Sometimes a talk in church or at a Christian event feels like it's directly aimed at us! It can be unnerving. But before we assume that the person talking has been following us around or stalking our social media pages to get our personal story, let's take a look at what God's word actually does. 

In Hebrews 4:12 NIV it says, 'The word of God is alive and active.' Ah ok, so that goose-bump, hairs-on-the-back-of-our-necks-are-standing-up moment could actually be God talking to us through the speaker? Cool. But hang on, that verse goes on to say that God's word is 'sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow.' Ouch. Sounds painful; and it can be. When we choose to follow Jesus we agree to a life that pleases him. So, when we find ourselves doing things that aren't so Jesus-like, he's sure to bring it up in conversation. 

God's word is his message to us (and to the world). And it 'judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart' (Hebrews 4:12 NIV). So, next time we get that goosebumps moment, let's take notice and chat to God. Let's start by thanking him for speaking to us and use it as an opportunity to examine the condition of our heart. 



So what now? So, next time we get that goosebumps moment, let's take notice and chat to God. Let's start by thanking him for speaking to us and use it as an opportunity to examine the condition of our heart.





— SCRIPTURE —

	'The word of God is alive and active.' Hebrews 4:12 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

	Hos 6-10, Luke 19:41-48, Ps 13, Pro 8:14-16
	

Sometimes a talk in church or at a Christian event feels like it's directly aimed at us! It can be unnerving. But before we assume that the person talking has been following us around or stalking our social media pages to get our personal story, let's take a look at what God's word actually does. In Hebrews 4:12 NIV it says, 'The word of God is alive and active.' Ah ok, so that goose-bump, hairs-on-the-back-of-our-necks-are-standing-up moment could actually be God talking to us through the speaker? Cool. But hang on, that verse goes on to say that God's word is 'sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow.' Ouch. Sounds painful; and it can be. When we choose to follow Jesus we agree to a life that pleases him. So, when we find ourselves doing things that aren't so Jesus-like, he's sure to bring it up in conversation. God's word is his message to us (and to the world). And it 'judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart' (Hebrews 4:12 NIV). So, next time we get that goosebumps moment, let's take notice and chat to God. Let's start by thanking him for speaking to us and use it as an opportunity to examine the condition of our heart. So what now? So, next time we get that goosebumps moment, let's take notice and chat to God. Let's start by thanking him for speaking to us and use it as an opportunity to examine the condition of our heart.
	
	— SCRIPTURE — 
	'The word of God is alive and active.' Hebrews 4:12 NIV 
	— SOULFOOD — 
	Hos 6-10, Luke 19:41-48, Ps 13, Pro 8:14-16

Word For You Today is the writings of Bob and Debby Gass in The Word For Today, adapted for the next generation.

It meets teens and young adults right where they are at.

Word For You Today is the writings of Bob and Debby Gass in The Word For Today, adapted for the next generation.
It meets teens and young adults right where they are at.

Word For You Today

God of the goosebumps

Hopelessness comes when our plans run out: like when we feel trapped in a town we hate, or when we get to uni and can't cover rent, or when we think God will heal a family member but doesn't. We don't always know what 'hope' is until we're face-to-face with hopelessness. Then we realise that we really need hope. We realise how hungry we get for it when we don't have it. 

In those times, it can be helpful to think back to when we last saw hope come through. Hope, according to author Frederick Buechner, is about remembering: remembering back to when God strengthened, comforted or healed us in the past, by the power of Jesus. Maybe in our past he's helped us by sharing Jesus through a friend's kind words or actions, or Jesus in anonymous cash in the post, or Jesus in a Bible passage that got us through a rough patch. Let's go back to that time in our memory. It will remind us that God can help us now. 

Frederick Buechner named his own hope in God 'the room called Remember' - a memory in his mind that he could bring to mind when hopelessness came. As Christians we always have a way out of our hopelessness; God is the person to go to when things get too much.



So what now? Find your 'room called Remember'. Even if you're not feeling hopeless now, think of a memory to bring you hope in the future.





— SCRIPTURE —

	'Yet this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope.' Lamentations 3:21 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

	Exo 17:1-7, Isa 44:3, John 7:37-41
	

Hopelessness comes when our plans run out: like when we feel trapped in a town we hate, or when we get to uni and can't cover rent, or when we think God will heal a family member but doesn't. We don't always know what 'hope' is until we're face-to-face with hopelessness. Then we realise that we really need hope. We realise how hungry we get for it when we don't have it. In those times, it can be helpful to think back to when we last saw hope come through. Hope, according to author Frederick Buechner, is about remembering: remembering back to when God strengthened, comforted or healed us in the past, by the power of Jesus. Maybe in our past he's helped us by sharing Jesus through a friend's kind words or actions, or Jesus in anonymous cash in the post, or Jesus in a Bible passage that got us through a rough patch. Let's go back to that time in our memory. It will remind us that God can help us now. Frederick Buechner named his own hope in God 'the room called Remember' - a memory in his mind that he could bring to mind when hopelessness came. As Christians we always have a way out of our hopelessness; God is the person to go to when things get too much.So what now? Find your 'room called Remember'. Even if you're not feeling hopeless now, think of a memory to bring you hope in the future.
	
