Wednesday, April 29, 2009

NEXT Registration, Closes May 10th

banner4

Everyone knows one. Everyone has a friend that does “it”. But, no one wants to admit that they procrastinate too. Who me?

Since we know that you don’t procrastinate, this is a reminder for your friend, please make sure you remind them…

Or maybe your finances have been tight and you’re waiting for your tax return…

Whatever the case may be, DON’T FORGET!!! Registration for the NEXT conference closes on May 10th. That’s right, your last chance to register is fast approaching. So, don’t delay, register today…

NEXT Registration

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Verses to make you hungry...

Below are some verses from the Bible to encourage your thirst for His Word. I pray that you will be motivated by a desire to taste of His good grace and enjoy Him as you read His Word.

Matthew 4:4 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Job 23:12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.

Psalm 119:18-20 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. 19 I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! 20 My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.

Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.

Psalm 119:64-65
The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes! 65 You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to your word.

Psalm 119:92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. 94 I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. 95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies. 96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad. 97 Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 119:97 Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 119:103-107 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. 107 I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word!

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:111-114 Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. 112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end. 113 I hate the double-minded, but I love your law. 114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.

Psalm 119:123-125 123 My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise. 124 Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes. 125 I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!

Psalm 119:127-131 Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold. 128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way. 129 Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. 131 I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments.

All of the verses quoted above are taken from the ESV Bible. You can find the ESV Study Bible online here

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Getting started on a Bible Reading Plan

As you are probably aware, we have just started a church-wide Bible-Reading plan this week (we're using one from the Discipleship Journal). If you’d like to download and print it, you can do so directly here: http://www.navpress.com/uploadedFiles/15074%20BRP.dj.pdf

As we embark on reading the Bible together this year, although our goal is to read the Bible each day, we want to do so in dependence on the grace of God knowing that we may not actually read His Word as consistently as we would like, even when we try.

Please do not become discouraged and give up though – what matters to the Lord is not checking off the daily reading box, but that we come to Him in humble dependence, looking to be fed, nourished and refreshed by Him.

Be aware, as with any Bible reading or devotional plan, there can be a temptation to legalism or pride, as if our doing the plan faithfully impresses God or in some way means that we’re being “good Christians”. God is impressed with those who come to Him contrite and in humble dependence on Him.

On the other hand, do not feel like you have to go back and re-read the days you miss as if you cannot keep pressing forward without doing so. If you miss days, I would encourage you to either press on, skip that day and just read the next day so you can keep current with your family or caregroup (preferable – so that you can experience fellowship/discussion about the Bible with others more easily) or just read the plan acting as if you didn’t miss a thing and read whatever verses are next, no matter how long it has been.

There is a great temptation to feel overwhelmed when embarking on such a plan - especially if we miss a lot of days and we feel like we are so far behind that we cannot continue. Please do not fall into this trap. If you miss days – approach each day as a fresh start and remember that what matters is whether you are reading God’s Word – not whether you perfectly follow a plan or read every verse sequentially. No matter how many verses or books you skip, you can be sure that God will be faithful to use His Word in your life whenever you read it and whatever passage you happen to be reading.

Remember that God is not angry with His children when we don’t read the Bible and He isn’t thinking less of us if we miss checking the boxes – no, He just longs for us to come to Him and He meets us, leads us, guides us and refreshes us when we do so humbly.

So, if you haven’t started reading – let me encourage you to start on day 3 tomorrow…

God’s Word is sweeter than honey, more valuable than the greatest treasure, it is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path and it can make even the most simple wise – let this encourage and motivate us to read His Word and feast on His goodness found therein.

-Matt

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Free in Christ

Do you ever despair at the sin in your life? If you've been born again in Jesus Christ take courage, because you've been made new and are no longer enslaved by sin.

We no longer need to fear God's wrath since Jesus has completely fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law. Now the Holy Spirit who knows our hearts, as well as all of our mixed motives and competing desires, perfectly intercedes for us in the midst of our weaknesses. He is constantly in the process of working everything in our lives according to His good purposes.

Even though we may feel unlovely, God loves us because of His Son and nothing will separate us from His love - no circumstance, no person and not even our own feeble failings. It is precisely because of the freedom that we now have in Christ and the great love that He has poured out on us that we can take courage knowing that He is for us and we are more than conquerors through Him. (read all of Romans 8 to get the full story)

Free in Christ

So often in my life
I’m tempted to despair
I see the sin in my heart
And the wickedness in there

I can feel like I’m unworthy
Unfit to bear His name
Like I am not His child
Weighed down by all my shame

But then I remember
That the source of my faith
Does not lie within me
But in His amazing grace

Jesus saved me from myself
And all my wickedness
He rescued me from God’s wrath
And gave me His righteousness

Now I am forgiven
I No longer stand condemned
I’ve been cleansed in His blood
Washed clean and free from my sin

So now I am worthy
Because I bear His name
I am His chosen child
He has taken all my blame

Now I’m free in Christ
My hope in Him secure
I’m free to live for Him
My inheritance is sure

Copyright Matthew Rawlings, March 27, 2009