Friday, March 28, 2014 &
Wednesday,
August 12, 2020
- "The Connection" Series
God Is With You
by the whole family
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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
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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
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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
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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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