Getting Serious about God (4) The Word for You Today March April May

They took God's Word seriously. "They spent their time learning the apostles' teaching" (Acts 2:42 NCV). Researchers tell us that today personal Bible reading is less common among Christians than prayer. Instead of a Word from God that fortifies us for the challenges of the day, we've substituted exercise and cappuccino. Our Bible reading is confined to the pastor's Sunday sermon. The early disciples were so committed to the Word that they "spent[invested, paid the price with] their time, learning [studying to understand and master] the apostles' teaching." God's Word not only enabled them to withstand life's challenges, but when persecution made them fugitives they took the Word with them and planted new churches around the world (Acts 8:4). Are you growing in God's Word so that it fortifies you against tough times and prepares you to influence your world for Christ? They took worship and praise seriously. "They stayed continually at the temple, praising God" (Luke 24:53 NIV). For many of us the word "worship" has come to designate the Sunday morning service-a place we attend rather than the voluntary act of devoted hearts glorifying God. Being a spectator at the Sunday service isn't worship. The New Testament believers understood David's instruction: "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise" (Psalm 100:4 NIV). Do you want to be a serious worshipper? Enter His presence focused exclusively on His goodness, and wholeheartedly express to Him your appreciation for all He is.

Getting Serious about God (3) The Word for You Today March April May

They took prayer seriously. The New Testament church was conceived in the womb of prayer. After ten days of united prayer in the upper room, "Everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:4 NLT) All the believers devoted themselves.. to prayer. It remained a prayer-conditioned fellowship. It was born, bathed, and brought to fruition in prayer. Prayer will make the hard parts of your life easier, and more fruitful. Consistent prayer lifts you to a higher, positive place where you learn how to accomplish more while experiencing a deep peace of heart and soul. Learn the unforced rhymes of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly" (Matt 11:28-30 TM). Seriously, can there be a better way to live?

Getting Serious about God (2) March 13 The Word for You Today March April May

They took fellowship seriously. Church is more than a common--interest-based social club. We're a family-birth-children of our heavenly father, blood relatives. The cross made it so. "We have all been baptized into one body by One Spirit" (1 Co 12:13 NLT).. Those early disciples valued their relationship. They "met together...shared everything they had.... sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need" (Acts 2:44-45 NLT). God's word describes members existed individually but they can only function properly in connection with one another. The members understood the need to value each other, and to sacrifice personal interest for the sake of the whole. As isolated, self-reliant, self-promoting individuals they would have been destroyed by the overwhelming force of their enemies. As a believer you may survive apart from church, but you can't thrive. Your God-given potential will never be realized until you commit wholeheartedly to a local fellowship and invest yourself in serving God's vision for that church.

Getting Serious about God (1) The Word for You Today March April May

It's estimated that there are over half a billion practicing Christians in the world. But the church wouldn't even exist today if it hadn't been for a small group of disciples who were sold out to Christ. The things of God were not a part-time interest or a convenience-based commitment to those early Christians, but their highest priority. They took church seriously. "The believers met together in the Temple every day. Is once a week your limit? Are you a hit and miss churchgoer? So what drew them? Their encounter with Jesus transformed their priorities that, "Everyday they continued to meet" (Acts 2:46 NIV). They hungered to gather in the presence of the Lord, believing His promise, "Where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them" (Matt. 18:20 NLT). Taking God seriously requires regular involvement with other Christians, experiencing this unique aspect of His presence, hearing His Word together, and encouraging one another (Heb. 10:25). You need that special dimension of fellowship with God that happens only when His family gathers together with Him.

Show Hospitality The Word for You Today March April May

Making others feel loved and valued is a hallmark of discipleship. (John 13:34-35). Welcoming newcomers was important in the early church, and it's just as important today. Social customs may change, but God's Word doesn't. Jesus said, "Anyone who receives you receives me" (Matt. 10:40 NLT). As a follower of Christ it's your job to make new people feel like part of "the household of faith" (Gal 6:10). Established friendships within churches can easily become religious cliques where we smile and speak to newcomers, but spend all our time with a select group of people we already know. People come to church hoping for love and acceptance, and if they don't find it within a month or two they move on. Most folks have had at least one negative experience in church, so they need extra T.L.C (Tender Loving Care). The Bible says, "Carry each other's burdens" (Gal. 6:2 NIV). Genuine warmth and caring attract people. Church should be a place where our love for people who are hurting is evident the minute they walk in the door. And remember, God doesn't just use these relationships to meet the needs of those coming out of bad situations-He uses them to mature us too.

