Devotional Passages for the Week of September 16-23

Sunday: Isaiah 22:1-24:23, Galatians 2:17-3:9, Psalm 60:1-12, Proverbs 23:15-16

Monday: Isaiah 25:1-28:13, Galatians 3:10-22, Psalm 61:1-8, Proverbs 23:17-18

Tuesday: Isaiah 28:14-30:11, Galatians 3:23-4:31, Psalm 62:1-12, Proverbs 23:19-21

Wednesday: Isaiah 30:12-33:9, Galatians 5:1-12, Psalm 63:1-11, Proverbs 23:22

Thursday: Isaiah 33:10-36:22, Galatians 5:13-26, Psalm 64:1-10, Proverbs 23:23

Friday: Isaiah 37:1-38:22, Galatians 6:1-18, Psalm 65:1-13, Proverbs 23:24

Saturday: Isaiah 39:1-41:16, Ephesians 1:1-23, Psalm 66:1-20, Proverbs 23:25-28

Sunday: Isaiah 41:17-43:13, Ephesians 2:1-22, Psalm 67:1-7, Proverbs 23:29-35

Devotional Passages for the Week of September 9-16

Sunday: Isaiah 3:1-5:30, 2 Corinthians 11:1-15, Psalm 53:1-6, Proverbs 22:28-29

Monday: Isaiah 6:1-7:25, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, Psalm 54:1-7, Proverbs 23:1-3

Tuesday: Isaiah 8:1-9:21 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, Psalm 55:1-23, Proverbs 23:4-5

Wednesday: Isaiah 10:1-11:16, 2 Corinthians 12:11-21, Psalm 56:1-13, Proverbs 23:6-8

Thursday: Isaiah 12:1-14:32, 2 Corinthians 13:1-14, Psalm 57:1-11, Proverbs 23:9-11

Friday: Isaiah 15:1-18:7, Galatians 1:1-24, Psalm 58:1-11, Proverbs 23:12

Saturday:  Isaiah 19:1-21:17, Galatians 2:1-16, Psalm 59:1-17, Proverbs 23:13-14

Sunday: Isaiah 22:1-24:23, Galatians 2:17-3:9, Psalm 60:1-12, Proverbs 23:15-16

Devotional Passages for the Week of September 3-10

We will again be posting suggested Scripture verses for you to read.  Every week there will be Old Testament & New Testament passages, as well as a Psalm and Proverb.  Know that your ability to live faithfully outside of the camp gates are directly tied in with your reading or lack of reading the Bible.  Make it a point to print out these readings every week and sticking them in your Bible.  Don't feel like you have to read it all.  Pick a passage or two a day, then read and pray.  If you would like to comment on something you read, just click on "comment" at the bottom of this list.  Let us know how you are growing through your reading of Scripture or ask a question, we'll post your comment and respond to you.  We'll keep posting our own devotional thoughts once a week.  Next devo will be up on Monday.

Monday: Ecclesiastes 4:1-6:12, 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7, Psalm 47:1-9, Proverbs 22:16

Tuesday: Ecclesiastes 7:1-9:18, 2 Corinthians 7:8-16, Psalm 48:1-14, Proverbs 22:17-19

Wednesday: Ecclesiastes 10:1-12:14, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, Psalm 49:1-20, Proverbs 22:20-21

Thursday: Song of Solomon 1:1-4:16, 2 Corinthians 8:16-24, Psalm 50:1-23, Proverbs 22:22-23

The Lion in the Streets

"The sluggard says, 'There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!'" Proverbs 22:13

The sluggard, meaning the person who is passive, lazy, and underachieving, always has an excuse for not being pro-active.  As I thought about this proverb, what came to mind is the spiritually lazy person.  The sluggard who won't make any effort to grow spiritually.  All of us can relate to being spiritually sluggish.  We fail...

    We fail... to get into God's Word because we sleep in .
    We fail... to pray before bed because we watch too much TV then fall asleep before praying.
    We fail... to stand up for what is right, because we are too fearful of what others may think.

We are really good at coming up with excuses for our sluggishness, and often it is exactly as the sluggard says, we are fearful of what lays beyond.  We are afraid that indeed there may be great harm outside..."in the streets".  The mystery of stepping out into the unknown can be very frightening.  Can your spiritual sluggishness be traced back to fear?  Fear of trusting God with your life.  Fear of what friends/parents/siblings may think.  Fear of changing.  Fear that God may require something of you that you don't want to give up.  So like the sluggard we craft excuses, some are fabricated and completely false...others are true.

Indeed there is a lion in the streets.  "The devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." I Peter 5:8b  Peter's advice is not to flee the lion or avoid the streets, but rather to be "watchful" and "sober-minded".  Our fears ought not hamper us from getting after the business of following Christ.  We must not be sluggish in our pursuit of God, but vigilant.  Peter goes on to say, "Resist him."  Resist the lion and his schemes.  Step out into the streets ready to resist.  But be warned...

