MONDAY June 22nd

Hi! I'm going to post one of my favorite passages.



John 14
1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
28Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
29And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
30Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
31But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

My Friend came upon this passage and we absolutely love it!! It teaches about that special relationship with The Lord, not to let our hearts be troubled, and so much more!

The passage has so many great things about it. Verse 1 is saying that we need to believe in God and also believe in Jesus. They are all, including the Holy Spirit, are equal and work as one. Think of it as a teamwork here on Earth, but like infinity times greater!

In verse 3, it says "That where I am, there ye may be also." The Lord is always with us! and especially during times of troubles. (I love that verse)

It also shows us that Jesus is the true joy and the way of life! He gives us peace, not from the world, but from himself!! He saved the world from sins, and when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are saved if we believe and we will know God. so share Jesus with everyone you know!! (Verse 26) I remember when Pastor Lee taught us about the Holy Spirit. The Holy keeos us on track, helps us grow closer to God, and comforts us. When we sin, you see, we will have a feeling of guilt or maybe self-conciousness if we don't ask for forgiveness (we've all felt that before). Thus, we learn not to repeat sinning.

Do you love Jesus?! I do! and since you do, you will be able to rejoice in his name and have a relationship with God rather than have a religion. Amen.

Any thoughts about this Amazing passage?

~Victoria

SATURDAY, June 20th, 2009

Hey, since I'm going to Guatemala on monday, I'm not going to be able to do devos for 10 days, so if anyone wants to take my place for a while, the username is suncoastbaptist@gmail.com and the password is sb123456. Just go to biblegateway.com and look up the passage of your choice, then copy and paste it.



1 Timothy 6

1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

THURSDAY, June 18th, 2009

Amen Victoria! we should do something nice for PL and PC. Tell me what you come up with!



1 Timothy 4

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
11 These things command and teach.
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.



Verse 12 caught my atention today. It is telling us we need to be an example to everyone out there that we are the believers of th Lord Jesus Christ! How do we do that you may ask? not only be hearers of the word, but doers of the word as well. The verse gives us some examples. In word, that is, no profanity, in conversation, that is, no gossiping, in charity, that is giving to less fortunate, in faith, and in purity, that is, no immoral sexual content.


Verse 10 was pretty awesome too! it tells us the living God is the Savior of everyone, but then it cuts to the chase and says, "....especially to those who believe." See, when Christ died on the cross, He did it for everyone, but that doesn't mean EVERYONE is going to heaven. You have to BELIEVE IF YOU want heaven and God.

Tell me what you think of verse 3. It sounds like its a sin to be a vegitarian, but maybe I'm taking it literally!


-Michael

TUESDAY, June 15th, 2009

Hey guys, I am going to talk to PL about me doing the videotions as well because typing is just not my thing!


1 Timothy 3

1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.



This passage talks about what a pastor needs to be in order to BE a pastor. Pastor Lee and Pastor Chip both are fitting the job of a pastor very well! and we all know it! If any pastor misses any of these qualifications by a hair, then they aren't worthy to be pastorial material. One thing that caught my eye was a pastor needs to be a good ruler of his home, because if he is not, then how in the world shall he rule the house of God? Make sense?

Also, a pastor needs to be a male. Why? Because that is the way God intended it to be. He isn't sexist, he isn't favoring male over female, he does it because he is God, and he knows every decicion he makes for us are for our own good.


If you think if it is God's will for you to be a pastor, or anything, make sure it matches up with His word. So, if you are female, and you think it is God's will for you to be a pastor, something isn't right, and just keep waiting on the Lord............


-Michael

SATURDAY, June 13th, 2009

1 Timothy 2

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.


I have heard this many times in the left behind books, There is only One Mediater between us and God: Jesus Christ. What that means is He is the one who we pray to and He gives the prayers to the Father, not like some do it, confess sins to a priest, who isn't the mediator between man and God.

Also it says that He gave a ransom for ALL! a ransom is when you give something or SOMEONE IN THIS CASE, to trade for something better. In our world, Christ was the ransom given to pay off our sin debt we owe to God, and He became the sin, and punished for our sake, and now, WE ARE FREE!!!!!!

FREEDOM FEELS SO GOOD!!!


-Michael

THURSDAY, June 11th, 2009

Hey guys, how is your day been? Hey Pastor Lee, if your reading this, Carl did such a great job last night, it was hard to tell you were gone!


1 Timothy 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.



Paul caught my eyes when he said here, "...to save sinners, whom I am chief." He tells Timothy (and us) that Christ saves sinners, and he was definetly on God's most wanted list, only next to Satan.

But when Paul got saved, he became one of God's top evangelists in the world's history! See, even the most wicked person you know can still go to heaven with God forever...

....with a price...


-Michael

TUESDAY, June 8th, 2009

I was going to post a passage that based on sinning over and over again, but instead I will comment about Victoria's comment.


Sinning over and over again starts out by trying a new sin to see if you like it or not. In that sense, you try a new food to see if you like it. If you like the sin, you want to do it again, and again and so on.... just like when you try a new tasty food, you like it, you want more, and more, and more and so on... chips are a good example of a food you can't just have one of. There are some sins people just don't like, and the same with food, some people just don't like a certain food genre. Pretty much, junk food is JUST LIKE SIN, junk food is harmful to your health, you don't need it, and its pleasurable. JUST LIKE SIN! Now of course, sin is definetly worse than junk food, but they are both easily compatible!

If you need to stop sinning over and over again, try a diet, only one works, and its called Jesus Christ!

-Michael