"I'll Watch The Movie"

For today's post, I am going to share with you something that my son, Matthew, posted on his Facebook page last week. I pray that his words bless you as much as they blessed Shannon and me.

"I'll Watch The Movie"

I was just listening to a Switchfoot song, and I started to really try to understand the lyrics. Here's the important part:

Nothing but a chemical in my head
It's nothing but laziness
Cause I don't wanna read the book
I'll watch the movie
Cause it's not me
I'm just like everybody else my age

I think I'd rather play around
And I think I'd rather watch TV
Cause I don't wanna face my fears
I'll watch the movie
Cause it's not me
I'm just like everybody else
I'm just like everybody else

It's about the tendency of us as teenagers to blame our passiveness, our laziness, our inability to put effort into anything on the fact that we are teenagers, that we're human. We don't want to read the Bible everyday; we'd rather "watch the movie." We'd rather take the easy way out: show up at Church, hear (but not listen to) what the speaker says, give the most sincere sounding answers to direct questions, and move on with our lives Monday through Saturday.

I say this because it's exactly what I have found myself doing many a Sunday. I've also seen something else in me: discontentment. Lack of peace with my life that always accompanies just "watching the movie." Lack of faith in my ability to carry myself through the week. The feeling that no matter what I do, whether it be doing schoolwork, watching TV, listening to music, talking to friends, or just taking a nap, I cannot improve my mood. I cannot boost my confidence. I cannot do anything on my own (or even with the help of others) to make this life livable.

But when I do turn off the movie and pick up the Book, that contentment and peace that I've been missing, that faith in the fact I'm going to survive this week, that feeling that not I but He can do something to give me exactly what I need, returns. Tom just talked about this this Sunday, and he's right. He's dead on. Nothing in this life will ever do you good like finally getting into the Word: nothing. I know that sounds like such a "church" thing to say, but it's the truth. It's as true as it gets. I've never found anything to be so true in my life.

James 1:22
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Matthew also suggested that I share the song with you, so if you're interested, take a listen.
God Bless,
Amy:)

Here's How It Happened, Part Two......

So I sat down, and asked her what was going on.........

She said, "Well, my cousin has decided to not go on the trip, and I was wondering if you would like to go?"......(I'm not sure if these were her exact words, because I experienced a little "shock" during this conversation, but you at least get my point.)

I was speechless......And if you have read this blog even one time, then you know being at a loss for words is not a problem I generally suffer with.

After catching my breath and figuring out how to speak again I said, "Of course, I would love to go, but a trip to the Mediterranean is not exactly in our budget right now." (My family and I have had to deal with a difficult financial situation this past year due to some issues that came about at my husband's job.)

Melissa calmly said, "No, you don't understand. It's paid for."

Once again, I was rendered speechless.

I asked her to please explain what she meant very slowly and clearly, because I was having a hard time comprehending the English language at this point.

She proceeded to tell me that since her cousin backed out, her aunt and uncle would lose the money that they had spent for her portion of the trip. So they would rather somebody get to go and enjoy it, plus it would be more fun for Melissa to have a friend along as well. She also explained that although the cruise and hotels would be completely paid for, I would be responsible for my airfares and any spending money for excursions off of the ship.

Melissa said, "Amy, I want you to get to go and write your own name in the sand!"

She really wanted me to go (and I really wanted to go), but I told her that I would have to pray about it, and obviously talk to Shannon as well.

When I hung up the phone from that conversation, I immediately closed my eyes and started talking to God. I asked Him for direction and for a confirmation from Him if this is something that He wanted me to do. Even though the majority of the trip was being paid for, I still had to come up with airfare and spending money, and with our budget being tight, this was a real concern. Not to mention being away from home for twenty-four days. In. A. Row.

After praying, I went straight to my Bible and devotional books.
I opened "Our Daily Bread," and it was a devotional titled "Sheer Delight." This devotional message was based on Psalm 37:4.

Delight yourself . . . in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. —Psalm 37:4

David encouraged us in Psalm 37 to delight in the Lord and not to envy others (vv.1-4). Although he was talking about envying people who get away with evil, we can apply it to other types of envy. Instead of comparing ourselves with others, we need to delight ourselves in God. In His time, He’ll fulfill the desires of our heart and affirm that we are in His will.
We’re all in “God’s service” as believers. And serving Him is a sheer delight. — Anne Cetas

At the end of this passage the author, Anne Cetas, says, "Contentment comes when God's will is more important than our wants."

