Living your YES Life

Say YES to being salty 🧂 and lit 🔥  Scripture “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl…In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬-‭16‬  Brief Observation One of my favorite Christian t-shirts summarizes this dynamite passage with a simple phrase: “Salty & Lit.” These words remind us of our heavenly significance and our earthly responsibility. Jesus, described by John as “the true light” (John 1:9) and “the light of the world” (John 8:12, 9:5), looked at his disciples and said “YOU are the light of the world!” To those who believed the common lie that their life is inconsequential, Jesus told the truth that they are heavenly consequential. To those who struggled with self-doubt, Jesus says, “you shine bright!” Because of this dynamic truth we have a responsi...

Say YES to Jesus’ perspective on happiness Scripture Now when Jesus saw the crowds. He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him and he began to teach them. He said… Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Happy are those who mourn for they will be comforted. Happy are the meek for they will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:1-5 Brief Observation As the disciples gathered by Jesus on the mountainside, he shared his belief on where true happiness is found. The beatitudes each start with the Greek word makaroi which can be translated as “blessed, fortunate or happy.”  In America we are familiar with the phrase “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” and we have a company that boasts being “the happiest place on earth.” Our culture would likely say something different like, “Happy are those who have a lot ” or “Happy are those who have nothing to cry about” or “Happy are those who are in control.” But true happiness is not found in ...

Welcome to the YES encouragement blog where we’ll explore what it means to say YES to Jesus in every aspect of life. This is an extension of the Mid-Atlantic Nazarene Youth Equipped to Serve Retreat. Let’s start at the very beginning… Say YES to Jesus’ Kingdom “From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:19-20 ‭‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.4.17-20.NIV   Brief Observation At the start of a new year, there’s no better place than to look at the start of Jesus’ ministry and the start of the new life of a disciple. Repentance is embracing the newness that is available in Jesus! To repent is to turn to Jesus as King and turn away from the kingdom of this world. It is to say “No” to what “wars against your soul” (1 Peter) and to say “Yes” to the One who won the war for your soul.  When...