Daily Devo and Music

Welcome to AGC

2020-10-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

NOTE!!!!: Every friday there will not be a devo till the summer.
Due to the fact that:
We have school during the day
When we get home we have piano/guitar/and other stuff to do.
After that we have youth group till 10:00 by the time we get home
theres no time to do devos.
Sorry if theres no devo for fridays but for now this is how its going to be.
Thanks for reading AGC daily

Welcome to daily devos (music soon).
AGC4Him
our 1 goal:
writting for Him to help you go to Him

AGC consits of 3 people:
Ally
Greg

Of course there are behind the scence people read about them at the memebers button!

We still havent decided our main verse yet but once we do we'll have it up =).
Just enjoy read these devos and grow close to God. That 1 thing we really love doing helping others..

wants some background about us?:
We are 3 friends. My bad. We are 3 bestfriends all Christians of course. This devo started because of TDDM.org they stop writing for 2008 and i got the idea maybe we should fill in and then my 2 bestfriends join. And now we have the website AGC4Him!

weird but short background haha if any of you guys have question email them either to:
AGcwriters@gmail.com
Christtat@gmail.com

Thx
God bless
Love;
AGC crew

Reading Your Bible and Farewell

2009-03-08T20:36:00.000-07:00

Well AGCers its been a great 6months but i think we can call it a time to end.

I rememeber the first time we started it was really bad because of our grammer. Now our english grades have gone up (not sure about ally and greg) but for me it has! And i really pray God blesses you and your family for the rest of the year. But always remeber to read your Bible apply it to your heart and live it. You might not know it but the way you live affects everyone around you! So please remeber to read your Bible!

I dont care if you open it to a random page and start reading thats fine as long as you read and apply! Please be living testimony for Christ

So agc says thanks for always reading our devos even when we had small breaks! If you ever need to reread any devos for help be our guest (read our first 3 thats probbaly my faviorte)

SO AGC SAYS:
We Love All of you
God Bless:

Ally, Greg, Chris

Feeding 3/5/09

2009-03-05T20:23:00.000-08:00

Lately i we been posting video devos i really pray and hope soon we dont have to post as many devos as much. I hope you been doing alot of SOAPING and reading your Bible. Devos is a helper to help you feed yourself. But hopefully one day instead you can learn how to feed your self using the Bible only! Im not saying devos are wrong i just hope you can start feeding yourself!

I really challenge you i think we might end our devo sites with a few devos on how to feed your self correctly!

AGC says
READ YOUR BIBLE TONIGHT try feeding your self! =)

God bless

Everything 3/4/09

2009-03-04T21:34:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA

This is a skit that is made with a song Everything by Lifehouse.

This is a skit that remind us how Jesus Christ saves you on the cross by His death. As Easter is coming up very soon, just remember how God has just given us everything even His son's death on the cross. Just remember what God has done for us.

Cant Get Away 3/3/09

2009-03-03T22:26:00.000-08:00

Whenever you feel spiritual dry:
remeber this

You cant get away!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0fk1Rtvf5E

For you have the HolySpirit in you He will guide you back!
You only achieve the HolySpirit by accept Jesus Christ is Lord
and he washed your sins away. Believe have faith just because
we werent there believe that He did all that and rose from the grave 3 days
later! We werent there to see it but by faith we know/believe it all happened!

Newsboys 3/2/09

2009-03-02T22:47:00.001-08:00

Today we will have a wonder speaker....called the Newsboys..
They had made many great praising songs towards God and many songs we had sing.

http://noolmusic.com/myspace_videos/newsboys_devotion_video.php

Today we are going to listen to this video that has music and devos together...Enjoy x]

Doer 2/18/09

2009-02-18T21:23:00.000-08:00

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

Straight forward verse right!? Lets say you play football and your the wide reciver and you listen to everything the QB says. So during the play you just stand there and do nothing. The team and the QB is yelling what are you doing standing there why arnt you running! Would you do that?

So heres the real point im trying to get you read God's word over and over again but do you do what it says? Or do you just stand soild on your Spiritual life!

Challenge:
Do you run?
Do you stand still?
Talk to God to help you to run even further! If you stand still ask God to help you start running!

God Will Provide 2-17-09

2009-02-17T22:12:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 12:26
26 A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

This verse shows how we must be very careful when picking friends because if you picked the wrong friends, they will have a big possibility to lead you to the wrong way.

In the year of 2009, my friend had changed from a non christian like to a christian like person. That person had started going to church, trusting in God, thinking and acting in a better behavior. I have known for like 3 years already but it is a miracle that she had changed. It was God that changed her in many different ways.

Now today Feb 17, 2009, another best friend of hers had left her; I don't know why but her friend just doesn't talk to her anymore nor think her as a friend. I think she had suffered a lot because she had suffered a lot of lost friendship. In a short amount of time, she had seen the truth of her "best friends", now almost all of them left. This could be called a tragic experience from our eyes but maybe this is her turning point. The friends that she hang around before were friends that had influenced her in a bad way. Now why would I call this a turning point? I think it is because now my friend can be free; she can be free from her so called "friends". Of course, there would be pain but this also can show her that God has provided.

This can show us that God is there. God is our friend; He will never change, He will always ALWAYS be our friend. Even though sometimes your life is just a tragedy, God might think that it isn't, it can be experiences that you gain. God will always provide, sometimes it won't feel like it but you will never what God has plan for you.

Distorted 2/16/09

2009-02-16T21:03:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdgGmwYC5V8
themeveres:
John 13:34 (New International Version)

34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

So how many of you guys are guitarist and use dist pedals?

The way the world views us is sometimes distorted.
And sometimes the way we view the world is distorted.

When you kick that dist pedal it changes the sound of the guitar but it still the same thing your playing. Just a differnt sound. In our lives the world knows we are human and Christian but then they kick the dist pedal on us.

They start viewin us alot of differnt ways. (I am not sterotyping not everyone in the world is like this) In the same way we dist them to. We know they are human and we know Jesus loves them just like how Jesus loves us. But then we kick our dist pedal and view them like not even humans. Just because they might be disable or something we start viewing them in a distorted way.

God doesnt want that he wants all of us to love one and another just like Christ loved us first. So when you start getting prideful and judgemental or anything bad please dont kick in that dist pedal! LOVE

Challenge:
LOVE others!

2/14-2/15 SOAP

2009-02-15T23:25:00.000-08:00

So I'm sorry for everyone to lied to you about today having two devos. I am going to write one devo. I am very sorry. Today we are going to learn about the SOAP. I had learned this from a video that my church has seen and I think it would be a good idea to share this. SOAP is a journal idea that you can use to gain wisdom.

SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer.

Scripture- If you find some verses that are just obvious and your mind said to highlight and write it in this category, you should. It might be some help in the future.

Observation- This is were you put all your thoughts and things that you see.

Application- This is were you can put some ideas of how you can use the lesson that you learned and use it in your life.

Prayer- Write a short prayer to God related to the lesson you learned.

Hopefully this will help you to look at your Bible and dwell on the Word of God!

2009-02-14T22:58:00.000-08:00

BE prepared because tomorrow we are going to have two devos in one night just to substitute for saturday!!!
As my partner, Chris, had left me and went to a retreat from church, I had to do Saturday and Sunday's devos so bear with me. Hear from us tom. at AGCwrtiers devo ;)

2/12/09 blank

2009-02-12T21:39:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMQt3XlNroQ
Psalm 98:1 (New International Version)

Psalm 98
A psalm.
1 Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.

Sometimes i wonder when the congregation is singing are they blank singing or do they really mean what they say! Like this song happy day do you really pray to be forever change. Or you just sing it because it sounds cool and everyone else is singing it!

I admit even i do this sing blankley and i get proudful sometime. But i just got to guard my heart pray to God and sing the song. Usually what i do is before worship is pray and dont say amen so that way you can remeber your praying and you can sing the songs. Try differnt methods! Its not easy but remeber we are at the feet of Jesus worshiping Him.

Challenge:
Listen to the song and see if you really mean the words...
During next worship set think about the words!

Keep Going 2-11-09

2009-02-11T21:29:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone. As today, we are going to learn about keep on going. Keep on pushing yourself for God. Keep on going....

Today I was playing this game called Tower Bloxx. I thought it would be a pretty easy game but then as I started, I noticed it was really hard. You need to get the timing right and you have only three chances. The point of this game was to stack as high as possible. The building would be moving as it get taller so that is the difficulties. As I keep on losing, I would continue to try to beat my own score.

In the same way, everyone should push themselves. Pretend you are the first block. The other blocks are your knowledges and your life. As you get more blocks, you will find that one mistake and some of your blocks would fall. That mistake is your obstacle. In life, we have many obstacles but we still have to continue. Some obstacles would make you fall back and start from the beginning again but even though you are were you started, don't give up! Never give up because as you got stuck on this one obstacle, when you are ready, God will help you to defeat the obstacle. Continue to grow in the Lord! Never give up and just keep going. Keep going for the Lord; keep on growing your faith! x]

WTWWNT 2/10/09

2009-02-10T22:12:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S69RGuXDZI

I needed a fancy title of today devo...
Listen to the song most of the time in our dialy life:

We get to consumed by the world as in we get way to caught up with toys. Or even wanting bad stuff. And as christian we cant be like that. I know i am sounding like a hyprocrite since even i struggle with this. But you know nothing is impossiable with God.

So today all i want to say is dont be consumed by the world

FEED YOUR SELF!

Walk By Faith 2/8/09

2009-02-08T21:52:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEkh_KxKao0

I have a feeling i did this devo before. But anyways think about these words. Some of you guys might be going through a tough time. And all i can say is pray and walk by faith!

But at the same time those who are not going through anything hard remeber to walk by faith dont let the world get you!

God bless you and good luck through your trial!

Dare You To Move 2/5/09

2009-02-05T21:38:00.000-08:00

http://artists.letssingit.com/switchfoot-lyrics-dare-you-to-move-6m8p776

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7bvwuh-ano&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEDkNZZU1X4&feature=related

Video devo and a Chris explantion today:

The song is called dare you to move.
We want everyone to be moving and not staying idle.
You read God's word but you just leave it at there.
You dont do anything about it. One of our goals
here on earth is to be Christ Like. How are we suppose
to be Christ Like if we just read and stay idle.

This song can be interpet in so many ways.
First way is to: APPLY WHAT YOU READ AND LEARN!
Second way is to: maybe the song is telling you go on a mission trip.
Be a missonary.

But in all whatever God trying to tell you remeber:

Challenge:
WE DARE YOU TO MOVE!

Amazing Grace 2-4-09

2009-02-04T22:17:00.000-08:00

Well today our devotion will be a song. This song is Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) by Chris Tomlin. I think this song is a very emotional and just remind us how Jesus Christ came down to die for us even though He doesn't need to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXV6HJxUebg&feature=PlayList&p=7DD0FED632F16A21&playnext=1&index=11

Look at the lyrics while listening it and just see how merciful God is to us.

Faith pt 3 2-3-09

2009-02-03T21:26:00.000-08:00

When we have faith....
Psalm 18:1-2 (New International Version)

Psalm 18
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:
1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn [a] of my salvation, my stronghold.

Satan will try to shake us up and knock us down. But when we have faith and grow in God the result is we can take cover in God who will protect us. Not only defeating Satan but aslo you get another ultimate prize.

Isnt that cool you get two prizes for just 1 battle. 1st you get protection and you dont do that sin satan was tempting you with. Second you get growth.
If you surive and trusted God to help you survie that temptation. You just get another inch in faith and got more trust in God.

Which will help you in the near future when even harder trials come. All these small test is only to help you grow. So when those big test comes you are able to wipe em out easily. Just like the verese says God is our stronghold but we got to let Him protect us.

What if instead of taking cover we sin. Well then you still win. Sure you just sin thats pretty bad. But on the other hand if you sin and repent and just spend some time talking to God chances are your faith is going to grow alot more.

THIS DOES NOT GIVE YOU RIGHTS TO SIN. but when you do sin dont look to hard down on yourself get back up so you can continue fighting for God and growing in Him

Challenge:
When sin comes where do you go!?

Childlike Faith 2-2-09

2009-02-02T22:12:00.001-08:00

I am very sorry because I was told to do this topic just like 3 hours ago so hopefully God can give me the inspiration.

Theme Verse: Proverbs 16:6
6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.

As a little kid, we never really had many experience through life. As times go by, we can see that we are maturing slowly. In the same way, when we first become a child of God, we had this faith (or trust in God). As we first started, our faith is really small. If Satan like give you some kind of temptation, you will easily fall into the trap. Even if we have such childlike faith, God will give us many opportunities to grow our childlike faith. Can you think of something in your life that you are struggling with? Sometimes don't you just ask God why He puts it in our life? The reason is because God wants our childlike faith to grow as much as possible. Through experience like temptations and trials, we get to grow and grow more like Christ.

Like our theme verse, it is saying that our love and trust in God satisfied our sin because Jesus Christ has died for ALL our sin. Through the holy respectful/fearing of the Lord, a person will try to avoid their evil sin and temptation. (Hopefully I translated the verse right.)

Are you growing from a childlike faith to an adult faith?

Beg. of Faith

2009-02-01T19:39:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE33ejdgWIY
themeverse:
Matthew 18:5 (New International Version)

5"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.

This is amazing faith. In the world people try to break our faith by many ways. God can test us. Satan throws temptation at us. Depends how strong we are with God, are you strong enough to have faith and break out of everything. Still trust God and praise and worship him!

Remeber Job
Remeber Paul
Remeber Peter
Remeber Jesus
Remeber those who died for their faith

We are so blessed to not die and we have freedom. But in comunist states and other place they still have to meet underground. Just so they dont get killed.
But if they do get caught they still die for their faith because they know God will be there!

I remeber my parents use to perscute me because of my faith. But God use that to help me grow and become a better christian then before. AND I WANT TO KEEP GROWING.

SO:
WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?

Challenge:
Do you have faith like these people?

(tommrow stay tune for part 2 child like faith)

He will Provide

2009-01-29T21:35:00.000-08:00

You know all of us as Christian know that God provides for our daily needs. And when we want to serve Him he provides the money for missions and everything.
He provides for my guitar pedals. He provides for Ally keybaord. And Greg guitar stuff to.

But today i am going to talk about a differnt type of providing.

Theme verse:
1 Cor 10:13

I want to focus on the end of the verse it talks about providing a way out. God will provide a way out when you get tempted. Just like how he provides our food.
But the best thing of all when we are saved he also provides a way to come back "home" (1 cor 10:13 does not apply to this) You always got to remeber he will provdie a way out when you are tempted.

But here is something evne greater he always provides a way back home and that is what we call salvation. Salvation the ultimate thing he provided. He didnt need to but because he loved us so much he decided to provide it. So please i beg you dont abuse your salvation. I know its not easy to not sin but trust God. I know for a fact because im that type of person that abuse alot of stuff. I abuse God salvation alot but he always help me to come back and grow.

Reason why today i didnt put the Bible verse is because maybe God will provide some other verse that will help you when you open your Bible. Always trust in God and keep your eyes hearts and ears open. For he can show you anything at anytime!

God Bless;
AGC

Watch Out! 1-28-09

2009-01-28T21:04:00.000-08:00

Read Genesis 4 first

Genesis 4:7
7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

In Genesis 4, there were Cain and Abel, the two sons of Adam. One day Cain had brought fruits of the soil as offering to God while Abel brought fat portions of his firstborn of his flock. God had favored Abel and his offering. Of course, Cain was jealous. 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." God has told Cain to watch out and do what is right in God's eyes.

The question comes up. Why does God favored Abel's offering more than Cain's? The reason is because in everything the first born is always the strongest. See that Abel brought his FIRSTBORN of his flock while Cain brought only fruits of the soil. So what does this mean? It means that the significance of "first fruits" is the trust of God. Cain did not bring his first fruits which mean he does not trust God. After that Cain killed his brother and God gave Cain a chance to repent but he never did.