God revealed to me at this very moment, that He was fulfilling the desires of my heart, but that it came as a result of my contentment in Him. Like I told you yesterday, I was thrilled for Melissa. When I found out about this amazing trip that she had been blessed with, there was no envy in my heart.......At other times in my life, I have felt envious of people who had things that I wanted. But after the difficult financial situation that we have been through this past year, God has shown me what really matters in life. The amount of money in my bank account does not matter to God, however, the amount of my faith in Him does.

After praying and talking it over with Shannon, we both agreed that this was a gift from God, and that I should definitely accept it.

The next morning, I called Melissa as the rooster crowed very early, and I told her that I was going with her on this journey. She squealed with delight when I told her, which of course, made me giggle.

The days after that phone conversation are still a blur to me. I went from elated one moment to crying the next. I was overwhelmed that the Lord Of All Creation would want to bless me with such a gift.

I simply did not feel worthy of it..........

Bible Study About The Woman Of Samaria- Part Two

Today I am continuing with the story of the Woman of Samaria. She is also referred to as The Woman at the Well.

After Jesus talked with the woman at the well, this is what Scripture says happened.

John 4:28-30
Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,
"Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"
They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

She dropped everything and ran to spread the news. She had been face to face with Jesus. The Promised One. The Messiah. Imagine how full her heart must of felt. She was so full, she could not hold it all in. She could not keep the good news to herself. She had to share it with others.

This same woman, only moments earlier, had gone to the well to draw water at a time of day when no other people would be around. Now, we see her running back to find the same people she had been avoiding, to share with them about this Man.

John 4:39-42
Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did."
So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days.
And because of his words many more became believers.
They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."

This is so touching to me. The very people who scorned her for her lifestyle,the ones that gossiped about her, the ones she avoided at the well, are the same ones that she literally led to Christ.

Only moments earlier they probably would not have given her the time of day, but something must have been different about her this time. I wonder if she looked or sounded different to them?. Did she look them in the eye, holding her head up high? Something about her made them take notice and listen.

I believe that Something different about her was a Someone. That Someone was Jesus. Jesus was the difference that made them take notice and listen.

John 4:39 says, "Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me everything I ever did.'"

Isn't that just like God. He doesn't need us to be specially trained, educated, popular, beautiful, thin, rich, or any other number of "sociably acceptable" qualities. He simply wants us to be willing. If we give Him our hearts and turn our lives over to Him, He will do the impossible through us. All we have to do is surrender and believe in Him.

I know then, just like today, most of the people that God chose to help bring people to know Him and His Son, are not the same people that we would have "chosen". Most of the time we judge people by what we see on the outside; God, thankfully, does not.

1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Society looked at the woman at the well and saw an immoral person, not worthy of even speaking to. God looked at that same woman and saw a soul that was longing to be filled with the truth and knowledge of Him. He saw a heart eager to know Him, and a heart just as eager to share Him with the same people who scorned her.

I'm so thankful that God acknowledges those that society ignores. He sees in us all that He created us to be. He loves us all. It doesn't matter where we've been, where we're at, or where we're going. He just simply loves us.

Wednesday's devotional found in "Our Daily Bread", reminded me a lot of the story of the Woman of Samaria. If you have the time, it is a wonderful message to read.

It's about an uneducated lay preacher conducting a church service.

It was written by Cindy Hess Kasper; her words are so encouraging. She makes the statement, "Our best may not always measure up to the standards of others. But God takes our inadequacies and humble efforts and uses them for His glory."

2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Cindy Hess Harper ends the passage with this quote, "Do what you can where you are with what you have."

To me that sounds exactly like what the Woman of Samaria did. She went where she could, as soon as she could, and she opened her heart and shared what she had just learned with any one who would listen. Then God did the rest.

Last week I showed you a You Tube clip about the Woman of Samaria. The clip I have for you today is the complete scene of this story in the Bible.
As you watch it, thank God that He loves you. Right now, no matter where you are in your life, He loves you. Let that sink in.

