Holy Bloggers Weekly Bible Study: 2008

Week #52 God-Pleasing Generosity

This is a post written by Charles Stanley on his website www.InTouch.org. I hope everyone enjoys it and is moved by it the way I was.

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God-Pleasing Generosity

Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well. But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.

2 Corinthians 8:1-7

Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church praises the Macedonian believers at Philippi for their generosity. Despite deep poverty and great troubles, they desired to bless others materially. From their example, we know God is pleased when we give . . . 1. According to divine revelation. The Lord has revealed in Scripture how we are to live. He wants us to base our decisions on biblical principles rather than on our own thinking. Looking solely at a paycheck or bank balance before determining the size of a donation is relying on “self,” not trusting God.

2. Out of our need. The Macedonians were poor, but they didn’t let that keep them from contributing. They gave out of the little they had. The widow who gave her last two copper coins was praised for her offering to the Lord (Mark 12:42-44). We don’t need to have extra money in order to give.

3. To those who spiritually nourish us. The Bible tells us to bring our gifts to the local church, where it can be used to further God’s work. The apostle Paul and others were able to evangelize because of the support provided by the church in Jerusalem. Recognizing that they owed those believers a debt, the Macedonian Christians desired to give something back.

Human reasoning tells us that we cannot part with our funds when debt seems too large or income too small. But the Scriptures tell us to trust the Lord to provide for our needs (Phil. 4:19)—and to give generously. Are you living according to these principles?

Week #51 Fan v. Follower

Thank you to Jon for the opportunity to post... I hope it is an organized train of thought!
In a service at Seacost, that seems to have taken place eons ago, Greg Surratt, the head pastor mentioned to the congregation that he does not want to be a fan of Christ but a follower of Christ. He didn't belabor the point, but that statement has remained with me and began to create an abcess in my soul... thank you Holy Spirit. I am so thankful for my relationship with Christ, but the manner in which I portray/exhibit the relationship to others bothers me. I am afraid many times I could simply be called a fan of Jesus. I love his teaching, I like his style, I openly claim to have a relationship with Him. Yet, I often lack the conviction, the urgency, the intensity and the absolute morality Jesus demanded of his followers.
One strategy that has been helpful in allowing me to take on a "follower" approach, while shedding the "fan" face has been taking captive my thoughts. It is amazing how our thoughts affect our daily lives and habits. I'll refer you to Phillipians 4:8. I recite the Message here mainly because its enhances my personal understanding of what Jesus needs me to focus on to be a productive follower.
"Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies." It is a moment by moment battle but I know the reward of being a Christ follower makes being a Christ fan seem like a major waste of time.
And in the spirit of the season... Luke 2:14 is my "thought" goal.. "Glory to God in the Highest"

By: Catie Cornett

Week #50 Happy Thanksgiving

Psalm 100
A psalm. For giving thanks.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
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This Thanksgiving don't forget to thank the Lord for the many blessings he has provided you. Family, friends, health, wealth, green lights, great food, the list goes on and on. Enjoy this Thanksgiving Holiday and look for a new Bible study coming next Wednesday!

Week #49 Waiting on God

20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.

21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.

22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 33: 20-22

Because our God is an all-knowing, wise, and loving heavenly Father, we’ll always benefit when we follow His schedule. However, waiting on Him can feel difficult.

Throughout the Bible, we read of people who experienced delays before God acted on what He had promised. In the following examples, notice how patience and obedience led to blessing:

1. Noah was told to build an ark because a flood was coming. When the rain did not arrive, his neighbors must have thought him a fool. Yet Noah trusted God and continued to work (Gen. 6:12-22).

2. After reluctantly agreeing to approach Pharaoh about releasing the Jewish slaves, Moses learned it would take a number of warnings before God’s plan would be fulfilled (Ex. 7:1-7).

3. Jesus’ disciples were told to wait in Jerusalem until they received the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4).

