THE HOME DEVO

  DISCUSSION:                                                    There are so many earthly demands on us today that it is sometimes even hard to have time to sleep. Sometimes that lack of sleep is from attempting to meet the earthly demands and knowing we are not meeting the things God wants from us. Is this a catch 22? No, it is a priority thing. We feel so much pressure to maintain a certain level of worldly comfort that we can’t enjoy life due to the demands to maintain this comfort. Back off and examine your priorities. Are they where they should be? We can redo our earthly demands but we can’t redo what God wants. When we slowdown we can, pray more fervently, meditate more effectively, see more clearly God’s handiwork, and gain more studying God’s word. You will be closer to God. Make a resolution to slow down and draw closer to God.

  DISCUSSION:                                                    Spend time alone with God’s Word.   Besides the spiritual growth we will gain from study, we will also come to know Him better.   Reading His word brings us in touch with Him.   Jesus tells us in John 14:7 – “If you had known Me, you would have known my Father also.”   Just studying the life of Jesus will help us to know God better.   In seeking God’s help, we can draw closer to Him through prayer, meditation, nature, and study.   “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:2   I Tim.4:13,15 - “Give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine… meditate on these things; give yourself wholly to them.”   Regardless of our circumstances we can rely on God’s unchanging character. ...

  DISCUSSION:                                                       Spend time communing with God through nature . Observe the beauty in the world that God has made for us.   To see a glimpse of His power in the expanse of the ocean and its relentless waves that pound the seashore; to breath in the sweetness of the majestic mountains with their laurels, so breathtakingly beautiful that we, like Jacob, will say, “Surely the Lord is in this place.”    Feel the spider web’s strength.   Listen as the songbirds serenade.   Smell a newborn baby, the smell of a puppy.   Watch the floating clouds and the beautiful sunset.   Stand in the summer’s shower and taste the rain.   By observing God’s creation, our faith in Him and in His power is reinforced.   Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens declare the glory of God; and th...

  DISCUSSION:                                                     Until we slowdown in this world of hurry we cannot properly evaluate the events going on in our lives. Meditation gives us opportunity to look into our lives and profit from our mistakes.   We can also reflect and meditate on all the things God has done for us.   Meditate on the record of God’s goodness to His people.   This will help us to focus our thoughts on God’s ability to help us rather than our inability to help ourselves.   Read the Bible’s accounts of God’s goodness and meditate on them. Make a resolution to slowdown and spend time alone with God meditating.

  DISCUSSION:                                                   Knowing God and being able to talk to Him will give meaning and purpose to our existence.   God truly loves us. (Romans 8:38-39)   He is always there, his hand outstretched, waiting for us to seek Him.   He has so much to give us and wants the opportunity to do so (Matthew 7:11). Spending time in prayer is one way to be alone with God.    Our Lord spent much time alone in prayer communing with God.   Many times He withdrew into the mountains to pray and rest.   In prayer we can communicate to God our innermost thoughts, needs, desires and thanksgivings. Talking with God will help you to feel closer to Him and rely on Him for all things, knowing that: “ The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”   James 5:16(b). Make a resolution to s...

                              DISCUSSION: There’s more to being a Christian than talking about Jesus or rejoicing in being “saved.” Too often we emphasize our personal, “vertical” relationship with Jesus without thinking how that should affect our “horizontal” relationships with others, where life can be very complicated. Ephesians has some close to-home application here, teaching that the reason for submitting to one another is “out of reverence for Christ.” Explaining Jesus’ command that we “love one another,” some have stated that “Where love reigns, there is mutual servitude,” adding that this applies even to kings and rulers. They must serve their people, as must leaders in the church, elders, deacons, preachers. So must husbands and wives. Applying Jesus’ example to the marriage relationship, Paul mentions the “profound mystery” of Christ and hi...

