Saturday, January 11 – Human 2.0 – Baptism of Our Lord

To prepare for worship tomorrow, you can read ahead.

Read the first chapter of the gospel of John.  Some of it will be very familiar, other parts not.  Read the whole chapter and ask and answer  the following questions:

1)  What word or phrase lingered in my thoughts?

2)  Where/How does this chapter connect with my life?

3)  What does God want me to do or be in response to his Word?

Friday, January 10 – A Family Place

“Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. ⁵  And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. ⁶  And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. ⁷  Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. ⁸  Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. ⁹  Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.         –Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NLT)

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.      –Ephesians 6:4 (NLT)

Parents, don't come down too hard on your children or you'll crush their spirits.   –Colossians 3:21 (The Message)

Poor parenting, abuse, addiction, domestic violence can continue on for generation after generation...unless it is stopped.

Many parents don’t know how to parent in a positive, loving manner.  If they didn’t have good examples, how are they going to know?  Even when we’ve had good examples of loving parenting, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy.

A Family Place exists to stop the cycle of abuse, violence, addiction, and poor parenting.  It’s getting positive results; it’s transforming lives and we’re becoming a part of it.

Pray for A Family Place and for the families that will be changed by it.

Thursday, January 9– Youth finding their own faith

Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.  –1 Timothy 4:12 (NRSV)

How can young people keep their way pure?
         By guarding it according to your word.
¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek you;
         do not let me stray from your commandments.
¹¹ I treasure your word in my heart,
         so that I may not sin against you.    –Psalm 119:9-11 (NRSV)

Confirmation was originally a ministry of the parents passing on the faith to their children.  It can be a partnership between the congregation and the home.  That’s our goal.

Young people are given an opportunity to learn, serve, worship, ask questions, and have fun together.  After a period of instruction, they are given the opportunity to make the faith that was given to them their own.  We support and celebrate their decision...however they choose to express it.

Please pray for our confirmation and youth ministries.

Wednesday, January 8 – SHINE

Christ's message in all its richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct one another with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts. ¹⁷ Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father. –Colossians 3:16-17 (TEV)

Jackie Calonder loves children...and she loves to bring “Christ’s message in all its richness” into their lives.  As most of us know SHINE involves teaching and singing and helping children from 3years through fifth grade find ways to speak and act with Jesus in their minds and hearts.

Thanks to all who join Jackie on Wednesday evenings.  There is room for more volunteers to become a part-time or regular part of the team.

Please pray for Jackie, for SHINE, for those who help...and for your part in supporting this ministry.

Tuesday, January 7 – Faith in Formation

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.  –Colossians 3:16 (NLT)

Forming the faith of the people of God is a greater task than can happen in Sunday school.  But we worked with all ages to plant seeds and water those that sprout so that whether we’re just starting or well on our way, we may continue to “teach and counsel each other” so that Christ may dwell richly in our lives.

If we take notice, there are opportunities every day to have our faith formed moving us toward the character of Christ, the fruit of the Spirit.

Daily devotions is on intentional way of placing ourselves before the word, the power and presence of God in order to have our lives in-formed and trans-formed...that our faith may be formed to become like Jesus.  There’s a lot of ground to cover...and many ways to share and grow.

How am I having my faith formed in Christ?

Pray for the faith formation ministries of Joyful Servant...and each family.