Gina - Acts 17

But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." —Acts 17:6

There is no limit to what God could do in our world if we would dare to surrender before Him with a commitment like this:

"Oh God, I hereby give myself to You. I give my family. I give my business. I give all I possess. Take all of it, Lord-and take me! I give myself in such measure that if it is necessary that I lose everything for your sake, let me lose it. I will not ask what the price is. I will ask only that I may be all that I ought to be as a follower and disciple of Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen."

If even 300 of God's people became that serious, our world would never hear the last of it! They would influence the news. Their message would go everywhere like birds on the wing. They would set off a great revival of New Testament faith and witness.  Think about your small group - ?!!!

God wants to deliver us from the easygoing, smooth and silky, fat and comfortable Christianity so fashionable today. I hope we are willing to let the truth get hold of us, even at the cost of rejection or embarrassment.

Tim - Matthew 5:23,24

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:23-24 NIV)

Preparation is a process.  It's dangerous to feel settled. Like, "I'm good and I've nothing else to work through" .    The sense of sacrifice should be close to our heart at all times.     God's word on our heart will call out reconcilement .  With everyone.    Obey God no matter how much humiliation it brings to you.   Give up your rights and be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. 

Devin - 1 Peter 4:10

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10 NIV)

What are you good at?  Even if it's a bit different or off the wall?  God will use anything !!!

We listed -

Dev loves to fish so he could take people out and help them experience the outdoors .

Kadin loves comic books - so he could share that love with others and become their friend thorough this c'mon interest. 

Livia loves to talk....enough said!!! Lol. 

Point is - God will use what you've got - so what is your passion? What do you love to do ?  Use it for Gods glory!!!

Gina - 1 Kings 19:12

After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. (1 Kings 19:12 NIV)

Wait quietly.  Hurry keeps us earthbound.  It's tough to sit quiet and wait.  Our society says "go!" And "do!"  

We experience life, peace and love when we are "in the pocket" with God.  When you pray and lay down your anxious thoughts it brings peace.   Your attitude and your perspective will carry you.  If you don't pray you default to your own fix on things.  You will manipulate, have conversations and cause tension in your life trying to do it on your own. 

Choose to tune your heart and wait for God to whisper to you. 

Devin - Ephesians 2:6

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 2:6 NIV)

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek. (Psalm 27:8 NIV)

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:6 NIV)

There is a battle for the control of our minds.  We have been created to spend time with God, when we do - we will be strengthened.  This is actually our greatest strength.  When we get weighed down with the worries of life we are not being led by God.  He brings freedom and life!!!

Livia - psalm 23:2

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, (Psalm 23:2 NIV)

Slow down!   How often do we hear this and say it?   Jesus created a pasture for our soul and he invites us to rest.  When Jesus died on the cross and he took our sin and that brings immediate freedom and peace to our lives.  Sometimes we avoid resting in his presence because we know that sin cant be there.  So when we lose our peace, feeling anxiety and fear - do a heart check and make sure you are relying on Jesus and not yourself and that your heart is pure.   Your way causes turmoil.  His way brings peace. Even when your busy and can't slow down - stay in the pasture with Christ in your heart and all will be well. 

Tim - 1 Cor 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)

Mans possessions and nature reveals the nature of what our temptations will be.  Everyone is tempted in different ways.  Temptation is essential to humanity.  Beware to consider your temptation unique.   This is common to all of us.  It's an understanding of not what I see as evil but what I see as good.  It shows the heart of what you are aiming for in life.  God does not save us from temptation he protects us with in it.   Jesus was tempted in every way and did not sin. 

Take heart, trust our God!  

Devin - eph. 4:31-32

Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31, 32 MSG)

Have you ever been around someone who had to be the center of attention?  Someone who just all they can talk about is themselves?  It's so annoying!!! What about thinking a bit differently about those people - what if you knew the pain that made them that way?  

Sometimes their "outburst" is due to real pain and maybe, just maybe we are being the self centered one by being annoyed and critical of them!!

Let us be gentle and kind to one another always - forgiving as Christ forgave us!!!

Gina - Proverbs 3:13

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding!!

Getting back to the basics - the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We can get caught up as churchmen of doing church well, leading well, the right process and procedure but none of that matters like just doing the gospel.  Loving others.  Making relationships the most important thing.  Being lead by the Holy Spirit.    Let's succeed at the right things today!!!

Kadin - John 14:27

“I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught. (John 14:25-27 MSG)

Quietness and trust will serve you more than you can imagine.   Activity addiction of this age is taking over !!!!  It's a war!  There is so much to take your attention and to keep you busy.   It takes severe discipline to get quiet and still with God.   If you want to win, if you want to live in peace - you must surrender your life to God and find regular, everyday time with God!!!  Put the phone or tablet down and turn off the MP3 player , computer and tv and be quiet!!!!

