Category Archives: Janaya Richards

{Post from the Past} Not Successful, Only Faithful – By: Janaya Richards

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Many Christians find reasons not to share the Gospel.  We often make excuses because we’re scared.  I totally understand: giving the Gospel can be a scary thing!  Why might we be afraid to share the Good News?  Perhaps we don’t know how to start or what to say.  Maybe we’re afraid to “mess up” the Scriptures.

In reality, though, usually our excuses are much less noble than ‘concern for God’s Word’.  Usually we refuse to tell others about Christ because we don’t want to look stupid or be rejected. Simply put, we are more concerned about our reputations than sinners’ souls.

I have used almost all of these excuses at one point or another, but recently the Lord has been changing my mind.  He’s been showing me how important He is and how desperately people need to hear about Him.  This week I’ve been witnessing to a friend of mine, and I have realized for the first time the Benefits of sharing my faith.  As I’ve been searching the Bible to answer my friend’s questions, my faith has been strengthened; I am reminding myself what I believe and why I believe it.  I’ve also been a bit convicted how little of my Bible I know; searching the Scriptures for just the verse I’m looking for reminds me how crucial it is that I know my Bible thoroughly.

I won’t say that my old excuses are non-existent; in fact, they are very near to me.  I am a bit nervous that I will lose my friend; I’m still kind of concerned about my reputation (unfortunately).  However, by sharing God’s truth with an unbeliever, I am being faithful to God’s command.  My pastor once said, “God does not call us to be successful – only to be faithful.”  Even if my friend never talks to me again, she will have heard the of God’s saving grace.

We can only control our actions: will we share the Truth or not?  God controls the outcome.

{Post from the Past} God’s Grid – By: Janaya Richards

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Most Christians want to be pure and live a life that is honoring to God. We want our minds to be clean and our hearts to be right; but our hearts are “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) If we can’t even understand our own hearts, how can we possibly keep them clean?
The answer is, we can’t – at least, not by ourselves. We need the Holy Spirit guiding us and helping us. According to Psalms 19:14, “The words of [our] mouths and the meditation of [our] hearts [should] be acceptable in [God’s] sight.” But, the world we live in is full of junk! How can we keep our hearts and minds clean?  We need a filter. The Bible gives us a perfect filter. Philippians 4:8 says,

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever thing are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are just, whatever things are commendable, whatever things have a good report, if there is any excellence, and if there is any praise, think about these things.”
Use God’s own Word as a filter for your heart and mind. Don’t let anything into your life that can’t pass through the grid of Philippians 4:8.

{Post from the Past} Elect Exiles – By: Janaya Richards

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“To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.” 1 Peter 1:1-2

I read these verses during my devotional time a few days ago, and – at first – these verses appear to be just another of Peter’s opening greetings; but if you take a closer look – and really read what Peter is saying – you’ll learn so much about God’s sovereignty over our lives and our trials.

This letter was written to the “elect exiles.” That almost seems to be a contradiction. The exiles were Jews who had been persecuted out of their homes and countries and chased all over the known world. They probably thought that God didn’t know or care about their plight. However, the word elect means “chosen specially by God”. How does that work?

Read further. Peter says that these Jews were exiled “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” God knew about His people, cared about His people and planned this for His people.

The verse also says that God was working through these struggling Jews to accomplish their sanctification. James 2:2-4 tells us that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness!

Finally, Paul encourages the exiles that through their trials they were identified with Christ. Christ told His disciples, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:20) When we are identified with Christ in our trials, we bring glory to God!

When I’m struggling to understand ‘Why?’, I need to remember this: God chose this specific trial just for me! He has put something in my life to sanctify me and to make me more like Him.

Clean Your Room

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                 Recently I had the amazing privilege of taking a “missions exposure trip” to Detroit with my youth group.  We visited 5 different urban churches and ministries, and talked with each pastor/missionary about his specific goals, challenges, and motivations.  Although each session was incredibly instructive, one pastor shared an idea that has been changing my entire perspective on witnessing.  He likened Christ’s Great Commission – “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel” (Matthew 28: 19-20) – to a Father’s command: “Clean your room.”

                Imagine if your dad told you, “Go clean your room.”  Inspired by such a great idea, you gather 6 or 8 of your closest friends to brainstorm “cleaning bedrooms.”  Your brother mentions a great book he enjoyed, so you immediately read Cleaning Your Room: Conquering the Challenges of Your Chore …as well as 4 other straightening bestsellers.  Truly stirred by your studies, you decide to post a facebook status about your new mission, and you encourage your sister to clean her bedroom as well!

                The next day, your Father comes back to you and asks, “So, did you clean your room?”  A bit embarrassed, you are forced to admit that No, you never actually got around to straightening your bedroom.  Do you think your dad would be impressed?

                So often we get sidetracked planning to whom, where, when, and how we’re going to share our faith; just go do it!  Don’t talk about obeying – Go obey!

The Gospel

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Have you been reading our posts, but have no idea of what we are talking about?

Well then this is the post to read.

What’s the Gospel all About?

“It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgement.” -Hebrews 9:27

Everyone will die and everyone will face judgement. Why will we face judgement?  God created the world and everything in it in seven days, and all creation is accountable to God’s authority.

Adam and Eve, the first humans, rebelled against God and tried to rule their own lives. That was SIN, and the judgement for sin is DEATH. Since then, every human who has ever lived has sinned.

