It is normal to use a small section of scripture for a lifejournal, but I am going to use ALL of Isaiah 53, because it just has to go together. Isaiah 53

Observation

God has been revealing to Isaiah all the sins of Israel. Isaiah knows that something has to happen to relieve this tension between their sin and God’s holiness. The way that this is normally resolved is through punishment coming upon Israel, but God is giving Isaiah a vision of the true remedy, when Jesus will come to take away their sins. “There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance, nothing to attract us to Him.” (Isa. 53:2 NLV) Jesus came without much fanfare, born humbly to humble parents in the lowly town of Bethlehem. The savior, the one who would take away Israel’s sin, and ours, was brought up “like a root in dry ground.”

The salvation story is played out in this chapter. We are like sheep, and have strayed, and Jesus was the one to take the pain, take the punishment for the things that we have done. There is nothing more beautiful to me than the see the love in our Savior’s eyes as He endures all that for us through His love.

Application

Israel was doomed without something to take away their sins. Mere sacrifices of animals was not enough any more. So it is with us. God had to step in and take our place, punishing Himself through His only son to set us free. We now get to live in that reality, knowing that we have been forgiven and that we are loved.

Prayer

Lord, may we never forget the pain that you went through. You voluntarily came to save us by taking our place. I pray that we always remember the price that was paid and thank you for that everyday. Thank you Lord for setting us free from our sins and providing us with a way to be with You.

Justin Phillips Media Technician

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self‑control; and to self‑control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (II Peter 1:4-8 Emphasis Added)

Observation

Simon Peter is giving us in this passage a recipe for success in our spiritual lives. This list of qualities is a process through which a follower gets closer and closer to knowledge of Jesus Christ. Peter strives to prove in this chapter that their faith is based in the events that the Apostles themselves witnessed, and that they were trying to spread that message to all the churches. Peter is confident that the church he is writing to is holding on to faith, but he is providing them with a process in which to grow in that faith.

Application

We can take advantage of this same list to grow our own faith. If you are familiar with compound interest, you know that the more interest that is in an account at the end of a year, the more you earn in interest that year. So the account grows exponentially as everything that is earned is recalculated in order to earn more. This process is a lot like that. You start with goodness, which is something that should naturally come to a Christ follower, goodness grows, and as you add to that, you head towards knowledge. Knowledge is knowing God, knowing His ways, and having a confidence in what He is doing. Knowledge builds on goodness, and leads to self-control, which uses both of those other attributes to allow you to control your actions and base them in Christ.

So on and so on, the list builds on itself, culminating in brotherly kindness and love, two of the social actions that God treasures most.

Prayer

Lord, we know that You are real, and that You are perfect. I pray that we can seriously look at this list and make every effort to strive toward those attributes in our own lives. I pray that working through that process will bring us closer to You and to discover You in a whole new way. Amen

Justin Phillips – Media technician

Scripture:
Hebrews 6:1 So come on, let’s leave the preschool finger-painting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on “salvation by self-help” and turning in trust toward God; baptismal instructions; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment. God helping us, we’ll stay true to all that. But there is so much more. Let’s get on with it!

Observation: Yes the basics are important and foundational, but there is so much more than that to God, lets roll up our sleeves and dig deeper into what God is.

Application: The basic foundations of Christ should be in place and with God’s help we will stick to them, but we need to be always seeking more, always wanting to know more and always open to what he is trying to teach us. I don’t think it gets any easier, it gets harder..that is why so many never step past the basics of Christianity to really learn and seek deeper meaning and put that into action. They are afraid of what it will bring, of the sacrifices they will have to make or the hardships they will have to endure to become mature in Christ. So instead of having a “church” of passionate driven mature people we have a preschool of beginners that are content to never move forward. We produce crayon drawings instead of glorious works of art.

