Paul wrote in Philippians 3 that he wanted "to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death." Although it seems impossible to want to experience this horrific scene, the miracle this story offers is that we can truly know Christ. When we look at the peace, joy, serenity, and grace shining through all the violence, you can see the beauty of becoming like Him in His death. How simple His life had been trusting wholly on God. He had no earthly care but a mother who He entrusted to His best friend. His only asset was a robe that fell to a gambling guard. That simplicity. That clarity of focus. That devotion to God's purpose. That complete trust in His Father. That is something to long for.
Read and Reflect on Luke 22-24
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
Shayna
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The Story of Easter Day 4
Put yourself in the place of the first followers of Christ who were there at His death. Your heart would be broken. Your mind would be racing. This isn't anything at all like what was supposed to happen to the King of the Jews. He was supposed to set everything right. Mend what was broken. Restore what was lost. But now, it would seem, all is lost. Everything is broken. Nothing is right. Spend some time today trying to live in that space between the cross and the empty tomb. After hope has left. Before grace has come. Use that feeling to fuel your prayer for someone you know that lives there every day. Ask God to show you how to reach out to them and invite them into your Easter observances this weekend.
Read and Reflect on John 19-21
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
Shayna
Read and Reflect on John 19-21
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
Shayna
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
The Story of Easter Day 3
Jesus had a last request. He knew what was facing Him the next day, but His last prayer was not for Himself, but for you. For all of us. Jesus prayed for His followers. Jesus' prayer is a wonderful window into God's will for us. Be an answer to Jesus' prayer this week. Go through His prayer line-by-line to see how. This weekend, as global Church unites to celebrate His resurrection, let's look for ways to be one with God and one with each other. Make Jesus' prayer your prayer, that the world will see His glory and come to know Him through our unity and God's love.
Read and Reflect on John 17-18
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
Shayna
Read and Reflect on John 17-18
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
Shayna
Monday, April 2, 2012
The Story of Easter Day 2
In the picture of the vineyard, we must make sure we know who we are. We are the branches. Our only one job is holding on to Jesus, the vine. By doing so we will fulfill our solitary purpose: bearing fruit. Literally all of the other work that takes place in the vineyard will be done by the gardener. That's God. Not me. Not you. Our job is to allow Him to work through us by staying connected to the vine. Meditate today on who you are and what you're called to do. Clinging. Remaining. Connecting. Holding on. Abiding. That's all, nothing else.
Read and Reflect on John 15-16
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
Shayna
Read and Reflect on John 15-16
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
Shayna
Sunday, April 1, 2012
The Story of Easter Day 1
On my YouVersion Bible App, I found an Easter Reading Plan to prepare my heart for this week. I'm so excited about it that I wanted to share the experience with all of you! The night before, I will post the daily reading. Don't forget to check back, so we can share The Story of Easter together!
Monday, April 2
This passage illustrates one of the key purposes for Jesus' life on earth, to be a human example of how God wants us to live. Jesus said, "Do as I do." The most incredible part of this command is that it comes with an offer of the power to live it out. Jesus doesn't just ask us to try to live like the Son of God out of our own strength - His resurrection gave us access to His strength. Today, meditate on the example Christ left for us. What does washing feet look like in our own relationships and circumstances? How can you serve others in this most basic way like Jesus did for His friends?
Read and Reflect on John 13-14
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
Shayna
Monday, April 2
This passage illustrates one of the key purposes for Jesus' life on earth, to be a human example of how God wants us to live. Jesus said, "Do as I do." The most incredible part of this command is that it comes with an offer of the power to live it out. Jesus doesn't just ask us to try to live like the Son of God out of our own strength - His resurrection gave us access to His strength. Today, meditate on the example Christ left for us. What does washing feet look like in our own relationships and circumstances? How can you serve others in this most basic way like Jesus did for His friends?
Read and Reflect on John 13-14
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
Shayna
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Happy New Year!
My Grandpa Purnell used to always say this prayer before every meal. Although he has been with Jesus for almost 12 years, I can still hear him saying it...
Heavenly Father,
We are so grateful for every blessing in life, we don't give You enough thanks.
Forgive us, for we've failed You so many times.
Be with our church as a whole, if it be Your will.
Be with our prayer list and be with the sick, You know the needs.
Be with the unconcerned...Be with this whole wicked world.
Bless the food we eat for the nourishment of our bodies.
For it's in Your gracious and heavenly name I ask - Amen.
I think his prayer is also the best way to conclude the roller coaster that has been 2011.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5:17
May the Lord bless you and keep you in 2012!