Thank you for letting me share my thoughts with you today.



Thank You, God, for the story of the Woman of Samaria; her desire and willingness to share the news of You with others encourages me. Lord, please help me each day to see others as You see them.

Bible Study About The Woman Of Samaria

The Woman of Samaria is the woman I read about this week in my devotional. She is often referred to as The Woman at the Well.

Her story is found in the Bible in the book of John.

Here are the first verses from John that introduce us to this woman.

John 4:1-9
1.The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John,
2.although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.
3.When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.
4.Now he had to go through Samaria.
5.So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
6.Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7.When 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.)
9.The 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. )

There is so much that moved me about the story of the Woman of Samaria, that I am having a difficult time even knowing where to begin. So this week I will share a few things that I loved about her story, and I will continue it again next Friday.

I will start by giving you just a little background about water at this time in history. Water was precious; it was often scarce. It was largely the duty of women at this time to go to the well to get the water that was needed for each day. Typically the women would go to the well in the evening, so it would not be so hot while they did this chore. With so many women gathering around the well at about the same time to draw their water each day, you can safely assume that the well was a gathering place of sorts. Probably a lot like your local beauty salon today. (Think Steel Magnolias.)

But if you'll look again at verse six, Scripture says it was the sixth hour.
That means noon. The heat of the day. Needless to say the well would not be crawling with women at that time of day. The Woman of Samaria obviously did not want to be around any of the local women. The kind of life she led was a questionable one, and she did not want to be their "topic of conversation" any more. Their stares, judgments, and harsh words hurt. The stifling heat of the day would be more pleasant than their gossip-filled glances.

When she arrived at the well, she was surprised to see a man there, and not just any man, but a Jew. Jewish people at this time usually went out of their way to avoid even passing by Samaria. My devotional says that, "Jewish people thought that the Samaritan people were half breeds that worshiped at their shrine on Mount Gerizim instead of at the temple in Jerusalem." Upon seeing Him, she probably thought He definitely wouldn't speak to her, because at this time men did not address women in public. And since He was a Jewish man, she probably felt very certain she did not have to worry about being bothered by Him.

So, try to imagine her surprise when she heard this come out of His mouth in verse seven.
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?"

You can see by her response in verse nine that she is confused by His question.

The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?"

Not only was this Jewish man speaking to her, He also wanted her to give him a drink!
The notes in my Bible say that the passage, (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) in Scripture could also be translated, (or do not use dishes Samaritans used).

She must have really been confused, wondering to herself, "Who is this Jewish man?"
Not only is He talking to her, He also wants to drink from the same dish as her.
Both of these actions were unheard of in her culture. There was definitely something different about this man.

I love that Jesus is different than we are. What I mean by that is that He does what we won't do. He doesn't let "traditions" determine what He does or who He will speak to. He loves us all exactly where we are in our lives. It doesn't matter where we come from, what others think of us, or what kind of lifestyle we lead. He loves us all, even though we don't deserve it. He looks at each and every one of us with love and acceptance in His eyes and His heart, even those of us that society over looks or looks down upon.

Read what Scripture says that Jesus did in the book of John while having dinner with His disciples.

John 13:3-5
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;
so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He, the One and Only Son of God, got down on the floor and washed their feet.

Think about that for a moment.

During this time it was customary for the owner of the home to have his lowest servant wash the feet of any guests that came into his home.

Jesus was a guest at this dinner, not the lowest servant in the home.

If I traveled to your home today, wearing sandals while walking on dusty roads, would you want to wash my feet?

I would not want to wash any body's dirty feet......especially the filthy feet of grown men! But the Bible tells us that is exactly what Jesus did.

It's humbling to me.

He talked to a woman that others ignored.

He did the dirty job of washing feet that others didn't want to do.

He forgives us of our sins when we don't deserve it. He reaches out to us even though we so often ignore Him. He loves us even when we don't love Him.

I am so thankful that God doesn't treat me how I deserve to be treated.

I found this clip on You Tube about the Woman at the Well and Jesus. I am a visual learner, so I am able to comprehend things much better if I can see them.
This scene that I have to show you is their meeting and conversation at the well. As you watch it, put yourself in her shoes. Try to imagine what she must have been feeling in her heart as this meeting took place. Jesus, the Son of God, wanted to talk to her!

