Casting Seed to The World

Mark 4:9 "And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”"

Theme- Casting seed

This is something that hit me as we are wrapping up our time in Guatemala. Before this verse it is the parable of the sower, we are called to be sower, not the waterers. We are supposed to be casting out the seed(the word of God), we are to spread the word of God to all that haven't heard the truth. Act 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”", that is straight from the Lord Himself. These were His last words in earth before ascended into heaven. It's not up to us to soften the soil so the word of God can sink deep into the people's heart, and bear fruit. God will take care of that, all we are to do is cast the seed.

The reason I bring this up is because my team and I have been thinking if we have done a good enough job. As I was in the men's bible study one night, He made me realize that we did a good job, because Christ was shown to these kids through us. Technically we didn't do anything, except allow God to use us and be a vessel for His love. And He is just so good because we don't even have to try and do it with our own power, because it's impossible to shine a light that isn't yours unless it is given to you. John 12:46-47 "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.  And if anyone hears My words and does not believe,  I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world."He is the light and He abides in us, and He saves not us, He is the one to soften the heart of the non-believers, we are to shine His light that gave us in the Acts 1:8. The Holy Spirit lives within us and with His help we are to spread the Gospel to the four corners of the earth, that there may be the soften of the hearts.

One thing I want to end with, we don't see what is going on in the hearts of who we are spreading the gospel to. So don't get discouraged because we might not see the fruit from the seeds we casted out, but the fruit isn't for us to bear. We do it for the glory of the Lord, so that He might be praised. We might not see the fruit in the hearts of those that are hearing the word,  but men look at the outside, and God looks at the heart.

Fighting

Ephesians 6:12 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

Theme- Fighting

The following verse talks about putting on the full armour of God. So that we may walk through every day prepared to face the day. Also when we find ourselves being attacked by the devil, we will know exactly what to do. It's cool to think Jesus doesn't only die for us, which is unconditional love as a living example. But He also gives us the full body of the Lord, not just a quarter of it, or half but the whole thing. I heard this saying a lot, and it always helps when I forget how good God is, "For God so loved the world He gave.......". It made me realize a lot of how little I can or want to do, and how much He has done, and will do in lives that are dedicated to Him.

I say these thing ps because we are in a battle and that is exactly what this verse is telling us. We are under attack by satan, and he is coming at those that are following Christ with everything he's got. For when we are doing the will of the Lord, satan is very happy.

I've heard a lot of stories of people that had crazy stories about demonic attacks, and I always had doubts since the people I heard them about are super spiritual and great followers of the Lord. Until, I had my own experience of a spiritual presence of just pure and utter darkness. I woke up once in the middle of the night, and could just feel darkness so I threw my covers over my head, sweating, and just waiting for something bad to happen. Just think of a 19 year old man, 6' 1" hiding under his covers. Trust me it's something you really don't ever want to experience. It took me probably 30-45 minutes to fall back asleep, because of the utter terror of being asleep when this presence being around me. Then the next night we had a visitor speaking to us, and He had a very similar experience in his past, but the one thing he did differently was, he called out to the Lord and that was the end of it.

God gives us His Holy Spirit to help us walk through everyday experience with the devil. Jude 1:9 "Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”". That is all we have to say when we are under attack, "The Lord rebuke you!" When we are followers of Christ His name and His name alone. We are under attack everyday as followers of Christ, but when we fight the good fight we will be protected by the Lord, and will have the same inheritance as Him.

Always There For Safety

Psalm 91:2 "I will say of the Lord , “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”"

Theme- safety

Day by day,
I was slowly dying.
I couldn't go on,
There was something missing..

Until now I'm still searching
For the thing that'll stop my crying.
For someone who'll erase my fears,
For the person who'll wipe my tears.

But till then I'll keep on smiling.
Hiding behind this mask I'm wearing.
Hoping one day I can smile,
Till then, I'll be here.. waiting.

This a part of a poem I feel like a lot of people feel like throughout the an everyday life. I picked this poem because I can feel like it described my life as a high schooler. Now that I'm a teacher you can pick out the kids that live a life like I used to. The title to this poem was called mask and that is exactly what they put on everyday just to be accepted into society.

This is one of those verse I wish I could just make people believe. We get scared sometimes when we think we won't be accepted, so we change everything just so we will fit in. I like to call it being a "people pleaser". This is what I was when in High school. Being in ignite, and being the only guy on a team for six months. You figure it's not worth wearing a "mask" everyday. So you just become yourself and find out who you really are. The coolest thing is you find out who you are in Christ.

What I want my students to understand is that it doesn't matter who you are in front of people of society, only how you conduct yourself as a child of God. Because when we are a child of God when faced with a problem we can run to Him for safety. And it's not like a friend that might bail out on you or won't be able to talk, but like a God that will do anything for you and be everything for you at any time.

Trust in Something Good

Psalm 34:8 "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!"

This verse didn't make very much sense to me when I was a kid or even just a young believer, but I was reading a book and  all the sudden it made so much sense to me.

So when I was a kid I heard this verse and like I said didn't make much sense. Before I thought how do you taste God? I truly just didn't get it, and so I just pushed it a side as a kid and didn't think about, but know I can't stop. I think it's because I have a lot of friends that just have walked away from the Lord and if they only followed this verse it would all make sense.

So to now this verse means if I can get a taste of what it is like to be a child of God I will never leave His presence. We are truly blessed to have a friend like God and it made all the more sense when I was in His presence. When I was a kid I grew up in the church, but lived in sin so it didn't make sense to "taste and see". But now that I'm a believer and put my trust in the Lord it all makes sense. So what I would love to tell my friends face to face, and pray that they do it, and try it. Because That's all that God is telling us to do, He is saying, "try Me out and if I'm not good then don't bother with Me." The cool thing in this verse is that it says is, "taste and see that the Lord is good;". He doesn't even bother saying see if the Lord is good or bad, just good for that is what He is.

Lastly, on top of finding out that the Lord is good it says," Blessed is the man who trusts in Him." It says we will be blessed to put our trust in someone that is good. I've heard this illustration a lot but it is good and simple. So you have a bench that sits in the bark and when you are tired of walking, running, or whatever you are doing you trust that the bench will hold you up. You don't know if it is a good bench or a bench that will break right out from under you. The Lord is good and you know it so why would it be so hard to put your trust in Him

Lifting up others

Ephesians 4:25 "Therefore, putting away lying, “ Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another."

Theme- lifting up one another

This is one of the many lessons I have learned in my time here of ignite. To lift up those you aren't very fond of hanging out with, but when you have to live with them it gets even a little harder. So like I might have said before I wasn't very happy I was staying with four girls I'm with right now. Remember that was when we started our serving time.

The girls weren't my favorite people in the world in the beginning of training, but when we all made the decision in our own hearts to try and make this team work. It began with prayer and led to lifting each other up and encouraging them in all things. So when it came time to say good job, we said it to each other. Speaking for myself that where it all started, and then I injured my knee and sometimes you don't realize how much you love people until they gone. So even though it seemed like just a small gesture of compassion towards each other, in our hearts it was something so much greater. Why?, because it was the work of God doing that in our hearts, and the best we can do is worst than the smallest thing God can do.

So if you are apart of a team, a body, a family, or a congregation. There are three step of lifting people up, prayer, action, and examination. This will help you realize the importance, and effectiveness it has on the body of Christ.

First, is prayer and I'm going to say little about it, but it is the most important part of these three steps. We are to pray without ceasing, and so that means we should constantly be in prayer throughout the day, and start all things in prayer. With doing that it is saying we are giving it up to the Lord before we even know what is going to happen.

Second, following prayer is action. We have to take steps of faith after giving it up to the Lord, we have to listen to what God has to tell us and follow His guidance. And in that we are taking action in which we prayed about.

Lastly, is examination for a good reason. Look at how you feel about your team or whatever you are apart of, and see how it is different. When I was taken out of something I thought I hated, I wasn't happy but devastated that I had to leave my family. And as I sat on my couch thinking about what I left behind in Guatemala, and where I was then. I realized what I had in Guatemala was a 100 times better than what I had in the states.

