The following content is the property of BigStuf Camps and Celeste Edwards.
Title: The Jesus Filter
Author: Celeste Elizabeth
Date: September 11th, 2017
We all know that we miss it.
Our suitcases may still be filled with sand because we are still reminiscing and refuse to let the summer go.
Our memories captured and stored the adrenaline from pinata parties, the sentiment of late night talks, and the eternal effects of life changing moments.
We long for rec time, amazing worship, but maybe not the long bus rides to and from.
But the biggest takeaway from BigStuf 2017 wasn’t our favorite t-shirt or any memory…
We learned that we ALL have a filter. And it’s more than Instagram, VSCO, or Snap Chat.
We each have a fierce mind, a filter, that influences our decisions, actions, and how we carry out our emotions.
We learned that what controls our mind controls our life.
Will it be FUN or not?
How EFFICIENT will this be?
Will I SUCCEED or FAIL?
Is EVERYONE else doing it?
Will THEY think I am cool?
We learned that our filter can change, it can be influenced, it can be shifted to adjust how we see ourselves, others, God and the world.
We learned that the filter of JESUS is the filter we need to put on with our new life in Him.
Yet, if we aren’t careful, it can become tainted and full of dirt and grime that can cloud out Jesus. We can only see as far as what is inches in front of us rather than seeing the hope and the promise of what Jesus wants us to see in our future with Him.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2
So now that we are back in routine, back to dwelling in the places God has purposefully placed us, we have to figure out how to take care of our minds, quite possibly the most important filter of our day to day lives.
Acknowledging the love and sacrifice of what Jesus did for us on the cross, all that He gave to fend for our hearts, and accepting it as truth…it changes your life, because Jesus changes your life.
He changes you to your inner most being, bringing you back to where you belong, back to Himself…but He doesn’t change your mind.
There is still work that we must do in partnership, companionship, and relationship with the Holy of holies, the Lord of lords, the King of kings, the Name above all names.
How assuring that He doesn’t leave us to do it on your own.
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 14:26
Over the next few weeks, we are going to expand on the filter of Jesus, apply practical steps towards renewing our filter, our minds, for the sake of our views, thoughts and actions to sustain and build upon what we heard at camp this summer. Let’s journey together…
The Jesus Filter Application
Prayer: Pray that God would give you the desire to have the filter of Jesus.
Scripture: Romans 12:2, John 14:26
Say It To Yourself: The way you see determines who you are going to be.
Journal: Journal about what excuses you make to justify wrong behavior and ask for Jesus’s eyes on your decisions, actions, words, thoughts and views. Ask for His eyes on yourself, other people and the world.
Title: The “Us” Filter
Author: Celeste Elizabeth
Date: September 29th, 2017
Why do you think you choose who you choose?
That may be a question that you don’t get very often so you may not know how to answer that just yet. Another way to put it is…
Why do you think you choose (or don’t choose) your friends?
Why do you look at people and think, “I want to be them!” or “I don’t want to be them…”?
Part of our selection process can be defined as natural…only because of what’s become cultural. We’ve learned to gravitate towards what is cool, what is trendy, what popular, and what we feel like we need in order to fit in.
The other part of our selection process can be detrimental to our lives as we press on to become more like the perfect Role Model who came to walk our walk, feel our pain, and give us guidance and direction. He was literally and figuratively on our level.
Flesh to flesh, eye to eye.
When we put on the “THEM” filter it will stray us from becoming more like Christ because we will do the exact opposite of what Jesus has asked us to do.
If we are busy picking and choosing then we may…
-write others off
-make fun of people
-devalue someone
-show hatred
-gossip about other people
-label people as less than what crowns Christ would place on them
-cause deep cut wounds of hurt
Even if none of our picking and choosing is explicitly verbal, the “THEM” filter is ultimately saying…
-You are not enough
-You are not worth it
-You are not good
-You are not valued
-You are not loved
Jesus gives us the perfect example of what our “US” filter could and should look like.
Jesus was passing through Samaria, tired and weary as He sat by a well when a woman walked up and began to get water.
A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”
(For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.)
The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?”
(For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
John 4:7-9 ESV
Here’s why this is important…Jews and Samaritans didn’t interact.
Samaritans were considered less than, not on the same level.
But Jesus was known for breaking the mold and challenging the status quo…because He didn’t want there to be distinction between US and THEM.
He wanted there to only be an US.
He wants you to see people the way that He sees people. Not defined by skin color, race, ethnicity, background, or how hip and cool they can be…but defined by who He claims them as. He claims them as His and He claims them as worth it.
Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 4: 13-14
As this chapter of a greater story ends…if JESUS hadn’t been willing to acknowledge someone who didn’t even believe, herself, that she was valuable then this Samaritan woman wouldn’t have believed in who Jesus was and what He could offer her, eternity. But He did acknowledge her and she did believe! It was because of her story, her encounter, that many other Samaritans (who also see themselves as less than) believed in Him too.
God wants to change the way you see other people because there is no THEM in Jesus, there is only an US.
Right now, this may be the thing that thumps you hard in chest or is pestering you like a fly buzzing in your ear. That’s because this is so important. Especially today.
In a world where our social media feeds, TV screens and print advertising is constantly plastered with differences in opinion, hatred and even hatred resulting in violence, this is the time to actually work on changing our perspective.
What if every person we laid eyes came through our filter as someone who was the handiwork of the most brilliant Creator?
Remember, every single person you know is known.
What if we saw THEM through HIM?
The US Filter Application
Prayer: Pray that God would give you the desire to have the filter for seeing people the way that He sees them.
Scripture: John 4: 7-14
Say It To Yourself: What if I saw THEM through HIM?
Journal: Journal about how you think God sees you and how you think that is different from the way that the world sees you. Also journal about how you want God to help you see other people through His eyes.
Title: The “Fight” Filter
Author: Celeste Elizabeth
Date: October 17th, 2017
I’m the least content.
And when I finally am able to reach contentment it lasts for minutes, maybe hours, before I feel the weight of discontentment again.
Spiraling me into trying to produce or accomplish something else.
The glory and lifted weight is short lived.
What a dangerous cycle.
It’s the downfall of living in a generation that thrives off of instant gratification.
We want Amazon to deliver the day of, because Prime 2-Day shipping isn’t enough.
(…did you hear they are developing a drone system so that can actually be a thing?)
We buy new shoes but then we see someone else’s on Instagram and we immediately want those too.
What we just purchased, new and pristine enough to still return, is no longer satisfying.
That guy or girl texts you but then they don’t say exactly what you want them to say or how you want them to say it.
It tugs at you and makes you antsy so you take longer to reply, use shorter responses, less emojis.
“Are you ok?”
“I’m fine.”
No, no you’re not…
Discontentment.
Recently I’ve realized how my worth and my identity have been placed in what I do and what I produce instead of who I actually am.
Most importantly, who I am in the eyes of my ever present Heavenly Father.
And it’s left me feeling frustrated that I’ve become so short sighted…
I want to do, and produce, what is easy so that I can get more instant gratification, more affirmation, and the constant security of locking down my value and my worth in the netting of who I am to the world, instead of who I am to the King.
For a split second I believe the lie that it won’t wash away if I can manage to keep up.
I can trace it back now, this endless cycle and constant frustration, like the maze you get with the kids menu at a restaurant
But listen, we are constantly in an arena.
Round after round, thing after thing, we are fighting, fighting, fighting.
Fighting to keep up with culture.
Fighting to make money.
Fighting to be with him or her.
Fighting to get into the right school.
Fighting our parents.
Fighting for our future.
What’s happened is this unspoken cultural expectation that anything slow, hard, boring, difficult, risky or really anything that takes effort, has become BAD.
We’ve bought and held onto the opposing forces lie that if there’s not a guarantee that we can win we shouldn’t even bother.
We go for the low hanging fruit that is probably on the verge of rotting or has been eaten by squirrels rather than the fruit at the top of the tree…untouched, unscathed and more fulfilling.
It’s harder to work for and harder to get.
God knew. He knew that patience and time would be virtuous to us in a world where if we fight hard enough, we can have all that we think we could ever need at our very fingertips.
But we are missing HIM.
He was sure that the fights would be bigger and more intimidating than us because
Peter and John weren’t spiritual scholars who were still ministering to the masses.
David had to face Goliath.
Moses had to lead an entire people out of Egypt and had shaky knees about it.
Abigail apologetically took on and pleaded for forgiveness for her husband’s actions that potentially could have gotten people killed, she physically put herself in the gap.
If you can, for a minute, place yourself in their dirty shoes (or lack thereof) that wouldn’t be Instagram worthy today…can you feel your heart begin to palpitate and your hands begin to sweat?
It’s all risk, courage, and bravery for a greater story.
There are countless stories for us to see how God allowed hard and difficult to pass through, but what came out of it was way more glorifying to God Himself than if He had just handed people the answers and the gritless routes.
Imagine…the Great Adventure Book, our Great Written Guide and the Word of God wouldn’t be all that interesting if God didn’t bring process into the product.
But, we need to shift our perspective a little bit…we don’t need to fight in the sense of works or worthiness or keeping up. We need to fight the GOOD fight.
And Paul gives us some very clear direction as to how to do that.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:14-17
But there’s only one problem, with the armour we take off the shelf,
our backs are still uncovered.
Because that’s where God intended for us to…
FIGHT together
FIGHT FOR each other
FIGHT back to back and back each other up.
Not pretend like we are, but actually do it.
Actually fight with the intentions of glorifying God and sincerely covering each other with love and protection like we care if our people get hit or not.
For ourselves, let’s be gritty and build resilience.
For others, let’s love well, protect, and not abandon ship.
For God, let’s give Him the glory.
The best things require a fight.
The “FIGHT” Filter Application
Prayer: Pray that God would give you the qualities of the armor of God…truth, righteousness, peace, faith and salvation along with His Word and our Helper. Pray also that God would give you the will and the desire to fight back to back with your people, protecting them…fighting for them.
Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-17
Say It To Yourself: The best things in life require a fight.
Journal: Journal about the things in your life that seem hard right now. Ask God for perseverance and make sure that when you see relief or resolution to those things that you thank God for carrying you through something difficult for His glory.
Title: The WISE Filter
Author: Celeste Elizabeth
Date: October 25th, 2017
I don’t know about you, but I always feel pressure to make the right decision.
Do I want this donut or that donut? Do I want all the donuts?
Do I want to watch a movie or read a book?
Do I want my coffee iced or hot?
Do I want to watch Netflix or get outside?
When I am pressed for time and have to make a decision? An IMPORTANT decision?
You might as well take your thumb and squash me under it because that’s how it feels.
We all have to make decisions every day whether that’s as…
minute as deciding what to have for breakfast,
impactful as deciding where to go to college,
tempting as going for it with that hottie you got your eyes on,
or as important as who you choose to surround yourself with, what you do with your time, and how you view yourself, the world, and God.
All of these decisions we make are made through a filter.
Do you see different things as
Important
Meaningless
Harmful
Fun
Cultural
Everyone else is doing it…?
Those are all filters. Somewhere there is something affecting all of our decisions. But the filter that is the most important is also the most complex part of our bodies, and that’s our minds.
If our mind, our filter, isn’t clear it’s like trying to purify impure water through a dirty filter…it doesn’t work the way it should when it’s been taken care of and replaced. When we try to make decisions, especially when they are pressure cooked, and we haven’t spent time renewing, rejuvenating, and refreshing our minds we may look back and wish that we had done things differently.
We may wish that we were looking at the bigger picture, at what God wants for our lives.
We may wish that we weren’t so selfish or so caught up in temptation.
We may wish that we had waited or taken that opportunity.
We may wish that we hadn’t said the things we didn’t mean or said the things that we felt.
We wish we had done things differently, but we tend to neglect the most influential filter of all, especially if we consider ourselves someone who loves and follows Jesus…
Paul was someone who knew a lot about making decisions, both good and bad…you could even say right or wrong. But when Paul (previously Saul) had a drastic shift in his life, and he came to know God and be one of the most evangelical people in history, he knew from experience that his filter had to be through Jesus Himself. If it wasn’t, Paul wasn’t going to make wise decisions and he could possibly even make a decision that would veer him off track, get him hurt, or even possibly get him killed. He knew that following Jesus was risky and that his life was on the line…but Paul wanted to live his BEST life.
He wanted to give Jesus and his people his best life, but he knew that he would need a filter of wisdom, of Jesus, to make that happen.
Paul wanted to give us the same advice…
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Ephesians 5:15-17
Paul knew that if we would ask the question…based on where I’ve been, and where I am going, what is the wise decision?…then it could potentially shift how we lived our day to day life.
Not only for ourselves, but for the kingdom of God.
He knew that we may have to make decisions that don’t make sense to other people simply because we want to live our best life. Not sub par or merely satisfactory. We want to live the lives that are God’s best for us because we believe that is the most loving and adventurous life we could ever live.
Today…I don’t know where you’re at. I don’t know if you’ve been making decisions thinking of God’s best for your life or not. I don’t know if you have some really big decisions to make that could change everything. I don’t know if you want to achieve making better everyday decisions or if you feel like you are standing there now.
