FOCUS OF THE MONTH
The Gift that Keeps On Giving
SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK
Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. – Matthew 5:24 (KJV)
24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. — Matthew 5:24 (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 Florence Owens – January 2 – Class #03
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Overview:
Sunday – We have been washed in the love of Jesus. Let’s activate our faith this Christmas season by helping those in need.
Monday – None of us are perfect, however, God uses our deficiencies to work for our good; the good of others and for the glory of His Kingdom. Trust God to sustain us in our weaknesses and to carry out His plan.
Tuesday – We must be connected with Jesus and stay rooted in God’s Word. As we plant seeds of righteousness, God will give the increase and produce a beautiful harvest. Continue to point others to Christ.
Wednesday – In our quest to win souls, there are times that the Holy Spirit will prompt us to pray for them. We may not know the details; however, God is faithful to intervene on their behalf.
Thursday – The wisdom of this world sometimes get in the way of our reasoning. However, God told us in His Word to stay connected to the Vine. If we lack wisdom, ask God and He will give it to us liberally.
Friday – Oftentimes we block our own blessings when we are not willing to surrender our total beings to God. He loves us and wants to show us kindness. However, if we’re not ready to receive it, God waits. He’s not going to overpower us with His will. We must say, “Thy will be done, have thine own way Lord”!
***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 29, 2019 – Washed in Love – James 2:14-26
Our Daily Bread Topic: God’s Love; Serving
Reflect & Pray
How has someone helped you be more open to knowing Jesus personally? How can you demonstrate your faith in Christ through loving words and actions?
Jesus, please flood our lives with Your perfect, cleansing love, so that we can pour it into the lives of others.
Monday, December 30, 2019 – A Designed Deficiency – Isaiah 22:8-11
Focus: Perhaps, God allows our deficiencies to work for our good. Trust Him in our time of weakness to give us strength. Your thoughts?
Scripture(s): 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Isaiah 40:28-31
Our Daily Bread Topic: Trust in God
Reflect & Pray
What are your deficiencies? How are they helping you gain trust in God?
God, I’m weak. I pray that others would see that You are my strength.
Tuesday, December 31, 2019 – Beautiful Fruit – Luke 8:4-8, 11-15
Focus: In order for us to bear beautiful fruit, we must stay connected to Jesus. Stay rooted in His word as we point others to Christ.
Scripture(s): John 15:4-8; Matthew 9:35-38
Our Daily Bread Topic: Evangelism; Spiritual Growth
Reflect & Pray
How are you staying connected to Jesus? What fruit do you want Him to produce in you?
I want a beautiful life, Father. Please produce Your fruit in me that I might live a life that points others to You.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020 – Prompted to Pray – 1 Timothy 2:1-8
Focus: The Holy Spirit will often prompt us to pray for others. Without knowing the details, God will intervene on their behalf.
Scripture(s): 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Ephesians 6:17-18; Romans 8:26-27
Our Daily Bread Topic: Evangelism; Prayer
Reflect & Pray
Who comes to mind that needs your prayers in this new year? How can you remind yourself to pray for them often?
Loving God, please help me to pray often and to make a lasting difference in others’ lives through my intercession for them. To learn more about prayer, visit https://bit.ly/2kTeSVt.
Thursday, January 2, 2020 – Good for You – Proverbs 24:13-14
Focus: If we lack the sweet wisdom of God’s Word, ask Him. He will give it liberally as we study.
Scripture(s): Proverbs 4:7; James 1:5
Daily Bread Topic: Bible Study; Spiritual Growth
Reflect & Pray
What wisdom do you need to consume today? How has God’s wisdom been sweet to you?
God, please nourish us with Your wisdom.
Friday, January 3, 2020 – God Waited – Isaiah 30:8-18
Focus: God wants to show us kindness. If we’re not ready to receive it, He waits. Surrender our lives, so that God can abundantly bless us.
Scripture(s): Galatians 4:4; Psalm 90:12; Psalm 119:65-67, 71
Our Daily Bread Topic: God’s Love; Salvation
Reflect & Pray
In what areas of your life has God been waiting for you? How might you surrender to Him?
God, it boggles my mind that You wait for me. Wait? For me? This makes me trust You, desire You. Please come. Give me Your full self.
Saturday, January 4, 2020 – Perfectly Placed – Job 38:4-11
Our Daily Bread Topic: Creation
Reflect & Pray
How does God’s amazing creation cause you to praise Him today? What about its design reveals a Maker?
Thank You, Creator God, for this elaborate world You designed for us.
Inspirational Thoughts from Sister Clovia Thompson
Prayer Matters
People sometimes say, “Be careful what you pray for, God will give it to.” That is not true. If you don’t need it, God won’t give it. He loves us too much to give us the wrong answer. God says in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the thoughts I think towards you…thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you a future and a hope…call upon me and pray to me and I will listen to you.”
Prayer is only as good as God is. Prayer works because God does. Prayer changes things because God changes things. Prayer makes a difference because God has determined to make a difference. Prayer matters because we matter to God.
Our prayers matter. We must remember that no matter how hopeless the situation may appear to us, God gives us power in prayer to do something about it. We may be overwhelmed by it, but God isn’t. We may not see a way out, but God does.
One reason our prayers matter is because God can do more in a second than we can do for ourselves in a lifetime!
“My friends, make time for God every day because He always has time for you.” — Sister Clovia