Scripture – Matthew 24:38,44

“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” …..……………“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

O- Observation-

Jesus is teaching on his return, explaining to His followers to be ready and watch for the signs.

A- Application

You look back at the story of Noah and you observe how the people lived. Despite the message Noah was preaching of God’s coming wrath, they continued to live without a thought of God. Going about their daily lives, not giving a second thought. Now Jesus explains that it will be the same on the day of His return. Wow, when I stop to think of how often I get so caught up in deadlines, schedules and just the business of life. I begin to realize that Jesus is not just talking to lost people he is talking to His followers and saying, “Will you be ready?”

P-Prayer

Jesus please help me to not be so busy that I forget about actively serving you. I want to be ready for your return, not just having my heart right with you but also doing all I can to help others to find and know you! I love you, Amen

Share your thoughts, your experiences, let us know what your thinking.

Alex

If I’m to be completely honest, I must admit that originally I thought that the 90-Day New Testament Reading Challenge would be just that…. a challenge.  Something hard to do; something that I would start out excited to face - but as that excitement faded away so would my passion & drive to complete the task  (since it is only day 6 - I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself!).  Instead I am finding myself invigorated and feeling refreshed each day.  There have been many times recently when I’ve felt the weight of life in general pressing down on me, but I’ve noticed that by getting in the Word daily and renewing my mind with His teaching I am able to release those burdens and relieve my stresses. The combination of reading, writing in my Life Journal, & recording specific prayers really gets me focused on God first. And when He is first, everything else will fall into place.  My last prayer was simply this:

God help me be influenced by you more-and-more each day.

In Matthew 11 (which I just read again the other day) Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you….For my yoke is easy to bear and the burden I give you is light”.  What a comfort! It’s when  I  remember a scripture like this that I can breathe that ~sigh~ of relief and release the things that just weigh me down.

I truly can’t fathom how I even functioned before knowing Christ, and asking Him to be my Saviour!  My life is far from perfect but He continues to remind me day-after-day that He is the ONLY way, so I’m holding on tight & refusing to let go!

Blessings, Nina.

S-Scripture- Matthew 18:3-4

“And he said:  ”I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

O-Observation-  Jesus is speaking in the text and stating that the change that is required is one that means each person should become like a child.  Jesus is asking us to become humble, dependent and ready to be shaped by maturity.

A-Application- Once a person makes a decision to follow Christ a change must take place.  This change or conversion isn’t just a one-time experience but it becomes a lifestyle change.  My habits commitments, and daily routines must become “child-like.”  This is not to say we become “child-ish,” immature or weak but change like a child so that arrogance and pride are removed and true humility can take place in our lives.  I must learn to walk like a child if I expect to enter into the kingdom as Christ stated.

P-Prayer- Lord help me to become more like a child in my attitude towards serving you.  May my pride and arrogance be replaced by humility and servanthood.  Teach me to be more like a child so that I can follow you with honesty & transparency.

Go for the change, as Christ has commanded!  Let me know your thoughts, challenges, victories!

Dave

S-Scripture -  Matthew 12:36-37

“But I tell you that men will have to give an account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned.”

O- Observation- Jesus is teaching about the power of the words we speak.  Reminding us that our words have the power to bind us or set us free.  We must be very aware of the words we use in our lives.

A- Application-  Each word spoken from our lips carries a potential of positive or negative power.  There will be a day when each word spoken will be judged and so I want to make every effort to ensure the words I use will be words that carry encouraging, positive, healthy power rather than negative, discouraging illness.  I have the choice each day to be aware of this reality and must be careful to watch the words I use each day.

P-Pray-  Lord I pray that the words I speak would be words of life rather than death.  I pray as I discipline myself in this area of my life to be a “word watcher” that it will become a positive habit and therefore the words I speak will be life giving rather than life killing.  Help me to be more like you Lord Jesus in my choice of words.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Well this scripture is something I have always known about, but there have been times when I could have been softer with my words.  Truth is, every word spoken is judged, so I better be not only aware of this but make some big changes in how my words bring life.

