Thanks for joining us today... lets get started.
A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Phil: Hey man, I am sorry, I did not get your text, because my phone is broken. When my phone gets fixed I will definitely give you a call!!
Yagami: BrEaKfAsT wAs FuN tHiS mOrNiNg! ThAnKs FoR cOmInG! yOu ArE cRaZy!
Lucy: well, I am concerned if you want us all to be shining and burning LAMBS!!!!!! Sick! :) see you tonight at Lorraynes party~!
Jessica: Aloha! How is your new furniture? Great application yesterday: "how can we share His word if we dont know His word"
Jeff: 2:00 in the morning??? Where were you last night? Thanks for being faithful!
John 6:1-14
1 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.
2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.
3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.
4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.
5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”
6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”
8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him,
9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”
10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.
12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.”
13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
This is a great story that most of us are familiar with. This is the story when Jesus fed over 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. There are so many GREAT lessons in this story. I wil list a few.
1. The boy was willing to give all that he had tp Jesus so that Jesus could turn it into something outstanding. Think about it: If the boy would have been selfish then he would have hid what he had for himself, but instead, he was willing to let God make something great out of His life. To the extent that we are talking about Him on a blog over 2,000 years later. God wants to use each of you in the same way that He used this little boy.
-Maybe a thousand years from now (if Christ has not returned) people will talk about the great things that God did through you on an IHTC. (Integrated Holographic Telecommunication Core) Sell out to God and let Him use you for Greater things that you can dream of!!
2. God can take the little things that we have and turn it into much bigger things!
3. God will always take care of our needs when we follow Him. Probably over 10,000 people (because it says there were 5,000 men, - not including women and children) were out by this mountain and Jesus knew their need for food, and met that need! What a loving and compassionate God! He not only cares about our eternal needs, but He cares about our temporal needs as well!
4. If you dont have a lot of food, and you pray over it, then it will turn into baskets and baskets of food!! What??? Are you telling me that it didnt happen for you? Well youmust not have enough faith!! ;)
So, the main point: Give God all you got! Let Him turn it into SO MUCH MORE!!
What are your thoughts about this passage?
FRIDAY, June 6th, 2008
Well hello everyone! I am so thankful that you have all decided to join us this OFFICIAL first day of school FOR EVERYONE!!! How exciting is that! I am getting together with a few teens that can play instruments and we are going to record our first professional album today, so please call me if you have talent and can come play with us this morning. We are currently talent scouts looking for some other quality musicians!
A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Lucy: Glad that you still love me! :)
Brooke: I dont understand why... 11:00am is SO EARLY! You are silly! btw, that was a smooth move wasnt it!!
Kacey: It is awesome to read your "lectures" I like them a lot! I am glad you are back on here. Tell Jill to DO HER DEVOTIONS!!!!!!!
Alex: I have already been impressed that you have been doing your devos the last few days, if you beat your sister I will fall out my chair!! (in a good way)
Ryan: At first I did not realize that you misspelled the end on purpose... I was like!! HELLO!!! :) What is up with the fact that the day you come on here and leave Rachel a comment she doesnt come on herself?!?! Unbelievable :)
Jessica M: Thanks for the FULL song!
Phil: wow... I watched like 5 minutes of that video and It is absolutely horrible!! Dont watch it! It is a waste of YOUR PRECIOUS TIME!! By the way I cannot fit two fingers in your indentations!
John 5:31-39
31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.
32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.
33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.
34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.
35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.
36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.
38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.
39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
This passage is pretty neat, because it Shows Christ trying to explain to some people who He really is: Christ explains that there are two great ways that He can prove who He is. First of all, He says, that He does not expect us to believe it just beause He says it... Jesus gives us proof that He is the messiah, God in the flesh.
Proof #1: The testimonty of John. John was the burning and shining lamp that told people about the true light to come. We also can be like John and understnad that we are one of the few ways to show people that Jesus is God. We also should strive to be a shining and burning lamb for Christ.
Proof #2: The works that Jesus Christ did. This is another reason why we read the word of God, because His works prove who He is, and His works are described in His word. Another way this applies to us: God does many wonderful works in our life!!! We should testify of the great things that God has done in our life to show people who God is. Hopefully then they will believe in Christ and accept Him as their savior!!!
What do you think?
