![Forgiveness Is When Life Begins [4Given.me]](https://i0.wp.com/4given.me/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/cropped-4given-original_EDITED_FOR_BLACK_CROSS_RED_me_strokes-3.png?fit=2404%2C1069&ssl=1)
![Forgiveness Is When Life Begins [4Given.me]](https://i0.wp.com/4given.me/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/transparent-256x256-New-Smaller-Red-e1713712895746.png?fit=75%2C75&ssl=1)
Serve
Opportunities to serve others. This means doing what's right for others simply because it's the right thing to do—lifting up rather than pushing down. Mission trips, mentoring, and community outreach are all opportunities to share the Gospel message. When you read the Bible by yourself, secluded in some private closet away from all people, then you missed the whole point. Read the Bible. Pray. Serve others. Jesus Christ was a servant and we are called to be reflections of Christ. Find Godly work to do and dive in with service.
-
Life’s Archery Range: The Sure Shot vs The Missed Mark
At the Sure Shot Archery Tournament devotional in Phoenix, speaker Vin connects the concept of sin, or missing the mark, to archery, describing it as failing to align with God’s will. He reflects on personal growth from selfish goals to seeking God's targets, emphasizing the need for practice, scripture, prayer, and Jesus’ guidance to hit life's true mark. The message concludes with community outreach, particularly regarding addiction recovery, underscoring the spiritual and communal aspects of life's aim.
-
House of Refuge—Lesson 2 (of 2) God Addict
We need an EGG, Enemy—Identify who this is. You can make an enemy of God or you can make an enemy of the devil. Whoever your enemy is, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles.” Proverbs 24:17 Glorify—You can glorify yourself or you can glorify God. It’s your decision. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, wholly and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1 God— We need a god in our life. We can be gods over our own lives, or we can have…
-
House of Refuge—Lesson 1 (of 2) Identity
I use the word NEST to illustrate that the nest that we build for ourselves in our lives will always be built around our identity. NEST means: Nature—Live with a sin nature or saved nature? Eternity—Are we eternally saved or damned? Servant—Do we serve God or Satan? Trust—Do we trust in the world or do we trust in the Creator?
-
Jonesing for Jesus [VIDEO]
God is the only addiction that we should have. That's right. ... He is faithful. He gives back to us better than anything that we've surrendered to him. He ... he multiplies the blessings that he gives to us because he's got a good plan for our lives. His will for our lives is better. His will and his plan is better than our own. He's a good God. Just surrender to him, trust in him and life will be good. The thing that I run into in Celebrate Recovery is that's a huge leap of faith. People don't understand that they're already worshiping little "g" gods. They're already worshiping…
-
What does recovery look like? And why do we celebrate it?
A gentleman by the name of Geoff Brown interviewed me for his podcast Kingdom Culture Conversations and the topic of discussion for Part One & Part Two was about Celebrate Recovery. I listened to both of the 2-part episodes after it was released and thought to myself, “How many people are wondering why I gave a testimony—a deeply personal testimony—for all to hear? I mean, really, I was supposed to be promoting a Christ-focused recovery group, but instead I shared more about myself.” If you haven’t heard it, or have no clue what I’m talking about, give it a listen below. I wrote a post called You Don’t Know Me.…
-
Lead by Serving
Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.(John’s Gospel Account 13:12b-17 MSG) In this case, I like the Message Bible translation because it correctly uses the…
-
Fruit bombs, secondhand kindness, and the fruitcake of the Spirit
Have you ever seen a healthy apple tree or lemon tree or an orange tree produce so much more fruit than its branches can handle? I’m talking about a tree that will actually stunt its own growth by unintentionally harming itself simply because its own branches will break under the sheer weight of all the fruit it is producing. If a person doesn’t come in there and harvest the fruit, then that’s exactly what will happen. At least eventually. “The fruit tree with no one to eat from its branches becomes the image of a dying tree” That’s also what can happen to any Christian who is deep in the…
-
Good conduct reflects wisdom
“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.” YouVersion Bible App ESV James 3:13 ESV This is an incredible verse. Opening with a question like this seems to be a trap. Anyone who answers, “I am,” could probably be seen as lacking in humility or meekness. No one can truly answer this question and be the one whom the question seeks to find. This draws a line in the sand between those who serve with a trumpet’s horn versus those who serve with stealth. Conduct can be done in private, but cannot be kept private. A person’s…