E-V-A-L-U-A-T-E- The Word for you Today March April May

A successful marriage is based on two things: "finding" the right person, and "becoming" the right person. Just because two people share the same bed and the same name, doesn't guarantee harmony. E-Enjoy. Do you enjoy the same things? For example, when your husband is glued to the ballgame on TV and you want a little conversation, it will be. V-Values. The Bible asks, "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" Do you agree on major issues such as intimacy, child rearing, finances, in-laws, goals, and your relationship with God? A-Accessibility.Are you both emotionally accessible? L-Love.Do you really love each other? The kind that listens to your spouse's opinions and concerns, overlooks their faults and failings, values them, and expresses itself through kindness? U-Understanding. Can you understand and handle each other's differences? A-Appreciation. Your mate can't read your mind, so get into the habit of expressing your appreciation for one another T-Temperament. If you're naturally upbeat but they're moody and introverted, you may have an oil-and-water mix. How will you handle this? E-Environment. If you're from different backgrounds, are you comfortable in the same social and spiritual settings? If you want a happy marriage, E-V-A-L-U-A-T-E these things.

Power failures by Kenneth Manders

Matthew 17:14-16 John 17-unity Life can you let you down Dreams can turn into disasters Expectations for yourself and others can expire Church can experience highs like in Zion In the mountain there was excitement, valleys there were lows Mountains power fulfillment, valleys power failures We want to fit God into our plans when God already has a plan Preparation in life doesn't insulate or isolate you from power failures Failures seem most apparent when God is not in it You can belong but not be involved in the church Born once, die twice Born twice-repentance, die once Why we experience power failures? 1.) reminders of our own limitations 2.) open our eyes to nature of adversaries 3.) help us examine our relationship with God 4.) realized you have been entrusted with God's gifts 5.) Makes you realized what God can do

A parachute prayer by Pastor Kymone Hinds

Judges 16:22-30 Roadblocks of prayering Too blessed, too busy, no time, too burden Even in the midst of Samson's folly, God still used him You can be blessed by God and not surrender to God We take for granted God's mercy Where sin abound, grace also abound In verses 6,10,13, and 15 Delilah is questioning Samson In verses 7,11,13,and 17 Samson tells Delilah how to make him an ordinary man It's never too late to pray to God In verse 28 Samson cried out to the Lord to help him be avenged.

The worst of Mississippi-hospitals, doctors, tax preparers, clinics, etc.. coming soon......

We all know Mississippi is bad. But here are some of the worst in the community: Mississippi State Hospital Whitefield, MS Clinic on Old Airport Rd Hattiesburg, MS Dental Clinic on Old Airport Rd Hattiesburg, MS Pine Grove Hattiesburg, MS

Learning to Like God by Pastor MyRon Edmonds

Jonah 4:1-11 and Jonah 1:1-2 You become closer to God when you acknowledge your flaws. The closer you get to Jesus the more things you see. Removing stuff of our lives so we can be a blessing to others. Jonah made an idol out of his message to ninevites-being separate, being different. He forgets that he must make disciples too. Jonah didn't like Ninevah because of their sins Jonah was a narcissist

How to graduate with highest honors 1,2,3-The word for today

1.)"There is in store for me the crown." 2 Ti 4:8 NIV Paul anticipated graduating with highest honors: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown." (vv.7-8 NIV) By living an unselfish life. There's no greater obstacle to the life God designed you to live, than selfishness. Ego and self-promotion pollute our souls and destroy our relationships. Paul understood the need to dethrone ego. "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (Gal 2:20 NIV). This reflected: a.) a change of values. Paul once lived to persecute Christians; now he says, "For to me to live is Christ" (Philip 1:21). b.) A change of ambition. The old Paul, whose goal was to be a recognized champion of religion, says, "but whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ" (Philip 3:7 NIV) c.) A change of mind. The brilliant philosopher, Pharisee and lawyer renounces his self-seeking ways and writes, "Think the same way that Christ Jesus thought" (Philip 2:5 CEV). 2.)"That...day...God will reveal who his children really are". Romans 8:19 NLT By living a sacrificial life. Salvation is free, but graduation with highest honors costs clearly: "I have suffered the loss of all things" (Philip 3:8). Paul once had a comfortable life, then everything changed. He was beaten almost to death eight times. He faced danger at the hand of friend and foe. He endured nakedness, sleeplessness, starvation, and thirst (2 Co 11:23-29). Despite all of this he states "I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake" (2 Co 12:10 NAS). Three times he asked the Lord to alleviate his suffering. When God replied, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness" (v.9 NLT), he learned to "take pleasure in... insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles" (v.10 NLT, leaning on God for strength. Through "the infinite value of knowing Christ (Philip 3:8 NLT), we can all find joy. Intimacy with was Christ was Paul consuming passion. Though conscious of his problems, he stayed consecrated to his Lord. "For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ (v.8 NLT). 3.)By living a focused life. Great achievers stay focused on their goal. They are so single-minded that they are often considered fanatics. They filter out the extraneous and hone in on their target like a laser, while all around them others lives cluttered with much-talked-about projects that never get off the ground. Paul states "I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the reach and receive the heavenly prize for which God is calling" (vv.13-14 NLT). Graduation with highest honors takes a.)Focus. And focus doesn't happen, you must direct it. b.) Single focus. Focus on one thing. c.)Forgetting past failure d.)Intense anticipation of future success. "Looking forward to what lies ahead. e.)A full-court press. Make sure you finish the race. Take these steps, and you too will graduate with highest honors.