Coming Soon

We'll be back in action as of this coming Monday, September 3rd.  Be on the lookout for devotional readings, posts, videos, and more. 

Devotional Passages for the Week of May 13-20

Sunday: 1 Samuel 14:1-52, John 7:31-53, Psalm 109:1-31, Proverbs 15:5-7

Monday: 1 Samuel 15:1-16:23, John 8:1-20, Psalm 110:1-7, Proverbs 15:8-10

Tuesday: 1 Samuel 17:1-18:4, John 8:21-30, Psalm 111:1-10, Proverbs 15:11

Wednesday: 1 Samuel 18:5-19:24, John 8:31-59, Psalm 112:1-10, Proverbs 15:12-14

Devotional Passages for Week of May 7-14

Monday: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:21, John 5:1-23, Psalm 105:37-45, Proverbs 14:28-29

Tuesday: 1 Samuel 2:22-4:22, John 5:24-47, Psalm 106:1-12, Proverbs 14:30-31

Wednesday: 1 Samuel 5:1-7:17, John 6:1-21, Psalm 106:13-31, Proverbs 14:32-33

Sifting Season

I love driving by wheat fields. I can’t say that I have ever been much of a farmer, but I’ve learned a little bit about the harvesting process of wheat. I once heard a difficult period of life thought of as a time of  “sifting.”  The person was referring to Luke 22 where Jesus is talking to the disciples on the night he is arrested. It says,

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32

Devotional Passages for the Week of April 22-29

Sunday: Joshua 24:1-33, Luke 21:1-28, Psalm 89:38-52, Proverbs 13:20-23

Monday: Judges 1:1-2:9, Luke 21:29-22:13, Psalm 90:1-91:16, Proverbs 13:24-25

Tuesday: Judges 2:10-3:31, Luke 22:14-34, Psalm 92:1-93:5, Proverbs 14:1-2

Jesus and Politics 101

It wouldn’t surprise me to hear that TV viewership goes down during an election year. I say that because I can’t be the only one who despises political campaign commercials.  Yes, they are incessant and repetitive, but the thing that really gets to me is the pie in the sky promises of good.  I heard one the other day that communicated that under Candidate A’s leadership, services would be protected and expanded, jobs would be created, the deficit would be reduced, our borders would be strengthened, etc., etc., all while taxes would be reduced.  He should have just thrown in the promise to end world hunger and all children would grow up to be professional athletes.  The sad thing is, this tactic works.  It’s how you get people to follow you.  So much good with apparently no cost to anyone. 

So when I read Luke 14:25-35, where Jesus tells those who are following him that they must hate their families, their own life, and pick up there cross and follow Him in order to be His disciple...

Ain’t No Rock!

It’s a beautiful, 80 degree day here today at Lake Gloria … Summer is on the way and the quiet Rec Deck, Games Lodge and Dining Hall will be bustling with activity and excitement in no time at all.  In fact, I can almost hear the dining hall singing, ringing loudly out the screens and across the lake.  One of my favorites is “Aint’ no rock.”  (which, by the way, is going to be a track on the SB2W Dining Hall Songs project that will drop sometime this year … yep, that’s right!  You heard it here first … we’re putting some of your favorites together for you to enjoy all year long. :) 

Devotional Passages for the Week of April 15-22

Sunday: Joshua 11:1-12:24, Luke 17:11-37, Psalm 84:1-12, Proverbs 13:5-6

Monday: Joshua 13:1-14:15, Luke 18:1-17, Psalm 85:1-13, Proverbs 13:7-8

Tuesday: Joshua 15:1-63, Luke 18:18-43, Psalm 86:1-17, Proverbs 13:9-10

Wednesday: Joshua 16:1-18:28, Luke 19:1-27, Psalm 87:1-7, Proverbs 13:11

Thursday: Joshua 19:1-20:9, Luke 19:28-48, Psalm 88:1-18, Proverbs 13:12-14

Friday: Joshua 21:1-22:20, Luke 20:1-26, Psalm 89:1-13, Proverbs 13:15-16

Saturday: Joshua 22:21-23:16, Luke 20:27-47, Psalm 89:14-37, Proverbs 13:17-19

Sunday: Joshua 24:1-33, Luke 21:1-28, Psalm 89:38-52, Proverbs 13:20-23

Where's The Cross?

Easter is upon us, and no doubt we are reminded of it in store windows, aisles and ads as ubiquitous amounts of bunnies, eggs, pastel colors, and egg hunts inundate our lives.  It is remarkable to me how hidden from view is the cross of our Lord and His resurrection amidst this most important Christian “holy”day.  Christmas is a wonderful celebration of the advent of our Lord in human flesh, but without Good Friday and Easter we would be “of all men most miserable” as stated by Paul in I Corinthians 15:19. 

