Well, I am updating this post from my desk in my living room. I have been home for about 40 minutes... just enought time to clean up, shave and put on some CLEAN CLOTHES!!! We had a great time camping out at Myakka State Park since Thursday.
I must tell each of you that my favorite time of the entire campout was doing the devotions together. Especially this morning! It was a great time, I wish we could sit together and talk about what we got out of the word of God every single day; but this devotional blog is the next best thing! I am so thankful that so many of you are being so faithful.
Remember our second reward trip is in two weekends! We are going to have a great time! ALSO: We will plan a smaller day outing very soon, so stay faithful!!
Today While at the Campsite we looked at the last six verses of Chapter 6:
Here is the passage below:
If you were not out there with us, or if you were and you just want to say it again, then simply post your thoughts and comments.
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”
71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
We covered this passage this morning at the campsite and I really enjoyed your thoughts:
I shared two main thoughts about this passage:
1. Peter knew that he had no where else to go. When Christ asked him if he would leave with all the rest of the crowd, Peter said: Lord to whom shall we go?
- We should understand the same thing that Peter knew... Without Christ we have nothing! Only by Jesus Christ do we have life, and salvation. Instead of following everyone else away from God, we must realize that there is no ther source for lice, joy peace and love!
2. Judas was one of the welve... the passage literally says that Jesus Chose Judas. Why would JEsus choose someone who would betray Him? He Chose Judas because Jesus knew that He had a purpose on this earth, and that purpose was to be the sacrifice for the sin of mankind!
God chooses us! Even though He knows that we will betray Him, He still loves us and chooses us! We will never know a more genuine and unconditional love, than the love of Christ!
What are your thoughts?
BE IN SUNDAY SCHOOL TOMORROW~!!
FRIDAY, June 13th, 2008
Well today we are out in the middle of the wilderness. We are at the youth camp area at Myakka State Park. Here is the Schedule for the day today:
7:30a - Breakfast
9:00a - Devotions
10:00a - Drive to Canoe Rental
10:30a - Canoe
12:00p - Lunch on the River
12:45p - Finish Canoeing
4:00p - Drive back to camp site
5:30p - Eat Dinner
7:00p - Free Time
8:30p - Skits by the fire
11:30p- Lights out... wait there are no lights!!
Well we will be doing our devotions out at the campsite, so if you want to study the same passage that we are looking at Then read this passage below!
John 6:60-71
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”
61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you?
62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.
65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”
71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
What a great passage! Some people will choose to follow Christ, and some people will choose to go astray. I think that years from now, the people who choose to follow Christ will receive the fruit of the decisions they make. But those who go astray will suffer the consequences of thier sin.
Many turned away but only twelve stayed faithful... and truely: Even one person of those 12 would betray Christ.
Dont betray Christ. Make your theme the words that Peter said: "Lord, To Whom Shall We Go?"
7:30a - Breakfast
9:00a - Devotions
10:00a - Drive to Canoe Rental
10:30a - Canoe
12:00p - Lunch on the River
12:45p - Finish Canoeing
4:00p - Drive back to camp site
5:30p - Eat Dinner
7:00p - Free Time
8:30p - Skits by the fire
11:30p- Lights out... wait there are no lights!!
Well we will be doing our devotions out at the campsite, so if you want to study the same passage that we are looking at Then read this passage below!
John 6:60-71
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”
61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you?
62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.
65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”
71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
What a great passage! Some people will choose to follow Christ, and some people will choose to go astray. I think that years from now, the people who choose to follow Christ will receive the fruit of the decisions they make. But those who go astray will suffer the consequences of thier sin.
Many turned away but only twelve stayed faithful... and truely: Even one person of those 12 would betray Christ.
Dont betray Christ. Make your theme the words that Peter said: "Lord, To Whom Shall We Go?"
THURSDAY, June 12th, 2008
Well teenagers, today we are going camping at Myakka State Park. We will be leaving around 1:45 so get your devos finished before you come up to the church! If you have any questions about this outstanding campout just give pastor Lee a call.
