Wednesday - November 30, 2011 - Romans 1-4
S- Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
O - Paul was not ashamed to tell people about Jesus because they got saved from eternal damnation when they believed it.
A - I am not ashamed to believe in the God who created me. I don't harbor resentment against those who say I am misguided, brainwashed, and just plain stupid. I was once the same as my accusers and so I know that even THEY can be saved. I like me (and actually, so do they!) But, let me tell you, I couldn't stand myself before I believed in Jesus.
P - Lord, save all those people in my life who are blind to You. Use me. They need You, Lord!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Called to be Cheerleaders!
by Cathy Weymouth
Tuesday 11/29/11 1 Thess 4,5; 2 Thess 1-3 - Called to be Cheerleaders!
S=Scripture O=Observation A=Application P=Prayer
S - 1 Thess 5:11, So go on CHEERING AND ENCOURAGING each other, as I have no doubt you are doing. JB Phillips
O - Paul is exhorting the Thessalonian church to stay alert while waiting for the Lord's return. And to be an encouragement to one another in the meantime.
A - In the message Bible, it is worded, "So speak encouraging words to one another. BUILD UP HOPE so you'll all be together in this..." If we want to make an impact into people's lives, how we speak to each other can make a huge difference. I love the word "cheering" in this verse. When I was a teen, I was a cheerleader; I think I still am! I love to encourage and build up. I think it's a great way to foster hope and movement in the right direction. As a friend said to me yesterday, loving and validating and seeing the gifts and strengths in another works better at motivating than a hard approach does.
P - Father, may we all be cheerleaders, building up hope in one another. May we foster movement in the right direction through positive words rather than negative ones. And help us to remember we are not responsible for other people, their lives and the outcome, we are just responsible to love and encourage them. Amen
Tuesday 11/29/11 1 Thess 4,5; 2 Thess 1-3 - Called to be Cheerleaders!
S=Scripture O=Observation A=Application P=Prayer
S - 1 Thess 5:11, So go on CHEERING AND ENCOURAGING each other, as I have no doubt you are doing. JB Phillips
O - Paul is exhorting the Thessalonian church to stay alert while waiting for the Lord's return. And to be an encouragement to one another in the meantime.
A - In the message Bible, it is worded, "So speak encouraging words to one another. BUILD UP HOPE so you'll all be together in this..." If we want to make an impact into people's lives, how we speak to each other can make a huge difference. I love the word "cheering" in this verse. When I was a teen, I was a cheerleader; I think I still am! I love to encourage and build up. I think it's a great way to foster hope and movement in the right direction. As a friend said to me yesterday, loving and validating and seeing the gifts and strengths in another works better at motivating than a hard approach does.
P - Father, may we all be cheerleaders, building up hope in one another. May we foster movement in the right direction through positive words rather than negative ones. And help us to remember we are not responsible for other people, their lives and the outcome, we are just responsible to love and encourage them. Amen
Monday, November 28, 2011
Doubt
Matthew 28; 1 Thel 1-3
S: Matt 28: 17 “When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted.”
O: Jesus has been crucified and now He has risen. He has appeared to the women and now he appears to the disciples. He was right before their eyes – right there – but still there were some who doubted what they were seeing.
A: Why is it something can be staring you right in the face but still there is doubt? It’s not easily understood, but it appears to be just part of one’s nature sometimes – to doubt – like “doubting Thomas.” God can clearly speak to us, but the enemy constantly says, it’s for someone else, even for everyone else, but it’s not meant for you. That little bit of doubt gets in the way and our enemy gladly snowballs it into major interference.
P: Jesus please help us to erase our skepticism. You offer everything and our misgivings nothing. Have mercy on us so that we can be hopeful to see you when you’re right there in front of us!
S: Matt 28: 17 “When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted.”
O: Jesus has been crucified and now He has risen. He has appeared to the women and now he appears to the disciples. He was right before their eyes – right there – but still there were some who doubted what they were seeing.
