Livia - Psalms 23:1-6

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalms 23:1-6 NIV84)

A shepherd watches over his sheep. He makes sure the sheep are safe, have food and water and get their proper rest and discipline. God does this for us. We are so blessed and we have more than enough because His grace is sufficient for us.
If we follow our own way and leave the "fold" God will allow the pain it takes to bring us back. Lets trust Hi with our lives and always honor Him with every decision.

Devin - Proverbs 22:2

Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all. (Proverbs 22:2 NIV84)

God's goodness is spurred by his good nature. We are blessed that God gives us breath and life even though we don't thank him for it every day. God is not a respect or of wealthy or poor. We are all blessed by his creation all around us and the oxygen in our lungs.

Let us consider others and the pain and suffering they go through much greater than ours. Let us consider life as a gift and appreciate every breath!!!

Livia - Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NIV84)

Thinking about our baptism service last night....flying high on the powerful testimonies of Gods hand in people's lives.

Crucifixion for us is a symbolism of death. I die. He lives. Self gone. Christ here. Not me. Him. No longer me but thee.

May our lives always reflect the new life He has given us. No matter how far away we get from our baptism let this night be a reminder to us of what God has done for all of us.

Praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the grave!!

Gina - Matthew 7:1-2

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:1, 2 NIV84)

What does judging mean?
Kadin - looking at the way someone looks and deciding what they are like.
Daddy- labeling people by the way you see them spiritually
Devin - making a decision about people by what they say and do
Livia- ditto!

This lesson is a big one! I hope my kids will understand this fully as they grow in Christ. If you judge people it does not bring glory to God when that's our purpose on this earth. You cannot love someone as Christ does and then turn around and judge them. We must be consistent in our faith.

Lets go as far as to take the thought captive and give it to God. Not let it come out of our mouths!!!

Devin - Hebrews 6:1

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, (Hebrews 6:1 NIV84)

A little boy fell out of bed and when he was asked why he said "I guess stayed too close to where I got in!"

This is a good way of considering our spiritual maturity. Lets look back a few years ago. How are our responses , our spiritual disciplines, our love for God and for others differ? We should be growing up! We should be learning and growing!!

Tim - Matthew 26:6

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? (Matthew 6:26 NIV84)


Consider Gods creation. If our earth was a notch closer or further away from the sun we would burn up or freeze! Wow!

God, creator lives in me and how much more does he care for me than a bird in the air? Yet, he cares for all His creation.

Do you sense that He hears you and He is near to you? Does He always answer our prayers?

Liv said yes but it may not always be what we wanted. Devin said sometime he says "wait" ......

We read over our family creed this morning....such a good reminder for us to start the week! Here we go!!!!

Kadin - John 5:19

Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. (John 5:19 NIV84)

The Bible tells us Jesus often slipped away for a time of prayer. The heart of Jesus was spiritual. He knew He had to listen closely to the Heavenly Father and do everything He commanded.

It's seems the theme lately for us is recognizing the difference between going through the motions or are we really like Christ? Like Jesus we need to slip away from our routines to spend time with God. Our hearts are tender toward what this means to our lives. Let's test ourselves , our motives, our thoughts so that He can shine through us!!!

Thank you God for speaking to us!!!

Livia - Acts 17:16-17,29

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God‑fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. “Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone–an image made by man's design and skill. (Acts 17:16, 17, 29 NIV84)

How can a person find God?
Kw- go to a church
Lw- listen to others
Dw - go to a friend who knows God
Tw- by seeking, praying
Gw- the Holy Bible

Jeremiah 29:13 " you will find me when you look for me with all your heart."

How?
By taking time to pray and read His word. All your heart - means a good go at it right???!!!

When you look for Him , He is there.

Daddy - Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 NIV84)

What is the opposite of having faith?
Going through the motions of a "faith filled person" but not believing He is real or even seeking to know If He is real.

Being sure of what we hope for is part of our faith. By faith we know He is real and will reward those who seek Him. Like so many in the Bible - listed in this faith chapter - Hebrews 11 - we see the testimony of faith filled lives.

Devin - Psalms 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (Psalms 19:1 NIV84)

Devin read a beautiful description of the galaxies , heavens and all of God's creation. The heavens tell the glory of God.

What do you see everyday that reminds you of God?

Liv - the sunrise and sunset
Kadin - the trees
Gina - feeling the wind at my face
Tim - sitting in the woods - considering how all of this was made and it works together!
Dev - the distance of the sun to earth, it's just right! (130,000 horsepower!!)


We need to watch the Indescribable video again by Louie Giglio!!!

Amazing creation, amazing creator!!!

Daddy - Psalm 26:8

I love the house where you live, O Lord , the place where your glory dwells. (Psalms 26:8 NIV84)

Being in an intimate relationship with God is most important. A spirit filled man desire is to be close to God always. Like David, we desire to be close to God and now that comes from Christ in me. That's it. Jesus. Out of his residence in us comes good, right relationships.

Off to the races!!!

So , it happens once in a while when we just run late! Liv had an ortho appointment at 7:30 so everyone was out the door by 7:15! Our devotion today was a quick circle up in the laundry room with coats on as daddy lead us in a prayer to start the day!

God goes with us we know!

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (Psalms 23:1-3 NIV84)

Devin - Revelation 22:12,13

“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (Revelation 22:12, 13 NIV84)

This verse reminds us who is in charge! We have presidents, CEOs, teachers, mangers, pastors and leaders in our lives but in the end He trumps them all !!!!

We are thankful that our God is coming soon and that He will make things right!!! We can trust Him with everything!!!

Kadin - Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 NIV84)


Kadin said we must forgive others like God forgave us. Who do we think we are to hold bitterness and in forgiveness against our brothers when Christ forgave us for all the dumb stuff we've done. At church last Sunday we sang a song called Forgiveness by Matthew West. It is not always easy but it frees us in the process!!!

Thank Jesus!