                                  DISCUSSION: In a sermon a preacher asked, “What is the best way to teach children?” And the congregation answered enthusiastically, “By example!” Albert Schweitzer once said, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” Jesus taught by example what he expects from us. Facing the cross, he illustrated submission and leadership at the last supper with his disciples when he washed their feet and said they should now serve one another (John 13:3-17). The concept of submission is often misunderstood. It isn’t a matter of allowing others to walk all over us. As Paul applies it to marriage in Ephesians 5, submitting means that both the husband and wife seek their partner’s well-being. It’s not a hierarchy! It’s not about authority but about serving one another—and doing so “out of reverence for Christ,” who gave up his very life for us. ...

                                   DISCUSSION: Many preachers today are asked to preach on forgiveness. Most usually focus on the theme that people who are forgiven must be forgiving. If we do not appreciate God’s forgiving us, we have little motivation for forgiving others. Forgiven believers with grateful hearts readily express kindness and compassion for others. Many Bible passages, like Psalm 103, show us that God is forgiving, loving, compassionate, and gracious, and we can imitate our heavenly Father, treating people with compassionate, gracious love. Kindness, compassion, and forgiveness are inseparable. We can’t be very kind to someone whom we haven’t forgiven. We won’t show compassion until we grow aware of how much we’ve experienced God’s love and compassion. As Jesus’ followers, we’re called to share the love that he has shown for us. Doing so builds healthy relationships, honors o...

                               DISCUSSION: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God                      forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32 In the verses from Ephesians 4 and 5, we find some contrasts between our old ways of living and the new way of living in Christ. Though we are “made new” and “created to be like God in true righteousness,” this is an ongoing process that is not completed in this life. These verses give reasons for our being called to live as “members of one body.” We must live by the truth and avoid giving the devil any kind of foothold in our lives. Because we can still be tempted to sin, we must pay attention to Paul’s strong warnings about anger, stealing, unwholesome talk, and grieving the Holy Spirit. We all can strive to be kinder and...

                                   DISCUSSION: “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. . . . For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.” Galatians 5.1, 13-15 Paul was astonished at how quickly the Galatian believers were giving up on the gospel he had brought. And it wasn’t for an easier freedom; people were going back to being burdened with rules and rituals. Paul’s message: the freedom bought by Christ’s blood must not be forsaken so readily. It’s too ...

                                       DISCUSSION:   “ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to                                                               indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Galatians 5. 13-14   What is this freedom that Paul warns us not to misuse? Is it the freedom of basic human rights that we enjoy in Western nations? Hardly! There are people in prison as well as in other countries who enjoy the freedom Paul is talking about—it’s the freedom that only the gospel brings, freedom from o...

  Discussion:                                        From the holly berries to Santa himself, red is by far one of the most prominent colors of the holidays. However, my favorite red items of the holidays are the Poinsettia plants used for decorations. There is an old Mexican legend about how Poinsettias and Christmas come together. It goes like this: There was once a poor Mexican girl named Pepita who had no present to give the baby Jesus at the Christmas Eve services. As Pepita walked to the chapel sadly, her cousin Pedro tried to cheer her up. “Pepita,” he said, "I'm sure that even the smallest gift given by someone who loves Him will make Jesus happy." Pepita didn't know what she could give, so she picked a small handful of weeds from the roadside and made them into a small bouquet. She felt embarrassed because she could only give this small present to Jesus. As she wal...

  Discussion:                               While not a traditional color of Christmas, without the black night sky, the Star to Bethlehem would not have been seen. The dark night sky of winter can be gloomy and depressing, but just as God lit the way to Christ, He uses His people to point others to Christ. During the holiday season, try not to get overwhelmed but remember that it is a time for faith, family, and friends. Be that light in a world that might focus too much on the worldly things. Be Christ.                     Prayer Requests: ____________________________________________________________________    

