FOCUS OF THE MONTH
In Everything Give Thanks To God
SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; — Ephesians 5:20 (KJV)
20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, — Ephesians 5:20 (ESV)
Wednesday Corporate Fasting Scripture – Isaiah 58 (ESV); Isaiah 58 (KJV)
Friday End of Week Scripture – Ephesians 3:20-21 (KJV)
!!!! HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!
Sister Nancy Johnson-Evans – November 20 – Class #04
Sister Laura Allen – November 22 – Class #03
Call (605) 472-5694, access code 4558-62#; Reference 71# to listen to a review of these lessons.
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Overview:
Sunday – Jesus freed us from the pervasive sin in our lives, when He chose to die on the cross. We must purpose not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Instead, ask God for strength to avoid it.
Monday – Many people in the world today are treated as strangers. God is not pleased with those who are vulnerable to bias and are abused as a result of those biases. Christians must be respectful and remind everyone of God’s love.
Tuesday – If we expect God to help us in our endeavors to win souls, we must begin to express our true, deep desires to Him. We can avoid being anxious by taking our burdens to Jesus.
Wednesday – Whether we’re young or elderly, we must be rooted in a relationship with Christ if we expect to bear much fruit for the Kingdom. We can trust Him to be with us always until the end.
Thursday – In our quest to comfort others, remember, we must be yoked to Jesus. We will suffer with Him as He gives us heavy beautiful assignments to comfort others. However, He promised to lighten our burdens.
Friday – Remember that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. So, whether we reflect on ours or others prodigal experiences, let’s not mutter complaints. Instead, thank God for His love to look beyond our faults and to see our needs.
***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….***
Sunday, November 17, 2019 – Easily Entangled – Heb. 2:17-18; 12:1-2
Our Daily Bread Topic: Sin; Temptation
Reflect & Pray
What sin or sins have a strong hold on you? What can you do to gain freedom from the struggle you’re experiencing?
Jesus, give me Your strength to overcome the sin in my life. Help me to trust in Your power rather than my own and lead me in the right path.
Monday, November 18, 2019 – Loving the Stranger – Exodus 23:1-9
Focus: God is concerned about all people who are vulnerable to bias and abuse. With respect, we must remind them of God’s love for them.
Scripture(s): Luke 10:30-37; Acts 10:28
Our Daily Bread Topic: Love for Others; World View
Reflect & Pray
What attitudes do you hold about people who appear “different” or “foreign”? In what ways can you practice God’s edict to not mistreat a “stranger” or “sojourner” in your land?
Gracious Father, open my heart today to a stranger or foreigner in my land, helping them to encounter You.
Tuesday: November 19, 2019 – True, Deep Desire – Mark 10:46-52
Focus: If we want God to do something in our lives, we must begin to express our true, deep desires to Him. Let’s take all of our burdens to Jesus.
Scripture(s): Psalm 30:2; Matthew 6:31-33; Philippians 4:6
Our Daily Bread Topic: Fellowship with God
Reflect & Pray
What do you truly desire? How might this desire lead you to Jesus?
Jesus, help me to bring my desires to You. What I’m ultimately seeking can only be satisfied by what You alone can provide.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019 – Fruitful to the End – Psalm 92:12-15
Focus: Whether young or old, we must be 100% rooted in a relationship with God. He will allow us to be fruitful until the end.
Scripture(s): Psalm 1; John 15:1-7
Our Daily Bread Topic: Aging; Living like Christ
Reflect & Pray
How does your life reflect the fruit found in a growing relationship with Jesus? What can you add or eliminate to help you grow?
Father, give me the strength to bear fruit that clearly demonstrates that my life is rooted in the life of Jesus, Your Son.
Thursday, November 21, 2019 – Beautifully Burdened – Matthew 11:28-30
Focus: Allow Jesus to lift our burdens as we yoke with Him. Trust Him to comfort us even if He gives us heavy beautiful assignments for others.
Scripture(s): Psalm 55:22; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Daily Bread Topic: Life Struggles; Trust in God
Reflect & Pray
What are you carrying today? How will you give that burden to Jesus?
Dear Jesus, please take my heavy load and lay upon me Your beautiful burden for this world.
Friday, November 22, 2019 – The Older Brother – Luke 15:11-13; 17-24
Focus: Whether we reflect on ours or others prodigal experiences, let’s not mutter. Instead, thank God for His love to overlook our faults.
Scripture(s): Romans 15:1-2; Galatians 6:1-3
Our Daily Bread Topic: Forgiveness of Son; God’s Love; Sin
Reflect & Pray
How might you reflect again on the story Jesus told and on the Rembrandt painting? As the light changes, where do you find yourself?
Father, help me to see myself for how much You love me.
Saturday, November 23, 2019 – The Approval of One – 1 Thessalonians 2:1-4
Our Daily Bread Topic: Living like Christ; Spiritual Transformation
Reflect & Pray
Whose approval do you find yourself seeking and why is their validation so important to you? How could God’s approval satisfy even more deeply?
Father, it’s far too easy to seek the applause of those around me and to desire their praise. Help me to lift my eyes to You, the One who knows me best and loves me most. For further study, read Living an Authentic Christian Life at discoveryseries.org/hp111.
Inspirational Thoughts from Sister Clovia Thompson
Gracefully Broken
Being gracefully broken means surrendering everything. It means pouring out our hearts based on the knowledge that our brokenness has a purpose.
God uses our brokenness to cleanse us and to make us stronger. When we fall onto our needs, unable to take another step, that is when we are the strongest in Christ. If life was perfect, without troubles, we would have no need to trust Jesus completely based on the knowledge that we cannot do this alone. Our brokenness changes us; it allows us to realize that without Christ we are nothing. When we realize that we don’t have to handle our burdens alone that is when God sets us free.
The Lord is intentional with making us strong from our weaknesses. He wants us to rely on Him fully and not on our own ways. The Lord’s plan is a graceful dance of trust, love, faith and surrender. I never thought that being broken could be such a blessing. God has helps us to see that our pain gives way for us to love Him more deeply.
Psalm 51:8 says “Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.” (KJV)
“My friends, make time for God every day because He always has time for you.” — Sister Clovia