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INFUSED YOUR LIFE CONNECTED TO GOD WEEK ONE - TRUSTING GOD’S AWESOMENESS - PAGE 7 WEEK TWO - TRUSTING GOD’S LOVE - PAGE 33 WEEK THREE - TRUSTING GOD’S JOY - PAGE 56 WEEK FOUR - TRUSTING GOD’S PURPOSE - PAGE 78 WEEK FIVE - TRUSTING GOD’S PLAN - PAGE 100 INFUSED CREDITS: AUTHORS TONY SCHWARTZ FRANK TAPPE CHRIS TRETHEWEY
EDITOR KAREN ENGLERT
DESIGN AND LAYOUT NATE FARRO
WEEK ONE TRUSTING GOD’S AWESOMENESS
The Wonder Twins were my favorite super heroes growing up. Sure they’re pretty obscure and neither strong nor flashy, but to me, they were the coolest, hands down. By doing a fist pump and declaring, “Wonder Twins IN FUS ED Powers Activate!” they could instantly transform.
WEEK 1 | DAY 1
SUPERHERO
BIG IDEA | GROW CLOSE TO GOD
Plus they had a pet monkey named Gleek. Who doesn’t want a pet monkey?
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT http://bit.ly/zaK8S
My sister and I spent hours playing Wonder Twins in this make-believe land of no boundaries. I was “Zan,” able to turn myself into any form of water – gas, liquid or solid. As solid ice, I would shape into a spear, a jail or anything necessary to “save the day” (or not, as was often the case). Michele was the shape shifter “Jayna,” transforming into any animal of choice, whether real, fictional, or even extinct. If recent blockbuster movies are any indication, I’m not alone in this fascination with superheroes. What fictional character (superhero, Greek mythology, Star Wars, etc.) did you pretend to be as a child?
Grasp this:Yes, God is giving like Santa Claus, but he doesn’t just give us what we want. He gives what is best for us.Yes, God is allpowerful like the Hulk and our sin makes him extremely angry.Yes, God desires for all to love him and for us to love each other, but his definition of love is completely different than our earthly perspective of love. God is all of this and so much more. He is God. He is all-powerful – all-knowing – all-seeing – all-loving – perfect – holy –just –merciful – righteous – perfect – HE IS GOD. God wants a personal relationship with you. He wants you to know and love him as intimately as he knows and loves you. Luke 12:7 says, “And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” (NLT)
Did you know the number of hairs on your head changes daily? Who cares? He does. He cares enough to know even the tiniest details about you. James 4:8a says, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” (NLT)
write your answer here
Now let me ask another question. Stop and think about this.
Do you see God as a fictional character? I know your quick answer is a resounding NO! You would probably say, “That’s a stupid question. God is God. He’s not Batman, Zeus or Santa Claus.” Really? Let’s take a look. Do you think God is more likely to answer your prayers if you do and say the right things? Then maybe you view God as Santa Claus. Do you think that if you or the world does something bad enough that God will get explode in anger and rage from the heavens? Then you may view God as the Incredible Hulk. Do you think God sits in heaven with the singular goal of seeking out those he loves and bringing them back to him? Maybe you see God as Cupid.
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As you go through Infused in the next 31 days, you’ll confront things you’ve tried to keep hidden. You’ll face realities you’ve tried desperately to avoid. These are all important, but the most crucial part of this journey is growing closer to God. The closer you are to God, the more your life will reflect him. The closer you are to God, the more you understand him and what he desires you to become. The closer you are to God, the more clearly you see his purpose for you.
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y ortunit . anopp lly nge.It’s it persona It lle a h c . pply aily yourd read and a accomplish ant Stepis to Takea what you’ve take hours isisasignific e a k th ’t e a t to tak orry, it won inutes.Bau st it. Read T on. a ti w Don’t lytakeafewm don’t blow p ut it into ac p o n mayo e journey. S intent. Then th part of h pause and it Step w
P E T S TAKE A
Today’s Take a Step today simple. Memorize James 4:8a. “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”
It’s only eleven words; you can do it! Don’t just memorize it. Repeat it over and over again. It is the foundation for this thirty-one day journey. Your goal is to grow a little closer to God each day. Remember, he is not some untouchable superhero or a fictional character. He is as real as it gets. He is accessible 24/7. And he desires to walk with you everyday of your life.
TIPS FOR MEMORIZING • Type the verse into your phone and look at it throughout the day. • Write it on your hand. • Tape it to your bathroom mirror, or to a book or folder that you use everyday. • Post it on Facebook so you see it with every log in.
BIG IDEA | HOW YOU SEE GOD AFFECTS HOW YOU TRUST GOD
IMAGE OF GOD WEEK 1 | DAY 2
I was fat as kid. I’m talking huge, whale-like, Michelin Man, fat. After all, I wore husky jeans, which I considered the universal sign (meaning neon – flashing – spinning - on the Las Vegas strip type of sign.) that I was fat. I didn’t just have double or even triple chins. I was headed for the Guinness World Record for the number of chins on one person. In French, it’s “le gros mome”. I hated looking in the mirror. At the swimming pool rolls of fat hung exposed over the edge of my undersized suit. I just knew people were thinking, “Stop eating Twinkies! Eat a carrot! Get on a treadmill and lose some weight!”
Your image of God has evolved through life experiences.Your mom and dad shaped it based on their view of God and the extent of his role in their lives. Your church added to the mix, and later, your friends as you continued to grow. Your pain, suffering, trials, joys, accomplishments and victories have all played a significant role. Your prayers, both answered and unanswered, influenced your perception of God.
My teen years were filled with intense moments of selfhate for my appearance and how I thought others saw me. The image was constant, haunting and self-deprecating. It defined my relationships and how I interacted with people.
Take a moment and look closely at each of these words that describe God on the next two pages. Don’t just glance at to get done for the day. Really read each word and think about what it means to you personally and what it means about God.
HOW
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter it was formed but just that it did. And just like the false image I had of myself, your image of God may not be accurate. Your image of God is foundational.
Fast-forward 20 years. My parents retired to LasVegas and brought me boxes of stuff from my childhood. There were favorite stuffed animals, school projects, broken toys, and all kinds of former treasures. Memories rushed in with staggering clarity as I slowly unpacked box after box. In a metal box, I found Piffle and Poofle, two little cloth ball animals in their own little house that I built, complete with a wooden TV and table. A stack of pictures chronicled every school year and love notes from old girlfriends.
T U O K C E H C T X E THE N PAGE
Then came a self-portrait I didn’t recall.Tears ran down my cheeks as I sat trying to get my mind around the image.This was not at all what I remembered. For more than two decades I deceived myself with lies about my weight. But the shirtless kid wearing soccer shorts told another story. My self-image was completely wrong. I wasn’t fat at all. In fact, I didn’t have an ounce of fat on me. I was skinny as a stick and actually could’ve put on a few pounds. How did I develop such a false perception?Why did I let myself carry it around for so long? It was an absolute lie that I bought into and allowed to define me. Let me ask you a question . . .
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What does this exercise reveal about how you see God? Meditate over your choices and ask God to make himself known to you more completely, through his Word and in your prayer life.
3 WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOUR IMAGE OF GOD
1 2 3 3 WORDS THAT CHALLENGE YOUR IMAGE OF GOD
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CAN I FOLLOW GOD WHEN I HAVE QUESTIONS AND DOUBTS?
Using the chart below, write three words that best describe your image of God. You can use the ones on the page or choose your own. Then choose three words from the page that challenged your image of God and write in those as well.
LIMITER #1: DOUBTS & QUESTIONS
God is truly indescribable. As you look through all those words describing God, there are some you identify with immediately. Others you may struggle with because they don’t fit the image you have of God.
WEEK 1 | DAY 3
P E T S E K A T A
BELIEF: DOUBT IS THE MYSTIC LAND BETWEEN BELIEF AND UNBELIEF.
BIG FOOT EXISTS: I doubt the existence of Big Foot. I find it amusing that with all of today’s technology no one has ever captured this image in focus.
BELIEVE DON’T BELIEVE DOUBT CHICAGO CUBS: I doubt the Chicago Cubs will win a World Series in my lifetime. To date, the Billy Goat Curse of 1945 remains in tact.
BELIEVE
DON’T BELIEVE
DOUBT
ALIENS: I doubt that Aliens exist. I won’t say there’s no way, but I’m extremely skeptical.
BELIEVE
DON’T BELIEVE
DOUBT
I also have doubts when it comes to God, the Bible, and my faith. Surprised? It’s true. I look up in the sky and wonder,“God, are you really there? If you are, give me a sign.” You see I’m looking for one of those awe-inspiring, totally absurd, God-sized signs. Like the sun turning a fluorescent teal for a day or for my dog to talk to me . . . in French. (Now that would be cool!) But God’s creation is a sign in itself with every sunrise. I got to witness the birth of our youngest daughter, a very cool sign. His signature is written in the smallest detail of every snowflake and blade of grass. The galaxies proclaim his perfect order and design as signs of his presence and glory. Still, when I read the Bible sometimes doubt creeps in. I wonder: • DID NOAH’S ARK REALLY HOUSE TWO OF EVERY KIND OF ANIMAL ON EARTH? HOW WAS IT POSSIBLE TO GET THEM ALL INSIDE AND PREVENT THEM FROM EATING EACH OTHER? • DID THE WALLS OF JERICHO REALLY COLLAPSE AFTER THE PRIESTS MARCHED AROUND THEM BLOWING TRUMPETS? • WAS LAZARUS REALLY DEAD FOR THREE DAYS BEFORE JESUS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD? WAS
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HIS BODY DECAYING AND SMELLY?
These thoughts steal in, cause massive confusion, and leave me with doubt, unbelief and a list of questions. I’m actually compiling a list of questions for God.
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What are your doubts? Don’t hold back. Give it some thought and write them below.
Ultimately, you alone are responsible for maintaining and growing your relationship with God. So go directly to him with your doubts and ask for clarity.
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1 Peter 1:8 “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious inexpressible joy.” (NLT)
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Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (NLT)
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Romans 1:19-20,“They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” (NLT)
Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” (NLT)
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God says we have all the proof we need right here before us. Check out
Now pray. Pray through the following verses and hand your doubts over to God. He can and will carry them.
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Notice that faith and doubt go hand in hand. The issue isn’t about having doubts but allowing them to overcome your faith.
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Write out verse 29:
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Thomas didn’t believe Jesus had risen from the dead until he physically touched the holes in Jesus’ hands.
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READ John 20:27-29
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Jesus’ Response
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What was Jesus’ response to Peter when he sank in the water? (Hint: v31)
S E K ? TA
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Circle the word “IF” in verse 28. That is the key word. Peter’s heart was filled with doubt. He still didn’t believe that the one claiming to be Jesus actually was Jesus.
? TEP ?
READ Matthew 14: 22-33
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What are your doubts? I know you must have some too. It’s part of curiosity, which is part of being human. The Bible is filled with people like you and me who had moments of doubt.
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Psalm 25:4-5 “Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” (NLT)
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“Bang! Bang – Baaaang!” spewed my friend with a high-pitched screech. “I got you – I got you!” he shouted. I fell to the ground in exaggerated twists, turns, and dramatic moans in the anguish of being shot. My nemesis looked me in the eye and spat “Bang – Bang – Bang! Your dead!” Struggling to my feet with unaccepted defeat I leapt into the air – forced my body into an aerial 180-degree spin and dove face first to the ground. Time went into slow motion. Horror struck as I spun in the air and approached my Hollywood worthy landing, It wasn’t that I was pretend shot or about to belly flop on the ground. It was the stark and sudden realization that my mouth was on direct course with the wooden stake of a newly planted tree. All my body weight, gravity and force were driving it toward collision. Blood gushed. Pain reverberated through my entire body. In shock, I rolled over, reached up and touched my mouth. Something was very wrong. The force of the impact had ripped my tooth and gum. My right, permanent front tooth hung haplessly out of my mouth.
WEEK 1 | DAY 4
OUCH!