  Discussion:                        Often times Mary, the mother of Jesus, is portrayed wearing blue robes. This began in medieval times when blue and purple dye was one of the most costly. Royal families and wealthy people would often be painted in blue clothes because of their esteemed status. This shows that Mary was seen as very important because she gave birth to the King of Kings! Mary was given a special gift and she was blessed because of it. Make sure this week that having Christ in your life blesses both you and others! Information from: whychristmas.com                                  Prayer Requests: ____________________________________________________________________      

  Discussion:                                   That picture-perfect gold star at the top of the Christmas tree comes to mind. You might also think of Buddy the Elf springing off the couch to put that perfect gold star on top of the massive tree in their living room. Either way, that precious gold brings to mind something that is special. After all, it was one of the three gifts that the wise men brought to the newborn Jesus.   Gold items are valuable and special. Many times we make sacrifices during this time of the year to give to others. We might purchase something special for our children or other loved ones. Don’t forget about the most valuable possession we have: God’s word. This is a gift that needs to be shared every day!         Prayer Requests: ______________________________...

  Discussion:                                   Bing sang what many of us think: “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas.” White is often associated with purity and peace in western cultures. The snow of winter is also very white! White paper wafers were also sometimes used to decorate paradise trees. The wafers represented the bread eaten during communion when Christians remember that Jesus died for them. Many orthodox churches use white as the color of Christmas, when their altar is covered with a white cloth. This is not as common in our culture, but many lessons can be learned from this color. When we see white decorations, think of the purity that Christ had as a perfect sacrifice. Remember that we should strive to be pure as Christ. Information from: whychristmas.com Prayer Requests: _______________________________...

                                      Evergreen plants, like holly and mistletoe have been used for thousands of years to decorate and brighten up buildings during the long dark winter. They also reminded people that spring would come and winter wouldn't last forever! The Romans would exchange evergreen branches during January as a sign of good luck. The ancient Egyptians used to bring palm branches into their houses during the mid-winter festivals. In many parts of Europe during the Middle Ages, “paradise plays” were performed, often on Christmas Eve. They told Bible stories to people who couldn't read. “The Paradise Tree” in the Garden of Eden in the play was normally a pine tree with red apples tied to it. Today, think about the newness of life we have because we are in Christ. The old man could represent the dark winter and the barren trees. Then think of the brig...

  We have all heard that practice makes perfect. We say that so we can realize the importance of practice. However, we know practice doesn’t make perfect, but it does make permanent. If we practice piano, another instrument, a sport or hobby, we will keep those skills for a long time. In our spiritual life, we can train ourselves to read, study and pray just by practicing it. We can make the people around us happy by practicing good virtues. Anything that we practice in a positive way can help us become the people we need to be.     Prayer Requests: ____________________________________________________________________    

  As we’ve read this week, the kingdom of God was planned from the beginning, was promised and prepared, and will exist in power eternally. When Peter made his confession about Jesus in Matthew 16, Jesus promised that Peter would be the first to open the door of the kingdom/church and allow people entrance. That is exactly what happened on the Day of Pentecost. Peter gave the terms of entrance into the church, and three thousand took advantage of the offer of a gracious God. When they were baptized, they were saved; when they were saved, God added them to the church. The “Kingdom/Church” is the body of the saved, those who have been saved by Christ’s blood.   Prayer Requests: ____________________________________________________________________    

  The Kingdom existed, and continues to exist, in power. The Holy Spirit came on the first Day of Pentecost at Jerusalem. People who believed, repented, and were baptized were added to the kingdom/church. From that point, the kingdom/church was spoken of as being in existence. Christ is now reigning in heaven over His kingdom, and he will continue to reign until He returns at the end of time to take His faithful followers with Him to heaven.   Prayer Requests: ____________________________________________________________________      

