2014
God Is With You 3 28 14 & 8 12 20 - Family
Smile 4 8 14 & 8 19 20 - Nick
Light A Fire 12 10 14 & 2 6 21 - Nick
Just Say YES! 12 21 14 & 2 5 21 - Carla & Casey

 

 

Friday, March 28, 2014 & Wednesday, August 12, 2020 - "The Connection" Series

God Is With You by the whole family

Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) – “Be strong and courageous. Do not afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Message: Sometimes when things aren’t going right, it’s easy to feel like you just can’t go on. Whether you’ve missed a deadline, or disappointed your significant other, feelings of defeat and failure can be so hard to conquer. In those tough times, it is so important to remember that our Lord, the Creator of everything, is standing right there next to you. While this can be easy to forget, finding God in the tough times can make them so much easier!

So today, as you go out into the world, don’t let failures get you down. Use your mistakes to strengthen both yourself and your relationship with the Lord. For the Lord your God goes with you.

Prayer: Father, give us strength and courage. Help us to know that You will never leave us, nor forsake us. Amen.

The Smith Family
(first published Lent 2014)

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 Tuesday, April 8, 2014 & Wednesday, August 19, 2020 - "The Connection" Series

Smile by Nick

Scripture: Proverbs 15:30 (NLT) – “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.” 

Message: Have you ever been walking down the hallway and seen someone smiling (not just a usual smile; like a really big one)? Sometimes when you’re sad, seeing a happy person is all it takes to make you feel better. Sometimes when you’re sad, even just trying to smile can wipe away a bit of your pain. As Christians, we have this glorious mission to help everyone reach the glory of God in heaven; and wouldn’t it be easier if you approach them with a big smile on your face? One of the easiest ways to show just how much love the Lord gives you is to wear it on your face.

Prayer: Lord, help my smile show Your love and compassion to those I encounter. As I take on today, help me to remember to always stay joyful. Amen.

Nick Smith
(first Published Lent 2014

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Wednesday, December 10, 2014 & Saturday, February 6, 2021L

Light A Fire by Nick

Scripture: James 2:14-18, 26 (ESV) – “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?...... But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” (Please read the entire text in your Bible)

Message: Recently I was driving home and passed a homeless man at a red light with my windows down and music blaring. His sign read along the lines of “Hungry. Need money. God Bless,” but I couldn’t raise my eyes from the sign to his face. So there I sat, frozen, for a minute – too stunned to turn down my music or roll up my windows in fear that the man would notice me further. My drive home was spent obsessing over one burning question: “Am I a good Christian?” Sure, I go to church on Sunday, mornings and attend youth group, heck, I even go to a Christian group at school – but what have I done to affirm my faith?

So often it seems that my Christianity gets hidden away whenever it doesn’t seem convenient to display it. I wondered if the homeless man looked at me and could tell if I were Christian. I didn’t think so. Should the full extent of my Christianity be a small gold cross I tuck into my shirt every day? No! In the reading from James we see that Jesus told us faith alone won’t cut it. We have to do something about it. Open a door for someone; give that homeless man a dollar or two and a smile. I decided in my car that I wanted people to see Christ’s love in me. I wanted to be a radiant reminder to everyone I run into that God is not dead. We all know the kid’s song “This Little Light of Mine.” And while, yeah, it’s a catchy tune for Sunday, School, I’d like to bring the meaning of it to my life – and let the Lord’s light shine through me.

Prayer: Lord, light a fire in my soul. Let that light shine to everyone I encounter. Let them see You through me. Amen.

Nick Smith
(first published in 2014)

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Sunday, December 21, 2014 & Friday, February 5, 2021

Just Say YES! by Carla and Casey

Scripture: John 13:34-35 (ESV) – "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Message: What are you going to do with today? Hmm… be crazed, busy and frazzled?! What if you woke up this morning, with a prayer to God, thanking Him for today, and saying YES to Him. YES to whatever opportunity He puts before you today.

Too often our lives get cluttered and busy with the “To Do List.” We allow ourselves to be so over busy that we “don’t have time” to act on the leadings the Lord gives us. Leadings like... text a friend who may be having a crummy day; help with a school or community service project; write a letter to encourage a college student; call a neighbor who is lonely; make cookies for a friend going through divorce.

People rarely remember all the things you do, but they rarely forget how you made them feel. Jesus was about taking the time to love others. What are you about...the list, or the love?

Prayer: Father God, we pray that You will help us to have a supple heart, to hear You, and to say YES to the daily opportunities You give us to love one another. Amen.

Carla and Casey Smith
(first published in 2014)

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