Sunday 1/30/2011
Through Dan Schelp
Mark 9:34-45
34 “They (the twelve) kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
Ever argue with someone? If you notice when you are arguing you really don’t listen to what is going on around you (kind of like paying too much attention to one thing and missing out on something important). That is what the disciples were doing on the way from Galilee to Capernaum. Jesus was predicting his death to the disciples for the second time and they were arguing about something else. The verses immediately preceding those above tell us that Jesus asked what they were arguing about on the road. Verse 34 tells us that they were arguing about who is the greatest amongst them.
Then it gets to the real point. Jesus tells them (and us) that whoever wants to be first, must be last. “Christ came not to be served but to serve.” He is the Alpha and the Omega, beginning and end, He is first and last and everything else falls in between. God created every facet of the world and put us in it. He knows everything about us, from the hairs on our head to every move we make.
Since He knows everything about us and as Ephesians says “for it is by grace we have been saved, through faith, not by works so that no man can boast,” there is no need for us to be first, and we most certainly won’t be last because each of us is a child of God. We each have a place saved for us in heaven, and no matter which place you receive in heaven it will be amazing.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I can only imagine what it will be like in heaven. I do know that it will be amazing and we thank you for creating each of us equal in your eyes so that we don’t have to worry about being first or last. Amen.
Devotion Monday 1/31/11
Humbly through Joseph
The first day of a new week. It promises to be a busy one. Sometimes its hard to get started on. It can be a difficult world. Lest we be overly dramatic and crawl too far inside ourselves, we might think that we have it so much harder than everyone else.
My Pastor Sippy once said, sometimes when facing something scary or difficult, you just have to walk through the door. We just need to walk through the door and trust in God. We must turn our eyes to God and not on the world around us that wishes to drag us down.
I encourage you, brothers and sisters, stay strong, "...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Heb 12:1). We have all been equiped with the Spirit, go forth and serve God this week!
Prayer: Lord, when I would lose sight of you, hold your cross before my eyes and keep me strong in my faith, through your grace. In Jesus. Amen
Devotion 2/1/11 Tuesday
Through Liz Marler
A new month. A snowpacolypse. What a great way to start the week :)
I LOVE new starts. A new week or month. A second chance or opportunity. New starts give me the opportunity to fix my wrongs and do things more effectively and efficiently. Snowfall also reminds me of the second chance Christians receive every single day. Snow is white, flawless, and perfect. It covers all imperfections on the ground and covers all of the potholes and bumps. Snow is a symbol of the forgiveness we receive from God each and every day. Despite all of our sins, failures, wrong doings, and faults, we always receive a second chance and a new start.
"Come now, and let us reason together, said the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow . . ." Isaiah 1:18a
Our sins sometimes seem as prominent of blood red in the white snow, but we will always be forgiven. Our souls will be a pure as white, perfect snow. Although our souls will not stay this white and pure, we will be forgiven again and again by our merciful God and Father. In fact, we are destined to destroy this pureness almost as immediately as it falls upon us. (this is like running in the snow and destroying its perfection)
As the large amount of snow falls upon Missouri (seems to be the only thing on my mind), think of how God forgives and blesses us each and everyday.
Prayer:
Dear most merciful God,
thank you for your everlasting forgiveness despite how severe our sins are. please continue to poor upon me the pureness of your grace and mercy. also, help me forgive others as you forgive me.
In your name I pray, Amen.
Through Colten Highley
Time: Where does it go? Sometimes it seems like just yesterday we were in 5th grade or learning to drive a car. For many Americans time is a thing to be feared; we spend our lives trying to lengthen our time on earth and get the most out of it. We set alarm clocks, go on diets to eat healthier, and multi-task in the car to save time. Too often, we find our lives mirroring the words of the Pink Floyd song called, appropriately enough, Time:
“And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it’s sinking, racing around to come up behind you again. The sun is the same in a relative way but you’re older, shorter of breath, and one day closer to death.”
For those who don’t look beyond this life, time is a symbol of death and despair. But as Christians we have a different perspective of time. We patiently await the time when we will be called up to our heavenly home.
"We know that the whole creation has been groaing as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we are saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not have, we wait for it patiently."- Romans 8:22-25
Prayer: Father, help us to spend our time as you would want us to spend it. Help us not to spend our time in self-preservation, but to love one another as we patiently wait for your second coming. Teach us to not to worry about what the future has in store, but to remember your promises. Amen.
Through Liz Marler
A new month. A snowpacolypse. What a great way to start the week :)
I LOVE new starts. A new week or month. A second chance or opportunity. New starts give me the opportunity to fix my wrongs and do things more effectively and efficiently. Snowfall also reminds me of the second chance Christians receive every single day. Snow is white, flawless, and perfect. It covers all imperfections on the ground and covers all of the potholes and bumps. Snow is a symbol of the forgiveness we receive from God each and every day. Despite all of our sins, failures, wrong doings, and faults, we always receive a second chance and a new start.
