FOCUS OF THE MONTH
The Gift that Keeps On Giving
SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. — Romans 6:23 (KJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 6:23 (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 Delores Hawkins – December 18 – Class #05
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Overview:
Sunday – We live in a dry and thirsty land. However, God gives us a refreshing spring of hope every day to restore our joy. We must rely on the Holy Spirit to help us point those who are thirsty and spiritually deprived to Christ.
Monday – In our quest to win souls, there may be times when we face betrayal, persecution and opposition. Despite what we’ve done in our past or what others may think, press on! God valued us enough to send His Son to redeem us from the sin curse. We are now co-laborers with God.
Tuesday – Let’s not be ignorant of the daily threats of danger that are lurking all around. If our lives seem out of control and unstable, depend on God’s presence to sustain us on our journey.
Wednesday – Don’t regress, live in the present. Even though, some of our assignments seem to have us in a season of endless despair, don’t fear. Instead, walk with God, He promised to never leave us.
Thursday – We must remember those who are thirsty for the truth are reading us. We are like bibles, representing Jesus. Let’s continue to hide the word of God in our hearts and reflect God’s glory in the earth.
Friday – If we feel that God has given us an impossible task to complete, pray for strength to do it. Remember, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us to empower and secure us to do greater works.
***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, December 15, 2019 – Water in Hope – John 4:4-14
Our Daily Bread Topic: Salvation; Holy Spirit
Reflect & Pray
How has Jesus satisfied your thirst through His Spirit? How will you share what Jesus has done for you?
Dear God, thank You for leaving us Your Spirit. Work in us so that our lives point others to You.
Monday, December 16, 2019 – What You’re Worth – Zechariah 11:4-13
Focus: Despite what we’ve done or what others think, thank God for loving and valuing us enough to send His Son to redeem us.
Scripture(s): Psalm 139:13-16; 1 Peter 2:9; Psalm 8:4-6
Our Daily Bread Topic: Self image; God’s Love
Reflect & Pray
How would you describe your value? Who can you help to grasp true value?
I’m grateful that I’m valued by You, God!
Tuesday, December 17, 2019 – Lord of the…Nails? – Psalm 18:30-36
Focus: The daily threat of danger can make our lives seem out of control and unstable. We must rely on God’s presence to sustain us.
Scripture(s): Proverbs 30:5; Psalm 91:1-2, 5-6
Our Daily Bread Topic: God’s Love
Reflect & Pray
When has God protected you from something that you didn’t even know about? How did He watch over your way or help you stay clear of that threat?
Father, help us to remember daily that You know every step we take. Help us to trust in Your provision for every potential problem or sudden setback we face today.
Wednesday, December 18, 2019 – Walk in the Present with God – Psalm 102:11-13, 18-28
Focus: We must live in the present. In seasons of endless despair, we must not fear. Instead, walk with God, He will never leave us.
Scripture(s): Psalm 90:4-12; 2 Peter 3:8; Hebrews 13:5-6
Our Daily Bread Topic: Waiting on God
Reflect & Pray
How can acknowledging God as the Maker of time help you trust Him when His timing doesn’t meet your preference? How can living in the present give you peace?
Loving God, please teach us to be present in life, refusing to worry about tomorrow as You affirm Your constant presence.
Thursday, December 19, 2019 – Written on the Heart – 2 Corinthians 2:17-3:6
Focus: We are letters for others to read. God put His word in our hearts, therefore, as followers of Christ let’s live so others can see Jesus.
Scripture(s): Matthew 5:14-16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15
Daily Bread Topic: Living like Christ
Reflect & Pray
When people read the “letter” of your life, what do they see of Jesus? Who are the teachers who have left their imprint on you?
Jesus, I want others to see You in my life. May I decrease and You increase.
Friday, December 20, 2019 – Failure Is Impossible – Nehemiah 6:1-9
Focus: When God has given us a difficult task, pray for strength to do it. God is able to do the impossible through us and He will complete it.
Scripture(s): Luke 18:27; 1 Thessalonians 5:24
Our Daily Bread Topic: Persecution
Reflect & Pray
How do you normally handle opposition? What cause are you willing to fight for, no matter how tough the opposition?
Precious God, I need Your help to keep going with the work You’ve given me to do, no matter what the cost may be.
Saturday, December 21, 2019 – The Giver’s Delight – Luke 2:4-14
Our Daily Bread Topic: Christ, birth
Reflect & Pray
Why is Jesus the greatest Christmas gift you ever received? How can you share this gift with others more effectively?
Father, thank You for Jesus—the greatest gift of all!
Inspirational Thoughts from Sister Clovia Thompson
What Does God Say About Us?
I am the Creator and you are my creation. I breathe into your nostrils the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). I created you in my own image (Genesis 1:27). I knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). I know the number of hairs on your head and before a word is on your tongue I know it (Matthew 10:30; Psalm 139:4). You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).
Our identity is what God says about you and it does not begin with “you are not good enough”. We are blessed, adopted, accepted, redeemed and forgiven. Let us believe God is who He says He is. God can do what He says He can do. We are who God says we are. We can do all things through Christ. God’s Word is alive and active in us.
It’s time for the people of God to stand up and say: “I reject the things the world says about me and choose to believe what God says”.
“My friends, make time for God every day because He always has time for you.” — Sister Clovia