  The Kingdom existed in preparation. Christ began His personal ministry during the days of the Roman Empire. During His personal ministry, the kingdom/church existed in preparation. Both Jesus and John the Baptist preached that the kingdom was “at hand” or almost there. Jesus stressed that His kingdom was a spiritual institution and used the terms “kingdom” and “church” interchangeably. Jesus said that His kingdom would come “with power”. After His resurrection, He told the disciples that the power would come when the Holy Spirit came and that they would be His witnesses beginning at Jerusalem. They were to wait in Jerusalem until that power came, and at that time, repentance for the remission of sins would be preached in His name. Peter did just that in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost.   Prayer Requests: ____________________________________________________________________    

  The Kingdom existed in promise. Throughout the Old Testament, the kingdom/church existed in prophecy and promise. Isaiah said that in the last days the Lord’s house would be established and the Word of the Lord would go forth from Jerusalem. Paul identifies the Lord’s house as the Church. Daniel prophesied that God’s kingdom would be established “During the time of the kings of the fourth kingdom.” History tells us that this fourth kingdom referred to was the Roman Empire that ruled the known world until 476 AD. He went on to write “the God of heaven will set up another kingdom that will continue forever. It will never be destroyed. And it will be the kind of kingdom that cannot be passed on to another group of people. This kingdom will crush all the other kingdoms. It will bring them to an end, but that kingdom itself will continue forever.” This eternal kingdom is the one that was established on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. The promise of its coming was fulfilled on that day...

  The first two chapters in the book of Acts gives us a front row seat to the establishing of the earthly “Kingdom” AKA “the Church". Throughout eternity, this Kingdom existed in the plans and purposes of God as written in Ephesians 3. Jesus even taught the apostles to pray for the coming of this Kingdom. Peter was told that he would be instrumental in the start of this Kingdom and we see just that in the first chapters of Acts. God’s eternal plans include all men and women, but we must be a part of the Kingdom that was foretold in God’s word. Are you a part of the Kingdom? In Acts chapter 2, we see Peter instruct those present what they had to do. Repent and Be Baptized!!   Prayer Requests: ____________________________________________________________________      

  DISCUSSION:                              There are so many things going on in this world today that it is easy to let worry have more room in our heart than happiness. In the medical world, we are constantly being reminded of the preventive medicine we need. Unlike 60 years ago when health only entered our minds when we got sick, today we are told continually of so much that can happen to our health if we don’t have this test run, take this pill, or get this shot to prevent some type of virus infecting us. If you allow it, you can give this too much attention. Of course, it is important to have good health. As we get older it really seems to get a lot more of our attention. Don’t let worry about your health take your eyes off the cross. The words of God given wisdom from Solomon in Proverbs 4, we see that a physically healthy heart is important, but to keep focused on good things to keep our spiritu...

  DISCUSSION:                                     Just recently we have seen the devastation that can result from hurricanes, earthquakes, and fire. According to the show on National Geographic channel “Doomsday Preppers” there are a lot of people over the country stocking up on supplies in the hope of being able to survive (months) a natural disaster or power grid failure. Many agree with this philosophy. Who could argue that it is a smart idea to be prepared? As a provider we should take reasonable measures to have our family prepared for hard times both mentally and physically. In this life, Christians have something more precious to protect than material things. Preparing our souls for eternity is much more important. We have been promised a gift that nothing can compare to, a home not made with hands (2Corinthians 5:1). So even if disasters come our way, we can be sure God will tak...

  DISCUSSION:                            Do you see the glass half full or half empty? The glass holds the exact same amount of water, yet our attitude determines our point of view toward making the decision. The answer to this familiar question is used to determine if a person has a positive or negative attitude. There is not a lot of science in this method, but the point is our attitude is very important to how we respond to situations in life. Every day we have a choice concerning how we respond to the challenges of life. As Christians, seeking to follow Christ will keep us looking up and not down. Leroy Brownlow wrote in his book “Better than medicine”, that whether a man’s thoughts are positive or negative depends on what he believes or disbelieves. If you believe you are able to do a job, chances are you will. If you don’t believe you are able, you will most likely fail. Your outlook on life plays ...

