Knowing and obeying God’s Word is fundamental to all true success.
Read and Reread Joshua 1:1-9
As you read it, I hope you can really jump into Joshua's frame of mind. Moses, their leader out of Egypt, into the wildnerness, the one that brought the commandments from God to them, has just died. The people lost their leader so they felt like they lost their direct lifeline to God. God had been speaking through Moses to them. How would you feel? Words like scared don't do justice to their feelings. They were probably ANXIOUS, FREAKING OUT, SCARED OUT OF THEIR MINDS. Then God comes along side Moses' aide and now tells him that it is his turn now, go be strong and courageous and bring the people to the land I have prepared. SNAPS Joshua was again probably wondering how in the world he is going to do this. Is he the right person? How will people follow him and how could he ever be a leader like Moses was?
Then God gives Him the ultimate kicker - I will be with you like i was with Moses. Verse 5 - "No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." Amazing! God tells that to us today too. Jesus will be with us always as He calls us to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).
Then God gives Joshua this challenge to give to the people - verse 8 - "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."
Joshua can't just do whatever he wants, he can't lead however he wants, he has to do it God's way and know God himself. He and the people need to do this by knowing, meditating, speaking of God's Word - AND MOST IMPORTANTLY - LIVING IT OUT!!!!!
We love saying we know stuff in the Bible but we can't just let it be head knowledge. We have to let it be the very way we live our lives.
I know i have encouraged all of you to find God in everything that we do and see. So in our families, in our relationship with our friends, in media (the tv shows we watch, the songs we listen to, and the movies we see), in nature and that is important, but NEVER Neglect time with God's Word which is essential in knowing God and doing what He calls us. "Never let good books take the place of the Bible. Drink from the Well, not from the streams that flow from the Well."Amy Carmichael.
How have you done in this past year in reading God's Word and making that a priority in your life? Were you able to live it out in your life?
How is God challenging you to read His Word this upcoming year? Make goals (to finish the New Testament, finish the Old Testament, finish the Whole Bible)!
Thursday: Pray for the church (small c)
Pray for our building expansion project. We want to establish a place where people can be discipled and grow in their walks and invite people to come join us in building God's kingdom.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Core Value of CMA Part 3 - Stewardship
First I thought it would be important to explain what CMA stands for to all those that keep wondering what CMA means. CMA - stands for Christian Missionary Alliance. It is the denomination that our church is part of. www.cmalliance.org
Everything we have belongs to God. We are only stewards. Read and reread 1 Chronicles 29:10-14
10 David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,
"Praise be to you, O LORD,
God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
12 Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
13 Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.
14 "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
The context of this passage is that David is challenging all the people around him to support Solomon in the building of God's temple. He is giving all the things that belong to the nation of Israel but also his personal belongings. All the leaders are also challenged to give to God's temple.
Then we see David's praise to God indicating that God is the ruler and owner of everything. All that we possess belongs to Him. Our resources, our money, our lives all belong to God. We often just make God part of our lives and what we are goign to give Him as part of what "our" stuff that we are donating or giving to the chruch. But there is something so much bigger that God wants us to understand. Everything (EVERYTHING) is God's. Look around, EVERYTHING is God's in this world. Once we get that into our heads, then we understand that we need to have that perspective in GIVING, SERVING, and LOVING to build God's kingdom.
We are enormously blessed and I don't think we need to feel guilty for all that God has provided in our lives. But if the things in our lives cause us to just want more and more and more stuff rather than more and more of God then the stuff has become an idol and it is time to get rid of it. Is there anything in your life that you just can't see yourself living without in this world? Even think of something shiny and new that you may have just received, do you see it as yours or God's? Here is the challenge use everything for God's kingdom, your money, your resources, everything.
Wednesday: Pray for friends (inside and outside church)
Pray that your friends will lift up their struggles to God. That they know that He loves them
Everything we have belongs to God. We are only stewards. Read and reread 1 Chronicles 29:10-14
10 David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,
"Praise be to you, O LORD,
God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
12 Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
13 Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.
14 "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
The context of this passage is that David is challenging all the people around him to support Solomon in the building of God's temple. He is giving all the things that belong to the nation of Israel but also his personal belongings. All the leaders are also challenged to give to God's temple.
Then we see David's praise to God indicating that God is the ruler and owner of everything. All that we possess belongs to Him. Our resources, our money, our lives all belong to God. We often just make God part of our lives and what we are goign to give Him as part of what "our" stuff that we are donating or giving to the chruch. But there is something so much bigger that God wants us to understand. Everything (EVERYTHING) is God's. Look around, EVERYTHING is God's in this world. Once we get that into our heads, then we understand that we need to have that perspective in GIVING, SERVING, and LOVING to build God's kingdom.
