2 Corinthians 4:7-11

2 Corinthians 4:7-11

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.

The CROSS is the center of our relationship with Jesus.  The cross is where we die.  The cross is where we live.  To go there daily, is not easy.  When you think about God as creator and how he created everything out of nothing , it makes me realize - I have to be NOTHING before I can be anything of use for God.   To be dragged to the foot of the cross, forced to my knees at the foot of Calvary where I MUST die to self, release my pride, anger and let go of my dreams and desires is not easy but it leaves me in a place of hope.... a place of surrender.... a place where God wants me to be.

I shared with the kids that in life we will have difficulties and setbacks.... they could not name one yet in their little lives of 13, 11 and 9.  How sweet and vulnerable their eyes were this morning as I spoke to each of them one by one and said "YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE, you will get devastating news, you will hurt, your heart will be broken..."  They must have thought "What kind of Mother are you!?".. .. but my question to them was this.... When IT happens - what will you do - will you run TO Jesus or will you run AWAY from Him?  The cross is our answer.

God - help us not to fear  but rather embrace the hope we have in you through the cross , both death and life.    Thank you for the cross my friend.

 

Gal6:1-7

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps
what he sows. (Galatians 6:1-7 NIV)

It's our responsibility to restore our friends in Christ when they fall. None of us are perfect and we all fall short but let's never forget that God cannot be mocked - staying straight with The Lord (as grandma ruby says)....is our call. Helping each other , lifting each other up and doing all this without judging each other is crucial to our growth in Jesus. God's word brings life and sin brings death and destruction ...let us guard our hearts and each other's hearts in His name and remember that what we reap we sow.

WE GOTTA GO!

Do you ever have one of those mornings?

"Mom I don't have any clean jeans."
"Oh, Mom I have a project due today."
"Mom... I don't feel good."
"Where's my other shoe?"

LOL!  We did !  
As much as I wanted to feel like a failure of a Mom and wish I had one more day from the weekend to clean my house, do some laundry and have another chance at asking my kids if they had any homework .... - it's all good.

We trust that God still loves us, and as we circled up in the living room, recited our family creed and prayed we trust the one who saved us is still FOR US even though we had "one of those mornings!"

So as I settle into my busy work day I am reminded....of Matthew 6:33 and 34 one of our favorites:

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

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Tim - 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5 NIV

I love Paul's humility as he understands it's not about him and how he appears to others. Jesus Christ alone is his message. The crucifixion of our Lord only. He points out that he came with fear and trembling because he knows that God has called him to do this,  however he has no idea how they will receive the truth of Jesus. He relied totally on the Spirit's power. Like the mission trip in Chicago - we were willing, we opened our mouth even though we were scared and God's power fell down and used us!!!!

What an honor!!! This kind of reliance allows people to be impressed with God not with us. We don't want to take God's glory but rather we want to point to him alone!!

Livia - Matthew 6:25-27

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matthew 6:25-27 NIV)

This is so relieving to know that God "has got this !" We work hard and do what God calls us to diligently and trust him with all our hearts.

Lets keep a "No worry zone" at our house!!!

Acts 20:35 - Give!

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:35 NIV)

We asked if any of us have experienced that it is more blessed to give that to receive. We heard stories of the kids giving away some of their toys they really like and see the smile on the other kid's face. In biblical times they did not have a lot of "things",  so hard work and time is what they gave.

Devin shared how people would rather give money than time because they don't have time anymore. Time is more valuable. Livia said we should go work on someone's house or show up at a homeless shelter and work for the day.

Love the way you guys are thinking!
Give, give , give until we've got nothing left.

Gina - Galatians 5:7-9

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." (Galatians 5:7-9 NIV)

I've had some things "cut in on me" lately. Hearing this scripture this morning has awakened my soul to my need for time alone with Him. I've been "running the race" but Ive been running out of energy because I'm not spending time with my source like I need to. Such a timely discovery for me - seems simple and yet so easily missed by us all. Or is it just me? The family shared things that they have allowed to "cut in" on their time with God. Honesty is so healing.

Kadin - Matthew 16:24-27

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? (Matthew 16:24-26 NIV)


Jesus lost all selfishness for us on the cross and He calls us to do the same. I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul. What if everyone at school teases you - how will you respond? What if you say no to something that everyone else is doing?

We have to be strong in our faith and trust God to guide us.

Good word Diddy! (He is keeping a notebook with a scripture each day ....it's awesome!)

Livia - Acts 6:1-7

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. (Acts 6:1-6 NIV)

At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:57-60 NIV)


Liv read much of Acts to us this morning. This story was moving as we here the call on Stevens life and then the stoning of his life. His heart much like Jesus' as he said "do not hold this sin against them!" What a heart.

We pray that in our lives we would live strong in our faith no matter what we face.

Gina - James 3:17,18

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:17, 18 NIV)

When I think about these virtues of wisdom - I can't help but think of Grandma Ruby. She was so wise and to read things like pure, impartial, submissive, full of mercy - she was all of these things. I truly want to be like her when I grow up!!!