God is holy and there can not be any sin in His presence. Jesus says “unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, [in other words, unless you are better than the religious, devoted people of Jesus' time] you will  certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mathew 5:20). There is no such thing as a “basically good” person. Jesus’ standard is higher. That’s why the Bible says, “all have sinned and FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.” Our sin defiles us and makes us filthy. Our sin separates us from God. All of our efforts to be good are not good enough; we need to be perfect. But how can we?

God mercifully did something about our helpless state: He sent His only Son Jesus- who was also fully God- into the world as a human baby, born of a virgin, therefore fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies. Jesus lived a perfect life without sinning. Since He was sinless, He was the only One able to pay for sin. He gave His Own life as the payment for our sins at the cross and rose after three days, conquering death.

God gives us a second chance to submit to Him, our Creator and rightful King. If we accept His free gift and submit our lives to His authority, God promises to accept Christ’s death instead of ours and to forgive our sins; He will see Christ’s righteousness instead of our sin. We will spend eternity living with God!

If we reject Christ’s payment and His authority again, we will pay for our own sins, dying an eternal death in hell.

One day- no one knows when- God will come back to earth to judge His people. Until then, He invites everyone to accept His free gift of salvation.

Recap

-God is Holy and Creator, so we are accountable to Him.

-Our sin separates us from God.

-Christ suffered for our sin in order for us to be saved. God offers that exchange as a gift.

-To be saved you need to surrender and trust in Christ.

If you have done so, take courage and start reading your Bible regularly!

So let’s go back to Hebrews 9:27,28 it is a great summary verse!

“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgement, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.“

[This was written by: Janaya Richards and Mafe Quijano.]

Not Successful, Only Faithful

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Many Christians find reasons not to share the Gospel.  We often make excuses because we’re scared.  I totally understand: giving the Gospel can be a scary thing!  Why might we be afraid to share the Good News?  Perhaps we don’t know how to start or what to say.  Maybe we’re afraid to “mess up” the Scriptures.

In reality, though, usually our excuses are much less noble than ‘concern for God’s Word’.  Usually we refuse to tell others about Christ because we don’t want to look stupid or be rejected.  Simply put, we are more concerned about our reputations than sinners’ souls.

I have used almost all of these excuses at one point or another, but recently the Lord has been changing my mind.  He’s been showing me how important He is and how desperately people need to hear about Him.  This week I’ve been witnessing to a friend of mine, and I have realized for the first time the Benefits of sharing my faith.  As I’ve been searching the Bible to answer my friend’s questions, my faith has been strengthened; I am reminding myself what I believe and why I believe it.  I’ve also been a bit convicted how little of my Bible I know; searching the Scriptures for just the verse I’m looking for reminds me how crucial it is that I know my Bible thoroughly.

I won’t say that my old excuses are non-existent; in fact, they are very near to me.  I am a bit nervous that I will lose my friend; I’m still kind of concerned about my reputation (unfortunately).  However, by sharing God’s truth with an unbeliever, I am being faithful to God’s command.  My pastor once said, “God does not call us to be successful – only to be faithful.”  Even if my friend never talks to me again, she will have heard the of God’s saving grace.

We can only control our actions: will we share the Truth or not?  God controls the outcome.

Pray for Chardon Highschool

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This Sunday, please join Tri-County as we pray for Chardon Highschool, the students, and their families.  The prayer service will be held at 2946 Burns Rd. in Madison, OH (right behind Madison Highschool).

Take My Life

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Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.


Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.


Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.

 

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.


Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.


Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.


Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.

 

Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.


Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.


Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.


Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

Words by Francis R. Havergal

Hymn of the Day — Chosen as His Children

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Chosen by the Father’s mercy, set apart to serve His son,

Sanctified by His own Spirit — Praise the Holy Three in One!

Saved by resurrection power, shielded in His faithful love;

Now no enemy can tarnish my inheritance above!

I’m born again!  I’m God’s only chosen child of mercy!

Born again — What love and grace!

Father, keep me walking worthy, ’til I look upon your face.

Lead by wisdom into suffering, grieved by many trials below,

yet rejoicing in His purpose, that my faith as gold may glow.

Granted faith for overcoming, filled with love for Christ unseen,

Even angels cannot fathom what salvation God can bring!

CHORUS

Built on Christ, the Sure Foundation, we are free from guilt and shame,

He is fitting us together as a house to praise His name.

We are chosen as God’s people, Called from darkness into light,

Oh, what mercy now entreats us to proclaim His glories, bright!

I’m born again!  I’m God’s only chosen child of mercy!

Born again — What love and grace!

Father, keep me walking worthy, ’til I look upon your face.

From the Lips of ALL People!

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“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”     Philippians 2:9-11

From the beginning of time, God’s ultimate goal has been His glory.  “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”  (Rom. 14:11)  God is calling and saving people from every nationality, gender, age, social status, tongue, and tax bracket.  One day these multitudes will all praise Him together – forever – gathered in Heaven.

Revelation 5:13 says, “And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!””

Isn’t that incredibly exciting?!?!  Every living creature in all of creation will sing praises to our Creator forever!  One of my newest favorite songs, LORD Most High, clearly and beautifully paints this picture.  Even those too weak to sing now sing with their hearts, and look forward to praising Christ perfectly one day!

From the ends of the earth, from the depths of the sea,

from the heights of the Heavens,

Your name be praised!

From the hearts of the weak, from the shouts of the strong, from the lips of all people,

Your name be praised!

Throughout the endless ages,

You will be crowned with praises, LORD Most High!

Exalted in every nation; Sovereign of all creation,

LORD Most High be magnified!

(LORD Most High, Copyright Heart Publications)

Praise God for His saving grace now; and anticipate praising Him forever!