A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Kacey: That was pretty funny when you said: "I only got 7 hours of sleep last night"
Jessica B: I hope your headache is better! I am thankful that your Mom changed her mind and is now letting you come!
McCue: We miss you man! You qualified for the Reward Trip so if you want to fly back and hang out with is in two weekends that would be awesome! I am so thankful for you and proud of you for being faithful in spite of so many obstacles!! Keep up the Great Work!
Brooke: I love the way you said: "We have the truth of God right at our Grasp" also... I thought it was funny how your "Deviled" eggs made you lose track of your devotions... it that just a coincidence?
Phil: I hope that you are reading this before anyone else so that you can be the first to comment ON YOUR BIRTHDAY!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAN!! (Happy Birthday to Jake as well)
Gaby: Will told me to tell you that He had fun hanging out with you before the service tonight, and I am glad that Wednesday nights are your favorite time of the week! :)
Jessica Massey: To bad you cant sleep in, can you? Because you have volley ball practice dont you?
John 6:41-60
41 The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.”
42 And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves.
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.
46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father.
47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
48 I am the bread of life.
49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
52 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”
53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.
54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.
56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”
59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”
Wow... It is sad to see how ignorant man can be. Think about this: Jesus is still trying to explain to these men how they can have eternal life, but they are taking everything He is saying out of context or misunderstanding Him. Verse 60 really makes it clear what this whole section was about: They admit that they do not understand what God is talking about in this passage! Lets quickly go back to the beginning.
Once again, this passage continues the conversation between Jesus and all of these followers. They are more skeptical than ever. They try to put everything that Jesus is saying together... so they think that They must eat a certain kind of bread to have eternal life... Then they hear that Jesus Christ is that bread... So they figure that (GET THIS) they must eat Jesus to be able to go to heaven.
Wow... that just shows how confusing we can make things when we try to explain the wisdom of God to the simplicity of man. God says that His ways are High above our ways.
Obviously Christ did not mean to eat his flesh, he meant that we should be so consumed with Jesus that He is the source and the substance of our life!
Is Jesus the main part of your life? Do you know who He is?
The Bible tells us that we are to "Taste and See that the Lord is Good" Are you consumed with the Lord? HAve you tasted him? NOT LITERALLY! But have you experienced the great satisfaction of a wonderful close relationship with Jesus Christ?
Do It Today!
A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Kacey: That was pretty funny when you said: "I only got 7 hours of sleep last night"
Jessica B: I hope your headache is better! I am thankful that your Mom changed her mind and is now letting you come!
McCue: We miss you man! You qualified for the Reward Trip so if you want to fly back and hang out with is in two weekends that would be awesome! I am so thankful for you and proud of you for being faithful in spite of so many obstacles!! Keep up the Great Work!
Brooke: I love the way you said: "We have the truth of God right at our Grasp" also... I thought it was funny how your "Deviled" eggs made you lose track of your devotions... it that just a coincidence?
Phil: I hope that you are reading this before anyone else so that you can be the first to comment ON YOUR BIRTHDAY!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAN!! (Happy Birthday to Jake as well)
Gaby: Will told me to tell you that He had fun hanging out with you before the service tonight, and I am glad that Wednesday nights are your favorite time of the week! :)
Jessica Massey: To bad you cant sleep in, can you? Because you have volley ball practice dont you?
John 6:41-60
41 The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.”
42 And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves.
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.
46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father.
47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
48 I am the bread of life.
49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
52 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”
53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.
54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.
56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”
59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”
Wow... It is sad to see how ignorant man can be. Think about this: Jesus is still trying to explain to these men how they can have eternal life, but they are taking everything He is saying out of context or misunderstanding Him. Verse 60 really makes it clear what this whole section was about: They admit that they do not understand what God is talking about in this passage! Lets quickly go back to the beginning.
Once again, this passage continues the conversation between Jesus and all of these followers. They are more skeptical than ever. They try to put everything that Jesus is saying together... so they think that They must eat a certain kind of bread to have eternal life... Then they hear that Jesus Christ is that bread... So they figure that (GET THIS) they must eat Jesus to be able to go to heaven.
