Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Acts 13:1-12
¹ Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers:

Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. ² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off ⁴ The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. ⁵ When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper. ⁶ They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,⁷ who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. ⁹ Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ¹⁰ “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? ¹¹ Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun. ”Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. ¹² When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

Reflection

This  is the start of Paul’s first missionary excursion. The key element to this story is found in verses 4 and 5. Paul and Barnabas are not going out on their own. They are called by God and sent with the Holy Spirit into the world to make new disciples. This is why Connect Grow Serve is so important.  We need to be connected to God and growing closer in our intimacy with Him to be able to hear God call us and to be sent out into service. We are sustained in our service through that connection with the Holy Spirit.  How are you connecting with God through Jesus Christ? How are you growing in Jesus Christ  to hear God’s call in your life to serve in the world for Jesus Christ?

Monday, December 30, 2013

Acts 9:1-9,17-18
¹Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” ⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. ¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 

Reflection

Saul (later to be called Paul) is converted and called by Jesus  to preach and proclaim the gospel. The problem is the fact that  he has to do this with people he had once persecuted and to people he had seen as second class citizens (or worse.) We have the same call in our lives to serve with people we may not like at times and to serve people who at one time we would have seen as inferior or lacking. We have to do this without judgment.  As the church we are in the people business and that is what makes mission so hard. Do you have trouble working with other people and or sharing the gospel with people who are not like you? Be honest. Share your concerns with God.

Weekly Theme December 29, 2013 through January 4, 2014

Christmas Challenges Us

““In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.“

-Luke 2:1-7

For our reflection, this week, we will look at the missionary journeys of Paul and see how a deep connection with God’s heart led Paul on his missionary journeys. Paul’s journey’s are not accidental or happenstance. They are purposeful and intentional to join with the transformational work of God. And you will see that many times it is not about the end but it is God working in the means. Lives are changed by the journey. The same journey we are on as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

John 1:1-5

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.⁵ The light shines in the

darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Reflection

Today our word is “light.” What does “light” mean in your life? How have you  experienced “light” this week?

Friday, December 27, 2013

James 1:2-3

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

Reflection

Today our word is “joy.” What does “joy” mean in your life? How have you  experienced ”joy” this week?

Thursday, December 26, 2013

2 Timothy 2:19

¹⁹ Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

Reflection

Today our word is “sign.” What does “sign” mean in your life? How have you  experienced “sign” this week?

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Isaiah 7:13-14

¹³ Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of

David! Is it not enough to try the patience of

humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Reflection

Today our word is “prophet.” What does “prophet” mean in your life? How have you  experienced “prophet” this week?

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Luke 2:13-15

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Reflection

Many of the words we will explore have multiple meanings. Because of this the scripture and picture the journal paints may be different from what you envision. This is a good thing because if we all agreed on everything, life would be boring. Explore your understanding of the word  and compare it to the journal. Today our word is “good news.” What does “good news.” mean in your life? How have you  experienced “good news” this week?

Monday, December 23, 2013

Galatians 5:22-25
²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

 Reflection

This week we will continue looking for God moments in our everyday lives as we make the journey to Christmas together. During Advent this year we will have a word a day that focuses us on God’s work in our world. Today our word is “patience.” What does “patience” mean in your life? How have you experienced “patience” this week?

Weekly Theme December 22 through 28

Christmas Encourages Us

 ““I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. “

-Luke 1:38

The season of Christmas can be a time of depression and stress.  We have taken the season of Christmas and we have created all of these expectations around the celebration of the holiday.  We expect to give and receive gifts.  We expect family to be with us and supportive of us during the Christmas season.  We expect our lives to be happy and full of good cheer.  We expect our problems to be solved and all to be set right during the yuletide season.

Because of the many expectations that we have around the celebration of Christmas, we can easily become discouraged when our vision of the perfect Christmas does not become a

reality.  Maybe we don’t get to visit family for Christmas.  Maybe we don’t have the money to buy gifts or we go into debt buying them anyway which brings its own set of problems.  Maybe for various reasons we end up depressed at this time of year instead of happy and cheerful.  And it always seems that unexpected problems seem to crop up and put a damper on the season.

Instead of focusing on what the season of Christmas is really about, we create all of these unrealistic expectations that cause us to be disappointed and discouraged when our ideal

image of the perfect Christmas does not become a reality. 

Christmas can be a very encouraging time but we must learn how to focus on and receive the encouragement that Christmas has to offer.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

1 Peter 1:3-4

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 

Reflection

Today our word is “mercy.” What does “mercy” mean in your life? How have you  experienced “mercy” this week?

Friday, December 20, 2013

Galatians 5:1

¹It 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.

Reflection

Today our word is “free.” What does “free” mean in your life? How have you  experienced ”free” this week?

