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Week 7: Preparation, Temptation, and Service

2/16/2021

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Scripture:
"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.' But He answered and said, 'It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.' Then the devil took Him along into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and he said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written: He will give His angels orders concerning You; and On their hands they will lift You up, So that You do not strike Your foot against a stone.’ Jesus said to him, 'On the other hand, it is written: ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.' Again, the devil took Him along to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, 'All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Go away, Satan! For it is written: You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’ Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to serve Him." -Matthew 4:1-11 (NASB)

"'Even now,' declares the Lord, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.' Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing--grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God." -Joel 2:12-14  (NIV)

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." -I Peter 5:6-8 (NASB)

"Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him." -Isaiah 30:18 (NASB)

Introduction:
As Lent approaches, we remember the time Jesus spend fasing and preparing for His ministry. Many people also take this time to spiritually prepare for the events of Holy Week, including the death and resurrection of Jesus as a sacrifice for our sin. We can reflect on the time that Jesus spent fasting and resisting the temptations of the devil in the wilderness and we can consider our own preparation as we navigate the challenges of this world.

We all have temptations in our lives. We may also get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. Taking time to reflect on our lives and on the example of Jesus can help us prepare for Lent and Easter. What can we learn as we take time to reflect?

Sunday:
We have all experienced temptations. There is something that is our weakness. It may be material things or behaviors. These temptations can sneak up on us. We may be able to resist thing in the moment, but Jesus experienced temptations while spending time fasting in the wilderness. Jesus exhibited strength because of His relationship with God and His knowledge of God's Word. When we are faced with temptations, we can call on God for strength and wisdom!

*What temptations do you face in the world? How can we resist temptations through a relationship with God and understanding His Word?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for strength, wisdom, and relationship with You that can help me to resist temptation and to draw closer to You. Help me to prepare my heart, mind, and body for a deeper relationship with You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.
​
Monday:
There is a quote that says, "Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell." We are faced with a stream of temptation in our lives. Sometimes our temptations seem like they will make our life easier both now and later. Sometimes it feels like the only solution may be to give in. However, we do not have to give in to temptation. We can resist and find strength in God. 

*What do you do in the face of temptation?

*Are there temptations that seem to persist and never go away? What do you need to give to God to allow Him to help you resist temptation?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for strength, wisdom, and relationship with You that can help me to resist temptation and to draw closer to You. Help me to prepare my heart, mind, and body for a deeper relationship with You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Tuesday:
We can remember the example of Jesus resisting temptation. We can build relationships with God that allow us to overcome temptation. Beyond resisting temptation, we need to reflect on the circumstances surrounding these temptations and our spiritual lives. We can focus on returning our hearts or keeping our hearts centered on God. Beyond the temptations in our lives, we need to be sure we are moving closer to God and away from the temptations. We need to humble ourselves and follow His call!

*In what ways do you need to be more humble?

*How can being humble bring you closer to God and help you resist temptation?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for strength, wisdom, and relationship with You that can help me to resist temptation and to draw closer to You. Help me to prepare my heart, mind, and body for a deeper relationship with You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.​

Wednesday:
God calls us to serve Him. Serving Him will not always be easy. The world in which we live may not understand our reasons. Because of this, we may experience resistance and adversity. It is during these times that we need to be especially aware of the challenges in our lives and the stumbling blocks that the devil places in our paths. We need to be sure we are communicating with God and heeding His advice. As we follow God and serve Him, we can experience joy in our lives that only He can provide!

*What adversity or challenges have you experienced when preparing to and serving God?

*How can you be sure you are following God's guidance?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for strength, wisdom, and relationship with You that can help me to resist temptation and to draw closer to You. Help me to prepare my heart, mind, and body for a deeper relationship with You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Thursday:
​We need to humble ourselves and move closer to God. We should take steps in our lives to return to God and move closer to Him. We need to mourn and show our sorrow with sincerity. Our repentance cannot just be for show. We need to privately open our heart to God and allow Him to heal and redeem us. As we are reminded in the book of Joel, God is gracious, loving, and compassionate. When we go to God with certainty that He will embrace and restore us!

*How can you move closer to God?

*What do you need to privately repent to God?

*What do you need to do to let go and allow God to restore you?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for strength, wisdom, and relationship with You that can help me to resist temptation and to draw closer to You. Help me to prepare my heart, mind, and body for a deeper relationship with You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Friday:
The Easter season and springtime remind us of the power of rebirth and renewal. The seasons may also remind us that things happen according to God's timing. When we serve Him and humble ourselves before Him, He promises to bring us into His glory. We just need to wait for God's perfect timing. We can prepare and serve Him, but it is in His time that we will be exalted!

*What can you do to prepare and serve God?

*How do you remind yourself that everything happens in God's perfect time?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for strength, wisdom, and relationship with You that can help me to resist temptation and to draw closer to You. Help me to prepare my heart, mind, and body for a deeper relationship with You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Saturday:
There are times when we may be hard on ourselves. All of us make mistakes. We all fall short of reaching God's perfection. However, we need to remember that God is gracious. Isaiah 30:18 reminds us that God is waiting to have compassion on us. He longs to be gracious. He sent His Son to redeem each of us. We should continue to do our best for God, but when we fall short or struggle, we need to remember to go to move closer to God and welcome His grace and compassion in our lives!

*What do you do when you feel that you have fallen short?

*Can you accept God's grace and compassion in your life? Take time to pray and ask God to help you accept His grace and thank Him for His grace!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for strength, wisdom, and relationship with You that can help me to resist temptation and to draw closer to You. Help me to prepare my heart, mind, and body for a deeper relationship with You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.
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Week 6: Victory!

2/7/2021

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Scripture:
"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" -I John 5:4-5 (NASB)

"But He said, 'The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.'" -Luke 18:27 (NASB)

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." -I Corinthians 9:24-28 (NASB)

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encombrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." -Hebrews 12:1-2 (NASB)

"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." -I Corinthians 15:56-57 (NASB)

Introduction:
The Super Bowl, like other prominent sporting events, may give us the chance to cheer for a team and to celebrate winning. We can be happy when our team reaches the highest levels of success. However, we know that the next season will bring challenges and may not end in winning the biggest game of the season. In life, we want to experience victories, too, but we want victories that will last forever!