Wow... that just shows how confusing we can make things when we try to explain the wisdom of God to the simplicity of man. God says that His ways are High above our ways.
Obviously Christ did not mean to eat his flesh, he meant that we should be so consumed with Jesus that He is the source and the substance of our life!
Is Jesus the main part of your life? Do you know who He is?
The Bible tells us that we are to "Taste and See that the Lord is Good" Are you consumed with the Lord? HAve you tasted him? NOT LITERALLY! But have you experienced the great satisfaction of a wonderful close relationship with Jesus Christ?
Do It Today!
WEDNESDAY, June 11th, 2008
Hey everyone! I have so many cool things to tell you about! I am very excited about tonights service. We will be announcing the reward trip qualifies, we will be having a guest speaker, and we are going to be giving all of you your last minute information about the campout. Make sure you are in youth group tonight! We are going to have a great time!
A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Alex: That is funny that you called it CSI research, I thought the same things yesterday morning!
Jessica B: That was a great illustration with the new computer and only using one part of it!
Phil: You are hilarious man! It was 11:00 when you did your devotions! That is not early. You are right at that rate you are going to have to buy yourself a prize! :) I like the "chicken soup for the soul" part! Thanks for being faithful!!
Rachel and Ryan: We will miss you both dearly tonight! Have fun at Bush Gardens!
Cary: What is up with that?? You went on just to tell me that and then didnt even do the devotions?!?!
Jessica M: It doesnt look like you are going to qualify... sorry! :)
John 6:28- 40
28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do?
31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.
37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
This is a little bit of a longer passage today, but I really think you can pull some great stuff out of it! So Jesus is still talking to those guys that have been searching for Him. You could almost say these guys were stalking Jesus. The fact is that Jesus wants us to follow Him and search for Him. But He wants us to follow Him with a believing heart, not a skeptical heart.
The men in this story clearly are not sure if they believe what Jesus is saying to be true or not. That is why Christ makes a point to tell them, that God's will is that they would believe in Him (Jesus Christ) and have eternal life.
There are many skeptical people around today. People that claim there is no God, people who claim that Jesus Christ wasn't God, but today Jesus still explains to us through His word that we MUST BELIEVE in Him to have eternal life.
Now, most of you are saved already, so I am going to jump to another application of this passage.
We as Christians "believe in Jesus" but many times we believe in Him for salvation and not much else. We will ask Him to get us to Heaven, but when it comes to living Holy lives, seperate from sin, we decide to go our own way on that.
These men were the same way... They chose to believe what they wanted: That is why in verse 30 they say... we will believe if you show us a miracle. When I read that It set me back. The truth is that they had already seen some amazing miracles... yet the still did not believe. We are the same way. We see over and over how sin hurts us and how Jesus heals and protects us, yet we say with our actions: I will believe if you show me your greatness one more time... I will believe if you forgive me "this time".
Lets not be like these skeptical stalkers... Lets Believe! Not only for our salvation; but in every aspect of our life... Lets believe and obey God with our dating life, with our money, with our family, with our friendships, WITH EVERYTHING!
Plus: I think it is Great that Jesus explains that He has come to "do the will of His father". If Jesus came to earth to obey His father, maybe we should obey our father: both our earthly father and our heavenly father!
Stay faithful!
A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Alex: That is funny that you called it CSI research, I thought the same things yesterday morning!
Jessica B: That was a great illustration with the new computer and only using one part of it!
Phil: You are hilarious man! It was 11:00 when you did your devotions! That is not early. You are right at that rate you are going to have to buy yourself a prize! :) I like the "chicken soup for the soul" part! Thanks for being faithful!!
Rachel and Ryan: We will miss you both dearly tonight! Have fun at Bush Gardens!
Cary: What is up with that?? You went on just to tell me that and then didnt even do the devotions?!?!
Jessica M: It doesnt look like you are going to qualify... sorry! :)
John 6:28- 40
28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do?
31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.
37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
This is a little bit of a longer passage today, but I really think you can pull some great stuff out of it! So Jesus is still talking to those guys that have been searching for Him. You could almost say these guys were stalking Jesus. The fact is that Jesus wants us to follow Him and search for Him. But He wants us to follow Him with a believing heart, not a skeptical heart.
