FOCUS OF THE MONTH
New Convictions For A New Year
SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK
(5)Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (6) For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: — Colossians 3:5-6 (KJV)
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. — Colossians 3:5-6 (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 Angelina Byarugaba – January 28 – Class #02
Sister Cynthia Pickett – January 28 – Class #01
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This Week’s Overview:
Sunday – Parents must not be silent regarding their faith in Jesus Christ. Instead, train up your children in the fear of the Lord. In doing so, your offspring will develop a more meaningful spiritual life.
Monday – When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God calls us His friend. Therefore, we have the privilege as Kingdom children to talk with God in His throne room during troubling times for ourselves and others.
Tuesday – We live in a fallen world. Our bodies are challenged physically and emotionally causing us to sometimes feel crushed by the weights of life. The Holy Spirit, who indwells us, is our power source! We must always trust God to give us strength in unsettling situations.
Wednesday – When we are emotionally unstable, we may seek those things that seem to satisfy our fleshly desires. But, in order to have a full and meaningful life, we must accept what Jesus did on the cross at Calvary. He freed us from the oppressions of sin. Jesus freed us from sin’s grip that distracts us from spiritual matters.
Thursday – If we or anyone we know have fallen into this trap and have become weak-kneed, pray to God for strength. Let’s remember to encourage all who are facing hard times.
Friday – Remember that the riches of this world may appear glamorous but, the glitz and the glitter will eventually fade away. Therefore, let’s invest our lives and insecurities in Jesus. He promised to sustain us forever. God will never leave nor forsake us.
***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, January 26, 2020 – Guiding Children to God – 2 Timothy 3:10-15
Our Daily Bread Topic: Mentoring; Parenting
Reflect & Pray
Reflect on the myriad influences and messages children (or all of us) receive in a given day. How do these forces shape you and those you love?
Dear Father, thank You for the joy and privilege to gracefully nurture children’s hearts toward You.
Monday, January 27, 2020 – Friendship Bench – Exodus 33:9-11
Focus: God calls us friend and we can enter His throne room anytime. Whether concerns of our own or others, talk with God.
Scripture(s): John 15:14-15; Hebrews 4:14-16
Our Daily Bread Topic: Friendship; Hopelessness
Reflect & Pray
What worries consume your thoughts today? As you talk to God about these concerns, what good thoughts about Him can you focus on instead?
Dear God, thank You for encouraging our hearts with noble thoughts of You. When we’re sick with worry, point our minds back to You.
Tuesday, January 28, 2020 – An Old Clay Pot – 2 Corinthians 4:7-12
Focus: Our bodies are fragile, however, the Holy Spirit who indwells us, is powerful! When circumstances seem to crush us, trust God for strength.
Scripture(s): 1 Corinthians 2:5; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Ephesians 3:20-21
Our Daily Bread Topic: Living like Christ
Reflect & Pray
How can you meet the demands placed on you? Where does your strength come from?
God, I’m weak and fragile. Thank You for living in me. I want You and Your strength to be seen.
Wednesday, January 29, 2020 – Life to the Full – John 10:7-15
Focus: We may possess the riches of this world but in order to have a full life, we must accept what Jesus did on Calvary to give us abundant life.
Scripture(s): Psalm 21:4; Jeremiah 9:23-24
Our Daily Bread Topic: Living for Christ; Thankfulness
Reflect & Pray
Would you say that right now you’re living “life to the full”? Why or why not? Have you had a tendency to equate full with many things?
Good Shepherd, thank You for laying down Your life for me, one of the sheep. And thank You for Your promise to provide nothing less than the daily bread I need, both literally and figuratively.
Thursday, January 30, 2020 – Strengthening Weak Knees – Isaiah 35:1-4
Focus: If we or others we know are feeling weak-kneed, pray for God to give us strength. Remember to encourage anyone facing hard times.
Scripture(s): Romans 8:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14
Daily Bread Topic: Fear; God’s Love
Reflect & Pray
What are some of the ways you’ve been encouraged recently? How will you encourage someone who’s facing hard times?
Father, I need Your strength and Your grace today.
Friday, January 31, 2020 – Going, Going, Gone – Proverbs 23:1-5
Focus: Riches fade away. Therefore, we must invest our lives and insecurities in Jesus. He will sustain us forever.
Scripture(s): 1 Timothy 6:17; Proverbs 30:7-9
Our Daily Bread Topic: Contentment; Trust in God
Reflect & Pray
Where does your life feel insecure? How might that lead you to Jesus?
God, help me to give my insecurities to You and to trust in Your goodness and faithfulness.
Saturday, February 01, 2020 – Full Attention – 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
Our Daily Bread Topic: Anxiety; Depresion; Prayer
Reflect & Pray
How would you say technology impacts your faith, both negatively and positively? What might help you grow in undivided focus on God?
Father, thank You for inviting us into a relationship with You, one in which You long to hear from us continually.
Inspirational Thoughts from Sister Clovia Thompson
The Master Potter
To say that we are clay in the hands of the Potter, acknowledges God’s handiwork as the Master Potter or Creator of our physical bodies. It also recognizes God’s authority to shape us inwardly, to spiritually fashion us into a vessel fit for His use, molded as an image of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The shaping process is hard and long. Trials and tribulations are designed to correct, shape and straighten us. Our faith is stretched and tested. But in all the stretching, pulling, and shaping, God’s design is to make us into vessels He can use, for His glory.
Just as the clay finds its highest purpose when it remains pliable in the hands of the Potter, our lives fulfill the Kingdom’s highest purpose. But only when we allow the Master Potter to have His way with us. God is crafting us into a vessel of honor, fit for His use.
“Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will
while I am waiting, yielded and still.”
“My friends, make time for God every day because He always has time for you.” — Sister Clovia