Passages: Luke 18:11-14 (NIV)

Dear Brothers and sisters,

In today’s message we’re talking about mercy that comes from denouncing pride.

Self-righteousness is dangerous. It leads to pride, causing a person to despise others and prevents him or her from learning anything from God. Listen to what Jesus states in Luke 18:11-14 about the two men who prayed. Starting in verse 11:

11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

So what can we learn from this passage? The tax collector’s prayer should be our prayer because we all need God’s mercy every day. Don’t let pride in your achievements cut you off from God.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it, you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Resources

Zondervan Bible Study

Bible Gateway

Passages: Job 10:1 (NIV)

Dear Brothers and sisters,

In today’s message we’re talking about don’t let suffering lead us to self-pity.

We all have gone through difficult trials. We have faced certain situations in our lives that have caused pain emotionally and physically. If you recall that Job, a wealthy and upright man, lost his possessions, his children and his health. Job did not understand why he was suffering.

In Job 10:1 states:

“I loathe my very life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.

Job began to wallow in self-pity. When we face baffling affliction, our pain lures us toward feeling sorry for ourselves. At this point we are only one step from self-righteousness, where we keep track of life’s injustice and say, “Look what happened to me; how unfair it is!” We may feel like blaming God. Remember that life’s trials, whether allowed by God or sent by God, can be the means for development and refinement. Remember that God is molding us and making us like Christ. When facing trials, ask, “What can I learn and how can I grow?” rather than “Who did this to me and how can I get out of it?”

When we come to God to ask Him to relief our sufferings and to heal us, it’s not complaining. It’s all about our attitude when we come to God. However, if we wallow in self-pity and tell God, “Why did you do this to me?”, “What have I done to deserve this?”, well, this is a different story.

Now, why does God allow his children to suffer? Although there is an explanation, we may not know it while we are here on earth. In the meantime, we must always be ready for testing in our lives and keep trusting God even in the midst of our suffering.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it, you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Resources

Zondervan Bible Study

Bible Gateway

Passages: Luke 9:51-56 (NIV)

Dear Brothers and sisters,

In today’s message is titled Determination to do what Jesus Asks of You. In Luke 9:51-56 tells us about the cost of following Jesus. It states:

51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village.

Jesus knew he would face persecution and death in Jerusalem, but he was determined to go there. That kind of resolve should characterize our lives too. When God gives us a course of action, we must move steadily toward our destination, no matter what potential hazards await us there. When God gives us a course of direction, do not fear for he is with you on this journey. In Hebrews 13:6: 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” So what is there to be afraid of? Absolutely nothing!

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it, you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Resources

Zondervan Bible Study

Bible Gateway

Passages: Luke 7:18-23 (NIV)

Dear Brothers and sisters,

In today’s message is titled God welcomes our questions.

Do you have several questions for God that you would like answered? Do you have questions about knowledge, questions about decisions and the directions you should go, etc.

The questions that we ask God may be revealed to us now or at a later time in our life or there maybe questions that we won’t know the answers to until we’re home with Christ.

In Luke 7:18-23, John asked the question if Jesus was the Messiah our should he expect someone else. Jesus eases John’s doubt. The passage reads:

18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

John was confused because the reports he received about Jesus were unexpected and incomplete. John’s doubts were natural and Jesus didn’t rebuke him for them. Instead, Jesus explained that he had accomplished what the Messiah was supposed to accomplish.

You see, God can handle our doubts and he welcomes our questions. Do you have questions about Jesus – about who He is or what he expects of you? Admit them to yourself and to God and begin looking for answers. Only as you face your doubts honestly can you begin to resolve them.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it, you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Resources

Zondervan Bible Study

Bible Gateway

Passages: Matthew 10:29-31 (NIV)

Dear Brothers and sisters,

Jesus said that God is aware of everything that happens even to sparrows and you are far more valuable to him than they are. You are so valuable that God sent His only Son to die for you (John 3:16). Because God places such value on you, you need never fear personal threats or difficult trials. These can’t shake God’s love or dislodge His Spirit from within you.

