November 2017 Passages
November 1, 2017
Do not be swayed by the ideologies of our culture, but stand firm In the truth of the Gospel to do what is right.
"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace."
November 2, 2017
To believe and act on what you know from the Word of God will protect you.
"In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."
November 3, 2017
Pray for each other to be strengthened to fearlessly do what we are called to do.
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."
November 5, 2017
God's love for us is unconditional. He is well pleased in our obedience.
"At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
November 6, 2017
Following Jesus means setting aside ideologies of how you think it is to be and allowing him to use you where you are to bring others close to him.
"“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him."
November 7, 2017
A way of life to ponder: what are you willing to give up to follow Jesus without delay?
"When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him."
November 8, 2017
Jesus was intentional to pray to the Father. So, too for us; be intentional to pray and be in relationship with Jesus to prevent an unintentional drifting from him.
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."
November 9, 2017
It is in our humility, Jesus enters our brokenness to heal and restore.
"On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
November 10, 2017
To be transformed we are to give up our old ways of thinking and acting so to not be double-minded.
"“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”
November 11, 2017
Work to understand another's position to prevent useless arguments.
"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand."
November 13, 2017
Allow the Word of Jesus to grow deep within you so you withstand the enemy.
"The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
November 14, 2017
Deeply rooted in Jesus brings peace in the storms of life because of trust and reliance on Him.
"Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away."
November 15, 2017
Focus on Jesus requires intentional seeking of him otherwise the day to day will side tracked and weigh you down.
"Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful."
November 16, 2017
Moving forward in obedience and reliance on Jesus will prove a productive and satisfying life
"Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
November 17, 2017
Despite our culture, there is a right and wrong. Speak truth in love.
"He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”
November 18, 2017
Jesus cultivates our obedience in ways unimaginable blossoming our life and the lives of others.
"He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head."
November 19, 2017
Faith begins with small steps and when intentionally seeking Jesus, flourishes.
"Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”
November 20, 2017
Facing challenges with courage strengthens our faith
"Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
November 21, 2017
Our obedience to Jesus may offend those closest to us.
"Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.”
November 22, 2017
With everything you have thank God for the talents and gifts you have been given.
"The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord . Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.” Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud,
November 23, 2017
Happy Thanksgiving! May we be about the work our Lord has planned for us, doing so with prIse and Thanksgiving. Peace be yours!
'Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
November 25, 2017
With praise, thank God for the gifts of family and friends; for these enrich your own life.
"I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—"
November 26, 2017
Discouragement is fleeting, when we embrace the magnitude of the gift of Jesus; our hope and salvation.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
November 27, 2017
When in doubt of your future, intently seek his plan; remember it is not in vain.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."
November 28, 2017
When dismayed over the direction of our country and the world, ask God what you can do to bring his kingdom closer.
"“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever."
November 29, 2017
May we add to the beauty extending the hope of Jesus; especially to those who don't know him.
"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
November 30, 2017
Jesus came with tenderness to heal our brokenness
"Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord ’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”