We are enormously blessed and I don't think we need to feel guilty for all that God has provided in our lives. But if the things in our lives cause us to just want more and more and more stuff rather than more and more of God then the stuff has become an idol and it is time to get rid of it. Is there anything in your life that you just can't see yourself living without in this world? Even think of something shiny and new that you may have just received, do you see it as yours or God's? Here is the challenge use everything for God's kingdom, your money, your resources, everything.
Wednesday: Pray for friends (inside and outside church)
Pray that your friends will lift up their struggles to God. That they know that He loves them
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
CMA Core Value # 2 - • Prayer
Prayer is the primary work of the people of God.
Read and reread Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I believe we all believe in prayer. I believe we all don't fully understand prayer. I believe we all struggle with prayer. But i think we all know that prayer is so important and essential so I hope that all of us strive to seek after a prayerful lifestyle. The reason being :Prayer is the primary work of the people of God.
I remember our missionary Evan Evans speaking to us giving testimony of prayer amongst Jr Highers in Africa. They invited the Spirit to come and join their small group and God did amazing things thru their consistent and fervent hearts for prayer. They just made themselves available. Are we making ourselves available?
I am here at Urbana and I was helping setup the bookstore. One of the books on discount for $1 is an audiobook "too busy not to pray". I thought to myself, wow what a great idea. There are people so busy they can't even read a book so give them an audiobook. But then why discount for $1, so more people can have this great resource or because no one is buying it? I think it is the later. We don't make prayer a priority of our lives or of our hearts. We make it an afterthought. Oh we should pray, or we need something from God - let's pray.
So let's pray. However let's find prayer a passion of our heart for our walks with God as individuals and as a group. Be challenged to seek after others that will pray with you. We are going to invite people to join a program we are going to call People in Prayer. If you are interested, sign up on the youth group door. Each week you will be given a different person that you will get to pray with (you determine where - at school, at your homes, at church, over the phone). This is completely voluntary but completely AMAZING - so come join.
Tuesday: Pray for your family
Pray for any disunity that you may feel keeps your family’s focus away from God.
Read and reread Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I believe we all believe in prayer. I believe we all don't fully understand prayer. I believe we all struggle with prayer. But i think we all know that prayer is so important and essential so I hope that all of us strive to seek after a prayerful lifestyle. The reason being :Prayer is the primary work of the people of God.
I remember our missionary Evan Evans speaking to us giving testimony of prayer amongst Jr Highers in Africa. They invited the Spirit to come and join their small group and God did amazing things thru their consistent and fervent hearts for prayer. They just made themselves available. Are we making ourselves available?
I am here at Urbana and I was helping setup the bookstore. One of the books on discount for $1 is an audiobook "too busy not to pray". I thought to myself, wow what a great idea. There are people so busy they can't even read a book so give them an audiobook. But then why discount for $1, so more people can have this great resource or because no one is buying it? I think it is the later. We don't make prayer a priority of our lives or of our hearts. We make it an afterthought. Oh we should pray, or we need something from God - let's pray.
So let's pray. However let's find prayer a passion of our heart for our walks with God as individuals and as a group. Be challenged to seek after others that will pray with you. We are going to invite people to join a program we are going to call People in Prayer. If you are interested, sign up on the youth group door. Each week you will be given a different person that you will get to pray with (you determine where - at school, at your homes, at church, over the phone). This is completely voluntary but completely AMAZING - so come join.
Tuesday: Pray for your family
Pray for any disunity that you may feel keeps your family’s focus away from God.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Core Values of CMA Part 1
As we approach the new year of 2010, I thought it would be great to reflect on the Core Values of the CMA. It would be good to see how God has allowing us to live out these core values in the past year and how we can be challenged to focus and live them out more in the new year.
CORE VALUE # 1 - Lost people matter to God. He wants them found.
Read and reread Luke 19:10
Luke 19
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "
8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
9Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
When you read a passage like this you realize how much God loves people. Not just the people that know God because they have been taught before or
do things that look good". God loves all include sinners. A tax collector was not very well received amongst the people at that time. A tax collector was looked at as a crook, a criminal, a traitor to all the people. He would often take money from his people and give it to the Romans and many times take money for themselves. But Jesus took a tax collector and held him in honor and said he will have a meal with him. Jesus sought out the sinner and showed them that he loved them and wanted to be with them. Do we have the same thoughts about the sinners around us?
