God didn't give us eternal life and bring us into His family so we could live life like everyone else. But we keep sliding back toward the average, toward fitting in with the world almost without even realizing it. We make choices that complicate our lives and end up feeling like "I'm not like everybody else, but I'm not sure the difference is too noticeable." I constantly need encouragement to live out my life in Christ, and not just live out my life.

So here's a couple thoughts that are encouraging to me and I hope will do you all some good, too.

Love God --> Love People --> Serve Others --> Reach Out

See you soon!

Jeff


I Can Just Plan on a Nice Average Christian Life

Refuting the Myths of Christianity (part 5)

 

Give it up for God—your life.  Romans 12:1 WSV

 

 

Jesus Is Not Asking Me To Be a Regular Guy

 

Passing along the beach of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew net-fishing. Fishing was their regular work. Jesus said to them, “Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I’ll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.” They didn't ask questions. They dropped their nets and followed.     Mark 1:16 MSG

 

 

*  Pursue the Not Average

 

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.         Colossians 3:10 NLT

 

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.       Colossians 3:13-14 NIV

 

 

*  Refuse To Act Ordinary

 

Take your everyday, ordinary life ... and place it before God as an offering. ... Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.   Romans 12:1-2 MSG

 

You are still following the ways of the world. Some of you are jealous. Some of you argue. So aren’t you following the ways of the world? Aren't you acting like ordinary human beings?       1 Corinthians 3:3 NIRV

 

Some people think that we are only guided by human motives. 2 Corinthians 10:2 GWV

 

All must turn from their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do. ...this radical turn to God and everything it meant in everyday life.     Acts 26:20 NLT MSG

 

 

*  Live Like This World Is Temporary

 

There is no time to waste, so don't complicate your lives unnecessarily. Keep it simple —in marriage, grief, joy, whatever. Even in ordinary things—your daily routines of shopping, and so on. Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you. This world as you see it is on its way out.           1 Corinthians 7:29-31 MSG

 

 

*  Expect To Be Misunderstood

 

If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at.            2 Corinthians 4:7 MSG

 

 

*  Choose Above Average Expectations for Others

 

By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because

they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.  Hebrews 11:23 NIV


 

 

 

God has put us together as Ridgewood to:

 

 Get Out the Good News

 Gladly Glorify God

 Grow More and More Godly

 Give Our Gifts Generously

 Gain Genuine Grace-Filled Friendships