Kadin - Exodus 2:21-4:17

The burning bush. Moses hears a voice from the bush that says "don't come any closer, take off your sandals for you are standing on holy ground.". Livia thought that in that moment of Gods presence - it must have been terrifying! Like you are a small little ant!  Later God tells Moses to lead the people and Moses gets worried because he has a speech problem. God promises to be with him and prove that he has been called by Him. He tells Moses" I gave you your mouth and I will provide what you need. "  That's pretty cool!   God can do that for us today too!

Gina - Romans 8

So this morning my heart hurts for a good friend, Ellen.  She lost her 5 year old grand daughter last night in a tragic accident.   As I think back over the past several weeks I recall a few conversations her and I had, one being about my ambitious idea to memorize the whole chapter of Romans 8! Wow, what was I thinking?   She said right away " I'm in!" and I just loved that she had that kind of passion for the Word of God.  A few weeks pass and we see each other at church and she asks how I'm doing on it, and I shamefully admit I've not even started ........ Today I wake early to her unbearable,  devastating news and I open my Bible to Romans 8.... and  I can't breathe.  I'm in awe of HIS power and how personal He is.  After being wrecked by the truth in this chapter, I humbly commit to memorizing the whole thing in honor of my friend Ellen.  He is Near today, my friend.

Romans 8:18, 26-28, 35, 37-39 NIV

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Kadin - Jonah

Jonah is disobeying God but God swallows him up by a big fish and gives him time to think and pray. Jonah knew he was disobedient and so God made the fish spit him out on dry land and then Jonah obeyed God and went to Ninevah like God told him to in the first place.    So in our lives God may ask us to do something that we might not want to do but it's best to obey God from the start.   It's also good to learn from Jonah that we should recognize our disobedience and repent. 

Tim - Matthew 3:13-17

The baptism of Jesus. Jesus said "this is proper to fulfill all righteousness". Which means to fulfill prophecy to prove the truth of who he was. When he was baptized the holy spirit In the form of a dove rested on him. A voice from heaven said "this is my son, in whom I am well pleased!". Can you imagine if you were there? Wow! He's here! The Messiah. The one they said would come and take all the sins of the world upon his shoulders. Devin shared that it reminded him of Joshua 1:9 "be strong and courageous , do not be terrified for the lord your god is with you wherever you go!"

Livia - Matthew 25

A parable Jesus told:  verse 13 & 14 says it all!
 "I don't know you!"
The parable is about 10 virgins that are seeking a groom. Some of them are ready and some are not.  Just like us waiting for Jesus' return, some of us are ready and some of us are not.  We must have "the oil in our lamps" which means "Jesus in our hearts" so that when Jesus comes he will "KNOW" us.  You can go to church every Sunday, have the big part in the Christmas program and say all the
right things and  still not KNOW God.  The point is - make sure you KNOW  God  and keep your "lamp full of oil" everyday because "no one knows the day or the hour" that Jesus will return for us!   

Kadin - Matthew 3

John the baptist.  "A voice of one crying in the desert, prepare the way of the Lord!"
John the baptist was  hardcore telling them to repent and be baptized.  He told the "churchy" people  that they were vipers because they did not think they needed to repent and be baptized because they thought they were already good. We have to be careful to think that just because we live a good life that we are okay, because we need Jesus to be saved.     He told them "I baptize you with water but there is one who will come and is more powerful whose sandels I am not worthy to carry.  He will baptize you with fire and the Holy Spirit."  That's pretty cool.   That means the Holy Spirit  lives in me and helps me in life and his "fire" gets rid of all the bad stuff in our lives.

Devin- Psalm 8

How majestic is your name!! From the lips of children your praise is ordained! Who am I that you are mindful of me? God is awesome and His creation is perfect. We have been created for His glory! This awesome, big God wants a relationship with us! Wow.

Livia - Matthew 7:13-23

Livia read this scripture to us and shared a paper she had received from Girls Club this summer.  She talked about the difference between narrow and wide gates. When she got to the part about bearing good fruit she said "whoa!"  She said it made her think about bad fruit and good fruit and the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. People can be good without bearing fruit. You can do good , cool things but without God you Don't bear fruit that lasts. Kadin mentioned that idols can get our eyes off the narrow road. Idols are things that you put before God.