We can have victories in our lives, but we need to consider the types of victories for which we strive. Our victories can be momentary or they can be eternal. What steps do we take to make sure we have meaningful, lasting victories in God?

Sunday:
We experience obstacles in our lives that may deter us from our goals. If we focus on the goals of this world, we may not feel we are winning! No matter what we have done in our lives, the pressures of this world, or the barriers that seem to exist, we can overcome and be victorious. As we are reminded in 1 John, we need to believe in Jesus Christ and listen to the guidance that God provides!

*What challenges do we face in this world? What concerns do we need to take to God?

*How can we better listen to God's direction in our lives?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the eternal victory that only You can provide. Help me to rely on You, to have faith and to listen to Your guidance. As I celebrate Your presence and power, help me to celebrate eternal victory with the fellow believers in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.
​
Monday:
When we try to face life on our own, there are many things that seem impossible. Audrey Hepburn is quoted as saying, "Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!" We can be reassured that anything is possible with God. We need to have faith in Him. With faith in God and belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior, we know that what seems impossible is possible!

*What feels like the impossible in life? How can God help with this?

*How can we grow in faith to help us be victorious?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the eternal victory that only You can provide. Help me to rely on You, to have faith and to listen to Your guidance. As I celebrate Your presence and power, help me to celebrate eternal victory with the fellow believers in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Tuesday:
There are likely days when we feel like we are running! We are in training and running a race for God. While we are striving for victory, it is not an earthly victory. We know that the rewards of this world are only temporary. Instead, we are working toward a victory that only God can provide: eternal life through Jesus Christ! As we consider "winning" or "victory", is our focus on the here and now or on the forever? 

*What does "winning" or "victory" in our lives mean? How do our definitions reflect our goals, priorities, and relationships with God?

*How can we be sure our focus stays on eternal victory with God?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the eternal victory that only You can provide. Help me to rely on You, to have faith and to listen to Your guidance. As I celebrate Your presence and power, help me to celebrate eternal victory with the fellow believers in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Wednesday:
Our victory comes through the grace and mercy of God, but we need to be sure we remain committed to Him. Just as we may look to trainers to help with our physical exercise, we need to commit to practices that help us become spiritually stronger. We need to train our bodies and mind by spending time in His Word and in communication with Him. We can find mentors that will help us to grow as members of God's family. As we learn about, learn from, and talk with God, we can be sure our training stays on the right track that leads to eternity with God! 

*What can we do to continue "training" for the race we are called to run?

*Who are the people in our lives that can continue to help us grow?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the eternal victory that only You can provide. Help me to rely on You, to have faith and to listen to Your guidance. As I celebrate Your presence and power, help me to celebrate eternal victory with the fellow believers in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Thursday:
Some sports may seem like they are "individual" sports. If we see or participate in such sports, it may seem as if it is all on a single person to win or lose. However, even competitors in individual sports rely on a network of coaches and supporters. Team sports also offer opportunities to work together toward a common goal. While each of us need to make a personal commitment to following God, we do have a "team" that supports us. We know that we can find support by talking with God through prayer, but we can also find help through fellowship with other believers, being a member of a church family, and knowing someone that can be a mentor or teacher. It is the cloud of witnesses that have gone before us and our family of believers that can help us to keep our eyes on God and Jesus in order to reach eternal victory! 

*Who do we have in our lives that can be our coaches and supporters?

*What can we do to commit our lives to God and continue to train for Him?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the eternal victory that only You can provide. Help me to rely on You, to have faith and to listen to Your guidance. As I celebrate Your presence and power, help me to celebrate eternal victory with the fellow believers in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Friday:
Once we accept God's gift of redemption through His Son, we know that we have eternal victory that outlasts this world. We can continue to learn and grow, but we shouldn't keep this victory to ourselves! We should share our victory with others. The victory that we have in Jesus Christ is not limited to a few people. We can help others have eternal victories! 

*How can you share your victory with others so they can have eternal victory?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the eternal victory that only You can provide. Help me to rely on You, to have faith and to listen to Your guidance. As I celebrate Your presence and power, help me to celebrate eternal victory with the fellow believers in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Saturday:
We have an eternal victory that comes from God. We cannot claim this victory on our own. Because of this, we should always be praising God and giving glory to Him! We need to thank God and allow others to see that He is the one responsible for our victory!

*Take time to give glory and praise to God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the eternal victory that only You can provide. Help me to rely on You, to have faith and to listen to Your guidance. As I celebrate Your presence and power, help me to celebrate eternal victory with the fellow believers in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.
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Week 5: Reconciliation

1/31/2021

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Scripture:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." -II Corinthians 5:17-21 (NIV)

"For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. and He came and preached peace to you who where far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit." -Ephesians 2:14-21 (NASB)

"Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don’t need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I don’t need you!'” -I Corinthians 12:14-21 (NIV)

Introduction:
There is a quote that says, "The beauty of the world lies in its diversity." When we look around, we can see diversity in places and in people. While there is much beauty in the world, differences can also lead to disagreements. As we consider the divisions in the world, we need to move toward understanding and unity. As Mother Teresa reminded us that we need to have humility when she said, "Only humility will lead us to unity, and unity will lead us to peace."

We can move toward unity and peace through humility and reconciliation with God. God has a plan for each of our lives. We can only reach the fullest potential of this plan when we are one with God!

Sunday:
Whether thinking about unity or peace, we need to begin with reconciliation. We can consider reconciliation as is relates to relationships and ideas. Reconciliation is restoring relationships and making beliefs compatible with each other ideas. First, we need to be reconciled to God to allow a relationship with Him. Second, we need to study and learn from God so our ideas and plans can be reconciled with His. 

*What changes in our lives as we embrace a relationship with God?

*How can we reconcile our relationship with God and our ideas to God's ideas?

