Life@SPBCH

God is Able
Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and called according to his purpose for them.”

What this Verse Means To Me…. When I first read this verse ,I thought; well this is true for every trial I’ve ever faced, I have always been the better for it. (and there have been many trials through out my life, and many more await, I’m sure) We learn by our experience and having God in our life, makes those trials much easier, for it could be so much worse with- out Gods grace.
There are a few verses that come to mind that back this thought…
James 1:2- 4
1:2 Dear Brothers and Sisters whenever trouble comes your way ,let it be the opportunity for joy.
1:3 For when your faith is tested your endurance has a chance to grow.
1:4 So let it grow,for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.
Then Jeremiah 29:11 comes to mind … “For I know the Plans I have for you” says the LORD.
They are plans for good and not for Disaster, to give you a Future and a Hope.”
Gods Plan is to give each of us a purpose and meaning in this life. A new beginning and a new purpose too turn us into new people. Those trials make us feel like God has forgotten at times but in reality he’s giving each of us an advantage, preparing us for that new beginning with him .
This is exciting as a Christian for each time to me it’s like climbing that ladder to being in a better place and time in life and in eternally.

How shall I pray because of this verse Romans 8:28 Lord there are times I don’t understand these trials, though in my heart I realize its all for my betterment in my life. Lord forgive me for having doubt. Lord I ask you to help me in this understand and help to direct me in the path I need to take in life. And thank you Lord for your understanding and patience with me. One other thing I ask of you Lord ; help me to use my experiences and trials to help show other’s joy and the real meaning of your unfailing Love . I love you Jesus and thank you for the opportunities that lay ahead. In Jesus name Amen. Becky Feetham

Like Clay in the Potters Hands

Jeremiah: 18:1-6 (NIV)     This the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Go down to the potter’s
house, and there I will give you my message.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot,
shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the Lord came to me:  “O house of Israel can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hands of the potter, so are you in my hands, O house of Israel.”

What this verse means to me:

As I read the passage, I think about how nothing is beyond God’s power to take any situation and change it to his glory. If I choose to follow a path that is not of God’s direction, like the first pot I become marred and useless to him. But by allowing him to take charge God can remold me into a useful vessel for his work.

How I will pray today because of this verse:

My Father, who is in heaven, I thank you for the many blessings and for your guidance in my life. I thank you for being a loving God that is willing to take our “marred” lives and reshape us into a vessel that can serve you. Ken B.

God is at Work
John 5:17; “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.”

What this verse means to me:
God is always at work behind the scenes to accomplish his purpose. That means God is at work behind the scenes in my life for my benefit as well as he seeks to accomplish his purpose in my life. I have not always felt that way. I have had moments when I accused God of not paying attention when things have happened to me or my family or our church. My feelings have indicated my belief God wasn’t at work. But God’s word is the authority not my feelings.

God is at work in my life and in my world and in your life regardless of our feelings.

How I will pray today:
Lord forgive me for those many times I have accused you of being absent and not caring. My feelings have been the measuring stick I have used to judge your presence and my feelings make a poor thermometer.

Thank you for always being at work in my life and my family’s life and in my church. Open my eyes and let me see.
Thank you lord.

Eternal life

John 5:24
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes in Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”

The Hebrew Scriptures teach that eternal life begins after people are raised from the dead, at the last judgment. Here Jesus introduces a new concept by declaring that eternal life is available right now when people believe in Him.

Since we who believe have God (Holy Spirit) in us and have already crossed over into eternal life we are no longer seeking God; we should be experiencing God in our daily walk. Salvation is not a matter of getting us into Heaven; it is getting heaven into us. We are there.

The question becomes; what do we do now? The answer is simple. We are to walk with God. Then we ask; how can I an ordinary person walk with God? Throughout scripture God has taken ordinary people and done extraordinary things. He would show them what He was about to do and invite them to join Him in His work. We are ordinary believers and we are invited. Our task is to open our eyes to what God is doing around us and join Him in His work. We cannot stay where we are and walk with God too. It is time to let God work through us. It is not, what can we do, but what will we allow God to do through us.
Our eternal life with God has already begun. As Jesus said “I must be about my father’s business “, so we must be about our heavenly Father’s business. Eddy E.

