Summer in the Scriptures

This week we have been listening to some of my favorite passages in the Bible. Paul was such an amazing example of what God can do in a person’s life. The amazing thing to remember is that Jesus rescued Paul while he was out to destroy the Way. The Spirit of God completely transformed Paul’s heart. “For God who said, “Let light shine out of the darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). It so amazing to watch how Paul becomes completely consumed with spreading the gospel when at one time he tried to destroy it. This week we listened to 3 of the prison epistles. Even as Paul was in prison, he could not think of anything but how good and merciful God is and about the mission that we have to spread the gospel. When he wrote the words “to live is Christ and to die is gain,” he meant every word of it. I encourage you to watch for his devotion to the gospel as you continue to listen to his letters. It is so challenging think about, and yet we are called to the same level of devotion.

Summer in the Scripture and Orange Cue Box

I’m finding new ways to incorporate my Summer in the Scripture assignment.  I listened to my Summer in the Scripture while I cleaned out my closet.  A job I do not like but am convicted that I need to do.  I keep lots of stuff I shouldn’t and there are people who need my stuff.   Listening to Corinthians made me realize that the same problems (sin) we have in the church today were there in Corinth also.  So I listened with a caring heart in stead of a judgmental one. Before,  like 2 months ago,  I listened and read with a critical ear. So I guess  you could say Summer in the Scripture is changing me.

Today I got in the new Orange Cue Box for September which has replaced the Family times.  It is extraordinary.  Everyone gathered  round the computer and laughed out loud at the video.  It is a video format now and really great.  The lead character is Sydney, a high school student who works to publish the Cue Box. The quality is so awesome you think you are watching something on the Disney Channel.   I can’t wait for everyone to see it.  I will have it on my computer beside the Elementary Desk this Sunday.  This format will really appeal to your Tweens but Karen Means said her Kindergartener will enjoy it too.  Adults will enjoy it too.

The cost is the same as the Family Times.  You can purchase yours at the HeartMarket.

Until Next Week Respectfully Yours,

Suzie

Summer in the Scripture

I sat last Wednesday night and listened to a friend that I have not seen in a while talk.  I enjoyed her speech patterns and the way she described things.  I realized I missed her more than either of us knew. I have been listening to my scripture on CD and really enjoyed Romans because there are so many scriptures that are so meaningful to me personally.  It is like listening to that old (not in the age sense) friend.  These scriptures are precious to me they bring me back to a time in my life or crisis that I thought no one could resolve.  My God did resolve these problems but until He did, He gave me these scripture promises to hold on to.

Are you facing insurmountable problems?  Do you turn to your Father?  He is the one who knows everything.  He knows your body and what sickness you might have, He knows your spouse’s personality and can help you resolve conflict, He knows your child’s heart and fears and can give you wisdom in any parenting situation.  He knows.  Since He knows ask Him and seek His face.

Kidz Stuf is this Sunday at 10:10 am in the Youth Warehouse.  Bring Grandparents as well as your children.  The virtue is Peace – Proving that you care more about others than winning an argument.

See you Sunday, remember He knows!

Suzie

Summer in the Scripture week 10

The summer has flown by and so is the New Testament as we listen together week by week.  This week we are continuing through Romans and 1 Corinthians.  This is getting into the red meat of the Word.  This is what mature believers feed and grow on.  God revealed so much truth to those early believers who didn’t have internet, TV, ipods, etc. to distract.  They had time to listen, meditate, and study.  We are reaping the benefits of the faithful who wrote down the words that came from the breath of God.  I pray the Holy Spirit puts something in your heart this week from the readings.  If something snags in your heart,  meditate on it and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you more about it.  I love working through the Word with you.

Summer in the Scriptures

“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27).

God is so different from what we expect. He does not think the way we think or act the way we act. In my mind, I think God would be able to use the strong and the talented more than the weak and worthless. Have you ever thought to yourself before that if only “that person” would get saved, they could do such great things for God. This mindset comes from the value we place on ability. We think someone is greater because of the things they can do or the things they have, but God steps in and says that He is interested in the weak and the powerless, the dirty, the poor, the nothings. I think Oswald Chambers said it beautifully, “It is not a question of our equipment but of our poverty, not of what we bring with us, but of what God puts into us.” God is not concerned with how much ability someone has or how much money and fame someone has. God can take the most useless people and put the strong to shame. He can take the most foolish and shame the wise. God is the focus here. Which is greater, someone using their futile human strength or wisdom or someone who has nothing but God in them. God is greater. God is stronger. He is not looking for someone to help him with all their greatness. He is looking for humble, broken people that He can work mightily through. All this is so at the end of it all, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31). Glory to God who takes the worthless and changes the world!