A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Lucy: Glad that you still love me! :)
Brooke: I dont understand why... 11:00am is SO EARLY! You are silly! btw, that was a smooth move wasnt it!!
Kacey: It is awesome to read your "lectures" I like them a lot! I am glad you are back on here. Tell Jill to DO HER DEVOTIONS!!!!!!!
Alex: I have already been impressed that you have been doing your devos the last few days, if you beat your sister I will fall out my chair!! (in a good way)
Ryan: At first I did not realize that you misspelled the end on purpose... I was like!! HELLO!!! :) What is up with the fact that the day you come on here and leave Rachel a comment she doesnt come on herself?!?! Unbelievable :)
Jessica M: Thanks for the FULL song!
Phil: wow... I watched like 5 minutes of that video and It is absolutely horrible!! Dont watch it! It is a waste of YOUR PRECIOUS TIME!! By the way I cannot fit two fingers in your indentations!
John 5:31-39
31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.
32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.
33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.
34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.
35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.
36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.
38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.
39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
This passage is pretty neat, because it Shows Christ trying to explain to some people who He really is: Christ explains that there are two great ways that He can prove who He is. First of all, He says, that He does not expect us to believe it just beause He says it... Jesus gives us proof that He is the messiah, God in the flesh.
Proof #1: The testimonty of John. John was the burning and shining lamp that told people about the true light to come. We also can be like John and understnad that we are one of the few ways to show people that Jesus is God. We also should strive to be a shining and burning lamb for Christ.
Proof #2: The works that Jesus Christ did. This is another reason why we read the word of God, because His works prove who He is, and His works are described in His word. Another way this applies to us: God does many wonderful works in our life!!! We should testify of the great things that God has done in our life to show people who God is. Hopefully then they will believe in Christ and accept Him as their savior!!!
What do you think?
THURSDAY, June 5th, 2008
Let me just say that sometimes God really works in mysterious ways. There are sometimes when a preacher has something on his heart to speak about, but after he preaches it he is really not sure that he shared it the way that he wanted to. Well that was me last night. I did not feel that I conveyed the message as clearly as I would have liked to, but like I said God works in mysterious ways. I think the response to the message last night was amazing! I know that God wants to do something AMAZING in our youth group, and seeing your faithfulness and passion on this blog is something that reminds me of that everyday.
Just as I said tonight: God wants to do something amazing with Suncoast Youth Group. I think that the youth group that we have rising up right now will be the greatest group of teenagers to come through this church that we have ever seen. It THRILLS my heart to think of the potential that each of you have in this life, if you simply sell out to Christ.
Many Thoughts from Yesterday:
Kacey: Can I just say... I am so thankful for you, and I am so impressed by your sacrifice. I know that doing something like "canceling your myspace" is not a small sacrifice for a teenager, and I want you to know that I am SO proud of you. I love to read your devotions! And I have missed you on here very much! I am glad you are back! Thanks for being such an encouragement!
McCue: Hey man, if you were at church tonight then you would have received two prizes for being first to post your devotions two days this week. Great job! It is SO COOL that you are so faithful even when it is hard to be faithful to something like this! Thanks man! By the way: Call Alex! :)
Lucy: Thanks for being faithful! I hope you know that I was only kidding with you last night about the couch... you looked at me like I was the meanest guy on the planet, so I a sorry! I probably shouldnt have made a silly comment like that! I am very glad you were at church!
Alex: I Told You that you would love playing the random pit instruments!!! It is much more fun than the zylaphone! (sp?!?!) We missed you last night! It was lots of fun! I hope you start coming to church again soon! :)
Drake: Great Job man! Do these Devos EVRYDAY! and Tell your brother to as well!!!
Jessica M: Great application. I like the way that you explained we often try to fix things ourself to no avail! Just like the cripple man. Good Job!
John 5:16-29
16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
There is a whole lot in this passage, so I challenge you to just pick something that means something to you and talk about that. I will pick two things that jumped out at me.
1. The passage starts out with the pharisees trying to kill Jesus. Remember, Jesus has basically just come on the scene and mankind already wants to kill Him. Why did they want to kill Him? Because apparently, He was breaking all the rules.
The truth is that Christ wanted them to know, that yes there were rules, but the rules were created to simply guide people into a relationship with the ruler. There are many people even today that try to make of their own rules. They try to tell you that if you do not listen to their kind of music, or worship the same way that they worship, or some that even say you must wear the same kind of clothes that they do if you want to be right with God.
