Quick Gospel

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding

Thought:

Today's devotional is inspired by an article that was sent to me and thought it over to present it to my readers today.  Oddly, and ironically enough it comes form the same book of scriptures that I just finished with Proverbs.  But how often I find myself relying on my own worldly understanding of trust.  I trust that the lights will come on when I flip the switch.  I trust that my car will start when I turn the key.  I trust that the heat will come on when I turn on the furnace.  Simple things that I commonly trust in.  Yet, when I really think about my trust in the Lord it almost seems selfish to me.  I find it hard to trust that each step I take into doing what the Lord wants me to do to be so difficult.  If a friend asked me to do something though I would trust that they would be there for me.  We call ourselves Christians because we go to church, believe in Jesus Christ.  But when it comes to trusting in Him that he will take care of us we second guess our thoughts.  Start today and this new week with a better understanding that if He calls us to go and do then that is what we best go and do!!

Prayer:

Dear Lord, let our ears be open to hearing you today, and our minds focused on what you call us to go and do, and put our trust in you to go and do!!  Amen.

Quick Gospel

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Thought:
Anxiety and excitement are playing a major part of my days as my start date for seminary draw near. Is this common before going back to school? It is new to me, so at times I draw my attention on that fact and not staying focused on the reason I am attending seminary. Keeping my prayers focused on just that thought, who it is that has given me the ability to go through with His plans. Same applies to all of us as we draw closer to a certain day, be it a test at school or a specific assignment at school or work. We need to stay focused on the one that gives us the ability to do anything at all. I read somewhere that anxiety equals sin because we are not putting our trust in God when we allow ourselves to become anxious over something. Present your anxieties to god and let Him deal with them.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, keep us from our growing worries of what may be to come. Keep us focused on our faith that you will take care of each of us as you do the flowers and birds. Amen.

Have a great and blessed weekend!

Quick Gospel

Matthew 16:15-16,18

15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Thought:

So the old format is back, and I hope that you enjoyed the journey through the book of proverbs.  Many are glad this format is back, but to those that, like me, picked out verses that affected my life good luck with your walk on that journey and may God be with you as well. As that being my third time through the book of proverbs as a study, I again found many more verses to understand.  Yet, during that time I grew a lot spiritually and the devil did not like that none too much.  He attacked me, my friends, my employer, my family. I can not think of anyone that was not attacked that was around me.  So in my walk through proverbs I got to live a small section of the book of Job as well.  Through faith though I am looking back over the situations and noticing that for this portion of my walk there is only one set of footprints in the sand.  As we go about doing what God has called us to do, and we really do what he tells us to do, the devil will attack.  Satan will be relentless on us, because he knows that if we finish the goal that God has set for us, then Satan will loose standing ground in his fight to win us over for his army.  So then, why today's scripture?  We all need to be a Peter in our lives.  When we go through rough and hard times, circumstances will arise when we are asked who do you say that I am ( who will help you through this situation)?  As Peter answers, Christ, the son of the Living God, that's who!  And upon that moment your personal church will grow to be more founded on Christ and each new brick will be laid as we continue to go through tough times.  because Christ our living God has already gone through them before us, and defeated Satan.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, as with all times that bring us down in our faith walk.  We rely on you to carry us through them.  May we bring you the honor and glory with each step that we take in building a foundation on you, as we build our own church in our lives.  Amen.

Tuned In Tuesday

JJ Heller as center stage this week with a most powerful song "Love Me".  It is the lyrics that captured me with this song.  Who will love you for you? Our most awesome Fathrer in Heaven, that's who.  Too many times we feel not worth it, like we are not good enough.  Yet, we are to Him, and that is all that counts. 

Have a great and blessed week!

Quick Gospel-31

Proverbs 31 Sayings of King Lemuel 1 The sayings of King Lemuel--an oracle his mother taught him: 2 "O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, 3 do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings. 4 "It is not for kings, O Lemuel-- not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, 5 lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. 6 Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; 7 let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. 8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character 10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Giving, Gospel & Grid Iron

Here are a few photos of our event on Saturday, January 22nd with Keith Elias and Imani Worship Experience. Thank you all for coming and supporting St. David's UCC!