"Come now, and let us reason together, said the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow . . ." Isaiah 1:18a
Our sins sometimes seem as prominent of blood red in the white snow, but we will always be forgiven. Our souls will be a pure as white, perfect snow. Although our souls will not stay this white and pure, we will be forgiven again and again by our merciful God and Father. In fact, we are destined to destroy this pureness almost as immediately as it falls upon us. (this is like running in the snow and destroying its perfection)
As the large amount of snow falls upon Missouri (seems to be the only thing on my mind), think of how God forgives and blesses us each and everyday.
Prayer:
Dear most merciful God,
thank you for your everlasting forgiveness despite how severe our sins are. please continue to poor upon me the pureness of your grace and mercy. also, help me forgive others as you forgive me.
In your name I pray, Amen.
Wednesday 2/2/11
Through Neil Harrington
" Perserverance"
There are many things which have been started but never completed. Sometimes this has occurred due to lack of funds, running out of time, or we just abandon the task simply because it was decided that is was too tough or it was taking too long. Those things which have a worthwhile end require persistence to bring them to fruition. Jesus told the parable of a widow who persisted in her request and it was her persistence which paid off. Luke 18:1-5. " Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” The point Jesus was stressing was to continue to pray and not give up.
There is no question that life is sometimes tough. There are times when we may have to push ourselves to keep going. It can be far too easy to give up and quit. Persistent patience is often needed. An anoymous author once said this, “Remember when you see a man at the top of a mountain, he didn’t fall there.” God has provided something worth pressing on toward. We need to keep climbing as we hold the goal in view. The apostle Paul said.
“to those who by patience in well-doing, seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life." Romans 2:7. It's very important to persist in doing what is good and right. Such is worthwhile because it pleases God and holds glorious promise for the future.
I also included a video from the group The OC Supertones called, "Perserverance of the Saints" which is very helpful and fitting.
https://pod51000.outlook.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=0a19fdda5f074876bf70cd3dc1fb40eb&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fwatch%3fv%3d_Qd94oszy7k
Today's prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your continued blessings. Even though there are times that we don't see the big picture of your plan, help to keep trusting in You. Help me to persist in doing good and shinning the light of Jesus in everything I do. Help to be persistent even when faced with opposition. Keep everyone safe who has to go out in this crazy strorm this week. We pray these things in the name of your Son and our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
Devotion Thursday 2/3/11Through Neil Harrington
" Perserverance"
There are many things which have been started but never completed. Sometimes this has occurred due to lack of funds, running out of time, or we just abandon the task simply because it was decided that is was too tough or it was taking too long. Those things which have a worthwhile end require persistence to bring them to fruition. Jesus told the parable of a widow who persisted in her request and it was her persistence which paid off. Luke 18:1-5. " Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” The point Jesus was stressing was to continue to pray and not give up.
There is no question that life is sometimes tough. There are times when we may have to push ourselves to keep going. It can be far too easy to give up and quit. Persistent patience is often needed. An anoymous author once said this, “Remember when you see a man at the top of a mountain, he didn’t fall there.” God has provided something worth pressing on toward. We need to keep climbing as we hold the goal in view. The apostle Paul said.
“to those who by patience in well-doing, seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life." Romans 2:7. It's very important to persist in doing what is good and right. Such is worthwhile because it pleases God and holds glorious promise for the future.
I also included a video from the group The OC Supertones called, "Perserverance of the Saints" which is very helpful and fitting.
https://pod51000.outlook.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=0a19fdda5f074876bf70cd3dc1fb40eb&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fwatch%3fv%3d_Qd94oszy7k
Today's prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your continued blessings. Even though there are times that we don't see the big picture of your plan, help to keep trusting in You. Help me to persist in doing good and shinning the light of Jesus in everything I do. Help to be persistent even when faced with opposition. Keep everyone safe who has to go out in this crazy strorm this week. We pray these things in the name of your Son and our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
Through Colten Highley
Time: Where does it go? Sometimes it seems like just yesterday we were in 5th grade or learning to drive a car. For many Americans time is a thing to be feared; we spend our lives trying to lengthen our time on earth and get the most out of it. We set alarm clocks, go on diets to eat healthier, and multi-task in the car to save time. Too often, we find our lives mirroring the words of the Pink Floyd song called, appropriately enough, Time:
“And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it’s sinking, racing around to come up behind you again. The sun is the same in a relative way but you’re older, shorter of breath, and one day closer to death.”
For those who don’t look beyond this life, time is a symbol of death and despair. But as Christians we have a different perspective of time. We patiently await the time when we will be called up to our heavenly home.
