For my God-Time, I’ve been reading through a book called Jesus, the One and Only, by Beth Moore. We’re going passage by passage through the book of Luke. I recently read a story about a woman, Anna, whose life really inspires me!
Right after Jesus was born, his parents took him to the temple to present him to God. (This kind of reminds me of Raffiki in the Lion King lifting little Simba to the clouds!) While Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus are in the temple, this woman, Anna, comes up to them.
“There was also a prophetess, Anna…she was very old…and was a widow…she never left the temple but worshiped day and night, fasting and praying.” Luke 2:36,37
I’m really impressed by this lady! The Bible said she was 84. She spent her life serving and worshipping God. Because she knew the Bible so well, and she had the Holy Spirit’s discernment, she was able to recognize the squirrely little infant in the poor couple’s arms as Jesus, Son of God!
“Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” Luke 2:38
Anna’s life encourages me to spend more time with God in prayer. I want to be able to recognize what God is doing in my life and where He’s moving, just like she did. I want to be ready to meet Jesus whenever he shows up!
*How can you carve out more time to spend in prayer? What will you give up to make that happen?
*Ask God to show you where He is working in your life, so you’ll be able to partner with Him.
...a place for ladies to connect and be encouraged.
Guest Devotional-- Sandy Mayer
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
We are in our rainy season and everything seems to be growing faster: bushes, trees, plants and… WEEDS! One day, I was sitting on my stool pulling weeds in the garden area and I thought how weeds are a lot like the sin in our lives. You know, they will take over, choking out other plants and causing the area to look bad. The same thing happens to us, spiritually, when we don’t confess our sins. We become paralyzed and burdened by the sin and it seems to take over our being.
Spraying is one way to get rid of weeds, although it sometimes kills the plants around the weeds. Spraying is like telling everyone around us about our sin but not confessing to God. When I’m gardening, I prefer to simply pull the weeds gently, being careful to remove the roots, which takes more time and effort. When God is able to pull out the root of our sin, hopefully we won’t repeat it. 1 John 1:10 says that God wants us to confess our sins because he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Roots and all.
Admitting and confessing our sins can take time and courage. God will sometimes send circumstances our way in order to help us see how we have hurt Him and/or someone else. These circumstances are like the rain which comes and softens the ground around the weeds and makes it easier to remove the roots. God is so gentle with us and He knows who we are and what we have gone through. He knows our hearts.
After the weeding is finished, it is so nice to look around and clearly see the plants. This is an AHA… moment. It is time to rest. Just like after confessing our sins, the burden is gone, and we experience peace and rest.
What has God shown you in his Word? Are there any weeds in your Garden? Do you trust Him to help you?
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
We are in our rainy season and everything seems to be growing faster: bushes, trees, plants and… WEEDS! One day, I was sitting on my stool pulling weeds in the garden area and I thought how weeds are a lot like the sin in our lives. You know, they will take over, choking out other plants and causing the area to look bad. The same thing happens to us, spiritually, when we don’t confess our sins. We become paralyzed and burdened by the sin and it seems to take over our being.
Spraying is one way to get rid of weeds, although it sometimes kills the plants around the weeds. Spraying is like telling everyone around us about our sin but not confessing to God. When I’m gardening, I prefer to simply pull the weeds gently, being careful to remove the roots, which takes more time and effort. When God is able to pull out the root of our sin, hopefully we won’t repeat it. 1 John 1:10 says that God wants us to confess our sins because he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Roots and all.
Admitting and confessing our sins can take time and courage. God will sometimes send circumstances our way in order to help us see how we have hurt Him and/or someone else. These circumstances are like the rain which comes and softens the ground around the weeds and makes it easier to remove the roots. God is so gentle with us and He knows who we are and what we have gone through. He knows our hearts.
After the weeding is finished, it is so nice to look around and clearly see the plants. This is an AHA… moment. It is time to rest. Just like after confessing our sins, the burden is gone, and we experience peace and rest.
What has God shown you in his Word? Are there any weeds in your Garden? Do you trust Him to help you?