BIG IDEA |TRUST GOD IN THE PAIN
Pain. We all have gone through physical pain when our bodies scream out due to a broken bone, a nail through the foot, a paper cut or a migraine headache. With physical pain there is almost always a solution to help decrease the pain. But what happens when your pain isn’t physical? When no band aid, medicine or doctor can heal the pain, what then? t the nally loso feel fi s a h but als r mom cer, youately miss her, whole family. n a c h it e r ll on th u despe e fight w ng bravher funeral, yog has taken a to lo all. a r e o t Af top f it g at erin n ff in o t u t s it il r S e . u battle he years of h w you feel g So no ing in relief. T resoundd only p e e k .” dead and ha rds “Heo’spped you off last good bye. o w e h t r r e just d call and was you f phone can this be? Hn’t know that ? ie r b e n O You did hy him rs. How your eao drive home. Why God? W t d you blocks ords senernate w ’s r o t lt c a in an . The do d rable . .ke you’re livingyour plans an e p o n I . . ll li . A . . ls s n e e h t e w ls f n eone e longer your o enial. It . . .3 mo Tumorwhirlwind of delonging to som e is no f li into a rse, in a life b ffed out. Your alk unive ams are snu ever to wyou n , dre ir a h ly wheel c er. If onevery ned to sa earlier, or latn e fi n m o u c s u sion co aves yo minute ident le had left a fewger and depreshysical pain. c c a k a p A fre If only you t day. An extreme again. tayed home thda intensify the had s thought an INFUSED | PAGE 18
gtime as a lon ? The w e h S . e r ted her could h You trusuld she? How n you with you . s r o m u o o r c g e w h in t t ve . Ho mits chea u. n’t belie er dated sume yo d ad n n o ie c r You didbefore you evu r lf e ir g n rg friend es out as yo . Betrayal and a m h d o n c ie h r t f ion” wit tru best nversatad grabs o c e h t o “have poken, your d anently. aiting tw w h rds s Perm c u o the c process the oves the house. n o it s e lea fully rents Your paefore you cansuitcases and h B . d e you dy pack his alrea
What do you do with this kind of pain? There are no easy fixes, no simple solutions to dull the pain. It has rocked your world and consumes your being. You try to drown it out, but it is just too loud and overbearing. You try to turn it off, but your heart and mind won’t cooperate. You ache continuously with no relief in site. Take a look at the story of Job.He had a great family and friends and incredible wealth. He was considered the richest man around. More importantly, Job feared God,was blameless before him and lived a life of integrity. (Job 1:1-12)
THE LIFE OF JOB JOB
INTEGRITY, BLAMELESS, HEALTHY, FEARS GOD
WIFE, 7 SONS, 3 DAUGHTERS
WEALTH
FAMILY
7000 SHEEP, 3000 CAMELS, , 500 TEAMS OF OXEN, 500 FEMALE DONKEYS, MANY SERVANTS, $$$$$$$$$ ELIPHAZ, BILDAD, ZOPHAR
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GOD
FRIENDS
DAY 1
Job lost everything in a matter of days. All his friends and even his wife turned on him. That left him solely dependent on God. Can you imagine what was running through his mind and the questions he had for God? Remember, this guy lived a life of integrity. He was blameless and feared God. He so desired to be in right relationship with God he would sometimes burn offerings to purify his children in case they had sinned. (Job 1:4-5)
SEVEN SONS AND THREE DAUGHTERS DIE WHEN A MIGHTY WIND COLLAPSES THEIR HOUSE.
Job asked God the hard questions, the unanswerable “why” questions.
WHY DID YOU ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN? WHY DIDN’T YOU PROTECT ME? WHY DID YOU SAY YES? WHY ME?
SABEANS STEAL JOB’S DONKEYS AND OXEN AND KILL THE SERVANTS. (JOB 1:14-15) FIRE BURNS UP ALL JOB’S SHEEP AND SHEPHERDS. (JOB 1:16)
Through it all Job understood something.
CHALDEAN RAIDERS STEAL ALL JOB’S CAMELS AND KILL THE SERVANTS. (JOB 1:17)
DAY 2 JOB IS COVERED WITH BOILS FROM HEAD TO TOE. THE PAIN IS SO BAD THAT HE SCRAPES HIS BODY WITH BROKEN CLAY PIECES. (JOB 2:7-8) JOB’S WIFE TURNS ON HIM SAYING, “CURSE GOD AND DIE. (JOB 2:9-10)
“The Lord gave me what I had, And the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” Job 1:21 (NLT) Job fully grasped that his life was in God’s hands. He understood that all the good, the bad and everything in-between was God’s. He knew he had to trust God with everything. Did he struggle? Big time. Did he have questions? Of course. Was he angry? Absolutely. Did he scream and yell? He did. Did he have trouble grasping the “Why”? Yes! Was the pain of his loss overwhelming? Without a doubt! Job realized that his life belonged God. He accepted that life can be difficult and then freely surrendered and placed himself in God’s hands. Job trusted God.
EARLY ON, JOB’S FRIENDS ARE A HUGE ENCOURAGEMENT. THEY STAY BESIDE HIM IN SILENT VIGIL FOR SEVEN DAYS AND NIGHTS. (JOB 2:11-13). BUT THEN, IN THE NEXT FORTY CHAPTERS THEY BECOME DIVISIVE, COLD, AND CONFRONTATIONAL. THEY TRY TO TURN JOB AGAINST GOD.
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A STEP KE
TA
PROBLEM
Now say these words out loud.
“The Lord gave me what I had, And the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” Job 1:21 (NLT) Truly and completely release it into God’s hands.
3. TRUST: Grasp the fact that your life is God’s life. Place your life in his hands. When things are going well, realize your life is in his hands. When everything is falling apart, know your life is in his hands.
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SOLVED
Read through these four verses on prayer and focus on the highlighted words.
WEEK 1 | DAY 5
=
This formula is an incomplete picture of prayer. Yes, the Bible says we should pray specifically and that God answers prayers. But you can’t take just one or two scriptures and construct a complete picture of prayer. We are given the entire Bible to look at ALL God has to say on different subjects. Doing so gives us clarity and a more comprehensive view of the power and purpose of prayer. Prayer isn’t about asking and receiving. The true purpose of prayer is to draw close to God.
GOD THE MAGICAL JEANIE
Your life is God’s life. The sooner you realize that and surrender to his will, the sooner you will experience his peace and be able to listen to his voice and his will for your life. He created you. He is the author of life. So hand over your life and your current situation into his very capable hands.
WHY DOESN’T GOD ANSWER ME?
1. TALK:
2. SURRENDER:
PRAYER
EXAMPLES : • BROKE + PRAYER = GOD SUPPLIES $$. • NO PROM DATE + PRAYER = GOD LOCKS IN PROM DATE • C+ NEEDED TO GRADUATE + PRAYER = C+ GIVEN • OPENING NIGHT LEAD ROLE DESIRED + PRAYER = GOD STRIKES LEAD WITH BRONCHITIS. • MOM GETS CANCER + PRAYER = GOD HEALS HER. • PARENTS SEPARATE + PRAYER = GOD SPRINKLES “LOVE DUST” ON THEM AND THEY RECONCILE.
What pain are you currently experiencing?
Tell God what is going on inside of you. Share with him. Scream – yell – cry – ask – talk – beg –whatever you need to do. Express your heart. God is a big God. He can take it. Plus, he already knows what is in your heart and is just waiting for you to give it over to him.
+
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You can pray for anything, and if you have FAITH, you will receive it. Matthew 21:22 (NLT)
The earnest prayer of a RIGHTEOUS person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16b (NLT) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s PEACE, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want YOUR WILL to be done, not mine.” Matthew 26:39 (NLT)
Now let’s take a closer look.
MATTHEW 21:22 Your prayers must be grounded in faith. Pray believing that God can do anything you ask him to do. Pray knowing that God is able to heal, provide, guide, and do anything you ask him to do. Pray huge, impossible, God-sized prayers in faith.
What did he pray for? Oh, he asked God for a change in plans. He begged God to postpone, to find another way, an easier way, a less painful way. He did everything you and I would have done. But he ended his prayer with the most powerful thing you can ever pray . . .
“YET I WANT YOUR WILL TO BE DONE, NOT MINE.”
CAUTION: DO NOT EXPECT GOD TO ANSWER WITH AN ENTHUSIASTIC, “YES”!!” TO ANY AND EVERY REQUEST. READ ON, BECAUSE PRAYER IS ABOUT SO MUCH MORE.
Seek God’s will. What is he trying to teach you? What does he want you to hear? What does he want to do in you and through you? How does he want to use your life, your situation and your pain? God’s will is always perfect. God’s plan is always flawless. Seek God. Seek his heart. Seek his path.
JAMES 5:16
The answer you receive might not be the one you want today, but it will be perfectly aligned with his will for your life.
James talks about the prayers of a “righteous person”. The word righteous simply means to be “right before God”. This doesn’t mean you are perfect. It means your relationship with God is active, thriving, growing and repentant. How are you doing with God right now?
P E T S E K A T A
PHILIPPIANS 4:6
Paul, the writer of Philippians, shares a great insight. He tells us “Don’t worry about anything but pray about everything.” Then give thanks for “ALL” God has done. Surrender everything to him in prayer, from the biggest issues to the smallest details. Paul never says God will answer every prayer. The promise is found in experiencing “God’s peace”. This is a significant difference. When life is spinning out of control, when you’re overwhelmed and stressed out about school, grades, boyfriends, girlfriends, family, cars, work, choices and schedules, just stop. Get on your knees and pray. If you can’t get on your knees, pray while sitting in class, while driving (eyes open please) while working or doing homework. God can do amazing things in you and through you during your greatest times of suffering. So pray and let God’s peace outshine your troubles and envelop you as a deep breath of fresh air.
MATTHEW 26:39
Pray.You can pray aloud, write out your prayers, or spend time in silent prayer. However and wherever you pray, remember these four things.
1. Pray in faith that God can do everything you ask him. 2. Grow in your relationship with God by actively seeking him and listening during prayer time. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God!” (NLT) 3. When you pray, God’s peace covers you; even when your requests aren’t answered and your problems aren’t solved. Though your circumstances may remain, your perspective will change as you receive God’s peace. 4. Pray for God’s will to be done.
This last verse is the key. Look at the context of this verse. It’s the night of Jesus’ betrayal and arrest. He knew he would be beaten, mocked, spit upon and crucified. He knew his life would end with an excruciating death as he took on the sin of the world. Jesus was approaching the darkest, most terrifying, emotionally challenging and physically painful moments of his life – of any life. So what does he do? He goes to the Garden of Gethsemane to do one thing. Pray.
YES
PROBLEM
+
PRAYER
=
NO, BUT... WAIT
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WEEK 1 | DAY 6
LET GO & JUMP!
TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE – ALL OF IT!
I looked at the guy helping me and asked,“Has anyone died before?” With a confident smile he replied in the negative. “Has the harness ever failed?” Again, a negative response. “Have the wires ever snapped?” By this time, he was getting slightly annoyed but I didn’t care. I knew the answers must be no, or they would shut the ride down. Still, I felt compelled to ask.
That day I put all my trust in three complete strangers with thick Australian accents.
108 FLOORS = 855 FT
I stood on the edge with my stomach in my throat. My heart threatened to pound right out of my chest. Nervous sweat dripped from my fingertips as my brain, tired of arguing, just ground to a frozen halt.
That day I put all my trust in a fabric harness stitched together by a total stranger in another land. That day I put all my trust in manmade zip lines that were going to “control my fall”. That day I put all my trust in the mechanism thingy (Yes, that’s the technical name.) that would slow me down so I wouldn’t splat onto the cement deck below. That day I placed a whole lot of trust in a whole lot of people I didn’t know.
“Take a step forward and put your toes on the line,” he said. That three-inch step took every bit of courage and effort within me. “Now, hold on to each pole,” was the next directive. My hands desperately wanted to hold on, but the sweat made it almost impossible. I peered over the ledge to the bull’s-eye far below. It was so very, very small. I knew it would be high, but from 108 floors (855 feet) the cars looked like HotWheels and the people like ants. Gently, he said,“I am going to count to three and on three you jump.” His voice drifted into a fog-like state as my heart beat stronger.
1 2 3
So why is it so difficult to completely trust God with our lives? Why is it a continual struggle to lean 100% into God and know that he has my life and won’t let go? Why is it such a struggle – daily – to trust God? Here is my simple answer: You have to hand over control of your life.
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT WWW.INFUSED.COM/ JUMP
For me, the hardest part of Sky Jump wasn’t the free fall. That thought excited me. The hardest part was actively placing my life in the hands of others; the people strapping me in, the integrity of the harness, the metal lines controlling my descent. So how do you trust God – entirely – with your life? Decide to go all in. No matter what happens. No matter how good or bad it is, you don’t change your mind or switch to another game plan. You place your life in God’s hands and leave it there. It’s really quite simple. Ask yourself. Who is more capable of handling things in your life?
“I AM GOING TO DIE!” I screamed in my mind. “What if I don’t jump? What if I can’t jump? What if I tell myself to jump but my feet rebel and won’t move? What if my hands won’t let go? What if I can’t make myself jump and I have to walk back?” What if . . . SHUT UP CHRIS! On THREE . . .don’t think . . .just jump.
The first step off the platform into controlled free fall was insanely stupid. The next 60 seconds were an exhilarating rush like no other. When I hit the ground all I could do was scream and laugh – at the same time – like a little boy getting the dream toy he always wanted. INFUSED | PAGE 26
A. GOD:
B. YOU:
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• CREATOR OF ALL PEOPLE AND THINGS. • TRANSCENDS TIME AND PLACE. • LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE. • MORE CREDENTIALS THAN CAN BE LISTED HERE OR EVER. -OR• NONE OF THE ABOVE CHARACTERISTICS APPLY.