Summer in the Scripture – Week 8

I was stuck in traffic yesterday going to work.  I noticed, after I called Steve to tell him to take an alternate route, that I was not frustrated or antsy.  Everyone around me was driving on the left shoulder just to crossover onto the southbound lane and head another way.  I was in my air-conditioned car and calm.  When I got  to the HeartMart (church), I realized what the difference was.  I was listening to my Summer in the Scripture.  The readers voice was calm and he was reading the Bible to me.  I thought, “now this is an advantage I never thought of.”  Enjoy your Summer in the Scripture, you don’t have to conquer it.  Listen to what God has to say to you.  School starts tomorrow, what a way to calm the fears of first day by having scripture read to you on the way to school.

Until next week,

Suzie

Summer in Scripture Week 8

Listening to God’s word throughout my day challenges me to think and pray through the things I hear. I have never known or studied much about the Holy Spirit and His works, but as I listen and read through Acts I have to agree with Preacher that this book is “the acts of the Holy Spirit”. The Holy Spirit does so much through the apostles in this book. It is important for us to realize that it wasn’t simply men who were doing these great works. The bible makes it very clear that the Spirit of God came upon these men.

As I look around me today I don’t see or even hear many people talking about the Spirit working like He did here. It makes me ask myself if we are missing something? Do we believe those events could happen still today? Have the generations lost faith along the way?

God is a trinitarian God. If we believe in God the Father and Jesus Christ, we must also believe in the Holy Spirit and His works.

What does that mean in your life?

Summer In the Scriptures Week 8

This has been a great week in the New Testament. I love the book of Acts and am always challenged by the radical faith of the disciples. As the Holy Spirit filled the believers their lives became more and more saturated by Jesus and His mission. This week we have been listening about Paul’s journeys. This man was  brought to His knees and blinded by a great light. From that point Paul was a changed man. His impact throughout the known world at that time was vast and amazing. As I read through the Bible, there are always examples of faith that I desire. Paul’s life and dedication to following Jesus and loving Him more than anything else is so challenging, but my prayer is that I could live a bold life like He did. My prayer is that we all leave an impact that completely changes History. Jesus chose Paul to do some amazing things and completely change the world. I know God is willing to do the same thing in any one of our lives if we are ready to follow Him completely.

Summer in the Scripture – Week 8

I am sorry I have not blogged these past two weeks, but I am back home (almost) and in the swing of things. We have passed the first part of Acts dealing with the early church and headed on for the adventure. I am anxious to hear what your children think of Paul being ferried over the wall in a basket. How big was the basket? Was he scared? One thing that stands out to me is the many miracles the apostles did. They were awesome miracles and just like the miracles Jesus did. Steve told me one time that God did those miracles to prove to the Gentiles that Jesus was God and it preceded every major work in Acts. Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the utter most parts of the world.
Then came the persecution. I have been constantly ruminating on the fact that if I were being persecuted like the apostles were how much would I whine, complain and let everyone know. The apostles just kept on trucking. They had a promise and a mission.
One phrase that stood out to me was “meanwhile the Word of God continued to be spread, and there were many new believers.” God doesn’t wait for everything to be “perfect” to do His work, but He does use “imperfect” people like you and me. Sooo what are you waiting on? Move on!

Until next week,
Suzie

Summer in the scripture – week 8

It is difficult to believe that we are beginning our eighth week in Summer in the Scripture.  This summer is flying by.  This marks our crossing the half way point in the New Testament.  After listening through the gospels, I have been looking forward to listening to the Book of Acts, the story of the infant Christian church.  While many label this book “The Acts of the Apostles”, the content more aptly reflects that the book is the account of “The Acts of the Holy Spirit”.  I hope that you listen with discerning ears to discover the power of the Spirit given to the Body of Believers called the Church.

Preacher