When I was a young boy, I learned the importance of patience. After having me plant some seeds in her garden, my mother explained what would happen. First, green sprouts would appear, and then the plants would develop. I kept a close watch on that area, but nothing seemed to be happening. One day I decided to dig up those seeds to see if there was any progress. I found no plants at all. My impatience did not produce any fruit.

The Lord has a plan for each of us, and the timing of every detail is always right. Are you living according to His schedule?

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Week #47 Do What I Say

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
"Honor your father and mother" - which is the first
commandment with a promise - "that it may go well with you
and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." Fathers, do
not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the
training and instruction of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:1-4

This one pokes fun at us young folk...and a lot of older folks too. We are told to honor our father and mother. Why? So that we may enjoy long life on the earth. Is it that simple? Pretty much. The Bible is clear that we are to respect our elders and those placed in authority over us. This holds especially true for our relationships with our parents.

Our main job as children is to obey our parents. Our parent's main job should be to teach us about God, show us how important having a personal relationship with God truly is, and set an example for how a godly person should act and carry themselves on a daily basis both inside and outside of the home. (Obviously parents have other jobs and responsibilities, but for the sake of this post, these are the ones I am focusing on...yer dig?)

This doesn't always happen. Many parents don't have a personal relationship with the Lord and therefore they do not know how to relay the importance of having a relationship with God to their children. In this case, we have to hope and pray that a Christian friend, church member, or family member will step in and plant the seed in the family's life. In cases like these, the child that learns about God can be a major influence on the parent's life by displaying the Christian lifestyle to his or her parents. I feel like I have branched off into another topic here (oops).

Anyway...we are supposed to obey our parents. By obeying our parents, we are obeying God. God is pleased when we obey His commands. He wants to bless us and He wants us to enjoy our lives. God teaches us what to do and what not to do, allowing us to enjoy true freedom. By obeying God, we are able to avoid sin and the misery sin brings into our lives and we can look forward to the blessings God wants to pour over all of us!

Week #44 The Real Deal

Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me -- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father -- and I lay down my life for the sheep."

John 10:7-15

Jesus says it all in these verses. He cares for us, He laid down His life for us, He protects us, and He knows us and we can know Him. I say we "can" know Him because that is a decision that each one of us has to make personally. Jesus wants a personal relationship with everybody...but not everybody wants a personal relationship with Him (but that is another blog topic I will get into at another time).

In these verses, Jesus puts His love for us into a simple illustration of a shepherd with his sheep. Jesus is to us, what a shepherd is to his flock of sheep. Sheep under the watchful eye of a good shepherd can trust that they will be safe from harm and trust that the shepherd wouldn't do anything to lead the sheep astray. If they do find themselves in trouble, they know that their shepherd is going to protect them and help them through whatever troubles they come across. A good shepherd realizes that he owns those sheep and that if he doesn't take care of them...no one will. Well, the wolf would, but he wouldn't be a good stepshepherd.

Without a shepherd, sheep are vulnerable. Sheep are curious and oftentimes hard-headed. They constantly need guidance and correction. People are the same way. That is why Jesus' example of the "Good Shepherd" is so awesome! Simple, true, and to the point.

What do you think?

Week #41 All Shook Up

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your
holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is
righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no
slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and
casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but
honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when
it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not
accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these
things will never be shaken.

Psalms 15:1-5

We are all faced with challenges. Some challenges come in the form of "big trouble" while other challenges are "small potatoes." How we respond to these daily challenges speaks volumes about our commitment to God and our maturity as one of His followers.

In the verses above, we are given clear answers on how we are to live our lives so that we will "never be shaken." Doing what is righteous, keeping your promises even when it hurts, lending money without usury, and being nice to your neighbors...sounds simple enough right? Then why do we have so much trouble doing (or not doing) the things listed in these verses? Best answer: we are weak. Psalm 37:5 says that if you commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will help you.

