Lessons from the early church of Christ!
Acts 4:8-13
Peter and the apostles were unschooled ordinary men! Because the walked with Jesus they new scripture. I need to spend time in Gods word! Being close to Jesus through Gods word! People should view us the same way, in awe that we are unschooled ordinary men who fell in love with Gods word just by having a relationship Jesus!
The last time Peter was confronted by the religious authorities was two months earlier in the court yard where he denied Jesus three times. Peter grew spiritually through Gods word and his love for Jesus to become me a man who stood up to the religious authorities and held his conviction and in Gods word!
It doesn't take a long time to change and grow! I have to be committed to studying Gods word! What is my personal plan of growth in Gods word? Daily study is important!
Acts 4:23-31
Praying was essential for the early church. Their power came from prayer. I'm not praying enough! There is always a good time to pray and always good to pray about everything!
The early church was completely United! One of the biggest obstacles to Godly convictions is our own opinions! We need to stop trust in other things and rely solely on Gods word!!
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Life through Jesus
Ephesians 2:1-10
It's important that we never forget about the depths that God saved us from. We should never forget life we on we lived away from God and the sin that was rampant in our lives! By not forget we see Gods mercy. We are able to see how much grace has been given to us.
Paul did not describe us as sick or hurt. He describes us as dead! We were dead in our transgressions. Only through Christ have we been able to live and have a new life! How grateful should we be?
God sees me as a disciple. God sees me as blameless as Jesus! Praise God that I am not seen anymore for who I really am. Praise Jesus for his sacrifice and love for me. Praise Jesus for interceding for me and allowing me to have a relationship with God!
Romans 12:2; Galatians 4:6-7
No matter what is going on in my life God has given me hope through Jesus! I am no longer a slave to sin. I am no longer trapped in circumstance. I have been redeemed!
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It's important that we never forget about the depths that God saved us from. We should never forget life we on we lived away from God and the sin that was rampant in our lives! By not forget we see Gods mercy. We are able to see how much grace has been given to us.
Paul did not describe us as sick or hurt. He describes us as dead! We were dead in our transgressions. Only through Christ have we been able to live and have a new life! How grateful should we be?
God sees me as a disciple. God sees me as blameless as Jesus! Praise God that I am not seen anymore for who I really am. Praise Jesus for his sacrifice and love for me. Praise Jesus for interceding for me and allowing me to have a relationship with God!
Romans 12:2; Galatians 4:6-7
No matter what is going on in my life God has given me hope through Jesus! I am no longer a slave to sin. I am no longer trapped in circumstance. I have been redeemed!
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Discipleship
Discipleship
125 Billion spent last year on training and development but company's in the US. Corporate America see a huge benefit in training and personal development. Life coaches, conferences, classes, mentoring and consulting are many of the tools that were used. A lot of these things can be directly connected to discipleship.
As a church we need to put as much value in our spiritual development in the same way. As disciples of Jesus we are called to help each other in these ways. Counseling, coaching, teaching, mentoring and training each other through Gods word! If the business world values these things enough to spend 125 billion, how much more should we value discipleship.
People in the world are attending conferences and training sessions and spending countless dollars trying to better them selves in many different areas in their life! In Gods church we have these resources for free in our brothers and sisters.
God also places a huge value on discipleship, one another relationships and accountability. The fist step in valuing these things is having the heart that is willing to learn and willing to imitate! The challenge is to maintain this heart. If we are going to be learners we also have to be qualified counselors and teachers.
We need to have vision for each other. We need to help each other dream spiritual dreams and encourage each other. Sometimes someone else can dream for you in a way that you never would be able to dream for your self.
Jesus inspired and gave his disciples vision. He lead them and gave them confidence.
If we have hearts to learn and hearts to teach our lives will mirror the disciples in the early church. It starts with all of us saying I am willing to learn and I am prepared to teach.
125 Billion spent last year on training and development but company's in the US. Corporate America see a huge benefit in training and personal development. Life coaches, conferences, classes, mentoring and consulting are many of the tools that were used. A lot of these things can be directly connected to discipleship.
As a church we need to put as much value in our spiritual development in the same way. As disciples of Jesus we are called to help each other in these ways. Counseling, coaching, teaching, mentoring and training each other through Gods word! If the business world values these things enough to spend 125 billion, how much more should we value discipleship.
People in the world are attending conferences and training sessions and spending countless dollars trying to better them selves in many different areas in their life! In Gods church we have these resources for free in our brothers and sisters.
God also places a huge value on discipleship, one another relationships and accountability. The fist step in valuing these things is having the heart that is willing to learn and willing to imitate! The challenge is to maintain this heart. If we are going to be learners we also have to be qualified counselors and teachers.
We need to have vision for each other. We need to help each other dream spiritual dreams and encourage each other. Sometimes someone else can dream for you in a way that you never would be able to dream for your self.
Jesus inspired and gave his disciples vision. He lead them and gave them confidence.
If we have hearts to learn and hearts to teach our lives will mirror the disciples in the early church. It starts with all of us saying I am willing to learn and I am prepared to teach.
Believe
Do you believe in a God that can do anything? Is there anything that is too big for your God?
1 Samuel 22:1-2
David's "mighty men" were a group of guys who fully earned that title. Their courage and faith earned them this title. They were fiercely loyal to David and to God. Am I a mighty man for God?
The story did not start with the mighty men on top. They learned their courage and faith through many struggles and hard times! David pulled together a bunch of distressed, in debt, and discontented group of men!
2 Samuel 21:20-22
Not only did David face his own giant he also taught his mighty men to face their giants as well. Davids brother did not back down when this giant taunted Gods people. Am I facing the giants in my life? With God it is possible to defeat any giant that may oppose God and threaten my relationship with Him.
1 Samuel 22:1-2
David's "mighty men" were a group of guys who fully earned that title. Their courage and faith earned them this title. They were fiercely loyal to David and to God. Am I a mighty man for God?
The story did not start with the mighty men on top. They learned their courage and faith through many struggles and hard times! David pulled together a bunch of distressed, in debt, and discontented group of men!
2 Samuel 21:20-22
Not only did David face his own giant he also taught his mighty men to face their giants as well. Davids brother did not back down when this giant taunted Gods people. Am I facing the giants in my life? With God it is possible to defeat any giant that may oppose God and threaten my relationship with Him.
Living HIStory
Living HIStory
The land that Israel owned was everything to them. It was a physical thing that gave them an emotional connection to God. During the excile they lost that connection with God and lost the land that God had given them. The promise land meant everything to them and devastated the nation.
Generations of sin and generations of one evil king after another lead to God excelling Israel and removing them from their land. The kingdom is divided into the north and south. The start of Israel's down fall began with idolatry. When Israel returned they immediately rebuilt the temple of God. The rebuilding of the wall was really the final piece of coming back home and returning to God and to a relationship with him.
Nehemiah 8:18-19; 9:1-3
Israel was moved by Gods word and by confessing! Am I moved by Gods word? There is a power in Gods word that will impact my life by just reading it! There is a power in Gods word of reading scriptures to meet a specific need or to receive a specific instruction, but there is also a power in Gods word in just reading it with out an agenda. Bluntly reading Gods word has a power in it that we need in our relationship with God. Israel was reading Gods word in this way!
Israel understood at this point who they were before God. Do I understand who I am before God? Confessing sins help you realize who you really are before God. Worship recognizes how full God is and confessing recognizes how empty we are. Confession and worship go together.
Nehemiah 9:38
Israel made a decision before God. Having a relationship with God cause you to make a decision. You cannot be in a relationship with God and be on the fence. Like Israel we need a binding commitment to love and serve God. Romans 6:2 Paul explains that our binding commitment is to die to sin. If you want to change anything in your life you need to speak it out loud and right it down. You need to make a binding commitment with God and others!
What commitments should I make to God this week? What commitments should I make today? Say it out loud! Make it public! Allow your self to be held accountable!
Sent from my iPhone
The land that Israel owned was everything to them. It was a physical thing that gave them an emotional connection to God. During the excile they lost that connection with God and lost the land that God had given them. The promise land meant everything to them and devastated the nation.
Generations of sin and generations of one evil king after another lead to God excelling Israel and removing them from their land. The kingdom is divided into the north and south. The start of Israel's down fall began with idolatry. When Israel returned they immediately rebuilt the temple of God. The rebuilding of the wall was really the final piece of coming back home and returning to God and to a relationship with him.
Nehemiah 8:18-19; 9:1-3
Israel was moved by Gods word and by confessing! Am I moved by Gods word? There is a power in Gods word that will impact my life by just reading it! There is a power in Gods word of reading scriptures to meet a specific need or to receive a specific instruction, but there is also a power in Gods word in just reading it with out an agenda. Bluntly reading Gods word has a power in it that we need in our relationship with God. Israel was reading Gods word in this way!
Israel understood at this point who they were before God. Do I understand who I am before God? Confessing sins help you realize who you really are before God. Worship recognizes how full God is and confessing recognizes how empty we are. Confession and worship go together.
Nehemiah 9:38
Israel made a decision before God. Having a relationship with God cause you to make a decision. You cannot be in a relationship with God and be on the fence. Like Israel we need a binding commitment to love and serve God. Romans 6:2 Paul explains that our binding commitment is to die to sin. If you want to change anything in your life you need to speak it out loud and right it down. You need to make a binding commitment with God and others!
What commitments should I make to God this week? What commitments should I make today? Say it out loud! Make it public! Allow your self to be held accountable!
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Living HIStory
Living HIStory
400+ years of silence from God between the Old Testimate and the New Testimate. The New Testimate starts with John the Baptize just as the Old Testimate had prophesied!
Isaiah 40:3-5; Mathew 11:11
Even Jesus reiterated the significance and importance of John the Baptist in HIStory! What made John the Baptist so great? Out of all the prophets and people before John the Baptist he was the greatest? Abraham, Moses, David and his mighty men, Solomon...etc. John the Baptists was greater than all the other men that had come before him!
There is not much written in the gospel about John the Baptist. You would think that there would be more written about him. So what made John the Baptist so great?
Matthew 3:1-12
This is the lesson that John came to preach and this is what made him great. It was not the belt he wore or the diet he ate but the words that came off his lips. The message that God wanted to delivery to his people and break the silence for over 400 years!
John preached the message of repentance and baptism! This was what made him so great. He was the messenger that God chose to prepare the hearts of Gods people before Jesus!
How important is repentance? We can not be saved without repentance! True repentance! Not an apology and deceleration of change but rather an action of change!
After John the baptist, Jesus preached the same thing. "Repent for the kingdom of God is near" Repentance is the first message of the gospel. Without it we cannot have a relationship with God!
Luke 13:1-5
Everyone will perish without repentance! Repentance does not care who you are, what you have done, or how religious you are. We all must repent in the same way! What did Jesus say to the Pharisees? Whether you have only sinned once or a million times, you need to repent or you will perish.
Repentance must come first. Just like John the baptist came first and laid the ground work for the message of Jesus. We also need to put repentance first to lay the ground work for us to to do what God wants to call us to do.
Although repentance is important, we cannot be saved by repentance! We must have grace! Repentance does not save but it is the beginning. Grace cannot do its work without a start of repentance. Repentance is like a spark. A spark never kept anyone warm but without a spark there will never be a fire!
What role does repentance play in my life! Am I on fire for God? If I am not its not because there is not enough grace to keep me on fire it is because there was no spark of repentance to get the fire going. What role does repentance play in my personal life?
Where do I need to repent the most. What areas in my life do I need to repent the most? Am I looking for specific areas in my life where I am wrong? We should always be repenting of something! There should never be a time when we are not actively repenting of something!
1 Corinthians 15:10
With all the repentance in the world we are still not saved unless we have grace! What role does grace play in my life? We all need forgiveness but grace cannot be without effect. Repentance leads to grace and grace leads to more repentance. Grace cannot just be a feel good idea!
2 Corinthians 5:14; Titus 2:11-12
Grace also requires action and compels us to more repentance. When we try to change without grace we fail. When repentance and grace are brought together...then we are able to truly change and honor God with our lives!
Grace teaches us to say no and repent by teaching us to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives! Grace allows us to become a person that we never would have been possible to become. It allows us to become like Jesus!
So how do you receive grace from God? Acts 2:38!
Sent from my iPhone
400+ years of silence from God between the Old Testimate and the New Testimate. The New Testimate starts with John the Baptize just as the Old Testimate had prophesied!
Isaiah 40:3-5; Mathew 11:11
Even Jesus reiterated the significance and importance of John the Baptist in HIStory! What made John the Baptist so great? Out of all the prophets and people before John the Baptist he was the greatest? Abraham, Moses, David and his mighty men, Solomon...etc. John the Baptists was greater than all the other men that had come before him!
There is not much written in the gospel about John the Baptist. You would think that there would be more written about him. So what made John the Baptist so great?
Matthew 3:1-12
This is the lesson that John came to preach and this is what made him great. It was not the belt he wore or the diet he ate but the words that came off his lips. The message that God wanted to delivery to his people and break the silence for over 400 years!
John preached the message of repentance and baptism! This was what made him so great. He was the messenger that God chose to prepare the hearts of Gods people before Jesus!
How important is repentance? We can not be saved without repentance! True repentance! Not an apology and deceleration of change but rather an action of change!
After John the baptist, Jesus preached the same thing. "Repent for the kingdom of God is near" Repentance is the first message of the gospel. Without it we cannot have a relationship with God!
Luke 13:1-5
Everyone will perish without repentance! Repentance does not care who you are, what you have done, or how religious you are. We all must repent in the same way! What did Jesus say to the Pharisees? Whether you have only sinned once or a million times, you need to repent or you will perish.
Repentance must come first. Just like John the baptist came first and laid the ground work for the message of Jesus. We also need to put repentance first to lay the ground work for us to to do what God wants to call us to do.
Although repentance is important, we cannot be saved by repentance! We must have grace! Repentance does not save but it is the beginning. Grace cannot do its work without a start of repentance. Repentance is like a spark. A spark never kept anyone warm but without a spark there will never be a fire!
What role does repentance play in my life! Am I on fire for God? If I am not its not because there is not enough grace to keep me on fire it is because there was no spark of repentance to get the fire going. What role does repentance play in my personal life?
Where do I need to repent the most. What areas in my life do I need to repent the most? Am I looking for specific areas in my life where I am wrong? We should always be repenting of something! There should never be a time when we are not actively repenting of something!
1 Corinthians 15:10
With all the repentance in the world we are still not saved unless we have grace! What role does grace play in my life? We all need forgiveness but grace cannot be without effect. Repentance leads to grace and grace leads to more repentance. Grace cannot just be a feel good idea!
2 Corinthians 5:14; Titus 2:11-12
Grace also requires action and compels us to more repentance. When we try to change without grace we fail. When repentance and grace are brought together...then we are able to truly change and honor God with our lives!
Grace teaches us to say no and repent by teaching us to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives! Grace allows us to become a person that we never would have been possible to become. It allows us to become like Jesus!
So how do you receive grace from God? Acts 2:38!
Sent from my iPhone
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Exodus 3:4-6
Exodus 3:4-6
We need to find our strength and confidence from God! We cannot rely on our own strength! Some things we do we may do well and God has given us a talent in a certain area. The challenge is to always depend on God even when we think we can do it on our own!
At one time in Moses life he was rich, a man of authority, in many ways he was royalty. He was put in charge of many things in Egypt and now 40years later he finds himself in the desert with little to nothing. Moses is at a point in his life where he does not have the strength and confidence he once had.
God is forcing Moses to reply on him. The calling is not watered down or made easy. The standard and challenge for Moses is the same. God wants us to accept his calling by trusting in him and getting our strength from Him! It was no different for Moses.
Exodus 4:10-16
Even when Moses had no faith and no security in bing able to do anything that God was calling Him to do, God provided a way through Aaron! It angered God that Moses did not trust and believe in Him. It angers God when we do not accept Gods calling out of fear or insecurity. Romans 8:31 if God is for us who can be against us!!
