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Devotional of the Week:
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
As the New Year approaches we can take confidence in the fact that God already knows what is going to happen. He knows what the year holds for us and we can have the comfort of knowing that his intent for us is only what is best for us. This quote from Jeremiah makes clear God's point for our lives. "Thoughts of peace and not evil..." and "a future and a hope." How awesome it is that the God of the universe intends for us peace and hope! Yes there will be challenges, but when we rest in Him we can do all things and overcome all challenges! May 2009 hold wonderful things for all of us to His honor and glory!
Prayer: Father God we trust in the words of Jeremiah, we thank you that you love us in such a way that you would thing thoughts of peace and hope toward us. Help us to be confident and courageous as we approach the new year that we may busy ourselves for the kingdom of heaven! We love you and we trust you, in Jesus holy name, Amen!
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Mini-Study of the Week:
As we approach the new year we can do so with confidence and anticipation. We know that God is with us and in looking at the Scriptures we can see verses that will be encouragements to us in the coming year. Today, let us allow God’s word to be our beacon, pointing us toward 2009.
We can live this coming year without fear if we apply these four truths to our lives and root them deep into our hearts.
1. We can live with the contentment of His provision:
1 Timothy 6:6-8 : Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
Philippians 4:11: Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.
Contentment is not getting what you want, but wanting what you get.
2. We can live with the companionship of His presence
Matthew 28:18-20: And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
Hebrews 13:5 5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
This coming year we need to strive to draw nearer to God in all aspects of our lives. Through prayer, devotional time and study we can experience the companionship God wants to have with us. He will be our guide in all things.
3. We can live with the confidence of His promise
A promise is no better than the one who makes it. Who says, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee"? It is the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God. This is the confidence of His promise.
In the coming year, when we say, "God, I just don't have the strength." The omnipotent God will answer, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." When we say, "God, I'm afraid of what is going to happen." The omnipresent God says, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." And when we say, "God, I don't know what to do." The omniscient God will respond, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." He himself has said it.
4. We can live with the comfort of His protection
Hebrews 13:6 promises, "So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Like I said earlier, I don't know what you're going to go through this coming year. But I know you can boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, so I will not fear what man shall do to me."
When you find your contentment, companionship, confidence and comfort in Jesus, you will have COURAGE to face the year!
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Video of the Week:
Let's start the new year focused on praising and worshiping our Holy Father! May we do all we can to honor and glorify His name!
Paul Baloche - "Rise Up and Praise Him"
Love each other, share His love and share His gospel...
See you next week!
In His Service,
Sergio
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Merry CHRISTmas!
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Devotional of the Week:
Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”
From humble beginnings, from a humble place, in a humble way, the Mighty and Everlasting God put on humanity when he left His throne to be born a baby. A baby, who while human was always God, was given for our redemption. His tiny hands and chubby feet, would one day sustain the wounds that would provide for us the forgiveness for our sins. His beautiful face and soft skin would be pierced and torn for our salvation. His earthly birth was designed to end in the shame of a sinner's death, but destined to resurrect in glorious victory over sin and the grave! That is the gift we celebrate this Christmas. God's gift to us was Emmanuel, God with Us... It was His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Celebrate this by sharing Him with all who need Him!
Prayer: Father God, thank you for the ultimate gift you have given us. Through the birth of your Son we see your love for us and we thank you that His life, death and resurrection reconciled us to you. May we now live to spread the Gospel and the good news, may we live to give our lives to you in all possible ways. May we live a life that is to your honor and glory forever and ever, Amen!
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Mini-Study of the Week:
In times of war, God will make His presence felt:
Merry Christmas to the brave men and women of our United States Armed Forces! May God protect and keep each and every one of you wherever you may be.
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Video(s) of the Week:
May your week be blessed, may your Christmas be a glorious one, and may you all have the opportunity to share Jesus with loved ones this coming week! I dedicate to all of you the following videos. May they bless you tremendously... Merry Christmas!
Love each other, share His love and share His gospel...
See you next week!
In His Service,
Sergio
Sunday, December 14, 2008
God Keeps His Promises!
