FOCUS OF THE MONTH
Starting over again with the God of another chance
SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. John 21:15 (KJV) (ESV)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Sister Angelina Byarugaba – January 28 – Class #02
Sister Cynthia Pickett – January 28 – Class #01
Sister Jirgetha Petty-Settles – January 28 – Class #05
Sister Gwendolyn Clark – February 02 – Introduction Class
Call (605) 472-5694, access code 4558-62#; Reference 28# to listen to a review of these lessons.
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Overview: (Civil Rights)
Sunday – We must ask God to give us courage to speak out against the injustices of our time.
Monday – Though we face many injustices in life that are burdensome, we must cry out to God and tell Him how we feel. He is able to turn our mood of lamentation into praise.
Tuesday – God said, “if my people which are called by my name would humble themselves and pray…” We must take our doubts and troubles to Jesus. He will intercede on our behalf and the God of justice will rip the heavens to rescue us from our enemies with His love.
Wednesday – Remember, God is as near as His Word is in our mouth and He’s working behind the scene. When in doubt, consider His wonders and begin to praise Him for the outcome.
Thursday – All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. However, God is faithful to look beyond our imperfections and assure us that we are still His children. Ponder the fact that we are not only saved but God loves us with an everlasting love.
Friday – Let’s seal the truth of God’s Word in our hearts and minds that Jesus forgave us from the cross. Therefore, we are admonished to love and forgive others who may have treated us unfairly. God will give us grace to walk with Him into beautiful places on this journey.
***The English Standard Version (ESV) stands in the classic mainstream of English Bible translations over the past half-millennium. The fountainhead of that stream was William Tyndale’s New Testament of 1526; marking its course were the King James Version of 1611 (KJV), the English Revised Version of 1885 (RV), the American Standard Version of 1901 (ASV), and the Revised Standard Version of 1952 and 1971 (RSV). In that stream, faithfulness to the text and vigorous pursuit of accuracy were combined with simplicity, beauty, and dignity of expression. Our goal has been to carry forward this legacy for a new century.
To this end each word and phrase in the ESV has been carefully weighed against the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, to ensure the fullest accuracy and clarity and to avoid under-translating or overlooking any nuance of the original text. The words and phrases themselves grow out of the Tyndale-King James legacy, and most recently out of the RSV, with the 1971 RSV text providing the starting point for our work. Archaic language has been brought to current usage and significant corrections have been made in the translation of key texts. But throughout, our goal has been to retain the depth of meaning and enduring language that have made their indelible mark on the English-speaking world and have defined the life and doctrine of the church over the last four centuries.
The ESV is an “essentially literal” translation that seeks as far as possible to capture the precise wording of the original text and the personal style of each Bible writer. It seeks to be transparent to the original text, letting the reader see as directly as possible the structure and meaning of the original. More about the ESV translation philosophy….***
Monday, January 28, 2019 – The Mood Mender – Psalm 94:2, 16-23
Focus: We face many injustices in life that are burdensome. Lament and tell God how we feel. Trust Him to turn our concerns into praise.
Scripture(s): Psalm 55:22; Psalm 27:13; Lamentations 3:18-26
Tuesday, January 29, 2019 – Rip the Heavens – Isaiah 64:1-8
Focus: Pray that our mediator, Jesus, will take our doubts and troubles to God for an answer. Believe that He will rescue us as He rips the heavens and pours out His love.
Scripture(s): Psalm 121:2-4; 2 Chronicles 7:14
Wednesday, January 30, 2019 – Algae and Diatoms – Job 37:14-24
Focus: God’s glory surrounds us and is working behind the scene. Consider His wonders and praise Him for the outcome.
Scripture(s): Psalm 24:1-3; Psalm 111:2-4; Psalm 8:1-9
Thursday, January 31, 2019 – Adopted – Galatians 4:1-7
Focus: Despite our imperfections, give God thanks for adopting us into His family. Remember, we are more than saved, we are loved.
Scripture(s): 1 John 3:1-2; Romans 8:16-17; Jeremiah 31:3
Friday, February 1, 2019 – Deeper Love – 1 Peter 4:7-11
Focus: From the cross, Jesus forgave us of our sins. Let us forgive others who have wronged us. Trust God for grace to walk with Him into beautiful places.
Scripture(s): Matthew 6:14-15; 1 John 1:9; 1 John 4:4-11
Thoughts from Sister Clovia Thompson
When Circumstances Overwhelm
Are you feeling somewhat overwhelmed? We can feel overwhelmed by our circumstances, like moving to another state, financial strain, health issues, or family crises. These trials which can drag us down emotionally, physically, and even spiritually. We can let our circumstances pull us down into the depths of despair and depression.
Overwhelm is a type of emotion that will paralyze you and make you believe that you are unable to cope with or handle your circumstances. You may feel as though you are lacking or losing control which leads to indecisions. In fact, at times being overwhelmed can result from simply having too many choices or options on hand. When you are caught in an overwhelming circumstance, remember God has a purpose for your pain, a reason for your struggle and a reward for your faithfulness. Trust Him and don’t give up! In Psalm 61:2, David says “I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
Do not let your present day circumstances or hardships overwhelm you. Do not ever forget that God has a purpose and a plan for your life. God does not change the circumstances but He can change you to meet the circumstances; that is what it means to live by faith.
“My friends, make time for God every day because He always has time for you.” — Sister Clovia