You will see how much God will change you and those you are communing with in a drastic way. Praying for all of you for we are all apart of the same body.

Rest in the Lord

Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Theme-Rest

Have you ever felt that you just can't go on anymore, that you have to do so much work, but you just don't have the energy to do it. I encourage you to stop what you are doing close your eyes, and pray. Don't reach for the caffeine or the drink that will give you a little something to keep on going, don't go to the earthly things of this world for strength or energy, because they will wear off and just leave you worse than you were before. Reach for the living word that gives life, go to God and ask for strength to do His will, and His work. God give life to those who are dead in sin, a Helper (the Holy Spirit) so that we can keep going, and an inheritance of heaven.

So when you feel that you just can't do anything else, or that your brain just can't work any more, I encourage you to go to Him and ask for rest. Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." This is a promise when we ask of the Lord for the Lord's will, then we shall receive. And on top of that this verse Matthew 11:28 is a promise, so He is saying if we to go to Him needing rest then He will freely give.

The verses following says in 11:29-30 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” He even offers us His yoke which is light and easy, because we don't have to stand on our own, just be completely dependent on the Lord. Go to Him and find rest.

This is my last point, are you tired of doing everything on your own strength? Well then, just stop. These last two verse show us that we don't have to do it all on our own. We go to God and find rest, give all things unto the Lord, and He will take your burdens on His shoulders. He will give us something easy that we wouldn't be able to handle on our own, but we can be dependent on Him and He will keep us going. In Him you will have rest.

Application - rest in the Lord for 20 minutes in my spare time, and continue in prayer throughout my day.

Going through trials with faith

James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

We all go through hard times in life, when we are tempted by our fleshly desires. At these points in our life we must, ".., count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing the testing of our faith produces patience. " James 1:2-3. sometimes that word patience makes me cringe for some reason when we are talking about the ministry of Christ. Just because I feel like we should constantly be doing something for the Lord. But when the word faith, and patience are together it makes a lot more sense. We have to have the faith that the Lord will keep His promise that we will be inheritors of the kingdom of God, where we will receive the crown of life.

Its not always going to be easy when it comes to trials that stand in the that we are walking on. They only become easier when we put all of our faith in the Lord and allow Him to guide us on the path, and through the hard and easy trials. I can't remember how many times I tried to get through an easy or hard trial by my own strength. All I end with is laying down on my face defeated, I was never able to do it on my own. Especially, on the missions field with the amount of spiritual attack that happens here. It's impossible to do the Lord's will without allowing Him to do it through you. Just to let you know when we live a life for Christ no matter where we are, we are on the missions. But something we always have to remember is that we aren't alone, God is always with us helping every step of the way. And when He is the one carrying ypu through the trail something always amazing happens for the kingdom of God.

James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." Lets get our job done here on earth with the help of the Lord.

Unity through love

Ephesians 4:16 "from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."

The body of Christ is an amazing experience, when you are able take part in. Now I'm excited to write this because I haven't been a part of the body, and also I'm a part of the body right now. Just to say everything is better when you are a part of a body that makes you feel worth something, and purposeful. But being a part of a body that doesn't actually care for you and constantly put you down, sucks.

The body of Christ is put together so precisely, that if someone else tried putting it together it would fall apart and die. He puts the body of Christ together the same way He put you and me together in our mother's womb. It doesn't make sense on how it is put together but some how it works. The body I'm a part of right now is built with the oddest people in the world that wouldn't get along in the body of society, but it works perfectly in Christ body. The reason why it works so good is because the body of Christ is centered around Christ.

The construction of the body of Christ is built of many different parts, but all carry a very important role. Every part works together in perfect unison with each other, because Jesus is the head telling each part what to do. Each part has a different job that take a certain type of gift that God has given you, so He will put you where you are needed in His body to do the job that needs to be done. And someone else with a different set of skills to complete something that God needs for them to complete.

This reminds me of the body of Christ that I am able to be a part of here in Guatemala. We work so well together, and all have different set of skills that we bring to the table. But of you put us together in a social network it would be chaos, and nothing would be accomplished. What make this body work together so well is that we edify one another with the love of Christ, and that the love of Christ is the fuel we have to get through each day.

Keep Going

Hebrews 12:3 "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."

Theme- keep going

So this is a verse that came across me yesterday while we listened to Pastor Joe Focht, and He started with this verse. A little back, my schedule of the day. So Tuesdays we teach english for two hours, then come back for lunch. But yesterday was a little different after lunch when we usually have time to prepare for other classes that we have later on in the week or just rest, I had to cut up this huge stump with a chainsaw that kept locking up every other minute. After getting that done I thought I would have time to catch up on some reading I have to do and do and IBS, but I ending up helping the new class of interns make blogs. Then we had dinner while we listened to Joe Focht, and I've been complaining that I haven't had any time to read or do an IBS. So when he started with this verse it was instant conviction.

So when it feels like you can't stay awake and you have so much to do, just ask God to help. Because after coming back from the states it continually felt like I was climbing a mountain that no man can climb. That is when I cried out for help to God, when I couldn't go anymore on my own strength. I needed help there was no more strength in my body, so when God answered my prayer He gave me a refreshing breath and only with His help I was able to continue on.

Afterwards, I realized that He was correcting my pride, I continue to feel Him breath for me because it almost seems like I forgot how to live my life without Him helping me everyday. Be corrected is never fun, "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." This is verse 11, being corrected isn't fun but it will profit us in the end. We are corrected now, so we don't make the same mistake in the future. I call this correcting training, no one likes training before the race, right? People just want to run the race not train for it, but it's necessary to win the race.1 Corinthians 9:24 "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it." If we want to win the race we need to be prepared for it, don't reject His correcting because He corrects those He loves. And if it feels like you can't go any longer remember what He did for you on that cross, so that we might enter into the kingdom of God. He will give you the strength to keep on going.

Encouragement

Psalm 37:1-2 "Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb."

This verse came to my mind as I was thinking today, and I felt led to right an encouragement to anyone who is reading this. When I was in high school and living for the Lord I felt alone, because it felt like I was the only christian it was the same thing at work. So God gave me this verse to encourage me.

We don't have to fear the things of this world, because they are only temporary, and the relationship we have with God is eternal. When I was in school or at work I just felt suppressed by the darkness around me, either when I was in the darkness or surrounded by it. I felt useless for the kingdom of the Lord, well an encouragement is a revival starts with one person. Everything starts with prayer and trust me God will use you in tremendous ways.

After these two verse it goes on to say in verse three, "Trust in the Lord , and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness." "Feed on His faithfulness" thats a promise and God will bless you for doing just that. So a challenge begin to pray that God will use you powerfully in your school or at your work, and see what He will do through you.

By Faith Live Every Day

Hebrews 11:8 "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going."

Theme- Faith

This verse was a huge encouragement to me when I had to go home because of my knee injury. Before I came to Potter's Field for the the ignite program, God made it pretty obvious to me that I was going to be doing my field time here in Guatemala. So when God had me leave here I was so confused, because He originally promised me that I'd be here for my field time not home. God told me it was His will for me to leave, so willing by faith I left.

Those two words have made a completely different person. See God taught me so many things being home then being healed from my injury, and then coming back. God doesn't break His promises, sometimes it doesn't make sense but in the end God keeps His promises, and until the promise is fulfilled He is preparing you for that promise.

"By faith", we must do all things by faith. I thought I could tackle all the tasks of being on team Guatemala by myself, and that I would just be the perfect intern ever. Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I was missing the last part of this verse, Christ has to be in it for it to get done. There are some days I have no idea how they went the way they did, but for me those are the best days. The Holy Spirit is there for us every second of every day as long as we confess that we can't do anything without Him, He will help us do the will of the Lord. Im praying for you.

The Time is Now

John 4:23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship."

