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Do you remember some of the wonderful words of wisdom your parents may have offered throughout your childhood? Words that perhaps you passed along or are passing along to your children? If you’re not sure, let me refresh your memory:
In Romans 12:9-21, God offers us wonderful words of wisdom as well. 'Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord . Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.' Wise words worth putting into action. Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - Romans 12:9-21 Monday - 2 Cor. 6:6 Tuesday - John 13:34 Wednesday - Ps. 34:14 Thursday - Heb. 13:2 Friday - 1 Thess. 3:12 Saturday - Col. 3:15 Prayer: Father, thank you for giving me words to live by . . . biblical instructions for living life your way. Help me to follow them, obey them and share them. Amen
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We have all been created for relationship. Relationship with God the Father and with one another. We need both God and people in our lives. The church provides that possibility.
From the very beginning, Christianity was not primarily a “doctrine" to be be taught, but a “community" in which to live. There was not only a "message" to be proclaimed and delivered, and "Good News" to be declared, but there was a New Community to which members were called and recruited. Church is not about “attending” in order to watch and listen to what others are saying or doing; it’s about becoming a part of a community. Listen to what Paul says in Ephesians 2:19: “So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.” Church membership is an important commitment because it is a tangible expression of a life that is surrendered to Jesus Christ. This Is My Church . . .
A church is never stronger than the commitment of its members to one another and to the purposes of that church. Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday -Acts 2:41-47 Monday - Ephesians 2:19 Tuesday - Romans 12:4-5 Wednesday - Romans 12:9-10 Thursday - 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 Friday - 1 John 4:20-21 Saturday - Ephesians 4:16 Prayer: Father, thank you for my church. Help me to faithfully serve the community of faith where you have placed me. Lord, I love my church. Bless her in Jesus’ name. Amen “I am the Lord , the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27
We often look at the world with all of its trials, troubles, tribulations, heartaches. . . and ask:
Think of what we know about the majesty of God's limitless Power. God told Abraham that he was going to have a son in his old age…Sarah heard, and she laughed about the possibility. In Genesis 18:14, God asked Abraham, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" Later, Jeremiah gives the answer: “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!” Jeremiah 32:17 Praise God… …there is no promise too hard for God to keep. …there’s no prayer too hard for God to answer. …there is no problem too hard for God to solve. …there’s no person too hard for God to save. No matter what you’re facing…no matter what you’re dealing with, there is absolutely nothing too hard for God to do. Trust Him. Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - Jeremiah 32:27 Monday - Jeremiah 32:17 Tuesday - Matthew 21:22 Wednesday - Revelation 3:20 Thursday - Isaiah 59:1-2 Friday - Luke 9:57-62 Saturday - Luke 18:18-27 Prayer: Lord, I declare my trust in you over all things in my life. Help me to fully surrender these things to your will everyday. Amen “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 Wherever and whenever you experience the Father’s love, you also experience His mercy, His grace and His faithfulness. Think about it. You really can’t experience any one of these without the others. It’s as if every character quality of God is interconnected. Yet, they are all unique to themselves. However, it is His faithfulness that truly binds them together. God is always faithful. God is faithful to his Word...to his promises...to his people...to his character. Why? Because he cannot be otherwise. You can depend on him 100 percent of the time. He will never let you down. God reveals His faithfulness…
No matter what you’re facing in your life today, the secret to your hope for the future is in the faithfulness of God. Every other basis for hope will eventually let you down – other people, your job, your possessions, your skills and abilities. Tell someone today how God has been faithful to you. “I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.” Psalms 89:1-2 NLT Bro. Joe Suggested Readings: Sunday - Lamentations 3:21-24 Monday - Psalm 119:90 Tuesday - Numbers 23:19 Wednesday - Isaiah 55:10-11 Thursday - Revelation 19:11 Friday - 2 Timothy 2:11-13 Saturday - Psalm 89:1-2 Prayer: Father, you have proven yourself faithful throughout my life. You said that you would never leave me nor forsake me. Thank you for fulfilling your promise. I love you, Lord. Amen |
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January 2019
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