Give God your Best and Your All

What are you offering God? Are you singing, "I surrender most. I surrender most. Most of it to Jesus, I surrender. I surrender most."? Well, yes, that would be hard to fit with the melody, but is that your mindset? Do you mean what you sing? What's more, do you even pay attention to the words? So often, I get caught up in singing that I don't even think about what the song is really trying to say.

But, are you offering God your best? Or are you giving Him the leftovers of your time, your money, your energy? Many times we pour ourselves into school, work, play, or whatever else you do. And then, after pouring yourself out, there isn't any leftover for God. Put God first.

Read your Bible first thing in the morning. Don't wait till the evening when you don't have any time leftover, and can't keep your eyes open. I have heard many people say, "Give God all the years when you're single. When you get married, you can't be as completely lost in God." Most of you are single. I am (and am planning to be for some time!). The years when you don't have a spouse to be immersed in, immerse yourself in God! He is (or should be) the love of your life, while others will come and go!

Devote your time to God. Granted, you can't spend all day in front of your Bible (well, you can but, it's kind of impractical). But, you can live a lifestyle of worship. What is that? A lifestyle of worship is a life that is devoted to glorifying God and honoring him in everything that you do. Live like there isn't a tomorrow, because there might not be one! You don't know how long you'll live. You might live for five more minutes, or fifty more years (or the rapture might happen). Devote this vapor of a life to God, giving it all to him.

Give it all to God. Everything. My Dad said when preaching about this, "Some mornings I get out there, and I say 'God, your Taurus [our smaller car] won't start this morning.'" It's true. Some mornings I just want to yell! But, it isn't even yours. Just tell God it's his, and surrender it all to him. Life might not be better, but its simpler. You just have to think about what God can do (anything, right?). He can help you with that test, that problem, or that friend. Give all of it to him, and step back and let him work (however, I am not saying we shouldn't be willing tools! We should be!).

Give it all to God. It'll be so much safer with him.

Lottie Moon

After doing the Annie Armstrong post earlier, (and after persistent comments) I decided to go ahead and post about Lottie Moon.
Charlotte Diggs Moon was born on December 12, 1840 in Virginia. In 1858, she dedicated her life to Christ and was baptized. She was the first lady to receive a master's degree, which she did in 1861. Lottie became a missionary in 1873, with her sister Edmonia, to Tengchow, China. Lottie served 39 years as a missionary to China. She died December 24, 1912 in a harbor in China (many believe that, as this was a time of famine, she died of starvation, because she gave others all her food). She was on her way back to America for the first time since she left when she died.
To read more about Lottie Moon go to:
http://ime.imb.org/LottieMoon/default.asp
http://www.trailblazerbooks.com/books/Moon/Moon-bio.html
http://www.tlogical.net/biolmoon.htm
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lottie_Moon

**Note**: Soli Deo Gloria is not affiliated to the IMB or any of its ministries in any way.

Good News-Lottie Moon Christmas Offering!

In a story on Baptist Press news (www.bpnews.com) the International Mission Board released a statement saying that the Lottie Moon Christmas was "projected to exceed the 150 million goal." Praise the Lord!
49 missionaries have already been appointed by the trustees, and hopefully more will be soon. Thank you to everyone who gave! You can never know how many people will be reached by these missionaries!

**Note**: Soli Deo Gloria is not in any way affiliated with the International Mission Board, or the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Keep On

This is a poem a friend of mine wrote. I thought it really described how a lot of us feel a lot of the time!

“Keep On”

You know you’re different,
They do too.
You don’t know why,
But they look at you.

They wonder why you’re like that,
They think that you are odd,
I know sometimes it’s tempting,
But do not follow the crowd.

I know it hurts sometimes,
Keep on fighting.
I know it’s hard sometimes,
Keep on trying.

I know you’re trying to find
the reason why you’re here,
But just trust God,
He understands your fear.

You know the truth, but still it hurts.
He’s made you who you are for a reason,
You know but you don’t understand.
He’s placed you where you are in this season.

I know it hurts sometimes,
Keep on fighting.
I know it’s hard sometimes,
Keep on trying.

You wonder, is it worth it?
Or should I just be like them?
Yes, I guess I’m happy,
But I’m also suffering.

Don’t do it.
Don’t give in.
It will be worth it
In the end.

I know it hurts sometimes,
Keep on fighting.
I know it’s hard sometimes,
Keep on trying.

And yes, you’ll get questions.
And yes, you get ridiculed,
But just ignore them,
And a stronger relationship with God you’ll build.

For His opinions are the ones that matter,
So don’t worry about what they think.
God will make you stronger,
Link by link.

I know it hurts sometimes,
Keep on fighting.
I know it’s hard sometimes,
Keep on trying

Wow! What an awesome poem, and what's more an awesome challenge as well! Let's keep on keeping on! Soli Deo Gloria!

