The grace to let go and let God be God flows from trust in His boundless love. – Brennan Manning
I have plenty I could say about this quote. I think it’s so true, and really spoke to me when I read it. But I want to hear from you: What do you think about this quote, and what does it mean to you? Post a comment, or email us with your answer.
Praise the LORD.
I will extol the LORD with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
2 Great are the works of the LORD;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are steadfast for ever and ever,
done in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is his name.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.
(Psalm 11)
My favorite phrases in this Psalm are “I will extol the Lord with all my heart” and “To Him belongs eternal praise”. It’s so good to remember that no matter what, the Lord is to be praised. In fact, He is so incredible that we should praise Him for all eternity. It makes me happy to think that in Heaven, that’s what we will be doing… bringing joy to our Creator, and reveling in His indescribable glory. I can’t wait, and I hope you’ll be there too.
By Lee Strobel :: Review by Kylie
We all struggle with our own doubts about what we believe, what is real, and what role God plays in our lives today. Often times, we try not to let these doubts bother us; we set them aside or “shove them in a drawer”. Lee Strobel didn’t.
A prominent journalist, not to mention an atheist, Lee Strobel had it all. Or so it seemed. He had a great job, a great marriage, and overall great circumstances. But when his wife got saved, Lee started to wonder whether his convictions were as firm as they appeared. This set him on an epic quest – to discover the evidence about the seemingly outrageous claims behind Christianity. If what he discovered was false, he could throw it away like a dirty dishrag. But if there was actually something that supported these claims, Lee might just have to give it a second thought.
So, Lee’s search for the truth began. This book chronicles his experiences. From investigating how we know the Bible is true to looking at how we know Jesus was really the Christ, Lee Strobel presents the facts he discovered in a clear and straightforward way. What he found out, and what you will realize as you join him in this journey, is very remarkable.
While I am already a firm believer in Jesus and the Bible, this book was so helpful and only helped solidify my beliefs. The evidence Lee Strobel presents is truly amazing. I literally couldn’t put the book down and finished the book in less than 24 hours. Since I had the Student Edition, it was a fairly quick read.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, especially if you have any sorts of doubt about what to believe. Viewing the confirmation of everything the Bible says will help you build a foundation that is unshakable.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ” From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known. — John 1:1-18
I read this passage last night and it really made me think. Jesus is the true light, true glory. He came down, out of His own grace, so that we may know God. Jesus is the light that shines in this darkness.
1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the LORD!
2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!
3 They also do no iniquity;
They walk in His ways.
4 You have commanded us
To keep Your precepts diligently.
5 Oh, that my ways were directed
To keep Your statutes!
6 Then I would not be ashamed,
When I look into all Your commandments.
7 I will praise You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.
8 I will keep Your statutes;
Oh, do not forsake me utterly!
9 How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O LORD!
Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have declared
All the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.
16 I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.
That’s the God we serve! Be excited!
Update on the Challenge 2010: Kylie and I are actively working on getting the challenge for this upcoming year. I can safely say it is going to be a neat experience for all of us as writers and editors – and we’re all praying that it will be equally exciting for you. Stay tuned – in the next few months, you’ll see some polls, template changes, and other fun changes. As always, we love to hear from you, so if you have a suggestion or comment, shoot us an email at ignition [dot] challenge [at] gmail [dot] com.
In love and on fire,
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)
The theme of the newest issue of Kids of Faith is our incredible transformation once we accept Christ. Our theme verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17, but the context is just as profound. Take some time to read this and ponder what it means to be reconciled to God.
You can see the KOF issue here: www.kidsoffaithonline.net
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I would like to wish a belated birthday to Ignition and Kids of Faith’s 
talented artist, none other than Jocelberry, aka Jocelyn, aka Joss, aka Queen of the World… Jocelyn is gorgeous, intelligent, and amazing at using the gifts God has given her. She’s really dear to me, and I’m blessed to know her.
So, here’s to another year, Joss, as you enter “teendom”. May you continue to grow closer to God over the next twelve months and learn even more to walk in His holiness. May your hands be His hands, your voice be His voice, and your heart be His heart, as you continue to serve Him with your talents. Love you!
Drenched in sweat, a man stumbles through the desert. He has been in the severe heat for days. The sun beats down mercilessly on the man’s already scorched skin. Completely parched and drained of strength, he can hardly scream of anguish, much less continue his torturous journey. His eyes blur. Is that a pool of water, or just another mirage? Reaching some sort of shadow cast upon the sand, he falls onto the ground and once again drifts into unconsciousness.
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That’s a somewhat chilling picture, isn’t it? It’s a nightmarish, almost unthinkable situation that everyone hopes they won’t ever find themselves in. But what a lot of people sometimes don’t realize, myself included, is that we can become that way in our spiritual life.
In this fast-paced season of busyness, it’s easy to get spiritually “dried up”. We sometimes get so caught up in everything that’s going on that we can lose sight of our long-term goal—eternity.
I found myself that way this week. My Bible laid neglected on my nightstand, my prayer life was pitiful, and I felt so disconnected with God. It was only until I was sent to my room to think about something I’d done wrong that I made time to pick up my Bible. There wasn’t anything extraordinary or shocking about the passages I read, but I came away feeling so refreshed. I had fed my spirit, and had chosen to spend time with my Maker.
Maybe you’re in a place of spiritual drought. The best advice I have for you is from my heart. Run back to Jesus and ask Him, the Living Water, to fill you up. Spend a little time reading His Word, or just talk to Him. Imagine yourself in a special, peaceful place designed for just the two of you to be together. Take the time to interact with Him, and He’ll give you the refreshment that you need.
7When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
10Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11″Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?”
13Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”(John 4:7-14)
Go to Jesus. Dip into His wellspring of life. You won’t regret it.
Have you ever felt worthless? Run-down? Wrong for the job?
You are in good company. I imagine that every Christian has felt like they weren’t good enough for God or his calling at least once in their life.
When I was struggling with this attitude of worthlessness, I wrote this poem. I hope that it will help you see just how much you mean to God, as it helped me.
Noah
Drip. Drip.
I do not understand the water
That falls like a birdsong on my face
You say it cleanses
Then why is the dirt pouring on
Me?
You chose me. You chose this
Dark creaking beast to be my Shelter
In a long storm. I didn’t
Choose it for myself.
Why me? I am not
Good or Beautiful and I did not
Know you then. I hardly know you now.
Unworthy is a good word.
It’s who I am right now in the face of
This Great Flood that threatens me
But somehow, you protect.
How is it you could love a fool like me?
Is this who I am? More than just the
Earth on my face or the water in my hands,
I am made in your image
These eyes are to see destruction and live
These hands to cradle in love like you do
This heart to beat like yours
Is this who I am?
Unworthy is a good word.
But that is not who I am.
In love and on fire,
Today marks the sixteenth birthday of Ignition’s assistant editor, Catey. She is “a young lady with a rather unusual heart and mind”. If you’ve read any of her writings, you can tell that she is completely in love with Jesus, and He speaks actively through her.
I have known Catey for about a year now, and she never ceases to amaze me. I am still impressed by her outgoing nature and pleasant demeanor. Her love for God and desire to serve Him is so apparent, and so is the pure beauty of her heart. She is such a wonderful friend. I am blessed to know her.
If you would like to wish her a happy birthday, you can leave a comment here or at her blog, Sparks of Illumination.
Happy birthday, Catey! May God continue to fulfill His plan for you this year as He sculpts you into who He wants you to be. May you keep your eyes always focused on Jesus and grow in your understanding of and desire for Him.
Your friend and sister in Christ,
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