FOCUS OF THE MONTH
New Beginnings
SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. — 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) (NRSV)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
We do not have any birthdays this week.
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Overview: God has given us precious promises that we may participate in the divine nature. However, this doesn’t negate the fact that we are free from the troubles of this world. We are on a journey and must learn to trust God during our hard circumstances.
We must change our perspective and believe that God can use our struggles to produce maturity in our faith. Despite the troubles we face, let’s honor God by helping those in need by saying, “Yes” with love.
Some assignments may be daunting, however, God sees our heart of love and will equip us with strength to do the task. Keep in mind, God created all things and for His pleasure they are and were created. Therefore, we must often pause, honor, thank and praise the God of Life for His sustaining power.
Regardless of the obstacles and disappointments that we face in life, remember, we have the Holy Spirit to remind us of the truth of God’s love. We must continue to put our hope in Jesus and be confident that there’s power in the praise!
No matter what others say, it’s not boring to offer praises to God, saying the same phrases over. Through our journey of participating in the divine nature, let’s focus our attention on God and enjoy worshiping Him. This is why we were created!
***The Scriptures for this week’s devotionals are taken from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION (NRSV). The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (NRSV) was published in 1989 and has received the widest acclaim and broadest support from academics and church leaders of any modern English translation.
It is the only Bible translation that is as widely ecumenical:
- The ecumenical NRSV Bible Translation Committee consists of thirty men and women who are among the top scholars in America today. They come from Protestant denominations, the Roman Catholic church, and the Greek Orthodox Church. The committee also includes a Jewish scholar.
- The RSV was the only major translation in English that included both the standard Protestant canon and the books that are traditionally used by Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians (the so-called “Apocryphal” or “Deuterocanonical” books). Standing in this tradition, the NRSV is available in three ecumenical formats: a standard edition with or without the Apocrypha, a Roman Catholic Edition, which has the so-called “Apocryphal” or “Deuterocanonical” books in the Roman Catholic canonical order, and The Common Bible, which includes all books that belong to the Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox canons.
- The NRSV stands out among the many translations available today as the Bible translation that is the most widely “authorized” by the churches. It received the endorsement of thirty-three Protestant churches. It received the imprimatur of the American and Canadian Conferences of Catholic bishops. And it received the blessing of a leader of the Greek Orthodox Church. To learn more, visit New Revised Standard Version.***
Monday, January 22, 2018 – It’s in the Attitude – James 1:1-12
Focus: Each of us must learn to trust God during hard circumstances. Be mindful of our attitude and purpose to allow God to mature us in our faith.
Scriptures: Job 2:9-10; 2 Peter 1:3-8
Tuesday, January 23, 2018 – A “Yes” of Love – 1 John 3:16-24
Focus: Let’s honor God by helping the needy by saying “Yes” with love. Some cases may be daunting; however, God will equip us with strength to do the task.
Scriptures: James 2:14-26; 1 Corinthians 13:3
Wednesday, January 24, 2018 – God of Life – Psalm 104:1-12, 24-30
Focus: We must always thank and praise God for His creation. It is He that gives and sustains all life.
Scriptures: Acts 17:24-25; Revelation 4:11
Thursday, January 25, 2018 – True Hope – Romans 5:1-11
Focus: Regardless of the obstacles we face in this world that often disappoints us, we have the Holy Spirit to remind us of the truth of God’s love. Put our hope in Him.
Scriptures: Lamentations 3:18-26
Friday, January 26, 2018 – Holy, Holy, Holy – Revelation 4
Focus: It’s not boring to offer praises to God saying the same things over. Let’s focus our attention on God and enjoy the worship for which we are and were created.
Scriptures: Isaiah 6:3; Psalm 34:1-3
Thoughts from Sister Clovia Thompson –
This week my words will be silent and I will let the words of God and Dr. Martin Luther King speak on this subject:
SILENCE
God said “…a time to keep silence and a time to speak.” Ecclesiastes 3:7
Dr. King said “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”.
God said “Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” Isaiah 1:17
Dr. King said “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.”
God said “Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:9
Dr. King said “In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.”
What do you say?
- Will you join the silence of good people, or
- Will you join Dr. King and be a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness?