What I learned on my RWJ

Today I got up and saw that the weather was going to be 78 degrees! So I put on my running shoes and my enormous skull candy headphones and ran out the door to the smooth sounds of Relient K. As I run I usually visual Jesus running next to me wearing a white, Gods awesome t-shirt, blue running shorts, nikes, and a yellow and green sweatband across His forehead. I love running with Jesus.

Jesus is fun to run with because He doesn't get tired so that means you have to keep up with Him. You can even race Him to the top of the Hill and sometimes He lets you win. I'm sure people passing by see me talking to myself and think I'm crazy but it's just because they can't see that I actually running with my best friend.

Anyway, today on my RWJ, Jesus told me something He's been wanting to share with me. We often hear that we need to extend our hands out to help 'the least of these'. But who exactly are theses least people? Often we think of the people suffering in Africa or homeless people. I don't think its too often people think of the rich and powerful as 'the least of these'. But God sees all people who don't know Him in this category. This is because without God we are the 'least', we are nothing.
Reaching out to the rich and powerful can be harder then reaching out to the weak and needy. RP's (rich powerfuls) think they already have the world so why would they need Jesus. The empty hole they feel inside is not fill-able by money and stuff. With that being said, our mission field has just expanded by millions of people.

Think of something you can do with Jesus like an RWJ. Talk to Him about who He wants you to reach out to. It may turn out to be a very different people after all.

Advocate, Who will speak for you when you die?

I John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an ADVOCATE with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

What happens to use when we sin and someone finds out? For example; You cheated on a test at school and your teacher catches you in the act. She confronts you and says, "little Johnny or Joanie, the consequence for this action is failure of the course and you'll have to repeat 7th grade." Your heart starts racing because you know your parents are going to kill you and everyone in class is staring at you as you hold back tears. That's when the guy who sits next to you stands up and faces your teacher. He says to her, "Mrs. Barker, Johnny/Joanie may have cheated on the test, but I would ask that you give me their punishment instead." Your shocked looking up at your teacher. She says to the guy who sits next to you, "Ok, that's fine. You fail. Johnny/Joanie, your no longer in any trouble."

God did this for us when he died on the cross to cover our sins. The punishment for our sins is death and Jesus died in our place. When we stand in front of God one day, Jesus will step in and take all of the blame for our sins.

How many of your friends do you know that don't believe in Jesus? When they stand in front of God one day, Jesus won't be able to stand up for them. What if the reason your friends spend eternity in Hell is because you didn't tell them that there is an Advocate available? Don't miss your chance! What will you say to God when he asks you why you didn't share Jesus with Sam who sat at your lunch table all year and will now spend an eternity in Hell?

Hello My name is Dayspring

Luke 1:78-79 "Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Dayspring? Kind of old englishy don't you think? But what does it even mean? The Bible is talking about our God, calling Him the dayspring from on high... so the word must be important. The word Dayspring according to webster means "The dawn of morning, day break. The first light of day."

God is comparable to the dawn of morning, or in other words, a brand new day. God wants to make a new day in us by making a new life for us. Once we have let Him into our lives, he makes us clean of our sins and new! Like a nice shiny sports car right off the lot!

Have you ever gone to bed anxious for tomorrow because you had the worst day ever? All you want is to wake up in the morning and have it be a new day. God is the ultimate new day! He gives us a new life! So next time you feel trapped in your old life, look to God. He is waiting with open arms to make all things new again. Your sunrise is waiting, but its a Godrise. Thats a new word I just made up because it fits with the lesson. Are you ready for your Godrise?

Praising God with our Words

Have you ever wondered what happens after a word goes out of your mouth and into the air? Scientist say that sound is a constant. This means that whatever you say continues to travel through the air, into space, and goes on to be existent forever. So everything you say is floating around the stars. Could you imagine what it would be like to hear those words forever. Every regretful, hurtful thing forever. Now look at it from Gods perspective.

"Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh." Matt. 12:24 Now think about that. Sometimes we say things we don't mean, but if we said them in the first place they must have come from somewhere... This is when we need to have a heart check. Maybe we really do mean what we say.

So the next time we think its ok to curse, or demean someone, or yell, remember those words go on forever. You can not take them back. They are floating in space for all of Heaven to hear. And you might not think you meant what you said, but if you check your heart you may realize that something needs fixing.

Club 121 Name of God for the Week and Video

Hey Everyone,
So today we talked about AMEN. Just a recap, Amen is pronounced Amen not Aman. It means 'truly, and 'so be it' in Hebrew. But as we learned today, there is a point in the Bible Rev. 3:14 when an angel of the Lord calls God "The Amen." If we think about it, this makes perfect sense because God is Truth and He is!
You know, it's interesting stuff like this that God shows us so that we can strike up a conversation with our friends. Don't you think it'd be a great way to tell someone about God? Think of this scenario, someone in class yells out AMEN! to be funny, but you say to them, "Dude, I totally found out what the word means today at Club... Have you ever thought about it?" BAM! Jesus is getting shared and the Love is being spread.
Remember the world is our sandwich, make it good by spreading Jesus Jelly!
Love you all~ JoAnna

PS. Tell me what you think of the blog? Was it a good idea? Is it pretty enough?

Also one more thing. I came across this interesting video on youtube. It's about sharing our faith and how one kid got in trouble at his high school for carrying his Bible. Just think... what if we were to carry our Bibles at school? Do you think we have enough courage to do the same thing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0-nEtSj4Lg