Prayer: Lord, please keep me on the right path, always staying true to the basic foundations of who you are. But also let me always seek more from you so that I may grow and mature in who you are. Your word says that if I seek after YOU, you will answer. I am seeking you, no matter how hard it gets or the trials I have to endure. I want to do your will, not someone else’s interpretation of you will. Speak directly to me and teach me to trust in you. Amen
Sara Woolery
Children’s/Student Coordinator

Do I put myself in a position to receive the grace from the Father or do I very often let pride get in the way of that grace?

Sometimes when I read the book of James I get a sense of condemnation. James does not really hold back any punches, but pretty much lays it on us. Obviously he is addressing the church, because so many times he calls us brothers. For a little bit I think that this can be a picture of the church, then I think nay… we don’t do that. But then I hear crazy talk, (and sometimes get caught up in it myself), I see church family quarreling and fighting among ourselves. James asks, what causes the quarrels and fights among you?..I believe it is pride. Because right after that he says “God opposes the proud”. When we examine our hearts and cry out to God for grace to cover our multitude of sins we can see the root of the majority of sin in our lives falls under pride. When we quarrel and fight isn’t it because we want our own way or we think the way we do things is the best way…pride. Or when we speak evil against one another are we not really trying to make ourselves look better in our own eyes…again pride. When we are neck deep in pride we definitely are not in a position to receive grace – pride is the opposite of humility, and James says God gives grace to the humble. So, of course we receive God’s grace at the moment of salvation, in accepting the grace of the cross. But grace is an ongoing thing 24/7. I must always be examining my heart to keep myself in a state of humility, to receive that grace I am in desperate need of. Earlier I said with the book of James I sometimes feel condemnation, but I know condemnation is not from the Father but a ploy of the enemy. Then.. I let God’s Word wash over me and consume me and realize once again that the grace I am so hungry for and let myself take in, I then have hope because this grace that God offers to us is truly sufficient.

Father, thank you for your Word and the convicting work of Your Holy Spirit…reminding me of my evil ways, but yet through your Word and Spirit, I am able to gain hope. Hope and comfort in knowing that grace from You goes on forever and ever. Forgive me when I allow pride to creep in and let it’s ugly claws grab hold of my heart and I walk in the ways of the world rather than walking in a state of grace always. Help me to extend the grace I have so lavishly received from You to my brothers and sisters in Christ and to the unbeliever. Help me to remember, it is not my job to judge but only to love.Help me to stamp out the sin of pride. I don’t want to be opposed by You but I want to be a recipient of Your amazing grace. Amen

Mary Teresa Miller
Receptionist

Observation
Paul is in prison yet he is finding joy as he is reminded of the sincere faith of his dear friend Timothy. He is pointing out the godly heritage that Timothy was blessed with.

Application
In my life, I have been blessed with generations of godly people. As I try to continue in the sincere faith that has been taught and modeled to me, I am asking myself the following questions.
1. Is my faith visible to those around me? 2. Like Timothy, has anyone ever received joy because of the faith they see in me? 3. Like Paul, have I been quick to encourage those around me as I see their strong faith?

Prayer
God I am so deeply thankful for the generations of faithful family that You have given me. I pray that the line of faithfulness does not end with me. Please help me to pass it on. Help me to be an encourager.
Thank You for the promise of always hearing my prayers.
In Your Son’s name I pray,
Amen

Roselyn Grubbs

Isaiah said “I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs’ (angels who were flying). “And they called to one another; holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6: 1-3

Observation

Isaiah’s vision of God is another lke that by John in the book of Revelations. It shows the wonder and glory of our Father in heaven as he constantly watches over us and all of his creation. The angels are praising him even as he sends them into the world to do his will. God is always with us even if we can’t see him. He sees our worship as well as our sins.

Application

Often when I pray I try to visualize God on his throne in heaven with Jesus at his side. In mind and spirit I bow at the feet of his throne for worship and/or petitions. With life’s distractions this is often hard to do, but verses like this one in Isaiah help me focus in prayer. I trust the vision Isaiah had was sent by the Father himself.