The Time Is Now

At this point in this chapter Jesus was talking to a Samaritan woman that was a prostitute. So to give a little bit of background on this woman, she probably was hated by all the other women because she messed around with most of the men. She has had 5 husbands and was living with another that she hasn't married. Also the Samaritans were hated by the Jews, and the Jewish men would even pray and thank God they weren't woman, or a Samaritan. So this woman Jesus was talking about was at the bottom of the bottom.

So that brings up one point I'm trying to make, Jesus doesn't care about what you have done or what others have done. Why?, because all He wants for us is to live with Him one day in heaven. So if you're not saved or are serving the Lord don't think there is ever someone that doesn't belong or deserve to be given the chance to except Jesus Christ into their heart. Jesus the Son of the one true living God wanted and did give this women that despised by society a chance to live for Him. God likes to use those that are looked down upon in society to save others. Later on in this chapter Jesus tells her to go back to town and gather all those men and bring them back, and she did.

The second point I want to make is the title of the IBS, "The Time Is Now." In this verse it talks about it's the time that the true "worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth," its time for all of us to get on our knees and worship the Lord. In spirit is for us to truly live as one with Him, like when a man and woman are married they become one. In truth we are able it worship Him in the reading of the truth, and being able to ask Him to open our eyes to the truth.

I'll wrap it up with this we are called to serve Him, and tell all people about Him. Not just those that we think are good enough, but all people. And do these things as a "true worshiper".

Alone time

Whenever you need an answer to life look for a place where you are completely at peace, where you can focus, where you can just relax. Then you look to the One that has all the answers, and you ask Him to show you the answer, and He will freely give. He may not give the answer you always want but He will give you the best answer someone could ever give you. And follow those instructions with obedience, also in faith. Have God blessed day.

His promise

John 1:17 NKJV

For the law was given through Moses, but  grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Theme- promise

I using John for the last couple of IBSes because I'm doing John in my morning devotions. How beautiful of a promise this is that God gives us, we know not one of us can uphold the law that was given through Moses, this is a reason Jesus came to die on the cross. He knew like we do that no man can uphold the law, so He came lived a perfect life, and died for the sins we have committed.

This promise is made out of love, and the law is fulfilled by the love of Jesus Christ. Matthew 19:19, "‘Honor your father and  your  mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’"" I say that its Jesus Christ's love, because no man will love like Christ did. But through what Christ did for us, we may have salvation. And that is His promise, "... grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." The world grace means, re ie ing something you don't deserve, we don't deserve anything but Christ gave us Himself (truth), and so through Christ we are saved. This is why we have accepted Him into our hearts so that we might be saved, and we dedicate our lives to Him.

Application- pray for those who don't know the Lord

Prayer please

I have a small rip in a tenden behind my knee just from over stretching it, so prayers would be appreciated for a fast recovery. The doctor said I'm not a loud to use my left leg for a week and I'd imagine just really take it easy after that for a month. So this means I won't be teaching for half of the week at the minimum,  hopefully its no longer, and just pray that the doctor is right and that I'll be back on both my feet real soon. Praying for all of you, love you, and have a God blessed day.

Visibility

Theodore Opdenaker

John 1:9 NKJV

That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

Theme- visibility

I picked visibility as the theme for this verse and this weeks IBS, because it talks about the true light, and that it "gives light to every man coming into the world." This just shows that all man will be shown the light, and that it is their decision to accept it or not. That decision is the most important decision you will make in your life and it will affect every other decision you will make in your life.

John 1:5 "And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." This is where I got visibility when it talks about the darkness not comprehending the light that was shown to them. Darkness is the world, and depending on how much you can understand of the light. For example,  when I was younger I knew the stories of the bible, but I never really comprehended what the were really about. I also didn't have the will to know, and that is where the decision come in to except the light, and learn more about it or just throw it away. Now after messing up because I made the wrong decision, and made the right one and came to Potter's Field, and learn how to study the bible and pull stuff out it like I do with my IBS. Four months ago I could never do what I can do now because of what I have learned. 

Application - memorize this verse so when I'm faced with a decision I can know where to look for advice, the light(Jesus Christ).

Philippians 3 : 12-13

Philippians 3:12-13 NKJV

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I  do,  forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

Theme - sacrifice

In verse 12 I think Paul is talking about dying to self the highest sacrifice we can give to our Lord Jesus Christ. He knows that when he goes to heaven God the Father will see he as perfect, but to continue to sacrifice his whole being for the testimony of Jesus Christ. He says, "...but I press on...", no matter what happens to him he knows that it will be all worth it, because of what was waiting for him in heaven. So I tell you "press on" for Christ Himself is preparing a mansion for you in heaven.

In verse 13 it says, "... forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,...", when we accept Christ the book in heaven that had our sins written in it, is thrown into the fire, and doesn't come back. God sees as perfect, so when Paul says, "... forgetting those things which are behind...", I believe that is what we do. Plan and simple when it comes to the past, drop it, forget about it, only use it to share the testimony God gave you. Then Paul says, "...reaching forward to those things which are ahead,...". I can say it any better then, look forward to what God wants to in your life. Also, sometimes He will call you to do things that may be scary, I encourage you to look back at the testimony God gave you and see what He did for you, what He saved you from, and as a women from my church always told me, "Do it scared". Do it because God is the one calling you to do something.

Application - pray that when I'm faced with representing Christ, I stand firm

Philippians 3 : 11

Philippians 3:11 NKJV

if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Theme- sacrifice

With the theme of sacrifice, I look at this verse, and think that Paul is saying he will do anything (by any means), to attain the resurrection from the dead. To lay his sinful body down, lay all sins on the shoulders of Christ, all material things from this earth even his fleshly body, give it all to Jesus. That he may be resurrection by the Holy Spirit, and be perfect in the eyes of the Father in heaven. The whole point of living is to give it all to Jesus and live a life worth living. A life worth living, when I first heard it i was so utterly confused. Then I heard that a man that doesn't live a life for Christ will loose everything, but a man that lives a life for Christ will gain everlasting life, and a mansion is being prepared for those who believe in heaven, Christ said it Himself.

This is how this applied to my life, no earthly things is worth holding on to, not even people you hold dear to your heart, because if we don't love Christ first those relationships are pointless. So, if those relationships are above the relationship you have with Christ then you are in sin, and the bible says something like if something causes you to sin cut it off. So if becoming closer to God means breaking off a relationship you have with a friend, then do so because it can only benefit you in your walk with the Lord.

Application - when I get home say it God or the highway, because my life is for Him, and what you are doimg I can't except.

Philippians 3 : 10

Philippians 3:10 NKJV

that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

Theme - sacrifice

The ultimate sacrifice, a perfect life given for an imperfect world full of sin. He took all sin, bore it all on His shoulders, in every single crack of the whip, He thought of you and I. God the Father knew the only way for people exactly like you and I to be saved, was to send His perfect Son Jesus Christ to die a gruesome death, pay the price we rightly deserved to pay. But instead He paid it Himself so that we may get the reward to go to heaven. Jesus conquered the grave so, that one day We may be with Him, and know the power of His resurrection,  also the fellowship of His sufferings. We know we will be able to experience these things becuase of His death.

For those reason what shall we hold higher then the One that thought of us throught His entire persecution. Through all the trials we go through we shall think of Him, and take joy in suffering for His great name. The name Jesus Christ, the One who died for us, we shall live every day for that name. James 1:2, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials," it says in the bible that we should count in all joy, in the middle of the trials we face. So that we may take joy when we are being persicuted for His Name, because He died on the cross for us in love, and rose from the dead in joy that we may rejoice in heaven.

Application- so I ask God to give me joy in the times of sacrificing the flesh, and material for His great name.

Philippians 3 : 9

Philippians 3:9 NKJV

and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

Theme - sacrifice

Philippians 3:8, "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ" I'm verse 8 here, because it is a continues into verse 9.