You have to come to a place where you truly believe that God wants and knows what’s best for you. This comes regardless of how much you think you know or how much you want something. God will provide that something if it’s in your best interest. Do you believe that?
THINK
ING
F ALL OOU Y
God has a track record in your life. As a Christian, you may call it a testimony. Think of a time when you really needed him and how he came through. He may have used his Word, your prayer life, other people, circumstances, or countless other things to save you from yourself or to help you get through a difficult time. When you are having trouble trusting him, think back to those times and remember his track record. Then, don’t just send up S.O.S. prayers when you’re in crisis. Instead, talk to him everyday, about anything and everything. This is how you grow close to him and learn to surrender your life to him.
UNDERSTANDING
EVERYTHING
HEART
The Bible is filled with verses about putting your trust in God. One core verse I continually come back to is Proverbs 3:5-6. Check it out.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; Do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, And he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
PERCEPTIONS
COMPLETELY
HTS
UG THO
TRUST
KNOW HIS HEART
HE MAKES THINGS CLEAR
HE WILL NO T LEAVE YOU GROW CLOSE TO GOD HE POINTS YOU TO THE RIGHT PATH KNOW HIS DESIRES
HE REVEALS HIS WILL.
SEEK KNOW WHAT HE DESIRES FOR YOU
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SHOW HE IS A GOD OF CLARITY, NOT CONFUSION
KNOW HOW HE THINKS
HE IS PERSONAL
P E T S TAKE
Now that you’ve completed your first week of this devotional, it’s time to reflect on it. Don’t be tempted to blow past this day. Take these few moments to review and process what you’ve learned about trusting God’s awesomeness.
A
This week we explored how different people view God. Your own perceptions may have broadened or even changed as a result. We looked at how your image of God is foundational to your faith and your trust in him. We discussed doubt and it’s relationship with faith. Was it surprising to learn that faith and doubt go hand in hand? Ultimately, this study is about trusting God with everything you have and believing that it all belongs to him. In surrendering to him, be assured that he is more than capable to handle every problem, issue and concern you have and that he wants the very best for you.
Here are some truths God wants you to hear. Look up these verses and write in the key word. “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he whose spirits are crushed.” Psalm 34:18 (NLT)
those
Allow this section to guide you through the past six days as you contemplate what you learned. This will help you capture the CORE – the essential pieces that were most relevant to you.
“’I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for and not for disaster, to give you a future and a
CORE Highlights:
Look back through the pages of the last six days. What thoughts and comments had the greatest meaning for you? Write them below.
.’ ” Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) “Anyone who harms you harms my most Zechariah 2:8b (NLT) “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) “But the love of the LORD
possession.”
about
forever with those who
fear him.” Psalm 103:17a (NLT) ends! His mercies
REFLECT
cease.” Lamentations 3:22 (NLT)
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WEEK 1 | DAY 7
“The faithful love of the LORD
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CORE THOUGHT: Write the ONE thought from this past week that completely changed you.
CORE VERSE: Write the ONE verse from this week that most captivated your heart and mind.
WEEK TWO
TRUSTING GOD’S LOVE
CORE ACTION: Today, commit to ONE action you will take
as a step to trust more in God and his awesomeness. Don’t hold back. Be Bold. Be specific.
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My Dearest Allie. know that it’s over between us. I couldn’t sleep last night because I w that what we had was real. I’m not bitter anymore, because I kno future we see each other in our And if in some distant place in the and remember how we spent the new lives, I’ll smile at you with joy each other and growing in love. summer beneath the trees, learning from s the soul and makes us reach The best love is the kind that awaken rts and brings peace to our for more, that plants a fire in our hea me. That’s what I hope to give to minds, and that’s what you’ve given ng you. you forever. I love you. I’ll be seei Noah 1
WEEK 2 | DAY 1
LOVE DEFINED
LOVE IS SKEWED
Love. It’s a beautifully enchanting, enticingly rich, greatly overused, wildly misunderstood, and almost void of meaning word.The same word is used to describe two people ready to unite their lives forever at the altar and our feelings about Taco Bell. Think about that - marriage versus taco meat that’s not even 100% beef. People love their spouses, their kids and their pets. They love Mexican food, a favorite song and their skinny jeans. Many of you reading this have a crazy, obsessive love for Justin Bieber! (You know who you are. Don’t deny it.) As a culture, we have lost the true meaning of the word love. If you asked a hundred people to define love, you would get a hundred different answers. It’s crazy to think that one little word can be so misconstrued, yet have such a strong impact in our world. Before you continue reading, share your definition of love and read what others are saying. So how did you define love? Your unique perspective on love is determined primarily by life experiences. Initially, it was formed by your parents’ relationship with each other and with you. It continually took shape based on family dynamics, the death of a loved one, any personal incident/s of abuse, your dating experiences, and even the types of books and media you read and watch. But defining love on the basis of experience limits your view of a complex idea. When you have a relationship with Jesus, you learn a whole new meaning of the concept of love.
1The Notebook, 2004
This week, we’ll look at a new definition of LOVE. Hopefully you will put aside all the broken ways you have viewed love in the past and embrace this timeless definition. It comes from the book of 1 John.
“GOD IS LOVE” 1 John 4:8 (NLT)
Simple. Complex. Deep. Yet this simple definition has also been tainted. If someone in the church hurts me, it may affect my view of God. If a false religion misleads me, my perception of God is distorted. A broken relationship with my dad can negatively impact the way I see my father, God. Over the next few days we’ll look at some of the ways our definition of love has been skewed. We’ll explore how “GOD IS LOVE” can repair and correct our definition of love. We’ll align it with truth and build a solid foundation for real love; the unending, unalterable and unconditional lifegiving love. As you dive into this week, allow yourself to be open. You’ve probably been living with a flawed definition of love for a long time. This week will stretch you. It won’t be easy to alter your definition. Change is hard. But if you open yourself up, God’s promise to renew you is true. Open your hands, let go of your earthly, conditional, broken definition of love, and allow God to change your life with his LOVE. It won’t be easy, but I promise, it will be worth it.
WRITE YOUR DEFINITION OF LOVE AT FACEBOOK.
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P E T S TAKE
Third grade was tough. School got hard that year! We had to use a dictionary, do multiplication, fractions and decimals, write essays, and learn all the state capitols. I still can’t do most of that stuff! Experts say this is the time we start to understand jokes and riddles, and when friendships gain significance. All of this comes together in a negative way for the emerging nerd, the super smart but socially inept kid who ends up as the butt of classroom jokes.
A
Think about the concept of “love”. How did you define it? What experiences in life, good or bad, have shaped this definition?
Beth, the booger-eater was that person in my third grade class. She knew all the answers and got straight “As” across the board. Beth earned all the gold stars, and never talked out of turn or got in trouble. Beth was also a booger eater. She would sit in class, pick her nose while working on assignment, and then eat it! Sadly, she never had any friends.
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WEEK 2 | DAY 2
THE COMPLETE STORY
REAL LOVE BEGINS AND ENDS WITH GOD
Read 1 John 4:7-20 Based on this verse, write ten thoughts about love that are new to you, challenge you, or that you believe are important.
This is not one of those stories where I felt bad for her and became her friend. I called Beth out on her booger-eating with the best of them. But in third grade, as is true in so many arenas, Beth never deserved her horrid nickname. Someone said it, everyone believed it, and things went downhill for Beth from there. Sadly, she never lived down that moniker. This is what happened to the image of LOVE. In the passage of time, people have taken the truth and purity out of love and completely destroyed its reputation. Yesterday we discussed how the definition of love varies from person to person depending on life experiences. Unfortunately, we equate God’s love with our own human understanding of love, often watered down to nothing more than a fleeting and arbitrary feeling. The truth of “God is LOVE” holds no more significance than “I love a good burger” to many people. Because real love is the heart of Christianity, it’s imperative to understand its true meaning. So let’s go to the source of God’s revelation, his Word. At its very core, the Bible is a love story between our creator God and his creation – you and me.
“GOD SHOWED HOW MUCH HE LOVED US BY SENDING HIS ONE AND ONLY SON INTO THE WORLD SO THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH HIM. THIS IS REAL LOVE—NOT THAT WE LOVED GOD, BUT THAT HE LOVED US AND SENT HIS SON AS A SACRIFICE TO TAKE AWAY OUR SINS.” 1 JOHN 4:9-10 (NLT)
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Did you catch that definition? “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” That’s the whole story. Beginning with Adam and Eve, God created us, loved us, and lived with us. But we broke that relationship. By eating the apple, Adam and Eve demonstrated a greater love for themselves than for God. And everyone since then has followed suit. Self-love is at the center of all sin. Every day people commit crimes and corruption. People shamelessly break up families and deceive others all for self-gain. We have fallen so far from real love that we can’t even define it. Thankfully, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever”. (Hebrews 13:8 NLT) So while we change and our culture changes, “God is love” remains the same. How do we know? “This is real love – not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” To illustrate his great love for us, God sent his son knowing we would kill him! Jesus paid the price for our sins against God. CRAZY! Real love is more than a feeling. It’s bigger than physical attraction, emotional attachment or even the taste of a good burger.
P E T S E K A T A
Depending on where you are in your relationship with God, choose one of the following action steps.
1. If you have not accepted the love of Jesus through his forgiving, healing, life-changing work on the cross, you may still have questions. Find the answers today by calling a trusted friend, leader, or pastor. Do it now! These people want to help you understand Jesus’ love for you. I am going to connect with: ________________________ write name here
It’s time to stop limping along with a false, broken definition of love and
REAL LOVE
start living with . It begins with accepting the love of Jesus and allowing him to transform you into the person he created you to be. His work on the cross brings you into a right relationship with God. Over the next few days we will explore ways to respond to God’s love in our lives and to live out that same kind of love to the world!
2. If you have not accepted the love of Jesus through his forgiving, healing, life- changing work on the cross, maybe you are ready to do it today. Get on the phone right now and call a trusted friend, leader, or pastor. Ask that person to walk you through it. Congratulations on taking this huge step! The real love of Jesus will transform your life and take you on an incredible journey! I am going to connect with: ________________________ write name here
3. If you have already accepted the real love of Jesus, reflect on the cross today. What does Jesus’ work on the cross mean in your daily life? Are there areas in which you are not living out real love? Are you buying into a mediocre definition of love? Don’t settle for less than what God has to offer! Ask him to reveal himself and transform you so you can reflect his real love.
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THAT IS A LIE! One of my favorite memories of my dad happened at seven-years-old when our mom was out-of-town for a few days. Since cooking was never his strong point, my dad would combine random foods and call it a gourmet meal. One night, while eating our dinner of Velveeta and Lil’ Smokies, we watched 3 Ninjas. This is an awesome flick where three kids rescue their ninja grandfather who was kidnapped by bad ninjas. Of course, my sisters and I spent the rest of the night kicking and fighting as we relived the tale.The next morning we watched the movie again and my dad made “Ninja Burgers” (Velveeta on hamburger buns) for breakfast. This is how I like to remember my dad, when life was just fun and simple and he was a hero. (Yes, he could definitely beat up your dad!)
Check out Romans 5:8:
SHALLOW LOVE
GOD’S LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL
Then life changed.
WEEK 2 | DAY 3
The truth is – GOD LOVES YOU NO MATTER WHAT! Just because you put conditions on love, doesn’t mean God does. It’s easy to love when everything’s going your way. But when a friend lies to you, when your girlfriend or boyfriend cheats on you, when your parents take the car away, there is no love. We live with a conditional definition of love and think God plays by the same rules. God is not taking notes on every bad word and wrong choice you make. He’s not some year-round Santa with his pen poised above the naughty list and plotting revenge for every detour you make. God’s love is unconditional and thank you God for that!
You see, most of my memories of my dad involve his drinking, his broken promises, and his “throwing money at it” approach to life. He and I haven’t had much of a relationship since I was about eightyears-old.That’s when my parents started fighting a lot. One night, in the heat an argument, I heard my name. My dad said,
“and what about him, what the hell will he ever amount to?” I never looked at my dad the same after that night. For some reason, he had stopped loving me. His love was conditional and apparently, I wasn’t living up to the terms. My family was damaged and I felt the pain of a broken definition of love. Do you think of God’s love as conditional? Do you believe that God loves you more when your grades are up, you’re not cussing as much, you’re studying instead of cheating and you’re being pure in your relationships? Do you believe God loves you less when your grades are down, your attitude stinks, you’re disrespectful to your parents and you cheated on your homework?
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“But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (NLT) I love that verse. It doesn’t put conditions on God’s love. It doesn’t say, as long as you stop sinning, God will love you. God loved us while we were still sinners! It doesn’t require that you first clean up your act, memorize Bible verses or do good deeds. He sent Jesus “while we were still sinners.” That includes me, you and everyone else who ever lived.You don’t have to earn God’s love and no matter what you do, he will never stop loving you. God loves you, invites you into relationship with him and asks you to live a certain way. This isn’t because he wants to control you, but because he created you and wants you to experience life the way he created it to be! God’s love is unconditional. We can’t earn it. We just get to accept it and allow it to change our lives.