A: Why is it something can be staring you right in the face but still there is doubt? It’s not easily understood, but it appears to be just part of one’s nature sometimes – to doubt – like “doubting Thomas.” God can clearly speak to us, but the enemy constantly says, it’s for someone else, even for everyone else, but it’s not meant for you. That little bit of doubt gets in the way and our enemy gladly snowballs it into major interference.
P: Jesus please help us to erase our skepticism. You offer everything and our misgivings nothing. Have mercy on us so that we can be hopeful to see you when you’re right there in front of us!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
An Alabaster Flask
Sunday, November 27. Psalm 125; Matthew 26 & 27
S: Matthew 26:7 – a woman came to him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrance and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.
O: The woman was anointing Jesus for burial. The disciples criticized her saying she could have sold the oil and given the money to the poor.
A: The disciples were acting under the influence of the world. They thought they saw waste and extravagance in the woman with the oil. Jesus recognized that she was preparing his body for burial. Jesus recognized her sacrificial act. How many times when we look at what “other people” are doing do we look with eyes of the world and miss what is truly going on. Why? Because we focus on the actions of a single person and don’t look deeper to the heart. We see with blind eyes. Perhaps not physically blind; but spiritually blind. We are called to love not to judge. It is not our job to change another person; just to love them and usher them into the presence of Jesus. HE is the change that we all desperately need.
P: Father God thank you for the woman with the alabaster flask. Thank you that she stayed true to what you had for her to do and didn’t worry about what other people might think. Change my heart Lord. Let me love everyone in my path today….as you would love them. Let my walk with you be my alabaster flask and its fragrance pleasing to you. Amen.
S: Matthew 26:7 – a woman came to him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrance and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.
O: The woman was anointing Jesus for burial. The disciples criticized her saying she could have sold the oil and given the money to the poor.
A: The disciples were acting under the influence of the world. They thought they saw waste and extravagance in the woman with the oil. Jesus recognized that she was preparing his body for burial. Jesus recognized her sacrificial act. How many times when we look at what “other people” are doing do we look with eyes of the world and miss what is truly going on. Why? Because we focus on the actions of a single person and don’t look deeper to the heart. We see with blind eyes. Perhaps not physically blind; but spiritually blind. We are called to love not to judge. It is not our job to change another person; just to love them and usher them into the presence of Jesus. HE is the change that we all desperately need.
P: Father God thank you for the woman with the alabaster flask. Thank you that she stayed true to what you had for her to do and didn’t worry about what other people might think. Change my heart Lord. Let me love everyone in my path today….as you would love them. Let my walk with you be my alabaster flask and its fragrance pleasing to you. Amen.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
“No One Knows the Day or Hour”
Saturday, 11-26, 2011 – Matthew 23, 25
S=Scripture; O=Observation; A=Application; P=Prayer
“No One Knows the Day or Hour”
S – Matthew 24:42 “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”
O – Jesus is responding to the disciples question, “Tell us, when will these things be?”
A – I love surprises, but I don’t like to be surprised. Now, that may sound contradictory, but there are surprises that you can expect, and then there are the unexpected surprises. Jesus spoke in parables and this seems to be turning out to be one right here! Someday we can expect our Lord and Savior to return. He has promised it! Men have tried to predict it and have failed in their attempts. If the Father didn’t make His son aware of the day or hour why would any man even attempt to predict the return of our Lord and Savior. Jesus gave us indicators and by the looks of things around us it could be soon. For those of us who are waiting for His return hopefully we will be in that watchful place of, “I knew you were coming Lord and it’s such a pleasant surprise! And not Lord, you surprised me I didn’t think you were coming so soon. That’s just it, we don’t know when He will return for His children. We see signs all around us. Hopefully we won’t be taken by “surprise” unawares, but be taken up to meet Him in the air. SURPRISE!