Moses felt incapable in performing the task that God was calling him to do. God did not suggest and use Aaron to let Moses out of doing what he needed to do. He provided Aaron to help Moses accomplish what God wanted him to accomplish.
Moses felt incapable because he was relying his own strength and his own abilities! God loves to chose people like Moses to show His power in our lives!
God would not accept any of Moses excuses. Chapter 5 shows Aaron speaking to Pharaoh and by chapter 8 Moses was speaking to Pharaoh and honoring the calling that God has given him!
Galatians 2:20-21; 5:22-26
We can do all things through Christ because we are a new person in Christ. Through the cross we can live by the spirit and our lives will show the fruits of the spirit.
We need to find our strength and confidence from God! We cannot rely on our own strength! Some things we do we may do well and God has given us a talent in a certain area. The challenge is to always depend on God even when we think we can do it on our own!
At one time in Moses life he was rich, a man of authority, in many ways he was royalty. He was put in charge of many things in Egypt and now 40years later he finds himself in the desert with little to nothing. Moses is at a point in his life where he does not have the strength and confidence he once had.
God is forcing Moses to reply on him. The calling is not watered down or made easy. The standard and challenge for Moses is the same. God wants us to accept his calling by trusting in him and getting our strength from Him! It was no different for Moses.
Exodus 4:10-16
Even when Moses had no faith and no security in bing able to do anything that God was calling Him to do, God provided a way through Aaron! It angered God that Moses did not trust and believe in Him. It angers God when we do not accept Gods calling out of fear or insecurity. Romans 8:31 if God is for us who can be against us!!
Moses felt incapable in performing the task that God was calling him to do. God did not suggest and use Aaron to let Moses out of doing what he needed to do. He provided Aaron to help Moses accomplish what God wanted him to accomplish.
Moses felt incapable because he was relying his own strength and his own abilities! God loves to chose people like Moses to show His power in our lives!
God would not accept any of Moses excuses. Chapter 5 shows Aaron speaking to Pharaoh and by chapter 8 Moses was speaking to Pharaoh and honoring the calling that God has given him!
Galatians 2:20-21; 5:22-26
We can do all things through Christ because we are a new person in Christ. Through the cross we can live by the spirit and our lives will show the fruits of the spirit.
Joshua
Joshua
The inheritance for God's people was much more than just about getting a new piece of land. The promise land was broken down into sections that were given to every man. It was important to God that they posses the land. All of the land. The boundaries that were created were viewed as ownership in Gods land. This ownership gave them a physical relationship with God and confirmed that they were Gods people.
The inheritance was not given them without challenges. They had to cross the Jordan river and they had a to face Jericho and the many nations that were occupying the land that God was giving them. For the Israelites the thought of this new land brought with it opportunity not only to prosper financially but rather to have a closer relationship with God. This land would forever be known as the nation of Gods people!
The story of Joshua is story about trusting God. Several times Joshua calls his people to be "strong and courageous" and to trust God. Whether they were crossing a huge river or facing another hostile nation they were all called to be strong and courageous. God knew that taking over this land was going to be terrifying. God never intended it to be easy!
The same is true with us. We are called to be strong and courageous! We have to trust God every day in every situation. Life was not meant to be easy and having a relationship with God does not come without trials. When things are hard and we have are uncertain of what will happen in our lives. When life becomes terrifying and we do not know how we are going to get through our struggles or trials, God is there and wants us to rely and trust in him.
The inheritance for God's people was much more than just about getting a new piece of land. The promise land was broken down into sections that were given to every man. It was important to God that they posses the land. All of the land. The boundaries that were created were viewed as ownership in Gods land. This ownership gave them a physical relationship with God and confirmed that they were Gods people.
The inheritance was not given them without challenges. They had to cross the Jordan river and they had a to face Jericho and the many nations that were occupying the land that God was giving them. For the Israelites the thought of this new land brought with it opportunity not only to prosper financially but rather to have a closer relationship with God. This land would forever be known as the nation of Gods people!
The story of Joshua is story about trusting God. Several times Joshua calls his people to be "strong and courageous" and to trust God. Whether they were crossing a huge river or facing another hostile nation they were all called to be strong and courageous. God knew that taking over this land was going to be terrifying. God never intended it to be easy!
The same is true with us. We are called to be strong and courageous! We have to trust God every day in every situation. Life was not meant to be easy and having a relationship with God does not come without trials. When things are hard and we have are uncertain of what will happen in our lives. When life becomes terrifying and we do not know how we are going to get through our struggles or trials, God is there and wants us to rely and trust in him.
Marriage Workshop Part 1
Marriage Workshop Part 1
Genesis 2:18-25
God brought Adam every animal for him to name and inspect. All of Gods other creations were not enough to be a suitable helper for him. God created woman so that man would have a suitable helper. To have a partner that would be compatible and that they could become one!
Marriage is such a mystery to the world in many ways. The world makes fun of marriage in every sitcom on tv and in the movies. There is no commitment in marriage. Infidelity is normal and there is no exclusive relationships. There is no unity.
Marriage is a glorious thing. there is nothing else like it on earth and God created marriage for a purpose. Marriage is something that we must protect. Marriage was designed by God for a specific purpose!
"What God has joined together let no man separate." 2 Thessalonians 3:5 -- we are called to persevere like Jesus in our marriage. It is a long term commitment and not a commitment that should be viewed lightly.
God uses our marriages to help us grow spiritually. We may have many trials in our marriage and we need to view those trials and difficulties as God teaching and molding us. Romans 14:19
Marriage has to take priority in our lives. We need to view our marriages with the same value that God does. If there is something that is testing your marriage or causing harm to your marriage, you need to sacrifice it. Whether it is a job, hobby, friends...etc. Nothing should come before your marriage.
Our spouses need to fill honored! They need to fill that they are the most important thing in our lives after our relationship with God! In what ways can I honor my spouse? How patient am I with my spouse? How much grace do I give my spouse? How often do I uplift my spouse?
God made them "Male and female". Go made us differently and for a purpose. Together we create the full image and personality of God. When we work through our differences and unify our strengths we become the full image of God.
God intends for us to be complete in our differences and Satan intends to use our differences against us. Satan's purpose is to divide our marriage and he wants us to be critical of our differences. We need to be thankful for the differences that our spouses have. They are a benefit and not hindrance. Part of honoring our spouse is embracing our differences.
Genesis 2:18-25
God brought Adam every animal for him to name and inspect. All of Gods other creations were not enough to be a suitable helper for him. God created woman so that man would have a suitable helper. To have a partner that would be compatible and that they could become one!
Marriage is such a mystery to the world in many ways. The world makes fun of marriage in every sitcom on tv and in the movies. There is no commitment in marriage. Infidelity is normal and there is no exclusive relationships. There is no unity.
Marriage is a glorious thing. there is nothing else like it on earth and God created marriage for a purpose. Marriage is something that we must protect. Marriage was designed by God for a specific purpose!
"What God has joined together let no man separate." 2 Thessalonians 3:5 -- we are called to persevere like Jesus in our marriage. It is a long term commitment and not a commitment that should be viewed lightly.
God uses our marriages to help us grow spiritually. We may have many trials in our marriage and we need to view those trials and difficulties as God teaching and molding us. Romans 14:19
Marriage has to take priority in our lives. We need to view our marriages with the same value that God does. If there is something that is testing your marriage or causing harm to your marriage, you need to sacrifice it. Whether it is a job, hobby, friends...etc. Nothing should come before your marriage.
Our spouses need to fill honored! They need to fill that they are the most important thing in our lives after our relationship with God! In what ways can I honor my spouse? How patient am I with my spouse? How much grace do I give my spouse? How often do I uplift my spouse?
God made them "Male and female". Go made us differently and for a purpose. Together we create the full image and personality of God. When we work through our differences and unify our strengths we become the full image of God.
God intends for us to be complete in our differences and Satan intends to use our differences against us. Satan's purpose is to divide our marriage and he wants us to be critical of our differences. We need to be thankful for the differences that our spouses have. They are a benefit and not hindrance. Part of honoring our spouse is embracing our differences.
Marriage Workshop Part 2
Marriage Workshop Part 2
Our cultures definition of what it takes for a marriage to last a life time is different than what God would define it. Marriage today in our world is more of a legal contract that is seeing as a financial benefit than as a matter of love. God said, "it is not good for man to be alone." God created a helper but it has a different meaning that just someone who helps. The same word is used to describe Jesus.
It was not Adam who felt alone and asked God for a helper. It was God who saw man's need and ordained that it was not good for man to be alone! It takes God to make a marriage meaningful and useful. On of the greatest failures in marriage is seeking advice from the world instead of seeking spiritual Godly advice.
God said, "I hate divorce!" Divorce should not be an option except for extreme circumstances involving infidelity. The world views divorce as a legal way to end the marriage commitment. God never intended it to be this way.
1 Peter 3:1-7 Wives are called to not give into fear and the husbands are called to be considerate to their wives. Our spiritual lives can be hindered if we are not treating our spouses the way God intended us too. Couples don't fall out of love so easily, they fall out of repentance instead! Sin will always separate you from your spouse. No relationship brings out our own faults like the relationship with our spouses and we need to embrace repentance so we can grow in our characters.
God uses the troubles and issues in our marriage with our spouses to refine and purify our hearts and characters. When we are completely humble and gentle with each other there is room for growth. We become more intimate and vulnerable with each other. We are able to be who we really are.
Your marriage needs accountability and discipleship. We need to be open with other people where we are at in our marriages. Open about our struggles...etc. "The heart is deceitful above all things" and we are not able to objectively see our own situations and short comings. We need other people in our lives. God can use godly people around us to speak to us and challenge us to be more like God.
Marriage is a divine reality that takes work! it is not easy! It takes a lot of grace and mercy given and received! Communication is key. We need to be open about our feelings and open to hear the areas we need to change in. We need to grow as listeners to be able to understand what our spouses need.
Communication is a big part of intimacy. It really matters how we speak to each other. We need to be quick to listen and slow to speak in all situations. Listening is more important than speaking! Communication can help you stop issues before they become bigger problems.
Divorce should not be a discussion. It should be viewed as a four letter word and not a back door. You should never use the word divorce period!
Our cultures definition of what it takes for a marriage to last a life time is different than what God would define it. Marriage today in our world is more of a legal contract that is seeing as a financial benefit than as a matter of love. God said, "it is not good for man to be alone." God created a helper but it has a different meaning that just someone who helps. The same word is used to describe Jesus.
It was not Adam who felt alone and asked God for a helper. It was God who saw man's need and ordained that it was not good for man to be alone! It takes God to make a marriage meaningful and useful. On of the greatest failures in marriage is seeking advice from the world instead of seeking spiritual Godly advice.
God said, "I hate divorce!" Divorce should not be an option except for extreme circumstances involving infidelity. The world views divorce as a legal way to end the marriage commitment. God never intended it to be this way.
1 Peter 3:1-7 Wives are called to not give into fear and the husbands are called to be considerate to their wives. Our spiritual lives can be hindered if we are not treating our spouses the way God intended us too. Couples don't fall out of love so easily, they fall out of repentance instead! Sin will always separate you from your spouse. No relationship brings out our own faults like the relationship with our spouses and we need to embrace repentance so we can grow in our characters.
God uses the troubles and issues in our marriage with our spouses to refine and purify our hearts and characters. When we are completely humble and gentle with each other there is room for growth. We become more intimate and vulnerable with each other. We are able to be who we really are.
Your marriage needs accountability and discipleship. We need to be open with other people where we are at in our marriages. Open about our struggles...etc. "The heart is deceitful above all things" and we are not able to objectively see our own situations and short comings. We need other people in our lives. God can use godly people around us to speak to us and challenge us to be more like God.
Marriage is a divine reality that takes work! it is not easy! It takes a lot of grace and mercy given and received! Communication is key. We need to be open about our feelings and open to hear the areas we need to change in. We need to grow as listeners to be able to understand what our spouses need.
Communication is a big part of intimacy. It really matters how we speak to each other. We need to be quick to listen and slow to speak in all situations. Listening is more important than speaking! Communication can help you stop issues before they become bigger problems.
Divorce should not be a discussion. It should be viewed as a four letter word and not a back door. You should never use the word divorce period!
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Marriage Workshop 02/15
Marriage Workshop
Genesis 2:18-25
God brought Adam every animal for him to name and inspect. All of Gods other creations were not enough to be a suitable helper for him. God created woman so that man would have a suitable helper. To have a partner that would be compatible and that they could become one!
Marriage is such a mystery to the world in many ways. The world makes fun of marriage in every sitcom on tv and in the movies. There is no commitment in marriage. Infidelity is normal and there is no exclusive relationships. There is no unity.
Marriage is a glorious thing. there is nothing else like it on earth and God created marriage for a purpose. Marriage is something that we must protect. Marriage was designed by God for a specific purpose!
"What God has joined together let no man separate." 2 Thessalonians 3:5 -- we are called to persevere like Jesus in our marriage. It is a long term commitment and not a commitment that should be viewed lightly.
God uses our marriages to help us grow spiritually. We may have many trials in our marriage and we need to view those trials and difficulties as God teaching and molding us. Romans 14:19
Marriage has to take priority in our lives. We need to view our marriages with the same value that God does. If there is something that is testing your marriage or causing harm to your marriage, you need to sacrifice it. Whether it is a job, hobby, friends...etc. Nothing should come before your marriage.
Our spouses need to fill honored! They need to fill that they are the most important thing in our lives after our relationship with God! In what ways can I honor my spouse? How patient am I with my spouse? How much grace do I give my spouse? How often do I uplift my spouse?
God made them "Male and female". Go made us differently and for a purpose. Together we create the full image and personality of God. When we work through our differences and unify our strengths we become the full image of God.
God intends for us to be complete in our differences and Satan intends to use our differences against us. Satan's purpose is to divide our marriage and he wants us to be critical of our differences. We need to be thankful for the differences that our spouses have. They are a benefit and not hindrance. Part of honoring our spouse is embracing our differences.
Genesis 2:18-25
God brought Adam every animal for him to name and inspect. All of Gods other creations were not enough to be a suitable helper for him. God created woman so that man would have a suitable helper. To have a partner that would be compatible and that they could become one!
Marriage is such a mystery to the world in many ways. The world makes fun of marriage in every sitcom on tv and in the movies. There is no commitment in marriage. Infidelity is normal and there is no exclusive relationships. There is no unity.
Marriage is a glorious thing. there is nothing else like it on earth and God created marriage for a purpose. Marriage is something that we must protect. Marriage was designed by God for a specific purpose!
"What God has joined together let no man separate." 2 Thessalonians 3:5 -- we are called to persevere like Jesus in our marriage. It is a long term commitment and not a commitment that should be viewed lightly.
God uses our marriages to help us grow spiritually. We may have many trials in our marriage and we need to view those trials and difficulties as God teaching and molding us. Romans 14:19
Marriage has to take priority in our lives. We need to view our marriages with the same value that God does. If there is something that is testing your marriage or causing harm to your marriage, you need to sacrifice it. Whether it is a job, hobby, friends...etc. Nothing should come before your marriage.
Our spouses need to fill honored! They need to fill that they are the most important thing in our lives after our relationship with God! In what ways can I honor my spouse? How patient am I with my spouse? How much grace do I give my spouse? How often do I uplift my spouse?
God made them "Male and female". Go made us differently and for a purpose. Together we create the full image and personality of God. When we work through our differences and unify our strengths we become the full image of God.
God intends for us to be complete in our differences and Satan intends to use our differences against us. Satan's purpose is to divide our marriage and he wants us to be critical of our differences. We need to be thankful for the differences that our spouses have. They are a benefit and not hindrance. Part of honoring our spouse is embracing our differences.
Monday, February 16, 2015
Finding Strength and Confidence in God!
Finding Strength and Confidence in God!
Exodus 3:4-6
We need to find our strength and confidence from God! We cannot rely on our own strength! Some things we do we may do well and God has given us a talent in a certain area. The challenge is to always depend on God even when we think we can do it on our own!