God is on our side. He wants us to live lives pleasing to Him. He wants to help us live that kind of life. If we give ourselves to Him and trust Him, He will help us. Every day is a challenge...we have to decide if we are going to follow Christ and trust Him with the things we are faced with or are we going to take on the world on our own. With God on our side, we have no reason to ever be shaken. If we are walking in His light, doing the things that are pleasing to Him, we won't be shaken. The question is...do we trust Him? Are we willing to do what He has asked us to do?

Week #40 Christianity

Carl Hallberg stated that "The largest denomination in Western civilization is cultural Christianity. As followers of Christ, we are considered Christians. Over the years we have taken Christianity and stretched it to mean a variety of things. You have a group of "christians" over here that live and believe this way, then you have a group over there that lives and believes another way.

The term "cultural Christianity" is being used to describe how so called Christians today have taken the true meaning of being a follower of Christ and turned it into something insignificant and laughable by the outside world. Not sure if that sentence makes any sense, but hopefully this quote from the book The Man in the Mirror by Patrick Morley will help clear up what I'm trying to say:

Cultural Christianity means to pursue the God we want instead of the God who is. It is the tendency to be shallow in our understanding of God, wanting Him to be more of a gentle grandfather type who spoils us and lets us have our own way. It is sensing a need for God, but on our own terms. It is wanted the God we have underlined in our Bibles without wanting the rest of Him, too. It is God relative instead of God absolute.

I'm sure we are all guilty of living this way at times, if not always. We need to realize that God is the God we read about in Scripture. He is all knowing, always present, loving...the list goes on and on. The problem is that we only want the God that blesses us and makes everything go our way. We don't want the God that will discipline us or the one that will make us answer for the bad things we have done in our lives. We can't pick and choose to pursue only the things about God that make us happy or benefit us. We have to pursue the God who is, the One described throughout Scripture, not just certain verses that make us feel good.

Are you guilty of being a cultural Christian?

Week #39 September 11, 2001

Email "chain letter" with a powerful message.

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I
held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the
peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it
is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed
breakfast to their children. I held her up as she
tried to understand his words and as she realized
he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been
knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.
'Of course I will show you the way home - only
believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to h is Flock in Heaven. He
hea rd my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their
faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan ...
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me
for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take
my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You
may not know why, but I do. However, if you were
there in that explosive moment in time, would y o u have
reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey
for you. But someday your journey will end. And I
will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may
be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

-God

Let's remember those who lost their lives 7 years ago and their friends and families. Pray for our country, those fighting for our country, and those leading our country.

Week #38 Maintaining a Quiet Spirit

InTouch Magazine March 2008 Issue: Thursday March 6, 2008 Devotional.

READ: Proverbs 26:4; James 1:19; Luke 12:12; Romans 8:28

"When conflict arises, we oftentimes want to rush in and defend our position. Perhaps we even feel justified in blaming others. However, James 1:19 gives different advice for dealing with tension and disputes: 'Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.' In other words, more can be accomplished through a calm approach to the situation. Scripture also suggests that we:

Pray. First, we should ask the Lord to guard our mouth and give us the right words to say (Luke 12:12). Also, we ought to request discernment concerning the root issue and insight as to whether we might be at fault.

See with divine perspective. Our sovereign Lord works every situation for the believer's benefit (Romans 8:28). Not only does God use difficulties to teach us, but He also allows us to demonstrate the life of Christ by the way we respond.

Forgive. Even if someone has hurt us by causing the conflict, we should forgive. Jesus died to pardon all of our sin, and we, in turn, should forgive others. In fact, if we don't, our lives will become burdened by resentment and broken relationships.

Respond. If we have done something wrong, we should apologize and ask forgiveness. Otherwise, we can express appreciation that the other person took time to share his concern. Also, we should affirm that we will carefully consider his comments."

So...how do you respond to conflict in your life?

Week #36 The Dark Knight: more than a movie?