The men in this story clearly are not sure if they believe what Jesus is saying to be true or not. That is why Christ makes a point to tell them, that God's will is that they would believe in Him (Jesus Christ) and have eternal life.
There are many skeptical people around today. People that claim there is no God, people who claim that Jesus Christ wasn't God, but today Jesus still explains to us through His word that we MUST BELIEVE in Him to have eternal life.
Now, most of you are saved already, so I am going to jump to another application of this passage.
We as Christians "believe in Jesus" but many times we believe in Him for salvation and not much else. We will ask Him to get us to Heaven, but when it comes to living Holy lives, seperate from sin, we decide to go our own way on that.
These men were the same way... They chose to believe what they wanted: That is why in verse 30 they say... we will believe if you show us a miracle. When I read that It set me back. The truth is that they had already seen some amazing miracles... yet the still did not believe. We are the same way. We see over and over how sin hurts us and how Jesus heals and protects us, yet we say with our actions: I will believe if you show me your greatness one more time... I will believe if you forgive me "this time".
Lets not be like these skeptical stalkers... Lets Believe! Not only for our salvation; but in every aspect of our life... Lets believe and obey God with our dating life, with our money, with our family, with our friendships, WITH EVERYTHING!
Plus: I think it is Great that Jesus explains that He has come to "do the will of His father". If Jesus came to earth to obey His father, maybe we should obey our father: both our earthly father and our heavenly father!
Stay faithful!
TUESDAY, June 10th, 2008
Hey there everyone, I hope that your summer is going a wonderful as mine is! I hope that you are planning on coming to our campout this thursday! Dont forget: we are meeting at the churchat 1:45 and leaving by 2:00PM. Make sure that you are in church tomorrow night for several reasons: We will be announcing the reward trip qualifiers, and giving all of the last details about our campout! Come early and just hang out! We are going to have lots of fun!
A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Lucy: Good Job Being First!
Jessica B: Good Job waking Lucy up! :)
McCue: I am so thankful that you have been a part of that cool Bible study! Keep up the good work man!
Cary: you are funny man! Peter was the one that walked on the water, and that is in Matthew 14:29. Good try though! :)
Carl: What a great thought, They would have enjoyed that great ride so much more if they trusted what Christ said. We will also enjoy this awesome ride through life if we will just trust what Christ says. GOOD STUFF!
Alex: AWESOME!! I am glad you are doing the glowstring thing... make me a pair too!! We will get good at it this weekend!
Phil: Glad you stopped by to check in on things!
RACHEL: Where are you girl? Get on and call Ryan too! (you're probably talking to him right now arent you!!)
John 6:22-27
22 On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone
23 however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks
24 when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”
26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
This is quite an interesting passage. I had to read it a few times to completely understand iit. I will explain todays devotion verse by verse and then give the application at the end:
22. Remember those people that wanted to make Jesus the king? Well they are back... They were searching for Jesus and they were doing some serious research. They knew that the disciples had gotten into a boat the day before but Jesus was not with them.
23. There were some other boats out there from Tiberius, but Jesus was not in those boats either.
24. So they decided to go over to Caperneum... I guess they figured that if they followed the disciples then they would find Jesus... they were right!
25. They found Jesus. The first thing they wanted to ask Him was: How in the world did you get over here?
26. Jesus tells them, you are not chasing me because of some miracle I did, you are chasing me because I gave you some food. Think about that... these people have seen the son of God doing all kinds of great things, but they dont even care about that... they just want to eat. Sound familiar?
27. Jesus explains that they should not be searching for food that will fill them for a moment... (remember the woman at the well) but they should be searching for the "bread of life". I think it is Amazing how Jesus fits the plan of the gospel with whatever situation He is in.
Application: Think about how passionate these people were in their search for Jesus. They wanted what He had so much that they were literally looking around searching, swimming (or boating) doing whatever they had to to get to Jesus! Are you searching passionately for Christ in your life?