This is a illustration that I thought of. Pretend God is a barrier and we are inside it. As humans, we are very curious, so we put our heads out the barrier. When God knew about that, He pulls us right back. In this same way, it is like our life. We sometimes get curious with new things. We tried it and then God would try to pull us back because He knows what is good for us. How about if we resist God? Then we are doing something against God and we are not obeying Him. Then we go through the same consequence that Cain had: the "restless wanderer" or someone who never is satisfy with God and never trust God. God is giving us a chance when He pull us back but the question is WILL YOU REPENT?

WILL YOU REPENT?...or will you become a "restless wanderer"?

You Never Let Go 1/27/09

2009-01-27T22:14:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIAdgLR1ZGw
You never let go

Job 27:6 (New International Version)

6 I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it;
my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.

If you remeber Job was a man who had almost 2nd worse life here on earth. 2nd because Jesus had to come and be tortue and died on the cross.

Job had everything taken away his wife told him to curse God. What did Job do tell her be quiet. He never let go of God he loved God and kept on living his life for God.

On the other side God never let go of Job either. God loves Job just like how God loves us. We are so perious in his sight. No matter what he will always still love us. No matter how bad you sin or anything he will always love you with unchanging love. As long as we never let go of Him! Even though we let go of Him, He still loves you. He will always have you but you wont have the Holy Spirit till you accept Him in your life...

Today i was really tempted to do a pretty bad sin. If the world says ok then should i say ok? But i know God didnt let go of me and i got through it. Which helps me grow stronger in God day by day.

So let me give you a challenge:
1. Are you holding on to God?
2. If you are...are you living a holy life?

Something Someone Learned 1-26-09

2009-01-26T20:51:00.000-08:00

This was written by Tiffany Lim who is one of my friends who started to grow in God very quickly and diligently. Bless be to her as she strives for God. Thank you very much Tiffany!!!

1 Peter 3:18 – “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;”

What does this verse mean? Well, this means that Christ died for sins. Notice how it’s sins not sin. This means that Christ died for not just one person, but many.

Now, we all know this part, but what is sin exactly? In Exodus 20, God gives the Ten Commandments. Basically, sins are breaking GOD’s commandments. We need to realize who’s rules we are breaking. It’s not just our parents rules or teachers rules, but God’s. God who is perfect and the creator. All sins are in relation to God, it’s not just against others but to God also. This is stated in Psalm 51:4 when King Davis is repenting to God; he says in the beginning of verse 4, “Against You, You only, I have sinned”

It says that Christ died, but why? Why did he have to die? He was perfect, and if you’re perfect you do not deserve to die or suffer, correct? Christ IS perfect, yet he died. We were the one who deserved to die, but we didn’t because God loved us. He sent his perfect son, he did not deserve to die, to take our place on the cross. God’s love for us is unconditional, yet it is conditional. Confused? Let me explain, to have eternal life we must be perfect, yet we are not. That is the condition, but God bears the condition so we don’t have to. He meets the condition himself by sending his own son; therefore, his love is unconditional.

Another part of 1 Peter 3:18 says “..so that he might bring us to God” Notice how it says God, but not “an easy life” or “everything we want”. Many of us think that being believers means it is easy, but the road to Heaven isn’t always easy. What our problem is that we don’t know God. Therefore, we keep looking and looking to fill that emptiness that we have inside of us, but we are still never satisfied. We try to fill this need with things like lust, drugs, drinking, etc, but we are never satisfied. We keep going around thinking what else is there in life? What’s the big deal?

The big deal is, eventually we all get old and we die. There are to ways we die in the end. The first option is that we are with God and there are no more problems. We worship him freely and are with him. Or, two, we have eternal separation from God, which we know as Hell. And since God gave his son, we don’t have to suffer and we are able to go to Heaven to be with him in the end if we make that decision.

Let’s give some background information about myself, shall we? Well, let’s say I’ve never been the type to really care about much. I have done my share of crazy wild things in the past, but the more people shared about this story. This amazing story of how much someone would love me. I asked, why me? How could someone love a person like me? Now, you may think that too, but don’t. God loves everyone of us. God can perform miraculous things, and he can perform many things in your life if only you would allow him to. It is now your choice, to believe in this. This story seems almost too good to be true, but it’s not. God’s promise to us is forever, and it is up to you if you are willing to let Him change you.

Romans 5:7-8 “For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Self Control 1-22-09

2009-01-22T20:46:00.000-08:00

Many people had trouble doing this: self control. Some people just can't control themselves, some cannot hold their emotion, and some just don't control themselves. Now what should we do if we can't control ourselves? ---->God is the way!

I Corinthians 7:5
5 Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that. Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

From this verse we can see that God has told us to refrain from any sexual actions because sometimes before you get marry, it is so hard to just have sexual activities but the Word is telling us to stop ourselves and just devote into praying and praying. Then the time when you people get marry, then it is okay to have sexual activities. The reason for this because so that Satan will not tempt you to do something wrong like sexual activities before marrying. This might sound weird but it is really true.

Titus 1:8-9
but hospitable,loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,
9holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in (D)sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

you must love your enemies, your friends, and STRANGERS. To love with seriousness, just, self controlled, and to get into of holding the Word of God.

(I hopefully had translated the verse right...It was really hard so I'm sorry if you found something wrong)

Friends who help 1/21/09

2009-01-21T21:12:00.000-08:00

Joshua 1:9 (New International Version)
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Only reason i name it this is because my bestfriend Wesley help me with the verse.

Straight forward verse right. Dont be scared. But yet in life we still get scared. This verse can apply so much in today life. Like for example war people shooting each other. Dont you ever get scared. But you know we need to remeber God will be with you wherever you go.

Sometimes God might take someones life away but you know its for better. He has an ultimate plan for all of us. Hopefully that person was saved. But you know sometimes that person who was a Christian that was taking away was so another person can became save.

Remeber God has a plan and just trust in Him. Rejoice if he takes someone close away life and that person is save. Maybe from that death more people can be saved and all of you can rejoice in Heaven.

So stay strong and dont be scared trust God! Amen!?

Kindness 1-20-09

2009-01-20T22:18:00.001-08:00

Sometimes kindness can be felt in different ways like someone helping you pick the books that you dropped or someone praying for you. There are many ways to show this but are you showing it?

Many of us will see many chances of showing kindness to your friends or someone you don't know but then do we take the chance? Not at all, most of us see trash on the ground and we just pass it. Well, guess what? Your agreeing with pollution and unclean ground. Just for our pride we don't pick those trash up. If we can let ourselves be humble and serve others, serve our planet, that would be great. Okay another example, you see your fellow 7th graders drop a book because she/he was overloaded, do you go pick up the book? Sure, at least that will help that person because they already is loaded with books why make that person drop more books?

We learned how to be kind but do we show it in our life, do we show it like Jesus Christ? He died on the cross for us; that is like so much humiliation compare to just picking up trash. Next time when you see trash or someone drop something, think about helping them. Think about being kind to others just like God did to you by giving you a chance.

Titus 3:3-7
3At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Dun Dun DUUUNNN 1/19/09

2009-01-19T21:13:00.000-08:00

James 1:2-3 (New International Version)

Trials and Temptations
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Your running. Running running!! You dont want to get caught. You finnaly fall on your knees caught. DUN DUN DUUUN!

Ever think why bad things happen to you? Ever wonder why (this is for the saved by the way)

Read the verse on top. Consider those stuff pure joy. For it will help you grow. Wow, never thought of it that way.

But when you pray and ask Lord help me grow. thats bascily saying God throw those trails at me. It happen to me and i finnaly noticed. Past 2 weeks i been going through some really hard times. Treat people and acting the way im not. But what i dont rember till it was almost to late was i have God on my side. He was helping me grow but instead i took it the other way i changed it. I became not a man of God. But He reminded me and He showed me remeber you pray to grow.

So next time you pray about growing remeber what might happen =)

Hear Don't Shut 1-18-09

2009-01-19T20:57:00.000-08:00

I'm very sorry for not posting this devo yesterday. Please accept my apologize :(

Anyway, hear don't shut...isn't it a really weird title? Today I'm going to talk about hearing and don't shut your ears. Many of us had tried this before I bet. You listen to this message and then as time pass by, you would just shut your ears and get distracted. DO NOT DO THIS. The reason is because many of the things that you shut out might be something important that God is telling you or is it something that would help you grow physically or spiritually.

I'm sure many of you had been through this. You are like "Man I heard this 200 times, why do I have to hear it all over again?" Well, I will tell an experience of mine. Last Thursday my teacher taught me the importance of Judah and Joseph. I read this whole passage many times in my life but I never really thought of how significance it is. When I heard what my teacher taught me, I was really amazed. I'm like I had heard this passage so many times but I could never thought of the real significance. I just thought it was just a regular life story that God has written in the Bible but it wasn't. It is something that significance so great. Anyway I bet many of you are like what is the thing you learned about. (Anyway because this does not relate very much but you can ask Chris to tell you tomorrow for his devo.)

See now how every tiny message or Bible passage is so important. This is the big lesson to learn DO NOT SHUT YOUR EARS FROM ANY BIG OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, LEARN AND LISTEN. I am very sure it is hard because I admit I sometimes get bored during service but I tried to make myself to get interested in the service. (Another thing is you can pray to God for help of listening.)

Once again, sorry for putting this devo so late.

I have no idea 1/17/09

2009-01-17T23:40:00.000-08:00

Uusally when i write devos, they just come to me.
Today i have no idea what to write what so ever.
We just had an all nighter and im exhausted. No idea what to
write about at all. My mind is like totally blank.

But God always provide a way out for all of us. He always provides
a way for Allison Greg and me to write devo. But all you got to do
is trust in Him. Do your part being Holy and set aside He will do his part!

Proverbs 3:5-6

Gentleness Toward Friend 1-13-09

2009-01-13T21:49:00.000-08:00

Have you ever know someone that is a Christian but they are going the wrong way? Right now I have a friend and she is in majorly trouble. She is hanging out with the wrong people and she is falling away from God. What should I do? The first thing to do is to pray. Pray to God for help and to give you the strength to tell that person that they are going away from God.

Though when you tell your friend about this, you have to do it with gentleness. Talk like its a conversation and don't like "push" them to get away from their friends. This is not right. I also have another friend and she is really aggressive but she is funny. She "hurts" her friend but I think this is her way to get attention. Though she is my friend but sometimes she just "hurts" me too much so sometimes I tell to stop it or stop hurting someone. Though when I tell her, I tell her with gentleness because it might hurt her feelings but it is the right thing to do. As for another thing, gentleness is a really good habit to get into because it can help you during life like if you have gentleness then people know you that you are respectful and kind. They will like you and treat you the way that you treat them.

Hopefully I talked it alright because gentleness is a hard topic and I'm really tired today. Sorry everyone if you don't get. Extremely Sorry if you don't

Home 1/12/09

2009-01-12T20:57:00.000-08:00

"Im going home."

Memory Verse:
Matthew 6:19 (New International Version)

Treasures in Heaven
19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

Toys toys toys toys. I love toys as a little kid and now i love gadgets as a teen. My 2 faviorte toys/gadgets in the world is guitars and effect stompboxes. But i dont have a job so i cant afford any! But i love toys. And im like one of the bigest packrat ever i still have all the booklets and all the case and wrapping for my boxes that include the pedals.

But they jsut sit there and collect dust. In the Bible it tells us not to store stuff up for ourselves. Sometimes i admit ican hold alot of stuff. But u know i keep foregeting but right now God reminded me that these things wont be with me in heaven. I can enjoy them now but remeber once in heaven i wont have it anymore. So in other words dont get to attached to stuff you own on earth.

Your real home is in heaven, once you die your home will probbaly sit and collect dust. Dont get to attached to tricking out home out. It will all be gone. Go to your real home store up treasure there were they will never ever rot.

Challenge:
Are you attached to anything? If so how attached? If really attached do you think its time to let go?

Will The Real Christianity Stand Up? 1-11-09

2009-01-11T20:09:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10lue7bhcK0&feature=related
Let us now get away from our series for the Fruit of the Spirit and just look at this video.

Will the real christianity stand up?

Fruit of the Spirit 1/10/09

2009-01-10T23:32:00.000-08:00

I just noticed how our devo set has been about fruit of the spirit.
Well all the videos we been showing you guys has to do with the
fruit of the spirit... Weird huh...

God makes all types of things add together

Fruit of the Spirit: Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvikWPtp4qQ

New Speaker 1-7-09

2009-01-07T21:48:00.000-08:00

I found this video really interesting so I wanted to share it with you people. It is a message from Hillsong Conference 2007. They have this speaker called Joseph Prince from Singapore. Very interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZxn5NdSl10&feature=related

Special Special Special 1/6/09

2009-01-06T20:26:00.000-08:00

Well im running out of ideas so today we have a really special speaker:
Jeremy Camp!!!! (ps i do not own these videos these are for you to use and not to sell!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpBuEuagZxE

Faithfulness 1-5-08

2009-01-05T21:37:00.000-08:00

As everyone know that like 5 days ago, a new year has started. A new year has started but that means we are getting older! Well, on New Year my cousin were over and when they left, I thought of something. Something that was really important to me. I thought of what would happen if they had died in a car accident. I was thinking how many of us just lose this chance to tell them something important.

Many of us had missed a chance of telling someone about Jesus Christ. We don't know if any of our friends or relative will die the next minute so we have to treasure every second that we have to tell them about Jesus Christ. That of course requires a lot of faith! Faith can be build by reading the Bible and also going through the trials of God. Another one is to really really trust in God. Everything we have is His, we must trust that He knows everything. Everything is in His hand. Faith is required to tell others about Him. I have to admit that I have not told someone about Jesus Christ. I am hoping I could this year get someone to become a Christian. I'm hoping that you can also get a relative that is not a Christian to become a Christian because you don't know what will happen to them.

Everyday, every moment, is a precious time in everyone's life.

I Corinthians 2:4-6
4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

Romans 10:17
17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Devotion 1/4/08

2009-01-04T20:53:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkBh5ObVyww

1 Corinthians 7:35 (New International Version)
35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

Devotion: earnest attachment to a cause, person, etc. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/devotion)

Devotion this year AGC wants to challenge you guys to give your untire devotion to God. Serving Him in anyway, Putting Him first, and of course doing His will....or in other words worship Him and getting the best relationship with our God.

Most time we get to caught up into the world as in video games. Sometimes im playing videogames and i'll be like "uhh i dont want to do devos i want to keep playing" But its God will and strength that give me power to shut down the game and come and type this. God uses all types of things to protect us.

When you are about to sin sometimes God uses someone to come in your room and go "hey, come downstair and spend some time with the family" Your choice to stay in your room and sin or leave. These little things we never notice in our lives. Its after we sin where our eyes are open "Lord, you were trying to stop me but i failed...."

Then you feel all down im the worse person on earth. But thats not true God loves us so much to send His son for us. (Man we use that so much in our devos) even though we fail Him we can always get back on our feet and say srry and then give Him our devotion again.

I also have a hard time giving devotion i go to a school; morning class devotional
2nd period Bible lesson, 4th period Bible reading. Only my class because my teacher really cares about our Bible knowlege it really helps.

See with all that when i get home i dont really feel like reading my Bible and doing devos. But becuase of my devotion God gives me strength to do all this.

Even hard times i encourage you to give devotion to God. Miracles can happen in seconds right when you say Lord you have me back again i offer devotion Jesus name i pray amen. Then a miracle happens. Or sometimes God makes you wait to see if you offer devotion, but sometimes God still saves us and ask us for devotion.

That doesnt mean we dont give Him our devotion. If you are a real christian and see God love you will right away offer devotion. Today take some time off and look at what God has done in all of our lives. Or your life!

Challenge:
This year even though you are going through trouble times or you just sin, pray sorry or help me Lord and i will always give you my devotion!

