The Purpose Driven Life has started as of Monday March 9th. Impact Youth will be going through this 40 day journey of seeking after our purpose which lies in our Creator. All are welcome to join us on this journey. If you decide you would like to you can purchase the book through Amazon.com or any of your local book stores. Along with the readins we are encouraging you to visit the Impact Myspace, Facebook, or ImpactLive.org site in order to leave comments on what God is showing you and what your thoughts are on days devotional. Each day Mel will be posting his views and comments on a Myspace blog. We hope you join us on this amazing Journey.
Many Philosophers and Scholars over an entire lifetime have been searching for "the meaning of life" Impact is studying the purpose driven life in search of that very same question. We believe in order for creation to find its meaning or purpose...it must be found in the Creator! Join us on this amazing 40 day journey to find out who we are in Christ.
Over the next month IMPACT will be starting a new series titled "Paul in Rome" We are going to be learning some fascinating things about why we believe what we believe by studying a very selfless life in the midst of a nation that was at the time controlling the world. We in our nation and time we are in must know how we will respond in the midst of the propoganda and media of this nation. This lesson series will begin March 15th, 2009 at Impact. See you there!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Current mood: chill Category: Life
This is one of those days that I think most everyone understands. I think we have all encountered a time when God seemed to not be around. So many times we have these amazing experiences with God or that seems to be something we are longing after. Is for an amazing, milestone, experience with God. How far off we are from chasing after what is really important. I love how this devotional states it "The most common mistake Christians make in worship today is seeking an experience rather than seeking God." I think we all have been guilty of that at some point. It just seems easier to worship God or chase after Him when we feel Him near. The truth of the matter is, we need to chase after God and not the experience and trust that He is always there whether we feel Him or not.
Mel - Impact Youth
What are your thoughts on this?
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Current mood: chill Category: Life
God wants all of you. I think this devotional hits me very easily becuase when looking at the life of David. God refers to him as "a man after God's own heart" David to me is the epitomy of a true worshipper. Matt Redman has become one of my favorite worship leaders. His song heart of worship goes much deeper than the song. The words when meditated on come to life. God sincerely looks at our heart over anything else. Being a worship leader there have been countless times I did not feel like doing worship. I didn't feel like singing. I would share that with others as well. However, I still went into worship with the attitude that I worship not because I want to, but because God is so deserving of it. When it comes to a worshipful lifestyle. We don't do the right thing because we always feel like it. We do it because it lifts God up for the world to see His greatness.
Do you have a Heart of Worship?
Mel - Impact Youth
Friday, March 20, 2009
Current mood: chill Category: Life
Hey Everyone! My deepest apologies on the lack of blogging our journey these past couple of days. I hope everyone is still continuing on in this journey of discovering ourselves in God. I will catch up on a few of the blogs today from the past readings of a few days ago.
Day Twelve was awesome. Namely because I had been reading the book of Psalms and I understand what this devotional is speaking about when it talks about David being vulnerable with God. I recently read Psalm 40. Amazing. In this Psalm David reveals how much in trouble he is, the anguish. He was not afraid of being open. When it comes to our friendship with God or anyone, a true friend wants you to be open, vulnerable. That also happens to be one of the hardest things to do becuase of the fear of being hurt or let down. God willl never let us down. To be a friend to God is to open ourselves completely to what He has for us.
Mel - Impact Youth
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Current mood:Amazed! Category: Life
Over and over again we here in the church "God wants to be our friend" Now we even sing it in songs and popular songs like I am a friend of God. I was thinking today want it meant for God to be my best friend. My best friends I have around me are my friends because bluntly "They Get Me" My friends are the people that are sympathetic and understanding even when they may not fully grasp the situation at hand. That is simply because they don't want to see me hurt. Another quality that I hate and love at the same time in a friend is their bluntness with me. Tell me how it is. I was amazed by God's friendship today. Even in the midst of my failures...my attempts to believe I am the worst thing on this earth because of my short comings, God today kept blessing me. I knew I didn't deserve it! Why! Why is he doing this! Blessing me when I don't deserve it. God reminded me of my imperfections through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, but demonstrated his love through completely random acts of kindness towards me.
I was at UPS going to send out a package. It wasn't a long line just one person taking FOREVER! Didn't bother me though. I continued to wait, and patiently I might add. After 20-30min the gentlemen taking forever insisted that the clerk ring me up first then continue with his. I accepted. Upon shipping the item I was about to pay and the gentlemen offered to pay to ship my item for me. COMPLETELY RANDOM!
I don't deserve this! But God does this because He is my friend.
Mel - Impact Youth
See you all this sunday!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Current mood: chill Category: Life
The Heart of Worship? I have studied the heart of worship for a few years. It always reminds me of the song by Matt Redmon titled "The heart of worship" This devotional points to the heart of worship being a surrendered heart. Not giving up but trusting God's plan and intentions are whats best. It amazing even in the midst of studying the heart of worship and chasing after the heart of worship...we can seem so far from the heart of worship. Even though that is what we longed for...we can get lost along the way. The difference in that lies in a daily surrender vs. a one time surrender. Failures are there and will always be there...how do you get back up.
Mel - Impact Youth
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Current mood: thoughtful Category: Life
Day Nine...WOW! This morning was a different morning than all others for me. When I read the devotional it showed me the God really likes to smile down on us...and we as children should have a desire to want to make God smile. Growing up I had always seemed to be under the pressure of trying to please my parents. It wasn't pressure they necessarily put on me but over time I evolved into a person that had something to prove. Whether I was able to prove it or if I failed...I know that my parents always loved me. Did they still want to see me succeed? YES! They also wanted my obedience to them as well. God is more in love with us than anything and longs for our obedience. In whatever we do God is smiling down on us.
Mel - Impact Youth
Monday, March 16, 2009
Current mood: accomplished Category: Life
When thinking about today's devotional of how we were planned for God's pleasure it made me start thinking about pleasure. The society that we live in is very driven by seeking its own pleasure. Perhaps we as people long for the pleasurable things in life because that is the character of God. We were created to bring Him pleasure. We just fall short by seeking pleasure in the wrong places. We too often don't even really know what it is we want. I love how it speaks of anything we do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship. It is exciting to know that our very existence of doing minor things such as: washing the dishes, reading a book, taking a walk, ect. can bring God pleasure simply because we acknowledge Him as the most high. We need to learn to sometimes however go out of our way to do things for God. What common task can I do as if I were doing it directly for Jesus?
chill 
thoughtful 
accomplished