This post was done by Greg Swinton. I think he did a very nice job relating a movie we have probably all seen or want to see to our "religious" themes. Whether you like the movie or not, he makes some great points and did a nice job relating scripture to the events in the movie.
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The Dark Knight is probably one of the best films to be released in quite some time ( Make it a point to see it if you have not already). High profile actors, a compelling storyline, and great special effects all combine to create a great movie, however if you examine the feature a little more in depth you will be able to see how the film is able to illustrate a reflection between the life of Batman and the life of a Christian; here are the similarities I noticed. (WARNING: Spoilers ahead if you have not seen the movie).

A. He kept himself prepared.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.....In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."(Ephesians 6: 10-11, 16-18)

Throughout the film Batman is constantly looking for new ways to fight crime more efficiently. From better weapons to better body armor, he was always trying to prepare himself to do his job better. We as Christians should take on that same attitude when it comes to our Spiritual Walk.

B. He was tested for following his beliefs.

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name."(1 Peter 4:12-16)

There was a point in the film where everyone in Gotham city wanted Batman to give up his identity and give in to the Joker's demands, knowing it was the wrong thing to do. Batman had to deal with the fact that the Joker was going to kill people if he didn't, but again, he knew that giving in to that was not the right choice.

No one said following God was easy or comfortable, and you have to be prepared to make the right choices, even when is it is not necessarily convenient for you or anyone else.

C. He had a good support system.

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."(Galatians 6:2)

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."(Proverbs 27:17)

Throughout the movie, Batman had some people could depend on to help him in his endeavors. He had Lucious for equipment and his butler, Alfred, for overall correction and encouragement. There was a point in the movie where Batman was completely at a lost and did not quite know what to do and here is the response he got:

Batman/Bruce Wayne: People are dying, Alfred. What would you have me do?

Alfred: Endure, Master Wayne. Take it. They'll hate you for it. But thats the point of Batman, he can be the outcast. He can make the choice that no one else can make, the right choice.

That dialogue illustrates two important points: 1) Its always good to have a good circle of people around you to help you when you feel like you cannot bear the load by yourself. Make sure you try to keep yourself surrounded with the right people, so they can give you the right advice
when you need it. 2) The other important point of that dialogue is that it echoes what I covered earlier; the choices made to follow God are not always the easiest to make.

D. He acted on faith

"We live by faith, not by sight."(2 Corinthians 5:7)

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."(Hebrews 11:1)

The final confrontation Batman had with Joker involved him trying to save people in a building as well as 2 ships filled with people. The two ships were armed with detonators to blow up the opposite ship. The people on board were going to be blown up in an hour if they did not chose to blow up the other ship. Batman was only able to attempt to save the people in the building, but was confident in the fact that the people would not destroy one another, even without his assistance. The faith he had in the people trapped on the boats is the faith we should have in God. He acted knowing he couldn't save those trapped on the boats, and still went on without any visible assurance that everything was going to turn out ok. And in the end after all that he endured throughout that film his actions, beliefs, and faith in the people were validated when neither ship decided to destroy the other knowing the consequences.

"And the God of all grace,who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." (1 Peter 5: 10)
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How do you all feel? Can Batman's life be related to the life of a Christian?

Week #31 Satan

He goes by many names...Satan, the Devil, El Diablo...and he is very real! There is a such thing as spiritual warfare, and believe it or not, there are such things as angels and demons. But this week I want to look into who the devil is and why he is where he is.

Satan and his demons are fighting for souls. Your soul, my soul, and your friend's souls. He is a fallen angel who was booted out of heaven because he rebelled against God. All of the angels that were loyal to satan were also thrown out of heaven...they're what we call demons. Satan wants to defeat God and rule the world. There is one major reason satan hasn't accomplished his goals. That reason is God. God is more powerful than satan. We see in Job 1 and Job 2 that satan has to get permission from God before he acts.

