1 John 3:16

1 John 3:16

Digging into the Word

Each morning at T-BarM, campers gathered together to study Scripture.

“We studied Peter walking on water, the story of Lazarus, the story of Jesus and the 2 criminals,” said coach Rebecca Zwart.

The group focused on a few main themes such as Play It Out–play out what God calls us to do. Other themes included Bring It–bring all your struggles to God, Game Changer–Christ is our game changer, and Take a Stand–put on the full armor of God.

“The girls grew a lot over the week,” Zwart said. “One week, the girls in my Bible study group wanted to “play out” what God had spoken through his word every day. One day, it was about serving others, so the girls cleared everyone’s plates at our meal. Another lesson was about loving your neighbor, so the girls wrote encouraging notes to a younger cabin, and we put them in their bunks.”

Called Jesus

**Feel free to print for personal use only**

I encourage you to read the daily passage in context. You can find it here.

Children

Children in East Africa listen intently as the missionaries tell them about Jesus.

Day Sixteen – America

Today I am thankful for America. We are not a perfect nation. We are not without fault. There is much in this country that I do not like, that I wish were different, that I think is wrong or immoral. But I am free to think that. I am free to say that. I am free to read my Bible and pray publicly. I am free to teach my children about Jesus. I am free to attend whatever church building I want to. I get to take part in shaping tomorrow through voting, through writing to my congressman (and calling when I feel necessary), and through posting on social media. I love the story of how America came to be and I am looking forward to teaching my children about it. I am thankful to have been born into a country that is free.

Day One – Jesus

For the month of November, I’m going to post one thing I’m thankful for each day. Today, I am thankful for Who I am thankful to. I’m grateful to Jesus for everything I have: my kids, my husband, my family, my church, everything.

Above all else, I am thankful for my salvation. Christ died on the cross even though He was innocent. He paid the price for my sins (and yours too) and then rose from the dead, conquering death. The only step I had to take was to believe.

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Thursday Stories – Collection of a Brave Life

     In Spring of 2010, my father in law was diagnosed with lung cancer. My in-laws lived in rural Ohio at the time, and we live near Houston. Jack’s doctor wanted to surgically remove the tumor, but we weren’t so sure and wanted him to come to Texas to be seen at a top cancer treatment center in Houston, MD Anderson. I can’t even say that we prayed extensively about this, we just knew that having him come to Texas was the right thing. We urged him to come, and both he and my mother-in-law came down to stay with us while he got a second opinion. Cancer diagnosis and treatment is not simple, of course, and in the end they were with us for three months.

     All that time, so much was different in our household, and everyone was so brave. Jack, most of all, showed bravery by meeting every doctor, every nurse, every technician, every treatment with a smile, a kind word, and a chuckle. When we weren’t at MD Anderson, he was working from “home”, where he had set up his office in my kitchen. Rarely was a complaint heard from this man. My kids were brave; they weren’t used to Mom being gone so much as I accompanied my my in-laws to the various appointments, but they handled it wonderfully by helping out more than usual and giving up summer activities without complaint. My mother-in-law helped with the cleaning and missed her home so badly that summer. My husband worked his job as usual that summer and spent many evenings visiting with his parents and supported me in any way he could. As for my part, I had to be brave too, I drove dear Jack downtown every day for 3 months for radiation treatments. At least once a week we stayed all day so he could have a doctor’s visit, chemotherapy, and blood work done too. As stay-at-home mom, being gone so much was very new to me and to the rest of the family. My life felt very topsy-turvy that summer.

     Our family was very blessed by this whole experience. Jack was one of the most patient and kind men I have ever known, and I am so glad that my kids and I got to know him so much better that year. He never got terribly sick while with us and caregiving was not a big issue. His tumor did disappear that summer, and he continued to visit us every three months for check ups. In Spring of 2012, his tumor reappeared and he was advised to get treatment at home this time. He passed away in December of 2012. We will always remember his ability to smile and relax in the face of adversity, and his many quips and quotes. The time he spent in our home and with our children has truly enriched us.

