Do you ever feel like your relationship with God is more like a job instead? Like, you have to make sure you pray and read your Bible everyday, because you feel obligated to do so. Almost as if once you have done those things, you can move on with your day and get back to your life, marking it off your “To Do” list for the day. I don’t think that’s really showing God that you love him and serve Him with all of your heart.
God has a calling on each and everyone of us. Sometimes, when we let our relationship with Him become like a job to us, we are unable to hear that calling. There is a song by a group called Whiteheart, 70’s Christian rock band, called “Answer The Call”. In the first verse the lyrics go something like this:
“Here a whisper in the night, see a distant burning light
That you cannot explain.
Are you trying to shut it out, cover it up with all your doubt,
But it won’t go away.
Answer the call.”

I know it may sound cheesy, but every time I feel God calling me to do something, whether big or small, I can’t help think of this song. When you feel God calling you to serve, in whatever aspect of your life, answer His call.
John 14:21
“Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

We’ve all seen those bumper stickers that read  “God Bless America.” Rob Bell said that when he sees those, he thinks to himself that God already has and that we should bless others with what He has given us. In the Bible, when God blesses someone, it’s so they can bless and give to others. God made us for SO much more than just enjoying our stuff. Maybe what we have is enough. How can we bless others with what God has already blessed us?

Luke 12:23-24
²³ For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. ²⁴ Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!

Light-meaning something that makes things visible.  The Bible tells us that we are the light to the world. God’s love and power is in us, and with that, we can shine His love and power on others! Don’t let that light inside of you grow dim. Keep it lit by loving Christ with all of your heart, and showing others at your school, your workplace, and maybe even the grocery store how much you love God, and remind them that He loves them too, no matter what!  Let’s try and shine God’s light through us in every aspect of our lives

Matthew 5:14-16
¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Evolution. It can be pretty difficult to understand if we don’t have all the facts. There are scientists out there who want us to believe we come from animals. That we “evolved” from monkeys. Believe me, it’s not true. God created us with his very breath. He literally breathed life into dust to create Adam. He formed the universe, the planets, stars and galaxies that fill it, the plants, trees, animals, people… the list is endless! His power is greater than any scientific theory!

Isn’t it great to know that we have such an amazing God, an ever-loving Heavenly Father, and an awesome Creator…?!

Want to know more? Check out www.leestrobel.com or www.christiananswers.net/q-aig/aig-c007.html

Colossians 1:16 ^“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” (NIV)

God’s creation is unexplainable. No words can express how amazing our world and beyond truly is. Tonight we heard from Louie Giglio. He showed us how big our universe really is, and how God’s creation should be a constant reminder that He is there with us through everything, no matter what. Our God made us, fearfully and wonderfully, and He knows everything about us.

Psalms 33:9-11 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

To hear more from Louie Giglio, check out this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4

All of us have made mistakes in the past, and sometimes we think they are too bad for God to give us grace. We think, “If only I wouldn’t have done that, then maybe things would be okay.” So often, we regret our mistakes so much, that we can’t forgive ourselves, so we live with that guilt and regret. However, there comes a point where we must choose to stop maintaining our regrets and begin to accept God’s grace. We need to forgive ourselves and let go of our guilt, so that God is able to bless us with his love and grace.

1 Peter 5:10
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

Invite everyone you know this week to Collide for “Friend’s Night!” Free Pizza for everyone and tons of give-a-ways.

September 30 at 7:00pm. Pre-show starts at 6:30 so be sure to get there early for a chance to win some free stuff.

“If Only…” a new series, will begin. This is all about regrets and forgiveness. Don’t miss this life changing week!

More info go to the Collide page on www.collideexperience.com

This is what we talked about on Wednesday night.

James 2:14
14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (NIV)

FAITH WITHOUT ACTIONS IS DEAD

Faith is good we need faith and we need to speak about our faith. But faith without actions means nothing. It is Action that validates the faith. This means our lives have to truly reflect what we claim to be. Yet so many people do the opposite every single day. We speak one thing, we come to church and lift up our hands in worship, we sing, we say we are a Christian, BUT OUR LIVES LOOK NOTHING LIKE THAT. I’m not talking about being perfect people. I think the point that James is trying to get across is our faith has to be lived out with deeds. This challenges us to be more than church goers. On my end, this challenges pastors and church leaders to do more than sitting in an office. We have to be the change we want to see in the world.

Last night in Collide we talked about name changes. You see some people in the Bible had such a radical transformation when they encountered God that even their name changed, along with their heart. In Acts chapter nine, we see one of the most prominent name changes in the New Testament. Saul a bitter, self-righteous, Christian killer came face to face with a gracious, yet powerful Jesus. In one experience, Saul’s life changed. No longer was he the Christian killer, he was a new creation and three chapters later, he would no longer be known as Saul but Paul, the writer of many New Testament books and a powerful leader in the early church. You see it is only when Paul submitted to God in his life that Paul was able to live out God’s purpose for him.

2 cor. 5:17 says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Jesus is still in the business of changing names. However, so many times, we accept Jesus into our hearts, but we hold on to just enough of the old where there isn’t much of a difference. Imagine if Paul led the early church but still killed a few Christians from time to time. Would that really be a new creation? No! New means new, not a cover up, not a remodel, but completely, 100% NEW! Jesus makes us new when we let him.

Before I had Jesus in my life I was known as two-faced, sexually impure, the guy who did drugs and alcohol, and violent/angry at times. These were my labels.  But that was an old Will. I am a new creation. From two-faced, Jesus made me authentic. From impure to self-controlled. From drugs/alcohol to sober-minded. From violent/angry to peaceful. That old Will doesn’t exist. I am a new creation. That isn’t to say I am perfect. I maybe a new creation but I am far from being a perfect creation. I am still being refined and made new in many areas of my life. But there are moments when I recognize those areas and humbly ask God to change me and make me new.

So what is it for you?  What is it that is holding you back from fully living out God’s purpose in your life? What’s the new you? Maybe you may need Jesus to change your name from two faced to authentic. From impure to self-controlled. From fearful to courageous. From liar to truthful. From Gossiper to encourager. From hot head to patient. From broken to made whole. From hopeless to hopeful.

What ever your label, what ever your name, Jesus wants to give you a new name and make you a new creation in Him.

My wife, Arianne, said to me she was so glad that I “picked” her when we started dating. It’s not a matter that I picked her. She captivated me, I chased her. She said “I do,” I cherished her. She loved me, I loved her. It’s not a matter that I picked her years ago, its that I pick her, chase her, cherish her and love her everyday. Furthermore, I know she picks me, chases me, cherishes me, and loves me everyday too.

Relationships are not a matter of a one time event, but an everyday choosing.

I think we can look at God in the same way. We say, “oh yeah, I picked Jesus. I accepted him into my heart and I’ve been a Christian for years now.” But our relationship with God is not a matter of the past, but of the present. Do you choose to pick, chase, worship, and love Him everyday? How about today? Did you pick and choose today, to make Jesus number one in your life.

Being in a relationship with Jesus is more than a one time event, its an everyday choosing.