wasn't. Not by a long shot. Thirteen years after being abandoned by his brothers, Joseph had developed such a close relationship with God that he held no grudges or bitterness. In fact, he had such wisdom from God that Pharaoh appointed him the most powerful man in all of Egypt. At age 30, he sat at the most powerful place on the planet, and was able to rule millions of people with wisdom. I'm sure Joseph must have wondered many times, while sitting in a dark jail cell, "Why God?" Have you ever found yourself asking God that question? "Why am I suffering like this?" I sure have. But God doesn't give us the big picture, because it would require no faith on our part. Had God told Joseph that He was going to make him the ruler of the most powerful, most advanced nation in the world, Joseph would not have developed such a tender heart, and would not have learned to rely on God. He would have sat waiting for a paycheck, an entitlement that was "due" him. Instead, he learned obedience and acquired wisdom, both of which would equip him for the daunting tasks that lay ahead of him. You see, when we suffer trials, God is at work. Romans 8:28 says that "in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Sometimes it will take thirteen years to see what God has been doing all along, but like Joseph, we must learn obedience through the suffering. When we get to the end of our lives, myself included, we're going to kick ourselves that we didn't spend more time with the Lord. We're going to wish we'd spent more time praying, serving, learning from His Word, and fellowshipping with Him. Today, whatever your circumstances, learn to walk closely with God. Mike MacIntosh