     If you ask me, bravery comes when you do what needs to be done. When you don’t want to but are willing because you know it’s right. I did not really WANT to host my in-laws for an entire summer, giving up the normal school-break fun and activities, and spending countless hours in a cancer treatment center instead. But what I wanted didn’t matter. Bravery just happens because life happens. There is no need to go seeking opportunities to be brave and courageous, they will find you! You don’t need to climb mountains, face giants, or rescue victims to prove you are brave; there are lots of regular-looking folks around you facing unseen battles and being silently courageous.

     I think that when faced with a difficult decision or situation, the only way to deal with it is to draw strength from the One who gives it and to forge ahead. Make sure you are on the right path first, but that is usually obvious. Throughout my life as a Christian, God has given me plenty of opportunities to be brave. Some situations, I can say I met bravely, sometimes I cower and hesitate. I guess my thought on bravery is this–when facing difficulty, trial, fear, there is only one way to deal with it. Get through it. You can do this with or without leaning on God, you can do this with or without leaning on His Word and the Holy Spirit and the love of Christ. You can go it alone, which is also brave, but is more difficult. You can do it with Him and know that you will be stronger for it. The little saying, “If God brings you to it, then He will get you through it” is not scripture, but it’s a quick little reminder to lean on Him in hard times.

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Cheryl Hochstettler has homeschooled her 5 children for the last 19 years. She first trusted
in Jesus at the age of 20 when attending an outreach ministry. She loves to cook, feed
friends, and teach her children. She is involved in meal ministry at her church, providing meals for church family in need. Cheryl and her family moved from her home state of Ohio to the great state of Texas in 2001. Cheryl teaches history at a homeschool co-op in Sugar Land, Texas, with a group of wonderful friends and fellow teachers. She and her husband, Patrick, have been married for 26 years. They like to bicycle together and would like to travel when their children are older.

Paul Part 4

Last week, we saw Paul and Barnabas embark on a missionary journey. They started off with quite a bang! Let’s see where this adventure goes next.

Acts 13:13-52
13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”
16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country; 18 for about forty years he endured their conduct in the wilderness; 19 and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years.
“After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
23 “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’
26 “Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.
32 “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
“‘You are my son;
today I have become your father.’
34 God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said,
“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’
35 So it is also stated elsewhere:
“‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’
36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:
41 “‘Look, you scoffers,
wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe,
even if someone told you.’”
42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

This is the first time we see Paul teaching. We’ve been told that he taught but here we actually get to see what he said. It’s kind of fantastic that they’re invited to speak at the synagogue. He recaps Israelite history then stresses the fact that all of that was pointing to Jesus. Paul gives them Scripture – remember, Paul knew the Law and the Prophets well – and many believed and invited them back. But when the crowd grew the following week, the Jews were jealous. So Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly, saying they would preach to the Gentiles because God called them to be a light to them. The Gentiles were honored and believed!

This made the Jewish leaders more upset – it sure does seem that Jewish leaders get upset often – and incited men and women of the city. Paul and Barnabas were expelled but they shook the dirt off their feet and went along their way.

I love the way this chapter ends. “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” Persecuted? Yeah. Expelled? Sure. Joyful? Definitely.

Go, be joyful and be filled with the Holy Spirit, and shake the dirt off your feet when needed.

Thursday Stories

Hello all! This week’s story is from a long ways away! Miss Lacey Higgins writes a blog called Kosmios, which is the Greek word for modest. God has given her a beautiful plan for promoting what she calls “daddy-approved” clothing that will reach far beyond her future customers. In the long run, she hopes to impact young women around the world! Go check out her blog for more information. I began reading her blog in January and I’ve loved learning more and more about what God is doing in her life!

