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 !!!