Life Lesson: June 26

Meditate
Revelation 19:6 – Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Isaiah 40:28 – Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary and his understanding no one can fathom.
Job 42:2 – I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Mark 10:27 – Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.’
Genesis 18:14a – Is anything too hard for the LORD?

Sing
How Great Thou Art

Chorus
Then sings my soul, My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art. How great Thou art
Then sings my soul, My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, How great Thou art

Verse 1
O Lord my God when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy pow’r thru’out the universe displayed

Verse 2
When thru the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze

Verse 3
And when I think that God His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin

Verse 4
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, My God how great Thou art!

Message
When troubles come, I often forget that God is Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent, Invisible, Unmovable, Supreme, Unstoppable and more! When one of my children calls with troubles, when someone at work seems unreasonable, when the world seems unfair or when my list of things to do seems bigger than there are hours in the day, I forget that my God can do all things. Why is it that we do not turn to God FIRST? Turning to God seems to be a last ditch effort when all else fails.

The Bible teaches us: God can do all things!, Nothing is too hard for God!, God never gets tired and he is never too busy! We can trust God because he cannot violate his character. He cannot lie. He cannot be contrary to his own goodness and perfection and faithfulness. He cannot be tempted or tempt anyone. We should run to him immediately, just like a toddler instinctively runs to Mommy or Daddy when afraid or troubled.

We know that God is powerful because he created the world and keeps it running. We can also be certain of God’s power because he raised Jesus from the dead. God never shook his head in worry over how to keep the mountains up or the sun suspended in the sky. He never wondered about how to make the colors of the flowers. God was never troubled over how to sustain microorganisms or hippos. Most importantly, God never felt defeat or fear over Jesus’ death. God raised Jesus from the dead and this took no more effort than growing grass.

As I think about the great power of God it excites and energizes my worship of him. As I think about his power, it encourages me in my walk with him. As I think about the great power of God it causes me to realize I have no need to worry or fear as I live through difficult times.

Blessing
Ask God what you have that someone else needs. Do not be afraid. Give what you have to the person who needs it. God will take care of you.

Move
Sing and do the motions for: My God is So Great

My God is so great, so strong and so mighty.
There is nothing my God cannot do. (repeat)
The mountains are his. The rivers are his.
The stars are his handiwork too.
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty.
There is nothing my God cannot do.

Create
Take paper and crayon. Get quiet before God and ask him what things you are trying to take care of on your own. Draw pictures representing each of these things. Take a bright-colored crayon and color over the things that God has shown you. The bright color depicts God’s power over these things that trouble you.

Nourish
Notice what you are eating today. Consider where it comes from and how it was made. Thank God for his power to create and sustain the world.

Rest
Find 10 minutes to be still. Do nothing during this time. This is God’s time to renew you in mind, body and spirit.

Recreation
Take in something of nature. Go for a walk and see the power of God in the flowers and trees or the ocean. If it is rainy, praise God for his power that waters the earth.

Pray
Be thankful. Praise God for his power. Claim his power over difficult areas of life.

Snacks
Share your snack with someone who needs to understand God’s power. Share God’s power with this person.

World Prayer
Pray for areas of the world that have been affected by powerful acts of nature.

Sleep
As you fall asleep tonight, repeat the words of today’s song, How Great Thou Art

From morning until night, God wants us to worship and commune with Him. Start your day in His Word and then weave throughout the day these elements of devotion, worship, contemplation and service to others.

_______

LYRICS CREDIT: 
How Great Thou Art, CCLI Song # 14181, Stuart Wesley Keene Hine, © 1949. 1953 Stuart Hine Trust. CFO Sings, pg. 350

My God is So Great, CFO Sings, pg. 178

Life Lesson: June 19

Meditate
Hebrews 12:14-15: Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Sing
Something Beautiful

Something beautiful something good.
All of my confusions, he understood.
All I had to offer him was brokenness and strife.
And he made something beautiful out of my life.

Message
In the book of Ruth 1:20-21, Naomi is in a strange land and has lost her husband and her sons. She is afraid and has no way to provide for herself, much less her two daughters-in-law. In verses 20-21, she says, “Don’t call me Naomi, but call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” Naomi means pleasant and Mara means bitter. Naomi has allowed her circumstances to change and define who she is.

There have been times when I have felt hopeless, afraid, lonely, unloved, or scared. In these times, it is natural to begin to live in these feelings and allow them to become reality in our lives, instead of trusting God to make us something new. We forget that God has bigger and better plans for us and that he will make something beautiful out of our lives if we trust and allow him to do it.