In junior high, Taco Bell and basketball cards were my two obsessions. One made me a chubby kid and the other consumed all my time. I was crazy about basketball cards, saving all my allowance and begging my mom to take me to the store for new ones. My collection was huge and meticulously organized, with players alphabetized by last name and team. The most valuable cards like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley and Larry Bird earned a spot in the special box, each with their own hard plastic case. New cards meant reorganizing a whole team page to make space. I spent hours examining, organizing, and researching the value of each card.
P E T S TAKE A
HOW ARE YOU TRYING TO EARN GOD’S LOVE?
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WEEK 2 | DAY 4
TAINTED LOVE
Today, practice living in God’s love instead of trying to earn it. Think about Romans 5:8, “But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Let that verse change your definition of love. You don’t have to be perfect. Just know that wants you to live as his child, fully loved and fully accepted for exactly who he created you to be.
NOTHING CAN REPLACE GOD’S LOVE
HOW CAN YOU SIMPLY LIVE IN GOD’S LOVE AND ALLOW IT TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE?
I do this a lot in life. I get really excited about something and go all in. After the basketball card phase, I moved on to rap music during high school. I had them all – Biggie,Tupac, Diddy, Ma$e, Foxy, Lil Kim.Then it was rock climbing, Ultimate Frisbee, and the list goes on. Even today I get wrapped up in a hobby and it consumes my time and energy. The summer before my senior year in high school, I became a Christian. And just like all my other phases and hobbies, my faith took center stage. I was baptized, bought a big NIV Life Application Study Bible and joined a small group. Pretty soon, I was leading a small group, studying my Bible daily and praying a lot. Then it just stopped. The phase was over and I lost my passion for God, for reading my Bible, and for praying. As I struggled to understand why God had lost meaning for me, I came to realize that my love for him wasn’t genuine. It was tainted. I was doing all the right things, but I wasn’t fully engaged in God’s love. So the phase went the way of all my other hobbies. Then I took a Greek course in college. Our entire semester consisted of translating the book of 1 John from Greek to English. It was hard! But through this class, God’s Word began penetrating my heart. I saw how the things of this world steal my attention and conversely, how to live in God’s love. Check out: 1 John 2:15-17
“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for
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everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” (NLT) Here’s the truth— We ALL have a NEED for God’s love. We long for it, desire it and were created for his purpose. But most of us just don’t get it. So we search for a way to fill this love need inside of us. We try relationships, popularity, money, clothes and the accumulation of stuff. We sink our time and energy into sports and hobbies or even turn to drugs, drinking or sex to fill this need. Other than those last few, there’s nothing wrong with the things on this list. But none of them can replace God’s love in our lives. They cannot fill that void, complete us or save us. Only God’s love can do those things. Everything else is a short-term substitute. God’s love lasts forever. It’s the only thing that endures, even through death! Put your trust and hope in his love alone.
and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” 1 John 2:15-17 (NLT)
Now, pray this simple prayer—
DEAR GOD, I’M SORRY FOR TRYING TO REPLACE YOU WITH SOMETHING ELSE. PLEASE HELP ME TO GET RID OF THE THINGS THAT TAKE YOUR PLACE AND FILL MY HEART WITH THE ONE THING I NEED, YOUR LOVE. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME YOUR LOVE, THROUGH JESUS ON THE CROSS. AMEN.
P E T S TAKE A
Time to do a little self-inventory. What is stopping you from fully engaging in God’s love? (Hint: if you’re having a hard time answering this, take a look at where you spend your time and/or money.)
I’M USING THE FOLLOWING THING/S TO TRY TO FILL MY NEED FOR GOD’S LOVE.
Slowly, read through the verses below. Take it in phrase by phrase and really allow God’s Word to infuse your deepest thoughts and desires. “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements INFUSED | PAGE 44
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I have a confession to make. Do you want to know what it is? HEY! Don’t skip ahead. I saw you. You’re bored with the banter and want to skip ahead to the juicy stuff— the deep, dark confession. DON’T! First, let’s make a deal. I’ll tell you my secret, but you need to promise that: 1.You won’t make fun of me. 2.You will still finish this devotion. Deal? Okay, just to keep you honest, scan this QR code.
SCAN THIS OR VISIT INFUSED.COM/ PROMISE
WEEK 2 | DAY 5
SELFISH LOVE
TRUE LOVE WAS DESIGNED TO GIVE AWAY
In the space provided, write I _____________________________promise. write name here
You get a sneak preview of my confession when you scan the code! Okay, confession time. For me, there is not a single day of the year that is off limits for listening to Christmas music. Disappointed? TOO BAD! You promised! Honestly though, Christmas is the best holiday of the year. You got the music, the tree, the lights, great food, Santa, reindeer and maybe even snow! And to round out the package, you get presents! A couple years ago, I decided to examine Christmas to see if I could find any flaws in this perfect holiday. Of course, when you look for something wrong, you can usually find it. You know what I found amiss? The presents. It doesn’t make sense. Here we are, celebrating Jesus’ birthday… and WE get presents. Isn’t that backwards? It’s not my birthday. What if everybody got presents on your birthday except you? It’s just not right. I started feeling sad for Jesus.We celebrate his birthday by making selfish lists and getting stuff! We’ve made the birth of Jesus all about US. That’s the flaw of Christmas. (But I still love the music!) A few months ago, I was at a conference celebrating the 25th anniversary of an incredible book called Desiring God by John Piper. During the course of it, Piper said something that has forever changed my view of love. He said,
“LOVE IS THE OVERFLOW OF JOY IN GOD THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.” INFUSED | PAGE 46
Go ahead, read that a couple more times. It’s simple, but the content is rich. It starts with “Love is the overflow of joy in God . . .”. Our joy overflows as we realize the magnitude of what God did for us through . . .
• his Son. • the Cross. • salvation. • the promise of eternal life in heaven. Without God, we can’t know real love, because GOD IS LOVE 1 . The quote continues, “ . . . that meets the needs of others”. By meeting our every need, God demonstrates his complete and absolute love for us. In the same way, we pass on that love by meeting the needs of others. Real love is not in the getting or the taking. God already gave us everything we need. Real love is giving the gift of God’s love to other people. Think of it like this, if you discovered the cure to cancer, would you keep it to yourself? Of course not! We have the solution to sin and the eternal death that it brings.That solution is God’s love.True love begins by helping people know God’s love. Check this out… “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19 (NLT) Since we have received the gift of real love through the cross, we are now responsible for sharing that love with those around us. That’s what it means to make disciples. Jesus commands us to share God’s love with our families, our friends, our teachers, coaches, teammates, classmates and everyone else we encounter. Growing in God’s love comes not by holding it close, but by giving it away.
1 1 John 4:8, NLT
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P E T S TAKE
I don’t have a lot of fears in life. Spiders and snakes don’t bother me. I’ve been skydiving and bungee jumping, and I absolutely love rollers and carnival rides, even the spinning ones that make me sick. But there is one thing that brings out the crazy in me. I am petrified of babies. Everything about them just frightens me.
A
Are you hiding God’s love from anyone? Who do you need to share it with?
I know, it’s a miracle gift from God and all that, but this is some fearsome stuff. People always ask me to hold their baby. Since I don’t want to appear as a baby-hater, I find myself nodding and holding my arms out every time. And then it happens; this freaky bobble-head thing that babies do. As soon as that baby is on my watch, he starts looking around. Without strength in his neck, his head just bobs and weaves like it’s going to pop off! IT FREAKS ME OUT!
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WEEK 2 | DAY 6
LEVEL UP
Today, take a huge step to living out real love by giving it away. You don’t need all the answers.You don’t have to be eloquent with words. It’s simple. Just share how God has changed your life through His love.Tell your story. It’s unique and personal to you and it can have an eternal impact. Give Love Away.
GROWING IN GOD’S LOVE IS A PROCESS
• your family? • your best friend? • your boyfriend or girlfriend? • a teacher? • a coach?
The whole developmental process of human beings just blows my mind. Isn’t it cool to look at pictures of yourself as a baby, a toddler, a pre-teen and into your teenage years? Just think. God put everything you are today and all that you will be into a little package of DNA decided long before you were ever born. That’s incomprehensible! It’s all part of the journey God takes us on as we develop into the person he created us to be. It takes time, care and people pouring into us as we grow. We can’t rush it, grow up faster, skip steps or take short cuts. The same is true in our relationship with God. It takes time to fully live in God’s love. Acknowledging your own sin and accepting Christ as your Savior is like a new birth. From there you begin taking baby steps toward learning to live and love like Christ. As you learn to surrender more of yourself to him, he reveals more of himself to you. There are no formulas or shortcuts to speed it up. Growing in God is a process. Check this out… In 2 Peter Chapter 1, Peter discusses some of God’s promises.
• The promise of eternal life through Jesus • The promise to give us everything we need to live a godly life.
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These promises are the entry level for your walk in faith. From there you can LEVEL UP your relationship with him by understanding the magnitude of God’s love by sending his son to die for you. Your response to that love is to allow him to live out his promises through you. That’s living a godly life. Sound tough? Peter tells us how to do it. “In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. “ 2 Peter 1:5-8 (NLT)
Let’s see if we can simplify that.
BELIEVING IN GOD
+
+
STUDYING THE BIBLE
MAKING GOOD CHOICES
+
+
AVOIDING AND RESISTING TEMPTATION
LIVING LIKE JESUS +
LOVING THOSE WHO LOVE YOU AND THOSE WHO DON’T
=
Whew! That’s a lot of stuff! But remember two things. First, you’re not doing this alone or in your own strength. Once you become a believer, the Holy Spirit dwells within you. He is with you every step of the way. Second, don’t try to do it all at once. It’s a process. Start at the beginning with believing God. Ask God to help you believe in him fully and completely. Move on to making good choices. In everything, ask yourself if you would say and do the same things if Jesus were right there with you hanging out. This is the best standard of measurement you can have. Next, ask God to help you get into the habit of reading and studying your Bible on a regular basis. Before you read, ask him to reveal himself to you. God never asks you to be perfect before coming to him. He loves you, accepts you and wants to meet with you exactly where you are today. Once you grow in an area, (growth in no way means perfection, just movement) add the next one and keep moving down the list. When you get to the end, start back at the top and keep growing toward God.We all grow at different rates. Often we make progress in one area and stumble in another. God is patient with you, so be patient with yourself. Later on, Peter says if you do these things you won’t fall away and God will give you a grand entrance into heaven. That is the culmination of the desire within each one of us. In heaven, we live in community with God without all of the earthly junk getting in the way.This world is fading away; the next is eternal. Level up—grow towards God because of his love and with the help of his love and spend eternity doing what you were created to do—Loving God.
GROWING AS A PRODUCTIVE CHRISTIAN INFUSED | PAGE 50
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P E T S TAKE
Ask God to help you see others as he does and to love them in spite of themselves, just as he loves you.
A
Why does each of the above steps include an “Ask God”? It’s because you are not meant to do this alone.You can try and try but you won’t succeed without God on your side. Matthew 7:7 says, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”
Get started in the process laid out by the apostle Peter.
BELIEVING IN GOD
+
+
STUDYING THE BIBLE
MAKING GOOD CHOICES
+
+
AVOIDING AND RESISTING TEMPTATION
LIVING LIKE JESUS +
LOVING THOSE WHO LOVE YOU AND THOSE WHO DON’T
So keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on Leveling Up.
=
GROWING AS A PRODUCTIVE CHRISTIAN
Ask God to help you believe in him fully and completely. Ask God to help you ask yourself if you would say and do the same things if Jesus were right there with you hanging out.This is the best standard of measurement you can have. Ask God to help you get into the habit of reading and studying your Bible on a regular basis. Before reading, ask him to reveal himself to you. Ask God to help you avoid and resist temptation. Ask him to bring to mind Bible verses to help you in this area. Ask God to help you live like Jesus. INFUSED | PAGE 52
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With week two now behind you, it’s time to reflect on what you experienced. As with the first week, don’t be tempted to blow past this day. Taking the time to hit pause, look back and process what you’ve learned is one of the biggest parts of life-change in Christ.
CORE THOUGHT: Write the ONE thought from this past week that completely changed you.
This week you read a lot about trusting God’s love. Your personal definition of love was challenged as you looked at how God loves and how he asks you to love others -- unconditionally. You discovered new Bible verses and explored others that were more familiar. Through it all, God wants you to completely and resolutely trust in and depend on him alone. In doing so, you will grow closer to the person he created you to be. Allow this section to guide you through the past six days as you contemplate what you learned. This will help you capture the CORE – the essential pieces that were most relevant to you.
CORE VERSE: Write the ONE verse from this week that most captivated your heart and mind.
CORE Highlights: Look back through the pages of the last six days. What thoughts and comments had the greatest meaning for you? Write them below.