So in verse 8 you can see it talks about whatever we go through, whatever we have to give up can't be compared to what we get when we get in Christ. So what I see here in verse 9 is not having any righteousness, and all the righteousness is for which is from God by faith. We don't deserve righteousness, because look at what we do, look at our sin. We are only cleansed when we have faith that Christ is in us. Which only came to us by the greatest sacrifice of them all. I see that the least I can do is sacrifice my pride, personally. I have a hard time throughing down my pride for the glory of God, and keep myself good in the eye's of men. When all I should care about is what God is seeing in my heart, and what others are seeing of Christ through my actions. We are called to be more like Christ everyday, and as I was reminded during bible study that all we must do, and the gospel will spread as the Lord leads me. I need less of people's acceptance, and more of Christ being happy how I'm proclaiming his name. There are multiple things I give righteousness to, and leave little for Christ.

Through people who God is using in my life, He has been showing me things I must sacrifice to Him, so that I will give Him all the righteousness. Like, Paul said in verse 8, he calls all of the things he lost, "rubbish", in other words its worthless. That's how I see it, so thinking about it why give righteousness to things that are worthless, it doesn't make sense.

Application- right down a list of things I need to stop giving righteousness to and burn it, just so I can see those thkngs become ash, and see them as worthless.

Philippians 3 : 8

Philippians 3:8 NKJV

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Theme- sacrifice

The biggest thing that speaks to me in this verse is the line, "...and count them as rubbish. .." This speaks to me a lot, because I think of the missionary books we've read, and heard about. I think of what the gave up just so they could spread the gospel, and I hear about some missionaries saying things like why me, why do I have to do that, or oooh i can get out of that. Some even making excuses why they can't do what God is calling them to do, or because they are afraid of leaving something or someone behind. Then when Paul adds to that and says, "...that I may gain Christ." He didn't care that he had to give all those things, because he figured out that it all is pointless compared what he had gained. He gave up personal thing in exchange for something eternal, the relationship between himself, and Christ.

For me personally, I had no problem leaving home, and the people there, because I thought I knew I was going back. Then I started to learn that if my heart is truly after God's will, I don't know what I will be doing after this program. It's a little scary know that I think about it. To not know what your going to be doing. I've always had a plan to what I was doing, so when I had to do it, it would be done and I wouldn't have to worry about it. I didn't worry about my future until this very moment of writing this, but isn't that the point of being obedient, and willing to give up everything for Christ testimony. We as christians do this so that the gospel may be spread, not foe our comfort. We must be will to sacrifice everything.

Application - ask God to give not just me, but all people that is being called to do something that involves sacrifice, peace!

Psalms 133 : 1-3

Psalms 133:1-3 NKJV

Behold, how good and how pleasant it  is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It  is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It  is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.

Theme - unity

Untiy holds things together, right? When you see unity, it's a beautiful thing. For example, when I was helping with children's ministry there were these three sisters, and they were just adorable. The coolest thing about them they were always together, they would help each other, and play with each other. When the girls were getting dropped off the youngest one didn't want her mom to leave. So her older sisters went to her, and comforted her so that she was ok to let her mom leave. The best thing was by the end of the day she didn't want to leave. But the whole point of this story is, so you can see the beauty in the unity these three girls had. They were so unified that they can be comfortable without their mom there with them.
This also makes me think of the apostles, they did everything together. Whereever they went the would be unified with the church, and it would produce fruit. Like a army, they would pair up divide, and conquer. God's army is called to do things together in unity, and shine a light into a perverse generation. We are in a team, so that there is accountability if you are with other believers there is a less chance of stumbling.

Applications - pray that team Guat has a unity like the apostles, and the three sisters had.

Acts 2 : 46-47

Acts 2:46-47 NKJV

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Theme - unity

This is a good ending to this chapter, because it shows the fruit that can come from unity. I think the two word  "continuing daily", are so important, because it references back to Acts 2:42 "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." This is important, because one they talk about it twice so it shows you the importance. Two its a good reminder to be in our devotions daily. We must be in the word everyday, and night the bible says. We are like babies, every baby needs to be fed, and taken cared of. We are the same way, every day we need to read the bible so we can adjust our living style, and be fed the word of life.

I also think it is important to look at the atitude the people had in this verse, "...with gladness and simplicity of heart,..." this is important because it reminds us how we should be in time of rejoicing. Now I know it might sound weird when I say, "in time of rejoicing." But I feel that a lot of us has a hardened heart when it comes to rejoicing sometimes. One, because the attention might not be on ourself, but we need to remember that the attention should never be on us. Only on the one that is working through us, so we shouldn't be looking for our own glory but how that this may glorified God. Secondly, this is the attitude we should have in our everyday walk, and I know thats not always going to happen because we are all sinners. But its important to be able to look at something, and say, " I'm going to strive to do the best I can."

Lastly,  "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." So, I believe this is the fruit from this passage. When all this is present in our live, I believe we live out Philippians 2:15, "that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,". This tells us that we will, "shine as a light in the world. " So as these christians worshipped together in unity they shined a light so bright unbelievers couldn't deny Christ's testimony.

Application - sorry for doing the same as yesterday, but I liked it because it convicted me of a couple things that I said yesterday. So after prayer class I thought of what prayer was in Spanish and wrote it on my wrist. I did it in Spanish so I remember to pray for Guatemala, expecially Antigua, and it remindeds me of the 11 reasons to pray, expecially for untiy in a church family.

Acts 2 : 44-45

Acts 2:44-45 NKJV

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

Theme - unity

"Together", is such an amazing word. While I locked up the gate last night when I was walking back I thought how it might be to live alone. To live isolated and all by myself. As a believer I don't think anyone should live alone, and isolated from everyone. Now I understand if God calls you to live a single life, but I never heard of anyone to be called to live isolated completely by themselves. I said that the word together is an amazing word, I said that, because when you do something as a team it will turn out better because of all the other ideas that are being suggested. Like Charvel said, "I can tell when only one person does the editing." I think thats something we should always keep in mind, expecially as christians. Do you think you could run an entire church, or ministry completely on your own? I think not, when you see a good ministry or church being run there are a lot of different departments, being led by many different leaders. Now I'm not saying that every ministries that have a group of people leading will be successful, but it needs to have glue that holds it together. Think of a popsicle stick house you built when you were a kid, what held it together? The glue held it together, it the same thing for a church, or ministry. Jesus Christ need to be the glue of it, if you take Christ or the glue away from the house of God, it will fall apart.

Like we talked about in our IBS class, if you took all the students, and put them on a social map we would never think about hanging out with each other, but because Christ is our glue in the relationships we have it oddly enough works out.

Application - write together on the back of my hand to remember what this IBS

Acts 2 : 43

Acts 2:43 NKJV

Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

Acts 2:43 NIV

Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.

Theme- unity

Acts 2:42 "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." I wanted to start with yesterday's verse, because I believe if teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer continues in our daily walk with the Lord as a team or family, like the apostles. God will work wonders through us, Acts 19:11 "Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,". God worked... is the most important part in the verse. Paul didn't do anything, besides staying faithful in the Lord. As a team if we stay faith to the Lord, and continue to do those four things listed in verse forty-three, I believe God will work through us.

As we were praying about broken families, I thought of unity and how it holds families together. My family didn't always have unity, and that's one of the reasons why a lot of our relationships fell apart. Like my brothers ex-girlfriend, we allowed her to overcome the unity, and friendship I had with my brother, and when she left it left our relationship in ruins. Nothing good comes out of ruins, unless God is the one rebuilding it. Trust me I know, its easy to tell apart a relationship that was built by man, and one by God. The one built by man falls apart, and there is no fruit from it. But the one's God puts together, there is much fruit, and a lot of glory go to God. And the relationship is built of unity, and nothing can separate it.

Application - take 20 minutes and pray for every person in class 8.