The Goodness of God-He Is Equal to All 1-3-09

2009-01-03T19:44:00.000-08:00

We have heard of how God is like so good and so powerful but I think the one that hit me the most was that God was equal to all human. About two weeks ago, Chris had showed me this video of how we are so reluctant to have this kind of society because on the other side of the continent, it is a different story. Many poor people are there and many diseases are on the other side of the continent. We should be happy for what we have and what God has provide for us. Today the point is how God is equal to all. Yes equal to ALL. Well now you will ask "How is God equal to the poor people? They have to suffer!! How is God equal to those who lost their relative or something like that?" First of all, God knows the future; He knows when your relative or you will die. Everyone will die one day just depends when. Maybe God uses the death of someone to test you or it could be use to strengthen you.

The main example is how God is equal compare to those in Africa and us. God is very generous to us, spoiled brats, because everyone knows that most people born in U.S. are spoiled brats. No kidding. Spoil brats because we always get spoiled by our parents like getting anything we want. Okay now say you are those whose parents are divorced or your parents abused you. Well first thing is that it is really sad honestly but I think that those in Africa are more worst than you (my opinion..no offense). As you can see, Africa is one of the poorest continent. Everywhere you go there is people dying from hunger, being harm by diseases, and dying from water pollution. Compare to us, we are lucky people. Though we are lucky, God has created this equal between those in Africa and us.

Even though we are really lucky, we must know that we have more hindrances than those in Africa. There are many different kind of obstacles that attack us like pornography from Internet or the thought of doing drugs/smoking. In Africa, its the opposite; they barely have Internet access and they are too busy to think about doing drugs. Do they even know what is drug or smoking? This is one of the example from it. In opposite African people had to suffer from starvation and pollution of water while we can drink clean water and eat delicious food. See how God is so equal. Even though its the smallest thing to see, God can see it all. We must remember BE THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING.

Prayer Request

2009-01-01T23:45:00.000-08:00

RULES:
1. Please be serious
2. leave a comment or if its private email us
3. if emailed remeber to tell us if you want it public or just for us to pray for you

PRAYER REQUEST AGC:
1. Pray for AGC as we are having a hard time writting each day
2. AGC friends and family lost someone close...
3. God uses this small website to expand and help others.

PRAYER REQUEST AGCERS:

OTHERS:
1. Soliders and if you have love like Christ loved us you know who else to pray for.

Happy New Year 1/1/09

2009-01-01T23:31:00.000-08:00

Well i wanted to share with you guys a devo i read in another book. (i am not stealing it or anything) We are messengers of God our job to deliver.

So this devo talked about LIVING IT. Like Ally Greg and mine youth group theme is LIFTL. Live it For The Lord. So this devo (found in daily bread 1/1/09) says that we should read the Bible and apply it not so we can just read it and thats it. Live it out also.

So this year we wwill try out best to write devos so that means just like Bible we are God's messenger and we have Bible verses and oru devos have lessons. Learn these lessons and apply them in your life. But if you disagree with the lesson or have good critizism email us at AGCwriters@gmail.com Critisim is always good for us to look for. Like the past day one of our readers parents come onto the website and gave me realy good critisim. I was embrassed because i typed something instead of the other thing. I tottaly change the message and lesson of the devo. (thank you Mrs Siu)

So as i said this year live it!

Challenge:
New year resolution: APPLY WHAT YOU READ!

(ps thank you daily bread for letting me use your devo in a way and using my own stuff to....credits goes to God and Daily Bread)

Verese:
Matt 7:24
24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Christmas Break

2008-12-20T22:43:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone...sorry for telling this so late but AGC is going to have a Christmas break for a week or two because we all have things to do like family reunion and stuff so hopefully we will come back soon and finish our series of the Fruit of the Spirit

-AGC crew

Chris choice 12/18/08

2008-12-18T22:22:00.000-08:00

Luke 1:76-78
76And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

Sup guys, here is another Chris choice! So hows your week of non stop finals. Or for the adults work.

Anyways Christmas is so close i can taste the break. No more school wohoo hehe. But like i said in my past devo and so did Ally this is when our Savior was born! 1 baby that was so high up there. We are servants, or even more we are nothing compare to Jesus. But yet God valued us so much think about the pass old testment years and just years to repent. That means God really relaly really loved us so much. But we kept hurting His heart. I know today i did somestuff that hurt His heart but one thing i did differnt was comming back to Him as fast as i could.

i seriosuly really dont know what to type to you guys right now. But one thing i just want to encourage this last few weeks we have before a new year. Set some new goals for a new resolution. I remeber last year i told my self be purer i think i did better this year. By only a tiny bit. Set goals and reward your self. But before the new year comes remeber to Thank God and celebrate Jesus birth. Christ is the reason for the season.

PEACE!

AGC wisshes you a nice day XP

The Love of Christ/God 12-17-08

2008-12-17T21:13:00.000-08:00

Everyone must have heard the phrase Jesus is the reason for the season. Its going to be Christmas soon so why not write about Jesus Christ. Today its going to be about how Jesus Christ, Savior of mankind, loved us so much. Many people had heard about Jesus' birth and death on Earth but why did Christ did that?

Jesus Christ, a pure God (I can't even describe Him), came down to Earth. He was crucified, badly beaten, and badly hurt before He died. Why did He came down to die? Why did He even came down? Our Heavenly Father loved us so so much that He sent His ONE son, Jesus Christ, to come down so that we can have salvation. The love of God was shown here. Who at all would sent their own beloved son down to save some people who hurted that person? No foolish person would but God did. God was not foolish; He gave us a chance to repent and be with Him. God did really showed His love to us, humans.

Jesus Christ also showed His love to us by being born here. He listened to His Father's command and came down to Earth just to die for us. He had been spitted on, felt the crown of thorn, and felt our rejection toward Christ but guess what? He still died for us. Jesus Christ was rejected on this Earth but He still did His job. One thing I'm very impressed of Christ was that He knew that He needed to die but Christ did not rejected to go on that bloody cross.

Jesus Christ and God really showed their love toward us but many of us rejects it. Why are we rejecting this love that was paid with a big price? For us, we showed love one another and forgive each other because God did the same thing to us.

I John 4:7
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Christmas!!!!! 12/16/08

2008-12-16T22:15:00.000-08:00

Ok well i lied to ally and said i was writting. But you know what im going to write another Chris Choice so here we go :

Christmas is comming up and what do you guys want! GIfts santa and most importantly all the best food in the world! Yep thats what Christmas is all about family memebers comming sitting aorund the table. Yea thats what Christmas is all about yahoo!

Presents presents presents!!!

WRONG NO!!!!!!
THIS IS WRONG. Christmas is the day we come together to celebrate Jesus' birth. But the world has changed and change Christmas to this. Its called Christmas because look at the begging part CHRISTmas. But now a days everyone is trying to make it XMAS. Which is not right. So for this Christmas prepare your heart to thank God for sending His son and celebrate that. Or else we wouldnt have salavation. But dont forget its ok to celebrate Christmas the way the world does. As long as you dont get to caught up into it

Also Christmas is the time for giving. Look at Jesus He was born in a manger. Yet you got to be born in a hospital bed. be thankful this Christmas

Luke 2:6-7
6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Challenge:
Why do you celebrate Christmas?
Are you being thankful?

Patience is Always Needed 12-15-08

2008-12-15T21:51:00.000-08:00

Patience is always needed. You will always hear these words. Why is patience so important? Patience is something that eventually will grow. Its not like you have patience and you'll have it. Patience also helps you in life such as anger.

Anger is something much more scarier than pride. Why? The reason is because anger can hurt someone physically but pride just proud. How does anger relate to patience? Well, how about if someone did something that made you angry, then patience can help you. Patience can help calm your anger down because patience give you a chance to decide whether to choice to wrong choice which is to get mad and throw stuff or calm down with God's help. Patience is a really hard thing.

Another example is Abraham. You know Abraham, the father of many nations but yet he had a lot of mistake. One was having a son. What Abraham did was that he took a wife name Hagar and had Ishmael rather than to wait for Sarah. Well guess what now! Ishmael's descendant is mostly Muslim and Muslim fights with Isaac's(Isaac is Abraham's son who is from Sarar) descendant. They hate each other. Now think. If Abraham had patient and didn't get Hagar as his wife, wouldn't this battle between Iraq and Israel be here? See how without patience, it makes a whole different. (Thank You for our teacher, Mr Kim, for teaching us about Abraham).

Patience is something that is hard to get. You need to experience a lot to really get use to using it. Aren't you happy that God created this? If God didn't create patience in our life, then our history would really change. Hopefully you and I will learn how to use our patience correctly and how to first think before doing.

Colossains 1:10-12
10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

Well....12/14/08

2008-12-14T21:49:00.000-08:00

18When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."
20Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

21Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

22But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

Straight forward passage right. Im going to leave you hanging to figure it out XP
SYCHE.

Anyways the cost ........... sounds really serious right. Let the dead bury their own dead. Even I don’t fully understand the passage. But the reason i chose the verse for today is because im going to talk about your order.

This passage shows the cost of following Jesus. Today devo i wanted to share with you the order of your life. Think of the one person you value the most in your life. A human being u value alot in your life.

Ok that person you are willing to die for. God was willing to send His son to die for all of us that means we are really high up there on God's list even angels dont get second chances. God loves us so much.

Thats why we got to repay God with everything we can. Even though we can never fully repay Him we can always try out best.

Now how about you. Think about God do you put Him first before everything else.
Always in your life God has to be first for example:

God
Family
Friends
Church

God first no matter what in your life. Now why is church last well a bit of to much is never good for you. NOT SAYING TAHT GOD AND CHURCH IS BAD. I get really stressed easily im a concil memeber, becoming a worship leader, devo writer, and i been leading worship 2 a week for this week already. Alot to handle plus i got school and final coming up.

Let me ask you this can you worship with out being at Church?
Yes, because God is in your heart, and you can pray to God anywhere. Is musical instruemtns needed to worship no. Worship means to bring pleasure to. Serving God anywhere any day talking to Him improving your relationship aint that worship?

But once again thats not what im trying to get across. Im trying to say do you have anything hinder from you putting God first. If so pray to Him ask Him to give you strength. That hindering thing can be a toy or whatever.

Challenge:
WHATS HINDERING YOU FROM PUTTING GOD FIRST?

Peace or no peace? 12-13-08

2008-12-13T22:22:00.000-08:00

Today will be the first devo of the Fruit of the Spirit series. It is going to be about peace. What is peace? From dictionary.com it says a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, especially in personal relations. In the Bible it says freedom from disturbance, calm. Both of these meaning are real truth. Peace does mean having harmony between two groups or people but is the world really in peace?

The world is never in peace. Look at the world, the finance crisis, the war in Iraq, and also terrorists. Would you call this world a peaceful world? NO of course not. The world would not give peace to us; it would just give us war and trouble but our God would give us peace. Though the world is not in peace, it does not mean that we, as Christians, should not be in peace with each other.

John 14:27
27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

As Christians we should live peacefully with each other because it would be great to live in harmony rather than living it the opposite. If Christians really live the opposite, then others who are not Christians would be like "Wow. That's how Christians really act like: angry and argues with each other. I would not one to be like one of them." Don't you think this is what some people would think in their head? Some would really think like that.

Another thing that is so miraculous is that you would just feel peaceful in your heart after praying to God. Sometimes this is just a sign to us to calm down our heart and remember God. Don't let those worldly things give you so much stress but ask God for help. This is so true. Right after praying, you would feel a lot more peaceful and more patient than before.

Peace is really needed in this world but this will never happen especially when we are in this era of this world. The Lord though will always be here; He is waiting for you to ask Him for peace. Are you asking Him for peace when you need it?

Romans 12:18
18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

My Choice 12/11/08

2008-12-11T22:00:00.000-08:00

Well Ally is talking about fruit of the spirit. Since the seris is her i'll let her start it hehe. Anywas its been a really long time since i wrote. So here is a Chris Devo:

Psalm 141:3 (New International Version)

3 Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD;
keep watch over the door of my lips.

Well, my choice: Ice cream or candy. To sin or be Christ Like

We have so many choices in our lives and today im not going to talk about these type of choices. Instead im going to talk about choices in your words.

Everyone has a bit of leadership seed in everysingle one of them. We need to let that seed sprout. Well some people always go i dont want to be a leader. Then they are the assistiace of the leader kicking the leader in the butt saying get your head in the game

But thats not the point. What you say can hurt someone. Leader or not a leader it can influence a person alot. Friends to freinds teachers to teachers. What you can say can really emotionally kill a guy.

"sticks and stones may break my bones
But words dont"
THAT PHRASE IS SO WRONG!!!!!!!
As a growing learning to be mature leader. i done my share of mistakes only day 1 and i messed up. I told my friends if you cant come to pratice dont do the praise night. Well sounds fair right. But i said it 1 week away....which wasnt fair.
I didnt emphisis enough about if you have fmaily things or project. Which was my wrong. It hurt some people for what i said.

I really hate you......
Boyfriend and girlfriend. The girlfriend says that to the boyfriend. Most boys look tough on the otuside. dont cry and everything. The girl might be joking but sometimes that can be hurtful

Cussing:
Lose in game and this rainbow langue comes out. Everyone arond you is schocked and tells them if he can say it its ok for me to say it.

Just 3 examples right here.....seems small right. Small things add up..... The verse today tells us bascily to ask God to help us gruad our lips. Because as human beings we are not perfect and we say alot of things we dont mean. God can help us not to but in reality if we went in alone. Your pobbaly be worse then were you started. God is the only way we can stop saying these type of things. Something that relaly helps is
to think before you speak.

Challenge:
Are you letting the Holy Spirit control your lips?
THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK try it =)

Fruit of the Spirit 12-10-08

2008-12-10T22:30:00.000-08:00

Today we are going to give an introduction of our new series. It is called the Fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the spirit is something that would develop in your life if you are a Christian. Many of us though does not know that we are building but we are. We have this helper called the Holy Spirit that guide us anytime. He is always in you. We are going to have nine devos on each of the fruit. There is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. I might jump around and not stay in order so please stay with me. For joy, we going to talk about how joy affects your life. For peace, we will talk about what peace is for and how this world is NOT peaceful. Patience is talking about how to patient. Kindness is how to love one another. For goodness, we are going to talk about God's goodness and how we should be like God. Faithfulness is how to be trusted and be faithful. Gentleness is not decided yet. The last one is self control which is how to control yourself and why its good for you life.

We will begin our series starting tomorrow. Hopefully you would learn something from the devos that God has given us the idea to write. May God bless you. -AGC crew

Galatians 5:22-23
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Quiet Time

2008-12-09T22:15:00.001-08:00

Today maybe we should give each other a time to have some quiet time with God...Talk with Him about your life and your problems. Today try to have a break from the world and just shut your computer and everything that distract you. Try to connect with God. Important thing is that we are deciding our next series to write! Stay tune!

Think 12-8-08

2008-12-08T22:43:00.000-08:00

We write alot of devos. Now is jsut a time to just think and apply. Like Ally devo says "think before we do" Well start thinking about the devos, Bible Lessons, and other stuff you hear. THink and apply if its good. If not got rid of them. Pray to! So think about and apply!

Think Before You Do 12-8-08

2008-12-07T20:46:00.000-08:00

Sometimes thinking before doing is a better thing to do rather than just do something without thinking...Many people in this world is doing the same. They do some action and then they never thought of the consequences. It might hurt someone or it might bounce back to you. It takes self control to really do this because once in a while, everyone would just blur out something without processing it in their mind.

A very great example is saying something out like "I hate you" to someone and then never thought of the consequence. The person who you saying it to must be really hurt and it might cause your friendship to break. Though there is also another reason to think before doing is because once you do something, you will discovered that you can't go back. Many people have lots of regrets of something they did in the past. This is something our generation can learn. We can learn from ourselves that we should think about what we do or say before really acting it. We can never take back what said or do.

Hopefully we can learn that thinking before you do is better than doing before thinking.

Sorry for this short and unorganize devo. Hopefully we can make more better devos later.