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Devotional of the Week:
Luke 1:68-69 "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David..."
As we continue our look at the verses of Christmas this month, we come a gross two verses that show what the ultimate message of Christmas is. Zecharias, his tongue finally loosed as he has dedicated his son John in the temple, speaks the truth of the good news of redemption. "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people...".
The true gift of Christmas is that Jesus was sent for the redemption of all those who would believe in Him. God is a mighty God! He is a God who keeps his word and fulfills his covenants. The gift of our Messiah is made manifest in this Christmas season.
How blessed we are to be able to see clearly God's plan of redemption in these verses. The events that follow are His perfect plan in action. That little baby is God in human flesh, He is our Savior, He is our Peace, He is Immanuel, God with us! Praise God from whom all good things come!
Prayer: Father God, thank you for the gift of your Son. Praise You for all You have done to see your plan of salvation through. Help us to be your hands and to be your feet to take your gospel of redemption to the ends of the earth. May we use this Christmas season to profess the good news of Jesus Christ, our Savior and King! We praise You and we love You! We pray all this in the might saving name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
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Mini-Study of the Week: Read Matthew 1:18-21
We know that God chose Mary to be the mother of His Son, Jesus, but how often do we consciously consider that in so doing, God also selected Joseph to serve as Jesus’ earthly father figure? We learn quickly that Joseph was also deemed a righteous man. His actions reveal him to have been a sensitive and kind man toward his fiance when he learned the news about her inexplicable pregnancy. Not only could Joseph had divorced Mary by Jewish law for her apparent unfaithfulness, but he also could have had her stoned!
Then, after the angel visited Joseph in a dream and explained things from God’s perspective, Joseph immediately believed and obeyed God’s instructions. He did this in spite of the public humiliation that he would face under these unfathomable circumstances. Perhaps this deep rooted nobility is part of what made him God’s choice for Jesus’ earthly father.
Joseph was a skilled carpenter, and we know that he passed that trade onto Jesus. Joseph was a man of strong conviction who very obviously lived out his belief and put it into action. Imagine how God felt looking for the earthly man whom He would choose to raise His son!
Joseph is last mentioned in Scripture when Jesus is 12 years old. Though we don’t have a lot of information on the specifics of their relationship, I think we can confidently believe that Joseph was not an absentee father figure to Jesus. I’m sure Joseph took his role seriously to be a spiritual leader in their home, despite the fact that Jesus was divine! He undoubtedly had innumerable spiritual conversations with Jesus.
Remember, Jesus was fully human as well as fully divine. His human needs required parental attention every bit as much as our children’s do. Joseph was involved in helping Jesus learn to talk and he was surely there, close by, on the day Jesus took His first steps and got His first tooth. Joseph was the “man of the house” during that period of Jesus’ life, and though Joseph obviously wasn’t perfect he was a godly example! Joseph was a real man in God’s eyes, and that is why He picked him to be the earthly father to His son.
*************************************************************
Video of the Week:
We look to celebrate the birth of our Savior... He shall reign forever and ever!
Hallelujah!
Love each other, share His love and share His gospel...
See you next week!
In His Service,
Sergio
Devotional of the Week:
Luke 1:68-69 "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David..."
As we continue our look at the verses of Christmas this month, we come a gross two verses that show what the ultimate message of Christmas is. Zecharias, his tongue finally loosed as he has dedicated his son John in the temple, speaks the truth of the good news of redemption. "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people...".
The true gift of Christmas is that Jesus was sent for the redemption of all those who would believe in Him. God is a mighty God! He is a God who keeps his word and fulfills his covenants. The gift of our Messiah is made manifest in this Christmas season.
How blessed we are to be able to see clearly God's plan of redemption in these verses. The events that follow are His perfect plan in action. That little baby is God in human flesh, He is our Savior, He is our Peace, He is Immanuel, God with us! Praise God from whom all good things come!
