Scripture for Life - Let God Change You!

The scripture theme this week is on letting Christ change you by making Him the center of your life!

Acts 3: 1-10
"One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer - at three in the afternoon.  Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.  When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.  Peter looked straight at him, as did John.  Then Peter said, "Look at us!"  So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.  Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."  Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.  He jumped to his feet and began to walk.  Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.  When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."

Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, wants a relationship with you!  He is ready and waiting for each of us to accept His love, and to be transformed by Him!

-Wes

Scripture for Life - Purpose

As you enter into the summer, and perhaps have some time on your hands, you might find yourself wondering what to do.  Whenever you have some time it's always appropriate to communicate with God and remember that it's Him that gives your life purpose.

One Scripture verse for this is Ephesians 1:11
"It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for."

-Wes

Scripture for Life - Honesty

The Scripture theme for this week is Honesty.

Here's a Bible verse that's worth committing to memory:
Proverbs 11:3
"Good people will be guided by honesty"

This is also the Scripture Memory Verse for the week.

-Wes

Scripture for Life - Embrace Change

Continuing the theme for the week of embracing change, here's another scripture on the subject and how we are to continually turn to God in times of change.
Psalm 31:14-15
"I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." My times are in your hand."

Can you think of a time when you were pending change in your life that made you nervous or uncomfortable?  What are some examples of those times in life when turning to God can put us at ease?

-Wes

Scripture Memory Verse; Week 7; Ecclesiastes 3:1

The Scripture verse for this week is appropriate considering the change coming from the school year into summer.  Remember that God, who invented everything, made seasons of change a part of our lives.

Ecclesiastes 3:1
"For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven."

Scripture for Life - God's Word

Today's scripture verse is about the power of God's word, how it will break through all barriers, nothing can hold it back!

Isaiah 55:11
"So is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Question:  Have you ever experienced the power of God's word, have you witnessed it perform something in your life?

Scripture Memory Verse; Week 6; Mark 1:17

The Scripture Memory Verse this week is very similar to last week...
Mark 1:17
"Come, follow me" Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

Comedian Michael Jr., on Jesus' Little Brother...

Here's a good one for you this weekend, enjoy..

-Wes

Declaration for Christ

The title of this video is "Declaration"; please post a comment and share any thoughts this generates for you...

Scripture Memory Verse; Week 5; Matthew 4:19

The Scripture Memory verse this week is:

Matthew 4:19
"Come, follow me" Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

Scripture for Life - Obey God!

The scripture verse for today is:
1 John 2:4
"He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

Here's a video that makes the point well.  For points, please post any comments you have...

Following Jesus - Not Chasing the World!

I wanted to post a video for you today that I think makes a good point.  It's something that I've struggled with over the years and I think if we're all honest, everyone has at one point or another.  I'm talking about surrendering to Jesus completely and focusing on the things of God instead of the things of the world.  That is to say that we don't chase worldly things and happiness but instead keep our focus on Christ and receive the peace and joy that only He can provide. 

A scripture verse for this is: 1 John 2: 15-17
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."


Here's a video that I think makes the point very well.  As you watch the video, please consider the squirrel (who's name is actually Scrat) as representing us.  The acorn - well, that represents the things of the world.   Maybe you'll see an analogy of how we spend all of our time running around chasing the things of the world, never really catching or obtaining them, and always getting ourselves into tight-spots in the process!

-Wes

Scripture Verse for the Week; John 13:34

The Scripture verse for the week is:  John 13:34

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

Scripture for Life - He is Risen!

After Easter we can celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The gift that God has given to humanity through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ is almost too much to comprehend, some see it as beyond belief!

Today's Scripture is the story of doubting Thomas, from John 20: 24-25
"Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

Here is a video that serves to make the point as well.

For points, please post a comment and share your thoughts on what the Gift of Salvation means to you!
-Wes

Today is Good Friday.  Let's simply take a moment to pause and Worship God for all he has done and continues to do for us.  We worship a great and powerful God!

Scripture for Life - The Easter Story

Today's scripture verse is from one of the major sections of the Bible that tells the Easter story.

Luke 24: 1-12
"(1) But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. (2) And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, (3) but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. (4) While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. (5) And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? (6) He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, (7) that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” (8) And they remembered his words, (9) and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. (10) Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, (11) but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. (12) But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened."

For points, please post a comment that you've considered today's verse and the impact, on everything in the world, of the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for each and every one of us.

I would also ask that you watch the video below. It's a message presented by Pastor Louie Giglio of Passion City Church in Atlanta, GA.  He's talking about the centrality of Jesus, and the Cross, to everything!

Scripture for Life - Christ Lives!

This being Easter week, the scripture verses for the week will focus on the glorious event of Christ's ultimate triumph, the most important event in human history!

The Scripture verse for today is from the book of Matthew, this is where the Resurrection of Christ was foretold by Jesus himself.

Matthew 20: 18-19
"(18) We are going to Jerusaelm, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law.  They will condemn him to death (19) and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified.  On the third day he will be raised to life! "

For points, please post a comment, have you ever considered that there is no other event in human history that is more important or has more impact on humanity than the Resurrection of Christ!

-Wes

Scripture for Life - God's Identity!

The scripture verse today points to God's identity.

It's human nature to look to God for help in times of need, that's perfectly normal.  But along the way, there is a tendency to look at God as kind of a cosmic vending machine, that we only go to in times of need to get what we want.  It's easy to see how some people could fall into the habit of think that our good deeds and living right are our way of "earning" currency with God that we can then cash-in when we have a need.  That's not what God wants from us.

We should put our Faith in God's Identity, not on his activity.  In other words, we should look at God as the Lord of all, and focus on his identity as God, not on what He can do for us!

Today's Scripture Verse is Revelations 1:8
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

This verse is also the Memory verse for the week.

Here's a video that talks about who God is in Christ Jesus:

Palm Sunday; Matthew 21:1-11

This coming Sunday is Palm Sunday, the day when we as Christians celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem in exactly the manner it had been foretold by scripture.  This occurred the week before his death and resurrection, which is what we celebrate at Easter.  Palm Sunday is sometimes called "Passion Sunday," it marks the beginning of Holy Week which concludes on Easter.

The Scripture verse that chronicles this event is Matthew 21: 1-11

"When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. "If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them."This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, 'BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.' "The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!" When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?"  And the crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee."

Below is a short video depiction of the event, for points, please post a comment that you read the post and watched the video, along with any questions or comments you might have. 

-Wes

Back from Florida!

Just a quick post to let you know that we're back from vacation in Florida, it was a great time!

I will get back up to speed with regular postings to the page tomorrow.

In Christ,

Wes