Comming Together 12/6/08

2008-12-06T22:09:00.000-08:00

Sorry about these breaks. I been busy and getting lazy lately. Well tomorrow our science fair is finally due *phew*. Then we have finals so well see if we can keep writing. This Friday is our praise night those who live in the bay and are in 6-th8th grade come visit us. LIFTL.ORG

Unified:
One reason why I wanted to talk about being unified today is 1. I was on you tube and I just saw all these comments. 2. Worship in different language. 3. Praise night this Friday.

If you guys know HILLSONG they have a lot of catchy song. Like break free! But one thing I saw was that there were people that took time off to translate the song and play it in Spanish. There was this one girl who translate it to Chinese (the time has come) and played it. It really showed me that no matter what langue we are we can all come together and worship God.

Remember the beginning of the Bible tower of Babel. Where God separated all of us and each one had their own langue. God did that to protect us. Because He knew if we do anything together we start thinking beyond limits and do things that might harm ourselves when we think it’s good.

But now instead we still come unified together for worship. Might be harder trying to sing English, Chinese, and Spanish at the same time. But it’s the heart that God really cares about. You can sit there and not sing a word. God can be pleased. If you are crying to Him taking the song lyrics to heart. In your heart its singing to God. That’s worship to. Who said worship was all song?

Psalm 33:3
Sing a new song of praise to Him;
Play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.

Back then they praised God with a harp. Now days we have guitars, drums. And piano not only that your voice. For that reason sing to God skillfully.

What do I mean skillfully?
Your heart make sure your heart is humble and right. Not only that its God don’t you want to sound as nice as you can. But God doesn’t care how you sound when you sing as long as your heart is there.

INSTURMENTS on the other hand
Play as best as you can because you are helping others connect. So if you mess up sometimes it can throw people off. Or play to reveling. Doing hand motions that just gets the crowd attention don’t do that. Your suppose to be a mirror shinning to God.

Worship: God doesn’t care how you sound. Chinese + English + Spanish + French all together singing to God is really amazing...might be hard to understand but its all for God.

Be unified with humble hearts!

Piggy Bank With A Hole??? 12-4-08

2008-12-04T22:16:00.001-08:00

Have you ever thought of putting money into a piggy bank that has a hole? No. Nobody would do that unless they are dumb or something like that or playing a joke but that is not the point today. Anyway...if anyone who ever had a piggy bank with a hole, they would try to mend it or get another piggy bank without a hole. In a same way, are we that piggy bank?

If we were the piggy bank and the money were the fruit of the Spirit that God has given us? Those fruit of Spirit/money would have then fallen out like us. When we have a hole(an obstacles) in our walk with God, the obstacle blocks us and tries to get rid of the fruit that God has given us. Hold on a minute....first think of things that blocks you and God...What are you obstacles in your walk with God? Money, Friendship, Love, worldly things? Everyone have an obstacles in their life, it just depends on if you actually notice it or ignore it and let it ruin your life. How do we fix our obstacles then? Well, mend it. Who can mend it? Of course, GOD!!! God is the strongest, most power, and gracious God ever! He will always always help you. He just waiting for you to ask Him. Do not give up because there is a way. There is always a way...it depends if you can see it. Are you trying to ignore it and pretend its blind or do you face it?

God is at the end of our life. He is there when we let go and thinks we are at the bottom of our life. Do not fear for the Lord is with you. He will never leave nor forsake you. Is there obstacles in your life that is blocking your path with God?

Galatians 5:22-23
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Welcome Back and Quiet Time 12-1-08

2008-12-01T22:26:00.000-08:00

After this wonderful break for Thanksgiving, AGC crew would continue to write devos for the Lord.

Quiet time. Have you ever thought of what quiet time is? Not the quiet time where you just be quiet and do your homework and stuff but the quiet time with God. To me quiet time is a time when I would connect to God and talk to Him. Its like there is no distraction. No computer or T.V. on. No worldly stuff bothering you. Sometimes quiet times can be really helpful to us. We can use quiet time to just talk to God and ask Him for any help. We can also thank God for all the things He has given us. Usually it would be best to do it like every other day because like in one day many things happened so you can just let it all out to God.

Some great tips that can be given is to find a place where its quiet like grass area with no one or your bedroom or maybe even in your backyard? The places are just to help you settle down your mind and not get distracted away from talking to God so if you can't find a place like that, its fine. Do not be ashame for having to talk to God in an open place because you shouldn't be ashame to talk to God or pray. Though there is a difference between praying openly with a prideful heart or a humble heart. A prideful heart is when in your heart you are saying "how great I am. I can pray openly not like that kid who doesn't pray at all". If you say like, aren't you like the pharisee in Luke 18:9. (might want to read Luke 18:9-14)

Rather when praying openly, you should have a humble heart for you know that you sinned against God but you know you do not deserve this salvation that caused a great price. In everything, do it in a humble heart. Don't think of what prizes you will get after doing something good but look it in a way that you want to do it just cause you know it will help someone.

Thanksgiving 11-26 to 27-08

2008-11-26T22:59:00.000-08:00

This was a message i did. But this can also be our thanksgiving devo. When i talk about my class just apply to your own school life, church group, or anything! Happy Thanksgiving guys!
GOD BLESS

Themeverse:
1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus

Thanksgiving weekend is coming up. What are most of you guys doing? Especially on Friday: I know most of you guys have heard a thanksgiving message over and over and over again. But don’t tune out because we are going to take it to the next step. I know im not as good as pastor Jason or Toby but I try will my best.

How many of you guys miss the Grand Canyon. The one time all of us were together. Just like right now. If we were in 12th grade right now and were to graduate what would you think the other teacher would call us? The class of what (not 2013) but the class of what. Class of unity? Class of hard workers? Class of the jocks?

Just like the pilgrims they had a name pilgrims. If you know me I some what think history is ok so correct me if my history is wrong. Pilgrims they would have a day of thanksgiving and be thankful for everything that has happen to them. Guess what im so thankful they did now we don’t have school. But one thing they did do was they unified together coming all as one including the Indians.

Just like we are now and just like we were at Grand Canyon. No one is fighting no one is arguing just our class hanging out. Fellowshipping hopefully. But one thing we are not doing is being thankful. All we do is “I want this I want that” when I gave these cheeseburgers out most of you were probably going I want that. Who am I to judge please prove me wrong. But actually how many of you said thank you when friends or adults served you.

Our theme verse today is 1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Just couple minutes ago in our skit the 4 people were being really greedy. But 1 person was thankful and decided he had enough and wanted to spilt some. What does the homeless guy do he doesn’t be thankful and just totally decided to beat the man up. Also take the wallet.

Now the verse says thankful be thankful. If the passage says that does that man that just got mug say “THANK YOU LORD, IM SO GLAD I GOT MUGED!” HALLEULAH PRAISE THE LORD I GOT MUGGED!” Sounds just like a big weirdo. But actually in a sense that’s what we have to be.

Just hold on 1 sec I’ll come back to this lets say its black Friday. You guys are lined up at I don’t know southland mall, fry’s, GUITARCENTER, Best buy, and etc. So you and your dad decide to go and camp out. Theres this big big big huge guy not fat but buff behind you and goes let me cut you. Without waiting for an answer he pushes you out the way and says thanks bud. Your dad holds you back because you want to get him back.

Are we suppose to be thankful in that situation? Let me ask you what does that verse say.
Another example:

You hang out with friends, and let’s say one of your closest friend in the world decided to start using drugs, and starts asking you if you want to take some. What now…..are you suppose to be thankful?

In all 3 examples you are suppose to be thankful. James 1:2-4 2 consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Your friend that’s taking drugs be thankful because you know this is a great chance to grow closer to Christ and also to bring your friend to Christ. If he yells at you and slaps you, you as a Christian will go through persecution and there’s nothing we can do about it but grow in Christ.

That your answer right there. But in your heads I know you guys are asking what about the other two. Be thankful the first example our skit the man can grow to be a more compassionate man and say “Well, I am thankful im still alive, not only that I am thankful that man can eat one more meal and live one more day” 2nd example getting pushed out of line be thankful and say “Well, I am thankful enough to be able to have money to spend” Doesn’t meant let people boss you around all the time now.

Mr. Chun pointed out a good point to me yesterday. That was I am focusing too much on what we have on this earth. Being thankful for what we have on this earth. But those who are believers we are always eternally thankful. It’s not just only “oh I am thankful imp still alive” It’s more like “well imp thankful that I have Christ in me. Salvation the best gift on earth. I can always be thankful and serve God to the fullest” We can never repay for what Christ did for us. He is the greatest gift on earth.

GREATEST GIFT ON EARTH! Those who are believers know this earth is not our home. Our task here is to serve God, true worship. One way is to be thankful. Be thankful that God sent His son to die for us. So now you can go and spread the word. Sure be thankful for all the material stuff just like in the Lord’s Prayer: thanks for the daily bread. But also our greatest treasure here on earth is thankful for the Holy Spirit in us. Sometimes daily items, toys, games, guitar, instrument, and etc get us to be thankful for them. Which makes us forget to be thankful for the one important thing our salvation.

When is the last time you thank God for your salvation?

This is an attitude of a heart that God will love. A thankful heart + humble heart + characteristic of Christ = Christ like attitude. Why were we created on this earth? For an ultimate purpose to serve God. Our goal being Christ Like. Thankfulness is just 1 more step to achieving that goal. Be thankful that all this is happening to you for you will grow and learn more to become Christ like so if you get heavier trails you can make it through. But that’s only if you are willing to open your eyes, ears, and heart to notice around you. I am probably being a huge hypocrite right now because I struggle with this a lot. But one good thing about writing this is gives me a chance to grow and be thankful reminding me not to be a hypocrite.

My challenge to you:
What areas in your life can you be thankful for?
Are you trying to become Christ Like?
When is the last time you thank God for your salvation?

This thanksgiving look around you, have parents, food be thankful…… more importantly think what is the most important thing to be thankful for.

Thinking and Applying 11-19-08

2008-11-19T21:49:00.000-08:00

I am on a major brain fart right now. I cant think and have exactly no idea what to write today. But i thought about it play some private worship with my guitar and found out. So reading a devo everyday taking time off every single day to read a devo and do quiet time:

I got 1 question:
ARE YOU WASTING YOUR TIME!?

I mean you read all these devos but another main important part is applying them into your life. If you dont apply then you are wasting your time. No reason for you to be siting on the computer to read everyday and not apply what you learn.

So instead of a very long devo today take the time off to think about everything you learn: Sunday School, Church, chapel, school, devos, and etc think about them and think how you can apply them to your life. After wards challenge your self pray to God for His strength to apply them tommrow.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

STAND BACK UP! 11-18-08

2008-11-18T21:42:00.000-08:00

Have you ever fallen? Yesterday at basketball practice, I was jumping at the grass area and then I fell. It still hurts! Yes it is ouchy but I still stand back up because I know I can. As of today, how many people in this world is fighting the devil and losing?

Many of us are. Some people who fight and fall might sometime go on their own and follow the devil but rejoice because many others continue to fight for the Lord. They always have God with them. Have you ever falled and almost gave up?

God has always given us trials to go through. These trials are a test for us to not only grow in trusting God but also to show us how much we need God. Many times our pride, our anger, our selfishness blinds us from God. Blinds us of how much we needed God.

As of this I just wanted to ask you people. Are you following God? Are you accepting the challenge and not just give up when you know its coming? Are you growing in faith....?

Sorry for this short devotion. Hopefully I would make a longer one next time.

John 10:28-29
28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all;no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.

Devo 11-17-08

2008-11-17T23:03:00.000-08:00

Instead of a devo today. Just have a nice little quiet time chat with God. You should be trying to do that every night. But since we are always busy and if you take time to read devos then you should take some time to do quiet time. So today its just a quiet time.

Focus on Worship 11-16-08

2008-11-15T22:59:00.001-08:00

Themeverse:
Proverbs 4:13
"Take hold on discipline; do not let go. Safeguard it, for it itself is your life.

Lately AGC's crew has been tlaking about worship and most of the thing are the same thing over and over again. Just in many differnt aspects. We think this is really important for all of you guys because each and every single of you guys are mirrors that should reflect God. 2nd of all we write alot of the same stuff beacuse its important but remeber if you start tunning out then pray to God. Tell Him to help you not to tune out and listen..because each time you go over something again in the Bible its going to be totaly new.

Like when i reread the 6 days of creation i learn so many new things. I heard that story since i was in kindgarten. For 8 years of my life i learn new things each time. So dont tune out!

Today main devo:

When we lead/sing during worship sets (song sets). The people up there are usually focused on how they sound...because they want it to be the best it can be. Thats good in a way but at the same time bad in way. Not only thing the people singing (the crowd) what they are thinking and focus is the same. How do i sound?

Well let me tell you 1 thing, God made you in His own image and because of that He made you special. You have this nice voice, be tahnkful. You have an ok voice, be thankful.

Now focusing......
Remeber Psalm 33:3 play skillfully... Its God dont you want to play skillfully?
Theres a cetrain extent to playing skillfully. You play so skillfully you forget your main focus. Being a worship leader the main focus is being a mirror, connecting with God, and the focus is God...

a Chris saying: "heart comes before skill."

Crowd when you sing remeber what you are focusing on. God!!! nothing else. I find my self easily disctracted and i start focusing "oh what am i going to do afterwards" Thats not how we should think and focus. The main thing to focus on is God. If you start getting distracted quiet down. God speaks in the quiet and stillness. Open your heart and eyes. Trust in Him. Best way He talks to us is by the Bible. Worship in spirit and truth *our last devo*

Why focus?
If you are really a true christian you focus because you want to praise God during this time. You want to talk to Him through song and prayer. You dont want to be disctacted because you want God to always be first. Thats why we focus. He died for us this is one way to repay Him to focus on Him.

so heres my challenge for you today:
Hows your focus?

Evidence of God 11-15-08

2008-11-15T22:42:00.000-08:00

The beauty of this world can be seen through nature. Nature is such a beautiful thing. As you all have known hopefully that two months ago I went to a Grand Canyon trip. There I visited three canyons: Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion Canyon. All three of them was surprisingly very different. Grand Canyon had many layers of rock that were in different colors. That was a splendor view. Bryce Canyon's rock looks like a sharp point at the end point of the rock (I forgot the name of what its called). Zion Canyon was this really nice rock that were pretty high. Bryce Canyon had the Colorado River flowing through it while Zion Canyon has the Virgin River.

From this trip, I had learned of how beautiful this world is. Yes there is war around us but when I just looked at those magnificent formation and think about how long it would take to make it so beautiful. At that moment, I just forget all the worries in my life and just treasure that moment in my life to see such beautiful things. Also I learned of how without a Creator, then I do not believe that those beautiful scenery can just pop out of no where. The point I'm making is without a creator, there is no Grand Canyon and the other canyons in the world. Hopefully I hope that you would believe there is a creator in our life. There is evidence all around us such as flowers, humans, and animals. The point is only if you believe it. Only if you would accept that there is a God. A God that really treasure us.

Do you believe that there is a God?

If you don't, why?

Isaiah 40:28-29
28Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
29He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Worship 11-13-08

2008-11-13T20:52:00.000-08:00

Themeverse:
JOHN 4:23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers
will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of
worshipers the Father seeks.

1 Corinthians 10:31 - Therefore, whether YOU are eating or drinking or doing anything else, do all things for God’s glory.

Lately we been talking about worship without really thinking about it. Today we finnaly notice we were talking about worship in a really weird way. But that is not the point today our devo is going to be your talents.

Each one of us God has made in His own image. Therefore He gave all of us an ability to do something better then someone else. Some talents easier to find then others. But everyone has amazing talents in them.

Lets use the common example one of the simplest but complicated way to worship/serve God. Playing an instrument. God gave you the talent to learn an instrument. He gave you the talent to let you play well. So how can you repay Him then? Well easy become a worship leader and serve Him. (By worship leader i mean leading others in worship not like the leader of your worship band) (enless they want you to be their leader but remeber your true leader is Christ) Thats one of the simplest and best way but at the same time not easy to do. Because if you get distacted everyone gets distacted to.