*What can change in our lives when we seek a reconciled relationship with God?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son and for Your plan for redemption and reconciliation in my life. Help me to forgive all the time and to know when and how to reconcile with the people in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Monday:
God wants to have a relationship with each of us. He wants to restore us so we can have a close relationship with Him and with each other. In order to be reconciled, we need to become a new creation. We need to believe in and accept Jesus as our Savior. We need to continue to seek God and His will as we pray and communicate with God. If we want to be reconciled with God, we need to accept Jesus and participate in God's redemptive plan for our lives!

*How can we reconcile with God?

*What can change in our lives when we seek a reconciled relationship with God?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son and for Your plan for redemption and reconciliation in my life. Help me to forgive all the time and to know when and how to reconcile with the people in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Tuesday:
God sent Jesus Christ to die for our sin. It is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus that provide forgiveness and reconciliation. Jesus is the One that has torn down the wall between our sinful being and the purity of God. We cannot overcome sin on our own. When we accept Jesus, we are surrounded by God's grace and mercy. Through God's grace, He gives us what we don't deserve or cannot achieve on our own, His Son and salvation. Because of God's mercy, we do not receive the punishment we deserve for our sin. As we are reconciled with God, we freely receive all of His gifts!

*What does it mean to accept God's grace and mercy?

*Consider the grace and mercy God provides in your life. How can you share this with others?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son and for Your plan for redemption and reconciliation in my life. Help me to forgive all the time and to know when and how to reconcile with the people in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Wednesday:
God calls us into a close relationship with Him. He also calls us live as a body of believers that serve Him during our time on earth. During our lives, we will be faced with situations that call us to forgive and reconcile. However, we must be sure we are following God's will. We are called to always forgive, but we cannot compromise God's Truth and condone contradictory behaviors. We need to be careful to only reconcile ideas and relationships that are aligned with God's ideas and expectations. We can forgive others, regardless of their attitudes or actions. However, reconciliation requires restoration and a willingness to move toward a relationship with God as its foundation.

*Think about the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. Are there people that you need to forgive, even if you cannot reconcile the relationship?

*Even though we should always forgive, we do we need to be sure relationships or situations align with God's will before attempting reconciliation?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son and for Your plan for redemption and reconciliation in my life. Help me to forgive all the time and to know when and how to reconcile with the people in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Thursday:
As believers, we are each members of God's family. We are parts of His body. We need each other in order to reach our fullest potential for God. We cannot accomplish everything on our own, so we need to be able to work together for God. As 1 Corinthians reminds us, we each have a role to play in God's body. This requires us to forgive and reconcile with each other as members of God's family. We can understand our unique value and talents as we serve Him together!

*How does doing deeds for God change how you approach what you are doing?

*How can you make your works a form of praise and thanksgiving to God?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son and for Your plan for redemption and reconciliation in my life. Help me to forgive all the time and to know when and how to reconcile with the people in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Friday:
When we realize we need to offer forgiveness or reconcile and restore relationships, we should start with a conversation with God. Taking all things to God in prayer can help give us direction and strength. We can offer forgiveness and express a desire for reconciliation, but we need to allow God to work in our hearts and in the hearts of others. We need to be patient and accept God's timing and wisdom in moving forward in relationships. As we rely on God, we can reach out and then provide the space and time that is necessary to repair connections to others.

*How can forgiveness be a first step in reconciliation?

*Why does true reconciliation require the preparation of hearts of all parties involved?

*Are you willing to allow God to work in His time? What will that feel and look like in your life?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son and for Your plan for redemption and reconciliation in my life. Help me to forgive all the time and to know when and how to reconcile with the people in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Saturday:
Forgiveness and reconciliation are part living as members of God's family. Being part of one body allows us to do more in service of God. However, we know that there will be disagreements and hurt as part of our lives and interactions. Because we are not perfect, we need to be prepared to forgive and to accept forgiveness. We need to reach out to reconcile and be ready to participate in reconciliation. As we work for God, we need to keep Him at the center and work together for His glory!

*How do forgiveness and reconciliation play a role in working as part of the body of Christ?

*How can practicing forgiveness and reconciliation help bring others to God? What is our role in facilitating this?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son and for Your plan for redemption and reconciliation in my life. Help me to forgive all the time and to know when and how to reconcile with the people in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
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Week 4: Have Faith! Do Good!

1/24/2021

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Scripture:
"Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. For by it the people of old gained approval." -Hebrews 11:1 (NASB)

"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

​For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." -James 2:14-26 (NASB)

​"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." -Colossians 3:17 (ESV)

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." -Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." -Galatians 6:10 (NIV)

Introduction:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer is quoted as saying, "Faith without works is not faith at all, but a simple lack of obedience to God." We are called to have faith, but also to act on our faith. We can choose to believe, but we cannot stop at believing. As the book of James reminds us, even the demons can believe. We need to be sure our faith in God is put to work in the world for His glory!

We can begin by having faith. With our faith rooted in God, His Word, and His teachings, we have a foundation that can help ensure the best outcomes. As we go through the week, we can consider faith, how faith can grow, and the influence of faith and commitment to God as we prepare for works that bring God's light and glory to the world!

Sunday:
Hebrews reminds us that faith is being confident in what we hope for, even if it is not seen. We can have faith in God, His teaching, His Son, and the redemption offered through His Son. As we learn and develop a relationship with God, our faith can grow. We can feel His presence and see His work in our lives. God is waiting for a deeper relationship with each of us, but it is up to us to seek God!

*Do you make time to develop a deeper relationship with God? If so, what do you do? If not, when can you set aside time to read the Bible, pray, and get to know God on a deeper, personal level?

*How can getting to know God and Jesus help your faith to grow?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to continue to grow in my faith and help me to act according to Your will in my life. Please allow others to see Your glory through me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Monday:
We are reminded in James that we are to have both faith and works. If we believe and have faith, but do not act on it, then we are not using our faith. Our faith should be one of action. We should stand up for truth and stand against injustice. We should show God's love as we demonstrate compassion, empathy, and care for all those we meet. Our works do not always have to be big deeds. God can use even the smallest interactions we have with others.  While we may be "doing" the good, our intent ought to be to glorify God and reveal Him through our acts.

*How do your words and actions demonstrate your faith?