CORE ACTION: Today, commit to ONE action you will take
WEEK 2 | DAY 7
REFLECT
as a step to trust more in God’s love or to love others as God does. Don’t hold back. Be Bold. Be specific.
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EMOTE + ICON = EMOTICON EMOTION: A STATE OF FEELING 1 ICON: A PICTORIAL REPRESENTATION 2
The computer generation did not create the emoticon. The first one can be traced all the way back to 1857 when the number 73, in Morse code, was used to represent hugs and kisses. Then in 1881, Puck magazine first published typographical emoticons. One hundred years later, on September 19, 1982, the symbols :-) and :-( were first used to express specific emotions of how someone was feeling.
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EMOTION + ICON WEEK 3 | DAY 1
EMOTICON
WEEK THREE TRUSTING GOD’S JOY
With the widespread use of email and then texting, emoticons have become more complex, evolving into a wide array of graphical depictions of feelings and expressions that work their way into cultural icons. In reality, a simple :) or :( doesn’t reveal much about a person’s true feelings. You might see a smiley face in a text about going to eat pizza and in another about getting a full-ride scholarship. There’s likely a different level of enthusiasm behind those two symbols. Don’t you think? And what about a sad face? It may be in a message about wanting ice cream and in another that a friend’s parents are getting divorced. Does it really depict the depth of hurt and pain someone may be going through? Emoticons offer a quick glimpse, but they can also cheapen or devalue your emotions. Do you ever feel pressure to keep your true feelings under wraps? Or to be somebody you are not? Sometimes it can feel like if you don’t pretend life is going great then you might as well put a big “L “ on your forehead. In today’s world, people may label you as intolerant, insensitive, or politically incorrect when you reveal your true beliefs and convictions.
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Unlike any other part of his creation, God created mankind with a vast and complex range of emotions. It’s an important part of who he made you to be. This week you’ll be challenged to face the world you to live in with greater transparency. In the process, you’ll discover a joy that can only come from the creator. Are you ready? This one is going to stretch you.
P E T S TAKE A
Write down the top five emotions you are feeling right now. Choose from the list provided. Don’t worry. No one will see this except you. Be honest and transparent with your feelings. My top 5 Emotions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Now draw an emoticon representing all five emotions you wrote. Be creative and have fun with it!
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POSSIBLE EMOTIONS: Affection Amusement Anger Annoyance Anticipation Anxiety Boredom Calm Cheerfulness Contempt Content Courage Delight Despair Disappointment Disgust Doubt Elation Embarrassment Empathy Envy Excitement Fear Friendliness Frustration Guilt Happiness Helplessness Hope Hurt Interest Irritations Joy Love Nervousness Optimism Pleasure Politeness Powerlessness INFUSED INFUSED || PAGE PAGE 59 59
Pride Rage Relaxed Relieved Sadness Satisfaction Serene Shame Shock Stress Surprised Sympathy Tension Trust Worry
The happy face is a universal icon crossing all cultures, languages and continents. Part of the appeal is that anyone can draw it. So go ahead and make one in the box, just for yucks and giggles. Happy faces communicate so much and so little. You find them in text messages and Facebook posts. Your teacher puts one on the corner of your term paper. They are on stamps, stickers, notebooks, calendars and jewelry in all different forms and colors.
S I S S E N I P HAP
I AM HAPPY WHE
The happy face was first introduced to popular culture in 1958 when a New York radio station gave away sweatshirts incorporating a happy face into its design. Fifty years later, it’s become so commonplace that it’s now impersonal, unemotional, and void of meaning. A similar fate as that of the word, love, we discussed last week.
N
So what does it mean to be happy? Often it is used interchangeably with joy. But happiness and joy are completely different things. Their meanings are light years apart.
N E H W Y P P A H L E E F T ’ N I DO
CONDITIONAL INFLUENCED BY PEOPLE SELFISH FAKE
I WISH I WERE HA
PPY WHEN
IMPERFECT
TEMPORARY HAPPINESS IS
YOUR FRIENDS
CIRCUMSTANTIAL INFUSED | PAGE 60
PEOPLE GIVEN
FLEETING HAPPENS “OUTSIDE” OF YOU INAUTHENTIC
WEEK 3 | DAY 2
JOY RE-DEFINED (THE EPIC FIGHT)
THE RAGING BATTLE OF JOY VS. HAPPINESS
Complete the following statements.
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WORLD
SELFLESS
PURE
P E T S TAKE A
INFLUENCED BY GOD ETERNAL
GOD GIVEN NON-CONDITIONAL
JOY IS
SELFLESS HAPPENS “INSIDE” YOUR HEART
PERFECT
Read the following verses carefully. Choose one that resonates with you and write it in the box below. Then rip it out of the book and put it in a place you will see it often throughout the day, like in your notebook or on your dashboard. You can also take a picture of it on your phone and look at it throughout the day. Psalm 9:2 I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. Psalm 13:5 But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
AUTHENTIC
Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
Do you see the huge difference between happiness and joy? Happiness is “you-centered,” based on your feelings, your circumstances and the world around you. Joy comes directly from God. It is NOT dependent on your circumstances, your feelings or the world around you. The author of joy is God himself. Place yourself on the Happiness – Joy scale below. Where do you spend most of your time?
HAPPINESS
Psalm 71:23 I will shout for joy and sing your praises, for you have ransomed me. Psalm 118:24 This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
TEAR ALONG THIS LINE
JOY
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WEEK 3 | DAY 3
MEAN PEOPLE…NEED A HUG
DON’T ALLOW OTHERS TO KILL YOUR JOY
Have you ever had one of those moments when it felt like someone just sucked the life right out of you? One minute you’re full of excitement, hope and tremendous joy and then WHAM – it’s gone. As if someone just hooked an industrial strength Shop-Vac to your left ear and sucked the joy right out of you. You remember the moment. You were just asked out by the dream guy. You were asked to play for the elite competitive team. You hit the test score needed for the scholarship. So you can’t stop smiling and your internal happiness radiates for all to see. You are walking on clouds and soaring in excitement. Then it happens. The look. The comment. The joke. The response. The text. The laugh. The sarcasm. The jab. The silence. You fall straight from Cloud 9 into the depths of despair. In a single moment you are curled up in the fetal position, sucking your thumb and crying big ol’ crocodile tears. How can one person have that affect on you? Sometimes that person absolutely means to do it. But other times, he or she has no clue how their response affected you. Joseph was your typical 17-year-old guy. He was part of a big blended family and just happened to be dad’s obvious favorite son. Like many younger brothers, Joseph was also a bit of a tattletale. Check out Genesis 37:3-4
Can you feel the tension and division in this family? Imagine living in the walls of that dysfunctional home. Put yourself in Joseph’s shoes for a moment. He works hard for his dad and they’ve always had a special relationship. It was so special that his dad gave him a gift representing deep love – a coat of many colors. This coat signified his place in the
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family and served to further separate Joseph from his brothers. So how did his brothers respond?
and selling him as a slave to a passing caravan. Ouch! Not much better is it?
“They couldn’t say a kind word to him.” Genesis 37:4b (NLT)
In many ways, Joseph has led quite a charmed life up to this point. But his family sucked the joy right out of it. Joseph didn’t ask to be dad’s favorite or to receive an incredible coat as a gift. It wasn’t his fault God came to him in two prophetic dreams.
Joseph had just experienced one of those Cloud 9 experiences. He was filled with incredible happiness at receiving the coat, but his brothers distained him for it. Jealousy ruled their hearts and they couldn’t (or wouldn’t) share his joy. Just imagine what they said to him. “Hey kiss up, too bad we’re not sissys like you. Maybe then dad would like us more.” “Watch yourself because dad can’t protect you all the time.” “You better sleep with one eye open because we’re coming for you.” “You might be dad’s favorite now, but one day he’ll be gone.”
Threats. Insults. Sneers. Not one kind word. Joseph was totally isolated and alone. Then it gets worse. In the Old Testament God often used dreams to reveal future happenings. Joseph had two such dreams and shared them with his brothers. In the first dream, his brothers bow down to him. (Genesis 37:5-7). Maybe it wasn’t the smartest idea on Joseph’s part to tell them this dream. They already can’t stand this guy and now this? Their jealousy grew even more intense and “they hated him all the more”. (Genesis 37:8) The second dream was similar but this time Joseph also told his father. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!” Genesis 37:9
Are you kidding me? This was too much for the brothers to bear. Utter contempt and evil darkness took over their hearts. Surprisingly, even Joseph’s father scolded him for this dream. One day, when Joseph was approaching them from afar, the brothers devise a plan to kill him. If not for one brother with a bit of remorse they would’ve followed through. Instead, they ended up tossing him into a pit
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You have people like that in your life. No matter what happens, some killjoy has a comment, a dig, a jab, or some response that just ruins your happiness. When that happens, remember that happiness comes from circumstances but joy comes straight from God. People can burst your bubble and steal your happiness but they can’t destroy true joy.
P E T S TAKE A
Did you ever notice how much time and energy you waste on mean people? You relive conversations and include what you should have said or done.You dwell on their words and actions much more than they deserve. This is neither fun nor productive and only leads to bitterness, anger and hate.You might even become a mean person yourself. Your goal for today is simple. Instead of dwelling on your hurt and anger, speak life into people.
• ENCOURAGE SOMEONE. • GIVE A COMPLIMENT. • SMILE. • BE EXCITED FOR SOMEONE, EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE IT. • BE GENUINE IN YOUR WORDS.
After a day of being nice to people, reflect on how you feel.
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Life is full of trials; sudden tragedies, consuming pain, overwhelming challenges, difficult moments and unthinkable loss. Sometimes it’s expected and other times it just broadsides you completely unawares. There are times you feel strong and prepared to handle it and other times, it just crushes you. It is not a matter of if trials and tragedies happen, but rather how you respond when they happen.You must find joy in the midst of the darkest moments. Sound impossible? It is when you rely on your own strength. You can only find joy in difficult circumstances with God’s strength. He is your source of joy.
WEEK 3 | DAY 4
TRIALS
FINDING JOY WHEN LIFE IS CRASHING DOWN
Check Out James 1:2-4
“Dear brothers and sisters, WHEN
TROUBLES come your way, consider it an OPPORTUNITY for great JOY. For you know that when your FAITH IS TESTED, your endurance has a chance to GROW. So let it grow, for when your ENDURANCE is fully developed, you will be perfect and COMPLETE, needing nothing.” (NLT)
everything that comes your way. Rely on him to give you joy in the midst of tragedy. Trust in God alone.
P E T S E K A T A
What difficulty are you facing right now? Take a few minutes to write down your struggle. Don’t hold back or soften your words. God knows your heart and exactly what is going on inside of you. Once you’ve written your story, then write James 1:2-4. This is important! As you write these verses, release your troubles to God and ask him to give you joy in the midst of it. Believe that he will.
Did you notice it says, “when troubles come your way,” and not if? You are 100% guaranteed that extremely tough times will crash your life like an uninvited party guest. They will interrupt life, intrude on your world with a vengeance and push you to the edge of the cliff. You will question, beg, scream, and desperately try to make sense of it all. Don’t miss this. The way you look at these moments can either completely destroy you or it can strengthen you and build your faith in a life changing way. It’s up to you. You choose how you to let things affect you. So here’s the challenge. When you feel overwhelmed with life, read James 1:2-4. When a phone call brings you to your knees, read these verses. When you just can’t handle it, read these verses. When you feel like you’re drowning, read these verses. Take refuge in a God that won’t ever leave you. Lean on a God strong enough to handle INFUSED | PAGE 68
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Do you know the shortest verse in the Bible? It’s just three words.
Jesus cried. He blubbered, sobbed, wailed and balled his eyes out. He let all his emotions out without restraint. He didn’t try to be strong or to hide his true feelings. Instead, he freely and openly poured them out for all to see. Notice what Jesus didn’t do. He didn’t stuff it inside or ignore his feelings. He didn’t try to portray something that wasn’t real. He understood the need to let his true feelings surface.
These three words offer great insight about Jesus. But before revealing the answer, let’s take a look at the story leading up to it.
WEEK 3 | DAY 5
DON’T STUFF IT!
ALLOW YOUR FEELINGS TO EMERGE
It was a day like so many others. Jesus was teaching and preaching in the company of his disciples and the crowds when a life-altering, heartbreaking message came from the town of Bethany. Have you ever had that happen? Your day starts out boring and uneventful. Then the news hits you like a sledgehammer.You get a text message or a phone call with devastating news.The feeling in the pit of your stomach keeps you on the verge of throwing up your breakfast. Your mind goes into a haze-induced trance as you try to understand what just happened. That was the kind of message Jesus received. One of his best friends, Lazarus, was extremely sick. The outlook wasn’t good and Mary and Martha were asking for Jesus to come and see him. By time Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus was dead. Mary and Martha were personally, emotionally and spiritually devastated. They had witnessed Jesus perform miracle after miracle. But when it came to their brother, he showed up late. Why? Now Jesus was there, taking in the scene. He grieved over the suffering and death of Lazarus. His heart broke for Mary and Martha in their allconsuming sorrow. He anguished at seeing the community of people who loved Lazarus trying to comprehend this great loss. The sound of people crying and wailing filled the streets. Then, the Bible gives us an incredible glimpse into Jesus with just three words. “Then Jesus Wept.” John 11:35
Know this. One way or another, your emotions will come to light.You can let them out in a healthy way that allows people close to you to help you heal. Or you can allow them to build and fester until they explode out and cause damage to you and others.
P E T S TAKE A
Do you stuff your true emotions? You may think you’re being strong by doing so but just the opposite is true. It takes courage to admit and release your true feelings. God created you as an emotional being. This is not a shameful thing! Find someone who will hold your confidence that you can be real with and return the favor to him or her. Write down the names of three people you can completely trust. These are people who will hold your confidence and with whom you can be absolutely open and honest.Very importantly, they need to be Christians that will give you solid, biblical advice. They are people that give you joy and don’t suck it out of you. These three people are extremely important in your life!
Important: If you can’t think of anyone to write in the boxes today, don’t just write any name. The “who” is extremely important. Pray and ask God specifically to reveal or to bring someone into your life who meets the qualifications discussed above. (If you want to find out what happens at the end of the story check out John 11:36-44. It’s a great ending to a tragic beginning.)
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WEEK 3 | DAY 6
MEGAMIND
THE BATTLE FOR JOY IS WON OR LOST IN YOUR MIND
The brain is a fascinating, mysterious and complex part of your body that you probably take for granted. Whether you’re sleeping or awake, it is constantly working, making sure every part of your body keeps functioning. It is the one organ you rely on most and think about least.
• The human brain consists of more than 60% fatty tissue, possibly more than any other organ. • There are 100,000 miles of blood vessels in the brain. • Your brain stops growing at age 18. • While awake, your brain generates between 10 and 23 watts of power, enough energy to power a light bulb. • It is thought that a yawn works to send oxygen to the brain, therefore cooling it down and waking it up. • You can’t tickle yourself because your brain distinguishes between unexpected external touch and your own touch. • World Champion memorizer Ben Pridmore memorized a single, shuffled deck of cards in 24.68 seconds. • Five minutes after a dream, half of the dream is forgotten. Ten minutes later more than 90% is forgotten. • Each time we blink, our brain kicks in and keeps things illuminated so the whole world doesn’t go dark. (This happens about 20,000 times a day).
What? That number blow me away! 50,000 thoughts a day! You take about 22,000 breaths a day. That’s two thoughts for every breath you take -- a staggering 1.7 seconds per thought. No wonder your mind feels like it never turns off. It’s busy! Think about everything you do to take care of your body physically.You’ve learned about the food pyramid and have heard the phase, “You are what you eat.” You understand the importance of exercise and keeping your body strong and healthy. All off that is absolutely important. But how much time do you spend strengthening and conditioning your mind? What you put into your mind is even more important than what you put in your mouth. Consider competitive athletes. They talk about getting psyched up and keeping their head in the game. Top-notch competitors understand that no matter what your physique, training, skills and abilities, success has everything to do with what’s going on in your head. In the same way, your mind is key to your spiritual journey. The thoughts you put into your mind become part of you. What you think is what you become. So what are you putting into your mind? Are your thoughts consumed with failure, a negative self-image and worry that people are talking bad about you? STOP! For many people, negative thinking is a habit. If this is you, then you MUST re-train your brain. Stop thinking negatively about yourself, about others and about how they may perceive you. Instead, focus on how God sees you and how he sees others. Fill your mind with things that are pleasing to him. Check out Philippians 4:8 “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are
• Laughing at a joke is no simple task. It requires activity in five different areas of the brain.
Now check this out, the most incredible fact I discovered about the brain is this:
IT IS BELIEVED THAT HUMANS EXPERIENCE AN AVERAGE OF 50,000 THOUGHTS EACH DAY. INFUSED | PAGE 72
excellent and worthy of praise.” (NLT)
In this verse, Paul says to spend your time and thoughts on truth. Don’t waste your time filling your head with theories, false theologies or things that are not of God. I’m sorry to break it to you but this includes music, movies and anything of our popular culture is that not honoring to God.
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Write the six key areas Paul listed where you should fix your mind.
P E T S E K A T A
Check Out: Romans 12:2 Allow God to transform your thinking. One way to do this is to stop and pray every time a negative thought enters your mind. When a negative thought about another person enters your brain, quickly stop and pray for that person by name. When you have a negative thought concerning your self-image, stop and pray. Pray specifically about that negative thought and give God the credit for his amazing creation.
FIX
Every time a negative thought creeps into your mind today, pray. Give your mind back to God and ask him to fill it with his amazing love for you and for others.
reap and you and t c a n a haracter tion; sow ap an ac aracter; sow a c e r u o y and eap a ch hought nd you r p a destiny.� a on. “Sow a t it b a h o Emers wa rea o ld u s a o ; y W it b h a ah Ralp
It takes some self-discipline and concerted effort to keep your mind focused on the right things. Watch your thoughts. They will dictate your actions today and in the future.
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During this past week, we learned about trusting God’s joy. Take this time to reflect on what you experienced this week. Remember, these days where we pause and think are not to be taken lightly and are an important part of life-change.
CORE THOUGHT: Write the ONE thought from this past week that completely changed you.
Think about the difference between joy and happiness. Has your understanding of these words changed in the last week? In what ways have you learned to better trust God’s joy in your life? Which verse or verses stood out to you? This week you were challenged to grow in the area of joy as you continue to draw near to God and become who he created you to be. Allow this section to guide you through the past six days as you contemplate what you learned. This will help you capture the CORE – the essential pieces that were most relevant to you.
CORE VERSE: Write the ONE verse from this week that most captivated your heart and mind.
CORE Highlights:
Look back through the pages of the last six days. What thoughts and comments had the greatest meaning for you? Write them below.
CORE ACTION: Today, commit to ONE action you will take
WEEK 3 | DAY 7
REFLECT
as a step to trust more in God’s joy or to live out joy more readily. Don’t hold back. Be Bold. Be specific.
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Legos are legit. After countless hours of in-depth research (mostly playing with them) I have concluded that Lego’s are the best toy ever created. Ever! As a kid, Lego sets were at the top of every wish list I ever wrote. I made elaborate space stations with cross-terrain lunar vehicles and space ships complete with realistic lights and sounds. I built Lego castles with towers, trap doors, moats, and entire armies of knights on horses. I also got Lego sets of basic building blocks and all the different shapes needed to follow the set of instructions included. I spent hours meticulously placing each piece to create the exact design. After that, the real fun kicked in as I tore apart all the “set creations” to start with a blank slate. I created entire worlds by mixing space sets with castle and pirate sets and then added police and emergency vehicles and everything else in between. The only restriction was my own imagination.
Check this out: For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
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WEEK 4 | DAY 1
DESIGNED
WEEK FOUR TRUSTING GOD’S PURPOSE
GOD DESIGNED YOU FOR A PURPOSE
As creator of a completely unique Lego land, any construction was possible as long as I found the pieces needed in my big plastic tub of Legos.
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T U O K CHEC T X E N E TH PAGE
GOD DESIGNED YOU FOR A PURPOSE
YOU
can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we
DESIGNED
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Other:
Lead
X
X
X
Follow
Fly solo and go it alone Issues of injustice in the world intrigue me…like human trafficking or places like Darfur or Tibet.
X Super-Competitive
I HATE change
I’m Outgoing
If you have both qualities, circle the X.
X
Be on a team
Competition = BLECHHH
Give me variety!
I’m Reserved
TURN THE PAGE
DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY BY CIRCLING THE TRAIT THAT IS MOST LIKE YOU.
Think about the significant times and events in your life. It could be good experience like a favorite vacation or winning a championship. Or it could be a difficult one like a divorce or losing a close friend / family member. God can use it all! These experiences may not come to you right away. Take your time and think it through.
WHAT LIFE EXPERIENCES HAVE MADE AN IMPACT OR SHAPED YOU?
Animal or Pet causes interest me.
I have a heart to help people with special needs.
I’d like to serve at a homeless shelter.
ARE THERE ANY “CAUSES” THAT YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT? (CHECK THOSE THAT APPLY)
List your talents and abilities. It might be video games, math, soccer, guitar, singing, or listening to a friend in need.
WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GOOD AT?
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS
God designed you for a purpose. God designed you perfectly. You’re not perfect but your designer is! It’s about the fact that God is the perfect architect and He didn’t make mistakes when He made you. God made you how He made you and He didn’t mess up! God wants to use the story of your life (even the difficult stuff you’ve experienced) to impact the world. God also wants to use your strengths, talents and Spiritual gifts. You’re exactly how He intended you to be! Here’s the truth of your design: You’re a “masterpiece”. Check out Ephesians 2:10
WEEK 4 | DAY 1
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THE POET HORACE
P E T S E K A T
“Carpe Diem” is Latin for “Seize the Day.” This little phrase has been used in classic poetry, as a movie mantra to inspire a group of teenage boys and as a way for coaches to fire athletes up. It’s memorable and it’s powerful. Carpe Diem.
A
DEAD POETS SOCIETY, 1989
As you grow closer to God, it’s important to recognize his voice saying “Carpe Diem” to your heart. It’s true – God wants your best and he wants you to seize the opportunities he brings your way. They are no accident! Do not miss the opportunities that God gives you!
Figuring out how God designed you is a process that takes more than one ten minute devotion. So relax and think of it as the start of an adventure! Pay attention to what makes your heart beat fast! Ask your close friends and your parents for their insights on your strengths, gifts, abilities and talents.You may be surprised what people say. Most importantly, ask God to reveal the gifts he gave you and then begin to use them for his kingdom. God loves it when you’re willing, available and excited to be used by him!
Come up with your own questions and write down what they say.
Name: Date: INFUSED | PAGE 82
WEEK 4 | DAY 2
CARPE DIEM
Name: Date:
SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES GOD GIVES YOU
Choose two people you completely trust and respect. Ask them specific questions such as: •What do you think I am good at? •What areas do I seem to be passionate about? •What talents do you think I should spend more time exploring?
OPPORTUNITY #1 You’re hanging out with friends at a movie theatre. Everybody gets their tickets and $16 worth of popcorn, AirHeads and Mt Dew. The movie is okay, nothing great. Then there’s a funeral scene for the lead character’s grandfather. Remembering that one of the guys with you just lost his grandfather, you steal a look over. He wipes away a tear and then gets up and leaves. Everyone assumes he’s going to the restroom but you know it’s more than that.
SHOULD YOU FOLLOW HIM OUT TO MAKE SURE HE’S OKAY? MAYBE HE COULD USE A FRIEND RIGHT NOW. CARPE DIEM. OPPORTUNITY #2 Your Mom lost her job six months ago. A friend’s Dad can get you a job on weekends that pays pretty well. It’s a no-brainer, you totally want to take the job and the spending money will be sweet. Then it crosses your mind. What if I give this paycheck to my Mom to help out with the bills? Ouch.
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WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THE MONEY? WILL YOU HELP YOUR FAMILY? CARPE DIEM.
OPPORTUNITY #3 There’s a harsh rumor going around about one of your teachers. Nobody knows if it’s true or not, but people are talking. It’s easy to get in on the gossip and truthfully, trashing this teacher is kind of tempting. Then you realize what you’re doing. You feel the pain of what’s being said. It’s gossip, it’s hurtful and it may not even be true. You know this isn’t honoring God and it must stop.
WILL YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT’S RIGHT? CARPE DIEM. THESE KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. Think about it – you have opportunities to honor God every day! Some are big and dramatic. Some are small and seemingly insignificant. But listen…God is in these opportunities. He’s tapping on your heart strings to pay attention. The closer you draw to him, the more you sense him in the everyday. He alerts you to this stuff when you’re heart is open to it. Carpe Diem.
P E T S TAKE A
Experiment with living a “Carpe Diem” lifestyle today. Write one (or all!) of the words below on the back of your hand. You don’t have to make it big or annoying, just write it however you want. • Carpe Diem • “whatever” • Colossians 3:23 As you go about the rest of your day, let the words on your hand guide you to seize each and every opportunity that God brings your way, from the small stuff to the big stuff….live it.
If you’d like to watch a great “Carpe Diem” scene from an awesome old flick called Dead Poets Society, scan this code. Or hit up YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQtmGcdSDAI
Check this out: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. Colossians 3:23 (NIV) The word “whatever” is interesting in this verse. God wants your best effort in everything you do. Whatever it is! So when you work, work for God. When cleaning your bathroom, do it for God. Homework, for God. Good deeds, for God. Honoring God in your actions goes way beyond what you are doing. It has to do with your motivation for doing it. Are you helping someone out so people will praise you? Would you do the same thing in secret? Your motivation must be to honor God, not for the applause of people. “Whatever you do” encompasses ALL things, ALL the time, and with correct motivation. That’s huge! But you can do it with the help of the Holy Spirit when you draw close to God. In WHATEVER you INFUSED | PAGE 84
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Excuses. Sometimes they fall out of your mouth before you even realize it.You want to get out of something.You don’t want to admit you forgot or failed to do something. Making excuses can become a habitual way of life. They especially run rampant in the school environment. Check out these excuses.