So where is the cross?  Many people will miss the true meaning of Easter this year, not even once acknowledging Jesus in prayer or considering His sacrifice on the cross.  But if you read your Bible with any regularity, you will find God’s love for sinners and Christ’s sacrifice on the cross from cover to cover.  Often called “the scarlet thread”, you can encounter Christ on nearly every page of your Bible.  Jesus and his sacrifice are prefigured in the Garden of Eden as God slays an animal, shedding innocent blood, in order to cover the sin of Adam and Eve.  We see salvation by God’s hand in the account of Noah.  The story of Abraham and Isaac is a “type” of God sacrificing his only begotten son.  And in a reading from this week, we see a law from Deuteronomy that is carried out over fourteen hundred years later at the crucifixion of our Lord.  Chapter 21 verse 22 and 23 says, “And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God.”  This verse motivated the Pharisees’ request to have the body of Jesus taken off the cross before nightfall (see John 19:31).

This verse from Deuteronomy is referenced in Galatians 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’”.  The point of Galatians 3:13 is that Christ, though innocent, died a criminal’s death, taking the curse that we deserved.  We are the ones who have sinned and deserve to be cursed.  We are the ones who have allowed his atoning work to be forgotten amidst the commercialized hullabaloo.  Yet Christ bore the law’s curse in our place, hanging naked on a tree in order to give us peace with the Holy God of heaven.  What an AMAZING SAVIOUR!  Christ died as a propitiatory sacrifice that satisfies the divine judgment against sinners, bringing about forgiveness and justification. But Paul is careful to indicate that the sacrifice does not cause God to love us. The opposite is true—God’s love caused Him to offer His Son (see Romans 5:8; 8:32; John 3:16).

So how about you?  Do you love Him and want to see Him magnified?  It starts with willingly surrendering your life to Him by faith, which will motivate you to declare His love to every creature with whom you come in contact.  Let us keep the cross and Christ’s resurrection at the center of our Easter.

Devotional Passages for Week of April 2-9

Monday: Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30, Luke 9:51-10:12, Psalm 74:1-23, Proverbs 12:11

Tuesday: Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19, Luke 10:13-37, Psalm 75:1-10, Proverbs 12:12-14

Wednesday: Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26, Luke 10:38-11:13, Psalm 76:1-12, Proverbs 12:15-17

Thursday: Deuteronomy 28:1-68, Luke 11:14-36, Psalm 77:1-20, Proverbs 12:18

Did you pick up your cross this morning?

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23

The Vertical Piece

At the beginning of every term at camp one of our captains picks up a large log over his shoulder and carries it into the assembly area planting it in the ground.  Then he goes to the mic and tells us that it is the vertical piece of the cross, which represents right relationship with God.  This is exactly the image I have in my head for how our day should begin.  Picking up our cross daily means beginning each day by seeking right relationship with our Heavenly Father.  Every morning we must plant that vertical piece in the ground.  Oswald Chambers says it like this, "Get rightly related to God first, maintain that as the greatest care of your life." Submit yourself, and the day ahead, to God.

The Horizontal Piece

The next captain picks up a smaller log over her shoulder and walks in to place it on the vertical piece.  She says, "the horizontal piece of the cross represents our relationships with others."  The horizontal piece rests upon the vertical piece, just as...

Devotional Passages for Week of March 26-April 2

Monday: Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25, Luke 7:11-35, Psalm 68:19-35, Proverbs 11:29-31

Tuesday: Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20, Luke 7:36-8:3, Psalm 69:1-18, Proverbs 12:1

Wednesday: Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22, Luke 8:4-21, Psalm 69:19-36, Proverbs 12:2-3

Thursday: Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32, Luke 8:22-39, Psalm 70:1-5, Proverbs 12:4

Deuteronomy 1 Devotional Moment with T. Pope

Devotional Passages for Week of March 19-26

Monday: Numbers 28:16-29:40, Luke 3:23-38, Psalm 62:1-12, Proverbs 11:18-19

Tuesday: Numbers 30:1-31:54, Luke 4:1-30, Psalm 63:1-11, Proverbs 11:20-21

Wednesday: Numbers 32:1-33:39, Luke 4:31-5:11, Psalm 64:1-10, Proverbs 11:22

Thursday: Numbers 33:40-35:34, Luke 5:12-28, Psalm 65:1-13, Proverbs 11:23

Friday: Numbers 36:1-Deuteronomy 1:46, Luke 5:29-6:11, Psalm 66:1-20, Proverbs 11:24-26

Saturday: Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29, Luke 6:12-38, Psalm 67:1-7, Proverbs 11:27

Sunday: Deuteronomy 4:1-49, Luke 6:39-7:10, Psalm 68:1-18, Proverbs 11:28

Monday: Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25, Luke 7:11-35, Psalm 68:19-35, Proverbs 11:29-31

Thirsty?

Numbers 20:8 …"Speak to the rock…and it will pour out its water"

200 feet off the ground leashed to the rock by a rope, I found myself staring at the creek far below.  People were swimming and splashing in the water surely satisfied by its cool wetness. Seneca West Virginia in mid-summer is hot. The sun baked any exposed skin and there was not a spot of shade on the wall. Another 200 feet up and then a rappel and hike back down. It would take hours and I was thirsty and well on my way to dehydration.