  DISCUSSION:                                       In Psalms 51, after David had sinned with Bathsheba and had her husband killed, David asked God to create in him a clean heart, to take away the guilt of his sin, and to restore the joy of salvation. By making bad choices, David had lost all joy of living. As Christians, we also are faced with many temptations and will also make some bad choices resulting in sin either privately or publicly. In 1John 1:7-9, John tells us of this and that if we confess these sins, the blood of Christ will wash those sins away. What a joy it is to know that our God is willing to wipe away sin in our life if we are willing to confess and repent of sin in our life. As adults, the joy of being a Christian can sometimes fade due to the cares of our everyday life. Asking God to restore that joy to our salvation is only a prayer away. Is it important to...

  DISCUSSION:                                If you watch TV or read social media you will see that there are thousands of things designed to make you happy. So, it should be easy to find happiness, shouldn’t it? I think the fact is that nothing in this world will bring us happiness. We have to choose to be happy regardless of what is going on in our lives. Solomon said, “There is nothing new under the sun and all is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9, 14). Using today’s language we might say, Solomon has been there and done that. Solomon wasn’t a doctor, but he realized the mind had a big influence upon the body. In Proverbs 17:22 He presented two options: Live a happy life and enjoy good health or live without happiness and risk a life of sickness. Sadly, although Solomon knew this because of his God given wisdom, he ended up ignoring his own advice. (Thought) Do we do this same thing a lot of times? Abou...

  DISCUSSION:                        The Bible tells us in Proverbs 17:22, Happiness is good medicine, but sorrow is a disease. If we don’t constantly work on having a good attitude and think on good things (Philippians 4:8), instead of feeling happy and energetic, happiness is likely to get lost in our busy lives. Without happiness life can feel pretty empty and meaningless. Poor health will follow in a life without joy.   As Christians, we have a big reason to be happy. Our savior Jesus has given us a hope, through His willingness to die on the cross for our sins. He paid the debt we could not pay. How do you think He feels when we let the things of this world trump His ultimate gift of joy? I think Paul was telling us in Philippians 4:7, as Christians if we focus on Jesus we will have a joy that is beyond the understanding of the world and that peace (joy) within our hearts ...

  DISCUSSION:                                                     A teenage boy, Jack, is riding his aging bicycle down the road when he is pulled over by one of his friends, Tom. Tom was sporting a new car.   As he exited the car he told Jack that it was a gift from his brother.   He continued to show all of the extras the car had and how plush the insides were. Jack was taken aback by the costly gift Tom's brother had given him. For a moment he was speechless.   Even though he hadn’t said anything, Tom had a good idea what he was thinking. Jack opened his mouth and said, "I wish I…."   Tom didn't even listen to what Jack actually said for he knew he was going to say he wished he had a brother like Tom.   However, what came out of ...

  DISCUSSION:                                                     There is a short story that is told about a young paper boy. It’s said that an older man was on his way to work one morning and he heard this young voice calling out, “Morning Paper, Get Your Morning Paper.” It was a cold rainy day in November and as he looked up, he saw this thinly clad young boy, shivering in a doorway, soaked to the skin. He had no shoes and watched as he would lift one foot and press it against his leg to get a little warmth and then the other one. Every few minutes he would call out “Morning Paper, Get Your Morning Paper.”   Now the man was well protected by his coat and his umbrella and he stopped to buy the early edition. And he said to the paper boy, “This ki...

  DISCUSSION:                                         V.6 – So when the woman saw that the tree was pleasing to the eyes … she took of its fruit. The story is told about a young child that was being cared for by a baby sitter while the mother worked in the office of her home. When the child saw this beautiful vase in the china cabinet, he wanted it. When the baby sitter refused to give it to him he began crying, screaming and kicking. When his mother heard him she came into the room to see what was going on. Picking up her precious little boy she said, “What do you want darling?” He pointed to the vase in the china cabinet, so his mother took it out and gave it to him and went back to work. Not long after that the child started screaming again and the mother came back and said, “Now what does my little darling want?” Between sob...