Pour Out My Heart

I'm longing to pour out my heart
And say that I love you
Pour out my heart
And say that I need you
Pour out my heart
And say that I'm thankful
Pour out my heart
And say that you're wonderful

Before, I talked about being real. Well, we have to be real with God. Drop the "thee" and "thou" from your prayers, he knows who you really are! I'm not saying don't be respectful, but if you put on a front for God, he'll know it. God knows everything. Just tell him everything that happens in your life, your concerns, your dreams, your hopes, your plans. Everything. Pour out your hurts, your laughs, your joy, and your tears. Give them all to him. If you really want God to be the Lord of your life, you have to tell him about it! Talk to him about your friends, why you like them, or what you think that they should do better. He already knows everything you're going to tell him...But he wants to hear it anyway! He loves you, he cares for you. So, tell him about the real you. The person who laughs or cries inwardly, and has to be strong outwardly. He wants to know you. So pour out your heart to him.

Are You Real?

There is a great song by KJ52. It talks about God asking us if we are "real". Are you real? Are you upfront and candid? Do you put on a front for other people? If you aren't yourself around some people and pretend to be what you're not, you aren't real.

So much stress keeps running through me now
I fell into a mess that I wish I could climb out
I guess I'll hide it so nobody will find out
That way everyone thinks everything is fine now
At home things are messed up with Mom and Dad
And at school all my friends stab me in the back
No one is real anymore I hate the way they act
There is so many things I wish I had
So God if your there do you understand
Don't you care about anything that's happening
It's not fair to put me through all this junk again
You see that I'm scared so help me if you can
So please speak loud and clear cuz I'm listening
I need to know that your real cuz I'm struggling
You need to show that your real cuz I'm stumbling
Show me that you care and this is what I'm saying

Are you real I want to know
Are you real then let it go
Are you real I want to know
Are you real then let it show

It was right then when everything it began to change
I started looking at these things
In a different way I saw life through God's eyes and it wasn't the same
That was right at the time I called on your name
And then I saw all the lies that was thrown my way
I recognized that I need you and on that day
I cried out and seeked you that was when you came
Now that I see you I've been through a major change
I believe you are real cuz it's so plain
Finally I feel that I can make it through anything
It don't matter what they speak or if they hate
They can't keep me down no more cuz I've seen your face
And from now never will I be ashamed cuz I'm a stand strong
I won't bend or sway now that I know that you are real it's gonna be okay
I hear you speaking in my ear and this is what you say

Are you real I want to know
Are you real then let it go
Are you real I want to know
Are you real then let it show

See there is a war that's going on outside
You can try and ignore it and just run and hide
But everyday more and more people die
See the battle is for souls and we are on the front lines
So many soldiers are too scared to fight
They're too worried about what people thinking of their life
How can you fight if you won't lay down ya pride
And how will anyone see if you won't shine your light
So many of your friends just walking around blind
And you've got the source that can open up their eyes
It's y'alls choice what you'll do with your lives
But I'm gonna go to war cuz I've made up my mind
Jesus gave his life when he went and died
So the least I can do is just give him all of mine
So how many of y'all are ready to fight by my side
Cuz this is what he's saying here tonight

Are you real I want to know
Are you real then let it go
Are you real I want to know
Are you real then let it show

If you are wondering why such words as "ya" and "cuz" were in there, yes, I did notice them. That's just how people spell things in rap.
But, I want you to notice the second verse. How many of us are to scared to lay down our pride and fight the good fight? God knows if we're real or not, but he wants us to show him anyway. I have to admit that this is hard for me. It's so easy to seem all spiritual and all that on here. I know sometimes I'm not real. I wish I were more. But, I know, I can make myself be more real with everyone I know. Are you real? Maybe the best way to answer this question is to ask God. He will show you. You can fight beside me. But, you have to be real with people, and you have to be real with God. Will you be real?

Annie Armstrong

Every year at our church we take an Annie Armstrong offering. Up until recently, I wasn't really sure why we did it. Well, Annie Armstrong was a remarkable person, and I think we could learn a little more about her.

Annie Walker Armstrong was born July 11, 1850. She was the daughter of James and Mary Armstrong. Annie became a Christian at the age of 19, and was baptized into the church shortly after. She encouraged the first Lottie Moon Christmas offering and worked to raise money for it herself. She worked with the Southern Baptist Convention until 1906 when she resigned. She died on December 20, 1938.

This is just the bare facts, but there is so much you can learn about her! For more information go to: www.anniearmstrong.com, or www.tlogical.net/bioarmstrong.htm.

Think about your offering. Why do you give it? Where does it go? Do you really know?

The North American Mission Board said, "The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is much more than an offering envelope and an annual missions-giving emphasis. When people give to the offering, 100 percent of their gift will be transformed into missionary salaries and ministry supplies. Those missionaries and supplies will help others hear the message of Christ and respond in faith to His offer of salvation. Time and again our missionaries relate how the offering is their lifeblood. They know that behind each penny given, there is a Southern Baptist who believes in what they do and are affirming the need to equip them to share the gospel with those who need a Savior."

This offering supports missionaries all over the world that are sharing the Bible with people every day. This is just another way we can help.

*Note*: Soli Deo Gloria or its author in any way, are not associated with the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. We leave the choice of giving to the offering entirely up to the reader, we just want to provide the readers with information about the offering and the person it was named for.