P- Father only You know the day, the time and the hour, of Your Son’s return. May we all be in a place of readiness, a place of watching, a place of waiting….in You. May we not be taken unawares, but be taken up at your return to join in the “surprise” that you have prepared for us.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
ARISE
Matthew 17-9
S: Matthew 17:7 “But Jesus came and touched them and said, ‘Arise, and do not be afraid.’”
O: The three disciples with Jesus on the mountain became terrified when they heard God’s voice speaking. They had just seen Jesus transfigured, along with the appearance of Moses and Elijah. This was just a bit too much for them. Jesus’ simple touch and calm voice gently commanded them to rise up and have no fear.
A: What a great verse to keep in one’s heart. When the terrors of daily life strike, we can simply repeat the words of Jesus to arise and have no fear, don’t be afraid. Jesus is reminding us that we can really do that which strikes fear in our hearts. I’ve learned over the years those matters that I didn’t think I’d ever be able to face or get though that simply by arising and putting one foot in front of the other, I did it – I survived. I will admit I was afraid and plain angry that I had to go through those trials, but I am here to say that a little voice in my heart kept me going. I cannot take credit because I wanted to crumple up and hibernate until it was over. How much stronger are we when we arise, listen to Jesus and while we may really be afraid, we do it anyway, because He tells us to have no fear? I’m still here along with many others simply because we heard that gentle voice.
P: Dear Jesus, where I am hesitant, afraid, unwilling, defiant, please allow me to hear You whisper to me “do not be afraid” and to rise to the challenge. If I focus on You and not the fear, I may amaze myself with what I can do instead of turning tail and running. I am thankful!
S: Matthew 17:7 “But Jesus came and touched them and said, ‘Arise, and do not be afraid.’”
O: The three disciples with Jesus on the mountain became terrified when they heard God’s voice speaking. They had just seen Jesus transfigured, along with the appearance of Moses and Elijah. This was just a bit too much for them. Jesus’ simple touch and calm voice gently commanded them to rise up and have no fear.
A: What a great verse to keep in one’s heart. When the terrors of daily life strike, we can simply repeat the words of Jesus to arise and have no fear, don’t be afraid. Jesus is reminding us that we can really do that which strikes fear in our hearts. I’ve learned over the years those matters that I didn’t think I’d ever be able to face or get though that simply by arising and putting one foot in front of the other, I did it – I survived. I will admit I was afraid and plain angry that I had to go through those trials, but I am here to say that a little voice in my heart kept me going. I cannot take credit because I wanted to crumple up and hibernate until it was over. How much stronger are we when we arise, listen to Jesus and while we may really be afraid, we do it anyway, because He tells us to have no fear? I’m still here along with many others simply because we heard that gentle voice.
P: Dear Jesus, where I am hesitant, afraid, unwilling, defiant, please allow me to hear You whisper to me “do not be afraid” and to rise to the challenge. If I focus on You and not the fear, I may amaze myself with what I can do instead of turning tail and running. I am thankful!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
WALKING ON WATER
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 - Matthew 14-16
S - Matthew 14:29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
O - When Peter was focusing on Jesus, he was able to walk on water, just like Jesus did.
A - When we focus on Jesus we can do things that seem impossible. When we read the next verse, we find that when Peter turned his attention to the storm, he started to sink. When we look at the dire circumstances around us, that's when we "sink." Jesus wants us to have faith and focus on Him. When we do that the impossible becomes possible.
P - Lord, help me to always see You in the storm. I don't ever want to focus more on my circumstances than on You. Tell me to walk on water, Jesus.
If You Say Go
S - Matthew 14:29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
O - When Peter was focusing on Jesus, he was able to walk on water, just like Jesus did.
A - When we focus on Jesus we can do things that seem impossible. When we read the next verse, we find that when Peter turned his attention to the storm, he started to sink. When we look at the dire circumstances around us, that's when we "sink." Jesus wants us to have faith and focus on Him. When we do that the impossible becomes possible.
P - Lord, help me to always see You in the storm. I don't ever want to focus more on my circumstances than on You. Tell me to walk on water, Jesus.
If You Say Go
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