Guest Devotional- April McCullohs
Have you ever been on a mission trip? If not, you probably know someone who has. You’ve either been part of the stories or you’ve heard the stories:
“We slept in a hut for 5 nights and I got 100 bug bites!”
“We had to take this bus for 6 hours to the next town and there were chickens, roosters and pigs on the bus with us!”
“I never realized how much I depended on AC till I didn’t have it!”
My missions’ experiences, from a one day trip to Belle Glade, to a 5 week mission in the Yucatan, have all required some measure of sacrifice. But here’s the thing—I, and everyone on my team, expected to sacrifice! We knew we weren’t going on a cruise, so we didn’t complain when our clothes got dirty, when we had to try new foods and when the heat was unbearable. Because we had voluntarily signed up for the mission, we had counted the cost and expected to be uncomfortable. The focus of our minds and our efforts was the people we were serving. It’s what I call a “mission mentality.” A mission mentality enables you to shift your focus away from your discomfort toward the joy of selflessly serving others.
Unfortunately, once the mission trip is over most Christians, including myself, revert back to a self-serving mentality. It’s almost like we have to get our passports stamped, be surrounded by another race and language, and have a cheesy t-shirt to surrender to sacrifice. Here’s the thing—as Christians, we’re never not on mission. Whether we’re living in a Mayan hut or in a comfortable middle class neighborhood, the call remains the same—to go out and make disciples for Jesus.
We have an opportunity, at Church at the Bay, to make an impact like never before with the launch at Steinbrenner. Right now would be an appropriate time to ask ourselves, Do I have a mission mentality? Does my attitude convey that I’m willing to do whatever it takes to enable more people to come to Jesus? Let’s count the cost, whether it’s the drive, the unfamiliarity, or the possible rejection by friends and then let’s take that and honor God with a gift of sacrifice.
Whether in a village in Mexico or a town called Lutz, there are thousands of souls desperately in need of the good news Jesus brings. With the launch on September 13th, we have an exciting and unique opportunity to serve, to sacrifice and to be on mission. What will your part be?
Jesus said, “And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere.”
Acts 1:8
“We slept in a hut for 5 nights and I got 100 bug bites!”
“We had to take this bus for 6 hours to the next town and there were chickens, roosters and pigs on the bus with us!”
“I never realized how much I depended on AC till I didn’t have it!”
My missions’ experiences, from a one day trip to Belle Glade, to a 5 week mission in the Yucatan, have all required some measure of sacrifice. But here’s the thing—I, and everyone on my team, expected to sacrifice! We knew we weren’t going on a cruise, so we didn’t complain when our clothes got dirty, when we had to try new foods and when the heat was unbearable. Because we had voluntarily signed up for the mission, we had counted the cost and expected to be uncomfortable. The focus of our minds and our efforts was the people we were serving. It’s what I call a “mission mentality.” A mission mentality enables you to shift your focus away from your discomfort toward the joy of selflessly serving others.
Unfortunately, once the mission trip is over most Christians, including myself, revert back to a self-serving mentality. It’s almost like we have to get our passports stamped, be surrounded by another race and language, and have a cheesy t-shirt to surrender to sacrifice. Here’s the thing—as Christians, we’re never not on mission. Whether we’re living in a Mayan hut or in a comfortable middle class neighborhood, the call remains the same—to go out and make disciples for Jesus.
We have an opportunity, at Church at the Bay, to make an impact like never before with the launch at Steinbrenner. Right now would be an appropriate time to ask ourselves, Do I have a mission mentality? Does my attitude convey that I’m willing to do whatever it takes to enable more people to come to Jesus? Let’s count the cost, whether it’s the drive, the unfamiliarity, or the possible rejection by friends and then let’s take that and honor God with a gift of sacrifice.
Whether in a village in Mexico or a town called Lutz, there are thousands of souls desperately in need of the good news Jesus brings. With the launch on September 13th, we have an exciting and unique opportunity to serve, to sacrifice and to be on mission. What will your part be?
Jesus said, “And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere.”
Acts 1:8
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