In Matthew 10:29-31 Jesus states:

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Now this doesn’t mean that God will take away all your troubles. Matthew 10:16 says:

16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

This verse is talking about the Pharisees would be like ravaging wolves. The disciples’ only hope would be to look to their Shepherd for protection. We may face similar hostility. Like the disciples, we are not to sheeplike in our attitude but sensible and prudent. We are not to be gullible pawns but neither are we to be deceitful connivers. We must find a balance between wisdom and vulnerability to accomplish God’s work.

What it comes down to is what the real test of value is in regards to how well something hold up under the wear, tear and abuse of everyday life. Those who stand up for Christ in spite of their troubles truly have lasting value and will receive great rewards as Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:11,12:

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it, you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Resources

Zondervan Bible Study

Bible Gateway

Passages: 2 Chronicles 34:1-5 (NIV)

Dear Brothers and sisters,

Dear Brothers and sisters,

In 2 Chronicles 34:1-5 talks about Josiah, who was just a young boy of 8 years old who became king in Jerusalem. The passage reads:

1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

3 In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols. 4 Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles and the idols. These he broke to pieces and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5 He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he purged Judah and Jerusalem.

In Josiah’s day, boys were considered men at the age of 12. By 16, Josiah understood the responsibility of his office. Even at this young age, he showed greater wisdom than many of the older kings who came before him because he had decided to seek the LORD God and his wisdom. Don’t let your age disqualify you from serving God.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it, you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Resources

Zondervan Bible Study

Bible Gateway

Passages: Matthew 10:37-39 (NIV)

Dear Brothers and sisters,

Christ calls us to a higher mission than to find comfort and tranquility in this life. Love of family is a law of God, but even this love can be self-serving and used as an excuse not to serve God or do his work.

Listen to what Jesus says in Matthew 10:37-39:

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

To take our cross and follow Jesus means to be willing to publicly identify with him, to experience almost certain opposition and to be committed to face even suffering and death for his sake.

Now, if we look at verse 39, Jesus stated: “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” is a positive and a negative statement of the same truth: clinging to this life may cause us to forfeit the best from Christ in this world and in the next. The more we love this life’s rewards such as (leisure, power, popularity, financial security), the more we will discover how empty they really are. The best way to enjoy life is to loosen our greedy grasp on earthly rewards so that we can be free to follow Christ. In doing so, we will inherit eternal life and begin at once to experience the benefits of following Christ.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it, you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Resources

Zondervan Bible Study

Bible Gateway

Passages: James 4:13-17 (NIV)

My dear Brothers and sisters,

In James 4:13-17, James penned the following:

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

It is good to have goals, but goals will disappoint us if we leave God out of them. There is no point of making plans as though God does not exist, because the future is in His hands. What do you have plan for the next few months to years in your life? What do you have plan for next week or even tomorrow? How will you react if God steps in and rearranges your plans? There is nothing wrong with planning ahead, but should hold on to your plans loosely. If you put God’s desires at front and center of your planning, He will not disappoint you.

The bottom-line is that life is short not matter how many years we live. Don’t go into thinking that you have lots of time remaining to live for Christ, to enjoy loved ones or to do what you know you should. Live for God today! Then, no matter when your life ends, you will have fulfilled God’s plan for you.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it, you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Resources

Zondervan Bible Study

Bible Gateway

Passages: James 4:13-17 (NIV)

My dear Brothers and sisters,

In James 4:13-17, James penned the following:

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

It is good to have goals, but goals will disappoint us if we leave God out of them. There is no point of making plans as though God does not exist, because the future is in His hands. What do you have plan for the next few months to years in your life? What do you have plan for next week or even tomorrow? How will you react if God steps in and rearranges your plans? There is nothing wrong with planning ahead, but should hold on to your plans loosely. If you put God’s desires at front and center of your planning, He will not disappoint you.