We have been richly blessed to have had her in our lives. We will forever love and cherish her in our hearts.

As she always said "pass it on..."

Dad - Philippians 4:13

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13 NIV)

Creed # 1
To always be honest and real about how we are feeling and how we are doing.

Honest - the Bible is clear that lying is an offense to God. God is truth. When we lie to get our way or to avoid truth it will catch up to us. In Isaiah it says "you can't heal a wound that you say isn't there ."

We have to be honest and real if we want to live free from the burden of sin and death.

With that , God gives us the strength we need to be honest and real. We can do all things in Jesus name including being honest and real.

Daddy asked mom how she is doing. She shared feeling super sad losing Grandma Ruby , overwhelmed with demands from work and the home this week. Daddy rallied the kids to go above and beyond this week and be responsible for their school work without being reminded. To help with the house and be flexible. This is the week to shine! Family rally cry this week : support and help Mom anyway you can!!!

Kadin - James 3:12

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (James 3:13 NIV)

Kadin said - show God that you love Him by being wise and doing things that please Him. Pride is ugly and scripture tells us it comes right before a fall. We should always draw attention to our God not ourselves. This kind of humility is wise.

"I want to be wise. " k-Diddy .

Livia - 1 Choronicles 16:34

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV)

God is always there for us and He is so good!   Mom's sweatshirt this morning says "you are for me!"
He deserves our praise and thanks for our life walking in his blessing and his will now and for our life forever after this one in eternity with Him .  We don't even know his love like we will when we see him face to face. Imagine that!

A bad day here should be no big deal in the light of eternity. I love what Jesus said "take heart". I've got this - I've already overcome this world.

Gina - 2 Samuel 7:22

"How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. (2 Samuel 7:22 NIV)

My God I look to you this morning for the strength of my grandmas faith. As she takes each breath I know that 1 soon will be her last. Ruby knows you and loves you and I adore her. Lord keep her in your peace and comfort I pray that we will all never be the same because of her imprint on our lives. As I told my worship team she has lived her life real, simple and selfless.

There is no one like you God! I look at grandma Ruby and I see you! It's overwhelming and right.

Reign over us all today our God!

Devin - Matthew 11:28

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 NIV)

Kadin says this means "when you are not sleepy - I'll make you sleepy!"
LOL!

That gave us quite a laugh this morning! We do get weary, troubled and things do get to us and this verse reminds us to always bring our burdens to Jesus and he gives us peace!

Devin said - Gods word is good, personal and invitational. It's so wonderful to feel that we have a God who knows all things.

Now lets go take the MEAP test!

Daddy - 1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." (1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV)

Responsibility is the word of the day! The kids listed responsibility type things : chores, being a good example, making good choices and listening to the word of God.

Today we learn that bad company corrupts good character. How true it is that we become like those we hang with. It's important that we choose our friends well and that we live out our values.

We recited our family creed this morning to remind us what we have decided us most important to us eac and everyday.

We love you God , take our lives today, use us and be Lord in our hearts.

Kadin - 1 Cor. 15:33

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." (1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV)

Christina from The Naz shared this cool devotion for us to do at home that goes along with what we are learning at church. It's called Peer Pressure.

Exodus tells us about Moses and Aaron and how Aaron fell to the pressure of the people to make golden calves. Moses said to Aaron "What have you LET these people do to you??"

Lesson in a word - persist.

Aaron wanted everyone happy and everyone to like him and I doing so he denied Moses his leader and God! In the end it was so hurtful and painful.

It's not worth it! Hang in there!

It's all about Devin today! Psalm 139

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16 NIV)

Today we celebrate Devins life and while we surprised him a month early with a mentor walk and party - today is the day!!! We are so proud - we went around the circle this morning and told Dev what we love about him. He's a good big brother, a role model, a leader, he's kind hearted and hard working. Dev cares about others and is quick to put himself second, or third or 20th!!!

Happy birthday Devin Joseph Wessel!
We love you!!!

Gina - Psalm103:1-5

Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:1-5 NIV)

We are blessed!!! There are very few things In life that really hurt . No money, no house, no new clothes - who cares!!! God is our provider and we can trust him. Today I consider all the benefits of a God who owns my whole life! Who has forgiven, healed, redeemed, crowned and satisfied me in every way! Yes this world brings trouble but my God has overcome this world.
Bless The Lord O MY SOUL!!!!!

Devin - Psalm 103:8-12

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:8-12 NIV)

God has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west. What a thought! Jesus has done an amazing thing for us. Let's live today with that thought and truth close to our hearts. Amazing grace.

Daddy - Ezekiel 18:30-32, Hebrews 9:27,28

"Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live! (Ezekiel 18:30-32 NIV)
Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27, 28 NIV)

Losing people we love is hard enough, then to add the fact that we could face the unknown - if we don't know if they had accepted salvation in Jesus Christ. Grandma Ruby is slowly fading from this world. One thing we know is she has always prayed to Jesus with such intimacy that it gives us all peace that she is very close to him and we will see her again.

These scripture remind us to stay focused and live our life with purpose and in love. We never know when our last day will come. Live your faith !!!