How about you?  Does this change how you speak to others?  Does it make you think twice about saying the first thing that comes to your mind, especially when you think you’re right?  Any thoughts, let me hear.

Dave

S- Scripture-  Matthew 9:12-13

^{On hearing this, Jesus said, It’ is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice. ‘For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”}

Welcome to Day 1 of the 90-Day New Testament Challenge.  This is an exciting journey and we look forward to hearing your thoughts and the wisdom God is imparting to you!

Here’s my first journal entry:

April 1/10,  Matthew 3:8, “Repentant Fruit”

S- Scripture-  Matthew 3:8  ”Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (NIV)

O-Observation-  The evidence of true repentance is the bearing of good fruit. (simple but true)

A- Application-  Good fruit in my life will help me to know that I am on the right path.  I must always be aware of the type of fruit I am bearing.  If there is no fruit coming from my life than I am slipping into sin.  It is an easy road to slip into if I am not aware of this daily,  Be very aware!

P- God help me to live a life filled with good fruit.  May I be a person that lives out what I believe and be consistent to follow through daily.  Help me Lord to be a person of integrity and produce fruit in my life.

I will continue to listen to the wisdom of God through this scripture and trust God will continue to challenge me and provide new insight through His word.

I’d love to hear what scripture God has given you today, and any wisdom He has imparted to you.

Are you up for the challenge?

Let me know how Day 1 was for you?

Dave

The Life Journal is Coming Soon!

I’ve got to share with you a secret, it’s something that I am so excited about I cannot wait till we launch the vision on Sunday March 28.  For the last few months I have been asking the Lord how we as a church can begin to really dig into the Word of God in a way that will be meaningful to our community.  Usually what happens is that in January of most years pastors provide their churches with a Bible reading plan that starts off with great enthusiasm and then fades away very quickly.  Most people lose their steam and fall off the Bible reading plan track and it becomes very discouraging for those involved.

At the beginning of 2010 I really wanted to be one of those pastors that could beat the odds but didn’t really feel that we had something that would be a winner for everyone- till now.  It’s three months into the new year and I haven’t found anything till now, and I’ve got to say that I am so excited, or maybe I said that already?

So I heard of this program from a colleague of mine that suggested I give it a look.  I took a look at this program and thought well I don’t know, I’m not a big journal writing kind of guy, however the more I look at it I realize this is something that we can have fun with in our community and it will help all of us that want to dig deeper into God’s Word.  So I’m pumped, I think we have something that we can develop for our church and begin this journal journey together.

The Life Journal is a Bible reading plan developed by Wayne Cordeiro, Senior Pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Hawaii.  The Life Journal has gone around the world with over 400 000 people picking up their copy and this number is rising daily.

Here’s the simplified explanation of what Life Journal is all about.  In four easy steps you will begin to record what God is speaking to you about on a daily basis with the acrostic SOAP.

S- Scripture, record your favourite scripture from the Bible reading plan provided.

O- Observation, make an observation from the scripture and record in the journal.

A- Application, make an application from the scripture to your life and record.

P- Prayer, write out a simple prayer.

That’s it, God will begin speaking as you work through the scriptures in a systematic way and begin listening to the voice of God.  Truth is, God is always speaking but unless we tune into His frequency we miss His voice completely.

So I’m sorry if I let the secret out before the launch date Sunday March 28, but I just couldn’t contain myself.  Truth is, I want you to be ready to jump in with both feet as we begin the Life Journal and The 90 Day New Testament Challenge beginning April 1st.  (there I go again, can’t keep a secret)

Get ready, as we Journal together!

By the way, your Life Journal will be available for the cost of about $12, includes 90 page journal & pen set with Liberty logo, Bible reading & journal plan.

So make sure you’re with us on Sunday March 28th @ 10am for the launch of the Life Journal!

Dave