by Cathy Weymouth
Tuesday 8/17/10 Jeremiah 23,25; John 19 - Return From Captivity!
S - Jeremiah 25:5-7 - Turn now each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices. Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them... But you did not listen to Me.. you have brought harm to yourselves.
O - The nation of Israel had been warned repeatedly to leave their worship of substitute gods and return to the true God. He used the prophets to warn them of coming captivity in Babylon if they did not return to Him. They ended up in Babylon.
A - Sometimes we become caught in a snare of depending upon something else for comfort and satisfaction in our lives. We may not realize that this is a modern form of idol worship. God is calling us to Him, but we run to other things to try to feel better (food, drugs, alcohol, pornography, spending money, a person, etc). We actually bring the harm to ourselves as the dependance on this "other thing" grows stronger over time. We walked right into captivity.
P - Lord, you promised the nation of Israel freedom from their captivity. Lord, we live in the New Covenant. Jesus has already purchased our return! All we need do is walk in the victory that is ours by believing in Your Saving Grace! Yes, Jesus, we can turn from substitutes to You when we are weak. We choose today to love you and worship you instead of something else. Only You, Lord, can bring the kind of comfort we are seeking into our lives.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Which Garden are You Standing in?
by Diana Kriesel
Monday, 8/16/10 – 2 Kings 24; Jeremiah 22; Psalm 112; John 18 - “Which Garden are You Standing In?”
S – John 18:4-5 – “Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?" "Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I am he," Jesus said.” (NIV)
O – Judas came to the Garden of Gethsemane with the soldiers and religious leaders to take Jesus by force. Jesus was not taken by surprise, He was a willing sacrifice and after asking “Who is it you want?” Jesus said “I am He.” In the first Garden (Eden) the first Adam met the enemy and failed. But in the 2nd Garden, the second Adam (Jesus) met the enemy and triumphed. Adam hid himself but Jesus openly revealed Himself.
A – Nothing took Jesus by surprise. He stood strong and He knew Who He was. When we are confronted with opposition, we can choose the response that was in the first Garden, and cower in fear; or we can choose the response that was in the second Garden and stand up to our opposition and know who we are in Christ. Because He knows His identity, we can know ours, because OUR IDENTITY IS IN HIM!
P – Lord, strengthen us in the power of Your Truth and Your might and Your identity! Cause us to know for certain that it is in you that we live and move and have our being!
Monday, 8/16/10 – 2 Kings 24; Jeremiah 22; Psalm 112; John 18 - “Which Garden are You Standing In?”
S – John 18:4-5 – “Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?" "Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I am he," Jesus said.” (NIV)
O – Judas came to the Garden of Gethsemane with the soldiers and religious leaders to take Jesus by force. Jesus was not taken by surprise, He was a willing sacrifice and after asking “Who is it you want?” Jesus said “I am He.” In the first Garden (Eden) the first Adam met the enemy and failed. But in the 2nd Garden, the second Adam (Jesus) met the enemy and triumphed. Adam hid himself but Jesus openly revealed Himself.
A – Nothing took Jesus by surprise. He stood strong and He knew Who He was. When we are confronted with opposition, we can choose the response that was in the first Garden, and cower in fear; or we can choose the response that was in the second Garden and stand up to our opposition and know who we are in Christ. Because He knows His identity, we can know ours, because OUR IDENTITY IS IN HIM!
P – Lord, strengthen us in the power of Your Truth and Your might and Your identity! Cause us to know for certain that it is in you that we live and move and have our being!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Parched ground or Living Water
S - Jer. 17:5 - Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord ... he will dwell in parched ground."
O - Jeremiah tells us that we choose where we live based on who we depend on. If we depend primarily on ourself or on others, we will inevitably run out of provision and be in a place of lack and barreness. There is just not enough to meet our continual needs. Cursed is the one who relies on limited resources that run out, but blessed is the one who relies on the Lord. Then we can be truly confident. That is why we sing to Him and proclaim Him, not ourselves.
A - Though God uses people and we are grateful for all the wonderful people that he puts in our lives, only God is the spring of living water that will never run dry.
P - Lord, I turn to you, the Living Water that will never run dry!
O - Jeremiah tells us that we choose where we live based on who we depend on. If we depend primarily on ourself or on others, we will inevitably run out of provision and be in a place of lack and barreness. There is just not enough to meet our continual needs. Cursed is the one who relies on limited resources that run out, but blessed is the one who relies on the Lord. Then we can be truly confident. That is why we sing to Him and proclaim Him, not ourselves.