I am so thankful that our church does not struggle with that. My Christianity is not about rules, but it is about relationship. When I have established a relationship then I dont have to be beat over the head with a rule book. I simply follow the rules when there is a relationship, because I want to please my savior!
2. Verses 24-30 explain that if we are in that "relationship" with Christ, then we are saved. (by believing in His death burial and resurrection) and we can count the days until he returns to take us home!! Boy am I excited! I would love for Him to come tomorrow!!!! Would you?
SORRY THIS IS SO LONG TODAY!!! I will try to keep it shorter in the future.
Just as I said tonight: God wants to do something amazing with Suncoast Youth Group. I think that the youth group that we have rising up right now will be the greatest group of teenagers to come through this church that we have ever seen. It THRILLS my heart to think of the potential that each of you have in this life, if you simply sell out to Christ.
Many Thoughts from Yesterday:
Kacey: Can I just say... I am so thankful for you, and I am so impressed by your sacrifice. I know that doing something like "canceling your myspace" is not a small sacrifice for a teenager, and I want you to know that I am SO proud of you. I love to read your devotions! And I have missed you on here very much! I am glad you are back! Thanks for being such an encouragement!
McCue: Hey man, if you were at church tonight then you would have received two prizes for being first to post your devotions two days this week. Great job! It is SO COOL that you are so faithful even when it is hard to be faithful to something like this! Thanks man! By the way: Call Alex! :)
Lucy: Thanks for being faithful! I hope you know that I was only kidding with you last night about the couch... you looked at me like I was the meanest guy on the planet, so I a sorry! I probably shouldnt have made a silly comment like that! I am very glad you were at church!
Alex: I Told You that you would love playing the random pit instruments!!! It is much more fun than the zylaphone! (sp?!?!) We missed you last night! It was lots of fun! I hope you start coming to church again soon! :)
Drake: Great Job man! Do these Devos EVRYDAY! and Tell your brother to as well!!!
Jessica M: Great application. I like the way that you explained we often try to fix things ourself to no avail! Just like the cripple man. Good Job!
John 5:16-29
16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
There is a whole lot in this passage, so I challenge you to just pick something that means something to you and talk about that. I will pick two things that jumped out at me.
1. The passage starts out with the pharisees trying to kill Jesus. Remember, Jesus has basically just come on the scene and mankind already wants to kill Him. Why did they want to kill Him? Because apparently, He was breaking all the rules.
The truth is that Christ wanted them to know, that yes there were rules, but the rules were created to simply guide people into a relationship with the ruler. There are many people even today that try to make of their own rules. They try to tell you that if you do not listen to their kind of music, or worship the same way that they worship, or some that even say you must wear the same kind of clothes that they do if you want to be right with God.
I am so thankful that our church does not struggle with that. My Christianity is not about rules, but it is about relationship. When I have established a relationship then I dont have to be beat over the head with a rule book. I simply follow the rules when there is a relationship, because I want to please my savior!
2. Verses 24-30 explain that if we are in that "relationship" with Christ, then we are saved. (by believing in His death burial and resurrection) and we can count the days until he returns to take us home!! Boy am I excited! I would love for Him to come tomorrow!!!! Would you?
SORRY THIS IS SO LONG TODAY!!! I will try to keep it shorter in the future.
WEDNESDAY, June 4th, 2008
Tonight is youth group! Make sure you are there. We need to have AT LEAST 40 people, but lets try for 50, so call up some friends and bring them with you!
A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
McCue: I am so glad that you got that cool phone that you can do your devotions with!! Awesome!
Jeff: Great job on the devos! VERY THOROUGH!
Jonathan: Very good job, but... what is up with saying: Hey my sons dying (lol)? what is funny about that? You are crazy!
Lucy: Hey Homie! Are you coming tonight? :)
Ryuzaki: That is the best part of the pit! It is so cool to get your adrenaline going as you run back and forth between the gong, the cymbals, both CRASH and suspended, and many other little gadgets! I think you will enjoy it more than you think!
Jessica: So you are getting that car? AWESOME! Congratulatoins!
John 5:1-15
1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.
5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”
9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’”
12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?”
13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.
