S: John 6:38. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but the will of him who sent me.
O: Jesus knew that he would be betrayed and crucified and yet he came not to assert his own will but to carry out the will of God.
A: As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus I can’t help but think of the destiny that awaited the Christ child. Yet Jesus lived completely surrendered to the will of the Father. He took on our sins and carried them for us. He hurt, he cried, he was every bit like one of us, experiencing life. It is easy for me to be completely surrendered during the storms of my life but what about when the storm passes and the waters return to calm? It can be tempting during these calm times to turn to God and say “I got this” or decide that we aren’t sure we like the course God has us on so we will be “masters of our own destiny”. Jesus’ entire life shows us how we are supposed to live – completely surrendered to the Father. He wants access to ALL the areas of our life all the time. If we keep him out or use God like a pinch hitter we are limiting what he can do in us and through us.
P: Father God forgive me for all the times that I have denied you complete access. Father my desire is to live as Jesus did, completely surrendered to your will. I have lived the life of doing things my way and I do not want to go back there. I want to live each day according to your will, your plans. Set me free from selfishness and pride. I surrender to you and you alone. Fill me with more of you and use me to bring light in the darkness. Amen.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Friday, December 17,2010 - 2 Peter 1-3; John 1 WALK THE TALK
By Mary White
S--2 Peter 1:5-7 “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness and knowledge, and to knowledge, self control and to self control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness and to godliness, brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness, love.”
O--Peter is strongly encouraging believers to strengthen themselves spiritually.
A--Peter goes on to say that if we posses these qualities then we will be productive and effective, then he says if we don’t possess these traits we are nearsighted and blind. I want to be effective and productive for the Kingdom and some of these qualities I struggle to attain and to live them. Love is the KEY. If we love God we will want to please Him and be useful to Him. We can only effectively be used if we “walk the talk“.
P--Forgive me Lord for wanting my way over Yours. Help me to “walk my talk” and live a godly life
S--2 Peter 1:5-7 “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness and knowledge, and to knowledge, self control and to self control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness and to godliness, brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness, love.”
O--Peter is strongly encouraging believers to strengthen themselves spiritually.
A--Peter goes on to say that if we posses these qualities then we will be productive and effective, then he says if we don’t possess these traits we are nearsighted and blind. I want to be effective and productive for the Kingdom and some of these qualities I struggle to attain and to live them. Love is the KEY. If we love God we will want to please Him and be useful to Him. We can only effectively be used if we “walk the talk“.
P--Forgive me Lord for wanting my way over Yours. Help me to “walk my talk” and live a godly life
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Thursday Dec. 16, 2010 1 Peter 1-5 "Beauty from the inside-out"
Thursday Dec. 16, 2010
1 Peter 1-5
"Beauty from the inside-out"
S-1Peter 3:4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
O-The scripture is telling us, that as women we are not to dress and adorn ourselves with jewels, and make up, rich clothing, to make ourselves JUST beautiful in appearance only. Rather, to take care of our hearts and minds and our inner disposition. That is what is pleasing to God.
A-This scripture is so true. I can look good on the outside, but what God wants to see is the treasures on the inside. When, my mind and my heart are thinking the purest of thoughts, I might as well be walking around with mud all over me. That's not a pretty picture, but neither is the picture of our insides to God, when we are ugly on the inside, and trying to look good on the outside.
P- Father, create in me a clean heart, and a clean mind. Let me meditate on your words in Phil. 4:8..true, pure, holy, noble, lovely
whatever is praise worthy, let me think on these things. Keep my heart pure, from the inside out. Amen.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
GET GOING!
by Vivian Bills
Wednesday - December 15, 2010 - James 1- 5
S - James 2:17 - In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
O - James is saying that your faith is pretty worthless if you don't do anything with it.
A - You can't earn your salvation, this is true. It's a free gift that God gives that is so precious we could never pay for it. However, once we are saved, it should just follow that we would want to demonstrate that faith. How do we follow the great commission of preaching the gospel to the ends of the earth if we don't also demonstrate that same gospel by being Jesus with skin on to those who would otherwise not believe? Getting saved isn't the end goal - being with Jesus in heaven is. So get up off your duff and do something! Demonstrate your faith by your works. Be a witness and tell people why you do what you do.
P - Lord, I ask for even more opportunities to do your work. Give me the ways and the means, Jesus.
O - James is saying that your faith is pretty worthless if you don't do anything with it.
A - You can't earn your salvation, this is true. It's a free gift that God gives that is so precious we could never pay for it. However, once we are saved, it should just follow that we would want to demonstrate that faith. How do we follow the great commission of preaching the gospel to the ends of the earth if we don't also demonstrate that same gospel by being Jesus with skin on to those who would otherwise not believe? Getting saved isn't the end goal - being with Jesus in heaven is. So get up off your duff and do something! Demonstrate your faith by your works. Be a witness and tell people why you do what you do.
P - Lord, I ask for even more opportunities to do your work. Give me the ways and the means, Jesus.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
JOY AWAITS!
by Cathy Weymouth
Tuesday 12/14/10 Hebrews 12,13; Jude - JOY AWAITS!
S - Heb 12:1-2 GNB, So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God's throne.
O - Wow, Jesus knew what was waiting for him on the other side of the cross! It had been prophesied and He anticipated sitting at the right hand of his Father. He knew the joy that was waiting for Him!