Acts 2 : 42

Acts 2:42 NKJV

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Theme- unity

In the couple verses before they talk on about how a few thousand people who gave their selves to the Lord, were added to the church. So I'm going to take this as if I was a teacher. So the apostles were preaching the word of God,  and in the first part of this verse it says, "they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship". Teachers shouldn't just teach one thing, but do another. Thats called being a hypocrite, and I can tell you right now Jesus Christ was no hypocrite. We are called to preach His word, and spread His testimony. So if we are hypocrites, why in the world would those we are teaching do the things we teach, like follow Christ. Philippians 2 says something like we should stick out and be a light to a preverse generation. How does someone that does the things of the world stick out, I'll tell you how only if I knew. You just simply can't do it. So the disciples stuck to what the said, and were steadfast in the word. A teacher should always constantly study the information they are teaching, so they can continue to learn.

The first part also say, "fellowship", this is very important,  because if fellowship isn't there, and disciples can't be made. We are called to disciple others, so that they can disciple other, and so on and so on. And I believe the last part ties in with this perfectly, "fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." "In prayer", so important prayer is the best thing you can do for someome, and if you do it with others, like the disciples did. It can create unity, and relationships. Which is the first step to discipling others, once you have a relationship with someone you can disciple them more effectively. The power of prayer cam create untiy, but if it's about a relationship with someone else check yourself at the door, and go into it looking at both sides. Asking God for change in your heart, because if our heart is changed then you can learn to do the hard things through Christ.

Application - take fifteen minutes to pray and talk with God to changed my heart, and make me do those hard thjngs

1 corinthians 9 : 19

I Corinthians 9:19 NKJV

For though I am free from all men,  I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;

Theme - servant

I believe that when Paul wrote this he didn't really mean to a servant to like he was a servant to Christ. But a serbamt that brings food and water to his master when asked for it, so Paul brought them the gospel which is the blood of Christ representing the drink, and the flesh representing the bread at the Passover. I Corinthians 9:23 "Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you." Paul only did this for the sake of the gospel,  for the sake of Christ's testimony. And in 1 corinthians 9:20-22, talks about adapting to the different people he word preach the gospel to. Like in our culture, and perspective classes, we talked about things that mean different where we are going then we know them as in the States. Also, how you would talk to someone that has heard the word would be different then talking to someone that hasn't. So as a servant we should do anything we can for the sake of the gospel being spread, so that we may take part in the reward God gives us fpr doing so with those we spread it to.

So I see it as if God tells me to reach out to someone I will do whatever I have to, to give them the gospel. But make sure God is in the work, so I don't go into somethimg God isn't in, because that can be really bad and terrifying when Christ isn't in what your doing. So lets say you are trying to lift 2000 pounds, and you say to the Lord Almighty, "I got this, you just stand over there, and watch hpw it's done." Know that that when you try lifting that on your own with only your power, you will fail. This is the same thing if you try doing something for the Lord without Him wanting you to do so.

Applications - give 30 minutes to the Lord in pray

Luke 17 : 10

Luke 17:10 NKJV

So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”

Theme - servant

‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ we don't deserve anything, we aren't worth anything when we live for anything other then God. We simple do what we have to do to get by in this world, so we can go home to a house filled with our family. We think we are good people, so we think that we deserve something, but the bible says something like this, its not by works but by faith and faith alone. We can't do good and just think we deserve heaven. We do good works, because of what Christ did for us, and so that all the glory that is recieved from doing those works is given to Christ.

Philippians 2:14-16, "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain." This is being a true servant of God, we don't complain or dispute,  because we think we deserve to do better a service then what has been given to you. But through these services we stick out, in a perverse generation, as of a lighthouse stick outs to ships passing by. And holding on to the word of truth through all of this so when the enemy attacks, we may fend them off with the truth. So that we may rejoice in the name of Christ, and that our labor or services do not go in vain.

Application - write this verse and put in my Bible as book marker, so I may see it every day.

Luke 17 : 9

Luke 17:9 NKJV

Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.

Theme - servant

I say choose your master carefully. God should be are ultimate Master, but for me I know there are sometimes a lot of masters in my life at a time and if not righ now I can think back there was. And from personal experience, choosing God as a Master is a lot more rewardjng in all aspects of life. I say choose your master carefully, because even though it might not seem bad it could eventually become a bigger factor of your life that God, and that is the last thing you want to do. God doesn't like to share his glory anyway.

So when I say master it really means mentor,or a leader in your life. Like a role model you look up to. Because you must check your reasons to give that position to someone in your life, because only a believer that live after God's own hear should take that role. For me my mentor that I had at home was a guy a little younger named Ben. And whenever he had a problem he'd first give it to the Lord, then seek guience from fellow believers. I bring up Ben, because all of his decision consist of being a man after God's own heart. Lifting everything to Christ first, so he puts God firat givung Him the glory. Amd for that Gld blesses Him, in another way He thanks Ben for his faithfulness in Christ. And in verse 5 the apostles ask Christ ti make their faith stronger. This is exactly what Ben does go to his Father in heaven, so that he may have faith in Christ.

Application - write down a list of things I have to take off the platform, and leave God alone on the platform of my life

Luke 17 : 8

Luke 17:8 NKJV

But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’?

Theme - servant

So in yesterday's verse you see God's response, and what He would do to for His workers or servants. But here you see man's response to his servants. For man, its all about me how can I be served?, how can I feel better?, and how will I be most comfortable? Its always self centered when it comes to man. But look at it as the servants view, he is just doing his job, and wants to make his master proud. So doing what his master wishes is what the servant wants to do. We are called to be bondservants for Christ, bondservants choose there master. So when we accept Christ into our heart we are asking him to allow us to be bondservants for Him. So when Christ asks us to do something we shouldn't second guess Him, because all we are supposed to do is make our Master happy.

John 13:16-17 "Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." We are not better than Christ, so we should ever question our Master. Being a bondservant is a big decisions, and the Master is supposed to take care of His servants, and God promises us this in John 13:17, "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." He say He will bless us as long as we know our position as a servant and under thay we aren't better then Christ. A bondservant only chooses to be a bondservant when he know verse 16. You know that you as a servant of God, aren't and never will be better than Christ.

Something that Pastor Art said hit me, and convicted me. When we serve we always look for a reward, we should never look for that reward, because we are not in the position to deserve a reward. But, when we serve the Lord whole heartedly, He says when we serve whole heartedly, we deserve eternal life.

Application - memorize this verse so that when I think my idea is better then Christ, I can remember this and know Christ is a whole lot smarter than me. And I just don't think about this as much as I should, and even though it seems so obvious I feel like a lot of us over look this fact way to much.

Luke 17 : 7

Luke 17:7 NKJV

And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?

Theme - servant

Luke 17:5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith"
We should want God to increase our faith and this is convicting. God is a master willing to serve, and we should follow His example. Even though the servant is just doing his job, like when we just serve, and do what God tells us to do. But when we do listen to what He says, and we as servants do our job, He rewards us, by blessing us. Say your a boss of a huge  company and your at the top with all these people warking for you, and one day you just walk through and to see who is really working. So you see some people doing an ok job, some not doing anything, and then only a couple with some of the worst jobs working harder then ever to the best they can. What are you going to do? Well in John 13 Jesus prepared Himself and got on His knees to wash His disciples feet. Jesus prepared Himself I think that something important to remember, He prepared Himself so that He could do an amazing job. Then He tells us to do the same, I'm not saying to go around and wash people's feet. But to humble ourselves to serve everyone with the best we got. So to go back to the question I asked earlier, what are you going to do to the low workers that are trying thier hardest to do a good job? Now I know that if I was in a position like this I'd probably only think, he is a good worker. So I only pray that God would have me do differently. Like God would rewarded that faithful servant for doing his best to do a good job.

So I take three things from this as a person that will have responsibility over some people in the future, to do more than just think good of someone, but respect them. Maybe with a reward or a simple thing as saying good job, but what I want and pray I can do is build a relationship with a person that will be listening to me, and shine the light of God in their heart. Secondly, as a servant do the best I can at everything I'm doing to serve someone else, and give all the glory to God and keep nothing for myself. Lastly, wherever God leads me I pray that I will be obedient to what He has to say. So that if he leads me where I don't understand, I will just serve, and do the best I can to do what God has me to do.

