The Point of Your Life is to Point to Christ

At the beginning of the summer I read the book “Crazy love.” I was greatly challenged at the time and I saw ways that I needed to improve in my Christian walk. Over Thanksgiving break I reread the book, and I was able to see how I have grown since I first read it, and how far I still have to go.  One part of the book is called “Profile of the Lukewarm.” Francis Chan in that chapter describes behaviors of lukewarm Christians. These people are just trying to doing the bare minimum. If we really love God why aren’t we giving Him our all? Later on in the book there is a section called “Profile of the Obsessed.” As Christians we should be Christ obsessed in everything that we do. Not just on Sunday mornings or at a Bible study during the week, in EVERYTHING that we do. What I want to do for my next set of blogs is post one of the “Profiles of the Lukewarm” and one of the “Profiles of the Obsessed.” I pray that this will challenge you and me to shape our lives around God and give Him everything. Let us hold nothing back.

“Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church… as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so. After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right?”

We all know that we should give. Many Christians give their 10 percent, and leave it at that. That is easy to do. Would you be willing, like the widow in Luke 21, to give your only remaining money to the Lord? Do you have enough faith to trust God completely in the area of finances?

“People who are obsessed with Jesus give freely and openly, without censure.”

If we are obsessed then we will always look for ways to give. Everything we have is a gift from God and we are to use it for His glory. Francis Chan writes later in the book “God doesn’t call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn’t come through.” Stop worrying about having enough money to live on. God will always provide enough for us. It might not look like the comfy American dream, but it will be sufficient. A friend of mine recently said, “Give until it hurts.” Let that be our attitude every day, and especially as we approach the Christmas season. I want to challenge everyone to look for a way this month to give in a way that you normally don’t. Don’t let it be easy for you to do. Give until you have to give up something else. It may be hard to do, but I believe that it will draw us closer to God as we put our trust in Him. 

Thanksgiving.

In a few days millions of Americans will gather around a table for what we call “Thanksgiving.” The day is full of food, football, family, and friends.  Many families have the tradition of having everyone tell what they are thankful for. This is a great time to think back on the blessings that God has given us over the past year.  I know that God has blessed me greatly this year. I want to challenge everyone that when we say what we are thankful for at the dinner table, that we think about how we can use those blessings God has given us to bless others.  We live in a land of prosperity. The day after thanksgiving people get up at wee hours of the morning to go shopping. They stand for hours waiting for a store to open in hope of finding a great deal. Do we say one day that we are thankful that God provided enough for us this year, and then the next day go and spend a ton of money on more “toys” for us? We should be thankful for having enough to live on in this tough economy, but we should be looking for ways to give the money that we have. Are we thankful for our friends and families? Are we willing to give up more of our time to serve and be a blessing to them?  Are we genuinely thankful for what Christ did for us on the cross? Would we give up everything if He called us to do so? If we are really thankful for the blessings in our lives then the thankfulness will flow out into how we live our lives.  Be thankful, not just on Thursday, but every day of your life.  

Colossians 2:6-7

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 

Have a great Thanksgiving.

Build one another up

I enjoyed having a guest writer so much, that I decided to ask another friend if she would write a post. She sent me back a post that is very good and practical. We all need to be reminded how much impact we can have with our words. Be challenged.

Words, they seem so innocent and harmless. Yet they are one of the most powerful things in this universe. They have the ability to tear down and to build up. There’s an old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This is anything but true. For some, words can be far more painful then physical abuse. Most people do not realize what kind of impact saying something hurtful can have. People may not remember exactly what you say to them, but they will always remember how it made them feel.

Ephesians 4: 29 says “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.” We as humans have the ability to control our words. We get to choose whether or not we want to use our tongues to be a blessing or a curse. You should be using your words to build people up and show them they are worth something. Even little things like, acknowledging people, calling them by their names, asking them how they are doing and really meaning it can make such a difference. Don’t be afraid to compliment people. It’s only awkward if you make it awkward. Think about how it makes you feel when you’re having a bad day and someone says something that shows you that they really care. Even something as simple as asking you if you are okay means so much.  The bible says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11  Now I’m not just talking about people you know. Acknowledge people wherever you go. At the checkout line in the grocery store, people you walk past on the sidewalk. Don’t be afraid to give a smile and a cheerful greeting. Who knows, you might just make their day.

There was a girl that I used to go shopping with all the time. She was more often then not very rude to the people who worked at the stores. If they were not meeting her every need she would get upset. When I confronted her about it, she told me “Well that’s what they’re paid for.” So many Christians think that way nowadays. This is not the right mindset. Our mindset should be, “ as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” ~ Luke 6:31 Even if the person is getting paid, it doesn’t give you an excuse to not treat them like Jesus. They are still people that Jesus loves and we need to love them too. So you decide, it’s your choice. Are you going to shine the light of Jesus with your tongue?