Don't misunderstand what I am saying here...satan is very powerful and has the ability to do a lot of things that could really mess up your life. I just want you to know that when it is all said and done, God and His people will be victorious, not satan (Revelation 20:10). God allows satan to wield a lot of power over the earth for now, because God does not force people to love Him. We have to choose between God and satan. Until we make that decision, satan will do everything in his power to keep us from following God. Once we have chosen to follow God, the battle doesn't end. Instead, satan's new plan is to destroy our walks with God and ruin our testimony. But...with God's great power we can defeat satan.

We have to be aware of the battle going on for our souls. I hope we all have a better understanding of who satan is, and what his goals are. I put different verses up on the right side of the page ---> about satan. Next week we will talk about spiritual warfare and the different ways satan preys on and attacks the world and especially God's children.

Week #30 What is True Success?

We all want good things. We want to have decent cars, nice clothes, a high paying job, a nice house, and our own personal chef. These are things I think we can all agree on. But does having these things mean our lives are successful? How does God view true success?

It is natural to want to be successful. Nobody wants to be a failure (I used to, but not anymore). When thinking about success, it is important for us to be sure that we have God's perspective on success. I doubt very many of us view success the same way God does. True success is not how much money we may make, how famous we may become, or how much we may accomplish over a lifetime. True success is obeying God and His commands. If we are obedient to God, we will accomplish all that He wants us to accomplish, and that is enough.

In Jeremiah 45:2-5, God tells Baruch not to seek out great things for himself, but to simply do what the Lord told him and the Lord would take care of him. If we are obedient to God, He will take care of us and we will be successful wherever He leads us. We may not be successful as the world would define success, but we will be successful in God's eyes...which is what truly matters. We endure our greatest successes when we allow God to carry out His plans through us.

God created each one of us for a purpose. We are all blessed with certain skills and talents. He wants us to make use of the skills and opportunities He provides us with. If we listen and obey God, we will be successful.

Week #29 Working for God

How can I have a better attitude at work? Does God care how I do my job?

READ: Ephesians 6:5-6

Every service we provide, even our professional tasks are to be considered work done directly for the Lord. In these verses in Ephesians, Paul used the terms "slaves and masters"--today's equivalent would be employees and bosses--to describe how we as Christians should labor.

The way we go about our work gives us an opportunity to show others what we think about God. If we produce excellent work, do it with a positive attitude, and show that we care about other people, we are able to model God's character and become a witness for Him. By doing our work well, we please God and it makes more of an impact on others than we realize.

Whatever job you may have right now was given to you by God. He put you in your job, not only to meet your financial needs, but also so that you might be a witness for Him by how you act and how hard you work. God is constantly preparing us for something more in the future, but He wants to see how we handle what He gives us now. Our jobs count as an opportunity for us from God. He has placed you where you are right now. Make the best of it. Be happy, work hard, praise and obey God.

"Everything we do that touches other lives either glorifies the Lord or diminishes His name in front of a watching world."

-Charles Stanley

Week #25 Story in an Email

THE BRICK

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared . Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown.

The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, 'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?' The young boy was apologetic. 'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the brick because no one else would stop...' With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother' he said. 'He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.'

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.'

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home.

It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!'

God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.

Thought for the Day:

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.

If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.

He sends you flowers every spring.

He sends you a sunrise every morning Face it, friend - He is crazy about you!

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

Week #24 Scaredy Cat

What's wrong with being afraid?

READ: Mark 5:22-23, 35-36; Mark 6:49-50

Jesus tells us not to be afraid. Jesus knows that fear paralyzes us and keeps us from doing things that God wants us to do. Everything God has called us to do is not going to be easy. Some things require us to have courage and to trust God to take care of us.

Fear convinces us that we will fail, that we will let other people down, and that God will not help us when we need him to. Fear causes us not to think straight. We become overwhelmed with what other people are thinking and all the bad things that could possibly happen. We should not be concerned with these things.