14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
This story seems very humorous: There is this pool of water that supposedly heals people when they walk into it, but it only heals one person, and only whenever an angel comes and stirs the water.
So imagine the scene here: there are lame people, blind people, cripple people, deaf people, and many other people with their own need for healing. They are all lounging around this pool waiting... ... waiting for the water to move, so that the deaf people can very quietly try to sneak past the blind people, who are feeling all around trying to guess which direction the pool is. The blind people are tripping over the cripple people and some guy with leprosy is sitting there watching it all. Can you imagine the picture here? I think it would be such an icredible picture of so many people, living an absolutely HORRIBLE life waiting to be healed.
The irony comes in when you add in the fact that these people thought that water would save them, when their creator and healer was standing there right beside them.
This reminds me of our world today. There are so many people living horrible lives, they are miserable, living in there sin, living with their problems, many of them not even wanting to live anymore.
These people are trying to find healing in the things of this world: money, toys, sports, bars, and much more, but the only true source of healing that can be found is though Jesus Christ.
As you walk through the halls at school, or the mall, or through your neighborhood, try to see lost people just like these lame, cripple, deaf, and blind people at the pool of Bethesda SEARCHING for healing!! And we know the answer, the healer, that will give them life and life more abundant! Jesus Christ!
A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
McCue: I am so glad that you got that cool phone that you can do your devotions with!! Awesome!
Jeff: Great job on the devos! VERY THOROUGH!
Jonathan: Very good job, but... what is up with saying: Hey my sons dying (lol)? what is funny about that? You are crazy!
Lucy: Hey Homie! Are you coming tonight? :)
Ryuzaki: That is the best part of the pit! It is so cool to get your adrenaline going as you run back and forth between the gong, the cymbals, both CRASH and suspended, and many other little gadgets! I think you will enjoy it more than you think!
Jessica: So you are getting that car? AWESOME! Congratulatoins!
John 5:1-15
1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.
5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”
9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’”
12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?”
13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.
14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
This story seems very humorous: There is this pool of water that supposedly heals people when they walk into it, but it only heals one person, and only whenever an angel comes and stirs the water.
So imagine the scene here: there are lame people, blind people, cripple people, deaf people, and many other people with their own need for healing. They are all lounging around this pool waiting... ... waiting for the water to move, so that the deaf people can very quietly try to sneak past the blind people, who are feeling all around trying to guess which direction the pool is. The blind people are tripping over the cripple people and some guy with leprosy is sitting there watching it all. Can you imagine the picture here? I think it would be such an icredible picture of so many people, living an absolutely HORRIBLE life waiting to be healed.
The irony comes in when you add in the fact that these people thought that water would save them, when their creator and healer was standing there right beside them.
This reminds me of our world today. There are so many people living horrible lives, they are miserable, living in there sin, living with their problems, many of them not even wanting to live anymore.
These people are trying to find healing in the things of this world: money, toys, sports, bars, and much more, but the only true source of healing that can be found is though Jesus Christ.
As you walk through the halls at school, or the mall, or through your neighborhood, try to see lost people just like these lame, cripple, deaf, and blind people at the pool of Bethesda SEARCHING for healing!! And we know the answer, the healer, that will give them life and life more abundant! Jesus Christ!
TUESDAY, June 3rd, 2008
It is Summer Time!! How Cool is that! (Well for almost everyone)
I think it was so neat how so many of you were able to do your devotions before 3 o'clock yesterday. I went on around 3, and there were already 8 comments! Great Job!
Summer time provides a great opportunity to be faithful in your devotions.
Many of you have lots of extra time, so make your devotions a priority and be faithful! Stay in the word!
A Few Thought From Yesterday:
Lucy and Jessica: Great Job! I am so thankful that you both are in the youth group now! FINALLY!!! Thanks for staying faithful in your devotions! Keep up the Great work!
Jeff: What are you doing today? Call me! (Who's computer are you using for devo's?)
Gaby: WHAT!! You were sick all night Sunday night? What dessert did you get? Do you really think it was the dessert! How terrible! Hope you feel better now! :)
Rachel: Katie told me that the storm yesterday was pretty serious. It was not bad up at the church, but when I got home there was about six inches of water in my whole front yard!! Pretty Crazy!
Jonathan: Thanks for being faithful! Keep it up!
John 4:39-54
39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.”
40 So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.
41 And many more believed because of His own word.
42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ,[a] the Savior of the world.”
