Sunday (11/21)

We hope you join us for a worship service either in person or online on Sunday mornings each week as a way to center our lives in Christ and worship God with his people. You are strongly encouraged to set aside alone time to be with God each day this week using this Your Faith Journey daily devotional or another devotional. The scripture below is based on our “Generosity and Hospitality” series.

 

 

Monday (11/22)

Read Psalm 112:1-9 to focus on praising the Lord and to be reminded of our blessings.

 

Read Proverbs 11:25 & 22:9. Look for opportunities to bless the poor and needy today and throughout this week. Think about what refreshes you. How can you offer that to others or point them towards it?

 

Pray through your plans and schedule for today, including praying for the people you will be with or those you were with. Pray for the poor and all who are in need of being refreshed. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you to refresh others with your words, actions, and His presence, while being a generous representative or Christ.

 

 

Tuesday (11/23)

Read Psalm 112:1-5. Praise the Lord and count your blessings.

 

Read Mark 2:13-17. What does this story about Jesus inviting a despised tax collector to become one of his disciples reveal about Christ? The gospel writer includes the detail that Jesus was seen “eating with the sinners and tax collectors,” which included Levi, his friends, and co-workers (v. 16). What does this detail reveal about the hospitality of our Lord? As Jesus’ disciples today, how should we follow Jesus’ example by being hospitable and generous with our lives in regards to people who are not yet part of the church?

 

Pray for Jesus to continue to use us to share meals with those who are lost and sinners in need of our Savior so that they can encounter Christ through his church. Pray that hearts and minds will be softened and opened to receive the invitation to step closer to Christ and become his disciples. Pray for the person or people the Holy Spirit brings to mind who are not yet believers, including family members, friends, co-workers, or neighbors.

 

 

Wednesday (11/24)

Read Psalm 112:1. Praise the Lord!

 

Read 1 Chronicles 29:10-20. In these verses, King David is praising God for what the Israelites had given for the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem. This was also during a time when the leadership of the kingdom was being transferred to David’s son, Solomon. As the third king of Israel, Solomon was responsible for overseeing the construction of the Temple of the Lord. What word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you from what you read?

 

Pray, praising God again. You may find it helpful to use some of David’s words from verses 10 through 13 as you praise the Lord. The Israelites laid down on the ground, “prostrate before the LORD.” If you are physically able, lay down on the floor as you praise God as a physical posture of submission and humility.

 

 

Thursday (11/25) “Thanksgiving Day”

Read 1 Chronicles 16:34. Take a moment to thank the Lord for this time to be present with Him.

 

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. On this Thanksgiving Day, what are some things you can rejoice about? What prayers on behalf of others and yourself do you need to lift up to the Lord? What are you thankful for today?

 

Pray, thanking the Lord for your life, your family, your friends, our church, and the many blessings he has given us. Pray for the needs of others and yourself knowing that you are praying to a God who listens.

 

 

Friday (11/26)

Read Psalm 112:5. Ask yourself, “Am I generous?”

 

Read the apostle Paul’s message from 1 Timothy 6:17-19. By comparison to people throughout the world, we Americans are rich. You may not feel like it, but it is true. Paul instructs the young church leader, Timothy, to command Jesus’ followers to “be rich in good deeds…generous and willing to share.” His message applies to us as well. We should be rich in doing good, generously blessing others, and sharing what God has given us. How are you going to intentionally bless others by doing good today as well as throughout this month?

 

Pray for the Holy Spirit to enable you to see how blessed you are right now. Ask the Lord to help you to have a posture of an opened-handed manager who receives what is given so that it can be used for the good of others. Ask God to help you to see your opportunities to do good, to be generous, and share with others. You are blessed to be a blessing!

 

 

Saturday (11/27)

Observe the Sabbath. How are you going to intentionally observe the sabbath by worshiping God, resting, and enjoying some time of recreation today or on Sunday? For most people it does not happen if it is not scheduled. You need to designate the time to do it if you want it to be a priority.

 

Read Psalm 112:1-9 to focus on praising the Lord and to be reminded of our blessings.

 

Solitude & Silence. You’re encouraged to find a place where you can be alone for about thirty minutes. During your time of solitude and silence with God, you may want to lay down, sit on a comfortable chair, couch, or swing, or go for a walk. During the solitude, silently listen for the internal whisper of the Holy Spirit. For many believers the Holy Spirit does not speak in an audible voice. Instead, the Spirit will place a thought, phrase, verse from scripture, song, image, person, or idea in your heart and mind. Notice the physical sounds you hear and the way your body feels during this time of silence. Try to shut out the thoughts of to-do lists, plans for the day, etc. Simply be with God. You may find it helpful to read the Psalm before or during your Solitude & Silence. After the thirty minutes, then read the verse(s) listed below.

 

Read Hebrews 13:2. What does it mean for you to offer hospitality to strangers? Why is it important to offer hospitality to people you don’t know even if they are not angels in disguise? In this verse, and many others in the Bible, the word “angel” means “messenger.” Do you think God could use a stranger to deliver his message to you?

 

In regards to our church family, how are you going to help those who visit our congregation to experience generous hospitality?

 

Pray in response to our generous and hospitable God. You are encouraged to pray using the ACTS acronym as a guide:

Adoration (praise the Lord)

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication (share your needs & the needs of others)

 

You are strongly encouraged to observe the sabbath either today or tomorrow as a time to worship the Lord, rest, reflect, and enjoy recreation. To learn more about the sabbath read the following verses:

Genesis 1:1-2:3        Deuteronomy 5:12-15

Exodus 20:8-11        Mark 2:27-28

Exodus 31:13           Matthew 11:25-30

Leviticus 16:31         Leviticus 23:3

 

The questions below can be used to help with some time of reflection:

 

Where did you see, hear, or experience love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control this past week? That was God and the fruit of the Holy Spirit at work in your life or within the lives of others (Galatians 5:22-23a).

 

Who needs to hear about your “God moment” sometime in the coming days? Trust the Holy Spirit to share it through you at the right time.

 

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online.