But what I do know, our minds are important because they filter anything and everything that we do. If we want to be like Jesus, then we have to live and love like Jesus filtering everything through the question…is this God’s best?
Based on WHERE I’ve been, and where I am GOING, what is the WISE decision?
So, today, take a few moments and ask God these two questions…
God, what is your best for me?
God, how do I have the filter of wisdom, of Jesus?
The WISE Filter Application
Prayer: Ask God what His best is for you and to give you the wisdom to make decisions that honor and glorify Him.
Scripture: Read Ephesians 5:15-17 and Proverbs 9:10
Say It To Yourself: Based on where I’ve been, and where I am going, what is the wise thing to do?
Journal: List out all the decisions that you have to make today, this week or this month, big or small. Go through each one and journal about what you think God’s best is for you.
Title: The FATHER Filter
Author: Celeste Elizabeth
Date: November 7th, 2017
Have you ever played that game?
The one where someone says a word and you have to say the first thing that pops into your head?
School- Meh
Ultimate Frisbee- Fun
Donuts – Sprinkles
Stranger Things 2- YES!
But when this game gets a little more serious it’s no longer a game.
It’s real life with our
real experiences and our
real thoughts.
What you think about when you think about something, or someone, is really important.
We are seeing, thinking, feeling through a filter.
So, let me ask you a question…what do you think about when you think about God?
Maybe you would say He’s the referee. Or if referee doesn’t feel extreme enough, you would say He’s the cop.
He’s the one calling the shots, handing out yellow cards and ticketing you when you’ve messed up.
Maybe you see Him like Santa. He’s the one that gives you stuff. That if you pray the right prayers and do well then He will #bless you.
Maybe you think He is an older man with a rad beard.
Maybe you think He is like a cloud because you can’t quite describe Him and He feels far off and distant. When you try to grasp Him the air passes through your fingers faster than you can feel it.
Maybe you see Him as your homeboy, your ride or die.
Maybe you don’t feel like you fit into any of those categories, maybe you feel like you know where I am headed with this and you feel like the lens in which you view God is pretty accurate.
Or maybe you don’t feel like you fit into any of those categories because you are sitting there staring at this screen with insane doubts debating on if you think God is even real or cares about you at all.
Now, if that’s you. I’m just asking you to hang on. Give me to the end of this and then reconsider.
Regardless of where you are at or how you are currently viewing God, it is important to realize that your GOD filter is going to reflect the relationship that you have with Him.
And if we do not see God as FATHER, if we do not think of Him as FATHER when we think about Him, then we need to re-adjust our filter in order to have a healthier and more accurate view of God Himself.
The first instance where we hear God addressed as Father is when Jesus is teaching how to pray…
This, then, is how you should pray; “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name.”
Matthew 6:9
Later on, God is addressed as “Abba” which translates to “Daddy”. That’s like a whole other level. There’s a deepened level of relationship when you rid of formalities.
When this sinks in, and I mean like really takes roots, it almost feels as if it can’t be true.
It will absolutely destroy you in the best way possible when you can see yourself the way God sees you, when you see Him as Someone fighting, orchestrating and sacrificing for your good.
He is out for your good, and He will do it for His glory.
When we believe that we actually have an identity as children of God, addressing Him as “Father…”, brings something new in us. It unveils a level of comfort, care and adoration that is uncomparable. Regardless of what we’ve experienced.
Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
Galatians 4:6
If you are questioning or need a reminder that you are a cherished child of God, here’s what you need to remember…
God LOVES you…He literally gave EVERYTHING for you so that you could be in a relationship with Him forever more.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
God’s WITH you…He may not be tangible in the sense of physically seeing and feeling but He is there, and He is present, and He equips you with all that you need.
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
God’s FOR you…He fights on your behalf and is writing a beautiful story for your good and for His glory.
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
Exodus 14:14
So think about this…think about what you think about when you think about God. And let it wash over you revealing more of who He is. Let Him continue to reveal to you that God is FATHER.
The FATHER Filter Application
Prayer: Ask God to enhance your filter for Him, ask Him to give you a heart and a posture that see’s Him and speaks to Him as Father.
Scripture: Memorize Matthew 6:9
Say It To Yourself: What do you think about when you think about God? Jesus reveals God as a Father.
Journal: Write about what view you feel like you have of God, if it’s changed or stayed the same, and how it influences the way you interact with Him and others.