Do we spend our time proclaiming the hurt, anxiety and despair of life or do we proclaim the great power of God? As Paul put it, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20–21.

Life happens, but we do not have to accept the circumstances we see today as the final outcome. God is the same yesterday, today and forever, but he is in the business of changing us from Glory to Glory!

Blessing
Our Hebrews passage warned us not to let any bitter root grow up and cause trouble. Contact someone with whom you have a bitter root beginning to grow or someone who has a bitter root growing between themselves and someone else. Pray with them, asking God to heal the relationships.

Move
Sing I will Change Your Name

I will change your name
You shall no longer be called
Wounded, outcast lonely or afraid
I will change your name
Your new name shall be
Confidence, joyfulness, overcoming one
Faithfulness, friend of God
One who seeks My face

As you sing, stretch your muscles. Start at your head and face by tightening your muscles and then releasing. Gently roll your neck and shoulders. Work your arms and fingers. Bend at the waist. Work your hips, legs and feet. Do not forget your toes.
While you do this, let God tell you who he knows you to be. Counter the negative ideas that may come and tell you otherwise.

Create
Write a list of things that cause you to become bitter. After some prayer, write names of God next to each item on the list. Choose names that counter or cover the issue that you are dealing with.

Nourish
If you have a juicer, get it out of the cupboard and try some new juice ideas. If not, get some fresh fruit and yogurt to enjoy a healthy smoothie.

Rest
Find 10 minutes and be still. Do nothing during this time. This is God’s time to renew you in mind, body and spirit.

Recreation
Go for a hike in the woods. Notice the beauty of God’s creation. Realize that you are part of the beautiful creation that God called, “Good!”

Pray
Pray that God will show you how much he loves you. Share this with someone who does not really understand that God loves them.

Snacks
Try a beautiful fruit: Pomegranate, Kiwi or something else that intrigues you.

World Prayer
Watch the news or read the paper. Be aware of people who have bitter roots growing in them. Pray for them and ask God to touch their hearts.

Sleep
As you fall asleep tonight, thank God that he created you and that he loves you. Rest in the fact that you are loved and cared for by God.

From morning until night, God wants us to worship and commune with Him. Start your day in His Word and then weave throughout the day these elements of devotion, worship, contemplation and service to others.
_______
“Something Beautiful”, CCLI Song # 18060, Gloria Gaither | William J. Gaither, © 1971 William J. Gaither, Inc. ARR UBP of Gaither Copyright Management, CCLI License # 283314

“I Will Change Your Name”, CCLI Song # 145139, D. J. Butler, © 1987 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.), CCLI License # 283314

Life Lesson: June 12

 

Meditate
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Sing
Go Tell It on the Mountain

Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
Jesus Christ WILL SAVE!

Vs 1
When I was but a sinner,
I prayed both night and day,
I asked the Lord to help me
and He showed me the way.

Vs 2
When I became a seeker,
I sought both night and day,
I asked the Lord to help me
and He taught me to pray.

Vs 3
The Lord made me a watchman,
upon a city wall,
And if I am a Christian,
I am the least of all.

Message  
It is hard to think about it, but there are people who die without having a relationship with Jesus. This is hard, because Jesus said that only those who know him have eternal life. We hate to think that there are people who are lost for eternity, but it is not because God let them fall by the wayside. It is not because God did not care enough for them or did not want them. It is certainly not because Jesus did not die for them. So why are there people spending eternity in hell, apart from God? It is because we did not tell them. The Bible asks “How can they know if we do not tell them?”

Another sad thought is that there are people who have accepted Jesus, but are living in Spiritual poverty. Again, it is not because God does not care or has ignored them. It is also not simply the person’s fault for not doing what they should do. It is because we are not making disciples and teaching others to obey and live as Christ taught. We are not teaching and helping people to study the Scriptures and pray. We are not coming together to encourage and support each other.

It is the responsibility of all Christians to pray, learn and develop our relationship with God, but it is also our responsibility to help others do the same. We are the body of Christ. We are the family of God. We cannot work and live independently of others. Are we our brother’s keeper? The answer is yes.

CFO is a vital tool to help us learn how to develop our own relationship with Christ, bring others to Jesus, and disciple believers in the faith. We learn, at CFO, that we are not too young or too old, too rich or too poor, or too new in the faith or mature in Christ to be an important part of the body.

Blessing
Contact someone who was instrumental in bringing you to Jesus or mentoring your Christian walk and thank them. If this person is no longer alive, contact their family and let them know what this person did and what a blessing they were to you.