*What could you do to help others see your faith through your words and actions?

*How do your works glorify God?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to continue to grow in my faith and help me to act according to Your will in my life. Please allow others to see Your glory through me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Tuesday:
As we consider our faith and works, we want to be sure that we do not become too focused on doing good deeds. For as it says in James, we need faith and works. We cannot be saved simply by being good or doing good. We must also accept Jesus and the redemption God offers through Him. We need to have believe and accept Jesus as our Savior, have faith, and do good. Our plans and acts in life need to include all three of these!

*Consider your salvation. Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior? If not, consider praying and inviting Jesus to save you from your sin.

*Reflect on your faith. How can you deepen your faith?

*Reflect on your works. How do your actions relate to your faith?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to continue to grow in my faith and help me to act according to Your will in my life. Please allow others to see Your glory through me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Wednesday:
To balance our faith and works, we need to listen to God. It is difficult to know His will if we do not take time to talk with and listen to God. If we allow ourselves to become consumed with good deeds and keeping busy, our effectiveness for God will not be at its fullest. Even if we are busy working within the church, we can become too focused on the work and lose sight of the reason!

*Take time to pray and talk to God. Ask Him to help guide your actions.

*What can you do to be sure your faith and works are aligned with God's will in your life?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to continue to grow in my faith and help me to act according to Your will in my life. Please allow others to see Your glory through me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Thursday:
Our faith and works are not for ourselves, but for the glory of God. Because of this, we need to work for God. As Colossians reminds us, we need to do all things in God's name and for His glory. We can consider our works as service to God and praise to Him for all that we have in our lives. We can share God's blessings through our words and deeds!

*How does doing deeds for God change how you approach what you are doing?

*How can you make your works a form of praise and thanksgiving to God?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to continue to grow in my faith and help me to act according to Your will in my life. Please allow others to see Your glory through me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Friday:
I have a friend that often talks about our light. She refers to our actions, whether big or small, as ways of showing light. Sometimes it may seem as if the world is trying to cover or extinguish our light. However we need to rely on God for the strength to continue to do His will. Jesus also reminds us that we have a light to shine in the world. God can fuel our light so we can help guide others to Him!

*What do you think others see or think when they experience your actions and hear your words?

*What can you do to be a light for God, even when the darkness of the world threatens that light?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to continue to grow in my faith and help me to act according to Your will in my life. Please allow others to see Your glory through me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Saturday:
Doing good is not always easy. There are times when we might just want the easy way to get through things. At other points in our lives we may be worn down, tired, and burnt out. The world can be overwhelming if we try to go it on our own, but we don't have to do it all by ourselves! We have God with us. When we turn to God, we can do good for all people as Galatians reminds us!

*Be sure to take time with God so He can rejuvenate and restore you. As you spend time with God, what will you tell God? What will you ask Him?

*As God rejuvenates and restores you, what is He calling you to do? How can you do good for all people in your life (even in small, everyday acts)?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to continue to grow in my faith and help me to act according to Your will in my life. Please allow others to see Your glory through me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.
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Week 3: Come and See!

1/17/2021

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Scripture:
"The next day He decided to go to Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, 'Follow Me.' Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found Him of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and the prophets also wrote: Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth!' Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good be from Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.' Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, 'Here is truly an Israelite, in whom there is no deceit!' Nathanael said to Him, 'How do You know me?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.' Nathanael answered Him, 'Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel!' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.' And He said to him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.'" -John 1:43-51 (NASB)

"Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord!' 
But he said to them, 'Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.'
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.'
Thomas said to him, 'My Lord and my God!'
Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'" -John 20:24-29 (NIV)

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" -Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)


Introduction:
God is part of our lives. We know Him and we can continually learn more about God and grow in our relationship with Him. As we follow God and develop a deeper and deeper relationship with Him, we should want to share the blessings of God with others. Sometimes the people in our lives may not be open to having conversations about God and Jesus.  It is in these moments that we just need to be prepared to extend an invitation. We can say, "Come and see!"

Sharing God through our words is one way to spread God's message of love and redemption. We can also live our faith in God so others can see God's active presence in our lives. However, we can also invite others to look and see God's presence in the world. In the midst of everything that happens in the world, we can find God. We can look for God and we can help others to come, see, and experience God!

Sunday:
Even though we know God is active in our lives, there are times when we may begin to doubt. When we start to doubt, we may become focused on our doubt and drift further from God. Instead of focusing on our doubt, we need to seek Jesus. We can call on Him and He will be there for us. We can then focus on Jesus, our relationship with Him, and our faith in God!

*Have you ever felt doubt? How do you respond when you feel doubt or feel you are drifting away from God?

*How can calling on Jesus help you overcome doubt?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your blessings and presence in my life. Allow me to see You no matter what I am facing in life and help me to share You with others in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Monday:
God is active in our lives. Even in our darkest days, we can be assured that God is with us. There may be times when we have doubts about events in our lives. We may wonder the purpose of our experiences. No matter what we are facing in life, we can stop to see how God is working in our lives. We can count the blessings from God!

*What are the miracles or blessings that God has provided in your life?

*When have you felt the presence of God? How could you share these experiences with someone so they can see God in their lives?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your blessings and presence in my life. Allow me to see You no matter what I am facing in life and help me to share You with others in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Tuesday:
Jesus calls all of us to spread His message. As believers and followers of God and Jesus, we are to go out into the world and help others to come to know God and to know Jesus as their Savior. Each of us may have a different vision of what this means. As we prepare to share the Good News, we need to know ourselves. God created each of us to be unique. Even though we are all called to spread the Good News, we may have different approaches based on the talents that God has given us!

*What talents has God given you? 

​*How can you use these talents to share the Good News?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your blessings and presence in my life. Allow me to see You no matter what I am facing in life and help me to share You with others in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Wednesday:
As followers of God, we are called to spread God's message. Sometimes we look for the right moment or the perfect words. When we are sharing the Good News, we can call on God and rely on Him to guide us. We may not need to say much at all. We can pray to God, listen to Him, and share Him with others in our lives!

*When have you been presented with opportunities to share the Good News? How did you respond?