We do not have to worry about what other people think of us, we only need to be concerned with what God thinks of us. God is in complete control of our lives. Nothing will happen to us that He doesn't already know about and He will not put anything on our plates that we are not able to handle with His help. When we become afraid, we should immediately turn our focus to God. Whether we fear having talk to a group of people, fear not being able to find a job, or fear not being able to pay a bill on time, we can focus on the image of God fighting by our side and our fear will fade.

Do not be afraid; for I am with you.

Isaiah 43:5a

Week #21 Be Passionate About Your Christian Life!

Is it okay to celebrate the Christian life and be enthusiastic about my faith? I always thought my faith was all so serious.

READ: Philippians 3:7-12; Psalm 103:2; Isaiah 49:13

The word passion means to have an intense desire towards something or someone. This can apply to many areas of our lives, but it should apply especially to our spiritual life. Sadly, this isn't always the case. We are passionate about our jobs, money, sports, and our possessions. But what about God? Where does He rank on our list of things we are passionate about? Is He even on the list?

As believers, we should passionately seek to know God. In order to be passionate about someone, you have to get to know them. Today, many Christians "know" Christ in a superficial way. We know that He is the world's Savior, that He was the virgin-born Son of God, and that He died on the cross (accepting death in our place) and rose after three days to sit at the right hand of God. Those are the facts that we all know (even non-Christians "know" these things), but just knowing these will not bring lasting satisfaction. We want to know Who is this Jesus that willingly died and why did He give His life? To find these answers we have to seek an intimate relationship with Christ and gain a true knowledge of Christ.

The Lord wants us to be passionate about our relationship with Him. In order for our relationships with Him to grow, we have to read our Bibles, pray with Him, and walk in His light. Jesus wants us to serve Him enthusiastically, joyfully, and with a great sense of delight. We should celebrate because God has given us the biggest reason to celebrate...He has rescued us from the consequences of sin and He promises us the wonders of eternity!

Celebrate and enjoy every moment of life! Be passionate about the gift God has given you, the many blessings He provides each and every day, and the chance He has given each of us to have an intimate relationship with Him! Our passion and enthusiasm will be infectious!

Week #18 Why Easter Matters

READ: Matthew 27:58-28:20

I found this in a magazine. It was written by Charles Stanley. I figured it would be a good topic since Easter is this coming Sunday, and many people don't know the real significance of Easter. Hopefully this will shed some light...

Jesus told His disciples He was the Messiah. He told them all authority had been given to him by the Father, and no one would be able to take His life from Him--He could call down legions of angels if need be.

He said these things, and then He hung from a cross between two thieves. He bled and died, but no angels came to save Him. Roman soldiers shamed and crucified Him. Where was the Jesus who had made such a lofty promise? For the disciples, Good Friday must have seemed like the end of the world--everything they had put their faith in appeared to have fallen apart. The One in whom they had placed their trust was dead.

More often then not, God's ways are so different from ours that we fail to see His hand working in difficult circumstances. Easter is a good time to reflect on the paradox of life given to us through death. The Scriptures do not promise us lives without pain and suffering; they guarantee only that Jesus will walk with us through our trials. And that we will find Him on the other side of adversity.

Three days after all hope had died, an angel cried out, "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said" (Matthew 28:6). Slowly, the majesty of His perfect plan began to unfold. The Christ in whom the disciples had believed was indeed the Savior. And He had risen from the dead.

This statement--that Christ had risen--was the most powerful message the disciples had ever heard. The very words transformed them.

And it is still the most powerful message more than 2,000 years later. We can experience all the soothing feelings that accompany forgiveness and the gratefulness of a gift received, and we should. But knowing with certainty that Jesus has risen changes a person from the inside out. To believe in your heart and to know confidently that the Son of God died, conquered death, and rose from the grave--that's the acid test of a true believer.

If you've never truly committed your life to Christ, consider what He did at Calvary and how the transforming power of that act could change your life today.
He did it for you!

