So, my ipod was on shuffle and Generation Church’s song- All Things New came on. I love this song, because there’s this one part that says “That’s what I love about you- You make all things new, just look at my life”

It got me thinking-are we letting God makes us new? do our lives show the “newness” that God has given us. I KNOW that God makes all things new, that there is redemption and grace to be found in Him, but are we modeling our lives around that? We sing a lot of songs about how God makes all things new, or how He makes us new, but do we ACTUALLY believe it! Sometimes I wonder, because if we really did believe it, and trust God with it, then we would be living it out…
I know for me, I want to walk this out everyday.  What would if look like if we truly understood what this means for us. We wouldn’t need to walk around with baggage, past hurts, mistakes, regrets, or shame, because Jesus came to give life and life to the FULL! and we are made NEW, so the past no longer can hold us back, or bind us. Jesus took all our crap on the cross, shame, sin, sickness and disease. It’s finished! We are in Christ, a new creation!

God makes ALL things new-that means not just one part of you, or one part of your circumstance, no, he can make it ALL new!

Honestly, what would it look like if our generation actually LIVED THIS OUT! how powerful would it be if we raised up a generation that believed God when he said He makes us new, that refused to let the enemy have a grip on them, but walked in the freedom of a life with Jesus!

I don’t know about you, but that makes me love God even more! It humbles me and once again I am in awe that the Creator of the universe would take my life and make it new! WOW.

We Are…NEW

Hey VNTG peeps,
I love twitter – not necessarily to keep instantly updated when someone has taken out the garbage or the constant tweeting of how comfortable someone’s bed is (you know who you are)…
But I love finding interesting things, like this story…

Supposedly some guy named Nik Tyler heard more than a year ago that the computer empire, know as Apple (if u are still using a PC – I will pray for you to see the light) was dreaming up and idea for a ‘tablet-like’ computer. So, taking a shot in the dark, Nik thought a cool name for this new device would be called the ‘IPad’ (which will soon be in a store near you). Nik went on the internet, probably to some site like Go-Daddy.com and purchase three Web addresses at 6 bucks a piece: ipaddownload.com, ipaddownloads.com and ipaddownloads.net.
Guess what – that 18 dollar investment has made (or is about to make) Nik a multi-millionaire. He’s selling each web addy for a cool million a piece. He says he’s had many offers and expects to sell at any day…

What a good idea! What a creative way to make it big!

I’ve got an idea. What if we, as Christians started being creative; started dreaming BIG!
Just think of the creation story…
My favorite part about the beginning of the Bible is that from the very start God was creative. And if God is creative and we were made in His image we have creativity in our DNA. Sure some people may be more creative than others but everyone has creativity. And when we ask God to breath on our ideas – they’re bound to take shape!

So even though Nik may have struck it rich with a creative shot in the dark – just think of what you can accomplish when you dream create with God on your side!
So dream.
Hope.
Believe that God wants to use you to push the Kingdom forward.
Just a thought.

-PDrew

When we talk about love, in my mind there are two definitions:
A Quartz and a Diamond.

These two rocks both have similar qualities. When shown to a child, they may pick the quartz over the diamond. Not because they’re easily fooled – but because to them, there really is no difference. A rock is a rock – the value unchanged by their own understanding.

When we evaluate the word love – what do we think it means? Is it something perfect, made without flaw – incomparable to anything else? Or is it a careless word, thrown down and walked upon – like another stone under your foot. With the world terrorizing us with their definition of what love is: cheap, renewable, put out with Tuesdays Trash… is it any wonder when offered a Quartz or a Diamond we eagerly take the first?

We live today amongst quitters, where children have been abandoned and put on a shelf by themselves. We live today, where perfection is a mirage, displayed on a screen – and we have forgotten the value of what God has given us:

The definition of what the ‘Diamond’ is, and how to pick it out from a quarry filled with Quartz.

Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous or boastful, proud or rude.
It does not demand its own way.
It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of wrong.
It does not rejoice about injustice, but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
Love never gives up,
Never loses faith,
Is always hopeful.
And endures all things.

We’ve been given the greatest example of what love is, when Christ lived only to die for our imperfections and shortcomings. We’ve been given a book full of grace where three words can make up for a lifetime of mistakes: “Love conquers all.”

God’s love – is the grace we so willingly trade for something worth only pennies in comparison to His everlasting bank of hope, faith and love.

No one can measure up to what is perfect, but I wonder what it would look like if we applied the value of the word “Love” to its quick release from our lips.
What would happen to divorce rates, to broken hearts and broken families if we put down the quartz and reached out for the Diamond? If we rose to the occasion of self-sacrifice, (far less than what Jesus did on the cross) when we ourselves are wronged. What would it look like if we laced our words with grace, learning that our disregard for true love will never solve the problem?

I challenge you this week to evaluate. Which would you choose if you were offered a Diamond or a Quartz – and which would you offer to others??

Because both are in front of you to give and to take.
It’s time to choose value over convenience, and put it back into the word we call
Love.

~Elisa Brown

Reading Matthew 5 today…
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.

Verses 3-6 all represent some sort of “lesser” or “needy” characteristic, poor, meek, hungry, mourning….it speaks to me of God’s greatness, how He can use us even in our weakness, MORE than that, he BLESSES us when we are weak, poor, hungry and sad. What screams out at me is humility, when we humble ourselves and seek God’s face, He will come (2 Chronicles 7:14), He hears our cries, in our desperation God is Might to Save. When a situation looks dim, or impossible, that’s when God steps in, and brings comfort, inheritance, and fills us!

The last few verses highlight serenity, and calmness; peacemakers, pure hearted and merciful. There is a gentleness that flows from these characteristics. When we seek peace, mercy and a pure heart God blesses that too! We serve a BIG God, one who is slow to anger, abounding in love and compassion.

Be encouraged that you are BLESSED, in your weak moments (those seem to come often being human and all) and in your strong moments, there is blessing that comes.

We Are…Blessed

Just wanted to write a quick little ditty about Vintage Conference, which took place this past weekend at Lakemount Worship Centre, my home church. What an incredible weekend! Kudos to everyone who was there for not wasting the weekend, and for going after God.

The personal highlight for me was thursday night, which was an incredible night of worship and God really taking Vintage to a whole new level. So good!

We Are Vintage…

Here is some insight into who we are-what we’re about. At Vintage we believe in vintage relationship with Jesus. Religion is restricting and binding: we believe it’s about a genuine, authentic relationship with our Creator! We want to go deeper with Jesus, learning to love like He loves us. 

And in this journey, we believe in the power of worship. Letting our worship come from the overflow of a thankful and forgiven soul. That our songs would come from a heart of praise to the One who is worthy. 

We Are….
Called.
Redeemed.
Loved.

We Are Vintage.