Prayer: Father God, thank you for the gift of your Son. Praise You for all You have done to see your plan of salvation through. Help us to be your hands and to be your feet to take your gospel of redemption to the ends of the earth. May we use this Christmas season to profess the good news of Jesus Christ, our Savior and King! We praise You and we love You! We pray all this in the might saving name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
*************************************************************
Mini-Study of the Week: Read Matthew 1:18-21
We know that God chose Mary to be the mother of His Son, Jesus, but how often do we consciously consider that in so doing, God also selected Joseph to serve as Jesus’ earthly father figure? We learn quickly that Joseph was also deemed a righteous man. His actions reveal him to have been a sensitive and kind man toward his fiance when he learned the news about her inexplicable pregnancy. Not only could Joseph had divorced Mary by Jewish law for her apparent unfaithfulness, but he also could have had her stoned!
Then, after the angel visited Joseph in a dream and explained things from God’s perspective, Joseph immediately believed and obeyed God’s instructions. He did this in spite of the public humiliation that he would face under these unfathomable circumstances. Perhaps this deep rooted nobility is part of what made him God’s choice for Jesus’ earthly father.
Joseph was a skilled carpenter, and we know that he passed that trade onto Jesus. Joseph was a man of strong conviction who very obviously lived out his belief and put it into action. Imagine how God felt looking for the earthly man whom He would choose to raise His son!
Joseph is last mentioned in Scripture when Jesus is 12 years old. Though we don’t have a lot of information on the specifics of their relationship, I think we can confidently believe that Joseph was not an absentee father figure to Jesus. I’m sure Joseph took his role seriously to be a spiritual leader in their home, despite the fact that Jesus was divine! He undoubtedly had innumerable spiritual conversations with Jesus.
Remember, Jesus was fully human as well as fully divine. His human needs required parental attention every bit as much as our children’s do. Joseph was involved in helping Jesus learn to talk and he was surely there, close by, on the day Jesus took His first steps and got His first tooth. Joseph was the “man of the house” during that period of Jesus’ life, and though Joseph obviously wasn’t perfect he was a godly example! Joseph was a real man in God’s eyes, and that is why He picked him to be the earthly father to His son.
*************************************************************
Video of the Week:
We look to celebrate the birth of our Savior... He shall reign forever and ever!
Hallelujah!
Love each other, share His love and share His gospel...
See you next week!
In His Service,
Sergio
Sunday, December 7, 2008
"The Reason for The Season"
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Devotional of the Week: John 1:6-8
"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light."
John the Baptist's ministry on earth was to be the one who paved the way for the coming of Christ. His call to repentance and to righteous living was due in large part to his desire to see a people welcome their Messiah in as righteous a way as possible. He knew very well that his role was merely that of messenger and witness, but he took that role seriously and to his credit, he lost his life for it. This Christmas season we should ask ourselves, what am I willing to give up for God? What action can I perform that will glorify and honor my Heavenly Father? John's decision was simple, share the "good news" that Christ was coming. Today we can and should make the same decision. In this day and in this time, we are the ones calling people to repent and make way the path. When they do accept the Lord, heaven rejoices.
Prayer: Heavenly Father we thank you for the awesome privilege it is to be Your child. We thank You for the gift You gave us this Christmas, remembering that no matter what, our plans do not prevent us from working in Your will. That Child whom You sent to us is God in human form, may we always remember that in Your omnitpotent power, You saw fit to draw us close. Thank you for salvation and for allowing us to enter Your home in heaven, where we will praise you for ever and ever. We pray all of this in Jesus' mighty name, Amen.
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Mini-Study of the Week: Read Luke 1:26-38
In these verses we see the angel Gabriel appear to Mary and announce to her that she has been chosen to give birth to the Son of God. One of the most telling moments in this set of verses is Mary's question of "how can this be, since I do not know a man?" The angel responds to her with an explanation of what is to occur. He even tells her of her cousin Elizabeth, who after being unable to conceive is now miraculously pregnant with John.
Mary's response is not one of skepticism or doubt, but instead is a response we should all be prepared to give when God comes to us with a task. Her words are "Behold the maidservant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word." We know that with God all things are possible. Here we see that our response to God should always be one of confidence and submission to His will. He will sustain and protect us.
