jenn9834531

Jenn
2004-03-23 22:40:36 (UTC)

Amazing email from Melissa

Hello my darlings.
I had the best devo sesh last night and wanted to share a
few thoughts with you. Wanting you to know and remind you
that I am still so much on a journey with Jesus and
everyday...he teaches me more about Him...myself...and
this crazy world. That I am a big, fat sinner and that I
make mistakes everyday. I don't know sometimes why God has
Joel and me leading you precious souls...my guess is so
that his greatness is honoured in our unbelieveable
weakness, and sinfulness but anyways. Know that everything
I write today is what God spoke into my life and that
there is no judgment here...and I thought you guys might
get something out of it to! I wanted to confess that
to...last weekend at Kristens I felt like you may have
felt I was judging or something...I am sorry for that.
Again it is just because I want you to have your best
life! To become everything that God has for you...but that
I never love you less, never think less of you, never
think you are 'bad christians'. Some sin in my heart was
totally revealed to me last night and I wanted to confess
it to y'all! I feel like I have not been living up to
myfull potential in Christ...the things I worry about and
see in you guys are the same struggles that I have,
and it makes me ache for you all the more to understand
and keep yourself from hurt!

I love the book of James. I just love it...no fluff just
tells it like it is. Everytime I read it I get something
different out of it. I challenge each of you to read the
book this week (its only 5 chapters) and if you can
memorize a verse that is meaniningful to you and tell me
at praise night on Friday...you get a surprise! Anyways
here are some verses that specifically spoke to me and
made me think of you beautiful girls...

First of all you need to know I've been aching for you
guys. Wanting to tell you over and over that Jesus' love
for you is like nothing you will experience on earth, that
he really, does want the best for you and by that he wants
you to make choicesmthat honour him. That you are called
to live lives that are so different and so beautiful that
they stand out in this world..."Become blameless and pure
children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved
generation in which you shine like stars in the universe.'
Philippians 2:15. and "Religion that God the father acceps
is this to look after orphans and widows in their distress
and to keep oneself from being polluted by this world"
James1: 27. I just don't want you to miss out on anything
God has for you! I absolutely promise you...it is one
thing I am very sure of...that God's call on your lives is
for your benefit...that he will bless you and give you
life to the full as you pursue him! That he absolutely has
your best in mind and that he will, as you pursue him give
you a life free of regrets and free of "I wish I hadn't"
and "if only I didn't". God wants you to live a life of
joy...of peace and of wild, wild fun!

A few of you have written or called lately about not
feeling close to God and feeling sort of "blah". I came
across this verse and it made me think of all of us "What
good is it(sisters) if a man claims to have faith but has
no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or
sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you
says to him 'Go I wish you well; keep warm and well fed'
but does ntohing about his physical needs, what good is
it? In the same, way, faith by itself if it is not
accompanined by action is dead...Show me your faith
without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
YOu believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons
believe that and shudder"...James 2:14-19 (even keep going
on through to 26). Here what I say here though...ACTIONS
DO NOT SAVE YOU! They are an outward expression of what
God is doing in your life and they also provide
opportunities for God to show himself to you! When we live
only for ourselves and for our own pleasure it is hard for
God squeeze himself in! Another verse I love "I pray that
you may be active in sharing your faith so that you may
understand every good thing you have in Christ" ! That is
as we serve and seek he reveals. We need to find ways in
our every day lives to serve! How are you actively sharing
your faith? What fruit is evident in your life? How are we
as a group serving our church, our schools, each other,
our families, Kelowna? Lets brainstorm things that we can
do and start doing them! "Submit yourselves then to God.
Resit the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to
God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you
sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded...
Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you
up"James 4:7-10 (1-7 is awesome to though too!).

Sorry if this is at all preachy...just things on my heart,
for myself and you precious girls, who God wants to do
shocking and amazing things through. Satan wants to drag
you guys down because he knows if all of you got excited
and pumped all at once...Kelowna would change. Get into
His word ladies...hold each other up, pray and love each
other! Be friends that can't be found any where else!
Become a care group where people are safe and adored!
I adore you guys...you are incredible women...become
everything that God intends you to.

Anyways I need to do some work! But would love to hear your
thoughts on this email! The other verses that spoke to me
where James 3:1-11, 3:17 &18, and 5:13-end. But I do
challenge you to read the whole book, email me questions,
and bring a verse memorized to praise night! There will be
cute surprises! Love you all...so much...you've no
idea!

Melissa Feddersen

This is my youth pastors wife...shes our care group
leader...as well as such a good friend! I love her so
much. Her words touched me...(she sent this to the hole
care group) I just wanted to share them with whomever
reads this...maybe it'll touch you...




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