For Christ-followers that’s the Holy Spirit’s job. (Check out 2 Corinthians 3:18 below.) YOU don’t have the strength or the willpower to produce strong character in yourself. Only the Holy Spirit can form your godly character. Your job is to obey. Simple. Character is more than talk or even actions. Character is who you are when no one is looking.
I’M LATE BECAUSE . . .
Check these verses out:
• I WAS FIGHTING WITH A KID WHO SAID THAT YOU WEREN’T THE BEST TEACHER IN THE WORLD. • I WAS FEEDING DUCKS – TRYING TO HELP PRESERVE ANIMAL WILDLIFE – AND MY HOMEWORK FELL INTO THE LAKE. • MY FOOT GOT STUCK IN THE TOILET.
WEEK 4 | DAY 3
NO SHORTCUTS
LIVING INFUSED WITH CHRIST ISN’T EASY
I WAS ABSENT BECAUSE MY DOCTOR SAID NOT TO DO ANYTHING STRESSFUL.
…take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you. Ephesians 4:22 (MSG)
I DID MY HOMEWORK BUT . . .
• I FORGOT TO WRITE IT DOWN! • THEN I ATE IT. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO TRY TO GO TO THE BATHROOM? • MY MOM ATE IT. SHE’S VERY PREGNANT AND HAVING STRANGE CRAVINGS.1
Do you have trouble saying no? Here’s some excuses to get you off the hook without having to say that nasty little two letter word.
I’D LOVE TO BUT . . .
RATE YOURSELF BELOW BY CIRCLING THE NUMBER THAT BEST DESCRIBES YOU. Making EXCUSES
Excuses are one of the ways we take shortcuts in life. We also use tactics like complaining, blaming and lying. Isn’t it funny how you can easily see these patterns in the lives of others but justify it in your own life? We can rationalize away a lot of junk in our lives. But God (and others) see right through that. Be honest. Do you like hanging out with someone who habitually complains, blames, makes excuses or lies? NO! So don’t BE that person either. Being infused with Christ has a lot to do with building character. But if you think you have to do build your own character, you’re dead wrong.
2 http://www.bored.com/excuselist/idloveto.htm
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 (NLT)
ARE YOU TAKING SHORTCUTS IN ISSUES OF CHARACTER?
• I HAVE TO WALK MY TURTLE. • I’M HAVING MY INGROWN TOENAIL REMOVED. WANNA SEE? • MY ORANGE JUICE BOX SAID CONCENTRATE. • MY DOG DIED AND I HAVE TO FLUSH IT DOWN THE TOILET. • I’M WAXING MY ARMPITS THAT DAY. • I HAVE TO BREED MY SPOON AND FORK SO THE WORLD DOESN’T RUN OUT OF SPORKS. • I’M BUSY REMOVING ALL THE SPONGES FROM THE OCEAN TO SEE HOW MUCH DEEPER IT GETS.2
1 http://www.bored.com/excuselist/school.htm
And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18b (NLT)
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I’ll try to get out of stuff by making excuses. 1 2 3 4 5 Almost Never Too much I’m the Excuse King
BLAMING
I blame other people or circumstances instead of taking responsibility for a bad decision. NEVER
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1
2
3 Sometimes
4
5
I’m LAME
There’s nothing on TV. You’re out of friends to text. Nothing’s new on Facebook. You’re Xboxed out. Maybe a little YouTube? Ahhhh, a littleYouTube…. perfect!
LAZINESS
Laziness is a problem for me. 2 3 4 5 Too often Umm, it’s a problem
1 Almost Never
Everybody’s got their favorites, right? “Charlie Bit my Finger” – yeah, that’s a good one
LYING
Scan this code or hit up YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM
I tell lies to make my life easier or when it’s convenient to do so. 1 NEVER
2
3 Sometimes
4
5 Call me Pinocchio
P E T S TAKE
Here’s one that you might not have seen – you’re going to laugh! Scan this code or hit up YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsQISnFx2sg&feature=youtu be_gdata_player)
WEEK 4 | DAY 4
VIRAL
Obeying God means no shortcuts. Look at your scores in the above areas. Face your biggest flaw. Pick one area to really focus on in the coming days and ask God to convict you of it. Ask God to help you catch yourself every time you’re tempted to fall into your old pattern. It takes courage to desire change but you can do it! Don’t dodge or slack off. Don’t wuss out with excuses. God wants to root this junk out of your life. So move over and surrender it all to him. No shortcuts.
YOU WERE MADE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
A
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“Chocolate Rain” goes all the way back to 2008. And get this: As of this writing, almost 69 million people have watched Tay Zonday sing that ridiculous song on YouTube! Millions more have seen the video through other venues (mainly on TV). That means about one-third of Americans can hum “Chocolate Rain”. Scary. When a video goes from obscurity to fame in a very short period of time, it’s referred to as going “viral”. Usually it creates a buzz and people everywhere are talking about it. You Tube, Facebook, Twitter, MMS, email and texting all contribute to going viral as friends send friends their latest finds. When you’re infused with Jesus Christ, your faith becomes powerful. Over time, you are set apart by the Holy Spirit to impact your circle of influence. People will notice the difference in your actions, your attitudes, your personality, your talents, your character and ultimately, your heart! And you know what? Your faith can go viral as God uses YOU to make a difference in the world! You were made to give your faith away! Here’s the truth about you as a Christ-follower: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere . . . to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NLT)
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What is this power? It’s the Holy Spirit working in your heart and through your life. Going viral in your faith is not about becoming an overnight sensation. It’s about living out your faith long term in a way that people say, “I want some of that.” The message of Jesus Christ is contagious and God wants to use you to go viral with it and to impact people with his message. Get it?
A STEP KE
WHO IS YOUR 1 LIFE?
(Remember you can have more than one person! It might be a good friend, a family member, a teacher, a boss, a coach, etc)
Now look back at Colossians 4:5-6 for a few basics about going viral.
TA
1. BE AN EXAMPLE
So, what does it mean for our faith to be viral? Look at the instructions from Paul in Colossians: Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:5-6 (NLT)
Paul was right there during the first waves of Christianity going viral. He knew firsthand about making a difference for the Kingdom. God wants you to be about his kingdom work too and he’s given you all you need to go viral. Do you know that the last thing Jesus commanded us to do before leaving this earth was to “go and make disciples of all the nations”? (Matthew 28:19) He wants you to spread his name and his fame. And the best way to do that is to start right where he has you today. You may have heard us talking about having a “1 Life” at Fuse. As a Christfollower, resolve to have at least one person in your life that is far from God. Focus on that “1 Life” by praying for him or her and looking for chances to help them come to know Christ. 1 Life is a big deal.
See the words “live wisely”? When you live with God’s wisdom, you are an example of godliness. People watch and notice how you live.You’re not going to be perfect, but if you pay attention to making decisions based on God’s wisdom – people will notice. You’ll find God’s wisdom in his Word. Read it regularly and ask him to reveal himself to you as you read. He promises to do so. Then, make the most of every opportunity. That’s viral.
2. TALK IT UP When you get the chance, be ready to tell people about the love of God in your life. Believe it or not, your friends and family care about what you have to say. God will use your words to impact people. It’s true.You don’t have to recite verses or get into theological discussions. Just talk about what you know best, what God is doing in your life. Talk about your love for Him. You don’t have to be a weirdo with this stuff but when you get an opening – let people know that God is important to you. That’s viral.
3. PRAY A VIRAL PRAYER Take some time right now and ask God to use you. Open your heart to him right now and humbly tell God you’re available. Ask Him to make your faith viral. Ask him to give you opportunities. Ask Him to help you set an example of godliness to your friends and family. Remember: You were made for this! Take a few minutes to pray a “viral” prayer and let God do the rest through you.
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? E S R O W S I H C HI
WEEK 4 | DAY 5
YOUR CAMPUS
GOD WANTS YOU TO IMPACT YOUR SCHOOL
W
a guy e next thoistory of B.O.? id r e n la A long porst B.O. in the w e h t Or s a lady who ha next toants to talk.? e id r e w lan A long epath who really r b d with ba u.? ’t like yo n s e o d you like e person Or h t t u o you like Finding person tory of B.O.? e h t t u o is Findingrst B.O. in the h o w e has th l? of schoo y a d t s r The fi Or ool? y of sch a d t s la The
That last one is easy. The first day of school is like getting a cavity filled – you know you have to do it, but you don’t like it. The start of school means early mornings, studying for exams, unnecessary drama, homework, cafeteria food and teachers with bad breath who talk a lot. Here’s a challenge:
LOOK AT SCHOOL AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INFUSE OTHERS WITH JESUS CHRIST. I know what you’re thinking, but hear me out.Where else can you find so many opportunities to influence others for Christ? All (or most) of your friends are at school. You spend lots of time there. And there’s a ton of stuff going on all the time - clubs, sports, dances and trips. The Bible says that you are the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14) Since much of your world is on campus, be the light! When you’re infused with Jesus, you can impact people wherever you are…including school. Do you get that? Read what one student wrote. INFUSED | PAGE 92
“The courtyard is filled with teenagers, Fake smiles, fake friendships. They are everywhere. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, Jocks, preps, freaks, geeks, There is no exception to the rule, All desperately wanting to feel wanted, To feel needed, included, loved. Do you not realize this is pointless? That all the empty phrases, All the fake hugs and hellos are worthless? That will never satisfy their longing.” - Student -
Pretty true stuff, right? You’ve experienced the fake smiles and the feelings of wanting to be wanted and accepted. Put the promise of Jesus Christ in the mix and those experiences begin to fade. How does Jesus Christ get onto your campus? You.You bring him in.
P E T S TAKE A
So, how does that work? How can you in(fuse) Christ on your campus?
IDEA #1 – PRAY FOR YOUR SCHOOL
A few years ago, some FUSE Summerlin students began praying together on Sunday nights in their school parking lot. They talked about things at school, about God’s movement in their lives, and about kids who were going through tough circumstances (illnesses, death in their families, stuff like that). Then they’d circle up together and pray for everything they had discussed. Pretty amazing, right? God answered many of their prayers because that’s what he does when some in(fused) people get together.
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WAY TO GO!
IDEA #2 - START SOMETHING
Inviting a friend to FUSE weekends is a great way to impact your campus. Think about it – when you bring your friends to church you know it’s not going to be weak.The music will be good.The teaching will be relevant and hit the heart.The people there are cool (well, most of them). Our church is GREAT! One group of FUSE students started carpooling to church – tons of them. After awhile, they didn’t have enough room in their cars. So one kid rented a bus to get friends there. Imagine a bus pulling up on a FUSE Weekend. How about events like INSOMNIA for Junior High kids? In 2011, a bunch of in(fused) kids invited twelve busloads of friends to INSOMNIA. 12 busloads. Crazy.
IDEA #4 – SERVE PEOPLE
When you unselfishly contribute to building others up, people notice and your campus can change. One high school senior noticed how depressed everybody was in the morning and wanted to do something about it. She and her friends started holding the main doors open in the morning. Hundreds of kids were greeted with a smile and “Good Morning” to start their day. Then the door holders took it further and started doing stupid stuff to get kids to smile. They’d do dances, sing dumb songs and perform skits in the courtyard. Over time, more and more seniors got involved, so it became a cool thing. They made a real and noticeable difference in brightening people’s day first thing in the morning. As a ministry, FUSE has organized service projects at schools, done basic clean-up and painting projects, delivered snack baskets, school supplies, and thank-you notes. That stuff impacts people. They notice and it makes a difference.
HOW CAN GOD USE YOU TO IMPACT YOUR CAMPUS? INFUSED | PAGE 94
GETTING INFUSED WITH GOD’S WORD WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE
IDEA #3 – MAKE THE INVITE
LOOK AHEAD
do it!
Congrats on making it to Day 26 – you’re almost done! Seriously, making it this far is a big deal! Many of you started this 31 day journey, but only the diligent and dedicated have made it this far. Way to go!