A - I think maybe we could press on to finding breakthrough if we could imagine the joy that is waiting for us on the other side! That sure helped Jesus! We need the testimony of others expressing the freedom and joy they found - so that we can even imagine it. We need to get a picture of that future and what it will feel like. Then maybe we'd be willing to pay the incredible cost of self-denial in order to get there.
P - Father, please give us images, tastes, glimpses, of that future joy. Without that future glimpse, we may find ourselves giving up, hopeless - because of the cost. But with that future sense of joy, we may be able to press on to the end! Help us Lord! Joy is awaiting!
Tuesday 12/14/10 Hebrews 12,13; Jude - JOY AWAITS!
S - Heb 12:1-2 GNB, So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God's throne.
O - Wow, Jesus knew what was waiting for him on the other side of the cross! It had been prophesied and He anticipated sitting at the right hand of his Father. He knew the joy that was waiting for Him!
A - I think maybe we could press on to finding breakthrough if we could imagine the joy that is waiting for us on the other side! That sure helped Jesus! We need the testimony of others expressing the freedom and joy they found - so that we can even imagine it. We need to get a picture of that future and what it will feel like. Then maybe we'd be willing to pay the incredible cost of self-denial in order to get there.
P - Father, please give us images, tastes, glimpses, of that future joy. Without that future glimpse, we may find ourselves giving up, hopeless - because of the cost. But with that future sense of joy, we may be able to press on to the end! Help us Lord! Joy is awaiting!
Monday, December 13, 2010
"DON'T THROW AWAY YOUR CONFIDENCE!"
by Diana Kriesel
Monday, 12/13/10 – Hebrews 11:35,36 - “Don’t Throw Away Your Confidence! ”
S – Hebrews 10:35,36 -So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
O- This is a reference to giving up, as soldiers who drop their shields and run from battle. Our shield is our faith in Christ which gives us knowledge of salvation, so the writer of Hebrews is encouraging us to keep our shield up and it will keep us. We must remain steady and faithful, regardless of our feelings. Our faith stands on our access to God, our right to approach His throne, our birthright and inheritance as His sons and daughters—all this is OURS and reason to hold on to our confidence.
A – Sometimes when life is tough our confident hope in God can be tested. We must persevere so that we do not cast away our hope, become timid, disheartened, or discouraged. God will give us strength to bear up under trials, and maintain a steadfast adherence to Him and His purposes, and we will come forth stronger. This carries the present reward of peace and joy, with God’s presence and power upon our lives, and we can look forward to what He has in store for us hereafter.
P – Lord, teach us holy perseverance. Teach us to embrace those times when our confident hope is being strengthened through tests and trials. Cause us to bear up with a tenacity that pleases You and transforms our lives.
Monday, 12/13/10 – Hebrews 11:35,36 - “Don’t Throw Away Your Confidence! ”
S – Hebrews 10:35,36 -So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
O- This is a reference to giving up, as soldiers who drop their shields and run from battle. Our shield is our faith in Christ which gives us knowledge of salvation, so the writer of Hebrews is encouraging us to keep our shield up and it will keep us. We must remain steady and faithful, regardless of our feelings. Our faith stands on our access to God, our right to approach His throne, our birthright and inheritance as His sons and daughters—all this is OURS and reason to hold on to our confidence.
A – Sometimes when life is tough our confident hope in God can be tested. We must persevere so that we do not cast away our hope, become timid, disheartened, or discouraged. God will give us strength to bear up under trials, and maintain a steadfast adherence to Him and His purposes, and we will come forth stronger. This carries the present reward of peace and joy, with God’s presence and power upon our lives, and we can look forward to what He has in store for us hereafter.
P – Lord, teach us holy perseverance. Teach us to embrace those times when our confident hope is being strengthened through tests and trials. Cause us to bear up with a tenacity that pleases You and transforms our lives.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
A Web of Relationships
S- Philemon 1:1-2 - "To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, to
Apphia our sister, to Archippas our fellow soldier..."
O - In the book of Philemon, we see a web of relationships. Paul and the people he writes to see themselves as dear friends, fellow workers, soldiers together for the gospel. They have common purpose and deep feelings of connection on many levels. In past generations, Pentecostals addressed each other as "Sister ___" and "Brother ___". In our church, we had Sister Alice, who was known to all by that name.
I am reminded today that we need to see ourselves, both locally and in the church universal, as beloved brothers and sisters, as members of one family. Even if at times, we as siblings quarrel or disappoint each other, we need to hold fast to the truth that we are family.
A - This Sunday as I look out at individuals in the congregation, I will think to myself "This is my brother." and "This is my sister."
P - Holy Spirit, so move among us that the love of God is manifest. Fill us with a spirit of love and a deep sense of family and belonging. In Jesus name, Amen.
Apphia our sister, to Archippas our fellow soldier..."
O - In the book of Philemon, we see a web of relationships. Paul and the people he writes to see themselves as dear friends, fellow workers, soldiers together for the gospel. They have common purpose and deep feelings of connection on many levels. In past generations, Pentecostals addressed each other as "Sister ___" and "Brother ___". In our church, we had Sister Alice, who was known to all by that name.
I am reminded today that we need to see ourselves, both locally and in the church universal, as beloved brothers and sisters, as members of one family. Even if at times, we as siblings quarrel or disappoint each other, we need to hold fast to the truth that we are family.
A - This Sunday as I look out at individuals in the congregation, I will think to myself "This is my brother." and "This is my sister."
P - Holy Spirit, so move among us that the love of God is manifest. Fill us with a spirit of love and a deep sense of family and belonging. In Jesus name, Amen.
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