John 14 : 15-16

John 14:15-16 NKJV

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever

Theme- obedience

So this is a good one, and a tough one, and really convicting. Starting out with the first four words, “If you love Me..", wow thats crazy. I love the lord with all my heart, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5), but thats rough because I'm still a sinner and make a lot of mistakes. And this say if we love God we should obey everything He commands, and I don't always do that. So do I really love God if I don't always obey His commands? "Yes", because we all sin and even those who were anointed by God still sinned like David and king Saul. He asked us for perfection, so His son gave it to Him. No matter what we do we will never be perfect, but because of thr blood of Christ we are seen as perfect in the eyes of God.

And in verse 16 He says, "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever...". He tells us that He will give us a Helper, He will give us the Holy Spirit, and it will abide in us forever. How amazing is that not only will He shed His own Son's blood for us, so that we are seen as perfect. But also give us a helper to face the challenges that we will face, and also help us strive to keep all of His commands.

Application - when God tells me to love someone that I believe is hard to love, just be obedient

Acts 5 : 29

Acts 5:29 NKJV

But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.

Theme - obedience

This is the verse that convicts me the most. Why listen to man that are sinful men when you have a direct connection with the one who created all things by talking, and can give you advice that will help you win life. This is convicting to me because whe. I was in school all I wanted was to be accepted and make people happy, so I would listen to what they had to say and would adjust my life. I'd do whatever they would do and what they said, because is was so called "cool". Why? Because I was a sinner that lives in a world that being an outsider isn't acceptable.

But then when I became a sinner that loves the Lord God Almighty, and learned that He wants the outsiders to make a huge impact on people (the cool people). He doesn't care what we've done and He doesn't want us to change because that what society is telling us we have to do, but change because of what God tells us in His word. So I learned that listening to what other sinnersthat live in the world have say about what I should do is no where even close to how good what God has to tell me. He gives me words of that will only lead to life and prosperity, when people that live in the world give me nothing but things that will lead me to destruction.

Application - pray for the outsiders in schools and at work that feel that they are the only christian in the world, that they just get encourage by the Spirit.

Romens 6: 16

Romans 6:16 NKJV

Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

Romans 6:16 NIV

Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Theme - obedience

I take this as a warning. Be careful of what you say to someone or what you promise or what you barrow, because it could lead to destruction. I think of God when I see this, because He made promises and was certain that He could keep them all. God doesn't regret any promise He made! I've made decisions the past that only leaded to destruction, and made me a slave to addictions. I can also think to when I made a decision that lead to righteousness. The difference between the two decisions was the purpose, and the reason behind make that decision.

For example I smoked weed, stole anything, and watched porn. Why, because others did and I wanted to please everyone. Hint- not possible. The only thing that these things led me too was fake friends, emptiness, wanting more, gaps in my life, and nothing. Yes nothing aftwr doing all these things I didn't have what everyone thrives for in life to be accepted. My so called "friends" didn't care about my problems, and only wanted me around because of what I could give them.

On the other hamd when I made the decision to give these addiction to christ, I felt accepted. The nights I gave up these addictions were nights full of joy and freedom. Like the night a quite smoking weed which was 2/17/13, a day over two years ago. I ran from the hotel I was staying in to the concert my youth pastor John Reilly was leading, yelling and dancing because I was free. I made the decision that freed me from slavery and brought me into righteousness.

Application - read this verse everyday to remind what God did for me

Ephesians 6 : 1 and collosians 3 : 20

Ephesians 6:1 NKJV

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Colossians 3:20 NKJV

Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

Theme - obedience

This was always a verse my parents would refer to when I was disobedient, so heard this a God amount of times as a kid. Jesus tells us to obey his every command and right them on the tablet of our hearts in proverbs 3, God is also our father in heaven. I was a very lucky child to have both parents,  and they both love the Lord with all their hearts. But I love to see these few words in ephesians 6:1, ".. obey your parents in the Lord.." if your parents aren't glorifying God in what they do, listen to go "obey your parents in the Lord" . God doesn't want you to obey Him, because ultimately are goal in life is to do what we can on earth to please God, and then gain life and be with our heavenly father.

I love in Colossians 3:22 it says, "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.". We are bondservants of Christ we obey Him before anything else. A bondservant is a person that loves his master so much let he dedicates his life to his master until death. Jesus Christ is our Master and we shall dedicate our life to Him until death when we gain His permission to join Him in heaven. A bondservant obeys everything his master says, so when Jesus tells us to do something, we do it. Unlike our earthly parents God is perfect and knows all, so we obey Him before anyone.

Obedience was usaully really hard for me when I was in school. Because I would be hear something from people at school and they would contradict everything my parent said, but I'm was in a dangerous profession, I was a people pleaser. The job a lot of people said was impossible to do forever, but I pulled it off, so I thought. Until I started to lying to my parents, and putting my "so called friends" above them. Is when being a people pleaser got just a little bit harder. Then when I just out right stopped obeying my parents, is when my job in the people pleasing business was over. But I tried to please all my "so called friends" and my church friends by putting on different masks depending on who I was with. Not until Jesus wake me up to reality is when I relized, I can't do this anymore,  and dropped everything at His feet.

Applications - aks God for guidance so when I start disobeying Him, he will set me straight.

Hebrews 13 : 17

Hebrews 13:17 NKJV

Theme- Obedience

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

The first I think of when I read this verse are all thise stupid rules that don't make any sense. These rules are important ones I learned after going through a lot of frustration, when I started working for my dad's business. I grew up by doing anything safe or not, so that's how I started working. But did I quickly learn after being yelled at a lot by my dad and uncles, that being reckless outside of work is different then here at work because if I got here we could be sewed or they will have to pay workman's comp. So I learned that listening to those little stupid rules may even say your life and not give you many earaches from getting yelled at.

In a way I feel that this can apply with our relationship with God, it can just about sum up all the bad decision I made. Like if you heard me talk qbout my past, and the bad decisions I've made y'all can pretty much just figure it out. Whenever did one of those things God would let me know that He's watching, and I'd make up so stupid excuse why it's ok to do whatever I was doing. Like, "ohh its ok he's doing it, so why can't I", or "they won't even notice it's gone, so whats the big deal", or "But it will make them happy". Those are just some of the stupid things i would say to God.

So what ultimately get out of this is that God is only whatching over us, like any good father would. He only wants what is best for us, and being all knowing, I think it makes sense to listen. And this verse says, to submissive to the one that rules over you, and God rules over all things in heaven and earth. So we shall submit our entire beings to live for Him and Him alone.

Application - ask God to help me to submit everything to Him

Philippians 4 : 11

Philippians 4:11 NKJV

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

This is it, the answer to having faith in Christ. In the next few verse Paul tells us the answer in knowing how to be content in any situation you are in. Take it from Paul he has been through the worst times and best times you can imagine. He knew how to be content with being locked up beaten and mutilized, being hungry, being filled, and being in the presence of God. Through everything he went through, he stayed content through all the situation that he went through. I can't stay content when one thing doesn't go my way, I may not show it, but I complain with whatever I have to deal with in my head . Paul tells us in verse 13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Such a well known verse, but I never thought of it as the answer to becoming content in whatever situation I'm put into.

Sometimes when I do these studies I wish I knew this back in the days that I fell away from God because then I would have relized I was an idiot. I remember saying, " nah I'm not one of those religious people.", "I hate going to church, but my parents make me". I said all these things before, I think back to those days and just saying, "Lord I'm sorry I was so blind." I'm still so sorry that I did all those things, but God cleaned that slate and gave it back to me and it was clean. And said, I don't remember a thing." Now God has blessed me to share my testimony with so many people and bless them and be blessed because I was able to share what He did through me.

Application - memorize this verse

Luke 3 : 14

Luke 3:14 NKJV

Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

Theme - contentment

When I read the context of this verse I was even more confused, thenwhen I just looked at the verse alone. Then I thought what it means to be baptized and I see that when you get baptized you become of servant of Christ. And when a servant of Christ gets any kind of authority, he doesn't take advantage of his authority, so that he may increase his wages. Now some leaders do this but thier heart isn't truly after God, if they only "follow" him for the money.

