I've got the Joy--More than just a KIDS SONG

Luke 10:21

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 

Devotional

There is a joy that comes from the Holy Spirit; our scripture says that Jesus was full of this joy. There is another verse that says that “the joy of the Lord is our strength”.  I ask God to fill me with his joy often and I get filled. Have you ever been full of the joy of the Lord? The joy of the Lord is a weapon we use against the attacks of the enemy.  When the joy of the Lord comes into your life, you will have an inner strength that you have not known before. This strength, (joy of the Lord) is available to you today, ask God to fill you with his joy and he will. 

LOVE???? :)

1 John 3:11

This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

Devotional

As I am writing this I am setting a goal for today. That goal is to let my family know I love them and to contact several of my close friends and let them know I love them too.  With the technology we have available to us it's so easy to send text  messages, emails and call people on the phone and say “ I love You”.  If you don't feel comfortable telling them you love them, how about letting them know that you appreciate them and you are glad they are your friend. There are many ways to let people know we care about them, I personally enjoy getting surprised with small gifts. Sometimes friends or family will just surprise me with a card in the mail or leave a gift by my front door.  Be creative, find ways to tell those you care about how special they are to you, do it today!

What Should I Be Doing?

Luke 19:10

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

Devotional

Do you know your purpose, the reason for which you were created?  If not, consider what Jesus' purpose was and imitate him. He was seeking and saving the lost.  Discovering, your gifts, talents, interest and personality, may take some time and self examination. I have found that by staying active in my church and  staying connected with strong Christian friends, discovering who I am is beginning to unravel easily. Eventually, people around us begin to recognize gifts and talents that perhaps we didn't know we had. Good brothers and sisters in the Lord will begin to encourage you to utilize your gifting. In time, you will begin to see how God intended you to use the gifts and talents he gave you to help other people. Above anything else, we are to be the love of the lord on this earth. If you can be a living demonstration of the love of the Lord you will find your purpose. 

All It Takes Is To Say "I LOVE YOU"

Psalms 18:1

I LOVE you fervently and devotedly, O Lord, my Strength

Devotional

Being a follower of Christ is so much more than just attending church. The bible says to love the Lord with all your heart, mind soul and strength. (Mark12:30) When we are in love with someone, we express to them by our actions and words “I love you” on a daily basis. As we begin to establish our relationship with God, eventually we should reach this place where “I love you” is a daily expression to him in thought, words and actions. Whenever we fall in love with someone we must first spend time with them, getting to know them, it works the same way with the Lord.  Spending time with the Lord means that we talk to him regularly, we read the bible often and we do the things that God likes to do as well as include him in things we like to do. Take time to sincerely tell God, I love you, he deserves to receive our expressions of love, and he also requires it. 

It Will Be Worth It!

Hebrews 12:7 and 11

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.

11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 

Devotional

Sometimes I get tired of having some kind of hardship in my life, but God is able to use them for good, and to bring him glory. Just by reading this verse, I am able to let go of troubling things in my life and trust that God is able to teach me something through this hardship. Eventually, things always get better. Once I have victory over the hardship, I am able to share with others how to overcome hardships in their lives. God teaches us in many ways, the bible says that he is working all things for the good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.  No matter what is going on in my life, because I am sincere about committing my life to God daily, I know that he is working in every area of my life. He is a loving father who helps us walk and stand so we then can reach out and help others who may be hurting.

BURN Is On Tonight!

Make sure you are at BURN TONIGHT at 6:30!

We will be continuing "Where is the HERO?"

But on the side, look at this verse!

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6

~Jeff

Nothing and I Do Mean NOTHING!!!

Proverbs 21:30

There is no wisdom, no insight, and no plan that can succeed against the LORD.

Devotional

No matter what life throws our way to defeat us, as long as we truly are surrendered and remain passionately in Love with the Lord, we will be on the winning side of life. There is victory in Jesus! Difficulties in life will happen, trials always come, but God has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He also has made it clear that nothing can separate us from his love.

Where do you find HOPE for the FUTURE...

Today's scripture

Jer 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Devotional

When we get to know God we then have hope in Him. The reality of his presence, and the constant unveiling of His plans for us, strengthens us to put our trust in the truth of this verse. God has a plan and a purpose for each of us. When we seek Him with all our hearts then his plan begins to be seen, usually it is one step at time. If we were following a friend who is walking before us we would follow one step at a time. This is how we also follow the Lord. With every step of obedience to what he tells us to do in his word,  we continue  walking  forward in  hope and moving into the future of His destiny for our lives.

Where are you Walking?

Today choose to walk in the light. Walking with God is always a matter of choice. Making a choice to follow God’s way or our own way.   Deut. 30:19 I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. Walk in the light that God has prepared for you to walk in, our own path is full of darkness, leading to death.

Gossip?Q!?!!?Q?Q?!?!

Proverbs 20:19

A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.

God, Help me Believe!

Hebrews 12:2

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.

Devotional

One of the greatest spiritual keys I have come to understand is that Jesus is the one who changes and transforms my life. I just have to become willing to let God show me the changes I need to make in my life. He does this as I read the bible and stay close to him in prayer, trusting him like a best friend. Jesus is the one who gives faith and perfects it.  I just become willing to let him do this. Sometimes I just tell the Lord, “Increase my faith and help me believe”. The bible also teaches that there is a gift of faith. Ask God to do this work in you. The bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God.  Learning to live by faith, trusting in Jesus, is a very important part of our lives as Christians. 