The bottom-line is that life is short not matter how many years we live. Don’t go into thinking that you have lots of time remaining to live for Christ, to enjoy loved ones or to do what you know you should. Live for God today! Then, no matter when your life ends, you will have fulfilled God’s plan for you.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it, you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Resources

Zondervan Bible Study

Bible Gateway

Passages: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (NIV)

My dear brothers and sisters,

In 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, Paul tells us:

6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Facing the unknown may cause us anxiety and leaving loved ones hurts deeply, but if we believe in Jesus Christ, we can share Paul’s hope and confidence of eternal life with Christ. The Holy Spirit within us is our guarantee that God will give us everlasting bodies at the resurrection which states in 2 Corinthians 1:22: “set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” Paul was not afraid to die, because he was confident of spending eternity with Christ.

For those who believe in Christ, death is only a prelude to eternal life with God. We will continue to live. Let this hope give you confidence and inspire you to faithful service.

Even while eternal life is a free gift given on the basis of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), each of us will still be judged by Christ. This judgement will reward us for how we have lived. God’s gracious gift of salvation does not free us from the requirement for faithful obedience. All Christians must give account for how they have lived (see Matthew 16:27)

With these words should give us hope and take some the sting out when a loved one dies that is a child of God. In a funeral session, we use words in the past tense that he or she was…, etc., but actually we should keep the words in the present because our loved ones that have placed their faith in Christ has simply moved from this world to heaven and they are still alive, eternal life with Christ. Our bodies are just shells which the spirit of God lives within us. It’s a celebration, not a time of sadness that our loved one is finally home with Christ.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it, you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Resources

Zondervan Bible Study

Bible Gateway

Passages: Ephesians 3:12 (NIV)

My dear brothers and sisters,

Hello my brothers and sisters,

It’s an awesome privilege to be able to approach God with freedom and confidence. We can come to him in our time of need, when we are happy, sad or to just to praise His name. You can wake up in the morning and say “God, what are we going to do today?” God is our heavenly Father filled with love, mercy and grace. Most of us would be apprehensive in the presence of a powerful ruler. But thanks to Christ, by faith we can be welcomed with open arms because we are God’s children through our union with Christ.

Paul states in Ephesians 3:12:

12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

So what is there to be afraid of? Nothing! Do not be afraid of God. Talk with him about everything. He is waiting to hear from you.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it, you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Resources

Zondervan Bible Study

Bible Gateway

Passages: 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, James 2:14-17 (NIV)

With the holiday's upon us and even beyond, let us not forget those that are in need or less fortunate than we are. What we have today is not ours, but God's. We may see an individual that is asking for food, money, clothes, a place to stay, etc. but we may be reluctant to give due to not knowing if this individual is sincere or just scamming you. There may be times that you may experience a tug on your heart or a still small voice convicting you to help someone. Jesus did not say just help those that you know but to help your fellow neighbor. Your neighbor is not just the person next door or down the street, but throughout the world. We give with a sincere heart. Christ gave His life not just for His disciples, mother or brother - He gave His life for the entire world! A gift, a free gift of salvation, love, mercy and grace which we do not deserve. The verses below is about giving. Giving to a person that you may know or may not know is what Christ taught us. To love each other and to help those in need. For you do not know when giving if you are entertaining angles from the LORD.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

James 2:14-17

"My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith can’t save anyone, can it? Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat. What if one of you said, 'Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!?' What good is it if you don't actually give them what their body needs? In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity."

The Good News: Good intentions only go so far. To truly help others, you have to take action in some way. Similarly, you have to be active in your faith in order for it to be truly meaningful.

May the LORD receive all honor, glory and praise!

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it, you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Resources

Zondervan Bible Study

Bible Gateway

Passages: Exodus 5:1-3 (NIV)

Sharing your faith may not always be easy to do. You may think that you’re not adequate enough to share your faith. You may become discouraged, because someone rejected you and your faith, but don’t let that stop you from continuing to share your faith with others. We can share our faith without hesitation, fear or discouragement because God is with us. If we allow discouragement to take a hold of us, we may miss opportunities to share our faith with someone that needs to hear it that could bring that individual to Christ.

In Exodus 5:1-3 talks about how Pharaoh would not listen to Moses and Aaron because he did not know or respect God. The passage tell us the following:

1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’”

2 Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.”

