Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord...

 I really liked Ashley's devotional earlier this week. It was very thought-provoking, and very to-the-point. I'm so thankful for Jesus' amazing sacrifice. To think that my King would die for me... it is almost beyond my comprehension.

This verse makes me happy. It reminds me of how awesome God is. We're his children, and He loves us so much! Never ever forget that!

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." - Romans 10:10-13

~ Kylie

Jesus Saves

Kylie and I had been talking about ideas for our devotionals - and this one came up a while back. I'm sorry I wasn't able to post this yesterday, but by the time that I had gotten a chance to get on the blog - it was late, and I didn't have a lot of time to think about how and what I was going to say.

I grew up in a Christian home - where I went to church every week, and learned all the things I could about my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I asked Jesus into my heart, when I was five, but didn't understand fully what He had done for me, until I was older - and able to more fully comprehend why He did these things for me. I still am not sure that I can understand WHY He did what He did - I just know that He loves us more than we can ever even imagine. 

I'm sure you are all familiar with the verse:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."John 3:16

I learned this verse when I was really young - and have used it a lot. It's definitely one of my favorite verses. 

This verse is pretty much the salvation message wrapped up in one sentence. But the whole situation is WAY more than that. 

God sent His Son, Jesus, to earth, so that HE could save everyone from their sins. Anyone who wants to be saved - can be, because of God's great grace.

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" John 1:12

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

~Ashley

How He Loves

This is my all time favorite song ever, and I thought it was really suiting to talk about God's absolutely amazing love!!! 

How He Loves Us - David Crowder Band

Verse 1
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane,
I am the tree
Bending beneath,
The weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are and how great Your affections are for me.
Chorus
Oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how he loves us,
How he loves us so.
Verse 2:
So we are his portion,
and He is our prize. 
Drawn to grace by the redemption in his eyes.
If love is an ocean we're all sinking.
So heaven meets earth like a loving first kiss,
and my heart turns violently inside of my chest.
I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about, the way,

Chorus
That He loves us. 
Oh how He loves us.
Oh how He loves us. 
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves
He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves


-Ashley H

Review of It Is Well by Kutless

Last weekend, my mom, a friend and I went to a Casting Crowns/Kutless and Caleb concert. It was probably the most fun I've ever had at a concert - because, we got to meet all three bands before we watched them perform live.

Here is a picture of me, with the lead singer from Kutless. 

I have recently begun to love the CD "It is Well", by Kutless. They usually sing more rock-hard songs, that are fun to listen to - but this CD, is a Worship Album.
On the CD - are 11 songs - some that are covers - for example, "God of Wonders". 
Like I said - Kutless is more of a rock-hard band, that sing fast-paced songs - but this CD has slower songs on it - that are quite easy to catch on to - and learn the words to. 
I got this CD only a couple of days before we went to the concert, and I'd already had most of the songs part-way memorized, so it was awesome to see them done live.
"What Faith Can Do" is my favorite on the CD. The song talks about unwavering faith, so matter what God might throw at you.
"Everybody falls sometimes, gotta find the strength to rise, from the ashes, and make a new beginning." 
"I've seen dreams that move the mountains, hope that doesn't ever end, even when the sky is falling, I've seen MIRACLES just HAPPEN, silent prayers get answered, broken hearts become brand new. THAT'S WHAT FAITH CAN DO!"

Overall, this CD is awesome - great songs, great band. 
~Ashley S

Serving others

Hey, readers!
 I hope everyone is having a good evening. Just thought I would say that I am having a great one.
 Church tomorrow at 10:00, and I am going to be a 'greeter'. I'm not sure if your church has greeters or not, but our's does. If you don't know what the heck a greeter is supposed to do, well, they get up early and head to church to wait at the door, open the door, say 'Hi! How are you doing?' and hand a bulletin to everyone that comes into the church. Don't forget! You need to smile LOTS when you have this job. So don't forget to load up on the caffeine before you leave the house, or stop at your local Starbucks and pick up a grande quad half- caf espresso macchiato with whipped cream and caramel sauce.
 Anyways, as I was quietly preparing myself for the hospitality job (and the macchiato) I was flipping through my bible and came across this bible verse about serving others:
 Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
 Matthew 20: 26-28 NIV.
I don't think I'll be needing to give my life as a ransom for ANY tomorrow morning as I hand out bulletins and shake hands, but I can serve others with a smile and maybe hope they don't think I'm psycho from the dilated eyes and run in the opposite direction of our church. So if your local paper or news channel mention 'Crazy Church with Overly-Caffeinated People' you'll know that I made an impact while greeting.

God Loves You

God loves you.

Those three words are so powerful! They have comforted many in times of trouble or need, and have often brought about the conversion of ordinary people. We hear it so often in our Christian society. Although the words have not lost their meaning, some people don’t fully understand what they really do mean. Of course we know that God loves us, but how much?

Well, first of all, the Bible tells us that God is love. That concept is probably hard to grasp, but what I believe it means is that God has so many different facets that we will never understand Him all. His love is so deep, so undescribable, and so eternal, that we won’t be able to understand it at its fullest either—and that is just a portion of him!

However, when Jesus was hanging on the cross to die, the weight of the world quite literally on his shoulders, we were able to glimpse just a bit of how much God loves us. He loves us enough for Him to come down on a little baby, and live in this world of sin, so that he could die on the cross many years later and take away the sins of all mankind—past, present, and future.

This month, and for the rest of the year, I hope you will remember the truest love there could ever be, and share it with others.

{This post was originally published in Kids of Faith Online Newsletter.}