Say It, Show It
Bible reading: 1 John 3:18-20 Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions. It is by our actions that we know we are living in the truth (1 John 3:18-19a, NLT).
Would you believe a person who claimed to be a famous race car driver, but couldn’t back his car out of his garage?
Would you believe a person who told you she was a trapeze artist in a world-famous circus, but was afraid to climb a ladder to change a light bulb?
Would you believe a person who claimed to be the world’s greatest psychic, and then asked you what time it was?
Probably not, right? Why not? Because their actions don’t support their claims.
It’s no different when people say they love someone else, but don’t show it by their actions. Such claims are hard to believe because there’s no evidence to support their claims.
You see, it’s one thing to talk about love, to say we love each other. It’s something else entirely to really show we love each other by our actions. For example, you might say you love everybody in your church youth group, but are you willing to sit next to Valerie, the girl with the greasy hair who always smells like some disgusting animal curled up inside her and died. . . . months ago? You might say you love others, but when’s the last time you did something to help Mrs. McCready, the old lady who looks like she’s about three hundred years old and who lives alone down the street and has to shovel the snow off her sidewalk and mow the lawn herself? You might say you love pretty much everybody, but how long has it been since you showed your love for someone else, with your actions, and not only with words?
“It is by our actions,” the Apostle John said, “that we show we are living in the truth.” Do your actions show your love for others?
Review: Today’s Scripture reading doesn’t say that we should stop saying “I love you” to our parents, siblings, friends, and others we love; it says we should “stop just saying we love each other.” In other words, we should say it and show it.
Reflect: Is there someone who needs to be convinced of your love? Is there someone who needs to be reminded of your love? How can you do a better job of showing your love to others?
Reinforce: Suggest a family “project” to your parents to show God’s love to someone outside your family (bake cookies for a shut-in, take the family pet to visit nursing home patients, send a card to a prisoner, babysit for a single parent, shovel snow for an elderly couple, etc.).
Remember: “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God” (1 John 4:7, NLT).
Friday, February 16, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Wednesday Devotional: The Difference Love Makes
Bible reading: 2 Peter 1:5-11 Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:7-8, NLT).
Early in World War II, as Paris was being bombed mercilessly by Nazi planes, a French doctor named Rene Spitz made a remarkable discovery. He was appalled by the high death rate among babies in shelters and orphanages. Upon closer examination, he discovered that babies who received regular affection fared better than others. Intrigued, he conducted a brief experiment, dividing the babies into two groups. Both groups of infants were cared for physically; they were fed identical diets, bathed regularly, and their diapers were changed at regular intervals. There was only one difference between the two groups. One group of babies received hugs and kisses from their caretakers; they were cradled and held and rocked and patted. The other group received no affection from their caretakers, but were cared for and provided for in every other way.
You can probably guess what happened. The babies who were cuddled and loved not only grew, but thrived. The other group, who had all their needs met except their need for love and affection, did not grow as fast; they cried more and succumbed to more illnesses than the opposite group. Their development was measurably stunted until the study was discontinued.
Those two groups of babies were different only in the amount of love and affection they received. But what a difference that made in their health and development! The study revealed that children who are not treated with affection do not develop properly, even though they may be wellnourished otherwise. It also shows how much human beings need to receive and give love in order to thrive.
That need doesn’t change as we get older. Neither does the effect of love on a person’s life. Obeying God’s commands to love others can bring you love in return, and that can actually make you healthier and happier. Obeying God’s commands to love one another can help you become more productive and useful in your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Obeying God’s commands to love others can make a huge difference in your health and development. That’s just part of the difference love makes. . . in your life and in the lives of those around you.
Review: Today’s Scripture reading says that godliness will lead to love for other Christians, and then to an even wider kind of love. What is that wider love? Do you think it happens overnight? How do you think it happens?
Reflect: How have you been blessed (made happier and healthier) by the love of others? How have you been blessed by loving others? How have others been blessed by your love?
Reinforce: 2 Peter 1:7-8 could be drawn as a kind of map, with “Godliness” being the name of a main road that leads to other roads whose names are suggested by the reading. Draw a map and put it on your dresser, desk, or mirror, to help you remember the value of love in your life.
Remember: “The more you grow [in love], the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:7-8, NLT).
Early in World War II, as Paris was being bombed mercilessly by Nazi planes, a French doctor named Rene Spitz made a remarkable discovery. He was appalled by the high death rate among babies in shelters and orphanages. Upon closer examination, he discovered that babies who received regular affection fared better than others. Intrigued, he conducted a brief experiment, dividing the babies into two groups. Both groups of infants were cared for physically; they were fed identical diets, bathed regularly, and their diapers were changed at regular intervals. There was only one difference between the two groups. One group of babies received hugs and kisses from their caretakers; they were cradled and held and rocked and patted. The other group received no affection from their caretakers, but were cared for and provided for in every other way.
You can probably guess what happened. The babies who were cuddled and loved not only grew, but thrived. The other group, who had all their needs met except their need for love and affection, did not grow as fast; they cried more and succumbed to more illnesses than the opposite group. Their development was measurably stunted until the study was discontinued.