Another one that is hidden within almost every single one of us would be talking. God gave us the talent to speak or use sign langauge. Use that talent to spread God's word in anyway possiable.

Or like Ally, Greg, and me we enjoy writting short stories. We love reading our Bibles and understanding it. That is what lead us to write devos beccause of our hobbies. This way we serve God by writting to help others get closer with Him.

Remeber our ultimate goal here on earth is to serve God/ Christ Like. Best way to do this is to serve God and at the same time that really helps you grow in Him.

Our 2 theme verse today. the First one talks about worship. How are you suppose to worship just like oh its the truth? No you have to worship both in spirit and truth.
Back thne most of them would go to Jersulam to worship. But we dont need that anymore all that matter now is your heart. That is all God is looking for. In truth is His word. Are you listeing to His word? Obeying them..

Our 2nd verse talks about whatever you do. God gave you talents and in everything you do bring glory to Him. Thats all it means your eating, drinking, playing guitar, hanging with freinds, and etc. Show Christ like through you be a mirror. and do it for the Glory of God.

Worship doesnt mean just singing worship means alot more:

Challenge:
Wheres your worship?
Using your talent?

http://executableoutlines.com/jn/jn4_20.htm (credits for helping me understand the verse alot better)

Unquenched 11/12/08

2008-11-12T17:24:00.000-08:00

Read: Psalms 23

On May 21,2008, popular christian music artist Steven Curtis Chapman suffered a gut-wrenching loss. Maria, Chapman's youngest daughter, was killed when her older brother Will accidentllystruck her when he was pulling up the family SUV. She died in the hospital from her injuries. Thousands of mourners gathered to her funeral to mourn her passing.
Little did they know that God was stirring up another chapter in the Chpman's lives. The Chapmans appeared on Good Morning America to give thier testimonies. They could be heard many times saying, 'God is working in our lives' and 'she (Maria) is in heaven.' The family also appeared on Larry King Live to talk about the same topic. Through this tragedy, they showed faith in God that he would lead them through the trails of pain and suffering.

1. Are you an unquenchable worshipper?
2. Do you put your faith in God whatever trials you may face?
3. Do you get caught up in the worldly things in life? Or are you focusing on God, all the time?

How Much Suffering..... 11-11-08

2008-11-11T21:35:00.000-08:00

Did you know how much Jesus Christ has suffered from us?! How much He loved us that He died on the cross for our sin? Did you know how much that must have hurt? Now I will be talking about how much He, as in Jesus Christ, has suffered for us.

Matthew 27:26
26Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Jesus Christ was flogged. Even before He was on the cross, he was flogged. Flogged with those ropes that had glass in it. You know how much it hurt!?

Matthew 27:29
29and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head.

Jesus Christ had a crown of thorns on his head. They probably pushed it in his head. When we get hit on the head by a ball, it hurts already but with a crown of thorn there for a few hours. It must have hurt hurt!!!

Matthew 27:30
30They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.

Jesus Christ was mocked, spitted on, and was hit on the head with a staff OVER AND OVER again. His head must be bleeding after that.

Matthew 27:48
48Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink.

They had given Jesus Christ wine vinegar and he was already thirsty but giving wine vinegar is making him more thirsty and it hurts to move!

After all this, you can see how beaten, how cruel they treated Jesus Christ. He didn't need to be on that cross. We, SINNERS, are suppose to be on that cross. Yes that cross with all those beaten and stuff but Jesus Christ He substituted himself for us! How great of love is that!? God loved us SOOOOO much that He sent His only ONE son down to us, Jesus Christ, to die for us. He felt all those beating and hurt for us so don't you think we should repay Him!

There is no way we can repay all He had done for us but we know we can help spread His word and worship for Him! That is some way we can repay 1/10000000000 things He done for us. So rejoice for the Lord and live your life for HIM!!!!

LIVE YOUR LIFE FOR THE LORD!!!!!

Acts 20:24 11-10-08

2008-11-10T19:57:00.000-08:00

Themeverse: Acts 20:24
24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

Our lives....we were built for a purpose. The ultimate purpose to serve God.
Being Christ like. Worshiping Him. Thats nothing compare what He did for us. He died for us on a cross being suffered to death. He was inconent and He died for us prefect for our sins. In the end we get to go to Heaven the best gift to ever recieve. Going to Heaven.

People say oh i want to be a Christian so i can go to heaven. Ok shure God died for us so we can. But those who are true Christian change their lives. They want to do all that because they want to repay God for what He did. But we all know theres no way we can repay Him. Fully what He did can never be fully repaid.

But the main point of today devo is.
Are you letting the Holy spirit in you control you the right way? (wanting to serve God doing the right thing)
Or are you still not listenting to God and just ingoing His Holy spirit. (living the same life style before you were a christian)

Criticizing Others 11-9-08

2008-11-09T21:06:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 29:1
1 Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.

Is criticizing others a good thing or a bad thing? Today from my worship practice, I had learned about criticizing which was spoken to Chris (hopefully Chris wouldn't mind me taking this...ehehe). Now back to topic. Is it a bad thing or a good thing?

Criticizing others is a good thing because it not only strengthen others but it also help us learn about our own part that we need to work on. "Criticizing" in the world is not a good word anyone who belongs to the world (likes the world)would like to hear because it hurts their pride. Their pride, their power, and they feel embarrassed but as Christians, we should criticize others and listen so that we can change our self and become closer and more like Christ.

As a person who had just got criticize, I know it hurts because it hurts your pride and you just feel like "I don't want to listen" but I know if I don't listen, then I can't change myself. I would stay at the same pace and pretty soon, I would not care about any criticism and just continue with life. Never improving and never changing again. This is not a good thing because in the same way, if you just block all the good criticism it can be the same as listening to some helping life message and it goes into one ear and comes out the other ear the next minute.

Though criticizing others are a good thing but when we criticize others, we should do it in a respectable, good manner way because if you just speak in a harsh way, you would just hurt their feeling and they would do the same thing as you. You are an example. If you do it in a harsh way, others would follow and pretty soon everyone would not care about their mistakes and just forget it. So please when criticizing others, do it a nice way and don't forget to see if that criticism also relates to your life.

Pressing On 11-8-08

2008-11-08T22:51:00.000-08:00

Themeverse: Phil 3:13-14
13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,[a] but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

On your mark....get set....Bang! The line judge has just fired the gun. Welcome to the world of Cross Country, a sport full of running, records, and winning. Runner endure energy draining miles while trying to keep up with the leaders. The world of Corss country is simple: run, run, run win. Well not exactly, but you get the point.

In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul talks about pressing on towards the goal. A real Christian forgets what is behind him and runs to finish to win the prize of eternal life. A non-Christian is the exact opposite. They are the ones whose dstiny is destruction, their glory is their shame, their mind is on earthly things. They feel that is a must to win.

Look at Marion Jones. In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she won 5 gold medals. During all this time she was rumored of taking performance enhancing drugs to help her become a faster stronger person. In 2007 after all her years of saying she was not involved in taking performance enhancing drugs, she finnaly admitted that she did. In fact she took steroids. The folowing days her gold medals were stripped away from her. All taht she worked for, gone!

1. What kind of person are you?
2. Are you living your life to get rich, live a wealthy life, to die? Or do you give all that you have to God, and press on to your goal?
3. Are you like Marion Jones? Or are you living your life racing for God.

Greg devo: but chris here my life verse Acts 20:24 fits with thsi devo to

Friendships 11/6/08

2008-11-06T21:28:00.000-08:00

Themeverse:

Proverbs 27:17
17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

James 5:16
16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Man i used James 5:16 for like the 3rd time now? Thats not including Allys devo haha.

In our lives we have people called friends. Those who are really close to you we call bestfriends. Those who are even closer bestfriend for life or brother or sister.

Most of us when we hang around a certain friend for a while their traits rub onto each other. Bascily copying each other. That can be good and in a bad way. As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Well if you are with a friend that cusses and does other bad things. You end up being sharpen by the wrong friend.
But doesnt mean you should avioid them. Of course help try to help them change. But if it starts affecting you in a bad way then you got to remeber why you are trying to change them.

The good friends on the other hands. They give you good traits like manors. Not to cuss what to do when you are lost. These are the type of friends you should have.

But there is a friend that is like no other. Your bestfriends. These are the ones that always are there for you no matter what. Not only that the real one would rub off really good traits like: helps you fellowhip (builds a relationship with God). Friends that really you can trust like people you can confess your deepest sin to. Instead of thinking you differntly they come and say hey man its ok we can work together with God and we can help you get rid of this sin. Keeps you accountable

Those are the friends you want. ONES THAT KEEP YOU ACCOUNTABLE. ON YOUR WALK WITH GOD! AND HAS THE GOOD FRIENDSHIP TRAITS TO: loving. always there. trustwortyh, loyal, nice to be around wtih, joking, not always serious, etc! These are the friends you want.

But there is still 1 ultimate freind. Jesus, He is not only our Lord but also our cloest friend. Closer then any friend on earth you can ever have. Your friends are always there but what happens if they are bussy. Jesus is the one you should epend to no matter what. He loves us with no end. Always there to listen (prayer quiet time)Its great to have a relationship with Him. You can see your life change in many ways. Plus you also get a great friend who will help you through anything.

Challenge:
1. Are you freinds with Jesus?
2. Are you hanging with good friends?
3. Are your bestfriends reminding you about faith?

Proverbs 18:24
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

M&M with Peanut 11-5-08

2008-11-05T21:41:00.000-08:00

Have you ever eaten any candies that is made up of many layers such as M&M or Twix? Those that have eaten one must be very hyper and it must tasted sugary. Well today we going to talk about how every part of you is important?

Nose: The nose helped you smell. It helps you detect the nastiest smelling thing ever and you would run away from. It also helps attract you to the delicious smelling food ever too. Now how does this help us in life? Well, first is if we didn't have a nose then we would have died without breathing. Second of all is that our nose is for detecting both good and bad smells such as fire. The burnt of the fire is smelled from your nose or else you wouldn't detect a fire unless its right in front of your eyes.

Eyes: Eyes are used for seeing but it also help us pay attention in class. Eyes can be a good influence and bad because it depends on what we see. Bad things from your eyes goes into your brain and teach you bad. Good things does the same thing. How does the eye save your life? Without your eyes, we wouldn't need to drive because everyone would be crashing to each other. Our eyes also show others our emotion such as tears from our eyes.

Hands: Hands are used for touching and feeling objects. Such as the Bible. They are use to feel such as if there was a hot or cold object. Hands also can be used to save others by praying.

These are some of the parts in your body. So how do all the parts that was talked important? Each of these part has a job in your body like without your hands, you can't feel for stuff or without your eyes, you would be blind. Like this God is also an important part of your life because without Him, there is no way you can survive this earth and not be greedy for worldly stuff. God must be in part of everyone's life! God is like our eyes, hands, and feet combined. He is our watcher who watches and warns us of evil near you. He guides you by your feet. He uses your hands for good like maybe playing an instrument for worship or maybe being a missionary. Who knows? God is a very important part in your life.

One last thought. Are you letting God be your hands, feet, or eyes??

Isiah 8:11-12
11 The LORD spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said:
12 "Do not call conspiracy
everything that these people call conspiracy;
do not fear what they fear,
and do not dread it.

Mr Kim 11-4-08

2008-11-04T20:48:00.000-08:00

Well im like really copying Mr Kim lesson today and adding some stuff. But after today it really applied to Ally and me so i decided to write about it. So give props to Mr Kim for this devo/lesson:

Themeverse:
"Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."
James 5:16

"Your lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies."
Psalm 36:5

A thousand times you try and try but you cant do it! You keep trying to push yourself to the limit to shoot that basketball in. You want a ratio of 5 shots 1 miss. But right now its 2 shots 5 miss. You play day by day and day and night. You want to get better but you just cant do it. You skip dinner just to play.
You want help from someone but you just dont know how to ask. Because you say to yourself i can do it i can do it!

Sounds like some of us doesnt it. In our spiritual lives we always fail God over and over again. A thousand times i failed. To listen to God to be obident! But instead fail. Thats how much we sin just like when we shoot basketballs. Failing over and over again. Yet God is always there ready to help us. What do we decide to do is that we just run away from it. Going our own ways trying to deal wit hthe temptation ourselves. What ends up happening is failure.

God, is calling us day by day. Thousand of times by your friends, messages, songs, and stuff that is happening to you. But yet we get to consumed by our daily things. School, music, tv, friends, and anything. These things arnt wrong of course we can enjoy them. But when it starts cutting into your daily time wtih God then theres a problem. God needs to be first in your life. If you choose God He will help you get through all this and plus not only that He will bless you. Because with all that happening and you quiet down and work with Him your relationship wtih Him improves alot.

Friends are there for you to. Confess to each other waht you done wrong. One thing i learn is that if you dont and keep it to yourself. Seems more likely that you are going to sin. Why? No one to keep you accountable no one is help you. You have God but God gave you friends for a reason didnt He? If you confess to each other it heals you makes you feel better and not as a guilty person. Of course you are still guilty till God pleads you free. But Jesus died for us so we are free.

Doesnt mean you can abuse His love. Still feel bad but dont make it like i feel so bad im so bad! Because you are not there are trials in your life were you going to fail and say why didnt i listen.

Challenge:
1. Hows your relationship?
2. Are you answering God's Calling?
3. Confessing with one another?
4. Are you abusing His Love

Purpose or Coincidence? 11-3-08

2008-11-03T19:44:00.000-08:00

Purpose or Coincidence? Did God made you accidentally? Is your life an accident? Is there a purpose in your life?

Many people has wondered about this question. Why was I created into this world? Did God accidentally create me? Was it better for me not to be born? God has a reason for all of us to be in this world. Is this a coincidence to be here? No it was not like God was bored or something and created you for fun. No. God made you for a reason. A specific reason that only God knows but there is always a chance that He will show you. If you still stick with God creating you on accident, then would you say that God gave us a second chance by Jesus Christ on accident? You could think of that but would it really be an "accident"? No it is not an accident. First is because there is a reason for Jesus Christ to die for us on the cross. Its for us. We are sinners. Horrible horrible sinners that doesn't know how to repent. God though brought Jesus Christ as a second chance for us to have eternal life with Him. This second chance that hopefully no one would miss and would believe.

What's our purpose in life? That's a good question. In my life, I believe my purpose is to serve God. By any kind of ways:worship, serving others, giving, etc. Our purpose was like to repay Jesus Christ for giving us this salvation. This salvation that cost a lot. Our purpose though is not to teach others bad but to influence others to turn to good. Though life has many obstacles in life such as drama from friends, grades, relationships, and maybe even inner struggle with yourself, we should try to live a life for God. We should repay God for giving His son to us.

One last thought for all of us. Are you living a life for God? Are you influencing others in a good way or a bad way?

2 Timothy 1:8-9
8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

Coke with Lemon/Lime 11-2-08

2008-11-02T20:47:00.000-08:00

Have you ever tried drinking coke with lemon/lime? Sometimes people just like to changed the taste of coke and add stuff like lemon or lime. Today at night time I was drinking lemon/lime with coke because my dad was drinking it so I was like 'ok let's have coke with lemon/lime'.

Now how does that relate to devotion for today? If you think that we are the cup that the coke is poured in and coke is sin. Coke would probably be filled the whole cup right? So it represent us having sin in our life the whole time. Lemon/lime is God. Well most people who drink coke with lemon/limes knows that after putting lemon/lime in coke, the taste of lemon/lime would be tasted when drinking the coke. Like this lemon/lime or God is helping us with our sin. See how coke absorb the sourness of lemon/lime. It is like God is taking over the control of sin in our lives because we asked Him for help.

Sometimes in life, we have at least one struggle. Well, what would be your first response? Friends, God, Bible, or yourself? God gave us the ability for free will so we get to pick but doesn't sometimes we just take for granted of God's mercy. Like we know its not right to do this but we did the not right thing because we know that God would forgive us. Isn't that like taking God's grace for granted? Is that what we are suppose to do? I don't think so. What God intended for us to do was to fight our sin and TRY not to sin it but of course we sometimes fall into it. The only thing that matter is our attitude. Are we taking God's grace for granted or not?

