Livia - Mark 10:5-9

"It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." (Mark 10:5-9 NIV)

Livi said Moses was giving up on them because their hearts were hard. Jesus said - let no one separate!!! Jesus always "uped the Annie " and called us to live above the law and spoke to the hearts of people instead.

Kadin - 2 Choronicles 15:4

But in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them. (2 Chronicles 15:4 NIV)

When we are in tough situations the best place to turn is God. When you look for him by reading His Word you will find him.

Devin - Luke 16:10

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. (Luke 16:10 NIV)

Reliability. The quality that produces consistent lives. Work is not effected by circumstance (moods, cloudy days). Not addicted to making people happy but rather faithful in all places : in a dark place or a spotted stage.

Faithful in all things. With little or much. Devin said this tells me "its best to Rely on God to be consistent and make me "even" in life. "

Well said son.

Tim - Luke 24:32

They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32 NIV)

Abiding in Jesus. Much of our stress is from allowing our emotions to
have their way. If we let our emotions be kindled by the Spirit - we will have more of a chance to glorify God. So much could be avoided if we yield to the Spirit and let God's word burn within us.

He makes all things right.

Livia - Jeremiah 22:1-10

This is what the Lord says: "Go down to the palace of the king of Judah and proclaim this message there: 'Hear the word of the Lord to you, king of Judah, you who sit on David's throne—you, your officials and your people who come through these gates. This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. For if you are careful to carry out these commands, then kings who sit on David's throne will come through the gates of this palace, riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by their officials and their people. But if you do not obey these commands, declares the Lord, I swear by myself that this palace will become a ruin.'" For this is what the Lord says about the palace of the king of Judah:
"Though you are like Gilead to me,
like the summit of Lebanon,
I will surely make you like a wasteland,
like towns not inhabited. I will send destroyers against you,
each man with his weapons,
and they will cut up your fine cedar beams
and throw them into the fire. "People from many nations will pass by this city and will ask one another, 'Why has the Lord done such a thing to this great city?' And the answer will be: 'Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God and have worshiped and served other gods.'" Do not weep for the dead king or mourn his loss;
rather, weep bitterly for him who is exiled,
because he will never return
nor see his native land again. (Jeremiah 22:1-10 NIV)

Liv shared that this is inspiring because God showed his anger and gave severe warnings because the people were turning their backs on God. We need to be careful to not let things and stuff get in the way - we must keep our eyes on the creator not the creations!!!

Basics of The Christian Life!

pray continually, (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV)

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22 NIV)

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42 NIV)


We learned 3 basics this morning about our walk with Christ:

1. To pray and meditate on Gods word daily (1 Thes 5:17)


2. To be actively obedient to Gods voice (James 1:22)

3. To be part of a community of believers (Acts 2:42)

The kids rattled this off this morning, hoping to keep it written on their hearts - we will see what they remember when they get home from school! If you see them - ask them !!

Gina - Luke 7

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner." Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said. "Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little." Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." (Luke 7:36-50 NIV)

A great reminder that we are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God. I pray that God will reveal to us the impact that His forgiveness has meant to our lives that we will not expect it or take it for granted. Liv pointed out that Simon "said to himself", and Jesus "answered him". She said "Wow- that proves he is the Son of God. " cool.

Livia - psalm 18:27

You save the humble
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. (Psalm 18:27 NIV)

God is not a fan of the proud. Don't be the person who has to be the best. Be quick to listen and slow to speak of yourself. When you lift yourself up it puts others down. Let's be careful
To put others first.

Tim. - Luke 14

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God." Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' "Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' "Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.' "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' "'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'" (Luke 14:15-24 NIV)

The banquet is referred to the kingdom of God. Everyone (those like us) were too busy but the poor and the lame were invited and came !!!

We are so busy obtaining stuff and working so hard that we don't spend time with God like we should. God is inviting us to slow down and spend time with him (attend his banquet).

Verse 25 says in so many words "hate everything else including your family....if you want to be my disciple."

This is a deep challenge - surrender everything. Live UNcomfortable !!!!

Gina - Proverbs 12

Proverbs 12:18 "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

Sometimes I think "Just SHUT UP!" not to others, but to myself.  It's not that I intentionally try to hurt anyone or "pierce them" but wow , words are powerful.  More and more as I grow up (LOL) I recognize how much wisdom comes from time and experience and while there are a few rare birds that are young and wise beyond their years - most of us grow into it.   I'm thankful that the Word of  God helps me along in my learning a bit quicker than I would with just life experiences.  Truth like this in Proverbs 12 -  penetrates my heart.  It stops me in my tracks, and  makes me think.  

My words were strong towards my tired and weary 9 year old last night as I was tucking him in.... he did not seem to get that I've been up since 5am on the DST day, at work by 6:30am , then right to a missions meeting, then to HIS basketball game, then his brother's basketball game, then to host some friends for dinner all while feeling a bit under the weather so I just wanted to go to bed...... and my words probably pierced like a sword, and while I was thankful that he and the Holy Spirit reminded me quickly that "that was not very nice" and I was able to apologize the sting was still there.  I said it.

So I tried to turn it around and let my "tongue bring healing".  I'm sure it did, but the truth is I still wish I had never said it and while he forgives me - I'm sure it hurt him and will be hard for him to just forget.

Darn.

So with that - my encouragement today is - HARNESS the mouth, let SELF CONTROL rule and don't let those words that pierce like a sword slip out - lest you end up with a mess like mine!!

Devin -1 Corinthians 2:9-16

However, as it is written:
"What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived"—
the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for,
"Who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?"
But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:9-16 NIV)

Devin shared his thoughts about how God's ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours and yet if the Spirit lives in us we are "privy" to and understanding of spiritual things. What an honor and privilege to know him this way. We do need to remember that it takes us yielding to the Spirit that lives within us to make a difference God will not force us to do what he wants. Again, what a privilege!!!

Philippians 3:1-5

Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— (Philippians 3:1-3 NIV)

"same things" are safeguards. I love the suggestion that repeating important truths is the way to protecting your heart. Having no confidence in our flesh meaning that the Spirit is who brings us zeal for life and strength for what we are called to do.

All that we can do even if it's perfect , will not be what we need- only our faith in God will be our righteousness on the day of Jesus Christ.

Gina - 1 Corinthians 16:13,14

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. (1 Corinthians 16:13, 14 NIV)

Being on guard means to be ready , to protect and to watch.

Stand firm means hold your ground,stay solid,and sticking to it.

If someone asked you How do you know that God is real? What is your answer? Your Testimony? The fact that the Bible is a history and book it is living and real? You must know what you are reading and what you are guarding and what you believe!!!

I love how it wraps up with "do everything in love". God is love and nothing exists without him.

Bless His name forever and always!!!!

Livia - Genesis 4 : 6,7

Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it." (Genesis 4:6, 7 NIV)

Liv said: I chose that verse because sometimes we get jealous of other people even though they didn't do anything to us. You just want what they have. If you do well you will be accepted and if you don't do well your sin will take over. Cain and Able were a perfect example. God loved what Able brought and it made Cain jealous and he killed him. How awful that the sin of jealously inspired Cain to commit
murder and then he lied about it.

Although we don't commit murder we do deal with jealousy and envy. Lord help is all to be happy for others and live in peace!!!!!

Devin - Psalm 150

Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord. (Psalm 150:1-6 NIV)

Devin said: God lives in us therefore we are his sanctuary!!! Everything that has breath should praise the Lord. He loves this verse because it calls out the music within us and all that we do is for him.

Praise the Lord today for his acts of power and
for his surpassing greatness !!!