Prayer

Father, when I close my eyes in prayer, help me see you on your thrown in heaven as Isaiah did. Help me do right in your eyes that I am even worthy to come before you. Thank you for being the God of is always there to listen however silly my prayers may be.

John Niehaus - Elder

Hosea 13:4
“But I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me.”

Observation:

The Israelites had turned from the one true God and had made idols of their own. As it says in 13:2, “…they make idols for themselves from their silver, cleverly
fashioned images, all of them the work of craftsmen…They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calf-idols.”
In this chapter, God reminds the Israelites of his sovereignty and tells of the consequences that will come due to their sins.

Application:

Just as was the case with the Israelites, it can be quite tempting to turn away from God and worship idols of our own choosing; idols that we think we can control. These idols could be money, prestige, success at work, image or beauty, etc…Basically; they are anything that we put ahead of God. When we do that, there
are consequences. They may not always be immediate or grandiose, but they will come. Making sure that our focus and worship are continually directed to God is something that we have to work on day by day. It is a daily task that is well worth-
while.

Prayer:

God,
Help me to keep my focus and worship directed to you and only you. All of your creation worships and exalts you for all to see. You are the only worthy of worship
and adoration, God.
Amen

Kelly Gregory
Volunteer

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.”- Psalm 33:12

Matthew 7

Judging Others

1″Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3″Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

6″Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

Ask, Seek, Knock

7″Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

9″Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Observation: Jesus tells us to examine our own motives and conduct instead of judging others. Knowing God takes faith, focus, and follow through, and Jesus assures us we will be rewarded.

Application: Just as one of our core values teaches us how to seek the lost, we should open our door for all who are knocking (seeking). Judge yourself first and then lovingly forgive and help your neighbor. Don’t give up in your effort in seeking God. Ask him for the thing you need and he will be faithful.

Prayer: Dear God, help me open the door to all who knock. Help me examine my own motives and faults so I won’t look down on others. Thanks you for loving me and accepting me with all my faults. In Jesus name, Amen.

Comments?

Joe Howard
Pastor of Music

Titus 1:9
He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
He Must Hold Firmly…..

How appropriate that earlier this week I had mentioned that a friend had told me at my baptism the Christian life was like a roller coaster ride so Hang On…..”Hold Firmly”…She was a wise woman……

Hold Firmly can be looked at a couple of ways…..
When times get rough Hold Firmly
When the world around you makes you feel lost Hold Firm When all is lost….Hold on….seems hard to do….read the whole verse… To the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it….HOLD FIRMLY
HOLD FIRMLY….God has shown us how….given us instructions on how….even helps us do so…
HOLD FIRMLY can mean different things to different people at different places in life……yet God knows where you are….
So to those who are at that spot…HOLD FIRMLY to the trustworthy message……HOLD FIRMLY

Our only true GOD…..thank you for HOLDING FIRMLY and for showing us how to do the same…..AMEN

…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

This is a letter written by the apostle Paul to the church in Philippi and all followers of Jesus. At the time that this letter was written, Paul was under house arrest in Rome.

At the opening of his letter, Paul expresses how joyful he is as he thinks about the Christians in Philippi; and, in the above passage, he goes on to encourage them. He reminds them that the God that began working within them and through them will not leave them. God will continue working within each one of them until the work is finished, until the day of Christ Jesus.

Sometimes when we are going through a rough patch, such as Paul was during his imprisonment, we may think that God has abandoned us or left us alone to face whatever trial we may be in the midst of: however, this is not the case. God is always with us and is always faithful to finish what he starts. The work that he began in each one of us has a purpose and God will finish it in his time. Until that goal is achieved, we are to be faithful and continue to follow the path that God has set before each one of us.

God,

Help me to put my faith in you at all times and to remember that you are always faithful to finish what you begin.

Kelly Gregory
Volunteer