Naomi Joy Geiger

Song of the Week

Before a few months ago I didn't listen to much rap. The reason being that most rap is full of cuss words and immoral topics. However, Christian rap is on the rise with artists like Tedashii, Trip Lee, and Lecrae. After I became aware of these artists I started listening to some of their songs. I was amazed at how good the lyrics were.  This week's pick is "Send Me" by Lecrae. Even if you don't like this style of music I would ask that you still read through the lyrics. They convey a message that I believe many people in the American church need to hear.

Send me I'll go,
send me I'll go,
send me I'll go,
lemme go lemme go!

i seen it with my own two,
there's no way i can show you
a perfectly poverty stricken people with no view.
And i bet you can't believe this,
they never heard of Jesus.
Heard young butler, lil wayne, and young jeezy.

No one's signing up to go on missions this summa.
Rather sit at home and watch exibit pimp in a humma
while a nine year old is shot down.
No one's screaming 'stop now!'
no bridge illustrations for criminals who on lock down.

People deep in africa
looking for an answer bra'.
In china man,
they're dieing man,
until they know who died for sins.
So look what grace did.
Not for us to stay here
inside our comfort zones
at home in mama's basement.

Get out on the grind y'all.
Ain't no better time doll.
I know y'all read the great commission.
Let me just remind y'all:
make disciples of the nations.
Teach'm to obey the Lord.
Have to lead someone to Christ before i face the Lord.

Send me I'll go,
send me I'll go,
send me I'll go,
lemme go lemme go!

hey! After, 1,000 years in the west and the churches
get'n bigger daily without understand'n worship. (say what?)
Some regenerate but a lot ain't saved.
You walk outside and be surprised cuz the block ain't changed.
And the numbers they be get'n me.
Something just ain't hit'n them.
America ain't christian they practice'n the ritual.
That's why we should be mission though.
Hey, what you think i'm spit'n for?
The united states is die'n
and in the east is looking pitiful.

Some places if they catch you
they'll arrest you.
They'll serve you,
but they still need the word too.
The gospel should be heard too.
We claim we ain't ashamed,
but we ain't hit the block up.
Were in our christian bubble,
while our brotha's get'n locked up.
Lord i wanna stock up,
pack a bag and walk up
in a country where my faith may get me shot up
anywhere i go, whether my city or far abroad,
i just wanna show' Christ the risen holy God.

Send me I'll go,
send me I'll go,
send me I'll go,
lemme go lemme go!

I know they're die'n in the streets over in the middle east.
Some kids sink in piece
others hold'n up a piece.
If the violence doesn't cease,
then at least the deceased
might know Jesus as their savior as their bodies hit the streets.
And i know this is a graphic view.
And i pray that it's attack'n you.
Track'n you to act and do
what you see in the back illusion.
Mathew twenty-four and fourteen.
We should read it twice
before we think that life is just a battle
see we free in Christ!
Look dawg! Life is more than church work and football!
What if you were dead and seen that Christians overlooked y'all!
This is why we leave the couch
and leave the comforts of our house
to show a die'n world a god they'll probably never read about.

The great commission says make disciples of all nations.
Have we even made them in our own nation?
Come on Christians!
Missions exist because worship doesn't.
People don't worship the god who made them.
We're ambassadors.
Let's go!

Send me I'll go,
send me I'll go,
send me I'll go,
lemme go lemme go!


We only have so long on this earth. Are we using each day to further the kingdom of God? Are we just practicing a ritual? I pray that God would give us all the attitude of "Lemme go!" Instead of that attitude that I see in a lot of people who don't want to sacrifice their time and their money to spread the gospel.

 "Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Mission exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever."

Song of the Week

I remember when I was kid singing the song "This little light of mine." The main theme of that song is letting our lights shine to the world no matter what. Just because it is a kid's song doesn't mean it's message isn't important.  Addison Road has taken the theme of that song and brought a brand new version of "This Little Light of Mine." Here are the lyrics.

There's a little flame inside a soul
Some shine bright
Some shine small
The rains will come
And the waters rise
But don't you ever lose your light

In this life you will know
Love and pain
Joy and sorrow
So when it hurts
When times get hard
Don't forget who's child you are

This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm Gonna let it shine
Gonna let it shine

May you live each day
With no regret
Make the most of every chance you get
And your eyes get wide
When you look at the stars
With the same sense of wonder as a child's heart

With the ones you love
Treasure the time
And for those who are gone
Keep the memories alive

Hold on to your dreams
Don't ever let go
There's a fire inside you
Burning with hope

This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
Gonna let it shine

There will be days when you wanna give up
When clouds settle in
But after the rain comes the sun
Don't you ever forget
Don't forget
Don't, don't forget

One day there will be no more pain
And we will finally see Jesus' face
So until then I'm gonna try
To brave the dark
And let my little light shine

This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
Gonna let it shine
There's a little light inside us all.

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither 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.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.


Shine your light.