This is my last word to you. Are you taking God for granted? If you are, why are you taking it for granted and do you think it is right?

Philippians 1:29-30

29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Music 11-1-08

2008-11-01T22:38:00.000-07:00

Themeverse:Psalm 33:3
3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.

One thing that always really stuck to me was what my teacher told me. This verse the middle part play skillfully. Of course i be sorta copying his devo lesson on to here but i think its a really good one. And it shouldnt be just shared just to me but to everyone. Also thanks Britt for the idea.

I have a deep passion for music. Like crazy passion i cant live without music. Almost. I need to listen to music doesnt matter rock,love, ok maybe jazz, and of course worship. My faviorte type of music is anysong that i know how to play! Yep if i dont know how to play it i hate it! just joking

But anways theres so many differnt type of music out there. Like rock and punk. Now as Christian we are suppose to listen to things that help us grow in our life. But does that mean we cant listen to rock music.

We can listen to any type of music we want to a certain extent. If it starts drawing you away from God then do you really want to listen to that type of music. If you listen to something that makes you cuss, do you want to keep lsiteing to that. Ok sure maybe the beat and tune is awsome. Then find the instrumental. Music it all depends on how it affects your relationship wtih God.

Is it growing?
Or is it fading?

Part 2:
How about worship music then? Doesnt mean we are always stuck to worship music over and over again. But for me i like some of the worship songs alot i can listne to them for hours. But i still listen to other type of music to. I love love music. If that makes any sense at all.....Anyways this part of the devo applies to everyone not just people who lead worship.

But in reality every single one of us are leading worship. Lets say a someone comes in during your worship. You want to show him the Lord so you are just a mirror. People playing up there have to have 2 things in order to do this.
1. Devo/Leadership skills/relationship with God
2. Skillful at your craft!

You cant have 1 or the other! If you have good leadship skills but you cant play your instument then how do you lead others to connect to God.

Or you are good at your insturment but you have like no relationship wtih God then why are you even up there. If you cant have a relationship how do you expect others to get one.

Everyone at their seat singing is also a leader(mirror). If someone comes in and sees everyone joyfully jumping,hand raise, singing then that shows that they really love God. and God has done amazing things might get that person intrested in comming to know the Lord

Not only that we are suppose to be like this on sunday or youthgroup. Our daily life should reflect Christ like! Christ LIKE!!!! Now think does the music you listen to does it show Christ like? Our daily lives must show Christ like. The more you show Christ like the more people will get instrested in God in either good way or bad way.

Challenge:
1. So are you living Christ like?
2. Worship leaders do you have a balance of both?
3. Good music or bad music...that you are listneing to?

Calus 10-30-08

2008-10-30T23:06:00.001-07:00

Part 1 Calus:
Themeverse: Everywhere in the Bible

When you start learning any string instrument: guitar, bass, chello, and any thing that has strings. It hurts the first time you play because your fingers are weak. As you progress and play more your fingers start hurting more and more and more. Then eventually it hurts no more.

For 2 reason: 1. you got so use to the pain! (which is never good) 2. your fingers got harder and got something called calus. Calus are rough harden finger skin.

So why in the world am i talking about calus. Well open your spiritual eyes. How hard are your calus in your spiritual life?

What i mean is:
As we grow in our spiritual life we get many temptation and trials from satan. Each one hurts of course. But what are you 1. you got so use to it you just fall into sin each time and dont care. 2. You are spiritually mature so when you get tempted you know what to do. I know no one in the world is perfect but we have to strive to be Christ LIKE. Everyone sins on a daily bases small ones that we cant even see. That tiny sin is just as big as any sin. Why any sin can seprated you from God! The tiniest one on earth.

As you go through more trial and temptaiton you read your Bible more and you pray more your relationship with God gets so good! and your spiritual life is getting calus. Doesnt mean just because your calus doesnt mean you can fall. At the same time someone can come up to you and cut your calus off.

Best way to get your calus back and get them harder is. Ask God to forgive you and find verses that will help you during the trials. So you can say them while being tempted.

Some verses that helps:
1 cor 10:13, Galatians 5:1, Romans 8:1, Proverbs 23:12
of course there are many more look for them yourselfe so it can really hit you hard and improve your calus!

God does reward us and i just give you 1 verse look for some others on your own.
Rewards:
Jermiah 17:10

Challenge:
So how hard is your spiritual life calus?

Parents...10-29-08

2008-10-29T22:20:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 6:1 (look it up on the bible)

Have you really dislike your parents? Have you ever felt no love from them? Well, its time for you to like your parents and talk to them of how you feel.

As parents are adults, they don't think like us, kids or teenager. They are more mature. They have more experience then us. Why do you dislike your parents?
Why do people hate their parents? Is it because they discipline you or is it they just mean to you. Well when they discipline you, they must have a reason why right. Like if you did something wrong, then your parents should discipline you or you might be a spoiled kid and not know any kinds of manners. Well, how about if they just shout at you because they have a bad day? Well, think about yourself, did you ever had a bad day and shouted at your parents for no reason? From this you should learn to accept their shouting to you because maybe they have a bad day at work but if they start to hit you for no reason and continuously doing this, then you should really ask them to stop and talk to them.

Love from parents are really beautiful. Though sometimes in this world, children really hate their love from parents. They think the parents are too overprotected and can't go and hang out with friends at mall or something. Yet, have you ever think about why they don't let you do what you want. Reason is to protect you from being influence the wrong way. Like if a parent did not tell give you a limit and then you turn bad and start taking drugs, would that be a good parent? No that parent wouldn't be a good father or mother so that why if you have that kind of parents, you should watch out. Another reason why it is good to treasure you love and relationship with your parents because many people in the world never ever experience true love from their parents. Why? Maybe because the parents doesn't care about their children and maybe the parents died before the child was able to know the existence of life. We who have parents should be happy that we even have one because most children in the world wanted their parents but what happened to the parents? They die or need to work and never took care of their kids.

This is a really sad thing in the world but now as for those who do have parents, you should take more time in sharing with your parents because it might not be long until the die or can't speak to you no more. Hope you keep your relationship and love with your parent as long as possible and never leave them. They were the one who created you. Without your parents, your existence wouldn't be here. Honor your father and mother (in the good way and not bad way like doing drugs is bad).

Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Paintballing 10-28-08

2008-10-28T21:37:00.000-07:00

Themeverese:
Psalm 18:2 (New International Version)
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn [a] of my salvation, my stronghold.

Take right!! Take right. I have visual on one over there give me cover fire. Take cover! Look out 2 on your right 2 on your left! Get into the fort it will provide you protection. Look out bang! And ur are out!

Paintball one of the most intense heartbeating games in America. Next to airsoft of course. Running around checking every corner. Making sure you dont get shot because it does hurt.

During time of temptation just like in paintball we have a fort to stay safe in. Because in paintball anything you find can be cover but its scary once the paintball hit your fort at a certain mile per hours. You hear the sound of it hitting the wall not sure if its going to break the wall.

Well when we get tempted what do we suaully do. We would pray right trust God ask Him give me the strength so i dont sin or fall into temptation right. Good but satan keeps tricking you and just keeps trying to break into the fort. Eventually you get scared and if you are weak in faith then you lose trust in your fortress. So you decide to run and grab another fort.

That is the most dangerous thing you can ever do! What happens if you get shot while running? In other words Satan gets you while you are running to another fort. Then you sin and you fall!

It seems really painful that God had to take all those "paintballs" from satan doesnt it. Well He died on the cross for our sin and He loves us so much! He doesnt want us to fall into the hands of satan. Thats why He protects us at the cost of His own pain. Bascily He not only died for us but if you look how they floged Him then tortue and then on to that cross.

Yep He said forgive them! Thats crazy love for us. No one in this world could ever understand why He loved us so much. He created us He knows how evil we can be yet He still died for us.

Even now He still chooses to protect us. I dont know about you but i would pick Him as my sheild. One day i will be able to stand up with Him and finnaly defeat satan. But right now i need to take cover and learn more so when the time is right i can fight with Him using verses.

Even though we fall when satan beats us. God is still there and picks us up and say Hey you are my Child..... Of course He will punish you but He is mercy. He wont punish you to bad He punshies us so we can learn! Learn to grow stronger and to trust in Him. Yet we decide to flee because our lack of faith!

So i leave you with a challenge!:
1. Are you still in that fort?
2. If so then are you growing so you can fight along side with Him one day?
3. Hows your faith?

Beef Jerky and Rootbeer 10-27-08

2008-10-27T22:12:00.001-07:00

Bear with me as I try my best to improve my devos. It is good to criticize each other so if you have good suggestion or anything email em to me. AGCwriters@gmail.com

“For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.”- 1 Peter 1:24-25
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 4:14
Man I haven’t written any devos in so long. Anyways sorry about that for a week so our minds just haven’t been getting any devo ideas. But anyways I try my best to keep up with the commitment I made if not then you can yell at me.

One day you decided to buy some beef jerky. On the other hand you needed a drink so you also bought some root beer. Start walking home and you get really thirsty and sweaty, open 1 can of root beer consume it in seconds. Then your stomach starts getting hungry so you open the bag of beef jerky up and started consuming that to. Next thing you know you get thirsty again because of the dryness of the jerky. Not only that you drink caffeine so you are craving for more root beer. By the time you get home you find out that all your root beer and beef jerky is gone.

Everyday we have our daily meals breakfast, lunch, and everyone favorite dinner. Without it we wouldn’t have the energy to get through each and every single day. But each day we eat these food and each day we get hungry. So we have to eat everyday!

Now how many of you try to read your Bible everyday? (Devos do count to in a way)
Well each time we read it doesn’t your heart just feel warm and just calm? Do you know why it’s like that?

Bible is God’s word! And when you read it, its one of the things that God talks to you by. Like lets say you pray Lord help me with this and He might answer you 1 way by saying “Open your Bible and read this” This gut feeling inside tells you do this…Now that’s God answering your prayer and the Holy spirit guiding you.

When your heart feels warm and calm you don’t really care about anything else and you’re just satisfied. Well in John 4:14 Jesus tells us whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Salvation once we get salvation we are never thirsty again.

But look still when you read the Bible isn’t it freaky that once you read a verse and it really sticks to you it never goes away? What I mean is lets say you read this awesome verse and cool after awhile you forget it right? Then you go through a trail and then all of the sudden this verse comes back and helps you. Freaky and ironic isn’t it. Not only does God word never disappear spiritually it doesn’t physically to!

Food like beef jerky and drinks like root beer will be consume and one day all of it will be consume.

But as we read God’s word (food) we are always hungry for more because we are so passionate. But everyday once we have read it we are filled of course its good to yearn for more though! And once we finally drink and be washed in Christ blood we are never thirsty again because we are finally free. We have a ticket to heaven we don’t have to keep worrying about buying more drinks or a key for salivation. We are finally full and free.

So here is my challenge to you:
Did you have that water yet?
Are you eating enough “food” everyday?

contradictions vs paradoxes 10-26-08

2008-10-26T21:57:00.000-07:00

Hey guys its chris so lately. You guys been reading chris and ally devos. So i bet your tired of em. So we decided to get some guest writers and because we are in middleschool we cant give to much details during our devos. So if you guys got those great Bible questions we will start answering em for your devos. Today is a qa type devo so just email us at agcwriters@gmail.com! Ally and me have writers block so as soon as thats done we'll start writing again!! thx guys

special writer: tony chu

Contradictions vs Paradoxes

Read:

Isaiah 47; I John 1:5-10, 4:7-12; John 3:16, 17

God is love. We all know that. John 3:16 says that God loved the world enough that He was willing to send His Son, His ONLY Son, to die for all of us. He says that Christ’s purpose was not to judge and condemn people. However, most people misunderstand or misuse this. They say that, since God is love, why do bad things happen? Truth is, one must look at all the aspects of God. Here are some of them…

God is love. God is peace. God is joy. God is just.

God is pure. God is holy. God is jealous. God is vengeful.

All of these aspects of God are absolutes, meaning that He isn’t a mix of them. Instead, He is 100% of everything. He is absolutely loving, absolutely peaceful, absolutely joyful, and so on. So, basically, one must look at everything. You cannot isolate any one characteristic of God and say that His characteristics don’t make sense.

The Bible contains paradoxes which we may never understand till we meet Him face to face, but never contradictions, because contradictions mean the Bible lies and God lies, both of which are false.

Bible Truity? Scientifc View 10-25-08

2008-10-25T22:31:00.000-07:00

Sup all: So yesterday we were dead tired so sorry for no devo ):. But we catching up!!! So if you guys went to ybc yestday we talked about reading the Bible more...most of you don't go to ybc! But anyways so i didnt tell our special writer today his topic. Instead he chose it and that is probably another sign of God working in a weird way. Reason why is that we talked about reading the Bible more. And now someone decides to come and take it to the next step. Is the Bible true!? Well here's today devo (friend writer antony chu):

Were they real?

Read Genesis 1-2:2 Genesis 6-9 Joshua 10 Most people think that things in the Bible are theoretically impossible or unexplainable by science. Some people think that it’s because it’s not a science, that it’s completely faith based. However, science CAN go the distance to prove that many events and occurrences in the Bible are totally possible and/or have effects on today. For example, many people don’t really believe that the Creation is possible simply because it took ONLY 6 days to do so. However, if you look at Einstein’s special theory of relativity, it is completely possible. Einstein says that, going at very great speeds, speeds approaching that of light, time will get much, MUCH shorter. That means, say you’re traveling in a spaceship that can go that fast, then years will seem like minutes or seconds. At this rate, millions or even billions of years will equate to six days. This supports the view of the day-age theory of Creation, but in a different manner. The day-age theory says that the Bible’s definition of “days” means “a long time.” However, this is talking in a symbolic manner. What this science says is that it really occurred in six days, but according to someone outside of time. Another perfect example is that of the deluge (flood). Genesis says that all the fountains of the earth spewed forth its water and the floodgates of heaven opened. This caused the whole world to be submerged. There are several evidences for this, some scientific, some geological. The scientific evidence is in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, deposit of fossil fuel. Fossil fuel is formed when dead plant or animal remains are crushed under enormous heat and pressure. In order for that to happen, there must have been a large amount of plants in a localized place. This place would have been the Garden of Eden. Then there would have to be a force that would have driven all these plants into the Arabian Peninsula. This would have been the flood in the Bible. The numerous layers of earth would have caused enough pressure to break the bonds in the remains and turn them into what we have today: fossil fuel. One unexplainable and unscientific event that has no proof, at least secularly, is the extra day mentioned in the book of Joshua. Joshua held his staff up for a day, and God granted the Israelites an extra day so the enemy wouldn’t flee. When NASA was charting the days in the history of Earth, there was an unaccounted day in the chronology. Then one man in the room piped up and said, “I remember from my Sunday School class that God gave Joshua an extra day to fight.” Go ahead and believe… or not. It’s not up to me. It’s totally up to you. If you don’t, I suggest you read into it, research it some, and then draw your own conclusion. Anthony.

Lazy? 10-24-08

2008-10-24T22:08:00.000-07:00

Lazy?

Have you ever been stressed out and just want to have a good night sleep? Have you thought of making an excuse to prevent you from doing something like reading your Bible or doing your homework? Well, it is human nature to just be lazy and I'm sure everyone has been lazy at least once in their life time but is lazy a good thing or a bad thing?

Let's go to the good side first. Lazy can be a good thing because laziness give us the time to rest and take a break off of your life. You can just relax and have a great time getting off of the pressure in the world.

Well, that was a short brief good side of laziness. How about the bad side? Laziness can be a habit after doing it for a while and that can cause your whole life to change. Like if you were lazy on doing a report for you boss, you can get fire and then you can't make money and your life is ruin. How about students? Well, you don't do your homework and then you can't give your homework on time which causes you to lose some grades that might affect your college grade which affects your job. Well, how does laziness come from?