Move
Do you have an old piece of exercise equipment? Put on some worship music and USE the equipment.

Create
On a large piece of paper, make several stick figures. Draw each “person” missing one body part. Underneath, the people write one task that would be difficult or impossible for them to do. Ask God if there is anything that you are not doing that is hampering His work in the body.

Nourish
Invite someone over for dinner that either does not know Jesus or who is having a Spiritual struggle. Over dinner, share the Gospel or find out how you can mentor them in the faith.

Rest
Find 10 minutes and still. Do nothing during this time. This is God’s time to renew you in mind, body and spirit.

Recreation
Do something adventurous today. For some it may be a walk around the block and for others it may be climbing a mountain. If you need help, take someone with you. Remember, this is the family of God, we are not meant to go it alone.

Pray
Spend some time in quiet prayer and ask God to help you write a list of things that you are doing for Him. Read over the list and ask Him to show you which of these things He wants you to keep doing and which He would like you to stop. Ask Him if there are any new things He wants you to add to your list.

Snacks
Did you have enough fruits and vegetables today? If not, have one for a snack.

World Prayer
Pray for churches that do not have enough workers.

Sleep
As you fall asleep tonight, rest in God’s grace for another day. Thank Him for sleep and be excited about the plan He has for you tomorrow.

Life Lessons: From morning until night, God wants us to worship and commune with Him. Start your day in His Word and then weave throughout the day these elements of devotion, worship, contemplation and service to others.
LYRICS CREDIT:
Used with permission: “Go Tell It on the Mountain”, CFO Sings, song 148

 

 

Life Lesson: June 5

Meditate
“Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” Haggai 1:5–6

“The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1

Sing
He’s All I Need

He’s all I need
He’s all I need
Jesus is all I need

He’s all I need
He’s all I need
Jesus is all I need

Message  
You may have heard it said that we hear and see things through the filters of life. This means that everything we hear and see passes through the experiences of our lives. For example: if we have experienced condemnation then compliments are hard to accept as they pass through the filter of low self-worth. Sometimes, our filters are just not mature enough and we simply do not understand what we hear. When I was young, we would read Psalm 23 and it always made me shake my head. I just did not understand why we would say such things. You see, I had been taught God is good and this was saying to me that “The Lord was my Shepherd and I do not want him.” At least that is how I understood it. It was quite some time before I realized that a better way to say it is: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not BE IN want.” Now that made sense!

It also does not make sense when God’s people worry and fret over what they do not have or what they think they need. If we claim Jesus as Lord and we put our trust in him, why do we worry? As Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on… which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?… Why are you anxious about clothing?… Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’… Our heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you… Do not be anxious about tomorrow…” (Mat 6:25-34).

If we worry or are anxious, we need to let God clean the filters that we use to process what we hear and see. These filters are cleansed of the dirt and grime of life by letting God wash us in His Word. We need to read and study the Scripture, be in prayer, worship and praise God often, attend church, and be in a small covenant group. If we are seeking the Kingdom of God, he will take care of the needs of life.

Blessing
Go to the store and buy some nice new clothes, food or household items and give them to someone in need. Do not give them leftovers. Be the hands and feet of God in providing what is needed while this person seeks the Kingdom of God.

Move
Read Psalm 23, and act it out.

Create
Draw and cut out 10 circles. In 5 of them, write things that you worry about. In the other 5, write ways that God wants you to seek after His Kingdom. Draw a line through the first 5 to note that you are no longer going to do that. Post the 10 circles in places where you will see them around your house. Acknowledge that which you are no longer focusing on and that which you will now seek after.

Nourish
Prepare your food and take two minutes to praise and thank God before eating.

Rest
Find 10 minutes to be still. Do nothing during this time. This is God’s time to renew you in mind, body and spirit.

Recreation
If you know of a parent who needs a break, offer to take the kids to McDonald’s playground. Buy them some fries and let them play. Do not worry about it. Just seek God.

Pray
Pray for those who do not have their basic needs met. Be thankful for all that God has provided you.

Snacks
Share your snack with someone who is alone.

World Prayer
Find your CFO Worldwide directory or go to the website and pray for CFO camps around the world. Pray that CFO makes a difference in the world for the Kingdom of God.

Sleep
Count your blessings as you fall asleep.

From morning until night, God wants us to worship and commune with Him. Start your day in His Word and then weave throughout the day these elements of devotion, worship, contemplation and service to others.

___________________
LYRICS CREDIT:
 Used with permission: “He’s All I Need” CFO Sings, pg. 167