Then second: Jesus explained that these people were fed with a loaf of bread and they wanted more of that... Jesus said: you think that is Good? you should see the bread that satisfies forever! The bread of life! If you have not tasted the bread of life, then you should accept Christ today!
Great Job teenagers! I love this! Stay faithful!
A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Lucy: Good Job Being First!
Jessica B: Good Job waking Lucy up! :)
McCue: I am so thankful that you have been a part of that cool Bible study! Keep up the good work man!
Cary: you are funny man! Peter was the one that walked on the water, and that is in Matthew 14:29. Good try though! :)
Carl: What a great thought, They would have enjoyed that great ride so much more if they trusted what Christ said. We will also enjoy this awesome ride through life if we will just trust what Christ says. GOOD STUFF!
Alex: AWESOME!! I am glad you are doing the glowstring thing... make me a pair too!! We will get good at it this weekend!
Phil: Glad you stopped by to check in on things!
RACHEL: Where are you girl? Get on and call Ryan too! (you're probably talking to him right now arent you!!)
John 6:22-27
22 On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone
23 however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks
24 when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”
26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
This is quite an interesting passage. I had to read it a few times to completely understand iit. I will explain todays devotion verse by verse and then give the application at the end:
22. Remember those people that wanted to make Jesus the king? Well they are back... They were searching for Jesus and they were doing some serious research. They knew that the disciples had gotten into a boat the day before but Jesus was not with them.
23. There were some other boats out there from Tiberius, but Jesus was not in those boats either.
24. So they decided to go over to Caperneum... I guess they figured that if they followed the disciples then they would find Jesus... they were right!
25. They found Jesus. The first thing they wanted to ask Him was: How in the world did you get over here?
26. Jesus tells them, you are not chasing me because of some miracle I did, you are chasing me because I gave you some food. Think about that... these people have seen the son of God doing all kinds of great things, but they dont even care about that... they just want to eat. Sound familiar?
27. Jesus explains that they should not be searching for food that will fill them for a moment... (remember the woman at the well) but they should be searching for the "bread of life". I think it is Amazing how Jesus fits the plan of the gospel with whatever situation He is in.
Application: Think about how passionate these people were in their search for Jesus. They wanted what He had so much that they were literally looking around searching, swimming (or boating) doing whatever they had to to get to Jesus! Are you searching passionately for Christ in your life?
Then second: Jesus explained that these people were fed with a loaf of bread and they wanted more of that... Jesus said: you think that is Good? you should see the bread that satisfies forever! The bread of life! If you have not tasted the bread of life, then you should accept Christ today!
Great Job teenagers! I love this! Stay faithful!
MONDAY, June 9th, 2008
Well, so I hear that half the youth group is going to the movies today? I wish that I could crash the party and come along, but I am going to Orlando with pastor Chip for a "Pastors Meeting". It will be lots of fun, but I would rather come and spend time at the movies with you guys! That would be lots of fun... we need to plan to go again soon!
A Few Thoughts From The Weekend:
Jeff: Great job on the devos man... I am glad that you decided to finally "listen" in church.
McCue: We miss you too man! I am excited that your show is so incredible this year... I hope you guys win first at the National Championship thing!!!
Amy: well well well, good to see that you did not fall off the face of the earth! I know your in Arizona or something, but I was pretty sure they had internet over there!! :) WE CANNOT WAIT UNTIL YOU COME BACK HOME! (When is that by the way?)
Lucy: you are silly! URL is not someones name!! Earl is how you spell the name... URL is where you put the address for pictures... You just say the letters... U... R... L... :)
BETHANY: IT IS SO COOL TO SEE YOU ON HERE! Thanks for joining us! Stay on here all the time! It is lots of fun!! ( I really wish we could get you back in Youth Group... do you think that I could beg your mom?)
John 6:15-21
15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,
17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.
18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.
19 So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.
20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
This passage teaches us some things about Jesus Christ that are quite shocking. I think that they are very important and they teach us important things about how we can be more like Christ.
VERSE 15 is incredible... the first time I read it I assumed that Jesus was hiding from the people because they were coming to take Him "by force" to kill Him or something...