Stories from Mississippi

Be Brave in Jesus Christ
There is no other Way
I was six.  Who has to be brave when they’re six?  I mean maybe when you are trying to get the toy from the other kid in the nursery, but I mean… that is a BIG deal now isn’t it?  Now my story of bravery did not happen when I was six.  I know you are thinking now…THEN WHY THE MESS DID YOU START WITH THAT?  Well…I don’t really know.  Good question.  Just kidding.  Something that happened when I was six… a mistake… caused me to have to be brave years later.  Next time you are about to make a mistake, and you think, “Oh, well.  It’s just a tiny thing that won’t hurt anyone.” WRONG.  Your mistakes affect you for the rest of your life.  I was six, but what happened at six did NOT stay at six.  You see…I grew up in a very well respected, Christian family.  My parents were one of the best examples of a Christian I had while growing up.  They had me and my brother and sister in church every time the door was open.  They taught us how to pray.  They taught us what love was AND showed us what love was.  When my brother (Stephen) was around 8, he became a Christian.  I saw how happy that made my parents.  When he was baptized the following Sunday, he got a book.  My sister (Lauren), who was also six at the time, (Six, too? Why Yes.  We are twins.  Thanks for asking.) was very tom boyish, so she and my brother were a lot closer than me and my brother were.  She asked if she could read the book, and of course, my brother let her.  Through reading the book, she became a Christian.  Just like any good parents, my mom and dad were so excited that two of their children were now their family in two different ways.  I felt left out, so this is when I made the mistake that I almost let ruin my whole life… and then some.  I just wanted my parents to be proud of me just like they were for my siblings.  I went and told my mom I wanted to be a Christian, too.  She asked me some questions and then led me in a prayer.  I did not mean a thing I said, I just wanted appreciation.

The next Sunday, I got baptized. For eight years, I had everyone fooled.  I lived like a church girl would.  I stayed out of trouble.  I knew all about the Bible.  I had earned the respect from others that my parents had.  Then, I was old enough to be in our youth at our church.  From the second I attended my first worship service at youth, I felt sick.  I knew something was wrong, and deep down inside, I knew what it was…But I did not want to admit it.  Even to myself.  I would disappoint so many people if they knew I was not a Christian.  I lived with the sickness for two years.  The sickness had a name.  It was called PRIDE.  I had earned a respect, and I thought I deserved it.  I did not want to ruin it.  I was scared of what everyone would think.  I played out how awful the scenario would be when I told everyone that I had absolutely no relationship with Jesus.  I had just been playing a celebrity crush the whole time.  I knew everything about Jesus, but I had never met the man.  I even wanted to meet Him, but I let PRIDE get in the way.  Two years.  I put it off for two years.

I bet I know what you are thinking now…I got saved after those two years.  Well dang…has anyone ever told you that you are one smart cookie?  When I was a freshman in high school, I read John 14:6 and a short devotion before going bed one Tuesday night.  “Jesus is THE way, THE truth, THE life.  No one comes to the father, but through Him.”  It was revival week at our church.  The next day, on Wednesday, a girl named Kelly with the Life Action Ministry’s Thirst Conference gave her testimony.  It sounded identical to mine up until the point of salvation.  I got a little dizzy, and my heart started tingling like your foot does when it is asleep.  I knew this was the Holy Spirit.  I had read about Him since I was first able to read, but now, I was actually feeling Him.  I wanted to ignore Him like I had been doing for the past two years, but then He pointed me back to the verse I had read the night before.  I knew it the whole time, but at that moment, my eyes were open to see that Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven.  There is no other way.  All my acting for the past eight years would not get me there.  Even if I did know more about the Bible than most real Christians did, it didn’t matter.  Without Jesus, I am nothing, so from the second row of West Heights Baptist Church’s youth room, I prayed the same words my mom told me to when I was six.  The only difference…. this time I truly did mean every word I said, and I met Jesus for the first time.

BUT THAT IS NOT EVEN WHEN I HAD TO BE BRAVE.

I wanted so bad to keep it to myself.  I thought God knew.  There is no need to tell anyone.  They already think I am a Christian anyways, but then I heard a whisper say, “He who is ashamed of me in front of men, I will be ashamed of in front of the Father.”  But it did not stop there… He also said, “I was sent as your comforter when you asked for me.  You do not have to worry anymore.  I will protect you.”  That is the moment that I knew it was for real this time.  No more playing games.  I knew then, that I could be brave, because I had the bravest man to every walk the face of the earth with me.  He died a death on the cross that He did not deserve while we were still sinners.  So with His presence walking with me every step, WE were brave.  I made my decision public.

Now, I know that I don’t have to be brave, because He is brave for me.  I don’t have to be strong, because He is strong for me.  I don’t have to be worthy, because He is worthy for me.  There is no other Way.  We (Jesus and me) love y’all. Mwaa

With much love,
Lacey Higgins