He is the Vine
John 15:5, NIV
“I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

What this verse means to me;
Such an amazing verse of God’s promise of power in our lives if we abide in Him but also a reminder that without HIM we have no true power… In today’s world we often get so busy and caught up in “doing things for the Lord” on our own that we often forget that HE is our true source of power and that only by abiding in Him and staying in His will can we do things that are of KINGDOM VALUE with everlasting results. Sure our own way of doing things may seem OK for awhile, but if we really want the world to see GOD we need to abide in Him and let HIS power and glory shine us as we seek to reach a lost world for Him, and to minister to those in need…

How I will pray because of this verse:
Lord, today I pray that I will daily seek to abide in you and that the world around me will always see Jesus in me. I pray that I will draw on your power and not my own to share Jesus with my friends, my family and those I meet each day. Thank you for being our vine, our strength, our source of help and growth. It is so true–apart from you we are nothing. I love you Lord, thank you again for dying to provide salvation for us…Help us to share that with a dying world…. Amen; Darlene W.

Planting the seed

John 5:19
I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself: he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
Driving to Rapid City, SD we saw fields of sunflowers, corn and hay being harvested. The hay was all cut and rolled into bails left standing in the fields to be loaded up. I realized that I really didn’t know much about being a farmer or the process of each step it took to plant, care for and harvest the crops. I imagined the farmer having a young son who learned from his father how to be a farmer. I pictured the young son sitting on his father’s lap as he drove the tractor through the fields. The boy had a million questions: “Why Dad, do you do this? When do you do that? How does this work? What is the solution to that problem?” Of course there would come the day when the son is ready to drive the tractor and to join the Father in his work.
The work is still the same to plant the seed which Luke 8:11 says is the Word of God. Will you join the Father and the Son in their work where you are? In John 4:35b it says, “Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.” Dori E.

Pastor: I read 2 Timothy Chapter 1 verses 8 and 9 from the NIV. ”So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. this grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”

What it means to me
Paul was teaching Timothy who was, as I understand, much younger than he. I can relate to this as I am teaching a God and Life class in my Boy Scout Troop. We had a class at my house after church yesterday. These boys are 13 and 14. We are learning that God uses different kinds of people to spread the gospel, and that we should not be ashamed to express our faith to others. I use Timothy a lot when I am teaching as the boys can relate, especially 1 Timothy Chapter 4 Verses 11 and 21.

How I will pray
Lord help me in my teachings to say the right thing. Many times I feel like Moses, who thought he was verbally inadequate, put the right words in my mouth to enable me to spread your word with courage and strength.

Have a blessed day
Rose

2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)
“Do your best to present yourself to God as on approved, a worker who does
not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

This verse means to try to do your best in everything without being mean.
You need to be God’s worker and not be ashamed of what others have and what
they may say, because God is always with you. It is also saying to not
misuse God’s word. Do not quote it to meet your own needs, but quote verses
to help people learn God’s word.

Because of this verse, this is how I will pray:
“Dear Lord, help us not to be shy and give us the courage to tell others
about you. Help us to know and understand the truth. Help us to be a kind
and helpful worker, showing God’s love. AMEN

By Cody Mitchell
Age: 9

When words aren’t enough:
Psalms 116:12-14 & 17-18; “ How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people….I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord.”

What this verse means to me:
There have been moments in my life when a gift was so extraordinary mere words of thanks did not express gratitude. Overwhelmed by someones generosity my words seemed hallow. Our salvation is so great a gift how can we say thanks?

David said he would, 1. lift up the cup of salvation, hold up the gift, show it, let the world see; 2. Call on the Lord, that’s prayer life isn’t it; 3. Fulfill his vows, keep his promises, be a man of integrity. 4. In the presence of his people, in the Lord’s house, that’s attend church and give testimony of God’s blessings; 5. Give a thank offering, that’s an offering above the usual tithes, that’s giving from the heart above what is required as an expression of thanks.
How shall I Pray:
Lord, thank you so much for my salvation and the salvation of my family. May my life be an expression of thanks and praise for all you have done for me. I will speak of it and show it and bring praise to you.

From Erica Smith, Encouraging words from God’s Word

Morning,

Today’s Bible Verse is…

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. (NIV)

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age. (NKJV)

Titus 2:11-12

Have a blessed day,
Erica L. Smith

“Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all you strength.” - Mark 12:30