One of the best things about blizzards is that the entire city shuts down, the police tell you to stay home and off the roads, and you are forced to slow down. Our lives get going so fast and we end up running from place to place, non stop, never really taking anytime to slow down and enjoy the small moments of life.

I know that I am guilty of doing too many things and never slowing down. When I am forced to stay in because there are giant snow drifts outside of my window and all over the road it is almost like a little vacation. A time to stay home and spend time with my family and with God. A time to drink hot chocolate and curl up with a good book or the Bible.

I encourage you to take advantage this storm to spend some extra time with God. Here’s what I am going to do: I am going to read the book of Galatians and drink some hot coffee. I am going to slowly read God’s word and allow it to warm my heart and soul. I am going to take the time to allow God to engage my heart as the snow falls outside. What are you going to do?

The blizzard outside is an opportunity to slow down and really spend some extra time connecting with Christ. I encourage you to take advantage of it and see what happens.

txt msg.

When I think of community I think of a watercolor painting. I love watercolor paintings because they are so difficult to paint and it is impossible to keep the colors from bleeding together. Part of the beauty of a watercolor painting is the fact that the colors intermingle and bleed together to create a masterpiece. If all of the colors in the painting were separate there would be no depth to the painting. The mixture of colors is what makes the painting what it is.

It’s like this in community as well. We all bring an individual color to the mosaic of our community and as we mix together and live in community those colors bleed together to create something beautiful. It was like this in the early church as well:

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. Acts 4:32-35

There are also individual colors that make up community that I want to explore on Friday night. We are going to make a visual masterpiece of the community we have at the DOOR. You will not want to miss out! If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. God bless!

The Least of These
Matthew 25:31-40 NIV

The Sheep and the Goats
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

The Little Things
James 2:15-17 NIV

15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Engage The World
We all feel powerless to make lasting change on the world. There are so many problems and issues so where do we start? Even just focusing on Africa can seem really over whelming. AIDS, Hunger, War, Terrorism, Poverty, Orphans, Child Soldiers, Fair Trade, Malaria – all seem like too big of problems for one generation to change.

Look at what Jesus tells us to do to change the world:
- Give food those who are hungry
- Give water those who are thirsty
- Give clothes those who are naked (obviously!)
- Get to know strangers
- Visit prisoners

Even if you only did one of these things you would be making a tremendous impact on the lives of those you are serving. By raising money to send AIDS kits to Africa or to sponsor our Compassion Child we as a group are doing our part to make the world a better place.

All that Jesus is asking for is a willing heart to respond compassionately to the needs of the people around us. We can begin to engage the world as we open our heart to God and those he puts in our path.

Check this out on YouVersion

TXT MSGS
TXT MSGS are going to be a weekly youth devotional that build on the things we are learning in youth and experiencing in our growing relationship with Christ. Sometimes I will write them, sometimes your leaders will write them, and sometimes I will find something awesome online to share with you guys.

They will be short reminders of the things God is teaching us and a way to grow DEEPER in our faith. I encourage you to read them, share them, and think about them throughout your week. There are 3 ways to interact with the TXT MSGS.

1. Read them on www.thedoorym.com or on the facebook page

2. Get them as an email

3. YOU VERSION - a free Bible program from lifechurch.tv. This will be an interactive website that allows you to read the Bible, read the devotional, and interact with discussion. If you have an iphone, ipod touch, blackberry, or mobile device that connects to the internet you can access the site as well. For the free Bible app check out the itunes app store (link). Or check out our group page: www.youversion.com/groups/thedoorym

Check the website tomorrow for our very first TXT MSG!