FOCUS OF THE MONTH
The Splendor of God’s Love
SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK
And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. — Ruth 2:11 (KJV)
11 But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. — Ruth 2:11 (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 Dorothy Cotton – February 15 – Class 02
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This Week’s Overview:
Sunday – When life becomes overwhelming, look to God who knows that we are dust. Embrace His presence and thank Him for being so loving, compassionate and gracious to those that fear Him.
Monday – Pain is personal and real. In the body of Christ, we are in this together. Let’s cry with those who cry and encourage each other during hard times.
Tuesday – Technology has made it easy to contact people around the world. Let’s make a conscious effort to become relational, not only to family but with nearby neighbors, today. It could be that they’re going through hard times as well.
Wednesday – We are prone to sin and to disobey God in the flesh. If that being the case, repent. We must ask God to forgive us and not wallow in guilt and shame. Instead thank God for His mercy, then, be willing to extend that mercy to others.
Thursday – If we still struggle with various weaknesses, by faith we must begin to believe that God is able to deliver us out of our cage of sin. Accept His forgiveness and allow Him to bring us into a safe, spacious place.
Friday – Keep in mind, life is hard. However, God wants us to rejoice and rest in His presence. We must have faith and praise Him for His goodness regardless of our circumstances.
***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, February 09, 2020 – We Are Dust – Psalm 103:8-14
Our Daily Bread Topic: God’s care; God’s love
Reflect & Pray
When have you felt overwhelmed like a little child? How do you believe God the Father responded to you in that moment?
Thank You for being our patient, present Father who remembers who and what we are.
Monday, February 10, 2020 – In It Together – Romans 12:9-16
Focus: Pain is personal and real. Together, let’s lament for those who are hurting and encourage them during their hard times.
Scripture(s): 1 Corinthians 12:25-26; Jeremiah 9:17-20
Our Daily Bread Topic: Grief; Relationships
Reflect & Pray
When have you allowed someone else to share your sorrow? How does the body of Christ—the church—help you deal with the hard times in life?
Gracious God, forgive me for my reluctance to enter the pain of others. Help me to live more fully as a connected member of Your church.
Learn about loving as Jesus does at discoveryseries.org/q0208.
Tuesday, February 11, 2020 – Nearby Neighbors – Proverbs 27:1-10
Focus: With the convenience of technology today, let’s purpose to become relational as we connect with nearby neighbors.
Scripture(s): Proverbs 18:24; Acts 9:36-41
Our Daily Bread Topic: Relationships; Serving
Reflect & Pray
Who has brought you aid in your times of need? How can you come alongside those living nearest you?
Thank You, God, for giving us neighbors to show care for one another.
Wednesday, February 12, 2020 – The Miracle of White Snow – Isaiah 1:15-20
Focus: If we’ve done wrong, seek God’s forgiveness. Don’t wallow in guilt and shame, instead thank God for His mercy.
Scripture(s): 2 Corinthians 4:6; Psalm 51:10-13
Our Daily Bread Topic: Forgiveness of Sin; Guilt
Reflect & Pray
What does it mean to be completely forgiven? What helps you remember that God has forgiven you?
Heavenly Father, thank You for the forgiveness You freely offer.
Thursday, February 13, 2020 – Freed from Our Cage – Psalm 18:3-6, 16-19
Focus: If we need deliverance, let’s believe that God is able to bring us out of our sinful cage into a safe, spacious place.
Scripture(s): John 10:9; Psalm 46:1; Psalm 118:4-6
Daily Bread Topic: Salvation; Sin
Reflect & Pray
What are the cages that have you confined? How are you living as though an old cage still traps and holds you?
God, You say You set the captives free. Help me to believe it. Help me to live it. I want to be free. I want to be in Your spacious place.
Friday, February 14, 2020 – When Life Is Hard – Psalm 16
Focus: When life is hard, rejoice and rest in the presence of God. Have faith that He will deliver us and praise Him for His goodness.
Scripture(s): Psalm 27:8; Psalm 73:25-26
Our Daily Bread Topic: Life Struggles; Thankfulness; Worship
Reflect & Pray
How can offering God praise for His unchanging character and wondrous works increase your faith during challenging circumstances? What situations do you need to place in God’s trustworthy hands?
Thanks for being You, Father!
Saturday, February 15, 2020 – The Mouse That Roared – Matthew 4:1-11
Our Daily Bread Topic: Satan; Temptation
Reflect & Pray
What are your greatest temptations? What does God say about these issues and how might you use that when you’re tempted?
Dear God, I’m grateful that You’re greater than any temptation that comes at me. Please provide the way out.
Inspirational Thoughts from Sister Clovia Thompson
Who Is Our Neighbor?
The Bible commands us to love God. It also instructs us to love our neighbor as ourselves. So, who exactly is our neighbor? Who do you think is your neighbor? The answer is everyone and anyone you meet or see today, is your neighbor. The Bible does not specify that only Christians are our neighbors. Our neighbor is each and everyone we encounter.
We are commanded to set aside our prejudices and show love and compassion for others, just as Jesus taught. That means we love our homeless, Muslim, gay, black, white, Jewish, Christian, atheist, racist, rich and poor neighbors. Those who do not think like us, love like us, pray like us, look like us, or even vote like us, no exception. You cannot love God if you do not love your neighbor.
We have three things to offer — our time, our talents and our treasures. If anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? That is the question we need to ask ourselves daily.
The best thing we can do for our neighbors is to love them. The love of God should compel us to share Christ with them.
“My friends, make time for God every day because He always has time for you.” — Sister Clovia