The Scriptures make it clear that believers in Christ are to be on our guard because the enemy is against God, so He, too, will attack the Father’s children. We are part of a spiritual battle that many days we wake up forgetting is going on. When our lives are consumed with the temporary, we forget the eternal.

It is extremely easy to pray for those in our families, our friends, and for ourselves. However, it is a whole new ballgame when we realize that Jesus called us not only to pray for those who we like but also for our enemies.

When King Solomon could ask for whatever he wanted from God, he chose wisdom.

Have you ever met someone going through a hard time who suffered really well? Maybe someone going through an illness comes to mind, or that child being bullied at school resiliently standing up for Christ. Or perhaps it’s just that faithful store cashier always with a positive attitude, even though the hundredth person has been complaining to her that the self check-out is acting up yet again.

1 Peter 4 is a beautiful chapter in Scripture that focuses on suffering like Jesus, stewardship, genuine love, and glorifying God in our daily choices. Today, we are going to dive into the Word to see what we can learn about suffering from 1 Peter 4.

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May we remember the gift and the privilege to even have one full version of the Scriptures in our English language. We are in the top 10% around the world. Not only this, but we have multiple translations. What a blessing that is, and one which we so often overlook each day.

You might live just five minutes from the office, or you could be an hour away. But have you ever thought through how you can be intentional with your “in between” minutes?

Psalm 1:1-2 - “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.”

The rest of Psalm 1 goes on to say that the person who meditates on God’s law (His Word) is like a fruitful tree planted near a stream. Meditating on the Bible is a wonderful invitation from the Lord that not only encourages our hearts each day, but transforms us from the inside out. Often, we can focus so much on “Bible reading time” or “quiet time” which is a specific time set apart for reading the Bible. However, we are not just supposed to retain Scripture, but apply it.

Maybe you, like myself, are needing a reminder of some specific ways to live out God’s Word each day. Today, we will talk about five ways to apply the Bible to our every day.

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If I were to ask you to tell me all of the Bible verses and stories that you remember off of the top of your head, what would you say? Would the majority of these be from recent study or childhood? Although everyone’s stories are different, many of us grew up learning about Jesus and the Bible from our parents and our churches. Perhaps you were in a Christian school where there was an entire class dedicated to Scripture memory? As much as I dreaded those quizzes sometimes, I have God’s Word hidden in my heart because of them.

Today, we are going to address why Biblical literacy is so important for children.

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Maybe you are going through a change right now and need some encouragement. Scripture is the best place to find God’s comfort because our God is unchanging, and we can rest in Him.

Thank you so much for Your gift of new life. Thank You that You are the Creator of all things and that every person is made in Your image. Thank You for pregnant mothers chosen to carry the next generation.

The churches are small and include 10-12 people gathering within homes. Every leader is a volunteer and the tithes are given to the poor and missions. Each leader or pastor of the home is an elder of their church network and trains up another person among them to eventually begin another. It is truly multiplying faith in a new way.

Maybe your life has been more than untouched by trouble, perhaps you have encountered genuine harm, or you have been visited by evil? Why would the Lord say this, if the opposite appears to be true?

Even in the midst of the older brothers sin, the father still calls him son and invites him to celebrate the lost brother coming home. He invites the older brother to the party to celebrate this good thing. 

What is the most exquisite sight you have ever encountered? The Lord painted that sunset or fashioned those mountain peaks. He was the One who made everything. The Great Artist who is behind the creation is more majestic than any of it. He has formed the entire world. His glory is seen above in the stars and sky.