InTouch Magazine, A Word from Charles Stanley

Jesus showed His power over death when He rose from the dead with a new body. This same power defeats Satan and guarantees that if we believe in Jesus and know Him as our Lord and Savior we, too, will be resurrected one day with a new body and live forever in heaven. For Christians, the Resurrection is everything!

If Christ had not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.

1 Corinthians 15:17

Week #15 Goodness

How can I be good?

READ: Romans 14:17; 1 Timothy 5:10; 1 Peter 2:9

Goodness is not just being talented at something, as in "she is good at painting." Goodness is a composite of many qualities, such as being kind, helpful, loving, pleasant, generous, and gentle. These qualities exhibit our likeness to God. When Christ takes control of your heart, you begin doing good deeds that, when practiced over a lifetime, will be defined as goodness.

When you're growing in goodness day by day and year by year, you're building a reservoir that can become a fountain of goodness flowing out from you to others, showing them what God is like.
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I know I need to be kind, but it's really hard with some people. How can I be kind even to unkind people?

READ: Colossians 1:10; Matthew 7:12; Philemon 1:7; Proverbs 11:17

Kindness is not a single act, but a lifestyle. You practice kindness in all you do and say, always treating others as you would want to be treated. Kindness does not mean always giving in or giving up and letting others have their way. Even when confronting others over a tough issue, you can do it in a kind way without being rude or derogatory. When you do these things, you can have a great impact on others for Christ and His Kingdom.

The One Year Mini for Students

Week #14 Trustworthy...

What makes God trustworthy?
READ: Deuteronomy 1:35-36; Joshua 14:13-14; Hebrews 6:18; Psalm 89:34-35; Titus 1:2

God is trustworthy because He keeps His promises. Caleb trusted in God even when the rest of the Israelites rebelled. Caleb went through the hardships along with the nation, but while others were dying off, he was kept alive. When the nation finally entered the land, Caleb received his reward...and he was still strong enough to fight for it! Like Caleb, we should trust God to keep His promises. The Bible is full of promises that we can relate directly to our lives today.

Have you ever wondered if there is anything that God cannot do? Well, actually there is something God can't do. He cannot lie. God is truth, and He is the source of all truth. His promises are completely dependable and trustworthy because God cannot go back on His word.

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 9:10

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How can I avoid trusting the wrong people or the wrong things?
READ: Jeremiah 17:5-8; Proverbs 25:19; Psalm 118:8-9; Isaiah 12:2; Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 125:1

Trust is a tricky thing. Knowing whom you can trust is not always clear. This is especially true when you look around and see so many people in high positions who abuse their power and hurt those who depend on them. What can you do? Start by observing the character and actions of people around you. Notice who is consistently truthful and reliable. Who treats others as they would like to be treated? Keep in mind that even the most godly person you know will make mistakes and sometimes let you down. So, you shouldn't look for people to give you what only God can provide. Only God is completely trustworthy.

Pulled from: The One Year Mini For Students (Devotional)

Week #10 Praise & Worship

"Worship is not a place, it is a lifestyle."

READ: 1 Chronicles 29:10-12; Psalm 150; Matthew 4:10

We were all created for worship, which is recognizing who God is and responding to Him in love and by honoring Him. We are taught through the Bible that God alone is worthy of our worship. This can be done at any time and in any place. Worship can take on many different forms...singing, meditating, praying, listening intently to sermons, giving, or serving. When we do these types of things and are focused on God and our love for Him, we are worshiping.

Why is it important for us to worship God?
Think about how thousands of people scream and throw themselves at the stage where their music idols are performing. If not a music idol, maybe a favorite sports idol. Human beings are created to worship, to give ultimate value to someone greater than themselves, and then to revere, adore, and obey by ordering the priorities of their lives around the one that they worship.