*How can you improve the ways in which you spread the Good News?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your blessings and presence in my life. Allow me to see You no matter what I am facing in life and help me to share You with others in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Thursday:
There are times when we make judgments of others. Our judgments may be conscious or unconscious. However, the ideas that we have can impact how we receive and share information. Nathanael had a negative view of Nazareth, but changed his mind after he met Jesus. When we are receiving information, we need to be sure we are truly listening to and receiving all that God is showing and telling us!

*What are some judgments that are impacting how you are receiving God's message?

*How can you overcome biases and judgments so you can hear God?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your blessings and presence in my life. Allow me to see You no matter what I am facing in life and help me to share You with others in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Friday:
When we interact with others, stereotypes, biases, and judments can interfere with sharing God's Good News. When we head out into the world, we need to remember that God loves each and every person. God is able to work in all of our lives. As we invite others to come and see God and all of His glory, we need to be prepared to extend this invitation to everyone!

*What could be stopping you from hearing and sharing God's message with everyone?

*What are stereotypes or biases that lead to judgments? How can you overcome these so you can share the Good News with everyone?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your blessings and presence in my life. Allow me to see You no matter what I am facing in life and help me to share You with others in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Saturday:
Once we have shared the Good News, we can celebrate with other believers. We can see all the ways that God works in our lives and in the lives of all members of His family. We can support each other, lift each other up, and collectively draw nearer to God. We can praise and glorify God as one body of believers!

*How is God working in your life?

*What are you doing to praise and glorify God?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your blessings and presence in my life. Allow me to see You no matter what I am facing in life and help me to share You with others in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen
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Week 2: Forgiveness

1/10/2021

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Scripture:
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'" -Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV)

"And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." -Mark 11:25 (ESV)

"Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." -Acts 3:19 (NASB)

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." -James 5:16 (ESV)

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." -I John 1:9 (NIV)

Introduction:
We all sin. And while we know that God offers forgiveness, do we take time to reflect on this gift that He has given us and how this applies to our lives? God has a plan to forgive and redeem us, but this plan doesn't stop with just our personal redemption. We also need to practice forgiveness in our lives.

You can find advice about forgiveness from many different sources. There are books, blogs, and websites that offer advice on forgiveness in our lives. To really understand forgiveness, we need to start with the source. We can learn from God and reflect on His forgiveness in our lives. As we live in God's forgiveness, we can show forgiveness to ourselves and others. Choosing to live in forgiveness can help us to draw nearer to God and live a more complete, fulfilled life!

Sunday:
God forgives each of us. No matter how bad we think we are or how much hurt our actions have caused, God can restore us. We need to be ready to accept the forgiveness that God is offering to us. Even if we do not think we can forgive ourselves, we can reach out to God and ask Him to redeem us!

*Do you feel that you deserve forgiveness? Whether you do or not, do you believe that God can forgive and redeem you?

*How does knowing that God forgives you affect your life? What can you do differently in your life because you are forgiven?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your plan of forgiveness and redemption in my life. Help me to accept Your forgiveness and to forgive others in my life. Allow me to live a redeemed life that shows Your glory to those around me. Through Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer, I pray, amen.

Monday:
One of the commonly identified steps in forgiveness is recognizing or naming the offense. To be forgiven, we must admit our need for forgiveness. We should go to God and repent. We need to be honest with ourselves, because God already knows our actions and the necessity of forgiveness and redemption in our lives. As we reflect and repent, we can be reassured God will forgive us!

*Take time to reflect on your life and the areas in which you need to repent. Go to God in prayer and repent, then prepare to accept His forgiveness.

*What does God's forgiveness mean to you?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your plan of forgiveness and redemption in my life. Help me to accept Your forgiveness and to forgive others in my life. Allow me to live a redeemed life that shows Your glory to those around me. Through Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer, I pray, amen.

Tuesday:
God forgives us, but sometimes we don't forgive ourselves. We may allow doubt to creep in. We may begin to think that certain actions are "unforgivable." If we trust in God, we need to trust His Word and His promise to forgive us. We need to embrace God and His role in our lives, building on His presence and changing the way we live to reflect His forgiveness. We may not immediately reconcile with those that we have harmed or who have harmed us, but we can begin anew in God!

*Have you ever thought that your actions were unforgivable? How has God helped you start fresh?

*How can you forgive yourself and live in a way that shows God's forgiveness?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your plan of forgiveness and redemption in my life. Help me to accept Your forgiveness and to forgive others in my life. Allow me to live a redeemed life that shows Your glory to those around me. Through Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer, I pray, amen.

Wednesday:
We are forgiven by God. We can forgive ourselves. We can rely on God to help us live redeemed lives. In doing each of these things, we need to forgive others. We may not feel that others deserve our forgiveness. There are often times when those that hurt us do not even ask for our forgiveness. Regardless of whether we feel others "deserve" forgiveness or have asked us for forgiveness, we need to forgive others.

*As you reflect on your life, are there certain people that you have had difficulty forgiving? Have you asked God to help you forgive others?

*How can forgiving others, even if they do not ask for forgiveness, help you become closer in your relationship with God?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your plan of forgiveness and redemption in my life. Help me to accept Your forgiveness and to forgive others in my life. Allow me to live a redeemed life that shows Your glory to those around me. Through Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer, I pray, amen.

Thursday:
When we live an unforgiven, sinful life, we do not experience our fullest potential. We do not encounter the fullest joy and peace possible. However, God is freely offering forgiveness to us. He is also there to support us and guide us. We need to choose to live in God's forgiveness and to leave the burden of sin and unforgiving attitudes behind us!

*What do you need from God to help you live a forgiven life? Have you taken your concerns to God through prayer?

*What could be stopping you from accepting God's forgiveness? How can you overcome these barriers?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your plan of forgiveness and redemption in my life. Help me to accept Your forgiveness and to forgive others in my life. Allow me to live a redeemed life that shows Your glory to those around me. Through Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer, I pray, amen.

Friday:
To be our "best selves," we need to draw nearer to God. God forgives each of us, so we need to let go and let God shape our lives. When we trust in God's forgiveness, we can know Him better and feel His presence in our lives!

