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| Morning Devotion 11/13/2007
For the grace of God has appeared, with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lust and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a special people, eager to do good works.
Titus 2:11-14
Don't miss it, chapter two addresses me and you
And everybody in the body with some lessons we can use (Titus 2:1-10)
So read it all and peep the part that seems to be to you
And live out this sound doctrine, let people see the fruit (Titus 2:14)
Sound - by Trip Lee
So very often I forget that I am part of this special people that God has set apart from the world. I think it's so easy to keep in mind that God loved us so much and He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die for us to cleanse us of our sins but it doesn't really cross my mind as often that I am part of the special people that God has set apart for His work. So the question is, why don't I consistent live up to that claim? For me, it's so much easier to just follow in the footsteps of the world. This remind of the well-known footprints story when Jesus explains why there's only one set of footprints though He promised to walk with us on this journey--He has been carrying us on His back. If Jesus is willing to not only walk with me but carry me in times of difficult, why am I so reluctant to allow Him to carry me and try to get off and walk my own way? In the letter that Paul wrote to Titus, it is a great reminder for me that God has chosen His people out to "[Be] an example of good works yourself, with integrity and dignity in your teaching" (Titus 2:7). Especially as a Sunday school teacher, I need to live a life in congruent with what I teach. My prayer today is to live a life that parallels the material I teach, for conviction to live a life of holiness and for courage to live out an example for others.
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| Verse from Wednesday night Bible Sharing/Prayer
Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
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| Morning Devotion 9/11/2007
Job 32:7-8
I thought, 'Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom
But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.'
It's been six years since September 11th. I can still remember that morning in 2001 when our school was the only one in the city that actually stayed open and we had to go to class. In most classes, we spent a good amount of time watching the news and seeing the updates. And now we six years into the future from that event and what have we learned? Or have we learned anything? The lives of some people were forever altered and many affected but the majority of people slowly fall back into their normal lifestyles and forgetting about the event. It's exactly the same for Christians. A lot of times, when something dramatic happens, I tend to turn to God more. When times pass, and feelings fade, so does my desire for God's presence. I may think I "know" how to be a Christian because I have been one for a while but it's not about that. i pray to God that I constantly seek Him no matter what I am going through, whether it's something good or something bad. I mean, I don't consistently and constantly try to seek to know God more, it wouldn't mean anything if I have been a Christian for a long time. Lord, stir in me a fire to want to know You more!
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| Morning Devotion 9/10/2007 Psalms 106:6-8Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have gone astray and have acted wickedly. Our fathers in Egypt did not grasp the significance of Your wonderful works or remember Your many acts of faithful love; instead, they rebelled by the sea--the Red Sea. Yet He saved them because of His name, to make His power known.Do I think that I really deserve God's mercy and forgiveness despite all my actions that have hurt him? Probably not. Am I really worthy God's time and love even though I am merely a speck in this vast universe? I don't think so. But God has a greater plan. The last two weeks in Sunday school, we talked about the names of God. First, we discussed about Yahweh and this week we talked about Elohim. His names and character fits perfectly into our lives. We do not need to be great to be a tool of God. I don't need to be the best at something for God to use me. Evangelizing is pretty hard. Going around the street fair yesterday provided me with a several discouraging encounters as people can outright reject you. And I, myself, do not handle rejection very well. I want people to like me. But why does God constantly call me back and give me chances to share the gospel with people? He doesn't want me or other people to see how good I am, He is merely using me, someone so weak, to do His great work so glory would be brought to him, to make His power known, not mine. Even though I was discouraged a little bit by the street fair, God gave me another chance to share when I arrived back in Davis to share with one of my housemates. Pray for him and me so I can spend more time talking to him about the gospel. He showed interest but started to pull away at times. Lord, soften his heart to hear your words. Make me weak so your strength can be revealed. Amen. | | |
| Morning Devotion 9/6/2007
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but
with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24
"Everything is permissible," but not everything is helpful. "Everything is permissible," but not everything builds up. No one should seek his own [good], but [the good] of the other person.
I am very tired. I went to sleep at 2am last night because I was up grading papers. There was a stack of papers that I was suppose to drop off for someone else to grade but they never came to pick it up. I don't mind doing the extra work but then I forgot I needed to wake up early today for a tutoring session at 10am. I don't think about this much and I don't know if this crosses minds of people but being tired becomes a temptation so often. Tiredness is such an underestimated tool that Satan uses to attempt to pull us away from God. Being tired tends to make us grumpy or impatient and as a result, it so easily leads us to sin (i.e. getting mad at a friend for small reasons). The first scripture is one of my favorite verses knowing that it's God's promise to us. The second one has been reiterated to us so many times in Sunday School but I never really honestly put it to heart. I pray that God guide my decisions in how I act because my actions definitely affects people around me. Guide me, Lord. Guide me
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