Laziness come from the same thing as temptation. One time being lazy can ruined your whole life by getting a habit into it just like the same concept of temptation. You get lazy once and then you start getting more and more lazy and pretty sure in the end, you don't care if you don't do your homework or do your job. You just completely block your way of doing it. You do not push yourself to do the right thing. Like me, I was lazy yesterday to do the devotion and then later on I might even get into this habit which I hope not. Like today, I had to push myself into doing this devotion which is really bad.

Well does it mean that you can't be lazy? Of course not! Everyone once in a while do get lazy but the main thing is not to get into a habit and if you really do, try to fix it. Push yourself of not getting into the lazy habit. Its going to be hard to push yourself into doing but you must. Just like reading the Bible, if you don't read it once, you might get into the habit of giving yourself an excuse of not doing it today, tomorrow, and the rest of the days. Laziness can be a big problem of growing your faith. You must push yourself in growing your faith! Faith is really important because faith is what keeps you believing that God is real, the Bible is real, Jesus Christ really came and died for us. It keeps you on what is the truth. If you lose your faith, then you will drown and lose your hope and trust in the Lord.

Hopefully I can do my devos on time and please pray for us because we have many obstacles in our life that block us to from being lazy!

Hebrews 6:12
We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Heart of Worship part 2 10-23-08

2008-10-23T22:04:00.000-07:00

Well in just 2 days i got more votes for worship i think? well but i type this devo out for my worship team members. I thought it would be good to share with everyone else im pretty tired to so lazy excuss? eh......anyways here's today devo (trust me you are lucky, the one i gave my worship memebers were 3 to 4 pages long)

Deuteronomy 6:5 5
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

You play baseball, basketball, or you are a runner.
The more you pitch, your arm muscle will know right away how you like to pitch. So when you pitch you don't even think about it.
When you do basketball the more you dribble/shoot it because muscle memory. So when you shoot or dribble you do it without thinking.
When you run and you are behind someone you train your legs to go faster. So you start running 2x faster then you are running without thinking.

You play drums, accoustic, bass, keyboard, or sing.
The more you play drums slow,fast, or medium songs once you get the beat you know what to play right away. So when you hear it your arms just do it without thinking.
When you play accoustic you memorize each and every single chord. So when it comes to that chord you do it without thinking. You just do it.
When you play the keyboard you know how to pad and play each chord and fill in. So know when to do what without even thinking.
When you play bass you know how to hit each string once or four times. So when you play a song and get the beat, you know what to do without even thinking.
When you even sing you know all your pitches. So if you can't sing something, you right away change to the harmony without even thinking.

THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO WORSHIP!

1. Why do you worship? I mean come on you can sleep-in instead?
. The number one answer i will hear will be: I want to serve God.
Thats the number one Christian answer even i would say that.

2. Good...Wheres your heart?
to worry about homework or other things?

Or you got that right Christian attitude "no i take time and this is the time i chose to serve God"

So when you worship are you doing everything like on top. Auto muscle memory start singing. Or do you really make the words on the screen your prayer. One thing i like to picture is God watching a concert you're preforming for Him and He smiles. Or sometimes i like picturing Him in a golden throne room and God is sitting on His throne and i'm singing to Him. Thats when i really enter God's presence and not just saying all those words on the screen.

Auto=do it because you are use to it and everyone around you is doing it?
True=you can explain this yourself.

So i got a challenge for you:
1. Wheres your heart?
2. Why do you do this?
3. Why did you choose God?
4. Are you what i call "auto" worship or true worship?

Why Read the Bible and Why is the Bible so Important? 10-22-08

2008-10-22T23:16:00.001-07:00

Why Read the Bible and Why is the Bible so Important?

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Have you ever thought of why to read your Bible? I know. As a little kid from a Christian home. I always have to go to Church and do all those stuff on Sunday. Maybe because of this during my 3rd-5th grade, my relationship with God was invisible. There was no relationship at all. In 6th grade, I started to learn about God and about the relationship I had with God. Maybe it was in my future that God has put me into the point of reading my Bible. Why?

The Bible has many many passages. It was the word of God. It protects you and mature you physically and spiritually. How? Like if you had peer pressure and you know a passage from the Bible, then that passage might help calm you down or help you fight that you should have a positive attitude. Like everyone has temptation and I tell you, when I had to fight those temptation, I used praying and also Bible verses that helps me calm down. For now my favorite verse is Romans 13:14 because it tells me to stay with Jesus Christ rather than to think about temptation. (go and read your Bible to find my favorite verses).

The word of God is a really powerful object. From Hebrews 4:12, it said that the word of God is powerful and sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword.

John 1: 1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The amazing thing about the word of God/Bible is that God created the Bible. I mean not like God wrote it even though He told others to write it but God put the word into the Bible. He created this. The ones who wrote the Bible was given the words to write from God. It is really amazing because God has given the word of God to us so that we can use the word of God to help us. Think about this. Without the Bible, then there would be no record and if there is no record then we wouldn't know Jesus Christ. If we didn't know Jesus Christ, we would die and would never see our Heavenly Father. Also without the Bible, we wouldn't have evidence about Christianity. So the Bible is a very important book in our life that guide us.

Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.

I Thessalonians 2:13
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

Back 10-21-08

2008-10-21T21:05:00.000-07:00

Wow!!! We just got back from Grand Canyon last night and had school today so we are pretty tired. It was amazing seeing how God formed all those Canyons!!!! (i get into detail with tonight devo =) )

So we are back and hopefully you guys missed us! I just want to give an update before i typed today devo up:
1. LAYOUT~HTML- i finally figured it out but because of school its going to take longer then i thought. I have no weekend free no more so its going to take a long time!!!
2. Devos we took notes and are ready to start writing again. (New devo series coming up soon give us ideas =)
3. We finally got a current recent picture ( the picture of the cross was at our youth camp 2 years ago!!!!!!!!!!2006!!)
4. other then that keep praying for each other and us that we can keep writing for Him!

see you in a bit got to finish these last 2 hws devos should be up before 12:00 like always!

Today daily devo:
Psalm 147:4
4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.

So i want to say IM BACK!!! haha well like i promise that special devo is coming tomorrow. Instead today im here to talk about God's creation!

So most of you guys know we just came back from the Grand Canyon and God just overwhelmed me. He showed me how amazing His creation is, how we can fellowship with each other, and most importantly He improve my relationship with Him!

Sounds more like a blessing post doesnt it haha! Well here's the real devo:
Look up above you at night what do you see? Stars and moon. Just staring at those 2 things shows amazing how God is! I mean He can create all that and know all of them by name! Dude i have a hard time knowing my friends name (no offense haha). My youth mentor once told me that sometimes we lose our interst in God and we got to remember everywhere we look is how amazing He is.

Im going to be honest lately i been feeling really far from my Father. But after this trip staring how great each canyon and each of His creation is i came back to Him with tears in my eye. Sure this is not a retreat or a worship camp. It was a trip that was design to learn but instead i got 2 lessons out of it. 1. Education 2. God and how amazing He is!

I know this is a weird devo because im really tired and its short but i have a challenge for you:
Hows your relationship?
Losing your interest look everywhere around you at His creation! Remember why you serve Him!

Part 2:
Paint balling (i have a special devo not for tonight but it uses the analogy of paint balling!)

Break 10-14-08

2008-10-14T21:31:00.000-07:00

AGC is taking a break from devos till next tuesday. We are going on a school trip and there is just no way we can type devos during the trip. So we are sorry but its a really good time to catch up on your Bible reading

How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.”- 2 Samuel 7:22 When we go to Grand Canyon there is going to be super evidence of God amazing creations. I'll be sure to take pictures and post it on next weeks devos =)

When we get back. We have a harder but awesome topic and that is how is temptation and sinning actually good for us? Doesn't sound right does it we'll you will see!! So see you all in 1 week.

Therefore remember:
Proverbs 3:5-6
Keep reading the Bible and learning for Him

see ya!
Ally Greg Chris

Bible Reading 10-13-08

2008-10-13T21:34:00.001-07:00

Well like in my last devo i told most of you guys "Dont let this replace the Bible."

So right now instead of a regularly daily devo just start reading like 1 chapter in the Bible at least =).

But of course devo are here to help and guide you so why dont i give you some tips:

1. Always read ACTS first (just joking read anywhere but i recommend the new testament)
2. Pray (Lord give me the strength to understand your word)
3. Read
b. Think
c. Apply
d. keep reading
4. Pray (your quiet time that you have every night)

Healthy Friendship? Real Friends?? 10-12-08

2008-10-12T22:46:00.000-07:00

Healthy Friendship? Real Friends??

Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Are you in a healthy friendship? Do you have friends that you can really trust? Are they your real friends or just your “real” friends? How can you know when someone is your real friend or not?

I have many friends that I can call friends only but there is some that I can call my true real friends. How do I know? I know because in everything I do, I can trust them to keep it a secret and they also can hear any problems I have. Some of my “real” friends are just friends that need me for help; they don't really care about me...do they? Are your “real” friends there when you need help? Will they risk their life for you? I would risk my life for my close friends and I would truly would; I'm also sure that my real friends would too. Another way you can know if you have real friends is that does your friends lead you into good things like good education, help you study or do they lead you into bad stuff like drugs, bad movies, and maybe in pornography.

Proverbs 8:24
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Does your friends really bring you to ruin? Do not be afraid because you have a friend that is closer than any friend you have. His name is Jesus Christ! It is true because in your baddest time, Jesus Christ is there. He will carry you through your pain and trials. He is always at your side. The only thing that we have to do is ask for His help. Jesus Christ is always ready for you. Once you ask for help, He will take attention or maybe He already took action but only you didn't know. As He take attention though, it does not mean that you will find a difference in one day! It might take months, days, and maybe years! Are you in trouble with friendship? Look for Jesus Christ! Ask and pray for help! Jesus Christ is ready for you!

Temptation Part 6: 1 Cor 10:13

2008-10-11T22:40:00.001-07:00

Theme Verse:
1 Cor 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted He will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

So far the week we been talking about things that tempt us the most as (middleschoolers). Of course there is more than 5 temptation because of Grand Canyon we have to stop for a bit.

Entire week 1 Cor 10:13 was the theme verse. Hopefully it helped you! But we never really explained the verse.

First you got to understand what temptation means. Temptation is just another word for messing you up so you can not focus on your relationship with God.

Second it can also mean a good thing. Remeber the verse James 1:2. Temptation is also consider a trial because God can allow you through many temptation through a day.
Of course remember God doesnt like give it to you. God lets Satan give it to you. Beacause God knows you are strong and and you can show God's glory while being tempted. So it helps you grow in your relationship with Christ.

Third lets explain the verse: no temptation has seized you except what is common to man. This means all the temptation cannont get you unless that temptation is common to man like drugs, smoking, etc.

And God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. Just like this part says means what is says. God is faithful He wont let you be tempted more than you can handle. In easier sense of words.

But when you are tempted He will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. Like it said when you do get tempted there is always a way out. So that you can stand under it and run.

My bestfriend shared this verse with me. When i was starting the temptation series i never knew the theme verse. But God had a plan Jermiah 29:11. Next thing you know maybe God told my bestfriend to tell me that verse for writing devos. Also before i started writing i really got tempted often so this verse helps. Can you believe it God works in so many small ways?

Today we were at Yosmite and we got a chance to climb to a waterfall. It was so nice and refreshing. But as you go up it gets hotter and it gets winder. Well just like temptation the more you let Satan get you, the hotter it gets and winder. Till you cant bear it anymore you either faint or get blown off. Once you faith or get blown off thats when you know you let Satan take the best out of you. But always remeber God is there catching you waking you up each time you fall..............So what now:

Reflection question:
1. Did the temptation mini week 1 help you? (you heard me mini week 1 full plan comming soon)
2. Will you stand and walk away when you get tempted?
3. Hows your relationship with God now?

( the reason i sometimes dont write verses is i admit sometimes i am lazy. But at the same time its good for you to search it up in the Bible just because we write these devos dont let it replace your Bible!)

Temptation Part 5: Wandering away from God 10-10-08

2008-10-10T21:05:00.000-07:00

(CHRIS: today is not my devo...but anyways we had 4 of the main temptation that (us 3) face on a daily bases. We would continue more of the temptation seris but right now we are going to Grand Canyon next week and with so much to do on the weekend we wont have devos for next week from wensday to monday so im srry...other then that this must be one of the ultimate temptation that is hidden but sneaks up like a rober. Sit back, read, apply, thank Greg for this awsome devo, And most importantly Thank God + quiet time:

Greg:

Themeverese:
Matthew 18:10-14

1 Cor 10:13

Have you ever wandered away from your mom when you were little? Did your mom go on a desprate search to find you? Was she relieved when she did? This type is senario is very similar to the parble opf the lost sheep.

The parble of the lost sheep is this: A man who owns a hundred sheep is counting his sheep, when he discovers that one is missing. When he finally finds the sheepm he is happier about that one sheep than the 99 that did not wander off.

God is just likie this. He is the shepard that guides us everyday. Should we choose to wander off, he is there to find us and get us on our way.

Question:
1. Do you face a temptation to wander off from God?

2. What type of things make you/us want to wander off?

Temptation Part 4.2: How to deal with lust? 10-9-08

2008-10-09T21:33:00.000-07:00

I Corinthians 1:8
He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Keep strong! As you know that yesterday's topic was lust. How do you overcome lust? Okay first we must know what is lust. Lust is a want of sexual desire. How badly can you get into lust? A lot. I tell you it is every where. Internet, world, television, and many other places around you. The best thing is to avoid even watching or looking at lustful things. Once you look at once, you'll be suck in.

Now if you really did really got sucked in and you know you shouldn't continue to look, what should you do? The only thing I can think is pray to God. As I was struggling with this, I remember passing through failure, give up times, and also sad times but I still didn't give up. WHY? Because I know one day I can overcome lust. Do not GIVE UP! Another thing you can do is look for memory verses in the Bible and memorize them to help you when you are in the danger zone of about to sinning in lust. Keep you faith strong!
I Corinthians 16:13
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.

Are you keeping your faith strong? Are you trusting God? This is only something that you must continue to grow. Your faith. Faith gives you the hope of continue to trying even though you sinned so many times. Remember God will always forgive but do not take that mercy for granted.

God is an almighty God who have gone through temptations. Remember Jesus Christ being tempted by Satan? This is the same thing with us. Jesus Christ has OVERCOME temptation! We can also OVERCOME lust if we just have the strong faith and remember God is always with us!

Psalm 33:21
In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

Stay Close to the Lord and keep your faith STRONG!! Pray to God for help. And most important DON'T GIVE UP because your not the only one who is trying to fight against lust!

I Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Temptation part 4: Lust and Modern day ... 10-08-08

2008-10-08T22:02:00.000-07:00

Theme Verse:
1 Cor 10:13
13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he
will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

1 Corinthians 6:11-13
12"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13"Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

This topic is harder to type because almost all of us struggle with it. Almost everyone is embarrassed about it but because it one of those temptation even 6th graders face with now. I thought i would just go a bit deeper then my first devo
But not to much because this is a really hard topic.......actually writing any of these are hard topics haha....

Its after school Thursday and you are walking home. You decided you were hungry so you walk into the store and take a piece of candy. You go in saying Hi to everyone but once you get to that candy section. Boy does your guilt kill you! Finally after being all sweaty and heart beating so fast you take the candy stuff it in your pocket. Still sweating and you're heart is beating so fast you start walking outside. You made it out the door how do you feel now?

Well i bet you feel i did it maybe i can do it some more! Yea i should shouldnt i!?

Well lets apply this to modern day lust/porn.... Today in the world anywhere we walk that stuff is all over the walls. Even in target.. Its just everywhere!! Theres no where in the Bible that says "Thou shall not look at porn" Well so because it doesnt say that it means we can look at it?