	— SCRIPTURE — 
	'Yet this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope.' Lamentations 3:21 NIV 
	— SOULFOOD — 
	Exo 17:1-7, Isa 44:3, John 7:37-41

'A room called Remember'

Dennis the Menace is a mischievous fictional character - he first came to life in comic strip form in the early 1950's. Many of the storylines involve him disrupting the life his cranky adult neighbour, George. Whilst Dennis' actions are not malicious, George does get very frustrated and annoyed: as we might if our neighbour - Dennis - rolled our camper van down the hill or continually interrupted our dinner parties.  

What do we do when someone offends us? When they take the joke too far or make a comment that hurts? Jesus told us to love one another as he loved us (John 13:34-35). As believers, God is keen for us to stand out (that's 'stand out from the crowd', not 'stand outside the offending person's house verbally lashing out'). It means to respond to people and situations in a way that glorifies who God is. 

Whilst we may not consider ourselves the 'get our own back' type, we may 'freeze out' those we're unhappy with, without realising it. The way we respond - with love or with revenge -  has consequences: 'Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends' (Proverbs 17:9 NLT). Responding to offence may feel 'right', but in reality it tears down: them and us. 



So what now? Been offended or hurt recently? Pray about it and then speak to the person. Perhaps they may not even know you were offended. Respond in a God-honouring way - even if they don't apologise. Love always prospers.





— SCRIPTURE —

	'Love prospers when a fault is forgiven.' Proverbs 17:9 NLT
— SOULFOOD —

	Hos 1-5, Luke 19:22-40, Ps 116:12-19, Pro 8:10-13
	

Dennis the Menace is a mischievous fictional character - he first came to life in comic strip form in the early 1950's. Many of the storylines involve him disrupting the life his cranky adult neighbour, George. Whilst Dennis' actions are not malicious, George does get very frustrated and annoyed: as we might if our neighbour - Dennis - rolled our camper van down the hill or continually interrupted our dinner parties. What do we do when someone offends us? When they take the joke too far or make a comment that hurts? Jesus told us to love one another as he loved us (John 13:34-35). As believers, God is keen for us to stand out (that's 'stand out from the crowd', not 'stand outside the offending person's house verbally lashing out'). It means to respond to people and situations in a way that glorifies who God is. Whilst we may not consider ourselves the 'get our own back' type, we may 'freeze out' those we're unhappy with, without realising it. The way we respond - with love or with revenge - has consequences: 'Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends' (Proverbs 17:9 NLT). Responding to offence may feel 'right', but in reality it tears down: them and us. So what now? Been offended or hurt recently? Pray about it and then speak to the person. Perhaps they may not even know you were offended. Respond in a God-honouring way - even if they don't apologise. Love always prospers.
	
	— SCRIPTURE — 
	'Love prospers when a fault is forgiven.' Proverbs 17:9 NLT 
	— SOULFOOD — 
	Hos 1-5, Luke 19:22-40, Ps 116:12-19, Pro 8:10-13

Love prospers

We've been learning that God provides for our personal needs. But, what about when we see a need someone else has, and it doesn't seem like God is meeting it? Ah. Here's a hard-hitting truth for us as Christians: we are the hands and feet of Jesus on earth (1 Corinthians 12:27). So that means that when there's a need, we could be asked to meet it. 

Now we're not meant to start throwing money into every need that comes along; nor are we called to apply to go on every mission trip. But, it does mean that when we find something that breaks our heart and it feels like a prompt from God, we should sit up and take notice. Maybe God is calling us to a particular area of mission or asking us to give up our daily coffee in order to bless someone else. 

Whether it's time, money or effort, let's be sure to pray things through first. Taking it to God will either fire us if it's really him nudging us take action or it will ground us from possible burn-out. Let's get God's perspective before we launch into anything. Talk to older, wiser Christians or chat things through with our pastor or minister. Meeting the needs of the world through the power of Jesus is amazing; so let's make sure we're doing it in whatever way we can.



So what now? One practical step: choose an organisation that always gets your attention. Do some  research and find out what they're about and what their needs are, then get praying.





— SCRIPTURE —

	'All of you together are the one body of Christ.' 1 Corinthians 12:27 TLB
— SOULFOOD —

	Rev 19-22, Luke 19:1-21, Ps 116:1-11, Pro 8:8-9
	

We've been learning that God provides for our personal needs. But, what about when we see a need someone else has, and it doesn't seem like God is meeting it? Ah. Here's a hard-hitting truth for us as Christians: we are the hands and feet of Jesus on earth (1 Corinthians 12:27). So that means that when there's a need, we could be asked to meet it. Now we're not meant to start throwing money into every need that comes along; nor are we called to apply to go on every mission trip. But, it does mean that when we find something that breaks our heart and it feels like a prompt from God, we should sit up and take notice. Maybe God is calling us to a particular area of mission or asking us to give up our daily coffee in order to bless someone else. Whether it's time, money or effort, let's be sure to pray things through first. Taking it to God will either fire us if it's really him nudging us take action or it will ground us from possible burn-out. Let's get God's perspective before we launch into anything. Talk to older, wiser Christians or chat things through with our pastor or minister. Meeting the needs of the world through the power of Jesus is amazing; so let's make sure we're doing it in whatever way we can.So what now? One practical step: choose an organisation that always gets your attention. Do some research and find out what they're about and what their needs are, then get praying.
	
	— SCRIPTURE — 
	'All of you together are the one body of Christ.' 1 Corinthians 12:27 TLB 
	— SOULFOOD — 
	Rev 19-22, Luke 19:1-21, Ps 116:1-11, Pro 8:8-9

God of the goosebumps

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