At one time in Moses life he was rich, a man of authority, in many ways he was royalty. He was put in charge of many things in Egypt and now 40years later he finds himself in the desert with little to nothing. Moses is at a point in his life where he does not have the strength and confidence he once had.
God is forcing Moses to reply on him. The calling is not watered down or made easy. The standard and challenge for Moses is the same. God wants us to accept his calling by trusting in him and getting our strength from Him! It was no different for Moses.
Exodus 4:10-16
Even when Moses had no faith and no security in bing able to do anything that God was calling Him to do, God provided a way through Aaron! It angered God that Moses did not trust and believe in Him. It angers God when we do not accept Gods calling out of fear or insecurity. Romans 8:31 if God is for us who can be against us!!
Moses felt incapable in performing the task that God was calling him to do. God did not suggest and use Aaron to let Moses out of doing what he needed to do. He provided Aaron to help Moses accomplish what God wanted him to accomplish.
Moses felt incapable because he was relying his own strength and his own abilities! God loves to chose people like Moses to show His power in our lives!
God would not accept any of Moses excuses. Chapter 5 shows Aaron speaking to Pharaoh and by chapter 8 Moses was speaking to Pharaoh and honoring the calling that God has given him!
Galatians 2:20-21; 5:22-26
We can do all things through Christ because we are a new person in Christ. Through the cross we can live by the spirit and our lives will show the fruits of the spirit.
Exodus 3:4-6
We need to find our strength and confidence from God! We cannot rely on our own strength! Some things we do we may do well and God has given us a talent in a certain area. The challenge is to always depend on God even when we think we can do it on our own!
At one time in Moses life he was rich, a man of authority, in many ways he was royalty. He was put in charge of many things in Egypt and now 40years later he finds himself in the desert with little to nothing. Moses is at a point in his life where he does not have the strength and confidence he once had.
God is forcing Moses to reply on him. The calling is not watered down or made easy. The standard and challenge for Moses is the same. God wants us to accept his calling by trusting in him and getting our strength from Him! It was no different for Moses.
Exodus 4:10-16
Even when Moses had no faith and no security in bing able to do anything that God was calling Him to do, God provided a way through Aaron! It angered God that Moses did not trust and believe in Him. It angers God when we do not accept Gods calling out of fear or insecurity. Romans 8:31 if God is for us who can be against us!!
Moses felt incapable in performing the task that God was calling him to do. God did not suggest and use Aaron to let Moses out of doing what he needed to do. He provided Aaron to help Moses accomplish what God wanted him to accomplish.
Moses felt incapable because he was relying his own strength and his own abilities! God loves to chose people like Moses to show His power in our lives!
God would not accept any of Moses excuses. Chapter 5 shows Aaron speaking to Pharaoh and by chapter 8 Moses was speaking to Pharaoh and honoring the calling that God has given him!
Galatians 2:20-21; 5:22-26
We can do all things through Christ because we are a new person in Christ. Through the cross we can live by the spirit and our lives will show the fruits of the spirit.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
When God Calls Your Name
When God Calls Your Name
Genesis 12:1-7
Notice that Abram was minding his own business and God just showed up. That is the way God works sometimes. When we least expect it God shows up. God called Abram to pack up everything and go to another land. Abram had no idea where he was going but God would lead him. No wonder Abraham is a father of faith.
Our lives are a lot like Abrahams life. God calls us and we have no idea where we are going but God knows! And God has already been there! God is already there! There is no reason to not trust.
When God calls your name you have got to answer! We were each given a name for a reason. So that when someone calls your name you can answer. God knows your name and everyone of us is being called by God. We can either answer the calling now or later. Later maybe too late!
Abraham was not perfect. God did not call Abraham because he was perfect. God is not looking at a specific point in our lives. He knows we are going to mess up and that we are not perfect. God is looking at the totality of our lives. He sees what our lives stand for. He see's the total picture of who we are. As long as we repent and continue to follow, that is what God is looking at!
Jeremiah 1:4-5
God knows me! He set me a part! God knows me by name!
God answers our prayers in 4 different ways.
1.) HE says NO.
2.) HE says YES.
3.) HE says WAIT.
4.) HE says I HAVE SOMETHING BETTER FOR YOU!
Everyday we have faith and don't even think about. We have faith in very little things through out the day. Every week we work with the faith that our employer will pay us at the end of that two weeks. We have faith that our cars will start in the morning....etc. We have faith in so many things without even thinking about it.
When God calls you to Go you just need to trust and go!
Psalm 139:16
God has a plan for our lives!
Genesis 12:1-7
Notice that Abram was minding his own business and God just showed up. That is the way God works sometimes. When we least expect it God shows up. God called Abram to pack up everything and go to another land. Abram had no idea where he was going but God would lead him. No wonder Abraham is a father of faith.
Our lives are a lot like Abrahams life. God calls us and we have no idea where we are going but God knows! And God has already been there! God is already there! There is no reason to not trust.
When God calls your name you have got to answer! We were each given a name for a reason. So that when someone calls your name you can answer. God knows your name and everyone of us is being called by God. We can either answer the calling now or later. Later maybe too late!
Abraham was not perfect. God did not call Abraham because he was perfect. God is not looking at a specific point in our lives. He knows we are going to mess up and that we are not perfect. God is looking at the totality of our lives. He sees what our lives stand for. He see's the total picture of who we are. As long as we repent and continue to follow, that is what God is looking at!
Jeremiah 1:4-5
God knows me! He set me a part! God knows me by name!
God answers our prayers in 4 different ways.
1.) HE says NO.
2.) HE says YES.
3.) HE says WAIT.
4.) HE says I HAVE SOMETHING BETTER FOR YOU!
Everyday we have faith and don't even think about. We have faith in very little things through out the day. Every week we work with the faith that our employer will pay us at the end of that two weeks. We have faith that our cars will start in the morning....etc. We have faith in so many things without even thinking about it.
When God calls you to Go you just need to trust and go!
Psalm 139:16
God has a plan for our lives!
Wrestling with God
Wrestling with God
We like smooth roads. No bumps in the road.We like things to go the way we plan and when we want them. We like to be in control; however, life has a way of creating bumps, breaking plans, and causing us to loose control!
James 1:2-4 God did not promise us an easy life. Testing and hardship will come! Onlu through God can we view these things with great joy and be confident to get through them!
Genesis 32:22-32
Jacob has been away for 20years. He lied to his father and stole his brothers birth right. He manipulated his whole family. He was a liar, deceiver and manipulator. He is on his way home back to Israel and fears that his brother is going to kill him. He was full of fear, uncertainty and had no control over what was going to happen.
Here Jacob is on the threshold of the promise land and he is wrestling with someone he does not know. He is wrestling with him all alone.
Sometimes when we are alone it is self inflicted. No one knows me. We want a pity party and sympathy....etc. We get frustrated with the hardships of life.
Jacob never gave up and continued to keep fighting and wrestling with the angel of God until God agreed to bless him. Because Jacob never gave up God changed his name. No longer was Jacob going to be known as a liar and manipulator.
Jacob was no longer able to control and manipulate the situation. The angle used the super natural to immobilize Jacob and reduce all of his talents and abilities to nothing. Everything that Jacob thought brought him security was taken away and he was left exposed before God.
To Jacobs credit he would not let go! He was crippled and blessed at the same time. He took a new direction in his life and God gave him a new name and new purpose in life.
God gave Jacob the name that means "God fights". God fights for you or against you? If your prideful, arrogant, and full of sin, God fights against you; however, if you are humble, selfless, and close to God he will fight for you! Jacob's name had a double meaning.
Sometimes you have to wrestle even when you don't want to. When you want to grow spiritually and grow closer to God, sometimes you have to wrestle through your hardships and pain.
Jacob was able to go back to Israel and face his brother because God told him to go and God told him he would be blessed. Jacob trusted in Gods word and had faith that God would deliver him from his brothers hand. Wrestling with God changed Jacobs purpose and view on his life. If you are not willing to wrestle then you will not be able to change who you are.
We like smooth roads. No bumps in the road.We like things to go the way we plan and when we want them. We like to be in control; however, life has a way of creating bumps, breaking plans, and causing us to loose control!
James 1:2-4 God did not promise us an easy life. Testing and hardship will come! Onlu through God can we view these things with great joy and be confident to get through them!
Genesis 32:22-32
Jacob has been away for 20years. He lied to his father and stole his brothers birth right. He manipulated his whole family. He was a liar, deceiver and manipulator. He is on his way home back to Israel and fears that his brother is going to kill him. He was full of fear, uncertainty and had no control over what was going to happen.
Here Jacob is on the threshold of the promise land and he is wrestling with someone he does not know. He is wrestling with him all alone.
Sometimes when we are alone it is self inflicted. No one knows me. We want a pity party and sympathy....etc. We get frustrated with the hardships of life.
Jacob never gave up and continued to keep fighting and wrestling with the angel of God until God agreed to bless him. Because Jacob never gave up God changed his name. No longer was Jacob going to be known as a liar and manipulator.
Jacob was no longer able to control and manipulate the situation. The angle used the super natural to immobilize Jacob and reduce all of his talents and abilities to nothing. Everything that Jacob thought brought him security was taken away and he was left exposed before God.
To Jacobs credit he would not let go! He was crippled and blessed at the same time. He took a new direction in his life and God gave him a new name and new purpose in life.
God gave Jacob the name that means "God fights". God fights for you or against you? If your prideful, arrogant, and full of sin, God fights against you; however, if you are humble, selfless, and close to God he will fight for you! Jacob's name had a double meaning.
Sometimes you have to wrestle even when you don't want to. When you want to grow spiritually and grow closer to God, sometimes you have to wrestle through your hardships and pain.
Jacob was able to go back to Israel and face his brother because God told him to go and God told him he would be blessed. Jacob trusted in Gods word and had faith that God would deliver him from his brothers hand. Wrestling with God changed Jacobs purpose and view on his life. If you are not willing to wrestle then you will not be able to change who you are.
How do you build a strong church?
How do you build a strong church?
The only way to build Gods church is through Jesus. You have to build the way Jesus built his ministry. Jesus lived his life as an example of how to build ministry and grow his church.
As disciples we are called to embrace the ministry of Jesus. When people come to church they want to see the heart of Jesus. They want to see and fell Gods love. The brother hood that is created through true christianity.
Matthew 4:23-25; John 6:38-40
One of the reason came to earth was to keep the saved, saved. Part of our mission is to help each other get to heaven. When our church represents who Jesus is then people will take notice and want to follow the way they followed Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:16 Every disciple is capable to teach one another. We have to be humble in allowing our brothers to teach us and hold us accountable. Part of helping each other making it to heaven has to do with teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training each other in righteousness.
Jesus impacted what ever community he was in. He created new communities. Jesus also came to call sinners and he was comfortable in doing so. Am I judgmental or do I call people higher with out making them feel judged.
Jesus life created buzz that caused people to share the "come and see" approach. Come and see what God is doing. Come and see the lives that are being changed. Come and see the miracles that God is doing...etc.
It can be easy to share "come and see" but we need to honor God in being the example that people will be able to come and see God through our lives. We must set the example!
Jesus came not to be served but to serve. Everyone in Gods church needs to serve in some capacity. How can you serve? Serving also has to do with being out of your self and giving to others through relationships. Serving emotionally by being there for people that need relationships.
Following Jesus in creating his church is all about lordship. If we are subject to Jesus and his authority, then our lives should show it. When Jesus speaks we should react and it should be evident in our lives! What is Jesus calling me to do that I am not willing to do?
The only way to build Gods church is through Jesus. You have to build the way Jesus built his ministry. Jesus lived his life as an example of how to build ministry and grow his church.
As disciples we are called to embrace the ministry of Jesus. When people come to church they want to see the heart of Jesus. They want to see and fell Gods love. The brother hood that is created through true christianity.
Matthew 4:23-25; John 6:38-40
One of the reason came to earth was to keep the saved, saved. Part of our mission is to help each other get to heaven. When our church represents who Jesus is then people will take notice and want to follow the way they followed Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:16 Every disciple is capable to teach one another. We have to be humble in allowing our brothers to teach us and hold us accountable. Part of helping each other making it to heaven has to do with teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training each other in righteousness.
Jesus impacted what ever community he was in. He created new communities. Jesus also came to call sinners and he was comfortable in doing so. Am I judgmental or do I call people higher with out making them feel judged.
Jesus life created buzz that caused people to share the "come and see" approach. Come and see what God is doing. Come and see the lives that are being changed. Come and see the miracles that God is doing...etc.
It can be easy to share "come and see" but we need to honor God in being the example that people will be able to come and see God through our lives. We must set the example!
Jesus came not to be served but to serve. Everyone in Gods church needs to serve in some capacity. How can you serve? Serving also has to do with being out of your self and giving to others through relationships. Serving emotionally by being there for people that need relationships.
Following Jesus in creating his church is all about lordship. If we are subject to Jesus and his authority, then our lives should show it. When Jesus speaks we should react and it should be evident in our lives! What is Jesus calling me to do that I am not willing to do?
Living HIStory
Living HIStory
Exodus 1:6-12
Joseph was not sent to Egypt because he had done anything wrong. Joseph and all his family ended up in Egypt as a result of a famine. This was all apart of God plan to raise up a nation and a people of His own. The jews became a great nation within Egypt and were forced to be their slaves.
The Israelites had done nothing wrong and yet they were going through this hardship. Even though the conditions were hard, God was protecting them. He saved Moses and raised him up to deliver them from this hardship.
Before Moses can become the man that God needs to do his will, Moses must go through several years of refining! God had a dream for Moses and for his people Israel.
God has a dream for you!
Exodus 3:1-10
This is the calling and dream that God has given Moses. Sometimes God give us dreams at very awkward moments. Not all ways at the time when we think we a ready for it.
Moses fled to the desert and God blessed him with a family. For the first time in Moses life he has a place where he belongs. In Egypt h was never high enough to be Egyptian and never low enough to be a Jew. In the desert Moses has security with his family and yet God calls him to go back to Egypt where there would be no security.
Even though Moses is being called to do Gods will and God is with him there are challenges. Moses mission is not going to be easy and God never intended it to be easy.
God has a dream for you and the reality is that you're not good enough for that dream. Exodus 3:11 but God is good enough! God is enough to help us do anything that he calls us to do. To be used by God and follow him you have to trust and faith that God is enough!
Exodus 4:13-18 We come up with these excuses of why we cannot do what God calls us to do and Gods answer is "I made you". For Moses God mad the mouth that Moses complained was not good enough. God made us and has equipped us with everything we need to for fill his will.
No matter what our excuse is. God says "I AM". God is enough for us. God is enough in every situation in our lives!
Moses obeyed. Moses goes with fear, baggage and everything else that could hinder him. but he obeyed. Obeying is the first step.
God always dreams big for us. God always test the limits of our faith and love for him. The dream can change. The excuses that we use can change but one thing remains! "I AM!" Where ever you are in your life, God has a dream for you and a purpose for you life!
Exodus 1:6-12
Joseph was not sent to Egypt because he had done anything wrong. Joseph and all his family ended up in Egypt as a result of a famine. This was all apart of God plan to raise up a nation and a people of His own. The jews became a great nation within Egypt and were forced to be their slaves.
The Israelites had done nothing wrong and yet they were going through this hardship. Even though the conditions were hard, God was protecting them. He saved Moses and raised him up to deliver them from this hardship.
Before Moses can become the man that God needs to do his will, Moses must go through several years of refining! God had a dream for Moses and for his people Israel.
God has a dream for you!
Exodus 3:1-10
This is the calling and dream that God has given Moses. Sometimes God give us dreams at very awkward moments. Not all ways at the time when we think we a ready for it.
Moses fled to the desert and God blessed him with a family. For the first time in Moses life he has a place where he belongs. In Egypt h was never high enough to be Egyptian and never low enough to be a Jew. In the desert Moses has security with his family and yet God calls him to go back to Egypt where there would be no security.
Even though Moses is being called to do Gods will and God is with him there are challenges. Moses mission is not going to be easy and God never intended it to be easy.