I also look at the last part of this verse, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.” and see that we are no better then the person next to us. Like say if your at work, a good boss isn't someone that just sits there and tells you what to do because he can. But he either shows you how to do it and helps you do it or does it because he doesn't need someone to do it. He leads by example, he does things because they need to be done, not tell others because he can, but he shows humility and compassion. 

We must be more like Christ, He had authority over the heavens and earth and still got on His knees so that he was able to was His disciples feet. The only human to have that kind of power over everything and, wash feet. I know for a fact if I had that power, washing some else's feet would be the last thing I would be doing. So for me I just want to walk into ever room thinking that everyone in there is way more important than me. Serve with humility and if I'm ever given power or authority over anyone, I want to be able to say God is happy with how I was a leader. And say that I served with humility,  compassion, and love.

Application - pray that God will break me and tell me that He is willing to rebuild me.

Hebrews 13 : 5

Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

Let  your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Theme - contentment

That's cool He will never leave us. I love and hate that society is that exact opposite of how God works. When you don't meet the needs for a job,  well you don't get it. When you don't have the nice car, the cool clothes, or the cool house, well your simple not important. GOD though thinks of you as a lost soul in the dark that just needs to be shown the light. He thinks of you as important as everyone else, not better and not worse. In the bible it refers to us as sheep and Jesus as our Shepard, it says something like, that he will leave the entire herd of sheep to go find the one that is lost and bring it home and heal it back to health. We all have been that lost sheep at least once in our life. God doesn't care about what we have or what we look like, but the only thing he cares about is what our heart looks like and how we act. So if God doesn't care about what we have or what we look like, we shouldn't care about what others have or what they look like. Just love them and show compassion because everyone is lost at least one time of their life.

Also I see this as such an encouragement, He will never leave you or forsake you. That just sounds so beautifu, I feel like it is something we all know, but easily forget. We act as if we never heard this verse, we do whatever we want whenever we want. And like what pastor Don said in class, "We would make sure everything is clean in all aspects of your life if Billy Graham was coming over, and put out books that he would approve of." But we don't do this when Christ is always there watching us and living within us. We act as if we don't care what the King of kings and Lord of lords thinks about how we live. But we care about a name, that God used greatly and used to bring a lot of people to Him. What about the God that made Billy Graham, He knew how to work with Billy Graham, God knew everything about him. Yet we care if Billy Graham sees that we are a mess, but we couldn't care what God sees.

Application - showing love and compassion to someone that is lost.

1 Timothy 6 : 6-8

I Timothy 6:6-8 NKJV

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

Theme- contentment

When I think of the word content I think be happy with what you have already or what has been given to you. I believe that this is true when it comes to becoming a disciple because, a disciple will follow Christ wherever He goes. Not Christ follow me wherever I go. And so if Christ tells you to go or do something do it, why? One He knows best, He has a plan and we can at the least is be a part of it. And that is the meaning of being disciples, Jesus told His disciples, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” and God told Abram, "And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”. So as follower of Christ it's our job to go wherever and do whatever He desires of us.

I can think of a lot of opportunities that I missed out on because, I didn't listen to Him. It truly is a missed opportunity because, when you do listen to Him something magical happens every time even if you don't know it. I remember one time I listen to God and, He whispered in my ear to sign up for a missions trip that was already book but, I was the first person on ths waiting list. So I waited two frustrating weeks until God let me I was going. My brother was playing football with someone that was on the trip and talked him awkwardly and, the kid broke his arm, so God allowed me to go. That is why I'm here in Guatemala because that missions trip was to El Salvador and is where I fell in love with kids and potter's field ministries.

The hard thing after that was having to wait till I graduated high school to come here. I had to be content with what God had for me while I was still in high school, even though I didn't make the best decision. I now have a better understanding on why God need me at home for that period of time. He tought me be content with what I have and He will bless you.

Application - when i don't now why He is doing what He is, pray!

Colossians 1 : 11

Colossians 1:11 NIV

being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,

Colossians 1:11 NKJV

strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

Theme - perseverance

We will be strengthened with His might and, sometimes that isn't enough for me. I knew this since I've been a kid but, that didn't stop me from shutting people out of the group or talking behind someones back. And going back to yesterday's verse Luke 21:19 NIV "Stand firm, and you will win life." That hit my heart hard, I've shut out so many people, when I should habe been letting them in and lifting them up. But instead I did the opposite. That convicted me a lot when I put these verses together, God is willing to strengthen you when you are in the time of need, so let Him. And I'm still not perfect at letting people in and I never will be but, I can ask that God will put in those situations more so I can get better at. And that will allow me to become more like Him.

"For all patients and longsuffering with joy," that hit me hard too. I've been good with being "patients" I thought but, then I did my virtue paper on it and learned that longsuffering was patients. It's the patience that you aren't willing to do or don't care for waiting for something. But it's when you suffer and have to be patient, that was eye opening. Doing the Ignite program was something I always wanted to do and, I'm so happy I am. But I am that person that wants to be there for everyone and make sure the are ok. I wanted to there for everyone when they needed an ear to talk to and, when they need advice I'd be there. But God stipped that from me and i thought it would be a lot harder then it is. Don't get me wrong it's still hard but, with God's hand on those people back at home and here with me as I learn all this new stuff, I can do it with Joy in my heart.

"giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light." This is verse 12 and to me its just are great encouragement to be that much more faithful in the Lord.

Application- pray that God puts me in the situation to let people in the group and not talk behind their back, and pray for those back at home, that I used to pour into and ask God to have them replace me with Him.

Revelation 1 : 9

Revelation 1:9 NKJV

I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

I believe John is just putting himself at the same level as us. Saying, I'm just like you. For me I see him explain no matter what bad things happen to you when you stand firm for His glorious name because, He is coming back and rule over all the earth and you will win life. John talks refers to his experience on the island named Patmos. There he was burned with hot oil because, he stood firm for Christ's testimony. I don't know if I would be able to do that but, then I think back to what Christ did for us and, I'd hope I'd be able to stand firm. Now the bible does say something like, that we will be persicuted for living a life for the Lord. Now I'm not saying you will be killed for it but, what I think of the most is that we will go through verbal abuse from others sometimes those that are close to us.

Before I came here and was in public school some people would ask me if I was a die hard christian or did I actually believe that stuff. Honestly I said, "NO". I do regret it since when I quit smoking and other stupid stuff, I started to say, "YES" and telling them on top of that I'm going to Guatemala to share the word of the Lord with kids. And the response I got was absolutely mind blowing, nothing I ever expected, some would say, "wow thats awesome". I even got to share the word with some people and one even got saved I believe and if not a seed was planted. Thats good enough for me because, I know what God can do and I believe he will "win life" one day. It's amazing what God does when you stand for His name.

But I've had that verbal abuse as well and probably from one of the people I never would have guessed, one of my friends that I grew up with. That was really hurt, he said, "don't waste your money" and he said the same thing when I came in august for a week. That stung but, I'm glad to say that I stood firm and right before I came down I got an, I'm proud that your doing this.

My application - I stood firm like John so I want to pray for those who don't.

Luke 21 : 19

Luke 21:19
NKJV
By your patience possess your souls.

NIV
Stand firm, and you will win life.

NASV
By your endurance you will gain your lives.

Theme - perseverance

I took all these different versions because I was confused on what the heck this verse mean. But I think once I read the NIV version everything click and the other versions ran together. "Stand firm, and you will win life." How perfect is that, its all we must do and to will win life. And when I first thought about I figured it ment that He will keep me safe in everything I do. But then I heard one of my leaders named Scott talk about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and he said something like they will were ok with dying because no matter what they would have been remembered and God's name would be rejoiced. So then it made sense, no matter what happens to me if I stand up for His name then I will win life with Him. Even if that means my life ends, I still will win life. He either saves my life from the situation I'm in and I will continue to rejoice and lift up his name here on earth, or I die and rejoice and lift up His name in heaven beside Him.