Those two groups of babies were different only in the amount of love and affection they received. But what a difference that made in their health and development! The study revealed that children who are not treated with affection do not develop properly, even though they may be wellnourished otherwise. It also shows how much human beings need to receive and give love in order to thrive.
That need doesn’t change as we get older. Neither does the effect of love on a person’s life. Obeying God’s commands to love others can bring you love in return, and that can actually make you healthier and happier. Obeying God’s commands to love one another can help you become more productive and useful in your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Obeying God’s commands to love others can make a huge difference in your health and development. That’s just part of the difference love makes. . . in your life and in the lives of those around you.
Review: Today’s Scripture reading says that godliness will lead to love for other Christians, and then to an even wider kind of love. What is that wider love? Do you think it happens overnight? How do you think it happens?
Reflect: How have you been blessed (made happier and healthier) by the love of others? How have you been blessed by loving others? How have others been blessed by your love?
Reinforce: 2 Peter 1:7-8 could be drawn as a kind of map, with “Godliness” being the name of a main road that leads to other roads whose names are suggested by the reading. Draw a map and put it on your dresser, desk, or mirror, to help you remember the value of love in your life.
Remember: “The more you grow [in love], the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:7-8, NLT).
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Potluck Picnic!
Next week should rock! It’s a potluck picnic complete with a movie! Should be tons of fun. Sign up for an appetizer, drink, main dish, or dessert.
When: Monday @ 6:45 p.m.
Where: Pemberton Community Centre
Tuesday Devotion: Hang Time with God!
Hey Guys..I was encouraged by our discussion about quiet time and hanging with God. So as promised here is the first devotional for this week. I'll post a new one everyday! Give me comments and let me know how it's going during the week.
Priority #1"
By Caty Hiday
Stacie is back in school, which means back to Deven. Stacie and Deven have been dating for about 3 years now, and they are really serious about each other. Over the summer Stacie hated the time away from Deven. She called Deven every day at 2:00pm because she couldn't see him. Deven didn't mind because he loves her. That Wednesday Stacie goes to youth group mainly to see Deven. What Stacie doesn't know is that Deven has to work late and won't make it to youth. Their Youth Pastor starts his lesson on priorities. 'What comes first in you life?' he questions. Stacie, who isn't paying attention, is daydreaming about the next time she will get to see Deven.
Push for Priority #1
What is priority #1? God'Duh. In everyday life we have so much going on that it's hard to keep God priority #1. Once school starts it will be even harder. Between the big test on Friday and cramming at the last minute. How could we possibly keep God at the forefront of our minds? Prayer and reading the Bible. Before cramming for that test or before going on that big date, pray. It doesn't have to be a big long prayer it can just be a whispered "thank you" or "help me". So I encourage you today to push for priority #1.
What does the Bible say about this?
"Decide today whom you will obey'As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." - Joshua 24:15
"He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the kingdom of God your primary concern." - Matthew 6:33
Priority #1"
By Caty Hiday
Stacie is back in school, which means back to Deven. Stacie and Deven have been dating for about 3 years now, and they are really serious about each other. Over the summer Stacie hated the time away from Deven. She called Deven every day at 2:00pm because she couldn't see him. Deven didn't mind because he loves her. That Wednesday Stacie goes to youth group mainly to see Deven. What Stacie doesn't know is that Deven has to work late and won't make it to youth. Their Youth Pastor starts his lesson on priorities. 'What comes first in you life?' he questions. Stacie, who isn't paying attention, is daydreaming about the next time she will get to see Deven.
Push for Priority #1
What is priority #1? God'Duh. In everyday life we have so much going on that it's hard to keep God priority #1. Once school starts it will be even harder. Between the big test on Friday and cramming at the last minute. How could we possibly keep God at the forefront of our minds? Prayer and reading the Bible. Before cramming for that test or before going on that big date, pray. It doesn't have to be a big long prayer it can just be a whispered "thank you" or "help me". So I encourage you today to push for priority #1.
What does the Bible say about this?
"Decide today whom you will obey'As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." - Joshua 24:15
"He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the kingdom of God your primary concern." - Matthew 6:33
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Lord of the Rings Night!
Frodo where are you? That’s right, Frodo. Come on out for Lord of the Rings night and help find Frodo. It’ll be insane. Bring a friend because the more people we get, the better the game works! Is that you Gandalf?
Where: Pemberton Community Centre
When: 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Let’s put our words into action!
Hey guys…we want to plan something to bless Pemberton. If you’re interested in getting involved, let’s meet Sunday night (Feb. 10.) Stay tuned for more details. Come with your ideas and post some comments in the meantime!
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Fear Factor!!!
Let's just admit that Fear Factor night was kinda gross but super fun. From Tommy listing off the gross blender drink options to Josh chugging the whole nasty concoction - it was amazing! Josh gets a high five for going hard and Matthew gets a nod for drinking a significant amout of his nasty drink. Don't forget the six legged race and the barefoot dash through the snow. Here's the highlight reel!
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