God has a dream for you and the reality is that you're not good enough for that dream. Exodus 3:11 but God is good enough! God is enough to help us do anything that he calls us to do. To be used by God and follow him you have to trust and faith that God is enough!
Exodus 4:13-18 We come up with these excuses of why we cannot do what God calls us to do and Gods answer is "I made you". For Moses God mad the mouth that Moses complained was not good enough. God made us and has equipped us with everything we need to for fill his will.
No matter what our excuse is. God says "I AM". God is enough for us. God is enough in every situation in our lives!
Moses obeyed. Moses goes with fear, baggage and everything else that could hinder him. but he obeyed. Obeying is the first step.
God always dreams big for us. God always test the limits of our faith and love for him. The dream can change. The excuses that we use can change but one thing remains! "I AM!" Where ever you are in your life, God has a dream for you and a purpose for you life!
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Spiritual Biography
In Deuteronomy 26, Moses is giving his final instructions to the Israelites and he commands every family to do something to remember who they are and where they came from.
Deuteronomy 26:2-11 Then go to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name 3 and say to the priest in office at the time, "I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come to the land the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us." 4 The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the Lord your God. 5 Then you shall declare before the Lord your God: "My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. 6 But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, subjecting us to harsh labor. 7 Then we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, and the Lord heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. 8 So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders.9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; 10 and now I bring the first fruits of the soil that you, Lord, have given me." Place the basket before the Lord your God and bow down before him. 11 Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.
It is important that we too remember the great things God has done for us and the blessings that we have in a relationship with Him. We need to constantly remind our selves of who we were before God and how far we have come with God. God has rescued each of us from the world and blessed us so much! Take a moment and write your own spiritual Biography and document the things that God has done in your life!
CUT AND PASTE THIS STATEMENT IN A WORD DOCUMENT AND FILL IN THE BLANKS TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR OWN SPIRITUAL BIOGRAPHY:
I was wandering in life doing what I thought as best. I did not live for God and found myself a slave to these sins____________. Sin held me captive and Satan treated me harshly. These consequences were everywhere__________, and I was hopeless. Finally, I cried out to the Lord and He heard me. He saw how lost and hopeless I was and He rescued me with His mighty arm. He performed these awesome miracles to save me___________. He brought me to His Church, a family filled with these blessings________. And now I bring to God the first fruits of the life He himself gave me, and serve Him and His Church in these ways _________. And my family rejoices before God with His Church for all of the good things the Lord has given me!
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Parenting practicals in the 2015 Part 1
Parenting practicals in the 2015 Part 1
Esther 4:12-14 as parents we have been given children for "such a time as this"! God has given us children to parent through God and to raise them in Him!
The family unit is designed to help us grow spiritually. Parents learn patients, grace, compassion. Children learn authority, submission, and unconditional love.
Just as much as God wants to use our families to bring us closer to Him, Satan wants to divid our families and create division for the sole purpose of pulling us away from God! Galatians 5:19-21 describes the sins that Satan uses to destroy the family unit!
Esther 2:1-11 This story describes a very bad situation. Many of us have not come from an "ideal" family structure or situation. The majority of us come from a dysfunctional family. As disciples of God we are called to change that! To build the family that God originally designed. We have to break the chains of dysfunction.
Esther 2:20 Mordecai was a huge influence in Esther's life. Esther obeyed Mordecai because he disciples her, adopted her and provided her with a Godly home.
What happens at home in your house? Is it TV, sports, sacrificing for God, devotions...etc. What is most important in you home?
--> Children see, children do Video on youtube <--
We have a huge influence in our kids lives. They will become what they see in us. Psalms 112:6. Gods way is what works. We are here to glorify God in our families. We need to set the examples that our kids should follow!
One of the biggest mistakes we make as parents is to try and control or manipulate our kids. We have to trust God and allow our kids to experience life. God could be very controlling in our lives and yet he does not try to control us. He allows us to have free will!
Mordecai provided a Godly home and Esther save a nation! Esther was chosen not only because of her beauty but also because of her radiance, convictions...etc.
There are so many things we need to help our kids with. Purity, selfishness, fear, Godly convictions, pride, humility, positive thinking....etc. As a parent are you helping your kids through their sinful nature? Do you walk them through it or do you shut them down? Do they fell like you believe in them and show them grace? We have to help mold our kids characters through discipleship and Gods word.
We need to hate what Gods hate and love what God loves in raising our kids. Our kids will see Gods character though us as parents. We must be righteous leaders at home. Everything we do from correcting to discipline needs to be out of love!
Esther 5:9 Haman was trying to kill the jews and Mordecai never rose or trembled before him. Mordecai was more concerned with what please God than what pleased Haman. Mordecai set an example that Esther could follow. Mordecai was not a people pleaser.
Practical ways to interact with our kids and set the example. Family dinners several times a week, family devotionals, sports activities...etc. The important thing is spending time as family and using every opportunity to set the example and lead our children.
Esther 4:12-14 as parents we have been given children for "such a time as this"! God has given us children to parent through God and to raise them in Him!
The family unit is designed to help us grow spiritually. Parents learn patients, grace, compassion. Children learn authority, submission, and unconditional love.
Just as much as God wants to use our families to bring us closer to Him, Satan wants to divid our families and create division for the sole purpose of pulling us away from God! Galatians 5:19-21 describes the sins that Satan uses to destroy the family unit!
Esther 2:1-11 This story describes a very bad situation. Many of us have not come from an "ideal" family structure or situation. The majority of us come from a dysfunctional family. As disciples of God we are called to change that! To build the family that God originally designed. We have to break the chains of dysfunction.
Esther 2:20 Mordecai was a huge influence in Esther's life. Esther obeyed Mordecai because he disciples her, adopted her and provided her with a Godly home.
What happens at home in your house? Is it TV, sports, sacrificing for God, devotions...etc. What is most important in you home?
--> Children see, children do Video on youtube <--
We have a huge influence in our kids lives. They will become what they see in us. Psalms 112:6. Gods way is what works. We are here to glorify God in our families. We need to set the examples that our kids should follow!
One of the biggest mistakes we make as parents is to try and control or manipulate our kids. We have to trust God and allow our kids to experience life. God could be very controlling in our lives and yet he does not try to control us. He allows us to have free will!
Mordecai provided a Godly home and Esther save a nation! Esther was chosen not only because of her beauty but also because of her radiance, convictions...etc.
There are so many things we need to help our kids with. Purity, selfishness, fear, Godly convictions, pride, humility, positive thinking....etc. As a parent are you helping your kids through their sinful nature? Do you walk them through it or do you shut them down? Do they fell like you believe in them and show them grace? We have to help mold our kids characters through discipleship and Gods word.
We need to hate what Gods hate and love what God loves in raising our kids. Our kids will see Gods character though us as parents. We must be righteous leaders at home. Everything we do from correcting to discipline needs to be out of love!
Esther 5:9 Haman was trying to kill the jews and Mordecai never rose or trembled before him. Mordecai was more concerned with what please God than what pleased Haman. Mordecai set an example that Esther could follow. Mordecai was not a people pleaser.
Practical ways to interact with our kids and set the example. Family dinners several times a week, family devotionals, sports activities...etc. The important thing is spending time as family and using every opportunity to set the example and lead our children.
Parenting practicals in the 2015 Part 2
Parenting practicals in the 2015 Part 2
Luke 2:34-35 raising children is not a painless ambition. Children have a way of piercing our hearts and yet our relationship with them teaches us so much about Gods unconditional love for us.
--> Cowboys herding cats video from youtube <--
Raising a family and parenting kids is a lot like herding cats...lol
Luke 15:11-32 Imagine the context in which Jesus was sharing this story. Which son would you rather have? The one that ran off and squandered everything he had or the one that stayed home but had critical attitudes and is ungrateful. The younger son was full of sinful rebellion and the older son was full of sinful moral self righteousness! Both sons resented the fathers authority and both neither loved the father for himself. Which son do you want?
The challenge we have as a parent is to understand where our children are at. Without knowing what their sinful nature is there is no way to help mold and correct their character.
We need to study our children to understand how they learn and what motivates them. We have to refrain from manipulating and trying to control them emotionally. If your child is doing something that frustrates, embarrasses or hurts may not be right; however, we cannot manipulate or guilt them out over it. The frustration, embarrassment and feelings of hurt we have are our own and we need to work through them and take responsibility for what we can control.
When our children are living in irony, we do not need to run down the rabbit whole always ready to point out their flaws and issues. We do not need to get self righteous our selves and makes sure they know we told them so. The younger son came to his senses on his own. All the father did was wait and be ready to embrace his son when he was ready to come home!
What does Prodigal mean? Prodigal means reckless abandonment, reckless spending, reckless love. Who was the prodigal person in the story. We always assume it was the son and prodigal is a bad thing. The father was reckless in his spending and love and forgiveness!
--> reference to the book the Five Love Languages <--
Affirmation, Physical touch, Quality time, Acts of service, Gifts.
Which love language does your child speak? We need to love our children in the way they need to be loved. Most people are one or two of these different love language. Do you know which love language your child speaks? Loving your child in a love language that is not specific to them will only leave them frustrated and empty!
Malachi 4:6; Luke 1:17 God ends the new Testimate talking about the Fathers and their sons and God starts the new Testimate in Luke talking about Fathers and their sons! Fathers are crucial to the development of their children!
The final example from Luke 15 is that the prodigal father did not react with bitterness, anger or frustration from all the hurt and disappointment he received from his sons. He responded to both of them with humility and love!
Luke 2:34-35 raising children is not a painless ambition. Children have a way of piercing our hearts and yet our relationship with them teaches us so much about Gods unconditional love for us.
--> Cowboys herding cats video from youtube <--
Raising a family and parenting kids is a lot like herding cats...lol
Luke 15:11-32 Imagine the context in which Jesus was sharing this story. Which son would you rather have? The one that ran off and squandered everything he had or the one that stayed home but had critical attitudes and is ungrateful. The younger son was full of sinful rebellion and the older son was full of sinful moral self righteousness! Both sons resented the fathers authority and both neither loved the father for himself. Which son do you want?
The challenge we have as a parent is to understand where our children are at. Without knowing what their sinful nature is there is no way to help mold and correct their character.
We need to study our children to understand how they learn and what motivates them. We have to refrain from manipulating and trying to control them emotionally. If your child is doing something that frustrates, embarrasses or hurts may not be right; however, we cannot manipulate or guilt them out over it. The frustration, embarrassment and feelings of hurt we have are our own and we need to work through them and take responsibility for what we can control.
When our children are living in irony, we do not need to run down the rabbit whole always ready to point out their flaws and issues. We do not need to get self righteous our selves and makes sure they know we told them so. The younger son came to his senses on his own. All the father did was wait and be ready to embrace his son when he was ready to come home!
What does Prodigal mean? Prodigal means reckless abandonment, reckless spending, reckless love. Who was the prodigal person in the story. We always assume it was the son and prodigal is a bad thing. The father was reckless in his spending and love and forgiveness!
--> reference to the book the Five Love Languages <--
Affirmation, Physical touch, Quality time, Acts of service, Gifts.
Which love language does your child speak? We need to love our children in the way they need to be loved. Most people are one or two of these different love language. Do you know which love language your child speaks? Loving your child in a love language that is not specific to them will only leave them frustrated and empty!
Malachi 4:6; Luke 1:17 God ends the new Testimate talking about the Fathers and their sons and God starts the new Testimate in Luke talking about Fathers and their sons! Fathers are crucial to the development of their children!
The final example from Luke 15 is that the prodigal father did not react with bitterness, anger or frustration from all the hurt and disappointment he received from his sons. He responded to both of them with humility and love!
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Jude 1:14-16
Jude 1:14-16
Vs 14/15 – Jude references Enoch, a man who walked with God and never died, to further depict the kind of men that reject Gods word and follow their own desires for personal gain. Judgment is imminent and no one will be able to escape!
Enoch prophesied that God would bring an army of thousands (undefinable number) to judge the wicked men that Jude has been describing.
These men are defined as ungodly men in every way.
Ungodly acts they have committed.
Ungodly ways they have lived.
Ungodly words they have spoken.
Vs 16 – Jude further describes these men as grumblers and faultfinders who put their own evil desires above the words of God. They boast about themselves to make themselves look good in front of men.
Why are they faultfinders?
These men do not want to take any responsibility for their actions.
Why are they grumblers?
These men are never satisfied.
Why do they boast?
They puff themselves up to hide the sin and rebellion in their hearts.
Jude is warning us not to be like these men. We have to stay humble and hold on to Gods word with deep convictions. All of the character issues described in these men are in many ways common human traits that are rooted in our sinful natures. We have to fight daily to not give into these temptations and in doing so Jude is assuring us that we will escape the wrath of God that is reserved for men like this!
