September 20-27

Weekly scripture
Mark 1:16-34

Fisher of men
Is your life bait and attractive to the lost? Or is it something that will stay on the line and never get a bite?

 Jesus called the disciples to follow him so that he could make them fishers of men. Before Jesus the disciples were just ordinary men whose lives were their career. But Jesus wanted to change the disciples perspective. He wanted to make a difference in their lives.

Jesus wants to step in and change your life and be Lord over all of it not just parts, and  not when you are older or your career is done.Just as Jesus called the disciples when they were young and in the prime of their life so are  we called. We like the disciples have the opportunity to follow Jesus. This is our calling. Part of God's purpose for us is to reach people and change their eternal direction.  Everything we are as follower of Christ  is wrapped up into being a fisher of men

The Week of May 16-22

 Weekly Passage : John 1

Jesus and the Word

Only 55% of Christians strongly agree that the Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches; 18% agree somewhat;  13% somewhat disagree; 9% disagree strongly and 5% aren’t sure what to believe. 

What do you believe about the Bible? Is it the Word of God? Is it just advice, some of which should be followed and some of which should be overlooked? Is some of the Bible outdated in its principles?

The Bible says many things about the word of God but the most striking is in John 1:1-5: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. ⁴ In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend^[a] it.”

John shows the word of God shows it as the eternal word, and the word being Jesus himself. Do you believe that Jesus is the living word of God? If He is the word and He is life and meant to bring life, then what does the word of God do to our lives? Do you believe that the word is living and eternal?  What has it done in your life?

As was challenged in the last Bible study lets not take a break this summer. Pick a book of the Bible and study and look over it. Embrace the word of God that lives and breathes and has the power to change your life today.

April 4-8

Good Morning God!

When is the last time that you have told God good morning! It’s a simple reminder that the Lord is truly good, and no matter the circumstances He is good. You may have stayed up all night studying or on rounds, but the next morning is a new day. With each new day comes a new breath of God’s glory and life into your life. It is amazing the Lord can do. We can give thanks to God because He chooses to be near to us. He sent Jesus as a ransom for our sins so that we can be in fellowship with Him, and God desires our fellowship. He is the one thing, if nothing else, that we can look forward to waking up to! He is our creator and our lover and our Lord. It is amazing what all God is to us… He is our everything.  If your life seems crazy this week He says in Ps 75:3 (NLT) “when the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps its foundations firm”. God is able to keep our foundations firm. He is the solid rock in turmoil. If you need a friend this week He says “ I will never leave you nor forsake you!” (Hebrews 13:5)He is the friend that sticks closer than a brother. If you need vision His word “is a lamp unto our feet and a light to our path”(Psalms 119:105). What a wonderful gift God has given us by being able to say Good morning to Him!

Challenges for the week:

This week start each morning by asking yourself a question…                      

What do you normally say good morning to? Have you said thank you to God this morning? What do you have to be thankful to God for? What part of God’s character do you need Him to be today: a friend, a comforter?   

Find some scriptures that show God's character to you such as those above. Memorize them to remind yourself of some of God's attributes. Ask God to walk with you through each day.

The Ten

Have your parents ever given you advice when you were younger that you value now? Or are there rules that at one time you thought were restrictive that now you see as beneficial? It is amazing that we as a society chant for freedom freedom freedom but one of the greatest moments of liberty we have are when we are not bound by fear because we obey the rules. God has given us many  rules to walk to. However, many Christians don't acknowledge them as anything more than suggestions in today's society. What are a few of these rules? Well, the top ten are the ten commandments. Many believe that as a new testament believer we are not under the law. However Jesus himself said He did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill the law. He even expounded on the commandments to an even greater level. Today is a challenge  to return to the foundation of our guidance. The ten commandments. Take them and re-commit or commit them to memory. Its a great way to reestablish basic principles of a Christian walk.

Ex 20

March 11-18, 2011

Weekly Verses

John 8:36

Ps 17:8

1 John 4

Devotion for the week of Spring break. (11-18)

Be on Gaurd....

There are times in our lives where we are afforded breaks in order to rest, and be free. Yet, there are many living bound to some kind of chain, which even when we are free from the monotony of daily activities, still affects them. What are chains?  Chains are things that hold is in bondage or things that confine or restrain us. As a Christian our greatest chains are those of sin. Sin grapples at us daily wishing to take us under, and one of the greatest times the devil seeks an opportunity bind us again is at the moment we are seeking rest from fatigue. In these moments we let our guard down and often fail to watch our guard for the devil. In moments of relaxing keep our mind must still focus on God, and ask to be hidden under the shadow of His wings.  In addition, know what the devil will throw at you. He usually tries to place you in the same chains that you were found in. He tries to tempt the delivered alcoholic with alcohol, the delivered smoker with cigarettes; the delivered workaholic with more work.   Knowing from whence God has freed you will help you be ready for the battle. The devil will bring many opportunities towards you this week: Family problems, addictions, and the like, but greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world. God has freed you from the law of sin and death to walk in Him.

March 9, 2011

Encouraging thoughts from Julie Akerman Link...

If there is any such thing as a universal question, it may be this: Are we there yet? Generations of children have asked it. They have then grown into adults who have to answer the same question when their children ask.
Whenever I read the books of Moses, I wonder how many times he heard that question from the Israelites. Before rescuing them from slavery and leading them out of Egypt, Moses told them that the Lord would lead them to “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Ex. 3:8). He did, but first they spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness. This was no ordinary wandering, however. They were not lost; they were wandering for a purpose. After 400 years of slavery, the children of Israel needed to have their hearts, souls, and minds reoriented toward God. This was accomplished in the wilderness (Deut. 8:2,15-18), but not before an entire generation died because of their disobedience (Num. 32:13).
In life, it sometimes seems as if we are wandering in circles. We feel lost. We want to ask God, “Are we there yet? How much longer?” At such times, it helps to remember that the journey, not just the destination, is important to God. He uses it to humble us, test us, and show us what is in our hearts.

All God’s testings have a purpose—
Someday you will see the light;
All He asks is that you trust Him,
Walk by faith and not by sight. —Zoller

It’s the journey, not just the destination, that’s important.

March 8, 2011

Daily Verse
Ps 51

Daily Devotion 

Whiter than Snow

Every day there is a battle for our souls. No matter what we believe we are, we are innately sinners. Our good works are like filthy rags in the sight of God. There is a growing trend to state that we are just human and this is our nature, and we must recognize our nature and ask God to purify us each day, and wash us from the stain of the guilt that comes when we have fallen. Let us be honest with God in our failings. Only then can He return the Holy Spirit in our lives and restore unto us the joy we had when we first believed.  Let us bring to Him our broken spirit and a repentant heart. He will make us whiter than snow.