OF COURSE NOT! 1 Corinthians 6:11-13 look at that verse tells us that we can do anything. But not everything is good for us. Remember our bodies are a temple for the Holy Spirit..(in you're head i know you are thinking about smoking we can talk about that another day once i learn it haha) So we shouldnt do anything bad to it. Remember in the Gospel Jesus tell us if we even look at a women lustfully in your mind you already committed adultery. Well same with porn when we look at that stuff most of our heads are telling us to lust.

Think thats it how about this most parents tell us not to look at porn right. Well in the Bible it tells us obey our parents because this pleases the Lord. So you basically sin 3 times...or more.....
1. Lust
2. not everything is beneficial for us
3. disobey your parents

Well alot of people in your school does it (doesnt matter public or private) and they talk about it. Knowing you are a Christian you have a hard time saying that you dont do it. Well i admit i struggle with the exact same thing im typing. Of course i dont want to be a hypocrite so this is like my motivation to help me not to sin!

Remember the theme verse for this week(?) No temptation is greater than what is common to man. We can beat it! God wont let us bare more than we can handle!!!! Remember that God is good, amazing, awesome, loving, helpful, and MERCIFUL!

Ok lets go back to the candy bar example when you steal it you want more right. Well for a non Christian that might be true i want to lust more!! At the same time this is true for a Christian to. If Satan draws you too far then you are going to start saying i want more!!! But if you are a strong Christian and Satan just wack you with so much and you just gave up and sin. Then you should feel really guilty but remember God says even in the middle when you are looking at that stuff. You are His child. Even during sinning He looks at you and say YOU ARE MY CHILD....Dude...thats like......ultimate love....

So like my first devo said Christian if you do sin let go of it God forgave you. Forgive yourself and worship the Lord you're God with all your heart......

So with that....im not going to have question or anything instead
im just going to stop here and give you quiet time look at your relationship with God....

Temptation Part 3: Lying 10-07-08

2008-10-07T09:58:00.000-07:00

Read: Acts 5 1st chapter

Themeverse:
Acts 5

1 Cor 10:13

You are a toll collector. It's $6 to park in your parking lot. Life is good. Your boss loves you, business is good, and you get extra money on your own. WAIT...? Get extra money? Yep, for every $6 you collect, you pocket $2. That means you steal $100 for every 50 cars that come to pay. One day you just might get caught lying and you would have to pay back all the money you stole.

Ananias and Sapphira did the exact same thing. They had just sold a piece of land. They wanted to present the money to the church. Before they presented the money though, they lied and took some of the money for themselves. Lying to the church is the same thing as lying to God, so God punished them. Ananias and Sapphira both died.

People are caught lying all the time. These days, people lie about their business, their family, their friends, etc. In Ephesians 6:16, Paul writes, "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." As Christians, we must take up the shield of faith so we can protect ourselves from these temptations.

1. Do you feel that Satan has been firing arrows of temptation recently?
2. Have you been feeling more and more that lying is an easier way out?

Temptation Part 2: Peer Pressure????? Cussing? Friends? Grades???? 10-6-08

2008-10-06T21:49:00.000-07:00

Peer Pressure????? Cussing? Friends? Grades????

theme verese:
1 Cor 10:13 (Yep theme verese for the temptations seris)
13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Have you thought of how when you put your hand on a balloon and then you push in really hard, then the balloon will pop??? It's because of pressure as I think you already guessed. Have you ever thought about that balloon being us? Like if something put pressure on you, and at a certain point you will just explode.

Well, in our society, I guess many people around us already has become the exploded balloons. Would peer pressure be the reason why people starts becoming emo??? I don't know but how does peer pressure even start?

Some might start from friends, some from parents, or maybe from cussing? Friends...how does your friends give you pressure? Hmmm....drugs? Alcohol? Maybe...Sometimes if you hang out with the wrong crowd, you might get pressure..They might say... “try some of these drugs...it makes you feel good” or “come on...its only a sip....be a man!” Well, what do you do? You know these things are wrong but can you resist saying “no” to your friends? That is something you must ask yourself. Did you create a wall that can help resist saying “yes” to everything your friends said is ok but it isn't really? That is peer pressure from friends. Hope you choose your friend WISELY..

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." I Corinthians 15:33

How about parents? Now I'm from an Asian family. Asian family has strict rules for good grades. Everything is about gradeeee.... Get an A+! This is what Asian family wants but is it good to get pressure by our parents? There is a good side and a bad side. Good side is they make you get good grade. Well good grade = good school = good job? Right? Bad side is that if your parents pressure you sooo much then you will eventually explode. Like literally you will not talk to your parents or maybe even get away from there because you are scared of them pressuring you. What you can do to stop them from pressuring you is that you can ask them to stop pressuring you to get good grades and said “If you stop pressuring me on grades, then I'll get a good grade!” but that does not mean that if they stop pressuring, you must maintain your grade and not get lower or else it would be better if they do pressure you.

Cussing.....ohhh...cussing...I'm sure in this generation, cussing has dramatically increase. You turn a corner, you'll hear cussing..How does that pressure you? Think about others. How about if someone in your class don't like cussing. How you think of them? How would you feel of someone know something that you don't like and they use it against you? Cussing is something that we shouldn't even do. It just some word that you use for no reason....Like What the HELL (I'm just using as example), why can't we just use WHAT?! There is no reason to use cussing words? What is it good for? Is it because everyone uses it and you just want to be like them? Words are used to help build others and not to hurt others...I can say that cussing words can hurt others. Please use your word WISELY......and I hope your words that comes out is good for others. I'm sure I have said words that hurt others and not help others. I hope all of us can watch out.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for
building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

Are you hanging out with the right crowd? Are you cussing a lot? Do you want to stop it, the only answer is God. Pray....Prayer is really powerful....(Thank you Chris for helping me find verses)

This is Chris:
Greg is going to talk about lieing....
Im going to talk about lust/porn
couple more temptation serious
then 1 big special devo to wrap it up before we go to grandcanyon!
Finaly devo for this would be 1 Cor 10:13 finnaly explained!

Temptation Part 1: Pride 10-05-08

2008-10-05T21:45:00.000-07:00

So we decided to start a seris of temptations and today is part 1 pride:

Theme Verese:
1 Cor 10:13
13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Luke 18:14
14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

So you are in the spotlight about to make the winning shot. The whole crowd cheers for you like no other. Then you raise your hand telling everyone i am going to make it. Take the shot coach yells at you. You turn youre head and say its ok i will make it! Shoot and you miss! ouch

Or lets say you shoot and you make it in. You stick your tongue out at others saying WHAT NOW! Bragging into everyone's face.. Next thing you know you start telling people could you do that! I dont think so!

Well what do you guys think of this super start? One word: PRIDEFUL! Well most of us have it but we dont show it. When i lead worship sometime i do get really prideful. Saying "oh i can do this you cant" Its in my head and satan is trying to get my attention away from worshipiping God. Thats when you need to pray right away.

Anyone can get pride from sport, worship, or anytime you are better then someone. There are 2 ways you can always use to get out of pride. First step is always pray! no matter what! Second step is always remeber there is someone greater than you. Like when i play guitar i know James is better than me. Or of course God is always greater in everything!

Remeber in 1 cor 10:13 God doesnt let us be tempted more then we can bare!!!

Roman 8:16
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Or lets say someone is born with disorder. You are born healthy and fine. So you say you are better than this person. Or you look down on them. Thats being prideful there are so many ways you can be proudful. Guess what God made all of his in HIS IMAGE! so dont look down at others.

Pride is just another temptation we have to deal with!
You have to pray to God. And do anything till you stop being proudful.

Questions:
1. So what temptation is hindering you from God?
2. Also what are you most prideful about.

Mr Christopher Yuan message part 2 10-04-08

2008-10-04T20:58:00.000-07:00

well today devo is really special no one from AGC wrote it. This time its from well you'll see you gota read the devo other then that get ready for an LAYOUT update really soon...anyways heres today devo:

On Friday, I had the opportunity to hear Christopher Yuan speak at chapel. He had many points to his speech, but one stuck with me the most: “Are you a thermometer or a thermostat?”

All of you must be thinking, “What?! What does this mean? What do you mean by a thermometer, a thermostat?!”

Well, imagine if it was a really cold winter morning. You go downstairs and look at the thermometer hanging on the wall. What do you see on the thermometer? You read something around 40˚ F, right? Ok, now imagine it’s a really hot day in July. You’re sweating just sitting there. You go look at the thermometer again, and now what do you see? Something like 80˚ F, right? As you can see, the thermometer’s reading changes as the weather around it changes.

Now, a thermostat, however, CHANGES the weather. Even if it’s freezing cold, you can make your house nice and snuggly. If it’s burning hot outside, you can make it nice and cold. A thermostat changes the weather. You can set the thermostat to the way you want the temperature to be.

So now you have this question: “Are you a thermometer or a thermostat?”

Are you like the thermometer that is affected by its environment? In other words, are you affected by your surroundings and the people around you? Do you just ‘go with the flow’ and follow what your friends do? Let’s say your friends decided to start cussing one day. They say it’s ok, and everyone is doing it. Do you do it too? Everyone at school seems to be watching pornography and making jokes about inappropriate things. Does your view on those things change? You know it’s wrong, but now that everyone says it’s ok. Do you think its okay now too?

Or, are you like the thermostat that changes its surroundings. Do you try to make an impact on the people around you? Are you the trend setter? Just because everyone is cussing, do you know that it is wrong and stick with that? Do you try to stop your friends and explain to them that it isn’t the right thing to do?

Be like the thermostat that stands firm rather than the thermometer that goes up and down and changes as the environment changes. Be the trend setter and stand firm with what you know is right. Turn to God when it’s tough, and it seems like you’re the only one. God will guide you, and He will open your eyes to the path that is right; if you just ask with one simple prayer.

This is written from our guest writer today, Tiffany Lim. She has made a very good point. Thank You for writing and sharing!

1) Do you get affected by your environment?
2) After this devotion, would you still be a thermometer or would you change into a thermostat?

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (These verses was heard from our speaker Mr Christopher Yuan. Thank You for showing us these verses.)
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Thanks

2008-10-03T23:27:00.000-07:00

So thanks everyone who came tonight!
Thanks to Christopher Yuan or Mr. Yuan i should say to share his testimony..that was my 3rd time hearing it and it was better each time! Thanks to the worship team everyone did great. Also thanks to everyone who worship God tonight. You showed me how amazing God is

and now goodnight!

Good Job and Reflection 10-03-08

2008-10-03T23:26:00.001-07:00

Good Job and Reflection!
So most of you know today 10-03-08 was our youth rally! How many of you guys enjoy it? Those who didn’t go that’s ok! Well we had a really special speaker come and his name is Christopher Yuan (same first name as me YEAA!). He shared his life and that was just plain amazing! God works in so many ways trust me if I can change (maybe one day I share my FULL testimony) then anyone can!

Theme verse for today devo:
Exodus 23:25a (just the first part)
Worship the LORD your God,

Mark 8:38
38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

But that’s not the point most of us clap and give thanks to the worship team but in reality everyone deserves a clap and a job well done. Well most of you guys in your head are probably saying I didn’t do anything. Well actually you did…worshiping our true Lord and Savior of this earth is something you did well. If you had your hand lifted high jumping that deserve a good round applause to. I know this sound like my other devo well it is part 2 basically (Heart of Worship) Why you ask? Well if you’re not ashamed and jumped that can cause a chain reaction especially if you are popular. Most people are embarrass and scared and what others think when they jump. But if you do starts this person then starts this person before you know it almost everyone in the room is jumping.

I don’t know about you but that deserve a well done! This is pretty short devo (maybe the shortest one I will every type ha-ha)

Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have made a SEPARATION between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you so that He does not hear

Of course don’t be guilty you didn’t do any of that. If you were singing or meditating or praying that’s great to. Like our speaker said build that relationship with Him. It’s no longer just a religion (of course Christianity is not a religion I explain that later!) You have a relation ship with God and that’s so important. That’s basically Christianity. Other religions are you trying to go to heaven. But in Christianity that’s not the case because God called and rescue you! YES YOU!

Matthew 10:37-38
37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

So like Christopher said today we might not live tomorrow stop procasting. And start doing. I am not trying to be a hyproicate here because I have a tough time with that to. Sometimes I want to do this but I know I’m suppose to do something else so I postpone it till tomorrow. But we don’t know if we are going to live tomorrow or the end times are coming! So always once saved put God first!

So I have couple things for you to think about today:
Question:

1. How’s your relationship with God?
2. Are you affecting others around you when you worship!?

FOCUS????!!! 10-2-08

2008-10-02T22:37:00.001-07:00

FOCUS????!?!?

FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS!!....As you read this devotion, I hope you can focus and take whatever you are doing and stop and concentrate. What do you see??

FOCUs.....On Wednesday, 10/1, I was at my with my mom and watching her practice for worship. As I was listening, I saw something very interesting that got my attention to write this devotion.

When the worship team was practicing, three children was running around (the children are the worship team member's child). I was really not focusing of what they were singing but actually looking at them! As I continue to see them having fun, I looked at the worship team and saw that they were actually trying to focus on singing the songs they are practicing rather than asking the children to be quiet.

Deut. 6:5
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Psalms 5:8
Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies make straight your way before me.

As I continue to listen and watch them, I thought of how it relates to us. We, as Christian, should focus on God and nothing else. Our main point of this world is for God and God only. Riches, achievements, even earthly loves is nothing more important than God alone. Are you focusing on God? Or are you just struggling with you temptation or anything that you are in trouble with and just wait until you really need God? God can help you anytime. It would be a rather a wise choice to ask Him for help instantly because He can heal you faster than you struggling by yourself (but it does not mean you still won't struggle with it). God is your strength. You must trust in Him and just ask for His help anytime. He will always be there.
Questions to ask Yourself:
1)Are you giving everything that is bothering to you with God? Why and why not?
2)Are you focusing on God or are you still in the earthly things?

2 Thessalonians 3:5
May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.

Bad Grammar

2008-10-01T20:35:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone...I'm Allison/Ally...one of the writers.

I'm very sorry for the many mistake of the grammar but hope you can find out what the words are or you can just pretend it is a scrabble game xD
Good luck with reading the devotion that God as given us the idea to write.

Easy Button 10-01-08

2008-10-01T19:45:00.000-07:00

Exodus 15:2
The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him.

Hmmmm....
What if life had an easy button! Wouldnt that make everything easier. I mean like lets say you get into an arguement with your friends then all you had to do was press a button in your locker and you guys are friends again. Or during a test you get stuck and you can finish it. You want that easy A and you know its not right but you have an easy button with you press it all done.

Wow! I would'nt want to live in this world then. Cause its in our blood to sin and i know for a fact people would use it for the wrong reason. But then again it would be nice to have a easy button.

So why am i talking about an easy button? Well we do have an easy button. (i bet most of you guys are like what no way! MAN) Well guess what we do have an easy button and i will let you guess who that is.....

God is our easy button. Whenever we are going through tough times we can always pray to HIM. Of couse nothing is going to get back to normal fast but He will help you. I can promise you that. He has 3 anwsers Yes, Wait, and No. Not only that you have to remeber God's timming is the prefect one.

Lets use the example of trying to save someone. Well lets say you have this friend that started getting intreasted in Christ and needed help. You try everything to help him but he still doesnt get it. Well you pray to God about it ask Him please Lord let me be his guide so he can come to you. And God decideds to say lets wait. And you are like no come on! But you dont know what God wants maybe He wants to save this person and at the same time his timming is prefect so instead of 1 person getting save you save 2.

I admit i was struggling with something yestday. And i kinda blew it because i didint turn to God till the very end. But when i did God was like its ok its ok. Afterwards i got through it not by myself but with God's help.

We are living in a war. Day by day and night by night. Fighting to keep each other alive in our spiritual lives. Satan goes out for each and every Christian weak and strong. But remeber we always have an easy button helping us and guiding us to make us stronger. And getting us out of the fight.

So this entire devo in couple words:
God = Easy button = gives us strength

So i encourge you this week each temptation you go through or anything turn to God and ask Him to give you the strength.