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Isaiah 40:28-31

²⁸ Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

Reflection

Today our word is “strong.” What does “strong” mean in your life? How have you  experienced “strong” this week?

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Philippians 4:4-7

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything,

but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Reflection

Today our word is “rejoice.” What does “rejoice” mean in your life? How have you  experienced “rejoice” this week?

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Hebrews 10:24-25

²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one

another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not

giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Reflection

Many of the words we will explore have multiple meanings. Because of this, the scripture and picture the journal paints may be different from what you envision. This is a good thing because if we all agreed on everything, life would be boring. Explore your understanding of the word  and compare it to the journal. Today our word is “gather.” What does “gather” mean in your life? How have you  experienced “gather” this week?

Monday, December 16, 2013

Amos 5:24
²⁴ But let justice roll on like a river,
    righteousness like a never-failing stream!

Reflection

This week we will continue looking for God moments in our everyday lives as we make the journey to Christmas together. During Advent this year, we will have a word a day that focuses us on God’s work in our world. Today our word is “justice.” What does “justice” mean in your life? How have you experienced “justice” this week?

Weekly Theme December 15 through 21

Christmas Confronts Us

 “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

-Matthew 1:20-21

Why did Jesus need to come into the world? Jesus came into the world because you and I are lost without him.  We need to own up to the reality that we have a basic need for Jesus to save us from ourselves and bring healing and wholeness into our lives.  Jesus came into the world because you and I can do nothing to eradicate or forgive our sin.  Jesus came to give his life as a sacrifice and to pay the penalty for our sin so that we would not have to pay that penalty.  We need to own up to the reality that Jesus came into this world to deal with our sinfulness.  Jesus came into this world to win a victory over death and to give us life that will last for all eternity.  We need to own up to the reality that through our own efforts we could never earn the gift of eternal life and that Jesus has provided it for us through his defeat of death.  Christmas, the coming of Jesus into this world, confronts each of us with our own basic need of God’s intervention in our lives through the redeeming action of Jesus.  We need to be confronted with the fact that Jesus came into the world because we need him.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Ephesians 5:8-14

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Reflection

Today our word is “hope.” What does “hope” mean in your life? How have you  experienced “hope” this week?

Friday, December 13, 2013

1 Corinthians 15:55-58

⁵⁵ “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Reflection

Today our word is “steadfast.” What does “steadfast” mean in your life? How have you  experienced ”steadfast” this week?

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Isaiah 6:1-3

¹In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. ² Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. ³ And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
    the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Reflection

Today our word is “holy.” What does “holy” mean in your life? How have you  experienced “holy” this week?

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Psalm 37:4-7

⁴ Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
⁶ He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,    your vindication like the noonday sun.

⁷ Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Reflection

Today our word is “delight.” What does “delight” mean in your life? How have you  experienced “delight” this week?

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

James 1:5

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you

Reflection

Many of the words we will explore have multiple meanings. Because of this the scripture and picture the journal paints may be different from what you envision. This is a good thing because if we all agreed on everything, life would be boring. Explore your understanding of the word  and compare it to the journal. Today our word is “wisdom.” What does “wisdom” mean in your life? How have you  experienced “wisdom” this week?

Monday, December 9, 2013

Matthew 24:36, 42-44
³⁶ “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ⁴² “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you

also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Reflection

This week we will continue looking for God moments in our everyday lives as we make the journey to Christmas together. During Advent this year, we will have a word a day that focuses us on God’s work in our world. Today our word is “ready.” What does “ready” mean in your life? How have you experienced “ready” this week?

Weekly Theme December 8 through 14

Christmas Calls Us

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love  he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”

-Ephesians 1:3-6

Last week began the season of Advent. Advent is the period of four Sundays and weeks before Christmas (or sometimes from the 1st December to Christmas Day!). Advent means 'Coming' in Latin. This is the coming of Jesus into the world. Christians use the four Sundays and weeks of Advent to prepare and remember the real meaning of Christmas.

There are three meanings of 'coming' that Christians describe in Advent. The first coming, and most thought of, happened about 2000 years ago when Jesus came into the world as a baby to live as a man and die for us. The second coming can happen in the present as Jesus wants to come into our lives now. And the third will happen in the future when Jesus comes back to the world as King and Judge, not as a baby.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Ephesians 5:8-14

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴ This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Reflection

Today our word is “awake.” What does “awake” mean in your life? How have you  experienced “awake” this week?

Friday, December 6, 2013

Romans 5:1-5

¹Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord ‘Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained

access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we also glory in our

sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 

⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Reflection

Today our word is “flood.” What does “flood” mean in your life? How have you  experienced ”flood” this week?

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Acts 1:6-9

⁶ Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ⁹ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

Reflection

Today our word is “time.” What does “time” mean in your life? How have you  experienced “time” this week