*What do you need to let go of in your life?

*How can trusting God's forgiveness change your life for the better?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your plan of forgiveness and redemption in my life. Help me to accept Your forgiveness and to forgive others in my life. Allow me to live a redeemed life that shows Your glory to those around me. Through Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer, I pray, amen.

Saturday:
Once we have accepted God's forgiveness and His help in forgiving others, we can begin to live differently than we had before offering forgiveness. Forgiving others can lift a burden from our lives. It may not be easy to reach a point of forgiving people we may think are difficult or undeserving, but, once we do, we can experience freedom and peace that God provides. We can live a fuller life when we are not preoccupied with holding on to past wrongs!

*Who are the people in your life that you need to forgive?

*How can forgiveness free you to live a fuller, more peaceful life?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your plan of forgiveness and redemption in my life. Help me to accept Your forgiveness and to forgive others in my life. Allow me to live a redeemed life that shows Your glory to those around me. Through Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer, I pray, amen.
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Week 1: Sin in Life

1/3/2021

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Scripture:
"So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate." -Genesis 3:6 (ESV)

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." -John 3:16 (NIV)

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." -Romans 3:23-24 (NIV)

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." -I John 1:9 (ESV)

Introduction:
What is sin? Often we think of sin as doing something wrong. When related to the Bible and God, sin would be doing something that goes against God's natural law. It may be easy to define sin, but it can be harder to recognize it in our lives. One thing we know is that all of us have sinned. Beginning with Adam and Eve, we are separated from God because of our sin.

As we begin the new year, we can reflect on new beginnings or maybe even resolutions to be better in the upcoming days, months, and year. To start making changes in our lives, we need to reflect on and recognize our shortcomings and areas in which we can improve. Throughout this first week, consider the scripture verses above and the questions below. We can focus on sin in our lives and the redemptive power in the blood of Jesus Christ that allows us to have a fresh start...not just at the new year!

Sunday:
Sin can enter all parts of our lives. If we are not vigilant, the devil's voice, whether from the serpent, other people, or in our hearts and minds, can infiltrate our thoughts and seep into our actions.

*As you reflect on the past and consider the present, in what areas of life do you need to be more aware of sin?

*How does sin impact your thoughts and actions?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the redemption that You provide through Jesus Christ. Please help me to recognize my sin, forgive me, and help me to live a better life for You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Monday:
Sin can creep into our lives without us even being aware of its presence. If we are not focused on God and His Word, we can be distracted by the messages experienced in this world.

*As you think about sin, how has sin crept into your life without being recognized right away?

*How can you be more aware of sin in the world around you and its presence in your life?

*What can you do to maintain a focus on God and to work against sin in your life?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the redemption that You provide through Jesus Christ. Please help me to recognize my sin, forgive me, and help me to live a better life for You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Tuesday:
Sin can persist in our lives if we are not active in recognizing it and correcting our actions. Getting rid of sin on our own is impossible. We need to build a relationship with God to help us recognize and fight against sin in our lives.

*Do you need to be aware of sin in order to address it in your life?

*How can you build a relationship with God to help you recognize and fight against sin?

*After praying to God, listen to Him and consider: What is God trying to do to help me overcome sin in my life?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the redemption that You provide through Jesus Christ. Please help me to recognize my sin, forgive me, and help me to live a better life for You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Wednesday:
Even though we will continue to sin throughout our lives, we do have a path to forgiveness and redemption. God sent His Son to be our sacrifice. We just need to believe in Him and commit to following God.

*Once we accept Jesus as our Savior, how do our lives change?

*What does it mean to you to live a life in God, redeemed from your sin?

*How does God's forgiveness affect your life on earth?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the redemption that You provide through Jesus Christ. Please help me to recognize my sin, forgive me, and help me to live a better life for You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Thursday:
We know we all sin. We know that God offers forgiveness. However, we need to acknowledge these things. We need to go to God and confess our sin. We need to repent and commit to following Him in all areas of our lives.

*Do you think it is important to confess your sin to God and to repent?

*How often to you talk to God to confess and repent?

*What happens after you confess and repent your sin?

*How is God active in your life?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the redemption that You provide through Jesus Christ. Please help me to recognize my sin, forgive me, and help me to live a better life for You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Friday:
There may be times when we would rather ignore some or all of our sin. We may be ashamed. We may be unaware of its impacts on our lives and the lives of others. We may think that it really isn't a big deal in the overall picture of our lives. However, sin is something that we should always take seriously.

*Why should we take sin seriously - no matter how big or small we may think they are?

*How can our response to sin impact our lives and our relationship with God?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the redemption that You provide through Jesus Christ. Please help me to recognize my sin, forgive me, and help me to live a better life for You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Saturday:
Reflect on this week and the fresh start that God offers through Jesus Christ. This new beginning is not limited to the new year and to resolutions. Consider how God is always present and ready to help you "get on track" and be restored in His Kingdom!

*How does reflecting on your sin and salvation help you in your life?

*How can you be active in seeking a closer relationship with God?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the redemption that You provide through Jesus Christ. Please help me to recognize my sin, forgive me, and help me to live a better life for You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.
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A New Format...

1/1/2021

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Thank you to everyone that has joined in reading and following along with the devotionals on this site. As we begin a new year, Bible Inspired devotionals are going to try a new format. Instead of a new devotional posted each day, there will be a weekly post with a reflection and questions for each day. I hope this format continues to support your spiritual growth. Please feel free to send any feedback! God bless!
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Illogical to the World

12/31/2020

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"Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'" -Matthew 19:21 (NIV)

We often get the message from the world that we need more. We need to make more money. We need to spend more. We need to acquire more things. In the midst of all of these messages, there is the voice of Jesus telling us that we don't need more as long as we have Him!

Jesus gives advice that differs from and may seem illogical in the face of all we are told in this world. Instead of more "stuff", we need to focus on Jesus. He teaches us that instead of accumulating excess here and now, we need to be serving Him, helping others, and following His teaching. There are necessities in our lives, for sure, but as we are blessed, we need to share our blessings and help others by giving our time, talents, and resources!