Title: The “Date” Filter
Author: Celeste Elizabeth
Date: November 16, 2017
This is the one that everyone is looking for…so if you’re late to the party and hopping on the train late you NEED to go read parts 1-5 of this devotional series. The reality is that all of the content leading up to this relates to what we are about to talk about…the dating game.
Except it’s not a game at all. First and foremost, if we think about it like a game then we are thinking about it in the wrong way. Second, it’s not just confined to dating…what we are going to be talking about relates to friendships too.
If dating is a game…(or friendship is a game…)
We aren’t valuing the person on the other side.
We aren’t valuing ourselves.
But maybe dating isn’t a game for you. Maybe you really want to find your person but you are running in circles of confusion and pressure.
Or maybe you really want to have meaningful friendships and good influences who you spend the majority of your time with but you feel torn.
I don’t blame you. I know, I feel it.
There’s the confusion of everyone’s opinion playing in your ear. The the confusion of all our own emotions, the husband/wife that you’ve prayed for or desire but that seems impossible to find. The the noise of everyone else asking if you’re dating anyone, or why won’t you date so-and-so, and then when you end up dating someone it feels like you’re settling.
Maybe it doesn’t feel like it in the moment, but then a few steps in you realize that you are…
only hanging out with someone for excitement
or to not feel lonely anymore
or to be relieved of the pressure of finding your future or having friends.
You may realize this isn’t going to give you what you want or what God wants for you.
Who you date is way more powerful than you think.
You could even say it this way if you aren’t dating right now, but maybe you are feeling similar pressures related to who you hang out with. The reality is that those we spend time with influence our lives.
Who you hang around is way more powerful than you think.
King Soloman was the wisest of the wise. He was gifted from God and also had a thing or two to say about love. In the book of Proverbs he writes this…
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
Proverbs 13:20
Dating is powerful because walking with someone and doing life with them influences you, whether it’s for better or for worse, it influences you.
Even when you aren’t dating someone, but just hanging out with a friend.
Who you hang out with influences who you will become.
Ultimately, our filter for dating (and friendships) needs to be about what’s best. If we know God always has our best interest in mind then this principle will still apply.
If they do not bring out the best in you, they are not the best for you.
The best of you comes in two parts. It comes in how you view yourself, and how you view others. Even if you aren’t dating right now, or don’t feel the pressure to date right now, how you view yourself, how you view others, and how you view dating and friendships is going to impact your life.
When we think about OTHERS…
Are we seeing them for WHO they are and who God created them to be?
Or do we see them for what they are or what they can offer us?
If something is more appealing to you than that person’s love for God, their love for people, or how they make you a better version of yourself then you should probably think twice about why you are with them in the first place.
Reverse this for yourself too! They should be seeing YOU the exact same way.
Are we intentionally guarding THEIR heart as well as our own?
Dating someone doesn’t mean we are marrying someone. Yet we want to date with him or her in mind. Date with the mind and the heart that someone is going to be your future someone. It may or may not be the person you are dating now, or that you will date next. Until there’s a ring on it and wedding bells chime HONOR THEM like they are someone’s future someone.
Whether they are yours or not.
When we think about OURSELVES…
Am I being wise about who I date or hang out with?
Be wise, be strategic, be intentional and be considerate of who takes up the space in your heart while you’re dating them because they will impact you. You will rub off on each other. Is the person you’re dating, or considering dating, someone who is going to be able to run with you? Can they run WITH you after God’s heart and after what you want out of life?
Are you asking others that know you?
ASK YOURSELF, and ASK OTHERS…do they bring out the best in me?
-do they encourage me? Do they breathe life into me, make me go further faster?
-do they challenge me? If I am about to go off the path do they bring me back on?
-do I get closer or further to Jesus the more time I spend with this person?
Am I thinking about him or her?
Are you guarding it? Are you protecting yourself and guarding yourself for that person that God has designed and crafted for you? Are you thinking about them when you are thinking about dating? Even if you can’t identify them yet, keep them in find. Protect them and your future relationship because it is sacred and special. Date with THEM in mind.
Dating can be confusing…it can be hard to navigate, but having a filter can help.
Why would you take this lightly? Why wouldn’t you want someone who brings out the absolute best in you?
If you have the filter that if they don’t bring out the best in you, then they aren’t the best for you…it will be easier to see God’s best for your life. He has a specific story for you…and a special person that will get to watch God do His best work in the depths of your human heart.