Devotional Passages for Week of March 12-19

Monday: Numbers 16:41-18:32, Mark 16:1-20, Psalm 55:1-23, Proverbs 11:7

Tuesday: Numbers 19:1-20:29, Luke 1:1-25, Psalm 56:1-13, Proverbs 11:8

Wednesday: Numbers 21:1-22:20, Luke 1:26-56, Psalm 57:1-11, Proverbs 11:9-11

Devotional Passages for Week of March 5-12

Monday:  Numbers 4:1-5:31, Mark 12:18-37, Psalm 48:1-14, Proverbs 10:26

Tuesday: Numbers 6:1-7:89, Mark 12:38-13:13, Psalm 49:1-20, Proverbs 10:27-28

Wednesday: Numbers 8:1-9:23, Mark 13:14-37, Psalm 50:1-23, Proverbs 10:29-30

Thursday: Numbers 10:1-11:23, Mark 14:1-21, Psalm 51:1-19, Proverbs 10:31-32

Friday: Numbers 11:24-13:33, Mark 14:22-52, Psalm 52:1-9, Proverbs 11:1-3

Saturday: Numbers 14:1-15:16, Mark 14:53-72, Psalm 53:1-6, Proverbs 11:4

Sunday: Numbers 15:17-16:40, Mark 15:1-47, Psalm 54:1-7, Proverbs 11:5-6

Monday: Numbers 16:41-18:32, Mark 16:1-20, Psalm 55:1-23, Proverbs 11:7

Talk to yourself much?

 If you ever were to walk into the Summer's Best Two Weeks office in the off-season it's quite possible you might hear one of our full time staff guys talking to himself.  Granted, all of us do this from time to time, but this person does it often.  Most commonly he can be heard pumping himself up, saying, "C'mon [insert name]" or sighs of discouragement "ohhh [insert name]!!"  Interestingly, this practice is found in the Bible. 

Worth the Wait

Worth the Wait

Psalm 40:1-21 (NIV) “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.“

“Are we there yet?” “What’s taking her so long?” “How long will I continue to struggle with …?” “Why doesn’t God seem to be listening to my prayers and answering them?” Let’s face it … waiting is difficult. It’s not easy. It requires self-discipline and in many, if not all, cases an understanding of why we should exercise patience. You’ve no doubt had the experience of waiting for someone and wondered what was causing their delay – like when you’re waiting outside of a grocery store for someone you love, but they seem like they’re taking forever and you’re wondering if the are just trying to torture you or forgot you were outside and you somehow think that each minute that passes is an hour and the game comes on in 15 minutes and you can’t believe you may miss the beginning and your schedule for the day will have to be thrown out … (deep breath) … not that I’ve ever experienced that myself :) Waiting is so hard for us, in part, because we live in a culture that promotes immediate gratification – why wait when you can have it (or something somewhat like it or at least a little bit like it or maybe not at all like it, but a reasonable substitute) right now.

Willing and Able

Willing and Able

Whether he can’t get his shirt on right, the puzzle pieces just won’t go together or his Thomas train tracks won’t line up, “Help please!” is the response of choice for my 2 year old son Luke. And since he has experienced me come to his rescue time and time again in the past, he is well aware of my ability to fix the situation. What he is really asking and sometimes pleading is, “Daddy are you WILLING to help?” Though I sometimes give him opportunity to figure it out on his own there are other times when my lack of action is due to my unwillingness. I put my needs above his.

In Mark 1:40 we see the account of a leper that kneels before Jesus and says, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” I love that here was never a question about Jesus ability to perform the act. The only uncertainty was Jesus’ willingness. As I read this story I can kind of see the fate of us all hanging in that brief moment before Jesus responds. Is God’s son willing to respond with compassion? Is he willing to heal? Is He willing to fix that which is broken? Will God get involved in the messiness of this world and our lives? My heart leaps when I read Jesus’ response, “I am willing: be cleansed.”

Wow, the God of the universe is willing to help. And not only in this one account but as we read, every time he is asked. And this willingness to heal the leper, or the blind and cripples is a foreshadowing of Christ’s willingness to make right the ultimate example of brokenness in the world, our separation from Him. Our sin has left us in the desperate position of crying out “Help please!” I am so thankful that my cry does not fall on deaf ears, but rather on ones full of compassion, ability, and readiness.

God is able as the Psalmist declares in Psalm 33:6-7,
“’By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap
He lays us the deep in storehouses.”

And just as importantly, He is willing.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matt 7:7

-SH

Devotional Passages for the Week of February 12-19

Sunday: Exodus 34:1-35:9, Matthew 27:15-31, Psalm 33:12-22, Proverbs 9:1-6

Monday: Exodus 35:10-36:38, Matthew 27:32-66, Psalm 34:1-10, Proverbs 9:7-8

Tuesday: Exodus 37:1-38:31, Matthew 28:1-20, Psalm 34:11-22, Proverbs 9:9-10

The Power of Your Words

You probably remember the commercial from Sprint advertising the efficiency of their Nextel “Direct Connect” where you can communicate instantaneously with groups of Nextel users.  In the ad, you see a legislative hall full of firefighters with their leader standing up front; phone in hand and the text reads, “What if firefighters ran the world?”