Monday, January 26, 2015
The Book of Psalms By Topic
Topical List of the book of Psalms
Knowing God 9 16 17 23 25 27 29 40 41 46 54 56 57 59 62 63 68 73 76 84 91 92 97
111 138 143 145 149
God the creator 8 19 29 33 65 104 124 135 136 148
When you want to get closer to God
25 27 42 61 63 70 84 99 105 116 119 131 143
Jesus on the cross 22 85 98
Praising God 9 40 71 67 92 96 105 145 149
Putting God first 40 84 86 95 97 103 115 127 132 135
Righteousness 5 14 15 17 19 25 32 40 51 53 86 90 101 119 141 143
Help from God 1 5 14 19 26 32 48 53 60 81 90 101 108 111 115 122 127 128 139 141
143 144
Faith in righteousness 1 15 24 37 39 73 75 109 112 126 128
Encouragement to live a righteous life
1 5 16 19 25 32 81 86 101 119 141 143
Salvation 14 49 53 85 87
Having a bad day 11 25 46 61 88 102 124 131 142
Guilt, Sin and Confession 14 32 38 41 51 53 89 103 107 143
Forgiveness 19 22 25 32 39 41 51 65 85 86 99 103 106 107 130 143
Sin and consequences 5 14 53 78 79 81 101 106 107 141 143
You belong to God 16 20 37 40 48 65 67 84 87 92 95 99 100 104 113 114 135 144 145 147
149
God is with you 9 16 17 18 21 23 27 34 37 41 46 56 68 73 89 91 92 103 108 109 114
115 118 121 124 125 138 139 144 145 147
God answers prayer 3 4 5 9 17 18 20 21 27 28 31 34 39 40 54 55 61 65 66 69 81 86 91 99
102 107 116 118 119 120 123 130 138 141 142 143 145
God the avenger 9 10 35 44 45 58 59 60 64 94 109 120 123
God listens to you 27 31 34 55 61 99 116
Injustice 10 14 36 37 41 45 50 52 53 58 59 73 76 82 94 146
Boasting 20 52 53 75 108 135
Humility 14 30 39 53 60 76 106 107 108 127 131 132 134
Security in God 4 16 27 46 56 91 121 125 139
Confidence 14 20 25 39 53 60 71 84 108 112 125 127 130 131 138 141 143
Fear and courage 3 27 46 49 55 56 57 91 112 118 120
Protection in God 3 5 17 23 25 27 36 40 44 46 55 57 59 61 62 66 70 71 91 115 118 120
121 125 129 140 143 144
God is strong 18 21 24 29 33 35 46 54 57 59 62 65 68 76 89 93 97 99 108 114 125
135 147
God is love 21 23 33 36 59 68 86 89 100 103 106 116 118 130 136 138 145 146
God is righteous and just 9 21 24 33 36 45 46 47 48 62 65 72 75 76 82 87 89 92 93 96 97 98 99
109
Jesus is coming back 2 24 45 47 72 76 82 96 98 110 146 150
Feeling down 6 9 13 25 42 69 70 88 89 102 107 113 116 126 142
Feeling forgotten 13 42 44 74 102 134 138
Feeling rejected 43 60 74 77 80 88 108
When you are weeping 6 31 42 43 56 69 80 88 107 116 126
Trusting God 9 12 33 37 49 65 66 78 81 84 85 91 95 108 112 115 119 121 125 127
Putting your trust and hope in God
9 13 25 42 43 60 86 102 112 113 126 130
Trusting God in difficult situations
4 11 13 23 25 27 28 31 34 42 43 46 54 55 56 57 59 61 62 89 91 94 102
105 107 123 138 143
Thankful for Gods word 1 12 19 33 56 111 119 138 147
Thankful for Gods blessings 16 18 21 23 36 65 66 67 84 86 92 100 103 113 116 126 138 145 147
Knowing God 9 16 17 23 25 27 29 40 41 46 54 56 57 59 62 63 68 73 76 84 91 92 97
111 138 143 145 149
God the creator 8 19 29 33 65 104 124 135 136 148
When you want to get closer to God
25 27 42 61 63 70 84 99 105 116 119 131 143
Jesus on the cross 22 85 98
Praising God 9 40 71 67 92 96 105 145 149
Putting God first 40 84 86 95 97 103 115 127 132 135
Righteousness 5 14 15 17 19 25 32 40 51 53 86 90 101 119 141 143
Help from God 1 5 14 19 26 32 48 53 60 81 90 101 108 111 115 122 127 128 139 141
143 144
Faith in righteousness 1 15 24 37 39 73 75 109 112 126 128
Encouragement to live a righteous life
1 5 16 19 25 32 81 86 101 119 141 143
Salvation 14 49 53 85 87
Having a bad day 11 25 46 61 88 102 124 131 142
Guilt, Sin and Confession 14 32 38 41 51 53 89 103 107 143
Forgiveness 19 22 25 32 39 41 51 65 85 86 99 103 106 107 130 143
Sin and consequences 5 14 53 78 79 81 101 106 107 141 143
You belong to God 16 20 37 40 48 65 67 84 87 92 95 99 100 104 113 114 135 144 145 147
149
God is with you 9 16 17 18 21 23 27 34 37 41 46 56 68 73 89 91 92 103 108 109 114
115 118 121 124 125 138 139 144 145 147
God answers prayer 3 4 5 9 17 18 20 21 27 28 31 34 39 40 54 55 61 65 66 69 81 86 91 99
102 107 116 118 119 120 123 130 138 141 142 143 145
God the avenger 9 10 35 44 45 58 59 60 64 94 109 120 123
God listens to you 27 31 34 55 61 99 116
Injustice 10 14 36 37 41 45 50 52 53 58 59 73 76 82 94 146
Boasting 20 52 53 75 108 135
Humility 14 30 39 53 60 76 106 107 108 127 131 132 134
Security in God 4 16 27 46 56 91 121 125 139
Confidence 14 20 25 39 53 60 71 84 108 112 125 127 130 131 138 141 143
Fear and courage 3 27 46 49 55 56 57 91 112 118 120
Protection in God 3 5 17 23 25 27 36 40 44 46 55 57 59 61 62 66 70 71 91 115 118 120
121 125 129 140 143 144
God is strong 18 21 24 29 33 35 46 54 57 59 62 65 68 76 89 93 97 99 108 114 125
135 147
God is love 21 23 33 36 59 68 86 89 100 103 106 116 118 130 136 138 145 146
God is righteous and just 9 21 24 33 36 45 46 47 48 62 65 72 75 76 82 87 89 92 93 96 97 98 99
109
Jesus is coming back 2 24 45 47 72 76 82 96 98 110 146 150
Feeling down 6 9 13 25 42 69 70 88 89 102 107 113 116 126 142
Feeling forgotten 13 42 44 74 102 134 138
Feeling rejected 43 60 74 77 80 88 108
When you are weeping 6 31 42 43 56 69 80 88 107 116 126
Trusting God 9 12 33 37 49 65 66 78 81 84 85 91 95 108 112 115 119 121 125 127
Putting your trust and hope in God
9 13 25 42 43 60 86 102 112 113 126 130
Trusting God in difficult situations
4 11 13 23 25 27 28 31 34 42 43 46 54 55 56 57 59 61 62 89 91 94 102
105 107 123 138 143
Thankful for Gods word 1 12 19 33 56 111 119 138 147
Thankful for Gods blessings 16 18 21 23 36 65 66 67 84 86 92 100 103 113 116 126 138 145 147
The Book of Psalms By Theme
The book of Psalms indexed by theme.
The Attributes Of God
1) The Lord is our judge and defense – Psalm 7:8-10.
2) The refuge of the poor – Psalm 14:6.
3) He is our Rock, fortress, strength and high tower – Psalm 18:2.
4) Our Redeemer – Psalm 19:14.
5) The King of Glory – Psalm 24:10.
6) “My light and my salvation” – Psalm 27:1.
7) He is our Shield – Psalm 28:7.
8) “My hiding place” – Psalm 32:7.
9) “Our refuge and strength” – Psalm 46:1.
10) “A God full of compassion” – Psalm 86:15.
11) “Our dwelling place in all generations” – Psalm 90:1.
Psalms That Praise God
1) Extolling the goodness of God – Psalm 85,95,100,136.
2) Praising God’s glory, wisdom, power & majesty – Psalm 18,19,29,62,66,93,97,99,118,147.
3) God as creator and preserver of all of His works – Psalm 33,89,104.
4) His infinite knowledge – Psalm 139.
5) God’s eternity contrasted with man’s temporal nature – Psalm 90.
6) Divine providence seen in God’s wonderful works in behalf of his chosen people, Israel – Psalm
105.
7) The source of all help, who keeps His people – Psalm 121.
8) The whole creation praises Him – Psalm 148.
Christ In The Psalms
1) The coronation hymn – Psalm 2.
2) The crucifixion psalm – Psalm 22.
3) The resurrection psalm – Psalm 16.
4) The reign of the righteous king – Psalm 45,72,110,132:11.
5) The Messiah’s manhood – Psalm 8:4-5.
6) The Messiah’s sonship – Psalm 2:7.
7) His deity – Psalm 45:6, Psalm 11.
8) His holiness – Psalm 45:7; Psalm 89:18-19.
9) His priesthood – Psalm 110:4.
10) His kingship – Psalm 2:6; Psalm 89:18-19,27.
11) His eternity – Psalm 61:6-7; Psalm 45:17; Psalm 102:25-27.
12) His universal sovereignty – Psalm 72:8; Psalm 103:19.
13) His obedience – Psalm 40:6-8.
14) His zeal – Psalm 69:9.
15) His sufferings – Psalm 69:4,9.
16) His betrayal – Psalm 41:9.
17) His death – Psalm 22:1-21; Psalm 69:20-21.
18) His resurrection – Psalm 16:10.
19) His ascension – Psalm 68:18.
20) His coming again to judge – Psalm 96-98.
Some Historical Psalms
1) The exodus and crossing the red sea – Psalm 136:10-15.
2) The period of wandering – Psalm 114.
3) The period of judges – Psalm 106:34-46.
4) David’s early period when fleeing from Saul – Psalm 7,11,34.
5) David’s reign – Psalm 24,30,51 (David’s sin with Bathsheba).
6) Absalom’s rebellion – Psalm 3,55.
7) The glory of Solomon’s reign – Psalm 72.
8) The fall of Jerusalem – Psalm 74, 79.
9) The Jews in Babylon – Psalm 80, 137.
10) The restoration – Psalm 85:1-6; Psalm 126.
Psalms Concerning Man
1) Exaltation of man – Psalm 8 (fulfilled in the “perfect” man – Hebrews 2:5-9).
2) Man’s sinfulness – Psalm 10,14,36,55,59.
3) The wicked contrasted with the godly – Psalm 1,4,5.
4) The folly of the wicked and of those who trust in riches – Psalm 37,49,53.
5) The fate of the ungodly – Psalm 9,11,73.
Psalms Of Trust And Thanksgiving
1) Trust – Psalm 3,16,20,27,31,34,42,61,62,91.
2) The shepherd psalm – Psalm 23.
3) God our refuge – Psalm 46.
4) “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving” – Psalm 100.
5) “Pay thy vows unto the most High” – Psalm 50.
6) “My help cometh from the Lord” – Psalm 121.
Prayer Psalms
1) For mercy in time of trouble – Psalm 6.
2) Prayers of assurance – Psalm 27,116.
3) Penitence, seeking forgiveness – Psalm 51.
4) For destruction of the deceitful – Psalm 55.
5) For deliverance – Psalm 70.
6) For mercy – Psalm 86.
7) For help in trouble – Psalm 142.
8) For guidance – Psalm 143.
The Lord’s Church
1) Safety of “The city of God” – Psalm 46.
2) The beauty and glory of Zion – Psalm 48,87.
3) Love for the house of God – Psalm 84,122.
4) Unity among brethren – Psalm 133.
Psalms Concerning Experiences In Religion & In Life
1) Magnifying the word of God – Psalm 19,119.
2) Praise – Psalm 96,98,100,103,107,136,145,148-150.
3) Worship – Psalm 43,84,100,122,132.
4) The vanity of life – Psalm 39,49,90.
5) The home – Psalm 127.
The Attributes Of God
1) The Lord is our judge and defense – Psalm 7:8-10.
2) The refuge of the poor – Psalm 14:6.
3) He is our Rock, fortress, strength and high tower – Psalm 18:2.
4) Our Redeemer – Psalm 19:14.
5) The King of Glory – Psalm 24:10.
6) “My light and my salvation” – Psalm 27:1.
7) He is our Shield – Psalm 28:7.
8) “My hiding place” – Psalm 32:7.
9) “Our refuge and strength” – Psalm 46:1.
10) “A God full of compassion” – Psalm 86:15.
11) “Our dwelling place in all generations” – Psalm 90:1.
Psalms That Praise God
1) Extolling the goodness of God – Psalm 85,95,100,136.
2) Praising God’s glory, wisdom, power & majesty – Psalm 18,19,29,62,66,93,97,99,118,147.
3) God as creator and preserver of all of His works – Psalm 33,89,104.
4) His infinite knowledge – Psalm 139.
5) God’s eternity contrasted with man’s temporal nature – Psalm 90.
6) Divine providence seen in God’s wonderful works in behalf of his chosen people, Israel – Psalm
105.
7) The source of all help, who keeps His people – Psalm 121.
8) The whole creation praises Him – Psalm 148.
Christ In The Psalms
1) The coronation hymn – Psalm 2.
2) The crucifixion psalm – Psalm 22.
3) The resurrection psalm – Psalm 16.
4) The reign of the righteous king – Psalm 45,72,110,132:11.
5) The Messiah’s manhood – Psalm 8:4-5.
6) The Messiah’s sonship – Psalm 2:7.
7) His deity – Psalm 45:6, Psalm 11.
8) His holiness – Psalm 45:7; Psalm 89:18-19.
9) His priesthood – Psalm 110:4.
10) His kingship – Psalm 2:6; Psalm 89:18-19,27.
11) His eternity – Psalm 61:6-7; Psalm 45:17; Psalm 102:25-27.
12) His universal sovereignty – Psalm 72:8; Psalm 103:19.
13) His obedience – Psalm 40:6-8.
14) His zeal – Psalm 69:9.
15) His sufferings – Psalm 69:4,9.
16) His betrayal – Psalm 41:9.
17) His death – Psalm 22:1-21; Psalm 69:20-21.
18) His resurrection – Psalm 16:10.
19) His ascension – Psalm 68:18.
20) His coming again to judge – Psalm 96-98.
Some Historical Psalms
1) The exodus and crossing the red sea – Psalm 136:10-15.
2) The period of wandering – Psalm 114.
3) The period of judges – Psalm 106:34-46.
4) David’s early period when fleeing from Saul – Psalm 7,11,34.
5) David’s reign – Psalm 24,30,51 (David’s sin with Bathsheba).
6) Absalom’s rebellion – Psalm 3,55.
7) The glory of Solomon’s reign – Psalm 72.
8) The fall of Jerusalem – Psalm 74, 79.
9) The Jews in Babylon – Psalm 80, 137.
10) The restoration – Psalm 85:1-6; Psalm 126.
Psalms Concerning Man
1) Exaltation of man – Psalm 8 (fulfilled in the “perfect” man – Hebrews 2:5-9).
2) Man’s sinfulness – Psalm 10,14,36,55,59.
3) The wicked contrasted with the godly – Psalm 1,4,5.
4) The folly of the wicked and of those who trust in riches – Psalm 37,49,53.
5) The fate of the ungodly – Psalm 9,11,73.
Psalms Of Trust And Thanksgiving
1) Trust – Psalm 3,16,20,27,31,34,42,61,62,91.
2) The shepherd psalm – Psalm 23.
3) God our refuge – Psalm 46.
4) “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving” – Psalm 100.
5) “Pay thy vows unto the most High” – Psalm 50.
6) “My help cometh from the Lord” – Psalm 121.
Prayer Psalms
1) For mercy in time of trouble – Psalm 6.
2) Prayers of assurance – Psalm 27,116.
3) Penitence, seeking forgiveness – Psalm 51.
4) For destruction of the deceitful – Psalm 55.
5) For deliverance – Psalm 70.
6) For mercy – Psalm 86.
7) For help in trouble – Psalm 142.
8) For guidance – Psalm 143.
The Lord’s Church
1) Safety of “The city of God” – Psalm 46.
2) The beauty and glory of Zion – Psalm 48,87.
3) Love for the house of God – Psalm 84,122.
4) Unity among brethren – Psalm 133.
Psalms Concerning Experiences In Religion & In Life
1) Magnifying the word of God – Psalm 19,119.
2) Praise – Psalm 96,98,100,103,107,136,145,148-150.
3) Worship – Psalm 43,84,100,122,132.
4) The vanity of life – Psalm 39,49,90.
5) The home – Psalm 127.
Noah
Noah
Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah went against the rest of the world. He was surrounded by wickedness on every side! Regardless Noah maintained his righteousness and honored God with his life! Noah was asked by God to build a massive boat that made no sense and required absolute faith to believe that what God said was true!
"If God says were gonna build an ark then we're going to build an Ark"' this was Noah's heart! Am I willing to do the impossible for God? Am I willing to do what ever God ask me to do even when it doesn't make sense to me?
First Noah had faith when warned by God! What warnings has God given me?
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
1 Corinthians 10:5-12 vs 11 these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us!
Ephesians 5:3-7; 2
Peter 3:9-12 God is warning me of what I could miss.
Noah allowed Gods warnings to direct his life and guide his steps. Am I taking Gods warnings seriously?
In holy reverence, Noah obeyed God through faith. Faith produces holy fear and reverence for God! Holy fear produced obedience to allow Noah to do the impossible. God has not asked me to build an Ark but he has asked me to build a temple for him in the godly life that I love!
By faith Noah condemned the world. Noah separated himself form the world. Noah refused to follow their wickedness and stood on his convictions through faith.
Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah went against the rest of the world. He was surrounded by wickedness on every side! Regardless Noah maintained his righteousness and honored God with his life! Noah was asked by God to build a massive boat that made no sense and required absolute faith to believe that what God said was true!
"If God says were gonna build an ark then we're going to build an Ark"' this was Noah's heart! Am I willing to do the impossible for God? Am I willing to do what ever God ask me to do even when it doesn't make sense to me?
First Noah had faith when warned by God! What warnings has God given me?
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
1 Corinthians 10:5-12 vs 11 these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us!
Ephesians 5:3-7; 2
Peter 3:9-12 God is warning me of what I could miss.
Noah allowed Gods warnings to direct his life and guide his steps. Am I taking Gods warnings seriously?
In holy reverence, Noah obeyed God through faith. Faith produces holy fear and reverence for God! Holy fear produced obedience to allow Noah to do the impossible. God has not asked me to build an Ark but he has asked me to build a temple for him in the godly life that I love!
By faith Noah condemned the world. Noah separated himself form the world. Noah refused to follow their wickedness and stood on his convictions through faith.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Living HIStory! Part 2
Living HIStory!
In the garden there were no barriers between God and man. Once man sinned the intimacy with God was broken. God's story is to take fallen man and return him to paradise. To return man back to an intimate relationship with God with no barriers.
As God's story marches through history, Abraham becomes a key character in God's plan.
