FOCUS OF THE MONTH
Giving Thanks
SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK
In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV) (MSG)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Sister Erma Robinson – November 07 – Class 02
Sister Rachel McCrae – November 09 – Class 01
Call (641) 715-3378, access code 2597-48#; Reference 180# to listen to a review of these lessons.
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This Week’s Overview: Prayer is our way of communicating with God. He remembers what we’ve ask Him for years and generations beyond our lifetime. We must believe that whenever and whatever His response is, it’s always measured by love. Therefore, we must wait for His perfect timing. In the meantime, God’s constant love for us should compel us to look out for the interest of others. If we know of someone who needs a second chance in life, let’s lend a helping hand today.
Our God-given assignments with certain people can sometimes irritate us; however, before we speak or do anything, we must first seek God for wisdom. Keep in mind, Christians must be gentle despite the hardships we face every day with life circumstances and people.
As we witness to others about our mortality and the hope that one day we have the promise of heaven, they too, may be inspired to believe on the Lord, Jesus Christ and have a good ending also. Of course everyone may not be as open to the truth of the gospel, therefore, we must remember, the same comfort that God comforted us with when we were lost and in distress, He wants us to comfort others. A hand of comfort is a sign of God’s great love. It can also offer them peace during their time of confusion.
***The Scriptures for this week’s lessons are taken from the THE MESSAGE (MSG). Why was The Message written? The best answer to that question comes from Eugene Peterson himself: “”While I was teaching a class on Galatians, I began to realize that the adults in my class weren’t feeling the vitality and directness that I sensed as I read and studied the New Testament in its original Greek. Writing straight from the original text, I began to attempt to bring into English the rhythms and idioms of the original language. I knew that the early readers of the New Testament were captured and engaged by these writings and I wanted my congregation to be impacted in the same way. I hoped to bring the New Testament to life for two different types of people: those who hadn’t read the Bible because it seemed too distant and irrelevant and those who had read the Bible so much that it had become ‘old hat.'”” The goal of The Message is to engage people in the reading process and help them understand what they read. This is not a study Bible, but rather “”a reading Bible.”” The verse numbers, which are not in the original documents, have been left out of the print version to facilitate easy and enjoyable reading. The original books of the Bible were not written in formal language. The Message tries to recapture the Word in the words we use today. To learn more, visit The Message.***
Monday, November 6, 2017 – Our Prayers, God’s Timing – Luke 1:5-17
Focus: God’s response to our prayers is always measured by love. We must wait for His timing.
Scriptures: Isaiah 40:31; Revelation 8:1-3
Tuesday, November 7, 2017 – Second Chances – Ruth 4:13-17
Focus: We are reminded of God’s constant love for us. His love should compel us to lend a helping hand to someone that needs a second chance today.
Scriptures: Luke 10:33-35; Galatians 6: 9-10
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 – Think Before You Speak – Psalm 141
Focus: When we become irritated about something or someone, think before we speak. Seek God for wisdom to say and do the right thing.
Scriptures: James 1:5, 19
Thursday, November 9, 2017 – A Good Ending – Revelation 22:1-5
Focus: All who believe in Jesus Christ will have a good ending. Despite the difficult times we face today as it relates to our mortality, we must share with others our hope in the promise of heaven.
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 9:17-27; Hebrews 13:13-16
Friday, November 10, 2017 – The Hand of Comfort – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Focus: Just as we have been comforted by God in our time of distress, we too, must comfort others. A hand of comfort is a sign of God’s great love and can offer peace.
Scriptures: James 5:14
Thoughts from Sister Clovia Thompson – God’s Timing is always on Time
2 Peter 3:8 tells us that one day is a thousand years and a thousand years as one day for the Lord. God moves in His timing, not ours. He’s never late, but He’s usually not early. He is often the God of the midnight hour. He sometimes waits until the last second before He gives us what we need. Before He intervenes on our behalf, He has to be sure we are not going to take matters into our own hands and do something out of His perfect timing.
We must learn to trust God’s timing. But first our self-will and our spirit of independence must be broken so that God is free to work His will in our lives and circumstances. If you are waiting for something, put down your time table, trust God and believe that while we are waiting for our breakthrough He is doing a good work in us for His purpose. God says in Isaiah 60:22, when the time is right, I, the Lord will make it happen