Speaker: “Anyone want better roads?”

Firemen in unison: “We do”

Speaker: “All in favor?”

Firemen in unison: “Aye”

Speaker: “Opposed?”

Silence

Gavel strikes…”Done”

The idea is that you can “Get more done Now” if you communicate using Nextel’s phones.  That’s the imagery that came into my mind as I read Psalm 29…

Dependence

Yesterday was a rough day.  I woke up in the middle of the night, and I just couldn’t get warm.  It doesn’t happen often, but I was most definitely sick and needed to be taken care of.  I needed blankets to be brought, medicine to be purchased, and food (but not too much food) to be prepared.  My reliance on others got me thinking about the concept of dependence.

Encouragement To Eat Your Daily Bread

Read Your Bible More and More
by John Piper  posted on Desiring God Blog  January 30, 2011

Don’t rest on past reading. Read your Bible more and more every year. Read it whether you feel like reading it or not. And pray without ceasing that the joy return and pleasures increase...

(to see skipped portion see Piper's blog)...So lets give heed to Mr. Ryle and never grow weary of the slow, steady, growth that comes from the daily, disciplined, increasing, love affair with reading the Bible.

Do not think you are getting no good from the Bible, merely because you do not see that good day by day. The greatest effects are by no means those which make the most noise, and are most easily observed. The greatest effects are often silent, quiet, and hard to detect at the time they are being produced.

Think of the influence of the moon upon the earth, and of the air upon the human lungs. Remember how silently the dew falls, and how imperceptibly the grass grows. There may be far more doing than you think in your soul by your Bible-reading. (J. C. Ryle, Practical Religion, 136)


© 2012 Desiring God, All rights reserved.

Psalm 23 Great Adventure Devotional

Devotional Passages for the Week of January 23-30

Monday: Genesis 46:1-47:31, Matthew 15:1-28, Psalm 19:1-14, Proverbs 4:14-19

Tuesday: Genesis 48:1-49:33, Matthew 15:29-16:12, Psalm 20:1-9, Proverbs 4:20-27

Wednesday:  Genesis 50:1 - Exodus 2:10, Matthew 16:13-17:9, Psalm 21:1-13, Proverbs 5:1-6

Is Life Good?

 I have to believe that most, if not all of you, have seen these great t-shirts with the above logo.  I own one that pictures a fella going kayaking.  I genuinely enjoy wearing it because it reminds me of great times I've had boating various rivers & creeks.  Indeed life is good...or is it?

You may or may not be familiar with the competing brand of t-shirt that highlights the fact that indeed life can just plain stink sometimes.  So which is it?  Which t-shirt would you be wearing today?

• Is the answer to that question merely a matter of your life's circumstances in any given moment?  Any honest reflection would indicate that some people life's circumstances are good, while for others, life's circumstances stink.  
  
• Is your choice of wearing either t-shirt merely a matter of your life's circumstances? 

Devotional Passages for January 16-23

Monday:  Genesis 32:13-34:31, Matthew 11:7-30, Psalm 14:1-7, Proverbs 3:19-20

Tuesday:  Genesis 35:1-36:43, Matthew 12:1-21, Psalm 15:1-5, Proverbs 3:21-26

 Wednesday:  Genesis 37:1-38:30, Matthew 12:22-45, Psalm 16:1-11, Proverbs 3:27-32

A Day at Sea

I have a friend who enjoys sailing. On one of his adventures at sea, he found himself amidst a storm. Listening to him describe the unpredictability of the wind and waves made me very thankful that I was not on board this boat. Picture an epic battle on the waterfront between man and nature. Huge hands of water slapping the sides of the boat while rain blinds the crew and thunder claps on the storm with encouragement. I can only imagine the terror that would swell up inside me, in sync perfectly with the swell of the waves.

A Word for Those Who Have Forsaken Jesus

by John Piper | December 31, 2011 | Desiring God Blog www.desiringgod.org

How eager Jesus was to restore broken fellowship with his apostles after the resurrection! Surely this is a sign of how eager he is to restore us when we have drifted (or bolted) away.

All the apostles had forsaken him. In the garden, at his most sorrowful hour, "They all left him and fled” (Mark 14:50).

Now he was raised. What would he say to those who had abandoned him? Three healing things:
To Mary at the tomb: “Go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (John 20:17)

“Brothers!” “Your Father!” “Your God!” I am going now. You will come later. We are, and we will be, together. I forgive you. Our Father forgives you.

He finds the apostles, stands among them, and says, “Peace be with you.” He showed them his hands and his side — horrible reminders of what it cost him when they forsook him. And he says again...

God is God of every inch of your body and every ounce of your soul

If you did not have an opportunity to read Oswald Chamber's My Utmost For His Highest yesterday (Jan. 9th), it is a great devotional entry.