Genesis 10:2-7; Genesis 11:10-26
Most of the time when we see a genealogy in the bible we skip it; however, there is a lot of meaning and importance in this genealogy. We see that Gods people and gods plan was passed down from father to son over hundreds of generations!
In the Old Testimate, Gods people had no concept of heaven or eternity. The promise of God at that time was not heaven or hell. The promise that God gave Abraham was that he would have a long line and be the father of all nations. Through this genealogy God was faithful to Abraham.
Genesis 15:1-6
God chose to save Abraham and wanted to be his great reward! Abraham questioned Gods love because he had no sons. God showed so much grace and mercy to Abraham by reconfirming his promise to Abraham. When Abraham chose to believe and had faith he was considered righteous.
Abraham was the first man called into a relationship with God outside of the garden and Gods plan was to be with Abraham for ever. God started setting eternity into the hearts of men through Abraham and his genealogy.
We have to look and seek eternity with God. If we are looking to God to solve all of our problems in the "here and now" then we are going to have a hard time loving God when things do not go the way we think they should. Like Abraham we need to trust God and his promise for us in our lives. Eternity with God should be our focus and great reward!
When we live for eternity it solves all the problems we have in the "here and now"! Our focus has to be on being with God for ever!
God chose Abraham to pass it on. If God called Abraham to pass it on, what do you think he is calling us to do? Through our children, our neighbors, people at work, and any other relationships we have need to be focused on passing on Gods plan for eternity!
1 Corinthians 4:14-15 Gods used Paul to pass it on. The same father to son concept. What spiritual generations am I creating for God? Who are my spiritual sons and daughters?
The true cost of hell is a complete and total separation from God or eternity. Heaven is a complete and total connection with God for eternity! When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Abraham saw it as God asking him to sacrifice eternity with Him. God was ultimately asking Abraham to sacrifice his promise and relationship with God for eternity. Abraham had faith that God would keep his promise and was willing to do what ever God called him to do.
God did not call Abraham to do anything that God was not willing to do himself! God spared Abrahams son and sacrificed His own. Jesus took the place of Isaac and took the place of you and me!
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In the garden there were no barriers between God and man. Once man sinned the intimacy with God was broken. God's story is to take fallen man and return him to paradise. To return man back to an intimate relationship with God with no barriers.
As God's story marches through history, Abraham becomes a key character in God's plan.
Genesis 10:2-7; Genesis 11:10-26
Most of the time when we see a genealogy in the bible we skip it; however, there is a lot of meaning and importance in this genealogy. We see that Gods people and gods plan was passed down from father to son over hundreds of generations!
In the Old Testimate, Gods people had no concept of heaven or eternity. The promise of God at that time was not heaven or hell. The promise that God gave Abraham was that he would have a long line and be the father of all nations. Through this genealogy God was faithful to Abraham.
Genesis 15:1-6
God chose to save Abraham and wanted to be his great reward! Abraham questioned Gods love because he had no sons. God showed so much grace and mercy to Abraham by reconfirming his promise to Abraham. When Abraham chose to believe and had faith he was considered righteous.
Abraham was the first man called into a relationship with God outside of the garden and Gods plan was to be with Abraham for ever. God started setting eternity into the hearts of men through Abraham and his genealogy.
We have to look and seek eternity with God. If we are looking to God to solve all of our problems in the "here and now" then we are going to have a hard time loving God when things do not go the way we think they should. Like Abraham we need to trust God and his promise for us in our lives. Eternity with God should be our focus and great reward!
When we live for eternity it solves all the problems we have in the "here and now"! Our focus has to be on being with God for ever!
God chose Abraham to pass it on. If God called Abraham to pass it on, what do you think he is calling us to do? Through our children, our neighbors, people at work, and any other relationships we have need to be focused on passing on Gods plan for eternity!
1 Corinthians 4:14-15 Gods used Paul to pass it on. The same father to son concept. What spiritual generations am I creating for God? Who are my spiritual sons and daughters?
The true cost of hell is a complete and total separation from God or eternity. Heaven is a complete and total connection with God for eternity! When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Abraham saw it as God asking him to sacrifice eternity with Him. God was ultimately asking Abraham to sacrifice his promise and relationship with God for eternity. Abraham had faith that God would keep his promise and was willing to do what ever God called him to do.
God did not call Abraham to do anything that God was not willing to do himself! God spared Abrahams son and sacrificed His own. Jesus took the place of Isaac and took the place of you and me!
Sent from my iPad
Thursday, January 22, 2015
High Expectations!
High Expectations!
What spiritual expectations do I have in my life? What expectations do I have for my brothers? What expectations do I have for our church?
Without high expectations you will always hit your mark and there will be no growth. Jesus had high expectations for his disciples. Jesus said that you will do greater things for God than He did. Jesus had high expectations for the disciples and has not lowered them for us.
As men we need to have high expectations and standards for each other. We need to have high expectations and standards in purity, one another relationships, unity, integrity...etc.
As brothers we need to challenge each other. We need to disciple each other. God has high expectations for us because he loves us and we need to have expectations for ourselves and the people around us out of love!
Above all we need to have high expectations and standards for being committed to Gods word!
Jeremiah 20:1-6; 7-12
Jeremiah was not happy about preach the words of God that were full of destruction and doom. He was beaten and smitten by everyone around him for confronting Israel in sin. Holding the people of Israel accountable and to the standards of Gods people was not an easy task. He did even though it was uncomfortable and not something he liked.
Even though Jeremiah did not like the message he was asked to give, he could not keep it in. It burned like a fire inside of him! Only Gods word has this affect. To be like Jeremiah I need to not hold back the words that God puts on my heart. I cannot hold back the convictions that God has given me.
If Gods word is not written on my heart the worlds desires will be!
What spiritual expectations do I have in my life? What expectations do I have for my brothers? What expectations do I have for our church?
Without high expectations you will always hit your mark and there will be no growth. Jesus had high expectations for his disciples. Jesus said that you will do greater things for God than He did. Jesus had high expectations for the disciples and has not lowered them for us.
As men we need to have high expectations and standards for each other. We need to have high expectations and standards in purity, one another relationships, unity, integrity...etc.
As brothers we need to challenge each other. We need to disciple each other. God has high expectations for us because he loves us and we need to have expectations for ourselves and the people around us out of love!
Above all we need to have high expectations and standards for being committed to Gods word!
Jeremiah 20:1-6; 7-12
Jeremiah was not happy about preach the words of God that were full of destruction and doom. He was beaten and smitten by everyone around him for confronting Israel in sin. Holding the people of Israel accountable and to the standards of Gods people was not an easy task. He did even though it was uncomfortable and not something he liked.
Even though Jeremiah did not like the message he was asked to give, he could not keep it in. It burned like a fire inside of him! Only Gods word has this affect. To be like Jeremiah I need to not hold back the words that God puts on my heart. I cannot hold back the convictions that God has given me.
If Gods word is not written on my heart the worlds desires will be!
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Rest
Matthew 11, Hebrews 4, Psalms 62
Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.w 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.a x 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest...
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
1Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
2Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
I love the way these three scriptures fit together!
The world has a way of beating us down but God has always had a plan for us to find rest in Him and in Him alone! Rest from temptation and sin. Rest from anxiety. Rest from fear. Rest from...you name it!
HE is our sanctuary! Praise God for giving us His rest!
Monday, January 19, 2015
God's Story Part 1
God's Story.
Once upon a time….a story always starts somewhere. Great stories start with great beginnings. You can't have a good story with out a great beginning. Gods does not have a beginning because there was no beginning. God has always been. Gods story that he wanted to tell us begins with the beginning of mankind.
The story of how he made man and a people of His own. To love and care for those people over generations. To send his only son to be the savior that those people need. Gods story is the ultimate love story!
Although God has created and written the story he has made me a part of the story he creates. I have a unique role in this story yet though his power he allows me to make my own decisions and to have my own freewill, to love him or not to love him. Even with my autonomy I am apart of Gods story and the outcome does not change. Gods story is the same.
Genesis 1
God saw that what he created was good! Why not great? Gods creation was good in the deepest sense of the word. Man being made in Gods image, created man to be the fullness og Gods goodness. This is one of the reasons we were created. 2 Peter 1:5
God has made us apart of things from the very beginning. Genesis 2 "Man was with God." Man and Women and were both bare and yet felt no shame. Man walked with God in the garden and there was no shame. Shame is a barrier created by Satan. When there is shame there is no intimacy! I was meant to be intimate with God! God is desperate for that kind of relationship with me!
I need to remove all the barriers that keep me from having that intimate relationship with God!
The garden was described as paradise. What made Eden paradise was not the beautiful greens, ripe fruits, running water falls…etc. Eden was paradise because man was intimate with God! My surroundings do not matter! What matters is that I am intimate with God!
Man chose to sin! Man knew only good. What Satan offered was for man to know both good and evil. The fall of man is the moment in time when man looses intimacy with God. This is the moment when man feels shame for the first time! Sin creates shame and separates us from God! Sin causes man to want to hide from God. Genesis 3
Man is separated from God. Mans relationship with God needs to be restored. I can't solve my shame on my own. Just covering myself with fig leaves is not the solution. Jesus is the only answer to removing shame and restoring intimacy with God!
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
A Team
Team Work by God's design.
Doing work together has a way of creating a bond between people. The same is true spiritually and in Gods church. We need each other and working together is good for us spiritually.
Two people working together do not add there work together, they multiply it.
Genesis 2:18;
God saw early on that man needed help. Not that Gods creation was lacking but it was his will that we should work together. We were never created to operate independently of each other. This is not just in a marriage. God's church was meant to be unified and to operate as a team.
1 Corinthians 12:20-25
No man or women is an island. No one man or women is greater than the other.
Example of a lego. Each individual piece in a lego set was made for a purpose. Each lego is created to connect to other legos. We were created in the same way. Because of the way the lego was created it is able to create multiple things.
Over three thousand pieces in the sand-crawler StarWars lego set. As impressive as I am, I am just a lonely little lego until I am connected to the church. Connected to God's family allows me to become so much more.
When the church interconnects the way we are suppose to, the world sees what God intended for them to see. Our unity is a testimony to the world. John 13:34
Proverbs 27:17; Romans 15:5-6; 1 Peter 4:10
To be truly united we need to be one minded. Our focus as a church needs to be united. Unity is important for our church to be used by God in the way he intended. We all have gifts to be used by God. The beauty of us being made to connect allows us to have all the gifts needed to honor and glorify God.
Phillipians 4:4; 1 Corinthians 1:10
Unity is about agreement. Unity is not necessarily conformity. There should be no divisions among us and we need to be in agreement. Sometimes it takes a lot of work to come to agreement. We may have to work through relationships that have grown cold or work at reconciling in areas that are difficult.
Ephesians 4:11-16
Everyone of us needs to take seriously our role and embrace our place in God's church. We all have work that needs to be done. Who am I connecting with?
Doing work together has a way of creating a bond between people. The same is true spiritually and in Gods church. We need each other and working together is good for us spiritually.
Two people working together do not add there work together, they multiply it.
Genesis 2:18;
God saw early on that man needed help. Not that Gods creation was lacking but it was his will that we should work together. We were never created to operate independently of each other. This is not just in a marriage. God's church was meant to be unified and to operate as a team.
1 Corinthians 12:20-25
No man or women is an island. No one man or women is greater than the other.
Example of a lego. Each individual piece in a lego set was made for a purpose. Each lego is created to connect to other legos. We were created in the same way. Because of the way the lego was created it is able to create multiple things.
Over three thousand pieces in the sand-crawler StarWars lego set. As impressive as I am, I am just a lonely little lego until I am connected to the church. Connected to God's family allows me to become so much more.
When the church interconnects the way we are suppose to, the world sees what God intended for them to see. Our unity is a testimony to the world. John 13:34
Proverbs 27:17; Romans 15:5-6; 1 Peter 4:10
To be truly united we need to be one minded. Our focus as a church needs to be united. Unity is important for our church to be used by God in the way he intended. We all have gifts to be used by God. The beauty of us being made to connect allows us to have all the gifts needed to honor and glorify God.
Phillipians 4:4; 1 Corinthians 1:10
Unity is about agreement. Unity is not necessarily conformity. There should be no divisions among us and we need to be in agreement. Sometimes it takes a lot of work to come to agreement. We may have to work through relationships that have grown cold or work at reconciling in areas that are difficult.
Ephesians 4:11-16
Everyone of us needs to take seriously our role and embrace our place in God's church. We all have work that needs to be done. Who am I connecting with?
Saturday, January 10, 2015
God's incredible mercy!
God's incredible mercy!
-- Summary of the Good Samaritan story! --
Luke 10:36-37
Mercy is to have compassion on someone who is in distress.
We need mercy! It very important for us to understand how desperately we need mercy. Without mercy we would all be dead!
Mercy in three different capacities:
1.) Gods nature of mercy!
Psalms 103:8-9 Exodus 34 the lord is merciful and gracious! Slow to anger! We want mercy for ourselves and struggle with giving mercy to others!
Jeremiah 3:12; Joel 2:13; Hebrews 8:12; Romans 6:3
Our sins are what cause us to be in distress! According to Gods word the sinner must perish! When I sin I am denying Gods goodness!
To what sinners is God merciful to? Not all sinners receive mercy! Who decides who gets mercy?
Romans 9:18
God owes mercy to no one! He gives mercy to whom he chosen! The only people that do not receive Gods mercy is the one who chooses not to receive it. God wants all men to be saved!
Psalms 103:17
2.) The demonstration of God's mercy!
Genesis 19 - Sodom and Gomorrah
Psalms 1:36; Ezra 10:11 God rescued the Israelites from Egypt.
Luke 18 Blind man receives mercy! God and Jesus so compassionate on the distressed!
Ephesians 2:4-5; Titus 3:4-6; 1 Peter 1:3; Isaiah 55:7
3.) The imitation of God's mercy!
Its a great thing to be known as a forgiven! God has given us an example to follow and to receive Gods mercy we need to give mercy!
Luke 6:36; Proverbs 3:3; Micah 6:8
Luke 10:36-37 go and do like wise! Proverbs 11:17; Matthew 5:7
Jesus not only died for my sins but also because of my sins!
Sent from my iPad
-- Summary of the Good Samaritan story! --
Luke 10:36-37
Mercy is to have compassion on someone who is in distress.
We need mercy! It very important for us to understand how desperately we need mercy. Without mercy we would all be dead!
Mercy in three different capacities:
1.) Gods nature of mercy!
Psalms 103:8-9 Exodus 34 the lord is merciful and gracious! Slow to anger! We want mercy for ourselves and struggle with giving mercy to others!
Jeremiah 3:12; Joel 2:13; Hebrews 8:12; Romans 6:3
Our sins are what cause us to be in distress! According to Gods word the sinner must perish! When I sin I am denying Gods goodness!
To what sinners is God merciful to? Not all sinners receive mercy! Who decides who gets mercy?
Romans 9:18
God owes mercy to no one! He gives mercy to whom he chosen! The only people that do not receive Gods mercy is the one who chooses not to receive it. God wants all men to be saved!
Psalms 103:17
2.) The demonstration of God's mercy!
Genesis 19 - Sodom and Gomorrah
Psalms 1:36; Ezra 10:11 God rescued the Israelites from Egypt.
Luke 18 Blind man receives mercy! God and Jesus so compassionate on the distressed!
Ephesians 2:4-5; Titus 3:4-6; 1 Peter 1:3; Isaiah 55:7
3.) The imitation of God's mercy!
Its a great thing to be known as a forgiven! God has given us an example to follow and to receive Gods mercy we need to give mercy!
Luke 6:36; Proverbs 3:3; Micah 6:8
Luke 10:36-37 go and do like wise! Proverbs 11:17; Matthew 5:7
Jesus not only died for my sins but also because of my sins!
Sent from my iPad
Resolutions!
Resolutions!
Everyone loves a fresh start! This is the time of New Years resolutions. We make goals, we set benchmarks, and plan to have a better year than the year before. Statistically only 8% of New Years resolutions are every carried through the whole year.
