American Idol & Getting Saved

(Spoiler Alert: If you haven't had a chance to watch the results show for American Idol on 4/15, don't read this post unless you want to know who was voted off.)

Wednesday's show: The Bottom Three were picked - Lil, Anoop and Matt. Lil & Anoop seem to be in the bottom a lot lately. Matt has only been twice. Who would be voted off the show?

First Anoop was sent to sit down. He was safe. It seemed to me that is must be Lil. Because if Lil was safe, I think it would have been better to send her to the chairs and everyone would be freaking to find out if it was Anoop or Matt. No, it HAD to be Lil. The judge, Simon, had said her song choices were wrong for weeks. It was Lil, I knew it.

Then they announced it. Matt was the lowest vote getter. He'd be going home. UNLESS, the judges saved him. They had one save to use the entire season. Matt sang, trying to earn the save. You could tell he was near tears. He wanted to be saved so much. Then Simon announced it, "It's good news." Simon told Matt the good news, he was saved! Tears poured down Matt's face.

The funny thing is Matt was already saved before the judges said anything. Because Matt Girard is a Christian.

Have you heard the good news? Like Matt, you have been saved too! The Judge, the only judge, God has determined that you can be saved. You don't have to sing to earn it...as a matter of fact there is nothing you can do to earn it. You simple have to believe that Jesus died on the cross for you, was raised from the dead, and make him the Lord of your life!

You too can cry tears of joy, like Matt Giraurd. You've been saved!

Acts 2:21 -- And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Acts 4:12 -- Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Romans 10:9 -- That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Thankful Thursday 4/16

Five things big or small that I am thankful for this week:

1. Small glimpses of God in every day life.

2. Income Taxes - it means my husband has earned income. In this economy with so many out of work, that is something to be grateful for.

3. Friends to encourage, inspire and spur me on.

4. New Clothes. Yes, that is superficial, but soemtimes a new outfit is just the pick me up a gal needs. And when you wear your new jeans for the first time and get TWO compliments, well, you know you made a good purchase...off the clearance rack, of course! (Michael Kors is my new favorite clothing designer, and Marshall's has him for less!)

5. YOU! Yes, you, reading this post. I appreciate so much that you have taken time to visit my blog and I hope you come back often. I love the encouraging comments, but even if you never comment - the fact that you took the time to read my writing means so much. THANK YOU!

So what are you thankful for this week?

Perfect People by Natalie Grant

I love this awesome song. The lyrics on this video where probably written by a teen, but you can still get the idea. (U will C what I mean 2.) I think we are losing the English language to texting. But that is another post. Enjoy the song!

Neglected and Abandoned

I was chatting with a friend on Monday, and she was asking me about my childhood. I usually don't go on about my childhood much other than to say "it was unfortunate" or "my mom was mentally ill and an alcoholic." But I were sharing details. She said "you were really neglected."

Thinking back, I was indeed. Not only in things like making sure dinner was made, but in life training. I wasn't taught to meal plan, grocery shop, any hobbies, crafts...life was just existing then.

As we talked more my friend said "it sounds like your mom abandoned you." She met it metaphorically really, but I shared some times when I was literally abandoned by my mom. Left at school with no one to pick me up. Left to find something to eat when I was hungry. And when she packed her bags and left (again) for the mentally hospital for another month or more. Yes, that was where she needed to be...but to a small child that was abandonment.

As I reflected on the conversation, I realized that those were two so appropriate words to describe how my childhood felt...neglected and abandoned. Those words resonated with me.

Of course then my day went on. I did laundry. I made dinner. I got children ready for bed.

Before bedtime, my 5 yr old asked me to read to her, and we sat and read a few books. "One more." I said. Being a smart child, she brought out the biggest book she has - 365 Bible Stories for children. "I will read ONE story in that book, not the whole book." She pointed to the cover picture and said, "Read me THAT story."

I perused probably 364 stories, but couldn't find that picture. "How about another one?" "I want THAT one" she said. So again I looked and finally found the cover picture story. After I read the story, I concluded with the Bible verse for that story...Joshua 1:5. It said:

I will never neglect you or abandon you.

WOW! I had read that verse many times elsewhere, always as "I will never leave or forsake you." But to see that translation...those words I had been feeling all day. Neglected. Abandoned. And to have my God & Savior tell me HE will NEVER neglect me. He will never abandon me.

God revealed his love to me on Monday just exactly as I needed to hear it. What is God trying to reveal to you? Are you listening?

1 Samuel 3:21 -- The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.

Psalm 98:2 -- The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.

Psalm 85:8 -- I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people....

The Sunday After Easter

At my old church, the first Sunday after Easter each year the pastor would say the same thing. "Last week everyone who Jesus loves came to church. This week, everyone who loves Jesus is here." In other words, Jesus loves everybody, but those who love him come to church Sundays other than Christmas and Easter.

Not surprisingly, yesterday my current church was packed. We usually have about 450 people any given Sunday, but yesterday we had approximately 700. People stood lining the back of the Sanctuary. Not enough chairs. It was wonderful to see so many people come to celebrate our risen Lord.

But why don't they come back next week? My Pastor shared "good news" with our guests yesterday: "We celebrate the risen Lord here EVERY Sunday." Hebrews 10:25 says "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Some people give up meeting together on Sunday. Don't! You need the encouragement. This devotional gives a good example. (Author Unknown)

The story is told of a man named John who had once been faithful to attend his church regularly, but had grown lackadaisical recently. The Pastor knew that he hadn't seen the gentleman in a while, so he went for a visit. John greeted the Pastor and welcomed him in, directing him to the chair beside the fireplace. He asked the Pastor what brought him to visit, but the Pastor didn't say a word... .he simply grabbed the fireplace tongs, picked up a hot coal from the fire, and set it away from the fire, out on the hearth. Both men then watched the coal. While the fire roared on, the coal which had been red hot began to lose it's heat. It gradually lost it's red color, and then cooled off so that it became cool to the touch. The Pastor picked up the coal, and handed it to John for a moment... neither man said a word. Then the Pastor reached out and took the coal back from John, and returned it to the roaring fire... and in just a few short moments, the coal once again glowed red hot, as the pile of flaming coals caused it to heat up again. The Pastor then got to his feet, put his hat on, and shook John's hand. At that point, John looked at the Pastor with tears in his eyes, and told him "Thank you for coming, Pastor, and I'll be back in church this coming Sunday!"

Don't get burnt out. Come back to church and get on fire for Christ!

Matthew 3:11 -- {John the Baptist said} "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Acts 2:2-4 -- Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Resurrection Sunday

I am thankful that he lay down his life, but even more thanful that he could take it up again!
He is Risen!

John 10:14 - 18 -- "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."