He expounds on a verse from I Thessalonians 5:23, "May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless."

Chamber's writes:  "'Your whole spirit....' The great mystical work of the Holy Spirit is in the dim regions of our personality which we cannot get at.  Read the 139th Psalm; the Psalmist implies,
'Thou art the God of the early mornings, the God of the late at nights, the God of the mountain peaks, and the God of the sea, but, my God, my soul has further horizons than the early mornings, deeper darkness than...

Devotional Passages for the Week of Jan. 8-15

Sunday: Genesis 18:16-19:38, Matthew 6:25-7:14, Psalm 8:1-9, Proverbs 2:6-15

Monday: Genesis 20:1-22:24, Matthew 7:15-29, Psalm 9:1-12, Proverbs 2:16-22

Tuesday: Genesis 23:1-24:51, Matthew 8:1-17, Psalm 9:13-20, Proverbs 3:1-6

Defeating Loneliness

"You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound." Psalm 4:7

I was recently visiting at a Christian college and struck up a conversation with one of the professional counselors on campus.  I asked him, "What are the most common issues for which students seek out your help?"  One of the first things he mentioned was loneliness.  I was surprised by this answer, especially at a campus where there are so many opportunities for Christian fellowship.  He told me his belief that many students are not pursuing an authentic relationship with Jesus, which is always the first place to point those struggling with loneliness.  Secondly, another problem he pointed to was...

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4

What are you relying on to fulfill your needs?  How are you thoughts, time, and energy spent pursuing that which fulfills you? Psalm 127:2 warns us about “eating the bread of anxious toil.”  Perhaps you find yourself frequently anxious about the future of your pursuits and relationships.  Maybe you are rising early and going to bed late, frantically pursuing the fulfillment of one goal or another, relying on your own strength to meet those goals.  Or maybe at times you are in the opposite camp – what Proverbs 31:27 calls, “eating the bread of idleness.”  You find yourself lacking proper diligence and passively letting life go by, hoping that taking it easy is the best means to fulfillment. 

Some of us tend to be more prone to one of these extremes, others of us are people of extremes and so we find ourselves often at both ends of this spectrum.  In the middle we find...

Devotional Passages for the Week of January 3-9

Tuesday:  Genesis 5:1-7:24, Matthew 3:7-4:11, Psalm 3:1-8, Proverbs 1:10-19

Wednesday:  Genesis 8:1-10:32, Matthew 4:12-25, Psalm 4:1-8, Proverbs 1:20-23

Thursday:  Genesis 11:1-13:4, Matthew 5:1-26, Psalm 5:1-12, Proverbs 1:24-28

Devotional Passages for the Week of December 26-Jan 2

Monday:  Zechariah 9:1-17, Revelation 17:1-18, Psalm 145:1-21, Proverbs 30:32

Tuesday:  Zechariah 10:1-11:17, Revelation 18:1-24, Psalm 146:1-10, Proverbs 30:33


Wednesday: Zechariah 12:1-13:9, Revelation 19:1-21, Psalm 147:1-20, Proverbs 31:1-7

Devotional Passages for the Week of Dec. 18-25

Sunday: Habakkuk 1:1-3:19, Revelation 9:1-21, Psalm 137:1-9, Proverbs 30:10

Monday: Zephaniah 1:1-3:20, Revelation 10:1-11, Psalm 138:1-8, Proverbs 30:11-14

Tuesday: Haggai 1:1-2:23, Revelation 11:1-19, Psalm 139:1-24, Proverbs 30:15-16

What the Locusts Have Eaten

I have had a number of recent conversations with people whose lives have been ravaged by sinful addictions, vices, and immoral decisions.  All of them have struggled deeply with their faith in the midst of their trials.  Some have pushed God to the margins.  In reading through the book of Joel, we find an event that is descriptive of my friends' experiences.  They feel as if wave after wave of difficulty have come upon them, robbing them of life.

Devotional Passages for the Week of Dec. 11-18

Sunday: Amos 4:1-6:14, Revelation 2:18-3:6, Psalm 130:1-8, Proverbs 29:21-22

Monday: Amos 7:1-9:15, Revelation 3:7-22, Psalm 131:1-3, Proverbs 29:23

Tuesday: Obadiah 1:1-21, Revelation 4:1-11, Psalm 132:1-18, Proverbs 29:24-25

Repentance: A 180 degree Turn

                                                                   Is God at work in you?
"'I have sinned.'  The surest sign that God is at work is when a man says that and means it."
            -Oswald Chambers from My Utmost for His Highest (December 7th)

I was struck by this quote this week.  It got me thinking about how easy I am on myself.  It's so easy for me to not take my sin seriously or many times to not even be aware of my sin and how it offends God.  Every Sunday at our church, there is a time for confession.  Our worship service begins with this act of humility.  I've been convicted lately of the need in my personal time with God to be more pro-active in rooting out the sin of my life and understanding the depths of my sin.  I should then regularly confess my sins before God.  Perhaps you would react to this saying, "Don't be so morbid. Why would I want to dwell on my sin?"  The answer to that question is...

