Tim - Titus 3:1-11,14

Remind people to - respect leaders, slander no one, be peaceable and kind and generous to everyone. We are all the same! God did not save us because we are good or because we deserved it but rather because He chose to show us mercy through the washing of re-birth and renewal - poured on us generously through Jesus Christ. We have hope on Jesus name! Stress these things and devote yourself to doing good for everyone around you.

Be full of grace as He was full of grace.

Gina - Phillippians 4:10-13

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:10-13 NIV)

Content.  That's a word I have been wrestling with alot lately in my life.  I'm not sure if it's a "holy" discontentment, like I just can't seem to get enough of "junk out and God in" kind of discontentment.... while I'd love to pridefully say , that's it.....unfortunately there's this other really ugly kind of discontentment.    It's embarrasing.  It's not good.  I'm so mindful of what I want and what I don't have that I suffocate the ability to be grateful for what I do have.   Okay I said it.  I heard a quote recently that's echoing in my head by St Clair Furgeson  "Contentment is a direct fruit of having no higher ambition than to belong to the Lord and be at His disposal."   

Paul says in the scripture above " I HAVE LEARNED THE SECRET OF BEING CONTENT"....
and I am on a quest , with my family.... to learn that secret too!  I'm thinking it has something to do with full surrender..... what about you?

Livia - Psalm 68

"....Let God arise! ...The righteous will be glad. ....Let the earth rejoice! .... Our God is a God who saves!! ....Summon your power oh God - show us your strength as you have done before! ....You are awesome oh God! .."

Livia said : "This is what I find cool - God is our shepherd and even when all is wrong we can rest in Him"

Gina - Proverbs 22

I really want to live this out. That having things and wealth does not help others and that it's better to be esteemed by others than to have things.

Being generous brings blessings to your life. Thanksgiving is a good time to consider what we can do for other people.


To live is Christ, to die is gain.

Kadin - Genesis 22

Abraham Is willing to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. God stopped him before he did and He said ..."I see that you are fully devoted and will hold nothing back".

Isaac said to others as he returned..." I have learned the cost of faith and the reward of faith."

Kadin said that this teaches us to obey God and trust God completely. It might be really hard to do but the reward is awesome.

This story is a foreshadowing to what would happen with Jesus.

Amazing.

Devin- Romans 3:9-20

People were trying to "be good" but Jesus came and provided grace and a way. He is our righteousness.
Nobody's perfect and we've all sinned and without Jesus we would not be able to approach God. His love for us is perfect. It's good to be loved today.

Tim- 1 Corinthians 10:31

Whatever you do, do it all for the Glory of God.

We are to glorify God always even when people are not looking. Its not about what we accomplish , but rather how often we point to Him.

Faithfulness in human life , again in ALL we do not just our Christian activities.

Gina - Psalm 15

The one whose walk is blameless. Hum?? Speaks truth from the heart, utters no slander or slur, who does no wrong to a neighbor, who keeps oaths even when it hurts, who does not change their mind....whoever does these things will never be shaken! This is no small call however in the light of living my life to honor and glorify God it resounds in my soul this morning. It's right. It's what he requires of me. May the flesh and selfish desires today be beaten down by the truth that lives within me.

Kadin - Exodus 20

The 10 commandments! When Moses went to the mountain to get the 10 commandments the people got anxious and decided to make their own gods. They made a gold statue so they could have a god they could see. It looks just like a god that Egypt had. The people brought their offerings to this god but then Moses came down and gets very upset and breaks the tablets. Moses burns the statue and tells the people to ponder their faithfulness. He went back to the mountaintop and begged God for forgiveness for the people. When Moses came down his face was shining as bright as the sun for the glory of God was on him!! Today we are reminded to ponder our faithfulness.

Devin - Revelation 12

Wow. When Christ overcame death now Satan has no control over us through Jesus' power. Kadin's mouth was wide open the whole reading. This text is very intriguing and makes you think. Devin talked to us about end times and how Jesus will come back for us. Kadin asked when? Times certainly do point to the end, however no one knows the day or the hour! Devin said "if we are living for eternity why do we need to go to school or college? Let's just go to church everyday! ". Nice!

Livia - Proverbs 10:4

"Lazy hands brings poverty but diligent hands bring wealth."

King Solomon was a wise man and his words tell us that hard work is one of the greatest things we can learn. If we sit around and do nothing that's just what we will get out of life. We must choose to work hard at what God has called us to do , even if it's hard or something you don't like to do.

Mom and Dad think Liv is right on and we are going to practice hard work tonight on all the leaves in our yard! Great idea Livia!!!!

Tim - Colossians 1:24

"Now I rejoice what I am suffering for you, and I FILL UP in my flesh what I still lack in regards to Christ's afflictions, for sake of his body, which is the church. "

Oswald Chambers recap: The Christian worker. Identify with your Lord. It's not the strength of a man's personality that brings people to Christ but rather Christ in us!! If we preach the effects of redemption on human life INSTEAD of the revelation regarding Jesus the results in those who listen is not new birth but refined spiritual culture. The Spirit of God cannot witness to it.

Ouch.

What chance does the gospel have of getting through our personality? We must not glory in men but rather in Christ our Lord.

FILL UP with him alone and point to him alone.

Livia - Matthew 17:14-20

The healing of a boy with a demon. I don't understand why Jesus would say "how long shall I put up with you?". Maybe because he expected his disciples to stop wallowing in unbelief? A faith as small as a mustard seed ( which is very, very small) will "move mountains" which is like moving our problems! It says that" With faith, nothing is impossible. ". I want to live out my faith - and build my faith everyday and really believe that NOTHING is impossible with God. Daddy said he pictures Jesus watching us in our day to day saying "come on! I can help you with this! Have faith, look to me! I can move this mountain! Don't try so hard on your own!!" HAVE FAITH!!!

Tim - Matthew 4:1-17

The temptation of Jesus. Right after Jesus' baptism he was led by the Spirit (the SPIRIT, not the devil) so this was intentional after His baptism to show He would not overcome the enemy by supernatural powers but rather by the Word of God! The devil tempted Jesus in every way, just like we are - yet was without sin. The devil will tempt us even in ways that might seem right to us so we have to test everything with the Word of God and confirmations from the Holy Spirit. The devil LEFT HIM (gave up, 3 strikes your out) and the angels attended to Him. Meet your temptations with scriptural truth... "it is written!!!"

Gina - 2 Corinthians 10:5

"....and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. "

The Holy Spirit should be our filter so that everything that comes out of our mouths honors God. The center of who we are becomes fully subject to the lordship of Jesus Christ. We have divine power in Christ to defeat all strongholds in our lives. A good friend just told me last night that one practice she does in her life before responding in certain situations was to "take a moment" and think before she speaks. Sounds very practical, however she said it changed her life! Amen- Jesus as lord changes everything in us!!!