New Years resolutions can become a very cynical process. We can loose hope in ever really believing that we can truly change!
Through Jesus we get to press the reset button daily! It's not about failing or success but about resolve to keep fighting. To pick yourself up when we fall and to be determined not to give up!!
Malachi 2:2
God calls his people to resolve to honor Him. This needs to be the focus of any resolution we make. To honor God in everything that we do! This starts with a decision in our hearts!
How can we honor God without listening to him? It also starts with reading our bibles daily! We can not honor God without listen to him and hearing his instructions! Listening to God also involves listen to the people that God has put in our lives.
Daniel 1:8
Not to defile ourselves the way the world does should be the bases for our resolutions as well. Sexual purity. Materialism. Greed. Pride.
1 Corinthians 2:2-
Paul made a resolution to know nothing but the cross of Christ!! Paul looked at all the knowledge he had obtained in his life and considered it nothing in comparison to Jesus and his crucifixion!
What Paul is saying is that he never allowed Jesus to leave his mind. Jesus was always the focus in everything that Paul did!
Being a Christian has to be something we are and not a role we play!
Everyone loves a fresh start! This is the time of New Years resolutions. We make goals, we set benchmarks, and plan to have a better year than the year before. Statistically only 8% of New Years resolutions are every carried through the whole year.
New Years resolutions can become a very cynical process. We can loose hope in ever really believing that we can truly change!
Through Jesus we get to press the reset button daily! It's not about failing or success but about resolve to keep fighting. To pick yourself up when we fall and to be determined not to give up!!
Malachi 2:2
God calls his people to resolve to honor Him. This needs to be the focus of any resolution we make. To honor God in everything that we do! This starts with a decision in our hearts!
How can we honor God without listening to him? It also starts with reading our bibles daily! We can not honor God without listen to him and hearing his instructions! Listening to God also involves listen to the people that God has put in our lives.
Daniel 1:8
Not to defile ourselves the way the world does should be the bases for our resolutions as well. Sexual purity. Materialism. Greed. Pride.
1 Corinthians 2:2-
Paul made a resolution to know nothing but the cross of Christ!! Paul looked at all the knowledge he had obtained in his life and considered it nothing in comparison to Jesus and his crucifixion!
What Paul is saying is that he never allowed Jesus to leave his mind. Jesus was always the focus in everything that Paul did!
Being a Christian has to be something we are and not a role we play!
The church that Jesus intended!
The church that Jesus intended!
Who are we as a church? Who does God want us to be? 80% of the churches in America fall into the entertainment category and there is no real call for their members to be sold out for Christ!
Jesus has to be Lord of my life! I need to call my brothers to be committed to the decision that they made to make Jesus lord of their lives! Church should be a breeding ground of convictions and encouragement to stand firm. We need to stop being so comfortable with each other's weaknesses and sin. To truly love each other we need to call each other higher!
What is my vision and dreams do I have for the church? Do I want to be apart of the church that Jesus intended?
Acts 2:41-47
These 7 verses show the characteristics of the first church. The church that God intended. Baptisms, devoted to teaching, unified believers, abundant giving, meet daily, shared meals, and praised God continually!
How to be a faithful church that God intended:
1.) live by Gods word and through his will!
Everything should evolve around Gods word!
Matthew 28:18-20....Teach and obey! God expects us to teach his Word and then obey it. The church is not perfect but we need to strive to be! There is a lot of teach with no real commitment to obey in most churches!
2.) be family through genuine fellowship!
Acts 2:42
The word fellowship is based of a definition of brotherly love! There is no color or race. We are all Gods children and racism should never be found in Gods church.
3.) Honor and practice communion!
Acts 2:42
Remembering the cross and my personal salvation helps me reset my focus to be the church that God intends!
4.) Prayer
Mark 11:25; Luke 6:12 there is a need in our churches for more people to be committed to pray! There is tremendous power in prayer!
5.) complete unity!
Acts 2:44
Satan wants to divide and conquer. We need to be unified on Gods word. We cannot allow mans agenda to nullify what Gods word says!
Who are we as a church? Who does God want us to be? 80% of the churches in America fall into the entertainment category and there is no real call for their members to be sold out for Christ!
Jesus has to be Lord of my life! I need to call my brothers to be committed to the decision that they made to make Jesus lord of their lives! Church should be a breeding ground of convictions and encouragement to stand firm. We need to stop being so comfortable with each other's weaknesses and sin. To truly love each other we need to call each other higher!
What is my vision and dreams do I have for the church? Do I want to be apart of the church that Jesus intended?
Acts 2:41-47
These 7 verses show the characteristics of the first church. The church that God intended. Baptisms, devoted to teaching, unified believers, abundant giving, meet daily, shared meals, and praised God continually!
How to be a faithful church that God intended:
1.) live by Gods word and through his will!
Everything should evolve around Gods word!
Matthew 28:18-20....Teach and obey! God expects us to teach his Word and then obey it. The church is not perfect but we need to strive to be! There is a lot of teach with no real commitment to obey in most churches!
2.) be family through genuine fellowship!
Acts 2:42
The word fellowship is based of a definition of brotherly love! There is no color or race. We are all Gods children and racism should never be found in Gods church.
3.) Honor and practice communion!
Acts 2:42
Remembering the cross and my personal salvation helps me reset my focus to be the church that God intends!
4.) Prayer
Mark 11:25; Luke 6:12 there is a need in our churches for more people to be committed to pray! There is tremendous power in prayer!
5.) complete unity!
Acts 2:44
Satan wants to divide and conquer. We need to be unified on Gods word. We cannot allow mans agenda to nullify what Gods word says!
4 Deadly Sins!
4 Deadly Sins!
4 sins that keep us from leading!
Jesus put an emphasis on men. When he chose 12 apostles he didn't choose 6 women and 6 men. Jesus call us men to lead!
Every disciple has a desire to want to make a difference and evangelize. So why are we not stepping up as men and leading the charge to see this purpose for filled?
1 Corinthians 10:1-11
This issues have not changed. The same issues in Corinth back then are the same issues that we struggle with today. Sin was destroying the Corinthians from become who they were suppose to be!
4 deadly sins:
1.) Idolatry - putting anything....anything before God! Matthew 13:45-46. I have been called to give everything to God. When I put anything before God it needs to be destroyed and cast out of my heart.
2.) Sexual immorality - three different times in Corinthians Paul talks about sexual sin! The worst thing about sexual sin is that it drains you spiritually and kills any spiritual drive you may have for God! As brothers we have to be willing to be completely open with each other. If we do not get totally open we will remain in spiritual bondage! We have got to get real with each other!
3.) Testing the Lord - how do we test the Lord? We test Him when we question his word. We question whether God really mean what he says. Mark 8:38, Ephesians 5:3, Philippians 2:14 for example.
4.) Grumbling - this sin is so distracting that God sent and angel of death! Grumbling against leadership for example. Grumbling keeps us from becoming unified in our purpose. Proverbs 20:14. Grumbling about the church tears down its value!
4 sins that keep us from leading!
Jesus put an emphasis on men. When he chose 12 apostles he didn't choose 6 women and 6 men. Jesus call us men to lead!
Every disciple has a desire to want to make a difference and evangelize. So why are we not stepping up as men and leading the charge to see this purpose for filled?
1 Corinthians 10:1-11
This issues have not changed. The same issues in Corinth back then are the same issues that we struggle with today. Sin was destroying the Corinthians from become who they were suppose to be!
4 deadly sins:
1.) Idolatry - putting anything....anything before God! Matthew 13:45-46. I have been called to give everything to God. When I put anything before God it needs to be destroyed and cast out of my heart.
2.) Sexual immorality - three different times in Corinthians Paul talks about sexual sin! The worst thing about sexual sin is that it drains you spiritually and kills any spiritual drive you may have for God! As brothers we have to be willing to be completely open with each other. If we do not get totally open we will remain in spiritual bondage! We have got to get real with each other!
3.) Testing the Lord - how do we test the Lord? We test Him when we question his word. We question whether God really mean what he says. Mark 8:38, Ephesians 5:3, Philippians 2:14 for example.
4.) Grumbling - this sin is so distracting that God sent and angel of death! Grumbling against leadership for example. Grumbling keeps us from becoming unified in our purpose. Proverbs 20:14. Grumbling about the church tears down its value!
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Men by nature think they know it all.
Men by nature think they know it all.
Matthew 11:25-28
When it comes to learning about God it is not a matter of knowledge or wisdom per say. God revels it to you. Reveals it to children and withholds it from the "wise".
If we are smart in our own eyes and God reveals something to me, how am I going to receive it? I will receive it as though I Leander it with my own power! This is the element of the children that God is talking about. God is not going to reveal himself to you until you are ready!
If I think I know all there is to know about God why would he reveal anything else to me?
Matthew 18:1-5
Why is a child the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? A child is teachable, open minded and pure in heart! Children constantly ask the question "why." Children are constantly in explore mode! As students of Christ we need to maintain a curiosity, openness and teachability towards Gods word! We need to be constantly exploring who God is!
Children take low positions. They take a humble position.
Matthew 19:13-15
Why were people bringing children to Jesus to be blessed? We understand that little children need to be blessed if they are to grow and succeed in life! Why don't we seek blessing like this for ourselves? At what point do we go from needing a blessing to not needing one at all? When our arrogance tells us that we no longer really need help. The truth is we need more help and blessing from God now than before!
It's about pride in my heart. God can do so much more with me when I let go of my pride and surrender to Him! To think I can do it on my own is pride! What does this all mean for me? What do I need to grow in? What do I need to learn?
Imagine what my life would look like if I had the heart of a child in these areas? I need to ask for help and admit that I don't have all the answers. I need to be willing to be taught!
Matthew 11:25-28
When it comes to learning about God it is not a matter of knowledge or wisdom per say. God revels it to you. Reveals it to children and withholds it from the "wise".
If we are smart in our own eyes and God reveals something to me, how am I going to receive it? I will receive it as though I Leander it with my own power! This is the element of the children that God is talking about. God is not going to reveal himself to you until you are ready!
If I think I know all there is to know about God why would he reveal anything else to me?
Matthew 18:1-5
Why is a child the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? A child is teachable, open minded and pure in heart! Children constantly ask the question "why." Children are constantly in explore mode! As students of Christ we need to maintain a curiosity, openness and teachability towards Gods word! We need to be constantly exploring who God is!
Children take low positions. They take a humble position.
Matthew 19:13-15
Why were people bringing children to Jesus to be blessed? We understand that little children need to be blessed if they are to grow and succeed in life! Why don't we seek blessing like this for ourselves? At what point do we go from needing a blessing to not needing one at all? When our arrogance tells us that we no longer really need help. The truth is we need more help and blessing from God now than before!
It's about pride in my heart. God can do so much more with me when I let go of my pride and surrender to Him! To think I can do it on my own is pride! What does this all mean for me? What do I need to grow in? What do I need to learn?
Imagine what my life would look like if I had the heart of a child in these areas? I need to ask for help and admit that I don't have all the answers. I need to be willing to be taught!
Christmas is a religious holiday that is losing it
Christmas is a religious holiday that is losing its religion!
When you ask the question, "what is the meaning of Christmas" your asking the question of "why did Jesus come?". Christmas is celebrated much more than Easter and really Easter has the greater meaning. Keep Christ in Christmas is a cliche that means what? Does Christ just want us to remember him during Christmas?
Why did Christ come. Why should we celebrate Jesus birth? What is important?Leading up to Jesus birth there were two truths revealed by the angles.
Luke 1:27-33
The "King" has been born!
Matthew 1:18-21
A "Savior" has been born!
Luke 2:8-11
A savior has been born and he is our King! No matter who you are, from Jesus parents to the shepherd in the fields the message is the same. Your king and savior has been born!
Jesus had a lot of great qualities that the Christmas season tries to exalt. His giving, helping the poor...etc. those are great things but the message was not about giving and sharing with each other. Christmas has turned into to a season of just giving and receiving!
Hearing that you King and savior arrives requires a response. A life changing response! Even Jong as a fetus in his mothers womb could not even ignore that his King and savior had arrived when jumped in his mothers womb! King Harold could not ignore that Jesus was born to be King!
Seeing a baby in manger really does not do anything to change our lives! The nativity seen is useless until we acknowledge that our King and savior has arrived!
When your king arrives you have to submit! It's about lordship! We want Christmas without lordship. Christmas was not meant to remind us to just be nice people. Santa never required us to make a decision and have a life changing response. Jesus does require us to respond!
1 Samuel 8:10-18 God teaches Israel what it meant to have a king!
Jesus is a perfect King but it does not remove the fact that Jesus is a king!
A kings wealth will come before your own. His priorities will come before your own! His plans will come before your own. He will have complete authority over you! Jesus is the KING OF KINGS! How much more should we submit and give to Jesus!
Jesus is a benevolent dictator. His ways are always in our best interest. Ever thing he does is out of love for us. There is no democracy! Jesus puts our needs ahead of his by being a sacrifice! He is through a dictator. His time comes before my own! My life should be subject to him in every way!!
He is the king and I am his subject!
Luke 19:10
Jesus is my savior! Have been saved by Jesus? This is the number one reason for the season! The question should not be have I helped the poor or giving to charity. Salvation is question!
Saviors come into rescue! Satan was winning in my life! I was defeated and hopeless! I need a savior! Jesus came in and saved me! Jesus us saved me from so much pain and sin in my life! Have I rejected Him as my king? I am allowing sin to reign in my life again. Jesus is a continual savior and I am in desperate need of Jesus to save me daily!
All the things that the world considers as a good Christmas ( no debt, lots of gifts, full of instant gratification and pleasure ) pales in comparison to what God meant for Christmas to mean! Jesus is my King and my Savior!!
When you ask the question, "what is the meaning of Christmas" your asking the question of "why did Jesus come?". Christmas is celebrated much more than Easter and really Easter has the greater meaning. Keep Christ in Christmas is a cliche that means what? Does Christ just want us to remember him during Christmas?
Why did Christ come. Why should we celebrate Jesus birth? What is important?Leading up to Jesus birth there were two truths revealed by the angles.
Luke 1:27-33
The "King" has been born!
Matthew 1:18-21
A "Savior" has been born!
Luke 2:8-11
A savior has been born and he is our King! No matter who you are, from Jesus parents to the shepherd in the fields the message is the same. Your king and savior has been born!
Jesus had a lot of great qualities that the Christmas season tries to exalt. His giving, helping the poor...etc. those are great things but the message was not about giving and sharing with each other. Christmas has turned into to a season of just giving and receiving!
Hearing that you King and savior arrives requires a response. A life changing response! Even Jong as a fetus in his mothers womb could not even ignore that his King and savior had arrived when jumped in his mothers womb! King Harold could not ignore that Jesus was born to be King!
Seeing a baby in manger really does not do anything to change our lives! The nativity seen is useless until we acknowledge that our King and savior has arrived!
When your king arrives you have to submit! It's about lordship! We want Christmas without lordship. Christmas was not meant to remind us to just be nice people. Santa never required us to make a decision and have a life changing response. Jesus does require us to respond!
1 Samuel 8:10-18 God teaches Israel what it meant to have a king!
Jesus is a perfect King but it does not remove the fact that Jesus is a king!
A kings wealth will come before your own. His priorities will come before your own! His plans will come before your own. He will have complete authority over you! Jesus is the KING OF KINGS! How much more should we submit and give to Jesus!
Jesus is a benevolent dictator. His ways are always in our best interest. Ever thing he does is out of love for us. There is no democracy! Jesus puts our needs ahead of his by being a sacrifice! He is through a dictator. His time comes before my own! My life should be subject to him in every way!!
He is the king and I am his subject!
Luke 19:10
Jesus is my savior! Have been saved by Jesus? This is the number one reason for the season! The question should not be have I helped the poor or giving to charity. Salvation is question!
Saviors come into rescue! Satan was winning in my life! I was defeated and hopeless! I need a savior! Jesus came in and saved me! Jesus us saved me from so much pain and sin in my life! Have I rejected Him as my king? I am allowing sin to reign in my life again. Jesus is a continual savior and I am in desperate need of Jesus to save me daily!