Not only was Mary willing to do God's will, but in doing so she became God's vessel by which the plan of salvation was set into motion. What a glorious privilege and gift for her. Thus it can be for any of God's children who are willing to do his bidding. Next week we will look at the first half of this story and learn more about who our Savior is.
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Video of the Week:
"Behold the maidservant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word."
"Sing Mary Sing" - Jennifer Knapp
Love each other, share His love and share His gospel...
See you next week!
In His Service,
Sergio
Devotional of the Week: John 1:6-8
"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light."
John the Baptist's ministry on earth was to be the one who paved the way for the coming of Christ. His call to repentance and to righteous living was due in large part to his desire to see a people welcome their Messiah in as righteous a way as possible. He knew very well that his role was merely that of messenger and witness, but he took that role seriously and to his credit, he lost his life for it. This Christmas season we should ask ourselves, what am I willing to give up for God? What action can I perform that will glorify and honor my Heavenly Father? John's decision was simple, share the "good news" that Christ was coming. Today we can and should make the same decision. In this day and in this time, we are the ones calling people to repent and make way the path. When they do accept the Lord, heaven rejoices.
Prayer: Heavenly Father we thank you for the awesome privilege it is to be Your child. We thank You for the gift You gave us this Christmas, remembering that no matter what, our plans do not prevent us from working in Your will. That Child whom You sent to us is God in human form, may we always remember that in Your omnitpotent power, You saw fit to draw us close. Thank you for salvation and for allowing us to enter Your home in heaven, where we will praise you for ever and ever. We pray all of this in Jesus' mighty name, Amen.
*************************************************************
Mini-Study of the Week: Read Luke 1:26-38
In these verses we see the angel Gabriel appear to Mary and announce to her that she has been chosen to give birth to the Son of God. One of the most telling moments in this set of verses is Mary's question of "how can this be, since I do not know a man?" The angel responds to her with an explanation of what is to occur. He even tells her of her cousin Elizabeth, who after being unable to conceive is now miraculously pregnant with John.
Mary's response is not one of skepticism or doubt, but instead is a response we should all be prepared to give when God comes to us with a task. Her words are "Behold the maidservant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word." We know that with God all things are possible. Here we see that our response to God should always be one of confidence and submission to His will. He will sustain and protect us.
Not only was Mary willing to do God's will, but in doing so she became God's vessel by which the plan of salvation was set into motion. What a glorious privilege and gift for her. Thus it can be for any of God's children who are willing to do his bidding. Next week we will look at the first half of this story and learn more about who our Savior is.
*************************************************************
Video of the Week:
"Behold the maidservant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word."
"Sing Mary Sing" - Jennifer Knapp
Love each other, share His love and share His gospel...
See you next week!
In His Service,
Sergio
Monday, December 1, 2008
Prepare the Way!
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Devotional of the Week:
Luke 2:30 - 30 "For my eyes have seen Your salvation"
In the gospel of Luke we meet Simeon, a man to whom God promised that he would not die until he laid eyes on the Messiah. What an awesome gift! The powerful knowledge that the baby you held in your arms was God's promise fulfilled. In our lives today we see constant signs of our lives changed by Jesus entering into our hearts. While we have not yet laid eyes on our wonderful Savior, praise God that our faith goes beyond what we see. Simeon did not need to see to believe, he merely was given the privilege to hold his Savior as a gift from God. Today, we believe that we have seen salvation with the eyes of our heart, knowing that someday, we will see our beautiful Lord. That is truly a gift better than all others!
Prayer: Father God, thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus. We look forward to this holiday season as an opportunity to share our joy and love for Him. May we always remember during the hustle and bustle of our days to honor Him and remember Him for the eyes of our heart have been opened and we too have seen our salvation. For that we say Hallelujah and Hallelujah! In Jesus mighty name we pray, Amen!
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Mini-Study of the Week: During the month of December we will do a series of studies on Scriptures related to Christmas. We will resume our study of 1 Samuel in January.
Isaiah 40:3-5 - The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord;Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."