Welcome at Galilee
43 Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee.
44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.
45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.
A Nobleman’s Son Healed
46 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.
47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.
48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”
49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”
50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.
51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”
52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”
53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.
54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.
This is a great story: It begins in verses 39-42 talking about the impact that the woman at the well had on her city. Because of her witness, everyone in the city was seeking after the messiah, Jesus Christ! I think it is neat that it shows Jesus changed his plans because the people asked Him to. Do you remember? Jesus was headed to Gallilee, he simply stopped here to get some water. Well, the people asked Him to stay for two days, and He did. Jesus will answer all of our requests as well, if they are asked with pure motives. What an amazing thing to know that The God of the universe is willing to change His plans for me, if I simply pray and ask Him to!
Next we see in verses 46-54 a neat story about the faith of a nobleman. This man walks up to Jesus to ask Him to heal his son. The man tells Jesus that his son is sick. Jesus then tells him: Go back home, your son is alive!! Think about how cool that moment would be.
The passage makes it clear that Jesus only saved the son, because the father had faith!! Think about what GREAT things God wants to do in your life, but you must have faith and you must talk to him about it! (Prayer)
I know in my personal life, it is very easy to trust in my own actions, my own goals and accomplishments. But I must understand that when I try to live by my own means, I am robbing myself of the blessings God wants to pour out on my jsut for living by faith and in Prayer!
What did you pray about yesterday? ... Ouch. Well, what WILL you pray about today?
Pray with faith believing that Godwill answer your request!
I think it was so neat how so many of you were able to do your devotions before 3 o'clock yesterday. I went on around 3, and there were already 8 comments! Great Job!
Summer time provides a great opportunity to be faithful in your devotions.
Many of you have lots of extra time, so make your devotions a priority and be faithful! Stay in the word!
A Few Thought From Yesterday:
Lucy and Jessica: Great Job! I am so thankful that you both are in the youth group now! FINALLY!!! Thanks for staying faithful in your devotions! Keep up the Great work!
Jeff: What are you doing today? Call me! (Who's computer are you using for devo's?)
Gaby: WHAT!! You were sick all night Sunday night? What dessert did you get? Do you really think it was the dessert! How terrible! Hope you feel better now! :)
Rachel: Katie told me that the storm yesterday was pretty serious. It was not bad up at the church, but when I got home there was about six inches of water in my whole front yard!! Pretty Crazy!
Jonathan: Thanks for being faithful! Keep it up!
John 4:39-54
39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.”
40 So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.
41 And many more believed because of His own word.
42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ,[a] the Savior of the world.”
Welcome at Galilee
43 Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee.
44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.
45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.
A Nobleman’s Son Healed
46 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.
47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.
48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”
49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”
50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.
51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”
52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”
53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.
54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.
This is a great story: It begins in verses 39-42 talking about the impact that the woman at the well had on her city. Because of her witness, everyone in the city was seeking after the messiah, Jesus Christ! I think it is neat that it shows Jesus changed his plans because the people asked Him to. Do you remember? Jesus was headed to Gallilee, he simply stopped here to get some water. Well, the people asked Him to stay for two days, and He did. Jesus will answer all of our requests as well, if they are asked with pure motives. What an amazing thing to know that The God of the universe is willing to change His plans for me, if I simply pray and ask Him to!
Next we see in verses 46-54 a neat story about the faith of a nobleman. This man walks up to Jesus to ask Him to heal his son. The man tells Jesus that his son is sick. Jesus then tells him: Go back home, your son is alive!! Think about how cool that moment would be.
The passage makes it clear that Jesus only saved the son, because the father had faith!! Think about what GREAT things God wants to do in your life, but you must have faith and you must talk to him about it! (Prayer)
I know in my personal life, it is very easy to trust in my own actions, my own goals and accomplishments. But I must understand that when I try to live by my own means, I am robbing myself of the blessings God wants to pour out on my jsut for living by faith and in Prayer!
What did you pray about yesterday? ... Ouch. Well, what WILL you pray about today?
Pray with faith believing that Godwill answer your request!
MONDAY, June 2nd, 2008
Hello my fellow Auctioneers! This is a little long: but bear with me. It is good stuff!