All the things that the world considers as a good Christmas ( no debt, lots of gifts, full of instant gratification and pleasure ) pales in comparison to what God meant for Christmas to mean! Jesus is my King and my Savior!!
Don't miss the manger!
Don't miss the manger!
Luke 2:1-7
The savior of this world was born in a manger next to live stock and into poverty. The Christmas story, the day Jesus was born was a day of hope that gave me an opportunity to have eternal life!
Why did so many miss the manger? There was only a few shepherds and wise men that attended Jesus birth. Where was everyone else. What in their lives were more important than the birth of Jesus?
It is easy to miss the manger. Life stresses and priorities can be a big distraction!
Luke 2:8-16
We need to be intentional and determined about what we are going to do. The shepherds were intentional about seeing Jesus and determined to do it!
Luke 2:25-35
Knowing that Jesus came is only the beginning. We need to know why he came!
Acts 17:24-27
Where ever we go and what ever we do God is working so that we will know him. So that we won't miss the manger.
Luke 2:1-7
The savior of this world was born in a manger next to live stock and into poverty. The Christmas story, the day Jesus was born was a day of hope that gave me an opportunity to have eternal life!
Why did so many miss the manger? There was only a few shepherds and wise men that attended Jesus birth. Where was everyone else. What in their lives were more important than the birth of Jesus?
It is easy to miss the manger. Life stresses and priorities can be a big distraction!
Luke 2:8-16
We need to be intentional and determined about what we are going to do. The shepherds were intentional about seeing Jesus and determined to do it!
Luke 2:25-35
Knowing that Jesus came is only the beginning. We need to know why he came!
Acts 17:24-27
Where ever we go and what ever we do God is working so that we will know him. So that we won't miss the manger.
Christmas is synonymous with Christmas wish lists!
Christmas is synonymous with Christmas wish lists! Some of our kids wishes are outrageous and extreme. Kids wanting sea monsters, actual reindeers....etc. kids are great at dreaming and wishing for things that they think they need.
All through out the bible there are examples of people who think they new what they needed. Adam thought he needed to eat from the tree of life. Jacob thought he needed his fathers blessing regardless of what was right. The de icicles thought they needed to compete for Jesus love and position in his kingdom.
We all think we know what we need to be happy. Materialism is an example. If I Just had this I would be happy. If I just had success at work then I would be happy. If I just had more of ??? I would be happy! What we think we need often times comes from a lack of what we really need.
It's so easy to run after the things we think we need. The world tries to define what you need. Am I chasing after the wrong things? Christmas is a time when this is more visible in our lives.
The truth is that God is the expert on what we really need. What parent does not know what is best for their child? What we really need is a savior! What we need most is forgiveness and Christmas is a reminder that God has provided what we really need!
Everything about Jesus birth and life was planned by God and with a purpose!
Micah 5:2-5
500 years before Jesus birth and Micah is giving the exact place of Jesus birth! God did not just send a savior to the world because that's what they need and he supplies what the world needs! He sent a savior for me and what I really needed!
Romans 5:6-8
God sent me a savior at just the right time for me! God ignored success and power. He ignored material things and sent me a King to save me from certain death! What do I want for Christmas? The answer should be grace, salvation and the blood of Jesus! What I need is forgiveness! This is why we take communion so that we never forget what we really need!
1 Corinthians 2:2 shut out every distraction this season and get resolved to know nothing but Jesus and his crucifixion!
All through out the bible there are examples of people who think they new what they needed. Adam thought he needed to eat from the tree of life. Jacob thought he needed his fathers blessing regardless of what was right. The de icicles thought they needed to compete for Jesus love and position in his kingdom.
We all think we know what we need to be happy. Materialism is an example. If I Just had this I would be happy. If I just had success at work then I would be happy. If I just had more of ??? I would be happy! What we think we need often times comes from a lack of what we really need.
It's so easy to run after the things we think we need. The world tries to define what you need. Am I chasing after the wrong things? Christmas is a time when this is more visible in our lives.
The truth is that God is the expert on what we really need. What parent does not know what is best for their child? What we really need is a savior! What we need most is forgiveness and Christmas is a reminder that God has provided what we really need!
Everything about Jesus birth and life was planned by God and with a purpose!
Micah 5:2-5
500 years before Jesus birth and Micah is giving the exact place of Jesus birth! God did not just send a savior to the world because that's what they need and he supplies what the world needs! He sent a savior for me and what I really needed!
Romans 5:6-8
God sent me a savior at just the right time for me! God ignored success and power. He ignored material things and sent me a King to save me from certain death! What do I want for Christmas? The answer should be grace, salvation and the blood of Jesus! What I need is forgiveness! This is why we take communion so that we never forget what we really need!
1 Corinthians 2:2 shut out every distraction this season and get resolved to know nothing but Jesus and his crucifixion!
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Lesson from Abel
Lesson from Abel
Genesis 4:2-7
Vs 3 in the course of time...why? Did Cain take time to get a heart to want to give?
When you pick fruit at the grocery store what do you do? What would the first fruits look like? What was Cain giving God?
Vs 4 Abel also brought an offering. Both were giving to God on some level. Is making an offering enough?
What was Abel offering God?
In what ways do we give God less than our best?
What does it look like to give good our first fruits?
Vs 6 Why would Cain be angry? Jealous or upset that his offering wasn't good enough?
Sometimes we set limits on how much we give of our lives to God and when God doesn't look on us with favor we get angry and resentful towards Him.
Maybe Cain thought that what he was giving should have been enough?
Vs 7 "just do what is right"...seems too simple? What is God telling Cain here? There is a connection between allowing sin to master us and not giving to God. The offering we bring to God exposes where our hearts are.
In what ways do you need to offer God more?
Genesis 4:2-7
Vs 3 in the course of time...why? Did Cain take time to get a heart to want to give?
When you pick fruit at the grocery store what do you do? What would the first fruits look like? What was Cain giving God?
Vs 4 Abel also brought an offering. Both were giving to God on some level. Is making an offering enough?
What was Abel offering God?
In what ways do we give God less than our best?
What does it look like to give good our first fruits?
Vs 6 Why would Cain be angry? Jealous or upset that his offering wasn't good enough?
Sometimes we set limits on how much we give of our lives to God and when God doesn't look on us with favor we get angry and resentful towards Him.
Maybe Cain thought that what he was giving should have been enough?
Vs 7 "just do what is right"...seems too simple? What is God telling Cain here? There is a connection between allowing sin to master us and not giving to God. The offering we bring to God exposes where our hearts are.
In what ways do you need to offer God more?
Moses: Man of faith!
Moses: Man of faith!
Imaging your an Israelite and you hear this... Exodus 1:22...imagine your were expecting a child and had no idea if it was going to be a boy or a girl?
Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses's family hid him. By faith they sent down a river and trusted God that he would take care of Moses.
Hebrews 11:25 by faith Moses chose to with his people. He sacrificed the life he could have had and was offered to him. Hebrews 11:26-27
Moses parents deliberately went against the king of Egypt and taught owes to value Gods will for his life instead of following the edicts of a king who was opposed to God!
Moses learned to have great faith through his parents and their example!
Exodus 2:11-12 Moses became a murder and a marked man. Acts 7:25 over night Moses became a fugitive. An outlaw to the Egyptians and despised by the Israelites. He did not yet become the leader that he thought Israel would embrace.
Exodus 2:23 Mose wondered during this time for forty years as a shepherd. With no purpose I'm his life. He had never become the leader of Egypt like he had thought.
Exodus 3:7-10 Moses probably thought God was done using him. He thought his best days where be hind him but God had great plans for his life. It was not Gods timing earlier and now Moses was in the moment where God was about to use him!
God had a job Taylor made for Moses. Moses was wondering in the desert and had lost his dream of helping his people. God had a plan all the while and was ready to use him. God used that time in the desert to teach Moses and mold him into the man that he needed to be!
Moses caught a glimpse of Gods power in the burning bush. Moses allowed God to use him and rescued Israel with all power!
The Israelites did nothing but complaining and argue with Moses. God wanted to destroy Israel and Moses stood up for Israel and begged God not to destroy them!
God listens to man...how awesome is that that the most high, almighty God considers mans thoughts and concerns!
Moses spent days with God on the mountain and came down in full glory of God! How hard am I wrestling with God to know and be filled with Gods glory? Moses face was radiant! All Israel knew that Moses had spent time in Gods presence!
Hebrews 11:6 God rewards those who earnestly seek him! Am I seeking God the way that I should? Am I readying and praying everyday?!
Matthew 7:7 I need to look and seek God in every area of my life!
Imaging your an Israelite and you hear this... Exodus 1:22...imagine your were expecting a child and had no idea if it was going to be a boy or a girl?
Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses's family hid him. By faith they sent down a river and trusted God that he would take care of Moses.
Hebrews 11:25 by faith Moses chose to with his people. He sacrificed the life he could have had and was offered to him. Hebrews 11:26-27
Moses parents deliberately went against the king of Egypt and taught owes to value Gods will for his life instead of following the edicts of a king who was opposed to God!
Moses learned to have great faith through his parents and their example!
Exodus 2:11-12 Moses became a murder and a marked man. Acts 7:25 over night Moses became a fugitive. An outlaw to the Egyptians and despised by the Israelites. He did not yet become the leader that he thought Israel would embrace.
Exodus 2:23 Mose wondered during this time for forty years as a shepherd. With no purpose I'm his life. He had never become the leader of Egypt like he had thought.
Exodus 3:7-10 Moses probably thought God was done using him. He thought his best days where be hind him but God had great plans for his life. It was not Gods timing earlier and now Moses was in the moment where God was about to use him!
God had a job Taylor made for Moses. Moses was wondering in the desert and had lost his dream of helping his people. God had a plan all the while and was ready to use him. God used that time in the desert to teach Moses and mold him into the man that he needed to be!
Moses caught a glimpse of Gods power in the burning bush. Moses allowed God to use him and rescued Israel with all power!
The Israelites did nothing but complaining and argue with Moses. God wanted to destroy Israel and Moses stood up for Israel and begged God not to destroy them!
God listens to man...how awesome is that that the most high, almighty God considers mans thoughts and concerns!
Moses spent days with God on the mountain and came down in full glory of God! How hard am I wrestling with God to know and be filled with Gods glory? Moses face was radiant! All Israel knew that Moses had spent time in Gods presence!
Hebrews 11:6 God rewards those who earnestly seek him! Am I seeking God the way that I should? Am I readying and praying everyday?!
Matthew 7:7 I need to look and seek God in every area of my life!
Let's get away!
Let's get away!
Song of Songs 7:11-12
This book talks a lot about getting away. We need to disconnect from cell phones, tv, the world around us and spend time connecting with my wife emotionally, spiritually and of course physically!
Song of Songs 1:15-16
I need to compliment my wife daily!! This book talks a lot about complimenting each other. The world tears people down. There is no compliments. We need to build one another up in love and encourage!
Song of Songs 4:16
The bible talks about preparing to be together. The phone call during the middle of the day. The small kiss when you get home. Embracing!
Song of Songs 2:16; 6:3; 7:10
I need to focus on my wife! She is mine! This is exclusive, there is no one else! Surrender and submission come and increases a persons desire for you!
Proverbs 5:18-19 Ecclesiastes 9:9
Song of Songs 5:16
God designed marriage to be a friendship! My wife is my best friend.
Sing to my wife this week. Write a poem to my wife this month.
Song of Songs 8:6-7
Love is a powerful emotion! I need to unleash my love and never hold it back!
Song of Songs 7:11-12
This book talks a lot about getting away. We need to disconnect from cell phones, tv, the world around us and spend time connecting with my wife emotionally, spiritually and of course physically!
Song of Songs 1:15-16
I need to compliment my wife daily!! This book talks a lot about complimenting each other. The world tears people down. There is no compliments. We need to build one another up in love and encourage!
Song of Songs 4:16
The bible talks about preparing to be together. The phone call during the middle of the day. The small kiss when you get home. Embracing!
Song of Songs 2:16; 6:3; 7:10
I need to focus on my wife! She is mine! This is exclusive, there is no one else! Surrender and submission come and increases a persons desire for you!
Proverbs 5:18-19 Ecclesiastes 9:9
Song of Songs 5:16
God designed marriage to be a friendship! My wife is my best friend.
Sing to my wife this week. Write a poem to my wife this month.
Song of Songs 8:6-7
Love is a powerful emotion! I need to unleash my love and never hold it back!
Hall of fame
Hall of fame
There is a hall of fame for almost everything! Hall of fame acknowledges the best of the best! It's an honor to be admitted to a hall of fame.
Hebrews 11 - the hall of fame of faith! What would it take to be in this hall of fame? They were not chosen for being perfect. Many of these people of faith did many things wrong but they were all noted as men and women of action!
What is faith?
Hebrews 11:1-2
God's definition of Faith is paradoxical. Hope implies an uncertainty and yet faith requires us to hope with complete certainty! Confidence!
What faith is not!
Faith is not emotional. Faith isn't unprovable. Faith isn't a feeling in the moment. Faith is not some magical force and yet it is a powerful force! Faith is not just a belief. Faith is when you take action. True Faith requires action! A leap of faith!
Hebrews 11:3
To try and understand faith every culture and society has tried to explain creation. God did not make stuff out of other stuff. God created the universe out of nothing! Faith is the only option to believe. Faith is believing before it is proven!
Able gave to God without any proof that it was the right thing to do. We know today through scripture that giving is a healthy thing for us to do. Giving molds our hearts and builds our character.
Hebrews 11:7
Living in the desert Noah be lived in what seemed completely absurd. Through faith he took action and was obedient! Noah acted on faith before the first drops of water came. Before the prof came, Noah acted on faith!
Faith for these mean was a confidence and assurance for things that had not been proving yet.
Heaven is real and so is hell although we cannot prove it yet! What should our lives look like if we live by faith? We need to have a standard that goes far beyond what we can see and prove!
How, where, and when do I obey God?
How...in the way I want or the way God demands?
Where...at church on Sunday or everyday of the week?
When...when I eel blessed by God or even in hard times?
Having faith in the cross calls me to love and obey God completely! Jesus in faith offered himself for me before I could even prove that I would change and live for him!
There is a hall of fame for almost everything! Hall of fame acknowledges the best of the best! It's an honor to be admitted to a hall of fame.
Hebrews 11 - the hall of fame of faith! What would it take to be in this hall of fame? They were not chosen for being perfect. Many of these people of faith did many things wrong but they were all noted as men and women of action!
What is faith?
Hebrews 11:1-2
God's definition of Faith is paradoxical. Hope implies an uncertainty and yet faith requires us to hope with complete certainty! Confidence!
What faith is not!
Faith is not emotional. Faith isn't unprovable. Faith isn't a feeling in the moment. Faith is not some magical force and yet it is a powerful force! Faith is not just a belief. Faith is when you take action. True Faith requires action! A leap of faith!
Hebrews 11:3
To try and understand faith every culture and society has tried to explain creation. God did not make stuff out of other stuff. God created the universe out of nothing! Faith is the only option to believe. Faith is believing before it is proven!
Able gave to God without any proof that it was the right thing to do. We know today through scripture that giving is a healthy thing for us to do. Giving molds our hearts and builds our character.
Hebrews 11:7
Living in the desert Noah be lived in what seemed completely absurd. Through faith he took action and was obedient! Noah acted on faith before the first drops of water came. Before the prof came, Noah acted on faith!
Faith for these mean was a confidence and assurance for things that had not been proving yet.
Heaven is real and so is hell although we cannot prove it yet! What should our lives look like if we live by faith? We need to have a standard that goes far beyond what we can see and prove!
How, where, and when do I obey God?
How...in the way I want or the way God demands?
Where...at church on Sunday or everyday of the week?
When...when I eel blessed by God or even in hard times?
Having faith in the cross calls me to love and obey God completely! Jesus in faith offered himself for me before I could even prove that I would change and live for him!
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