In this past year, have we done a good job recognizing that God loves the lost. Have we been a light in shining to unbelievers?
In this upcoming year, think about ways God wants you to reach out to the lost. Who are the people God is putting on your heart?
Pray for Boldness and Pray for Wisdom on how to do this
and
Prayer Calendar
Monday: Pray for your relationship with God
You are an amazing, beautiful creation! Thank God for making you his child.
CORE VALUE # 1 - Lost people matter to God. He wants them found.
Read and reread Luke 19:10
Luke 19
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "
8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
9Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
When you read a passage like this you realize how much God loves people. Not just the people that know God because they have been taught before or
do things that look good". God loves all include sinners. A tax collector was not very well received amongst the people at that time. A tax collector was looked at as a crook, a criminal, a traitor to all the people. He would often take money from his people and give it to the Romans and many times take money for themselves. But Jesus took a tax collector and held him in honor and said he will have a meal with him. Jesus sought out the sinner and showed them that he loved them and wanted to be with them. Do we have the same thoughts about the sinners around us?
In this past year, have we done a good job recognizing that God loves the lost. Have we been a light in shining to unbelievers?
In this upcoming year, think about ways God wants you to reach out to the lost. Who are the people God is putting on your heart?
Pray for Boldness and Pray for Wisdom on how to do this
and
Prayer Calendar
Monday: Pray for your relationship with God
You are an amazing, beautiful creation! Thank God for making you his child.
Friday, December 25, 2009
MERRY CHRISTMAS
God’s devastating acceptance and our unthinkable freedom
Read this verse a couple of time and really let it sink in:
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1
I hope you have enjoyed your journey through the book of Galatians. I know it has been enriched experience for those that have been preparing these. God’s devastating acceptance and love for us is so overwhelming. But instead of feeling this guilt that hinders us from getting closer and closer to God, we hopefully have found this unthinkable freedom in our lives.
This is an important place for us to begin this upcoming school year. We have to find freedom in Christ and not this feeling like we are going to be tied to a sinful life. God doesn’t want us to live these lives that continue to remember our old life and our life of sin and continue to fall back into that living. God rather wants us to have a new life with Christ, transformed and desiring so much to be FREE!!!! Not the kind of free that we can do whatever we want, but a freedom from following after Christ. It seems we lose freedom if we live by God’s rules and regulations. But once you have experienced a taste of God, you know that these rules and regulations are there not to bind us and keep us from “fun”, but they are given rather to protect us and guide us to true peace and joy in God. Also, hopefully as you have gone through the different passages from Galatians, you saw Paul’s PASSION to make sure you new the true way to God. That is through Jesus only. We don’t act like a Christian, or follow all these rules so that God will love and accepted us. It is God loves us and has given us Jesus, so that we are able to be loved and accepted if we place our faith in Him. So the response of Jesus in our lives is this desire to follow and obey Christ.
So take some time reflect on God’s love for you. Do you have a passion like Paul does to make sure that people truly understand that you can’t earn God’s love, but you must accept God’s love and see the ways it transforms you to live lives that are obedient and shine for God? How can you get there?
PRAYER CALENDAR
Friday: Pray for the Church (Big C)
Its Christmas!! Thank God for Jesus, and how he died for everybody! Without him there would be no Church
Read this verse a couple of time and really let it sink in:
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1
I hope you have enjoyed your journey through the book of Galatians. I know it has been enriched experience for those that have been preparing these. God’s devastating acceptance and love for us is so overwhelming. But instead of feeling this guilt that hinders us from getting closer and closer to God, we hopefully have found this unthinkable freedom in our lives.
This is an important place for us to begin this upcoming school year. We have to find freedom in Christ and not this feeling like we are going to be tied to a sinful life. God doesn’t want us to live these lives that continue to remember our old life and our life of sin and continue to fall back into that living. God rather wants us to have a new life with Christ, transformed and desiring so much to be FREE!!!! Not the kind of free that we can do whatever we want, but a freedom from following after Christ. It seems we lose freedom if we live by God’s rules and regulations. But once you have experienced a taste of God, you know that these rules and regulations are there not to bind us and keep us from “fun”, but they are given rather to protect us and guide us to true peace and joy in God. Also, hopefully as you have gone through the different passages from Galatians, you saw Paul’s PASSION to make sure you new the true way to God. That is through Jesus only. We don’t act like a Christian, or follow all these rules so that God will love and accepted us. It is God loves us and has given us Jesus, so that we are able to be loved and accepted if we place our faith in Him. So the response of Jesus in our lives is this desire to follow and obey Christ.