He wants to talk to you too.

Will you listen?



I will share more about the story of the Woman of Samaria, including more verses from the book of John, next week.

Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Thank You, Lord, for noticing me, for talking to me, for forgiving me, for fighting for me, and for loving even me. My cup runneth over.

Facts Not Feelings

Yesterday I was forwarded an email about a certain famous female. Her name is not important, so I won't mention it in this post.

She is recorded saying a few things about God that completely contradict what God's Word says about Him.

It is interesting to me how people like to choose the things from the Bible to believe that they are comfortable with, and then choose to disregard or not believe the things that they are uncomfortable with.

An example she gave was that one day she heard her preacher say that God is all, God is omnipresent, God is love, etc., and she liked that. However, she did not like when he said God was a jealous God. That made her feel uncomfortable. It didn't feel right in her spirit, so she chose to believe something different.

However, Scripture says in Deuteronomy 4:24
"For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."

You can have any opinion or feeling that you want to have, but it does not change what God's Word says or means. If it makes you uncomfortable, chances are God is trying to tell you something regarding that issue in your own life.

I know that this is true for me.

We don't get to pick and choose the things that we like and don't like concerning God's Word.

I will use myself as an example. I have people around me in my life that I do not like. They are not nice to me or my family.

Nevertheless, God's Word says in Matthew 5:44, "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"

This does not always make me feel good to do, but it is what I am supposed to do. It does not come naturally to me to love and pray for people who are never even kind to me, but it is exactly what God's Word says for me to do. Doing this is for my own good and for the good of my relationship with the Lord. Even when it is not what I want to do, it is what the Bible says I should do.

Does this mean that I always pray for my enemies and feel love for them?.....Absolutely not. I am not a perfect person. I am a sinner just like every one else on this earth. But it is what I should do, regardless of my feelings about the subject.

I'll share with you another example about what makes us feel better about things, and why it is not always a good idea for us to pick and choose what we like.

I love M&M's. They are one of my favorite candies. I know they exist. I believe in them. I believe the slogan that says they melt in my mouth and not in my hands. I believe they taste yummy. However, what if I chose not to believe what the package says concerning the calories that are in the M&M's?...What if I just decided that I did not like that information; that it made me feel bad to think that M&M's contain a lot of calories?...I could just disregard the number of calories and eat as many bags of them as my stomach could hold, because I had decided that I did not like that part of the product's description.

The fact is, it really does not matter what my opinion or feeling is concerning the calories, they are in fact real. Physically my body would start to prove to me that they are indeed real as my bottom grew bigger and bigger due to all of the M&M's I had eaten.

It's the same thing that happens to us spiritually. When we choose to ignore or disregard the parts of God's Word that make us feel uncomfortable, we are causing harm to ourselves. The damage starts to show up in our hearts, our speech, and our actions.

Just as others would notice the physical change in my body if I eat too many M&M's; they would also notice the spiritual change in my heart if I started to disregard certain parts of God's Word in my life.

When my brother was a little boy, he did not like getting shots. He hated it even. Shots made him feel uncomfortable. However, my mother still took him to the doctor, and he did in fact have to get his shots.

My mother was not trying to make him feel bad then; she was trying to prevent him from becoming sick later. So she chose to let him be uncomfortable for a little while, so that he could enjoy a lifetime of being protected from unwanted diseases.

It is the same with God's Word in our lives today. What makes us feel bad today obeying God, is for our own good. God does not waste our pain. Ever. Everything that happens in our lives, God uses for our good.

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God's Word does not tell us this to make us feel better. His Word tells us this because it is true. It is a fact.

Pain never feels good. Change is always uncomfortable at first. But God's Word says in all things God works for our good. Even the things that make us feel uncomfortable.

Psalms 30:5
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime ; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.

If I had made all the decisions concerning my life based upon my different feelings at different times, it is very scary to think what my life could be like today.

This famous person I mentioned said that God is a feeling experience, not a believing experience.

Don't let your feelings about any famous individual's opinion of God become your beliefs.

I challenge you to see for yourself what God's Word says is true, and base your beliefs on facts not feelings.