Gina - 2 Peter 1:5-9 & Rev. 2:4,5

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. (2 Peter 1:5-9 NIV)

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. (Revelation 2:4, 5 NIV)

When someone asks the question "How are you doing in your spiritual walk?" we answer with something like.. " I'm doing pretty good" or "I'm memorizing verses" or "not too good right now". Today I am understanding that the question is wrong!!! The question should be "How is your love for God and others? Is it growing? Is it deeper, more real than the day before?". Ahhh yes because this LOVE is the true evidence of one walking with Him and growing in goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, Godliness, mutual affections and love. I don't want to kick around what's right or wrong according to me or to you, trying to decide and dictate what is acceptable in this society and what's not. Yuck!! I just want Jesus! I want to fall in love with Him and be real! Learn from His word and grow in my love for HIM and OTHERS.  I want Him to LIVE in me and use me up while I'm here to build His kingdom. I don't want him to "remove his lampstand" from me.

I want to go back and STAY with my first love, remembering how far I've fallen.
Praise His name.

Livia - Isaiah 10:20-25

In that day the remnant of Israel,
the survivors of Jacob,
will no longer rely on him
who struck them down
but will truly rely on the Lord,
the Holy One of Israel. A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob
will return to the Mighty God. Though your people be like the sand by the sea, Israel,
only a remnant will return.
Destruction has been decreed,
overwhelming and righteous. The Lord, the Lord Almighty, will carry out
the destruction decreed upon the whole land. Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says:
"My people who live in Zion,
do not be afraid of the Assyrians,
who beat you with a rod
and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did. Very soon my anger against you will end
and my wrath will be directed to their destruction." (Isaiah 10:20-25 NIV)

Livia knows that God is faithful so even though he was angry - he says that his anger will be directed toward destruction.

Let's make sure we are not causing destruction but rather building up!!

Amen!

Livia - Romans 8:17-21

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. (Romans 8:17-21 NIV)

Livia read Pastor Ben's devotion today. Attitude is everything. To determine, judge and decide how we will handle our struggles now. A bad attitude does not help - enjoy life and then people will enjoy being around you.

Tim - Galatians 3

You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? So also Abraham "believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." (Galatians 3:1-6 NIV)

You foolish Wessels! Are you saved by what you do or by believing? There is nothing we can do to be "good" to earn our salvation. We are saved by Jesus's work on the cross. That's it! Never be proud of your good works but rather boast in the cross alone. He loves us and we love him. Let it be Don't add to it!

Gina - Hebrews 10:19-23

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:19-23 NIV)

You can be in proximity of someone but not close to them. I want to be near to my God. I want to draw close to Him with a sincere heart , know Him , Love Him, learn him, be like Him. My heart takes courage today and says I will hold on to the faith unswervingly.

Kadin -Exodus 10-12

"Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. And when your children ask you, 'What does this ceremony mean to you?' then tell them, 'It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.'" Then the people bowed down and worshiped. (Exodus 12:24-27 NIV)

God protects us the same way today. Through Jesus - our sins are gone and we are not slaves anymore. We will remind and tell each other of the great things he has done for us.

The Passover represents Jesus' blood.

Good thoughts k-diddy!!!

Livia - Psalm 139

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. (Psalm 139:17, 18 NKJV)

He is jealous for us and his affections are great for us. Livia turned into a worship coordinator this morning for her devotion! 2 interview videos ( mom and kadin) and a song called "How He Loves" .

He created us !! We are precious to Him and He sent His son to die for us !! What a great reminder this morning. We are loved. "yah he loves us oh how he loves us, oh how he loves!!!! If grace is an ocean we are all sinking!"

Livia - Ephesians 5:20

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:20 NIV)

Have you ever thought of writing a thank you card to God?

Remember to be thankful for everything to God because He is the giver of all good things.

Tim - Hebrews 4:9

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; (Hebrews 4:9 NIV)

I'm really, really, really tired. So this was good for me this morning. We are called to give our lives away for Christ. How different my state will be in heaven. While I'm here I will have much labor. I am not weary of the labor, I'm weary in it, but that's okay - one day I will rest forever.

We need to live our lives remembering that THIS is not it, Find your enthusiasm in eternity!!!!

G - Psalm 34:18-19

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all; (Psalm 34:18, 19 NIV)

Righteous means to be made right! We are made righteous through Jesus and then because I am righteous (only because of him) he hears my prayers and is close to me no matter what life brings. Hallelujah!