It may seem illogical to the world, but we should focus not on accumulating "stuff" but on helping others!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of the blessings in my life. Help me to use these blessings to serve You and to help others. In Jesus I pray, amen.
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Inviting Words of Truth

12/30/2020

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"The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit." -Proverbs 15:4 (NIV)

There is a Russian proverb that says, "Better to be slapped with the truth than kissed with a lie." We do need to hear the truth, but sometimes we need to consider the way things are said when we want to have a positive impact. We need to be truthful, but in a way that invites people into the family of God!

We know that God does not tolerate lies. He cannot stand dishonesty. When we speak, we should speak the truth. However, we should speak the truth in God's love. With a focus on speaking the truth with love and care, we can invite people to be part of God's loving, forgiving family. We all need love. We all need forgiveness. We all need God's truth. As we speak to each other, let us tell the truth with a soothing tongue that invites people in without crushing the spirit!

​Speak words and in ways that tell the truth and invite people into God's family!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love, compassion, truth, and redemption. Help me to speak Your truth in ways that allow others to feel Your love and to become members of Your family. In Jesus I pray, amen.
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Repent and Live!

12/29/2020

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"For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!" -Ezekiel 18:32 (NIV)

I recently read a book that dealt with racism and its impact on individuals and society. When considering racism or any other wrongs, we cannot begin to make changes to right wrongs and sin in our lives and to truly live until we are willing to repent. We can grow from repenting and trusting in God!

God does not take pleasure in sin and wrongdoing and neither should we. When we see issues in the world around us, we need to reflect, repent, and submit our lives to God. When we repent and trust in God, we can learn from our wrongs and become better. With God, we can accept His forgiveness and we can truly live in Him!

Repent and live in God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your forgiveness and the life You give. Please forgive me and teach me so I can live a better life in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.
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Get to Work!

12/28/2020

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"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." -James 2:17 (NIV)

The new year is approaching. A new year is often welcomed as a clean slate or a chance to make changes and start afresh. We have the opportunity to make changes in our lives, but to make a change, we need to act!

We need to have faith in God and in His presence and work in our lives, but we also need to act in ways that go along with our faith. Choosing to follow God is an action step. With the new year, we can recommit our lives to God and get to work living out our faith in our actions!

Have faith in God and get to work acting on your faith!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all You do in my life. Help my faith to be reflected in my actions. In Jesus I pray, amen.
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Belong to God!

12/27/2020

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"The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it."​ -Psalm 24:1 (NIV)

​Catherine McAuley paraphrased Psalm 24:1 when she said, "We belong to God. All in us is His." Everything on the earth is God's. It is up to us to accept the invitation to be part of His family!

God created each of us and He cares for us. We have a purpose because we are God's creation. We need to draw near to Him and listen as He guides us in finding and living out our purpose. We belong to God and we can each serve Him in unique ways!

Belong to God and live out your purpose for Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being in me and with me. Help me to know and follow my purpose for Your glory. In Jesus I pray, amen.
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Birth to Belief!

12/26/2020

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"And they said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.'" -Acts 16:31 (ESV)

Each year we set aside one day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We remember God's gift by giving gifts to each other. We pause to reflect on what God and Jesus mean in our lives. We need to do more than celebrate. We need to believe!

We need to heed the words from Acts. We need to believe in Jesus, to share His love, and to encourage our families, friends, and loved ones to know God. From our belief in God, we need to act on His presence in our lives. We should show His love to others. With our belief in Him and His love in our hearts, we can be saved!

From the birth of Christ should come the belief that leads you to be saved, so believe!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son and His sacrifice for my sin. Help me to believe and be saved. In Him I pray, amen.
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Keeper

12/25/2020

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"The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night." -Psalm 121:5-6 (ESV)

Christmas brings celebrations of the birth of Jesus. We celebrate a baby born in a manger, but He is much more than a baby. God is our keeper and Jesus is part of that plan!

The Lord is our keeper. We can rely on Him. From His birth to the cross, Jesus set examples for us. God teaches us, and He protects us and keeps us. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we can believe in Him and have faith that God will keep us through day and night, now and for eternity!

Believe and have faith in God, your keeper!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for keeping me and teaching me. Help me to always have faith and to continue to learn from You. In Jesus I pray, amen.
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Through It All!

12/24/2020

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"For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ." -II Corinthians 1:5 (NIV)

Life changes us. In the midst of everything, we are growing and becoming stronger. We may not recognize it in the moment, but God is always at work. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we can join in sharing the events of His life that allow us to be redeemed!

The birth of Jesus Christ and our acceptance of Him as our Savior is a life-changing event. As His followers, not everything in our lives will be easy. We will share in sufferings. However, we are reassured by God's promises of eternity with Him. Our celebrations of Christmas can remind us that, in the end, we will see Jesus as we enter into God's eternal kingdom. We have Jesus with us through it all!

Jesus is with us through everything we face, so we can celebrate through times of suffering and comfort!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being with me through it all. Help me to hold on to You through suffering and comfort. In Jesus I pray, amen.
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Inside Out!

12/23/2020

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"Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold." -Exodus 20:23 (NIV)

I was recently listening to a program where one of the hosts lamented the commercialization of Christmas. He referred to the large amounts of money spend to show the "Christmas spirit on the outside." His wish was that the Christmas spirit started on the inside of each of us and we didn't focus our time, energy, and money on decorating the "outside" without paying attention to what we have on the inside.

God is good and it is good to celebrate the gift of His Son. We can show this in exchanging gifts and hanging decorations. It is good to be festive, but we should not forget the reason for all of our actions. We should not allow our desire to look like we have Christmas spirit on the outside to distract us from God. We can be sure that all of our celebrations and actions come from God by inviting Him into our hearts and lives. We should have the spirit of Christmas on the inside and then allow God's light to shine out in our actions. This way we can be focused on the one true God and not on false gods of gold and silver or presents and decorations!

Allow God to fill you on the inside so your outside actions are focused on Him and not on false gods!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for filling my life. Help Your love, grace, and mercy to fill my heart and to shine out for other people to see and know You. In Jesus I pray, amen.
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Are You Worthy?