Relive Summer Life Night at Lake Gloria

Devotional Passages for the Week of Dec. 4-11

Sunday: Daniel 11:36-12:13, 1 John 4:1-21, Psalm 123:1-4, Proverbs 29:2-4

Monday: Hosea 1:1-3:5, 1 John 5:1-21, Psalm 124:1-8, Proverbs 29:5-8

Tuesday: Hosea 4:1-5:15, 2 John 1:1-13, Psalm 125:1-5, Proverbs 29:9-11

Relive Summer Life Night at the Que

Relive Summer Life Night at Lake Gloria

Relive Summer Life Night at the Que

Whose clock do you go by?

As humans, we are obedient to time.  We can do nothing to change it, stop it, or manipulate it. Every day I wake up and wish I could turn the clocks back and allow myself a few more hours to sleep.  And every day, time continues to plunge forward not seeming to care about my sleeping patterns.  I drag myself to the coffeepot grumbling because my sleep is at the mercy of the ticking clock on the wall. Yet isn’t it amazing that we serve a God who is not restricted by time? The one who is the Creator of time?

Devotional Passages for the Week of Nov. 27- Dec. 4

Sunday: Daniel 4:1-37, 2 Peter 1:1-21, Psalm 119:97-112, Proverbs 28:17-18

Monday: Daniel 5:1-31, 2 Peter 2:1-22, Psalm 119:113-128, Proverbs 28:19-20

Tuesday: Daniel 6:1-28, 2 Peter 3:1-18, Psalm 119:129-152, Proverbs 28:21-22

Wednesday: Daniel 7:1-28, 1 John 1:1-10, Psalm 119:153-176, Proverbs 28:23-24

Thursday: Daniel 8:1-27, 1 John 2:1-17, Psalm 120:1-7, Proverbs 28:25-26

Friday: Daniel 9:1-11:1, 1 John 2:18-3:6, Psalm 121:1-8, Proverbs 28:27-28

Saturday: Daniel 11:2-35, 1 John 3:7-24, Psalm 122:1-9, Proverbs 29:1

Sunday: Daniel 11:36-12:13, 1 John 4:1-21, Psalm 123:1-4, Proverbs 29:2-4

Are you aware of just how much you will inherit?

I have a confession to make.  Last night my wife and her sister were watching a girly movie.  I was reading in the next room over, but falling asleep in the process.  So I made my way over to the tv room sat next to my wife figuring I'd fall asleep.  Nope!  Yes, I watched it...well... the end of it.  It was called "The Inheritance".  The storyline is about a servant girl, Edith, who is blessed to have masters, the Hamilton's, who treat her like one of the family, better than she deserves.  Edith had been a maidservant's daughter of Mr. Hamilton's deceased brother.  In his kindness Mr. Hamilton had chosen to take her into his own home. The climax of the story involves Mr. Hamilton's death and Edith being wrongly accused of stealing from the family.  When all seems lost we find out...

Devotional Passages for the Week of November 21-28

Monday: Ezekiel 42:1-43:27, James 5:1-20, Psalm 119:1-16, Proverbs 28:6-7

Tuesday: Ezekiel 44:1-45:12, 1 Peter 1:1-12, Psalm 119:17-32, Proverbs 28:8-10

Wednesday: Ezekiel 45:13-46:24, 1 Peter 1:13-2:10, Psalm 119:33-48, Proverbs 28:11

Relive Summer Life Night at Lake Gloria

Relive Summer Life Night at Lake Gloria

Devotional Passages for the Week of Nov. 13-20

Sunday: Ezekiel 27:1-28:26, Hebrews 11:17-31, Psalm 111:1-10, Proverbs 27:15-16

Monday: Ezekiel 29:1-30:26, Hebrews 11:32-12:13, Psalm 112:1-10, Proverbs 27:17

Tuesday: Ezekiel 31:1-32:32, Hebrews 12:14-29, Psalm 113:1-114:8, Proverbs 27:18-20

Circumstances got you down?

"Seek the LORD and his strength; seek His presence continually." Psalm 105:4

Why?

"You [God] make known to me the path of life;
   in your presence there is fullness of joy;
   at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11

Devotional Passages for the Week of Nov 7-14

Monday: Ezekiel 16:42-17:24, Hebrews 8:1-13, Psalm 106:13-31, Proverbs 27:7-9

Tuesday: Ezekiel 18:1-19:14, Hebrews 9:1-10, Psalm 106:32-48, Proverbs 27:10

Wednesday: Ezekiel 20:1-49, Hebrews 9:11-28, Psalm 107:1-43, Proverbs 27:11

So what are you eating? Part II

How good are you at identifying what is good and what is evil?  On a scale of 1-10 (10 being really adept) how would you rate yourself?  How would you rate yourself in comparison to say...

So what are you eating?