As we have entered the holiday season and with Christmas rapidly approaching, we see an opportunity to remember the "reason for the season". Isaiah in his prophecy is sharing with us that we need to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. John the Baptist used these words form Holy Writ as his cry for repentance to those he ministered to. He was the one who preceded the Messiah and who prepared the way by preaching repentance to men's hearts.
In the words of these verses we can see what a life rooted in Christ can achieve. Valleys shall be exalted, crooked places in our lives made straight, obstacle brought low and in every fiber of our being, God will be glorified. Today we can also prepare the way by being willing to share the Gospel with a lost world. We must not shy away from the call to repentance during this holiday season. The first gift of my salvation was that it happened in the month of December, and I have to tell you, it was the most beautiful Christmas ever. I knew and understood what the birth of our Messiah really meant.
Give that gift to someone this year by sowing the seeds of the Gospel in their lives. If they breathe, they need Jesus, so share your faith, witness to the lost, and trust God to bring the fruit. Rejoice during this month that you know the true story of Christmas. Like Isaiah and John teach us, prepare the way for Jesus our Lord to enter the lives of those who need Him. That is our mission and the best Christmas gift we can give anyone this year.
*************************************************************
Video of the Week:
May we all long for our Christmas to be about our Savior. As the song says, "this infant, this King, A Savior for all...", this is our joy this holiday season!
Third Day - "Christmas Like a Child"
Devotional of the Week:
Luke 2:30 - 30 "For my eyes have seen Your salvation"
In the gospel of Luke we meet Simeon, a man to whom God promised that he would not die until he laid eyes on the Messiah. What an awesome gift! The powerful knowledge that the baby you held in your arms was God's promise fulfilled. In our lives today we see constant signs of our lives changed by Jesus entering into our hearts. While we have not yet laid eyes on our wonderful Savior, praise God that our faith goes beyond what we see. Simeon did not need to see to believe, he merely was given the privilege to hold his Savior as a gift from God. Today, we believe that we have seen salvation with the eyes of our heart, knowing that someday, we will see our beautiful Lord. That is truly a gift better than all others!
Prayer: Father God, thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus. We look forward to this holiday season as an opportunity to share our joy and love for Him. May we always remember during the hustle and bustle of our days to honor Him and remember Him for the eyes of our heart have been opened and we too have seen our salvation. For that we say Hallelujah and Hallelujah! In Jesus mighty name we pray, Amen!
*************************************************************
Mini-Study of the Week: During the month of December we will do a series of studies on Scriptures related to Christmas. We will resume our study of 1 Samuel in January.
Isaiah 40:3-5 - The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord;Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."
As we have entered the holiday season and with Christmas rapidly approaching, we see an opportunity to remember the "reason for the season". Isaiah in his prophecy is sharing with us that we need to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. John the Baptist used these words form Holy Writ as his cry for repentance to those he ministered to. He was the one who preceded the Messiah and who prepared the way by preaching repentance to men's hearts.
In the words of these verses we can see what a life rooted in Christ can achieve. Valleys shall be exalted, crooked places in our lives made straight, obstacle brought low and in every fiber of our being, God will be glorified. Today we can also prepare the way by being willing to share the Gospel with a lost world. We must not shy away from the call to repentance during this holiday season. The first gift of my salvation was that it happened in the month of December, and I have to tell you, it was the most beautiful Christmas ever. I knew and understood what the birth of our Messiah really meant.
Give that gift to someone this year by sowing the seeds of the Gospel in their lives. If they breathe, they need Jesus, so share your faith, witness to the lost, and trust God to bring the fruit. Rejoice during this month that you know the true story of Christmas. Like Isaiah and John teach us, prepare the way for Jesus our Lord to enter the lives of those who need Him. That is our mission and the best Christmas gift we can give anyone this year.
*************************************************************
Video of the Week:
May we all long for our Christmas to be about our Savior. As the song says, "this infant, this King, A Savior for all...", this is our joy this holiday season!
Third Day - "Christmas Like a Child"
Love each other, share His love and share His gospel...
See you next week!
In His Service,
Sergio
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