You Mean I Have To Love Everyone?!?

Hey everyone! sorry i am a day late. but that just means i have soooo much more to talk about. First off I realize a lot of you have started school this last Monday....well i want feedback how was it? Mine seemed very LONG! As i started school this week i saw people that i couldn't wait to see...the ones i missed hanging out with for seven hours a day. But then i also saw those people that i could care less if i never saw them again...and you know what i am talking about we all feel that way about someone. And then a verse came to mind Monday at lunch, when i found myself eating with a girl i once despised. Now of course she didn't like me to much either, but it gave me no excuse to dislike her. Anyway this verse popped in my head as we had our first conversation,

Matthew 1:21, "And she shall bring forth a son, and he shall be named JESUS: for he shall save all his people from their sins."

The part that made me think was the word "ALL." I began to go through years of Sunday school lessons....Love your neighbor as your self, the good Samaritan, Jesus letting the little children come to Him...and all of them had one thing in common, GOD was showing His love through all the stories. hummm! then this verse came to mind,

Matthew 5:44, "But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless them who curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you,and persecute you."

WOW! That hit me hard! So as I kept talking to this former enemy I said a silent prayer up to God asking for His forgiveness. Then i stepped way out of my comfort zone and asked her for her forgiveness. I told her that i judged her and i never should have and that i would like the chance to get to know her. If God can love the worst of the worst in the worlds eyes why can't i love this girl that i barley know? For,

"We love because he fist loved us." 1 John 4:19

Now you might ask how does this relate to rooted? Well, Because of my background of being rooted or being involved with the church i was able to bring these verses up from memory. And was humbled there on the spot. :) By being rooted in the church and in Christ, He is with you always; to give you strength in awkward situations, to hold us up with His might right hand, and finally to remind us of His love. He will never leave you nor forsake you.

As your school year goes on i have a challenge for you! In relationship with last weeks blog, loving one another will only strengthen our unity and break apart the "clicks" that no one wants. So my challenge to you is to get to know at least one person that you have been judging for a long time. It could change your perspective of them.

As Superchic[k] puts it in their song High School,

"High school is like a big competition beauty contest prom court is the mission there can only be one queen one king, everyone voting, everyone competing, but these are the rules the ways of high school if someone puts you down its so high school if someone talks behind your back its so high school, believing you have to get them back its also high school..i know ill be graduating early."

So lets not get wrapped up in high school. lets graduate early. Together. And to Chelsey, i am so glad you have given me a second chance. i cant wait to get to know you for who you are inside.

God bless. and Go LOVE!

Jeana

Getting Rooted in the Church

This week i met with two of the high schoolers from FBC and asked them some questions about the youth rafting trip. And both, Michael Bartholomew and Kiley Andersen, gave me the same answer....they LOVED it! When i asked what they thought was the best part both in some way had to do with the unity that the youth group had. Being a high school student, unity becomes very important! From my high school experience clicks are very popular yet unwanted.

The theme of their week was "Who do you say that I am?" And Forgiveness played a big role in the sermons each night. Kiley said, "It was nice to be reminded of who God is and remembering that He forgives us constantly even if we don't deserve it." This was Kiley's 1st year rafting!

This was Michael's 2nd year going rafting with FBC. He said that the small group time has impacted him greatly. "I liked being able to share and know that i wasn't the only one going through a hard time or the only one who needs advice. It was nice to be reminded that we are all human." Michael told me as he was recapping the trip.

As our discussion went on we started talking about our youth group and what they would like to see change or how they would like to see it evolve. We all agreed that unity is the ultimate goal for our group. We want to be comfortable enough to be able to "walk up and talk to anyone on Sunday mornings," says Kiley. As i read Psalms 1 this week this verse hit me:

"And he shall be like a tree firmly planted by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaves also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper and come to maturity." Psalms 1:3

So i asked myself...If we are to be the tree firmly planted in Jesus Christ, who or what is our stream of water? I came up with two conclusions, 1) as humans we are going to stumble, its a given, so we need to surround ourselves with our brothers and sisters of Christ to keep us accountable. ex: staying connected with the church, youth group, and Christian friends. 2) we need to realize we are not perfect yet still strive to be like Jesus, and stay in His word, live His word, and share His word. This will help our youth group grow together.

With that said, to keep our group whole we also need to celebrate with them...while on the rafting trip three of our high schoolers were baptized! Garrett Bibb, Jesse Hester, and Emma Kitchen! Congratulations you guys!

As you go through this next week and school starts next Monday for most of you at FBC remember where your roots are..or where they should be and remember to get in His word and live it everyday. In the Relient K song, "Taking You With Me," it states, "...if home is where the heart is then my home is where You are, but its getting oh so hard to spend these days without my heart....so im taking You with me." So go through your week but keep you heart with you...bring Jesus to work, school, Starbucks, target, Costco, and anywhere else you may go. He is the reason we are alive.

Remember your roots!

Rooted?

Rooted-
1. Having roots
2. Firmly implanted

This is the dictionary's deffinition of the word rooted. And ours as Christians takes on a similar meaning. Being rooted in Christ means we are firmly implanted in Him. We chose Rooted to be the theme of this blog out of inspiration from this verse;


Colossians 2:7-

Have the roots firmly and deeply planted being continually built up in Him becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing and in it with thanksgiving.

I hope with this insight you now understand the meaning of the title and purpose of this blog. BUT WAIT!!! That is not it! This blog is put here to bring the youth group of FBC Merced together, closer than ever! We are brothers and sisters in Christ...we are family! And in that we need to help eachother stay rooted in our Heavenly Father. As you go through your week remember this verse and stand firm in your faith in every situation.

Here is some info on FBC-

• Sunday school starts at 9
• Youth Groups: H.S. not back yet; Jr high: not back yet
• Youth pastor: Cary Brent

And lastly I am Jeana Chambers...your blogger :)

Keep Rooted!