I hope you were able to join us at the dessert auction last night! We sold almost 30 desserts and raised over $2500.00 dollars! It was a whole munch of fun too! If you were not there... Same on you! (unless you had a good excuse)
I want to say a special thank you to the teenagers at church last night. It is wonderful to know that I can challenge each of you with something, and you listen to the challenge and change what needs to be changed. You all are GREAT! Last Sunday night there were 4 teenagers in church. Yesterday I explained how important it is to be in church (even on Sunday Nights) and about 24 of you were there last night! It was so very encouraging to see each of you there last night.
I guarantee that if you keep it up, you will be rewarded and blessed for it!
I almost called it a sacrifice, but really 2.39% is not a sacrifice. I was talking to a few of you yesterday who told me, we should come up with more things to do with church, so that we can raise that percentage. I said it was a great idea: But I want your help coming up with what we will do! Here are a few of my thoughts:
We could meet on Tuesday Nights for some kind of Teen Praise Band, or Teen Choir, or something like that. We could meet on Thursday Night for visitation!! I am sure there are even more exciting things you can think of. Comment them along with your devotions today!
A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Jeff: What in the World is "Teen Titans"
Jessica: Great job on the devos this week! I am thankful that you are finally in youth group! I talked with Lucy yesterday and explained to her that I want you and her and all of these other 7th graders to really jump start this summer. Get involved in every way you can; whether it is by doing devos online, or by coming to all our activities.
McCue: I am glad your phone lets you do devos online! Sweet! Stay faitfhul as much as possible!
Amy: We miss you! What did you do to your knee? When you come back are you going to be allowed to come to youth group on Sundays now?
John 4:27-38
27 And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why are You talking with her?”
28 The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men,
29 “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”
30 Then they went out of the city and came to Him.
31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”
32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”
33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?”
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!
36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.
37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’
38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”
Verses 28 - 30 explain how this woman went and spread the news about the messiah to the people she knew. What an example. She just believed in Christ, and she immediately went out to witness: some of us have been saved our entire life, and we SILL dont witness! Why is that?
We must understand that if we are not sharing the truth of Christ to the people in our life then we are failing at what God has asked us to do! We should spread the good news by whatever means possible; whether that means to talk about him at school, to talk about him on your myspace, to talk about him when you are with your friends, and every other opportunity you have!
Verses 31-33 are kind of funny. While the woman that Christ met at the well is out witnessing to others; The disciples tell Jesus that He needs to eat. Well, "Christ tells them: I have food to eat that you dont know about..." (Obviously He is being figurative; giving an illustration) Hoever, the disciples start asking each other: Did someone already bring Him food?
NO SILLY! NO ONE BROUGHT HIM FOOD!! He is explaining that there is something more important than eating! Jesus must have thought: You guys just dont get it! Jesus went on to explain to the men what He meant.
verses 34-38 explain what Jesus was thinking when He said "I have food which you dont know of".
I am almost done but you have to understand this to get the passage. Food is what keeps us going, it is what nourishes us, and helps us stay alive. The disciples thought that some bread was what kept them going, but Jesus explained that there is a greater source of life. A greater source of nourishment, a greater source that "keeps us going" and that is to "DO GOD'S WILL"!!!!
We dont need to put it off! The fields are already white unto harvest! They are READY! We must go ahead and "eat the food" or Follow the will of God for our lives!
What are your thoughts?
I hope you were able to join us at the dessert auction last night! We sold almost 30 desserts and raised over $2500.00 dollars! It was a whole munch of fun too! If you were not there... Same on you! (unless you had a good excuse)
I want to say a special thank you to the teenagers at church last night. It is wonderful to know that I can challenge each of you with something, and you listen to the challenge and change what needs to be changed. You all are GREAT! Last Sunday night there were 4 teenagers in church. Yesterday I explained how important it is to be in church (even on Sunday Nights) and about 24 of you were there last night! It was so very encouraging to see each of you there last night.
I guarantee that if you keep it up, you will be rewarded and blessed for it!
I almost called it a sacrifice, but really 2.39% is not a sacrifice. I was talking to a few of you yesterday who told me, we should come up with more things to do with church, so that we can raise that percentage. I said it was a great idea: But I want your help coming up with what we will do! Here are a few of my thoughts:
We could meet on Tuesday Nights for some kind of Teen Praise Band, or Teen Choir, or something like that. We could meet on Thursday Night for visitation!! I am sure there are even more exciting things you can think of. Comment them along with your devotions today!