3 Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”

Like Pharaoh, people who do not know God may not listen to His word or His messengers. Like Moses and Aaron, we need to persist. When others reject you or your faith, don’t be surprised or discouraged. Continue to tell them about God.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it, you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Resources

Zondervan Bible Study

Bible Gateway

Passages: John 2:1-10 (NIV)

Hello my brothers and sisters,

People look everywhere but to God for excitement and meaning. For some reason, they expect God to be dull and lifeless. In John chapter 2 tells us the account of Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding banquet. Starting in John 2:1-10:

1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

Now, if I was at this banquet with Jesus, I would probably feel over excited to see Jesus turn water into wine. Just as wine Jesus made was the best, so life in Him is better than life on our own. Why wait until everything else runs out before trying God? Why save the best until last? You can have the best starting right now.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it, you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Resources

Zondervan Bible Study

Bible Gateway

Passages: John 12:12-16 (NIV)

Hello my brothers and sisters,

Think about the events in your life leading up to where you are now. How has God led you to this point in your life? I look back and think where I was three years ago having to go on long term disability and had no idea what I was going to do and did not understand why this was happening to me. However, God turned what I saw was a negative into a positive and lead me here today - in doing the work of the LORD. Using my God given talents and skills that God provided me and using it for His glory!

You know, after Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples understood for the first time many of the prophecies that they had missed along the way. Listen to John 12:12-16:

12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

Jesus’ words and actions took on a new meaning and made more sense. In retrospect, the disciples saw how Jesus had led them into a deeper and better understanding of his truth.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it, you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Resources

Zondervan Bible Study

Bible Gateway

Passages: Malachi 2:1-2 (NIV)

Hello my brothers and sisters,

Ask yourself this: What is important to you? Is whatever is important to you, important to God or just you alone?

A man named, Malachi, a prophet of God’s, confronted the priests in Jerusalem for failing to honor God’s name. Worshiping God became a burden to the priests. Too many think that following God is supposed to make life easy and more comfortable. They are looking for a God of convenience. The bottom-line is that it often takes hard work to live by God’s high standards. He may call us to face poverty or suffering, but if serving God is more important to us than anything else, what we must give up is of little importance compared to what we gain – eternal life with God.

In Malachi 2:1-2 reads:

1 “And now, you priests, this warning is for you. 2 If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me.

God warned the priests that if they did not honor his name, he would punish them. Like these priests, we too are called to honor God’s name – to worship him. What does this mean? It means acknowledging God for who He is – the almighty Creator of the universe who alone is perfect and who reaches down to sinful mankind with perfect love.

According to this definition, are you honoring God’s name?

So, how do we start by honoring God and finding out what is most important to Him? Begin by loving Him with all your heart, soul and strength as stated in Deuteronomy 6:5. This means listening to what God says in His Word and then setting our heart, mind and will on doing what He says.

When we love God, His Word becomes a shining light that guides our daily activities. The priests in Malachi’s day had stopped loving God and thus they did not know nor care what He wanted. We must not be like the priests but be like those that honor God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it, you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Resources

Zondervan Bible Study

Bible Gateway

Passages: Luke 2:41-48 (NIV)

Hello my brothers and sisters,

It is hard to let go of people or projects we have supported. It is both sweet and painful to see our children as adults, our students as teachers our subordinates as managers and our inspirations as institutions.

In Luke chapter 2 talks about Jesus when he was just a boy speaking with the religious teachers and how Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem for three days, but his parents were not aware of him staying. His parents begin to search for Jesus and found him in the temple with the teachers. Starting in verse 41:

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

Those that are parents would probably be frantic in searching for their child not knowing where he or she is. It can be hard to let your children go and become adults and start their own lives. Mary knew she would have to let go of her child, Jesus and let him become a man., God’s Son, the Messiah. Fearful that she hadn’t been careful enough with this God-given child, she searched frantically for him. But she was looking for a boy, not the young man who was in the temple astounding the religious leaders with his questions.

There will be a time that comes to step back and let go, we must do so in spite of the hurt. Then our proteges can exercise their wings, take flight and soar to the heights God intended for them.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it, you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Resources

Zondervan Bible Study

Bible Gateway