A - Though God uses people and we are grateful for all the wonderful people that he puts in our lives, only God is the spring of living water that will never run dry.
P - Lord, I turn to you, the Living Water that will never run dry!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Jeremiah 13-15; John 15 CONNECTED by Mary White
S-- John 15:4 “Remain in me & I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the Vine.”
O--Jesus is teaching about the importance of remaining connected to Him. He compares Himself to the vine, and us as the branches.
A--Though the fruit hang off the branches…if the branch were not connected to the vine, than it would receive no nourishment and would wither and die. I want to bear the fruit of a godly life, but I cannot do this on my own…I must be connected to the source of nourishment and power. I need to draw near to God and allow Him to change and purify me.
P--Oh God, when I get so full of myself that I think I can go it alone…please draw me back quickly.
O--Jesus is teaching about the importance of remaining connected to Him. He compares Himself to the vine, and us as the branches.
A--Though the fruit hang off the branches…if the branch were not connected to the vine, than it would receive no nourishment and would wither and die. I want to bear the fruit of a godly life, but I cannot do this on my own…I must be connected to the source of nourishment and power. I need to draw near to God and allow Him to change and purify me.
P--Oh God, when I get so full of myself that I think I can go it alone…please draw me back quickly.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Thursday Aug. 12 Jer. 10-12 John14 S- John 14 16-17
S- John 14 16-17
NIV- And I will ask the Father and He will give you another counselor to be with you forever---17 the Spirit of Truth
The MSG- I will talk to the Father and He will provide you another friend so that you will always have somone with you. 17-This friend is the spirit of Truth
O- Jesus is preparing His disciples and letting them know that He will be leaving and going to get a room ready for them. He also let's them know that He will be back to
get them. His disciples question Jesus about the Father being in him......and they ask Him how do we get there? His answer, I am the road the Truth and the Life, no one
gets to the Father without going through Jesus....."In Jesus Name." Jesus let's them know that they will not be alone, as He is leaving a friend with them.
A- What an awesome gift that Jesus leaves us, a friend.....the Spirit of Truth. The more you read the word and communicate to Jesus the more you know Him, and the more senisitive you
are to the Spirit. In return, the more you ignore the spirit, the more you can't hear his whispers and his directions and answers. What I love about the Spirit of Truth, is that no matter how
far you walk away, just a call on his name and He is there for you.....just like a God friend. The Spirit is an everlasting friendship with great advice and great direction:) I have a lot of God friends, that will speak the truth.
P- In Jesus name, I ask that the Spirit of Truth get louder and louder in my life. Let no darkness come to interfere with the tone of his voice in my spirit. Thank you Jesus, for leaving us a dear
friend that we can call on day or night, and not fear any judgement of condemnation, just peace and cousel and Love. In Jesus name........Amen
NIV- And I will ask the Father and He will give you another counselor to be with you forever---17 the Spirit of Truth
The MSG- I will talk to the Father and He will provide you another friend so that you will always have somone with you. 17-This friend is the spirit of Truth
O- Jesus is preparing His disciples and letting them know that He will be leaving and going to get a room ready for them. He also let's them know that He will be back to
get them. His disciples question Jesus about the Father being in him......and they ask Him how do we get there? His answer, I am the road the Truth and the Life, no one
gets to the Father without going through Jesus....."In Jesus Name." Jesus let's them know that they will not be alone, as He is leaving a friend with them.
A- What an awesome gift that Jesus leaves us, a friend.....the Spirit of Truth. The more you read the word and communicate to Jesus the more you know Him, and the more senisitive you
are to the Spirit. In return, the more you ignore the spirit, the more you can't hear his whispers and his directions and answers. What I love about the Spirit of Truth, is that no matter how
far you walk away, just a call on his name and He is there for you.....just like a God friend. The Spirit is an everlasting friendship with great advice and great direction:) I have a lot of God friends, that will speak the truth.
P- In Jesus name, I ask that the Spirit of Truth get louder and louder in my life. Let no darkness come to interfere with the tone of his voice in my spirit. Thank you Jesus, for leaving us a dear
friend that we can call on day or night, and not fear any judgement of condemnation, just peace and cousel and Love. In Jesus name........Amen
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
by Vivian Bills
Wednesday - August 11, 2010 - Jeremiah 7-9; John 13
S - John 13:35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
O - Jesus was getting ready to leave his disciples and told them to love each other as proof to the world that they follow Jesus.