Be wise about who you date, about who you let have an influence on you.
Also- be encouraged. If you’re lonely right now or feel like you keep striking out, remember that God has your best interest in mind.
He is fighting for you, and He will give you your best life.
In His perfect timing…
The “Date” Filter Application
Prayer: Pray for your future spouse, pray that God with give you eyes for them. Also pray that God would give you the filter that if someone doesn’t bring out the best in you then they aren’t the best for you.
Scripture: Proverbs 13:20
Say It To Yourself: If they don’t bring out the best in me, they are not the best for me.
Journal: Journal about what you believe God’s best is for you. This doesn’t have to be a long list. What do qualities do you think are the most important to bring out the best in you and bring the most glory to God?
Title: The “Work Out” Filter
Author: Celeste Elizabeth
Date: November 28, 2017
Think about what your eyes are drawn to, for just a minute.
Have you ever seen a product that is so well marketed…even just marketed well on an Instagram story…that then you purchase?
The anticipation builds…you wait for it in the mail…but then your heart sinks a little bit when you get it, open it, and then it’s not what you expected.
You feel like it’s discolored, it’s the wrong size, or it’s cheap quality.
It’s not how you thought it was going to be.
However sometimes the opposite is true as well. Sometimes we take a risk on a product that doesn’t have a stellar presentation and we are pleasantly surprised.
But what we have to acknowledge as the reality is that
people will pass up a great product because of a bad presentation.
What we could say is true for a pair of shoes, a shirt, or an iPhone case we could also say (unfortunately) is true for Jesus.
Sometimes the way the “product” of Jesus is presented can be hypocritical, judgmental, and legalistic when the hope is that following Him and even Himself would be depicted as loving, gracious and kind.
Guess what, friends…
YOU are the presentation of Jesus.
YOU are as close to the human form of the invisible God that we can get in this day and age because HE lives in you.
YOU are someone else’s Jesus Filter.
“Way to lay on the pressure…”
I can hear you saying it through your screen because I am saying it to myself.
How can I measure up to that?
How am I going to pull that off?
Am I even good enough for that? To live up to JESUS?
Sometimes we don’t understand how God is trying to display Jesus to the world.
Sometimes we place the pressure on ourselves and think that we have to be perfect, pristine, pure and because of our own humanity we think that we aren’t enough.
There’s no way we could possibly be enough.
I think that’s what we forget…this is way bigger than ourselves.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Philippians 2:12-13 NIV
Y’all did you read that!?!
Don’t get tripped up…
Continue to work out your salvation…
For it is God who works in you…
Be encouraged because He isn’t asking you to do this alone or to look perfect doing it.
Be excited about what God is doing, where He’s doing it, and how YOU get to be a part of an incredible story that is much bigger than yourself.
Put it on display and work it out…have you ever thought that while you are working it out is while God is doing His best work? And that people get to see Jesus through what He is doing in you?
It is God that works in you…in order to fulfill His good purpose.
He dials. — before we even get to our part HE STARTS
We answer.
He gives us what we need to fulfill His good purpose. — HE FINISHES
He is the everlasting to everlasting. The God of all creation where everything is going to begin and end with Him and Him alone so don’t think for a second that you have to take on the weight of the world.
God has a product plan…I’m working in you so that you can put it on display, so that you can go and put it on the shelf, so that you can go and work it out and give Jesus all the glory.
People are trying to figure out Jesus by looking at you.
Work out what He is working in.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
Philippians 2:14-16
What do people see when the look at you?
Have you forgotten since sitting in these seats with sand in your toes?
Have you forgotten to work out what God’s working in?
It’s not too late…
To learn to see how Jesus sees
To see them through Him
To fight the good fight
To do the wise thing
To fall in love with the Father
To surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you
To let the Light of the World shine in you and through you…
Someone needs you to be Jesus to them.
A family member needs you to show them a different version of religion, a free version of religion.
A stranger needs your smile.
A friend needs you to be Jesus to them again.
Your life is saying something about Him.
This is about a Savior…
IN JESUS NAME…
The “Work Out” Filter Application
Prayer: Pray for God to reveal the people to you that you need to be the filter of Jesus to.
Scripture: Philippians 2:12-16
Say It To Yourself: Your life is saying something about Him.
Journal: Read back in your journal from BigStuf 2017, from your camp book, or just start on a fresh page. Write down or re-write how you think that you are working out what God is working in.
The Celeste Elizabeth 