So take some time reflect on God’s love for you. Do you have a passion like Paul does to make sure that people truly understand that you can’t earn God’s love, but you must accept God’s love and see the ways it transforms you to live lives that are obedient and shine for God? How can you get there?
PRAYER CALENDAR
Friday: Pray for the Church (Big C)
Its Christmas!! Thank God for Jesus, and how he died for everybody! Without him there would be no Church
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Not Circumcision but a New Creation
Spend time reading and rereading and taking note of keywords from Gal 6:11-18
11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!
12Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. 14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.
17Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Questions:
What does Paul say that we should boast in?
What does Paul say really counts?
Things to reflect on:
I love Paul’s attitude that shows that the only thing that matters in this world is Christ. It doesn’t matter who you are Jew or Gentile (circumcision or uncircumcision). What matters is a relationship with Jesus who creates us into a new creation. I know that I spend time reflecting where would I be without Jesus. I know that my life with be drastically different if Christ had not taken hold of me and made me a new creation. I ask that you also reflect and what does Christ mean to you. Where would you be without Jesus?
Spend some time in prayer
Thursday: Pray for the church (small c)
Its Christmas eve! Pray for great fellowship as we worship the coming of Christ together
11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!
12Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. 14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.
17Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Questions:
What does Paul say that we should boast in?
What does Paul say really counts?
Things to reflect on:
I love Paul’s attitude that shows that the only thing that matters in this world is Christ. It doesn’t matter who you are Jew or Gentile (circumcision or uncircumcision). What matters is a relationship with Jesus who creates us into a new creation. I know that I spend time reflecting where would I be without Jesus. I know that my life with be drastically different if Christ had not taken hold of me and made me a new creation. I ask that you also reflect and what does Christ mean to you. Where would you be without Jesus?
Spend some time in prayer
Thursday: Pray for the church (small c)
Its Christmas eve! Pray for great fellowship as we worship the coming of Christ together
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Doing Good to All
Spend time reading and rereading and taking note of key words in Gal 6:1-10
1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.
6Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Questions:
As you circle themes and main ideas from this passage, what is the emphasis that Paul is sharing with the Galatians?
How is this passage connected with the passage from yesterday with the acts of the sinful nature and the fruit of the Spirit?
Things to reflect on:
The problem that occupies Paul’s attention while addressing restoration is pride on the part of the restorer. Pride is wrong (v. 3), and each restorer should check himself or herself out (v. 4a) and not find personal status by comparison with others, especially with sinning brothers and sisters (v. 4b). In the final analysis, each person is responsible before God for what he or she has done (v. 5). So why is it so hard for us to steer away from the downfall of pride. We too often forget to take our eyes off ourselves and place them on Christ, who allows us to see with His eyes. Christ then fills our hearts with a love for others. We must find the ability for us to humble ourselves and know when we are being selfish. We also need to fight the natural tendency to be offended or turned off when a brother/sister brings to our attention some areas of sin in our lives. May we be challenged by God to be able to speak truth into each other’s lives and also be humble enough to hear from others.
Spend some time in prayer
Wednesday: Pray for friends (inside and outside church)
Pray for your friends who may have disconnected with God over the busy school year. Pray that they will use this time to reconnect with God.
1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.
6Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Questions:
As you circle themes and main ideas from this passage, what is the emphasis that Paul is sharing with the Galatians?
How is this passage connected with the passage from yesterday with the acts of the sinful nature and the fruit of the Spirit?
Things to reflect on:
The problem that occupies Paul’s attention while addressing restoration is pride on the part of the restorer. Pride is wrong (v. 3), and each restorer should check himself or herself out (v. 4a) and not find personal status by comparison with others, especially with sinning brothers and sisters (v. 4b). In the final analysis, each person is responsible before God for what he or she has done (v. 5). So why is it so hard for us to steer away from the downfall of pride. We too often forget to take our eyes off ourselves and place them on Christ, who allows us to see with His eyes. Christ then fills our hearts with a love for others. We must find the ability for us to humble ourselves and know when we are being selfish. We also need to fight the natural tendency to be offended or turned off when a brother/sister brings to our attention some areas of sin in our lives. May we be challenged by God to be able to speak truth into each other’s lives and also be humble enough to hear from others.
Spend some time in prayer
Wednesday: Pray for friends (inside and outside church)
Pray for your friends who may have disconnected with God over the busy school year. Pray that they will use this time to reconnect with God.
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