When I read it the second time I noticed that they were taking Him by force to make Him the King!!! How great is that! These people saw a few miracles and then they wanted Him to be king.
So why didn't Jesus just stay there, and become their king? Jesus had not come to earth to reign, He came to earth to be sacrificed for our sins. If you are like me, then you probably would think, Hey I will just go ahead and be king for a while and then do what I have to do later on...
Jesus was not about Himself, He was focused on us! How incredible, the son of God, who deserves all glory was not conerned with Himself but concerned with you and me.
If God is not selfish, and He has every right to be... then maybe we should stop being selfish!
VERSES 16-21 are great! I can really unerstand a little bit of what these guys were seing in the boat at night time. Remember I have gone out at Midnight two different times in the last 3 weeks. It is dark and it is scary!!
The disciples are in the middle of this storm, in the dark sea, being tossed around, when they see something coming towards them... is it a ghost? Is it a monster? AHHHH! oh wait... It is Jesus.
Jesus came to them, and when they received Him into the boat, they were immediately on track with where they were supposed to go next!
If our life seems to be getting tossed around, back and forth, and things are scary, and we dont know what to do... Dont focus on the scary things: Just ask Jesus to get involved! Pray about the situations you are facing! Let Him get you on your destination to a God glorifying life!!
Love you guys! Be Faithful this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A Few Thoughts From The Weekend:
Jeff: Great job on the devos man... I am glad that you decided to finally "listen" in church.
McCue: We miss you too man! I am excited that your show is so incredible this year... I hope you guys win first at the National Championship thing!!!
Amy: well well well, good to see that you did not fall off the face of the earth! I know your in Arizona or something, but I was pretty sure they had internet over there!! :) WE CANNOT WAIT UNTIL YOU COME BACK HOME! (When is that by the way?)
Lucy: you are silly! URL is not someones name!! Earl is how you spell the name... URL is where you put the address for pictures... You just say the letters... U... R... L... :)
BETHANY: IT IS SO COOL TO SEE YOU ON HERE! Thanks for joining us! Stay on here all the time! It is lots of fun!! ( I really wish we could get you back in Youth Group... do you think that I could beg your mom?)
John 6:15-21
15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,
17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.
18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.
19 So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.
20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
This passage teaches us some things about Jesus Christ that are quite shocking. I think that they are very important and they teach us important things about how we can be more like Christ.
VERSE 15 is incredible... the first time I read it I assumed that Jesus was hiding from the people because they were coming to take Him "by force" to kill Him or something...
When I read it the second time I noticed that they were taking Him by force to make Him the King!!! How great is that! These people saw a few miracles and then they wanted Him to be king.
So why didn't Jesus just stay there, and become their king? Jesus had not come to earth to reign, He came to earth to be sacrificed for our sins. If you are like me, then you probably would think, Hey I will just go ahead and be king for a while and then do what I have to do later on...
Jesus was not about Himself, He was focused on us! How incredible, the son of God, who deserves all glory was not conerned with Himself but concerned with you and me.
If God is not selfish, and He has every right to be... then maybe we should stop being selfish!
VERSES 16-21 are great! I can really unerstand a little bit of what these guys were seing in the boat at night time. Remember I have gone out at Midnight two different times in the last 3 weeks. It is dark and it is scary!!
The disciples are in the middle of this storm, in the dark sea, being tossed around, when they see something coming towards them... is it a ghost? Is it a monster? AHHHH! oh wait... It is Jesus.
Jesus came to them, and when they received Him into the boat, they were immediately on track with where they were supposed to go next!
If our life seems to be getting tossed around, back and forth, and things are scary, and we dont know what to do... Dont focus on the scary things: Just ask Jesus to get involved! Pray about the situations you are facing! Let Him get you on your destination to a God glorifying life!!
Love you guys! Be Faithful this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SUNDAY, June 8th, 2008
Today I want each of you to take some time to comment about what jumped out at you in Pastor Chip's messages: Either the morning service or the Evening Service.
So make sure that you are paying attention!! :)
So make sure that you are paying attention!! :)
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