WEEK 4 | DAY 6
Did you know you can start a Bible Study at school? This can be a cool thing if you go about it right. Your youth pastor can help you get it going, just ask. Not long ago, someone started an FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) at school. Throughout the year, they had anywhere from 15 to 50 students attend the meetings before school (yes, at 6:30am). It’s all about leadership. At the end of the year, a famous athlete agreed to be their guest speaker and drew a crowd of 327 students! That’s right -327 students showed up before school at 6:30am! Again, it’s all about leadership. Some of you have the engine to start something like that…
This whole month has been about learning to see your life through God’s eyes. Seeing the world through eternal lenses is a big shift in perspective and an awesome privilege. As you mature in Christ and see people and circumstances as he does, everything changes. Two aspects of this (in)FUSED journey have been ongoing. 1. You’ve been interacting with God’s Word, the Bible. 2. You’ve been talking to Him by praying and listening. It’s made a difference in your life, hasn’t it? Don’t be afraid of what’s next. It’s easy to get freaked out about the unknown. Just remember that the most powerful being in the universe loves YOU, has your back and will never let you go! God wants the best for you and he happens to know what that is in great detail. Keep communicating with him. Cling to that friendship and keep it going strong. Know that he’s there and keep experiencing him in your life. He will never leave or forsake you! “Then David continued, ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.’” 1 Chronicles 28:20 (NLT)
Part of this 31 Day experiment was to help you develop a daily connection with God. Not something that takes hours, but a moment in each day where you pause, listen and reflect on what God has for you each day. DON’T STOP NOW! Here are some ideas to keep you going after this 31 days.
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IDEA #1 – CHECK OUT THE LIFE OF JESUS Open up your Bible to the book of John. This book will help you get to know Jesus through details and insight not included in the other gospels. It has 21 chapters, so why not read one a day? That will give you three solid weeks of Jesus’ words in your soul!
P E T S TAKE A
Commit now to one of the ideas listed above or write in your own idea.
IDEA #2 – WORDS OF WISDOM The book of Proverbs is all about making wise decisions. This is a great next step for you to experience life as God sees it. Proverbs is a guidebook for life.There are 31 chapters in Proverbs so one chapter a day would give you a solid month of reading God’s wisdom.
IDEA #1 IDEA #2
IDEA #3 – CLASSICS! Some of you love checklists so this might be a cool way for you to keep going! Each day, read the verses listed below and write some notes about what you learn. There are context clues after each passage. Don’t let anything get in the way of getting into God’s Word!
IDEA #3 Write your own idea here:
Challenge yourself further by choosing a verse that really speaks to you and memorize it. It’s not that hard and you’ll see how cool it feels to have God’s Word in your head and heart.
SCAN THIS QR CODE FOR MORE BIBLE STUDY PLANS AND IDEAS:
John 1:1-3, 14 – God became man. 1 Corinthians 15:20 – Jesus is alive today. Hebrews 11 – Great people of great faith.
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/readingplans
Matthew 5:43-48 – Enemies Romans 14:13 – Don’t be a stumbling block. Judges 4:18-21 – Cool story.
http://www.youversion.com/reading-plans/all
Acts 4:32-5:11 – Don’t lie Acts 26:9-18 – God’s plans for your life. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 – Treasure Matthew 5:1-12 – Reflect on these one at a time.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/iyf/faithandlife/devotionals
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This week we focused on trusting God’s purpose for your life. Take this time to reflect on what that means as you walk forward in your life and in your faith. In the coming years, you’ll be venturing out away from your parent’s home and into a life all your own. Will you trust God to guide you into the future? Will you trust God to lead you into tomorrow or even into the next few moments?
CORE THOUGHT: Write the ONE thought from this past week that completely changed you.
In this past week, you’ve had opportunity to think about how you can live each day for God by sharing his love and pouring into the lives of others. Living beyond yourself takes some rethinking and often some time and effort. Are you willing to be available to God’s leadings and trust his purpose for your life? Allow this section to guide you through the past six days as you contemplate what you learned. This will help you capture the CORE – the essential pieces that were most relevant to you.
CORE VERSE: Write the ONE verse from this week that most captivated your heart and mind.
CORE Highlights:
Look back through the pages of the last six days. What thoughts and comments had the greatest meaning for you? Write them below.
CORE ACTION: Today, commit to ONE action you will take
WEEK 4 | DAY 7
REFLECT
as a step to trust more in God’s purpose and to align your life with his will.
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0.2 miles. Can you run 0.2 miles? It’s less than once around a track, really not that far. Even if you’re a couch potato who sustains your healthy lifestyle by pushing buttons on an XBOX 360 controller, you could get up right now and run 0.2 miles. It’s approximately 320 meters. It’s 352 yards. It’s three football fields. It’s 1056 feet, 0.2 miles.
WEEK 5 | DAY 1
POINT TWO
WEEKTRUSTFIVE GOD’S PLAN
REFLECT ON YOUR JOURNEY
(PUT THIS BOOK DOWN RIGHT NOW, GO OUTSIDE AND RUN 0.2 MILES AND THEN COME BACK. SERIOUSLY. CARPE DIEM – SEIZE THE DAY.)
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Now, what if you ran 26 miles before that 0.2 miles? How would you feel then? Would the 0.2 miles be more difficult? A marathon is exactly 26.2 miles.That last 0.2 miles is a big deal for marathon runners. Trust me. I’m not in the best shape and wouldn’t consider myself an elite athlete, but I’ve taken the challenge. Over the years I‘ve run a handful of half-marathons and two full marathons. I can assure you, the last 0.2 of a marathon SUCKS!! You are so very close, yet the finish line seems half a world away. Your legs are beyond the point of feeling pain. They feel completely numb. Every muscle in your body has crossed the line of utter fatigue. Places on your body (which I won’t mention specifically) are chaffed raw. Your mind is spent. Your body is revolting. You try to suck down gel packs, water, and anything else in sight to give you energy while your body screams NO!! You have even turned off your iPod, because the noise in your head is overbearing. But with absolute commitment, you put one foot in front of the other, knowing that only 0.2 miles stands between you and the finish line.You will have accomplished something that only a small percentage of people have achieved, the completion of a marathon . . .all 26.2 miles. Even though it’s crazy difficult, running a marathon is an amazing experience. Despite all the pain, numbness, chaffing and fatigue, that last 0.2 is a time to reflect. Why? There’s no doubt you will cross the finish line, even if you have to crawl across it! But you think back on the last 18+ weeks of getting up early, logging countless miles and powering your body with the right foods to meet the physical demands. You think back to that morning before the race when your nerves were tense with anticipation. You felt prepared and where confident but still, your mind questioned, “What if I pull a muscle? What if my
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stomach revolts? What if my body shuts down?” You reflect back through each mile. The first six miles felt like you could run forever. Then you realized you started out too fast. Not good! You remember the mile and half hill you climbed during miles 7 and 8 that felt more like a mountain! Putting one foot in front of the other, you trudged
P E T S E K A T A
along and made it to the top. In mile 15 a spectator called out, “You’re
Reflection. Life moves along so quickly. If you don’t purposefully stop and
almost there!” Almost there? What in the world was she thinking? Are
reflect, you will miss what God really wants you to learn and experience.
you joking? That just wasn’t encouraging with 11.2 miles still to go. When you hit mile 20, you knew the next 6.2 would be an epic battle between
Flip back through each week and read what you have written. Then
mind and body. One will drive you to take step after agonizing step while
carefully consider these questions.
the other begs to quit. Finally you hit the 26-mile mark and you know you have done it! Reflection. That’s what the 0.2 is about. Day 29 is the 0.2 of this 31 day experiment. It’s time to reflect. This is probably the most important day of the previous 28. God has done amazing things within you. He opened your eyes, encouraged you and forced you to deal with some dark corners in your heart. Through all this, I pray that you have grown closer to Christ and will commit to living
1
WHAT HAS GOD DONE IN YOUR LIFE?
2
HOW HAVE YOU CHANGED OVER THE PAST 28 DAYS?
INFUSED in Christ.
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Everyday you go through routine and commonplace actions without thinking about it. You don’t spend much time contemplating the impact these actions may (or may not) have on your life.You probably haven’t thought much about these things at all. Until right now. Think about the things you do every single day.
BREATHE (QUICK, TAKE A BREATH) DRINK (HAVE A COKE, SOME WATER, YOUR FAVORITE LATTE OR A GATORADE. ARE YOU THIRSTY YET?) EAT (MUCH OF YOUR TIME IS PROBABLY SPENT DECIDING WHAT TO EAT) GO TO THE BATHROOM (SOME OF YOU MORE THAN OTHERS) THINK (DON’T HURT YOURSELF) BLINK (APPROXIMATELY 20,000 TIMES A DAY)
WEEK 5 | DAY 2
DAILY
INFUSE YOUR LIFE WITH CHRIST’S, DAILY
PICK YOUR NOSE (YOU KNOW YOU DO!) SCRATCH AN ITCH (GOT ONE NOW?) TALK (DO YOU TALK MORE OR LESS THAN MOST OF YOUR FRIENDS?)
think you have to sit down in total silence, read an entire book of the bible, memorize it, pray for an hour, and give everything you own to the poor in order to have “daily time” with God. That is so not true! God just wants you to spend “Always be time with him. He desires to infuse himself into you. joyful. Never stop Some days you might spend an hour with him. Other praying. Be thankful times you may just have a quick conversation with in all circumstances, him between classes. Some days it will be a focused for this is God’s will and emotionally charged experience that leaves you for you who belong speechless. Other days it will feel like you’re just to Christ Jesus.” going through the motions. That’s okay, go through 1 Thessalonians the motions. 5:16-18 Everyday, infuse your life into God and allow him to infuse himself into you. You have to spend time with him to grow this relationship. No one can do that for you. Infuse him into your daily routine by thinking of him throughout your day. Thank him for the little things like a canceled quiz or that you made it to class on time. Ask him to keep you and your friends safe while driving. Once you begin remembering him in the small details of life, you’ll be surprised at how he shows up, right when you need him most.
P E T S TAKE A
SLEEP (ARE YOU ASLEEP RIGHT NOW?) YAWN (DON’T YAWN UNLESS YOU ARE SITTING BY SOMEONE ELSE, THEN YAWN AND SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES THEM TO YAWN. IT’S A FUN GAME) Every day you go through simple actions necessary to sustain your life. (Okay, well maybe nose-picking isn’t absolutely necessary.) You take thousands of breaths. You yawn involuntarily, much to the mystery of the scientific community. You eat too much Mexican food and rush to the bathroom. You scratch an itch; you must to retain sanity. Just try right now to not scratch the itch on the side of your face. Don’t scratch it. Withstand the urge. Keep your pesky fingers away. Just allow the uncontrollable sensation to wreak havoc on your body. Every day you do a bunch of things just because you do. So why don’t you spend time with God every day? Why is this a struggle? Why is there a void in your relationship with God?
Take some time to pray the prayer below. Look at each word or phrase and put it in your own words to make it especially meaningful to you.Truly commit your heart, your life, and your time to him. “Today I commit to having purposeful and intentional daily time with God. I will put him at the top of my priority list, regardless of how busy the day gets. No matter what, I will spend time with my Lord and Savior.” Name Date
My simple answer is that you complicate it way too much. You might INFUSED | PAGE 104
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INFUSED is aboutYOU. It is about YOUR faith and YOUR relationship with God. It is about the choices YOU make everyday. It is about YOU choosing joy even when you feel like all your joy is spent. It is about YOU trusting in God when you’d rather do things your own way. It is about YOU continually learning about God’s pure and true love and rejecting the false and conditional love of this world. It is about YOU discovering God’s purpose for your life and actually following it.
IT’S ABOUT YOU!! Your relationship with Christ is not about your friends and what they choose to do. It is not dependent on how spiritually deep your parents are. It has nothing to do with how much you like or dislike your church or whether you feel comfortable in youth ministry. It has nothing to do with the list of excuses rolling through your mind right now. It has absolutely nothing to do with anyone else but you. Check out: Revelation 20:12
Hmmmm . . . not the warm and fuzzy verse you expected at the end of this journey, is it? But the Bible is clear, you will have to give an account for your life, your actions and your choices. One day, you will stand before God as he looks at your life and examines the way you chose to spend it. So, it’s up to you. What are YOU going to do now to infuse your life with Christ?
DAY 32 STARTS TOMORROW . . .
WEEK 5 | DAY 3
YOU
INFUSED IS ABOUT YOU
“I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.”
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in·fuse Verb /in’fyooz “To fill or cause to be filled with something.”
YOU CA N’T Q UEN C H TH I RS T WI TH OUT A D R I N K . YOU CAN ’ T B E AT FATI GUE WI TH OUT R E S T . YOU CA N’ T G ET I N TO S H A P E W I TH OUT S WE AT AN D E F F O R T . This world, this culture is spiritually draining.The constant pressure to fit in.The pull of people and circumstances tempting you to defy to your conscience. The struggle to make sense of the senseless and wondering why. The aftermath of despair, pain, regret, and confusion. You feel spiritually empty and far from God. Are you thirsty for something more than the world has to offer? Tired of fighting off life’s temptations and desires? Get a spiritual work out and learn to infuse your life with Christ’s. Growing in your relationship with Christ requires some proactive and necessary steps. But it will quench your thirst, give you rest and re-energize your life through faith. “Come close to God and he will come close to you.” James 4:8 Infused is about you. Your faith. Your relationship with God. Your desire to embrace him through this journey called life. Take this 31day journey. It will challenge, strengthen and grow your faith.
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