I can't imagine going through anything without the lord being near. Thank you Jesus!!! Thank you. Verse 20 says "he protects all his bones and not one of them will be broken." He is my refuge. (Psalm 91)

He's truly all we need.
Amen.

Devin - Col 1:29

To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1:29 NIV)

Christ is in me. Can't forgive , can't stop, can't do it, can't find strength? CHRIST can and He lives in you!

God was WITH Abraham, Moses, Joshua..... Now , he died and rose again and he is IN us. He gave us the Holy Spirit which Jesus said we would "do even greater things" with the Holy Spirit than He did. Wow.

"I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me. " Phil 4:13

Livia -1 Timothy 3:5

He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) (1 Timothy 3:4, 5 NIVUK)

Livia searched for "family" on her itouch bible app - so here we are!
Ouch.

The whole household is responsible for taking care of our relationships. We should not consider taking care of anything else if we can't / don't / won't take care of our households.

How? (quick answers)
In the word
Get along
A disciplined life for all of us
Kindness and love rules
Unity
God centered
Forgiveness
Devote to prayer
Be wise

Tim - Acts 14:21-25

They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. (Acts 14:21-25 NIVUK)

Following along with the Biggest Loser sermon series by PB today. The book of Acts is about the church and the spread of God's word all over the world. Paul sent letters to churches like Galatians , Ephesians, Phillipians....
Encouraging them to stand firm in the faith. Encouraging people is so important for the church -Because the Word says we must suffer hardship ( we will be teased and mocked as Christ followers) to enter the kingdom but that's okay in the light of eternity!
Right? Right!

"Whoever loses his life for my sake will gain it!!! ".

Livia - Psalm 27:1-5

THE LORD is my Light and my Salvation--whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and
Stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to
eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me, [even then] in this will I be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire
for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house
of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful
loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and
inquire in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in
the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock. (Psalm 27:1-5 AMP)

Last night I was a little afraid to go upstairs to bed by myself so I waited for my Mom. When I got to my bed I read this scripture and I was amazed that God spoke to me so quickly a out my fear. The only time I should be afraid is if I'm walking Away from God instead of towards Him.

Gina - 1 Samuel 18:6-10

When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang:
"Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands." Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?" And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David. The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand (1 Samuel 18:6-10 NIV)

It goes on to say that Saul threw the spear and tried to pin David to the wall. Wow. That's serious. I wonder if we can relate to this feeling of jealously? I know I can. We used an example of if Devin were the best lacrosse player and got a lot of praise and attention until a new kid came on the team and started getting that attention. We have a decision to make when that evil thought comes, to let it be conceived in our hearts and ultimately ruin us and relationships or to say "if it be your will for them to take over , lead, whatever .... So be it!! I will do what you want me to do- all for your glory and honor."

Let our desire for significance be satisfied within our covenant with our God!!

Devin - Psalm 1

Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. (Psalm 1:1-6 NIV)

People that follow God prosper! Even during trials and suffering. If we study His word and learn His word everyday it becomes part of who we are and then it comes to our minds at just the right time. Walk, stand , sit... In everything stay away from evil and cling to what is right and Godly!!

Livia. - Psalm 114

When Israel came out of Egypt,
Jacob from a people of foreign tongue, Judah became God's sanctuary,
Israel his dominion. The sea looked and fled,
the Jordan turned back; the mountains leaped like rams,
the hills like lambs. Why was it, sea, that you fled?
Why, Jordan, did you turn back? Why, mountains, did you leap like rams,
you hills, like lambs? Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool,
the hard rock into springs of water. (Psalm 114:1-8 NIV)

Gen 32:18 says "your name will no longer be Jacob but Israel since you have struggled with God and men and have overcome."

Did you see the pink sky this morning as the sun was coming up? Why do we tremble? That's why!!! God is powerful and his presence is everywhere!!!

Tim - 2 Corinthians 12:7

...or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NIV)

Conceited means to be prideful and arrogant. We all have difficulties and struggles and things we might not like about our lives however those are the things that keep us relying on God. We should embrace them instead because in our weakness He is strong.

A better solution than to remove the thorn (the things we don't like) is to rely on His grace that is sufficient for us.

For Christ sake, lets delight in these things because in them Christ's power is made evident in my life and I can give Him the glory!!