From air hockey (literally) to taking action (spiritually)

Abbie sharing her testimony and a little game of "down, down, down"

"down, down, down" round 2 and "air Hockey!"

Thankfully no one passed out.

The night started with an assortment of interesting games including- "air hockey" in which players had to blow their way to goals, "Down, Down, Down" an unusual game of catch that could end with you on the floor, a game of getting from one side of the room to the other with only paper, and finally round two of "Down, Down, Down".

We enjoy having fun but we also were able to hear one of our graduating seniors, Abbie share her heart and the things that God has done in her life over the past few years and where He is taking her in the year to come. This is something new that the group is trying out- listening to what God is doing and has done in the lives of our peers.

It is cool that even though are stories are not exactly the same- you can still see similarities in the ways that God shines through and molds each story. I know that I was touched by Abbie's story.

We were also challenged to process, struggle, and wrestle through our salvation. 2 Corinthians 13:5 tells believers to examine themselves to see whether or not they are in the faith. So often we come to church events, listen to the sermon, sit in our small groups but very rarely to we seek to apply the things we've been learning- Action is a major part of Christianity and salvation. Salvation is never merely based off of words. It is a work of the grace of God and ways that you can see evidence of that work is through your actions-

We've all seen a version of these words from Jesus during our sing-along times in Sunday school but I truly believe that we have failed to recognize the importance of what these words mean:

Luke 6:46-49:
"Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? "Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. "But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great."

My personal hope is that we not only hear the words of Jesus Christ but that we seek to live those words out from Monday through Saturday. It is one thing to label yourself as a Christian within the walls of a Church Annex building for an hour on Sunday night- it is completely another thing to do as Jesus instructs in Luke 9:23-

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me."

Learning is a daily process- it takes application- and in order to apply the things that are being taught we must learn to examine ourselves and process.

Last night we had a good time of quiet reflection before the Lord- we asked ourselves tough questions: such as "How can I take everything that God has given to me and give those things back to Him", "How can I honor Him with my lifestyle?", and "How can I repent of the lifestyle I've chosen to live- denying God instead of myself?"

True Christianity requires repentance- it requires a heart change- and it requires action. If we are truly going to know God- and learn to love Him because HE IS EVERYTHING not just because of everything He gives than we must seek Him daily.