NEW DEVOTIONAL SITE!!

I am so thankful for all of the years that we were able to use Blogspot for our devotional website, but we have recently changed over to wordpress, so if you have come to this site, then please go to your browser and type: www.doyourdevotions.com

Or you can just click the link! :)

GET IN THE WORD!

LUNES, Julio 6, 2009

Hola! Como esta? man, getting back from Guatemala I have learned so much spanish it isn't even funny! Well, I had a good time seeing the seenery and the people there, and especially with God.

Pastor Lee has recorded videos of him and I talking about Colossians 1-4 while we were in Guatemala, and I'm not sure when he will manage to put them on here, because I know he is very busy, since he has been away from his work office form more than 10 days.

For now, I will just put up Jude, the book right before Revelation.



Jude 1

1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.




The whole passage seems like a general recap of the whole bible, reminding everyone that Christ is the way to eternal life, and people who don't have him will face judgement. 2 main reasons people don't want Christ is: Bitterness, and pride. Those 2 traits are of our flesh, so it is why sometimes even us Christians get like that sometimes ( I hope not ) And people who do accept Christ have come down to the decision of crumpling their pride up and shooting it into the trash, and shedding the layer of bitterness on them.

Two traits that keep us from Christ: bitterness, and pride. If you have them, GET RID OF THEM, they act like you best friend and then turn their back on you!

-Michael

MONDAY, June 29th, 2009

2 Timothy 2


1: Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2: And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3: Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4: No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5: And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
6: The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
7: Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
8: Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
9: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 10: Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11: It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
14: Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16: But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17: And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18: Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
19: Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
20: But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21: If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
22: Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23: But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
24: And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25: In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26: And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.


Oakie-Doakie, This whole chapter is telling us to remain faithful to God and Jesus and to also stay away from sins. The verse I like the best is verses 3 and 10. In verse 3 it says we should be strong like a soldier and stay faithful to Jesus. Have you ever encountered a non-believer at school or somewhere else that is saying why they don't believe? Well that is a perfect time to be strong in what you believe in: Jesus Christ!! And at the same time it also states in verse 2 (Kind of reminds you of a Pastor) that we should share God's grace with all around us, and thas is what being a Christian is all about-sharing God's word with others.

Verse 16 and 22 are telling us that we need to not say prideful or rude things because that is leading to the path of ungodliness and so is youthful lusts. So stay away from things that you know is wrong! We've all made bad decisions on things...BUT The Holy Spirit helps us decide what is right from wrong by the feeling of Guilt or unsure-ness about certain situations. Remaining faithful is what I want to do forever!! And remember: like proverbs 27:17 states, when we hang out with certain friends, they can sometimes influence us on decision making, so trying to stay wise about those you hang out with is also an important aspect that relates to a few of the verses from this chapter.


~Victoria!

THURSDAY, June 25th, 2009

Hey everyone! Let's follow up on the second Epistile of Paul the Apostle to Timothy:


2 Timothy 1

1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
2To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
4Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
5When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
6Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
11Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
13Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
14That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
15This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
16The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
17But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
18The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.



Okay! This passage is telling the story of how Paul was encouraging Timothy to keep to God's words and remain passionate no matter what, as it read in verse 13-14 and that God gives us so much, such as Love, Power and a ound Mind! (verse 7).,
I know this can really relate to us right now in the present. Sometimes we don't walk on the right path that Gos has set for us. We may stumble and go astray when we sin or other things, but God's words bring us to our feet and continue to walk the right path again.
Whe you look at verse 10, it states what Jesus has done for EVERYONE he has brought light to the gospel and conqured death. Powerful!!!! So we as Christians can share the Gospel and show others how to follow God and accept Jesus Christ. :) Especially when you have a couple of friends whom may not be believers.- lets show them the true meaning of God's words!

And remember what Paul, during his last words, had to say to Timothy: "Grace, Mercy, and Peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus ourLord."
~Amen! Post your thoughts!

~Victoria

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

Buffalo Wild Wings Reward Activity!! Thanks for being faithful!

Stay Faithful and Join us Next Time!