I never knew it would happen like this!

Yes Lord, I believe you are the Christ!  How has this decision effected your life? I had no idea that when I decided to follow Jesus, so many other lives would be touched by the hand of the Lord through me. It is the truth, he is alive!!! If we truly believe he is the Christ; our lives will point to him through our thoughts, our words and our actions. When we truly believe, we will live a life that is filled with loving and serving others. Others around us will be able to tell that we love Jesus, because everything about our lives will emanate the love of Christ.  When Jesus is truly the Lord of your life, your desires will change. Things that touch the heart of God will touch your heart. You will find you have a desire to spend time reading the bible, praying, and fellowshipping with other Christians.  Is Jesus really the Lord of your life today?  Let your actions (life) reflect your love for Jesus; others are watching you, be a demonstration of God’s love in all you do and say.

God's Plan

Eph 2:10

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Devotional

God has a plan for our lives. That plan includes doing good works. The bible says, in the book of Acts chapter 10 verse 38,  that Jesus went about doing good and healing all...This was the plan for Jesus' life,  and  it is the plan for our life as well.  Jesus healed many people everywhere he went and taught  them how to live a victorious life. When we surrender our lives totally to Christ we begin to step into the plan God has for our lives. We then can discover the good works that God has prepared in advance for us to do.  A friend of mine once said, “God is serious about his business.” Doing good and filling heaven is God’s business.  So being Christ like, we should also be about the Father’s business.

What to Do?

When you feel that you are alone, and don’t know where to turn, stop and pray; ask God to direct you and comfort you. God loves you and you can trust him always.

I want the Connection

To abide in the Lord means to remain connected to him all of the time.  We do this by being conscious of the fact that God is always with you. Take a moment to examine your life. Use these questions to help determine if you and the Lord have been staying connected.   Would Jesus say the things you have been saying? Would Jesus treat others the way you have treating them? Would Jesus look at the things you have been looking at? Would Jesus listen to the things you have been listening to? Everyday with the Lord is a new beginning; he is forgiving, merciful and kind. When I stay connected to the Lord my life is full of the fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness and self control.  Being conscious of God’s presence, staying connected to him, will change everything about you.

Prayer: Lord help me to stay connected to you today. Jesus help me to be more aware that my eyes are your eyes, my ears are your ears and that my actions are your actions.

How do you FLY?

Prayer For Youth

2 Cor 5:7

(For we walk by faith, not by sight :) 

Devotional

Recently I was reflecting on a dream that a friend of mine told me about. In the dream there was a   man who was physically fit, and in the military. He was about to enter into flight training that would eventually promote him to a higher ranking as a pilot. His challenge would be to fly the airplane by using the instrumentation and gauges only, with no visual view of his outer surroundings. I consulted a good friend who is a pilot, about this dream. She said that during this type of training, an up close and personal relationship is established between the instructor and student. The ultimate goal is to condition the pilot to be able to handle all types of flying conditions by putting their trust in the instruments at hand. The bible says to walk by faith and not by sight. The plane can be compared to Gods kingdom; in that God has provided us with every instrument that we need to get us through all types of circumstances, even when we can't see where we are going. We must maintain a close and personal relationship with God, so that if we encounter difficulty we will be familiar with his voice, able to hear and trust his direction. Once we learn to use the instruments in the kingdom; such as, seeking God first, loving one another, reading Gods word, worship, prayer, hearing his voice and fellowship, these are   just a few, we then can be promoted to being trusted with more powerful weapons. The bigger the plane is the more people you can carry, while you fly higher and further. God wants to entrust you to effect more people. Challenge yourself to fly a bigger plane in God’s kingdom; you can do this by learning how to use your spiritual instruments.

What is God able to do for me?

Eph 3:20

God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, because of his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Devotional

God is able to do more than we could ever ask, so we can never ask for too much. His supply is abundant so keep asking. The key word seems to be “able” that’s the one that brings a realization that I can trust God with all of the difficulties of life.

Who Has the Key?

Can we imagine just for a moment that we have a small door key in our hand. I believe that faith is the key in our walk with God. When we have our house key with us and the door is locked,  we are not worrying about how we will get into the house. The same is true with a car door as long as we have the key to unlock the door, there are no worries. Faith is just a decision that we make to trust God and not worry. It's a small thing in our hands,  but when we hold the key of faith, God can open many doors. We just keep earnestly seeking him and trust without worry that he is working all things for the good. Sometimes I just say out loud, “Jesus I trust you.” 

Leader Answers and Some of Your Answers too

Well I wanted to clear some things up. Especially after someone had wrote down that I was the leader who played spin the bottle in 4th Grade. Ha Ha!

So here are the answers to the Leader Survey:

Almost fell out of a hot Air Balloon? Our very own ARDEN!
Who can talk like a Helium ballon? BRITTANY : 0
and last but not least (drum role please) who played spin the bottle in 4th grade?


NICK MOUSETIS


Thought for the day:    If you were put on trial for your faith in God, how would you defend yourself?

LOVE, PROUD, BELIEVE in you ALL!!!

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Jeremy