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the [word] of God.  You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child."  Hebrews 5:12-13

Are you teaching the word of God to anyone?  How well do you know the basics of the word of God?  If you had to share the gospel clearly with someone today...how would you do?  How about the word of righteousness, do you got skills?

SB2W News Post: Snow at SB2W

This weekend we had 5 inches of snow at camp.  Check out these pics.

Devotional Passages for the Week of Oct 31-Nov 7

Monday:  Lamentations 4:1-5:22, Hebrews 2:1-18, Psalm 103:1-22, Proverbs 26:23

Tuesday: Ezekiel 1:1-3:15, Hebrews 3:1-19, Psalm 104:1-23, Proverbs 26:24-26

Wednesday: Ezekiel 3:16-6:14, Hebrews 4:1-16, Psalm 104:24-35, Proverbs 26:27


Thursday: Ezekiel 7:1-9:11, Hebrews 5:1-14, Psalm 105:1-15, Proverbs 26:28

Friday: Ezekiel 10:1-11:25, Hebrews 6:1-20, Psalm 105:16-36, Proverbs 27:1-2


Saturday: Ezekiel 12:1-14:11, Hebrews 7:1-17, Psalm 105:37-45, Proverbs 27:3

Sunday: Ezekiel 14:12-16:41, Hebrews 7:18-28, Psalm 106:1-12, Proverbs 27:4-6


Monday: Ezekiel 16:42-17:24, Hebrews 8:1-13, Psalm 106:13-31, Proverbs 27:7-9

Ouch!! That's Gotta Hurt! (Devo on Jeremiah 42-43)

Zedekiah is chained and brought before Nebuchadnezzar, from Petrus Comestor's "Bible Historiale," 1670.

"The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah (king of Judah) at Riblah before his eyes, and the king of Babylon slaughtered all the nobles of Judah. He put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon.  The Babylonians burned the king's house and the house of the people, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.  Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried into exile to Babylon the rest of the people who were left in the city...[and] left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time."  Jeremiah 39:6-10 

Why did all this happen? 

Devotional Passages for the Week of October 24-30

Sunday: Jeremiah 42:1-44:23, 2 Timothy 2:1-21, Psalm 92:1-93:5, Proverbs 26:3-5

Monday: Jeremiah 44:24-47:7, 2 Timothy 2:22-3:17, Psalm 94:1-23, Proverbs 26:6-8

Tuesday: Jeremiah 48:1-49:22, 2 Timothy 4:1-22, Psalm 95:1-96:13, Proverbs 26:9-12

Wednesday: Jeremiah 49:23-50:46, Titus 1:1-16, Psalm 97:1-98:9, Proverbs 26:13-16

Thursday: Jeremiah 51:1-53, Titus 2:1-15, Psalm 99:1-9, Proverbs 26:17

Friday: Jeremiah 51:54-52:34, Titus 3:1-15, Psalm 100:1-5, Proverbs 26:18-19

Saturday: Lamentations 1:1-2:22, Philemon 1:1-25, Psalm 101:1-8, Proverbs 26:20

Sunday: Lamentations 3:1-66, Hebrews 1:1-14, Psalm 102:1-28, Proverbs 26:21-22

Devotional Passages for Week of October 17-24

Monday:  Jeremiah 30:1-31:26, 1 Timothy 2:1-15, Psalm 87:1-7, Proverbs 25:18-19

    

Tuesday:  Jeremiah 31:27-32:44, 1 Timothy 3:1-16, Psalm 88:1-18, Proverbs 25:20-22

Wednesday:  Jeremiah 33:1-34:22, 1 Timothy 4:1-16, Psalm 89:1-13, Proverbs 25:23-24

    

Thursday:  Jeremiah 35:1-36:32, 1 Timothy 5:1-25, Psalm 89:14-37, Proverbs 25:25-27

Friday:  Jeremiah 37:1-38:28, 1 Timothy 6:1-21, Psalm 89:38-52, Proverbs 25:28

    

Saturday:  Jeremiah 39:1-41:18, 2 Timothy 1:1-18, Psalm 90:1-91:16, Proverbs 26:1-2

Sunday: Jeremiah 42:1-44:23, 2 Timothy 2:1-21, Psalm 92:1-93:5, Proverbs 26:3-5

    

Monday: Jeremiah 44:24-47:7, 2 Timothy 2:22-3:17, Psalm 94:1-23, Proverbs 26:6-8

Relive Summer Life Night at The Que: Second Term

SB2W News Post- October 13, 2011

Main Assembly at the Que

The Potter's Wheel

I have always aspired to make pottery.  One day, when I was in the art building at college, I decided to swing by the ceramics studio to watch the skillful artists sculpt their work on the pottery wheel. It isn't an easy job to take a lifeless lump of damp clay and shape it into a beautiful piece of work. Many times, the clay crumbles and the Potter has to start over, each movement with careful precision. Observing the intimate interaction between the tough clay and the Potter's gentle hands, I began to wonder what the end product was going to look like. Would it be a vase? A bowl? A cup?

Relive Summer Life Night at Lake Gloria: First Term