The Bible teaches that only God-the creator of all things and all people-is worthy of our worship. Worship will, more than anything, help connect us with God, who is the source of our hope and our future. We should not be embarrassed or or fearful about worshiping and praising God. The Lord is worthy of praise. He is our Friend, our Rock, and our Protector. He saved us from Death! We cannot let ourselves get caught up in the opinions of others. We have to remember that He is the only audience that matters.

God loves variety. We can kneel, stand, or even dance when worshiping God (Psalm 95:1.6; 2 Samuel 6:14). There are many different ways in which we can express our worship, none are wrong as long as our focus is on God, and our attitudes are loving and respectful. We should all give God His due and glorify Him.

Week #8 Tithing Your Time

Many of us say things like: My school/work activities leave me no time for church stuff. Is it okay to be more dedicated right now to my school/work activities than to church?

We should ask questions like: How can I use my time wisely to please God?

It is so easy for us to waste time. Days and nights go by and we sit around not doing anything to further our personal relationship with God. And since we aren't doing anything to further our own relationship with God, we don't do anything to help bring other individuals closer to God either. In a book I was reading for this topic they had a suggestion for using your time more wisely that I think is a pretty good idea...

You've heard people tell you to tithe your money (by giving one-tenth of your money to God). Try tithing your time by giving one-tenth of your time to God each day. If you're awake sixteen hours in a day, that's about an hour and a half. Use that time (you can break it up) reading your Bible, praying, volunteering at church, a soup kitchen, or some other service. Give 10 percent of your time to God, and you will discover that the rest of your time is more wisely spent as well.

I think this is a good way to make sure we are spending time daily with our Heavenly Father. This suggestion doesn't have to be followed exactly, but we should set aside time each day that we spend with God. This will help build our knowledge of God and help us grow closer with God. Although school, work, and other interests like sports are important, we need to set our priorities so that we can attend church and help our relationship with God grow. As believers, we are a part of God's family. It is important for us to meet with God on our own time and meet with other believers in order to stay connected to God's family, which is essential for growing in our faith, being accountable for our actions, and giving and receiving encouragement to stay loyal to God.

We should realize that without God, we are incapable of anything. We may be existing, but we are not truly living. We should discover God's will for our lives and we should walk in His guidance daily. We should take Paul's advice in Ephesians 5. Ask yourself, "What's my purpose?" Ask God for direction as you prepare how you will spend your time here on earth. You should remember that life is not about how long you live; it's about how you live. It is never too late to change your habits. We should place our trust in God and let Him take care of our time.

We should seek to grow in wisdom and let God have control in our lives. We should not shy away from meeting together, instead we should use our time together to encourage one another in our daily Christian walk. I think that the following verses do a great job describing how we should spend our time and the types of things we should do with our time:

Check out these verses:
Ephesians 5:15-18
Luke 6:38
Psalm 90:12
Hebrews 10:25
Colossians 4:5

Week #7 Resolutions

I know this is a day or two late, but I thought we could talk about New Year's resolutions and starting off 2008 the right way...God's Way. Everyone is making New Year's resolutions, but few people actually end up keeping them. Most people end up breaking their resolutions a few months after making them.

When thinking about your goals and resolutions for the new year, think about what life goals will bring you closer to God. The type of goals you set should help you develop a better relationship with God. This means focusing on God and on his direction for your life, not on seeking only pleasure or great things for yourself. The Bible says that Enoch had a great relationship with God for 365 years (Genesis 5:23-24)! Why not walk with God for the next 365 days?

Instead of making a long list of things you hope to do this year, try focusing on the one thing that really matters...a daily resolution to be more like Jesus. While on earth, Jesus loved, served, and gave glory to God. We should always be looking for ways to improve our relationship with God and help us to walk with God. If we decide to live this way, we will find that every day brings about a new adventure. For this year, decide to strive to be more like Jesus by loving and serving God and others, and by bringing glory to God in the way that you live.

Check out these versus:
Mark 10:45
1 Corinthians 14:1
2 Corinthians 5:9
James 4:4
Joshua 22:5