"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." Jeremiah 29:11
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
Shayna
Heavenly Father,
We are so grateful for every blessing in life, we don't give You enough thanks.
Forgive us, for we've failed You so many times.
Be with our church as a whole, if it be Your will.
Be with our prayer list and be with the sick, You know the needs.
Be with the unconcerned...Be with this whole wicked world.
Bless the food we eat for the nourishment of our bodies.
For it's in Your gracious and heavenly name I ask - Amen.
I think his prayer is also the best way to conclude the roller coaster that has been 2011.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5:17
May the Lord bless you and keep you in 2012!
"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." Jeremiah 29:11
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
Shayna
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry CHRISTmas!
Experiencing Christmas Together
Christmas Day Family and Friends Devotional from Chase Oaks Church
Christmas is a day that engages the senses. There are wonderful sights to be seen, like a glowing Christmas tree or brightly colored packages. There are delightful aromas to be smelled, like the scent of pine or the smell of wonderful food, such as, in our family's Christmas morning tradition, freshly baked cinnamon birthday cake for Jesus! There are inspiring sounds to hear and great carols to be sung. But what about on the day Jesus was actually born? Can you picture what that day looked, smelled and sounded like? There is no doubt it would have engaged the senses! Take a moment to read and experience the Christmas story together.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
On Jesus' birthday, there wasn't a Christmas tree or festive decorations. They were near animals, so there were smells to be sure, but they probably didn't remind you of cinnamon! However, none of that mattered because a baby named Jesus was there. The Savior of the world...God with us! And through Him we can have the greatest experience of all: peace with God! This Christmas day, take some time to remember together how God became a baby to save us.
One last thought from A Holy Experience:
"He was poor, that he might make us rich.
He was born of a virgin that we might be born of God.
He took our flesh, that he might give us His Spirit.
He lay in the manger, that we may lie in paradise.
He came down from Heaven, that he might bring us to Heaven…
That the Ancient of Days should be born.
That he who thunders in the Heavens should cry in the cradle…
That he who rules the stars should suck the breast;
That a virgin should conceive;
That Christ should be made of a woman, and of that woman which himself made,
that the branch should bear the vine,
That the mother should be younger than the child she bare,
and the child in the womb bigger than the mother;
That the human nature should not be God, yet one with God
Christ taking flesh is a mystery we shall never fully understand till we come to Heaven
If our hearts be not rocks, this love of Christ should affect us.
Behold love that passeth knowledge!”
~Thomas Watson
It is our prayer that this be the merriest of CHRISTmases for you and your family!
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
Jason, Shayna, and Sara
Christmas Day Family and Friends Devotional from Chase Oaks Church
Christmas is a day that engages the senses. There are wonderful sights to be seen, like a glowing Christmas tree or brightly colored packages. There are delightful aromas to be smelled, like the scent of pine or the smell of wonderful food, such as, in our family's Christmas morning tradition, freshly baked cinnamon birthday cake for Jesus! There are inspiring sounds to hear and great carols to be sung. But what about on the day Jesus was actually born? Can you picture what that day looked, smelled and sounded like? There is no doubt it would have engaged the senses! Take a moment to read and experience the Christmas story together.
Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
On Jesus' birthday, there wasn't a Christmas tree or festive decorations. They were near animals, so there were smells to be sure, but they probably didn't remind you of cinnamon! However, none of that mattered because a baby named Jesus was there. The Savior of the world...God with us! And through Him we can have the greatest experience of all: peace with God! This Christmas day, take some time to remember together how God became a baby to save us.
One last thought from A Holy Experience:
"He was poor, that he might make us rich.
He was born of a virgin that we might be born of God.
He took our flesh, that he might give us His Spirit.
He lay in the manger, that we may lie in paradise.
He came down from Heaven, that he might bring us to Heaven…
That the Ancient of Days should be born.
That he who thunders in the Heavens should cry in the cradle…
That he who rules the stars should suck the breast;
That a virgin should conceive;
That Christ should be made of a woman, and of that woman which himself made,
that the branch should bear the vine,
That the mother should be younger than the child she bare,
and the child in the womb bigger than the mother;
That the human nature should not be God, yet one with God
Christ taking flesh is a mystery we shall never fully understand till we come to Heaven
If our hearts be not rocks, this love of Christ should affect us.
Behold love that passeth knowledge!”
~Thomas Watson
It is our prayer that this be the merriest of CHRISTmases for you and your family!
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
Jason, Shayna, and Sara
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)