A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Jeff: What in the World is "Teen Titans"
Jessica: Great job on the devos this week! I am thankful that you are finally in youth group! I talked with Lucy yesterday and explained to her that I want you and her and all of these other 7th graders to really jump start this summer. Get involved in every way you can; whether it is by doing devos online, or by coming to all our activities.
McCue: I am glad your phone lets you do devos online! Sweet! Stay faitfhul as much as possible!
Amy: We miss you! What did you do to your knee? When you come back are you going to be allowed to come to youth group on Sundays now?
John 4:27-38
27 And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why are You talking with her?”
28 The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men,
29 “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”
30 Then they went out of the city and came to Him.
31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”
32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”
33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?”
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!
36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.
37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’
38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”
Verses 28 - 30 explain how this woman went and spread the news about the messiah to the people she knew. What an example. She just believed in Christ, and she immediately went out to witness: some of us have been saved our entire life, and we SILL dont witness! Why is that?
We must understand that if we are not sharing the truth of Christ to the people in our life then we are failing at what God has asked us to do! We should spread the good news by whatever means possible; whether that means to talk about him at school, to talk about him on your myspace, to talk about him when you are with your friends, and every other opportunity you have!
Verses 31-33 are kind of funny. While the woman that Christ met at the well is out witnessing to others; The disciples tell Jesus that He needs to eat. Well, "Christ tells them: I have food to eat that you dont know about..." (Obviously He is being figurative; giving an illustration) Hoever, the disciples start asking each other: Did someone already bring Him food?
NO SILLY! NO ONE BROUGHT HIM FOOD!! He is explaining that there is something more important than eating! Jesus must have thought: You guys just dont get it! Jesus went on to explain to the men what He meant.
verses 34-38 explain what Jesus was thinking when He said "I have food which you dont know of".
I am almost done but you have to understand this to get the passage. Food is what keeps us going, it is what nourishes us, and helps us stay alive. The disciples thought that some bread was what kept them going, but Jesus explained that there is a greater source of life. A greater source of nourishment, a greater source that "keeps us going" and that is to "DO GOD'S WILL"!!!!
We dont need to put it off! The fields are already white unto harvest! They are READY! We must go ahead and "eat the food" or Follow the will of God for our lives!
What are your thoughts?
SUNDAY, June 1st, 2008
Well today is Sunday!
I hope that you were able to be in Sunday School today!
Today I want to take a second to challenge each of you with something.
I have noticed that our youth group is struggling with a mind set that is taking over the church today. This mind set is that we only need to be in church one time on Sundays.
It has seemed like there are less and less teenagers coming to Sunday evening services. Why is that? Sunday night is a great time where we all come together, we have a very enjoyable service, and we also have a great time of fellowship afterwards, either at a restaurant, or at someones home.
I want to challenge each of you to be faithful. You have 4 hours a week that you have the opportunity to spend in Gods house with Gods people. That is 4 hours out of 168. THAT IS LITERALLY 2.39 Percent!
CAN YOU GIVE 2.39% of your time each week to spend with God and His people? He deserves so much more than that! I hope that you understand how important it is to be in church! I hope you are challenged to be faithful in your church attendance!
What are your thoughts? Can I get some back up on this?
Make God a priority in your life, and be in church when the doors are open! God is worth so much more!
I hope that you were able to be in Sunday School today!
Today I want to take a second to challenge each of you with something.
I have noticed that our youth group is struggling with a mind set that is taking over the church today. This mind set is that we only need to be in church one time on Sundays.
It has seemed like there are less and less teenagers coming to Sunday evening services. Why is that? Sunday night is a great time where we all come together, we have a very enjoyable service, and we also have a great time of fellowship afterwards, either at a restaurant, or at someones home.
I want to challenge each of you to be faithful. You have 4 hours a week that you have the opportunity to spend in Gods house with Gods people. That is 4 hours out of 168. THAT IS LITERALLY 2.39 Percent!
CAN YOU GIVE 2.39% of your time each week to spend with God and His people? He deserves so much more than that! I hope that you understand how important it is to be in church! I hope you are challenged to be faithful in your church attendance!
What are your thoughts? Can I get some back up on this?
Make God a priority in your life, and be in church when the doors are open! God is worth so much more!
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