Livia - Rev 2:10

“Fear nothing in the things you’re about to suffer—but stay on guard! Fear nothing! The Devil is about to throw you in jail for a time of testing—ten days. It won’t last forever. “Don’t quit, even if it costs you your life. Stay there believing. I have a Life-Crown sized and ready for you. (Revelation 2:10 MSG)

Our season of this world could be that we would have to suffer and sacrifice for our faith.  What a test to think about - the reality of that. Wow.    We do know we can trust Jesus no matter what.  

Let's be strong and live a life worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ no matter what !!!  

   

Tim - John 1:48

Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you when you were under the fig tree before Philip called you.” (John 1:48 )

(A day at Grand Haven)

Oswald Chambers rocked our world this morning!!!!

We imagine we would be alright if a big crisis arose, but the big crisis will only reveal the stuff we are made of.   You think you can rise to the occasion but you will not unless you have risen to occasion in your private world where you have been real with God.  If you don't when crisis comes you will be revealed as unfit and a tremendous hindrance to those associated with you.   Crisis always reveals character.  The hidden , personal worshipping life is what will sustain you and make you who God wants you to be. 

Devin - Ephesians 6:1

(Dev and Adam at small group picnic) 

Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents, for this is the right thing to do. (Ephesians 6:1)

"No"is not always explained or understood from parents.  When given a "no" This might be a good chance to remember all the "yes"s along the way .  It may just be that if we have good attitudes in the "no"s it will build the trust needed for an important "yes" in the future!!

So it goes for children and parents this also applies to our Heavenly Father.   We don't always understand , but trusting Him and accepting His answer will work great trust in our relationship with Christ.  

 

Mom - Jer 31:25

I will refresh those who are weary and will satisfy the saint. (Jeremiah 31:25)

Today I woke up in quite a bit of pain.  Pushing through I got to my quiet time and opened up Jesus Calling that said " accept each day as it comes not only circumstance but also the condition of your body!" 

So I will.  I do!  I'm in!  Yes demands are big and yes I have a choice to give up or rely on him , which for me - it's  a given I have to rely on him. He's my strength.  

He's yours too!   Let's go!!!

Kadin - John 15

The greatest love you can have for your friends is to give your life for them. And you are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because servants do not know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because I have told you everything I heard from my Father. (John 15:13-15)

Jesus will always be with you. Even in your tough times . Beauty out of ashes and from lost dreams. Joy out of sorrow.  Peace out of adversity and Disappointments  into  new found plans and dreams.  He walks with us along every road and saturates us with his loving kindness and tender mercy!!

We are equipped to walk these dusty earthbound roads!!! (Jesus calling by Sara Young)

Liv - Psalm 32:7

You are my hiding place; you will save me from trouble. I sing aloud of your salvation, because you protect me. (Psalm 32:7)

(50s night at youth group last night)

King David had a reason to need a hiding place - There were armies looking for him at times in his life so this example is very real.  Real fear. Real trouble.  So for us ...in our times of trouble we need to embrace this hiding place that God provides.  We do worship Him because He protects us. 

Tim - 2 Samuel 23:16

So the three warriors broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it and poured it out to the Lord. (2 Samuel 23:16 CEB)

 Tim lead us in our devotion this morning.  

What has been like water from Bethlehem for you recently?  Relationships, your home, your things that make life convenient ..... Blessings from God are beautiful and fill our lives with joy,  but we can become clingy to those blessings and keep it all to ourselves.  Instead David shows us what we should do with that "water" (blessings) !!!  We need to sacrifice them! Give them back, pass them on, pour them out !!!   

We get sour when we TAKE  for ourselves and have not recognized whose hand it comes from and what He calls us to do with it.  We become people walking around as if we are entitled to all we have.  Ouch.  

Consider "your water" this morning.....and share it, pour it out!!!

Exodus 13:21

The Lord went in front of them during the day in a column of cloud to guide them and at night in a column of lightning to give them light. This way they could travel during the day and at night. (Exodus 13:21 CEB)

This morning we are sitting in the living room with a freshman, an 8th grader and a 6th grader!!!  Wow!!

We are back at our daily family devotion ... Devin took us to Exodus.  

Most of us use GPS instead of road maps these days.  We don't even have to think, it just recalculates when we get off course.  God is like an organic GPS!  God led the Israelites by a cloud and light!  It's a good day and a new beginning to make sure we pay attention to Christ's lead in our lives!

Have a blessed day!