A - Today in exercise class we were supposed to be holding a fairly difficult position which was really uncomfortable for me. I found myself shifting my weight to relieve the pressure, which brought me out of position. And then, I heard it. "Vivian, WHAT are you DOING?" The teacher had called me out. He noticed my position of compromise. And again, in today's reading, I am called out. Vivian, what are you doing? Am I loving my brothers and sisters in Christ unconditionally, as Christ loves us? Or am I falling into a position of compromise, agreeing with the accusers of my brothers and sisters, in order to be more comfortable? It's a good wake up call. It helps to be called out every now and then so that we can get ourselves back into alignment with what Christ would have us do.
P - Lord, I thank You for the reminder today to not compromise, to follow You wholeheartedly and love as You do. Help me, Lord, to hold my position with strength!
O - Jesus was getting ready to leave his disciples and told them to love each other as proof to the world that they follow Jesus.
A - Today in exercise class we were supposed to be holding a fairly difficult position which was really uncomfortable for me. I found myself shifting my weight to relieve the pressure, which brought me out of position. And then, I heard it. "Vivian, WHAT are you DOING?" The teacher had called me out. He noticed my position of compromise. And again, in today's reading, I am called out. Vivian, what are you doing? Am I loving my brothers and sisters in Christ unconditionally, as Christ loves us? Or am I falling into a position of compromise, agreeing with the accusers of my brothers and sisters, in order to be more comfortable? It's a good wake up call. It helps to be called out every now and then so that we can get ourselves back into alignment with what Christ would have us do.
P - Lord, I thank You for the reminder today to not compromise, to follow You wholeheartedly and love as You do. Help me, Lord, to hold my position with strength!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
WILD TANTRUMS
by Cathy Weymouth
Tuesday 8/10/10 Jer 5,6; John 12 - WILD TANTRUMS
S - Jeremiah 5:22 - I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.
O - The Lord is speaking of his sovereignty; of His control over the sea. When He formed it, the waters covered the earth. But then He drew limits around the sea, a boundary that could not be crossed. "I drew a line in the sand that cannot be crossed. Waves roll in but cannot get through, breakers crash but that's the end of them. (MSG) Your wild tantrums are confined to this space." (Job 38:11 MSG)
A - Last night I shared with our group of ladies that my emotions are out of control lately (menopause). I have always been a sensitive person; I can cry at the drop of a hat. I feel deeply and am very passionate (I blame that on my Italian side!). I hold things close to my heart and wear my emotions on my sleeve. But it's even worse lately. My friend prayed this scene from her heart - that God would help me with boundaries around my emotions as he set limits for the sea. Then she ran across the scripture this morning in our reading!! Prophetic indeed; she wasn't aware of the scripture.
P - Father, thank you for your prophetic words spoken through other people. Thank you for that God Hug - you surely have me on your heart! Please help me when my emotions are taking over. Please put boundaries around them. Breakers crash - but let that be the end of them! I need Your help in this. I don't want to hurt others with this emotional sensitivity.
Tuesday 8/10/10 Jer 5,6; John 12 - WILD TANTRUMS
S - Jeremiah 5:22 - I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.
O - The Lord is speaking of his sovereignty; of His control over the sea. When He formed it, the waters covered the earth. But then He drew limits around the sea, a boundary that could not be crossed. "I drew a line in the sand that cannot be crossed. Waves roll in but cannot get through, breakers crash but that's the end of them. (MSG) Your wild tantrums are confined to this space." (Job 38:11 MSG)
A - Last night I shared with our group of ladies that my emotions are out of control lately (menopause). I have always been a sensitive person; I can cry at the drop of a hat. I feel deeply and am very passionate (I blame that on my Italian side!). I hold things close to my heart and wear my emotions on my sleeve. But it's even worse lately. My friend prayed this scene from her heart - that God would help me with boundaries around my emotions as he set limits for the sea. Then she ran across the scripture this morning in our reading!! Prophetic indeed; she wasn't aware of the scripture.
P - Father, thank you for your prophetic words spoken through other people. Thank you for that God Hug - you surely have me on your heart! Please help me when my emotions are taking over. Please put boundaries around them. Breakers crash - but let that be the end of them! I need Your help in this. I don't want to hurt others with this emotional sensitivity.
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