Also in our bible study we were going over Phillipians and, this is a letter from Paul while he was in jail. And in it says something like, even those that are preaching the word to put down my name, the word it being preached and thats all that matters. So Paul didn't care that his name was being put down even though he didn't do anything but, all that mattered to him was that Jesus' name and story was being spread.

Application- If I'm ever scared of what might happen I will stand firm. And pray about having that confidence in the Lord.

Luke 8 : 11-15

Luke 8:11-15 NKJV

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.  Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.  But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

Theme- perseverance

When I first looked at these verses I thought how in the world does this tie in with perseverance but, then I thought back to my my life and figured it out. So this will be me connecting this parable to my life.

So the seed that fell on the rocks reminds me of every single missions trip I've been on. For me, when I went on a missions trip I would be so excited to hear the lord speak to me and I would except it with an open heart as a broken person that needed to be fixed. But when I got home it would just wear off over time, and i go back into my old routine of smoking weed and just not caring about growing my relationship with God.

With the seed that fell among the thorns, I believe this to be most of what my life was. Mission trips come only once in a while but, church was two sometimes three days a week, and I smoke every single weekend. So I recieved the word of God but, I would never get anything from it because I would just keep falling back into "cares, riches, and pleasures of life".

Finally I'll say something good, the seeds that fell upon the good soil. This started happening in my life, when God put potter's field ministries on my heart and, to do the ignite program I'm involved in right now. And ever since I was telling everyone I knew before I even sent my application in that I will be going to Guatemala. Everything started to change for the better. So I started to hear "the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience." I believe me being here is only proof of that.

My application- when I see someone that is looking down I go to them and encourage them to stick in there.

I Peter 1 : 22 NKJV

I Peter 1:22 NKJV

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

Theme-love

To end this theme week with this verse I think it's absolutely perfect. It really does a good job putting together all the aspects of love. First, " Since you have purified your souls" love has to come through Christ or it is dead. Secondly, "obey the truth" you have to stay in the truth which is the word of God to under stand what love truly is. Lastly, " love one another fervently with a pure heart"  this is the fulfillment of the law.

I believe that purifying your heart is thd first step to love. Love is a verb and that means works must be done in order for you to love. And the bible says something like good works are dead without Christ being the reason for you to be doing that work. So without God in your heart all works to show love are dead and, if he isn't the reason for you to show love then it is also dead. But if Christ is the reason for you to love then you will be blessed for the glory of God.

Obeying the truth is where you learn to love. Without the word you would know nothing about true love because,  it show what Christ did for you and shat the Father was willing to give for you and I. They represented true love, God the Father was willing to give up His Son for a bunch of sinners, imperfect people and me. Jesus Christ was obedient and willing to be wrongly accused, beaten and tortured, then hung on a cross to die for us. That is true love and without obeying the truth we would never know what true loved looked like.

"Love one another fervently with a pure heart", this is what we strive to do, fullfill the greastest commandment. When Jesus Christ died on that cross for us He fullfilled the law and gave us a command that we cannot fullfill and that is to love your neighbor as yourself. I know i will never be able to fullfill this low God has given us but I want to strive to do so for the rest of my days. Though I will never fullfill it and pay God back for what he did for me but, the least I can do is dedicate the rest of my life towards achieving that. This is my application.

Romans 13 : 10 NKJV

Romans 13:10 NKJV

Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

In the last part of verse nine it quotes "love your neighbor as yourself". And then in verse ten it says, "Love does no harm to a neighbor.." So you would never bring harm to yourself on purpose, so it makes sense not to bring harm onto others. Right? I'm not just talking about physical harm but, emotional harm as well. Like the bible says something like, if someone strikes you on the cheek turn them the other one and offer it to them. But I believe emotional harm is the one that hits me hard. I could be saying something out of fun but it could hit the heart of someone else. So what I get from this is that be careful of what you do for it may hurt someone else.

In the last part of this verse it says, "therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.". So Jesus is the only one to be able to fullfill this law because He was the perfect example of what true loved look like. The closest thing you can look at that looks like true love is, the love a mother shows her child. Why, because no matter what that child does the mother will never stop having unconditional love. I know that only through God working within me I will accomplish the fulfillment of the law. And I'll only get a better understanding of what true love is like as life goes on.
          -I heard that you will get a different look at what true love looks like when you get married and, when you have kids. Because when you get married you will see how selfish you really are. And when you have kids you learn how God sees us as his kids. But when we go through these changes in life I believe that we will only get a better understanding of what true love or agape love really looks like.

Applications- memorize this verse.

I Jonh 4 : 10 NKJV

Theme - love

"In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitation for our sins."
1 John 4:10

From reading the verses before and after you'll see that God is love and if you do not know love you do not know God. God calls us to be a loving servant, and in verse 8 it says, "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." God gave us love so why dont we love others. We are the reason God had to put His Son on the cross to die for us, and yet he loved us and still does.

What this single verse tells me is that, no matter what we do to show how we love God, it will repay what God did for us. Would you ever give up your son to help the sheep get back to the Shepard? My answer is no and I believe if your honest with yourself, yours will be the same. In this verse it says, "...not that we loved God, but that He loved us..." it's not about how we love or what we do to love but, its all how He loves and what He has done.

We must love like God loved, so if someone does me wrong in the future I won't hold them a countable because, it's not about putting yourself in an authoritative position over them and judge them on what they've done. But to represent Christ in the right way, and that is to love others like He loves us and in that way we will know Christ even more. Applications, do not say those things that might get under peoples skin and I hope all of you can help me with that.

II Corinthians 2 : 4 NKJV

II Corinthians 2:4 NKJV

Theme love

"For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you."

Love takes discipline that come from God Himself, others, and yourself. God might talk to me directly and confront me with what I'm doing, saying, or thinking wrongly about or to someone else. A friend that holds me a countable because of a goal are trying to accomplish. They can tell you what your doing wrong because they want you to accomplish that goal. Also you need to discipline yourself, and not go easy on yourself. So dont take the easy way out and stick to the path you originally shot for in the beginning.

Family, I love family and now y'all are apart my family and my brothers kept me a countable for things I promised, not just because they were usually gonna get something out of it but they also love me and want to me succeed. They also invested a lot of time and energy into helping me, so if I succeed they succeed as well.

When we complete that goal is pleases all who kept you in line God, your friend, and yourself. Like when I smoked weed I knew God was trying to keep me in line by showing He was there watching, I didn't really have a friend telling me stop because they were the ones doing it with me and the others (christian friends) didn't know. And i just kept telling myself I'll stop when I absolutely need to. So God was loving me even though I was doing something wrong, my real friends couldn't because I kept it a secret from them, and I just didn't care to recognize what I was doing was wrong. So my application for this verse is, if I have a with letting something go or quiting something I'll tell y'all about it.

1 corinthians 13 : 4-8

1 corinthians 13: 4-8

Theme- love

(4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.)

In verse four, describes what agape love is, like a mother loves her child no matter what happens, what decisions that person make, they will always find love.

In verses five and six it show that love is nothing like eros love, which is loving someone or something only because it benefits you. Eros love is not true love it's fake, so only one person benefits and love will always benefits two. The one who truly loves and the one who loves all, Jesus Christ.

Verse seven tell us what true love is. It is truth it will go through everything but in the end it will still be love.

Verse eight says that "love never fails". When there is nothing else to lean on love will always stand strong.

I know that God loves me, because love never fails. Deuteronomy 6:5, "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength." But his people are made in His image. So how can we love Him without loving His people? A simple and only answer is, "we can't".

What I want to do to help me with loving others, which helped me in the pass is to memorize this passage. So when I'm in a situation when it gets hard to love people, I will be able to think back to this passage know how to love and know what it is. And send my brother that I learned what true love is, and im sorry for not truly loving him.