12/22/2020

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"Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me." -Matthew 10:38 (NIV)

There are different times in our lives when we are faced with the need to make a decision. Decisions always come with consequences, whether good or bad. As we consider and then move forward with decisions, we need to be prepared for the consequences!

We are called to follow God. We can choose to take up our cross and follow Jesus. When we make this choice, there will be consequences. There will be some that do not understand our choice. We may suffer in some ways here on earth, but we will also see rewards. The benefits of our choice to take up our cross will be eternal and far outweigh any earthly negatives. We can be worthy. We just need to choose to follow Jesus and allow Him to guide our lives!

Be worthy by making the choice to follow Jesus and trust His guidance in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son and for the opportunity to follow Him. Help me to be worthy and to listen to the guidance You provide. Through Jesus I pray, amen.
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Follow the Light

12/21/2020

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"When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" -John 8:12 (NIV)

The Christmas season brings lots of light! We light the advent candles at church. We decorate our houses and Christmas trees with lights. We may even relax by the light of the fire. This may be a season of light, but we should not forget the true light in our lives!

The birth of Jesus introduced a new light to the world! The darkness of the world could not and will not overcome the light that is our Savior. As we celebrate, we need to embrace the light not just in this season but in all seasons and all parts of our lives. We need to follow Jesus so we do not have to walk in the darkness. As we follow Jesus from birth to resurrection to eternity, we can be in God's light now and forever!

Follow Jesus Christ and embrace His light throughout your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gift of Your Son. Help me to follow Your light in my life. Through Jesus, my Light, I pray, amen.
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Know!

12/20/2020

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"For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods." -Psalm 135:5 (ESV)

What does it mean to know something? We may understand something in our mind and be able to explain it. Other things we may know based on experience. There are also things that we may know from a gut feeling. There are different ways we can come to know and understand things. However, none is more important than knowing God!

God is great! He is all-powerful and all knowing. God knows each of us. He knows what we need and He is able to provide. God listens to our concerns and our praises. Above all of this, God wants to have a personal relationship with each and every one of us. We can approach God. We can get to know Him through many different ways and we can know that God is greater and above all Gods!

Know God and invite Him into your life to know you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for knowing me. Help me to grow in my relationship with You. In Jesus I pray, amen.
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Celebrate & Believe!

12/19/2020

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"They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.'" -Acts 16:31 (NIV)

As Christmas approaches, we may need to remind ourselves of the true reason for celebrations. It is not just about baking cookies, decorating, or giving and receiving gifts from each other. It is about the give of Jesus Christ!

We can celebrate the birth of Jesus, but our attention should turn from the birth of Christ to the redemption that His life, death, and resurrection provides for each of us. Our celebrations should not just be for a baby born long ago, but for God's plan to save us. We need to believe in Jesus Christ, from the baby born in a stable to His resurrection.

Celebrate the birth of Jesus, but be sure to believe in Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gift of Your Son and the redemption He provides. Please forgive me and redeem me through Him. In His name I pray, amen.
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Fellowship

12/18/2020

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"God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." -I Corinthians 1:9 (NIV)

Circumstances this year may be different for many of us. We may not be able to have the same gatherings or attend events like we have in years past. However, we do not need to be without fellowship!

Even though we may not be able to have our traditional gatherings, we can find fellowship with Jesus. God is faithful and He has called us to be part of His family. We can find fellowship with Jesus Christ. We can experience Him in our lives. No matter where we might be this Christmas season, we can have fellowship with God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the Son. We can embrace the true meaning of Christmas and the hope that only Jesus can provide!

Fellowship with Jesus Christ and be filled with His hope!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being part of my life and for the opportunity to fellowship with You through Your Son. Help me always hold to the hope that You provide. In Jesus I pray, amen.
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Pray.

12/17/2020

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"Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief." -Psalm 143:1 (NIV)

There are times when we do not know what to do. We may have trouble finding answers or have so many answers we don't know which one to choose. Whether faced with challenges or triumphs in our lives, there is one thing that we should do: pray.

We should always go to God in prayer. We can ask Him for guidance. We can cry out to Him for mercy. We can thank and praise Him for the blessings that He provides. When we pray, we can be certain that God is faithful. Because of His faithfulness, He will come and give relief. We just need to pray!

In all things, pray to God and be reassured by His faithfulness.

Dear God-
Thank You for hearing my prayers. Help me to be reassured by Your faithfulness as I wait on You. In Jesus I pray, amen.
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Overflowing!

12/16/2020

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"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you." -I Thessalonians 3:12 (NIV)

There are many things in our lives that do not go as we had planned. As the common saying goes, we can choose to view these circumstances and wonder if our glass is half full or half empty. Instead of thinking about a glass only being filled half-way, we should turn to God and allow Him to fill our hearts and lives with His love!

When we love God, He should fill our hearts until they overflow. Because we know God and are filled with His love, we can then spread His love to others. The more we spread love, the more our love will overflow and ripple out into the world. As God's love overflows from our lives, we can allow love to overflow from us and into those around us, setting of a chain that will continue to move through the world!

Follow God, love Him, and let His love overflow into the world around you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love in my life. Allow Your love to fill my heart and to overflow into the world around me. In Jesus I pray, amen.
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Teach Me!

12/15/2020

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"Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground." -Psalm 143:10 (NIV)

There are many different ways to learn. As many schools have implemented in-person and remote learning, we have seen some successful and some unsuccessful methods of learning. Like many things, different students found different ways of learning to better meet their needs. Fortunately, when we consider our spiritual learning, God knows exactly what we need to learn!

God knows each of us. He is our creator and knows that we are unique and individual. Because He knows us, He is able to teach us in many different ways. We need to be open to the lessons that are provided in our lives. By talking to God and listening to HIm, we can learn and spiritually grow. As we get closer to God, we will do His will and follow the level path that He has prepared. We need to be ready to learn in all of the ways God is teaching us and then live out His lessons in our lives!

Be open to God's many ways of teaching you and then live His will for your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of Your teaching. Help me to learn Your lessons and to apply them in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.
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