monday devooo

hey
welp,
my verse is....
1 Thessalonians 3:12 "May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for eachother and for every one else, just as ours does for you."
This verse just kinda popped out at me and i like it a lot. It's pretty much saying you should love everyone, right? well, that's kinda hard to do with some people. God gives us obstacles for a reason. there are some people that you could just do without, but God gives you the strength to be strong and to love them, even tho it is hard. so, what i'm going to do this week is find some one that i am having a hard time with, and just talk to them and hoping God will give me the strength to love them.
i hope you are having an awesome summer!
love,
Em

Tue Devo I Thess. 2:13

I Thess 2:13 -

"And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe."

There are a couple of things that caught my attention. First the word of God Always has to be heard to be effective. That is why we are doing this site. For the past couple of weeks things have become very hectic and sadly it is God's word that has been unheard as you can see with the dates of devo's missing. It is so easy to be so consumed with hearing everyone except God. Taking time for everything except hearing from God. Second, the word has to be accpeted. Just listening or reading this blog does you no good if you don't take the time to accept what God is saying and act on it. Third, It is at work in us if we believe. But if we don't hear how does it work in us? It does not. I want to challenge us all as the summer approaches to not become so consumed on our lives that we don't take the time to listen to the one who gave us our lives in Christ. Take the time to read the devotionals each day and allow them to work in you during the day. I also encourage you to come to our Kairos Devo's on Tuesdays and talk even more about the word of God.

Mike

Tue Devo I Thess. 1:5

I Thess 1:5 "because of our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction."

So often we share the gospel story and just think of it as being words we speak to another. This verse has opened my eyes that something amazing is taking place. First, the words are accompanied with great power. I have never understood how the message of Christ can be ignored by some and with others it brings them to repentance and tears. The same words but with some they experience the life changing power of those words. Second, the Holy Spirit accompanies those words. How exciting it is to know we have the Holy Spirit if we are Christians but how much greater it is to realize that when we speak the gospel of Jesus the Holy Spirit is involved with the one hearing the message. And Third, they receive the word with great conviction. A conviction that changes lives. A conviction that causes them to put their relationship with Christ above all other things. A conviction that the Holy Spirit gives them the power needed to change things in thier lives. When we share the gospel story with others always remember it is not just words being said, no it is much more.

thanks
Mike

thursday deeeeeevo...

Hello,

My verse this week was five just like everyone elses was...and it goes

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity"

I chose this one because it's easy to act stupid and not realize it's the perfect time to be a light for Christ....we need to make sure we "turn on the Jesus" all the time and not just when we think we need to impress someone....the end....see you sunday...kt

Tue Devo Colossians 4:5

Colossians 4:5

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity."

People outside the church are always alert to Christians who claim to be one thing and then act like another. Paul calls them outsiders because they are outside Christ trying to look to see if they are missing something. As you can see in the verses above and below Paul would love for them to become insiders. But with many people they will never become insiders when we act unkindly toward them. My daughter works in a Christian Book Store and almost every week she has a story about someone in the store who are rude, impatient, and unkind toward the staff working there. She thought working in a Christian store and mainly dealing with Christian people would be such a good environment. How sad that we treat each other that way. And if we treat each other that way as Christians I don't even want to imagine how we treat people outside the faith. So when you are in restraunts, stores, classrooms, sports events, etc., lets take every opportunity to be wise in the way we ack towards others. Maybe you won't be the one who leads them to Christ but the actions you display may open their hearts so that later others can lead them to Christ.

Thanks
Mike

Tue Devo Colossians 3:16

Colossians 3:16

"Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."

Coming off the weekend where we talked about 40 hours of poverty I have been thinking much about how rich we are in Christ. So when I read this verse the word richly jumped out. How rich we are to have the words of Christ. How blessed our lives are because we are instructed by His words as to how to live. I love the way the message puts it when it says, "let the Word of Christ have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives." Notice that the richness of God word dwelling in our lives is not just for us. It is to be given away as we teach and admonish one another. It dawned on me that any riches given to us by Jesus is to be passed on and never held on to. I want to thank all those who contribute to this devotional page. God's word is blessing your life and because you take the time to share it on this site it is also blessing the lives of others and making them rich as well. I praise you for your commitment to being involved in the Words of Christ. My question is what would our lives be like if we never heard the words of Jesus?


thanks
MIke

monday devo

hey
i hope every one had a great day, i know i did!
my verse is:
colossians 2:5
"For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is."
this verse is awesome because it is saying that God is always with you even thought you can't see him. That is what faith is, believing what you don't see. but, God is always with us and looking over us and he is watching us each and everyday to see how well we keep up our faith in him. So, what are you going to do to keep up your faith in him?
-Emily

monday devo

hey
i hope every one had a great day, i know i did!
my verse is:
colossians 2:5
"For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is."
this verse is awesome because it is saying that God is always with you even thought you can't see him. That is what faith is, believing what you don't see. but, God is always with us and looking over us and he is watching us each and everyday to see how well we keep up our faith in him. So, what are you going to do to keep up your faith in him?
-Emily