"We know that the whole creation has been groaing as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we are saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not have, we wait for it patiently."- Romans 8:22-25
Prayer: Father, help us to spend our time as you would want us to spend it. Help us not to spend our time in self-preservation, but to love one another as we patiently wait for your second coming. Teach us to not to worry about what the future has in store, but to remember your promises. Amen.
Devotion Friday 2/4/11
Through Cody Seidel
Proverbs 18:24 (NIV) One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Friendship. We all have friends, some who are really close, some who we are just mere acquaintances with. Those friends who we are super close to are the ones we could tell anything to, and we count on them to be there in times of need. On the other hand, there are some people who we just say hey to, and keep on going with our lives. We all have these types of friends. What if we had one friend who never just wanted to say hey, and keep on going with their life? What if we had a friend who truly cares about who we are, and what is going on with our lives? What if we had the ultimate super friend? We do, and his name is Jesus. He is our lifeline, someone who will always be there, anytime of any day. He is the ultimate friend.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for all the great blessings you have given us in our lives, especially the gift of friendship. Please help us to see that Jesus is the ultimate friend, and that we should always put him first in our lives. You are that one true friend who is so close that you are closer than a brother. Please be with us this weekend, and bless all those who are sick and traveling. In your name, Amen.
Through Cody Seidel
Proverbs 18:24 (NIV) One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Friendship. We all have friends, some who are really close, some who we are just mere acquaintances with. Those friends who we are super close to are the ones we could tell anything to, and we count on them to be there in times of need. On the other hand, there are some people who we just say hey to, and keep on going with our lives. We all have these types of friends. What if we had one friend who never just wanted to say hey, and keep on going with their life? What if we had a friend who truly cares about who we are, and what is going on with our lives? What if we had the ultimate super friend? We do, and his name is Jesus. He is our lifeline, someone who will always be there, anytime of any day. He is the ultimate friend.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for all the great blessings you have given us in our lives, especially the gift of friendship. Please help us to see that Jesus is the ultimate friend, and that we should always put him first in our lives. You are that one true friend who is so close that you are closer than a brother. Please be with us this weekend, and bless all those who are sick and traveling. In your name, Amen.
Devotion Saturday 2/5/11
Through Joseph Highley
Right now in Egypt, a violent and radical group is rising up and attempting to over throw the government. To be fair, the Egyptian government isn't currently just the greatest out there, but this group is currently rioting in the streets, killing innocent lives, and attempting to set up an oppresive Sharia law system. It is a revolution.
How often does it feel like we are in revolution against ourselves and God? How often does it feel like some part of us is dragging us down a pathway we do not belong? Or keeping us from becoming the person God has outlined for us? Our human nature, our desire to be happy, belong, or just have fun, can conflict with the joy and peace that we really need from God alone.
Romans chapter 7 verses 7 through 25 is a very good section. Verse 15 says, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." We are in a spiritual conflict, a spiritual war, a spiritual revolution. Satan once revolted against God and lost. Satan wants us to join in his revolt against God. Instead, we are part of Christ's revolution, one that has already suceeded, and was only bloody in that it cost the Lamb its life and we are now saved by its blood. We have the power every morning to wake up and cling to God and His Word and be made righteous. We are "a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Cor 5:17)
Prayer: Father, help us to fight the battle that wages within us, attempting to throw you out of our lives. Keep us strong in the one true faith, today and everyday. Wash us in the Lamb's blood and make us holy. In His name we pray. Amen
Through Joseph Highley
Right now in Egypt, a violent and radical group is rising up and attempting to over throw the government. To be fair, the Egyptian government isn't currently just the greatest out there, but this group is currently rioting in the streets, killing innocent lives, and attempting to set up an oppresive Sharia law system. It is a revolution.
How often does it feel like we are in revolution against ourselves and God? How often does it feel like some part of us is dragging us down a pathway we do not belong? Or keeping us from becoming the person God has outlined for us? Our human nature, our desire to be happy, belong, or just have fun, can conflict with the joy and peace that we really need from God alone.
Romans chapter 7 verses 7 through 25 is a very good section. Verse 15 says, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." We are in a spiritual conflict, a spiritual war, a spiritual revolution. Satan once revolted against God and lost. Satan wants us to join in his revolt against God. Instead, we are part of Christ's revolution, one that has already suceeded, and was only bloody in that it cost the Lamb its life and we are now saved by its blood. We have the power every morning to wake up and cling to God and His Word and be made righteous. We are "a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Cor 5:17)
Prayer: Father, help us to fight the battle that wages within us, attempting to throw you out of our lives. Keep us strong in the one true faith, today and everyday. Wash us in the Lamb's blood and make us holy. In His name we pray. Amen
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3 comments:
I needed this. Glad to see it!
Thanks for the post Chelsea. WE can also get it set up where you receive these devotions via email if you would like it
Great devotional, Cody. I couldn't help but think of the hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus.
-Colten
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