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We will…serve the Lord
by Sarah Hahs
2016was a year that marked me as a Jesus follower. We lived in a two-bedroom house with two kids and had just brought home twins! And we were suddenly faced with the reality that we no longer fit anywhere as a family. We needed to buy a new car since the 5-seater no longer worked. And everyone was now sleeping two in a room, with twins co-sleeping in a pack-n-play. We were busting at the seams and started praying for God’s intervention in our finances and living situation.
What it required was a posture of surrender. Surrendering what God had blessed us with back to him. And surrendering that even if we couldn’t see the destination, we needed to start taking steps forward. So, we began with prayer, then small house projects that would help sell our house, and then more extensive projects that would allow us to list it. We didn’t know where we were going. But starting with prayer allowed us to converse with God the whole time. We eventually found a house where we never imagined living, and for far more than we ever thought we would qualify for, and we have been blessed in ways we never thought possible because of it. My husband and I still go back and look at the numbers, and the most straightforward answer is God-Math. There is no explanation for the numbers; we can’t make them line up. But God was in all of it.
If you listened to the message today and thought, “That’s great, but I’m not there.” I would quote the great Tom Brawner, “Start where you are, not where you’re not.” Start with prayer. Start with a conversation with God. Invite him into your stress about not being able to pay the bills, or how expensive milk has become, or how you have been blessed with two kids at once on top of your two other kids, and you have absolutely no idea how you are going to afford it. Just start.
The Book of Acts Reading Plan:
This Fall-Winter we will be diving into the Book of Acts. For context, check out these brief videos on the major themes in Acts from our friends at The Bible Project.
[Monday, October 7]
Acts 19:8-22
Paul began another journey to reach the believers in Ephesus. In this passage we see his work to ensure people believe the entirety of the good news, that Jesus came, died and was resurrected, ascended into heaven, and sent a helper, the Holy Spirit, to be with those who choose to follow him. Many were trusting and believing in Jesus and what they had heard, but had not fully embraced the power of his death, resurrection and the gift if his constant presence with those who believe. Our salvation requires both repentance of sin, and living in faith. The Spirit is our constant help to navigate life. How do you tune in to this incredible gift? When do you sense the presence of God’s spirit the most?
[Tuesday, October 8]
Acts 19:23-41
As Paul shared the good news of Jesus he often crossed others. In this passage we see a group of tradesmen, fearing for their livelihood, rise up and start a riot to protect their business. He played on the fears of the crowd, and sowed confusion. Have you experienced this kind of dissension anywhere? As you read the passage, consider where you feel challenged by following Jesus in the world today. How can you carry the truth of your faith into places that oppose it?
[Wednesday, October 9]
Acts 20:1-6
This passage reminds me how incredibly far the news of Jesus traveled…by foot! I’m embarrassed at the struggle I feel sharing my faith where my feet tread, when these followers carried the good news to followers and new believers across borders, deserts, and bodies of water. Where might Jesus be sending you to carry good news to others? Perhaps its a word of encouragement to people who believe, but are struggling. Perhaps its sharing what Jesus has done in your life with someone who knows nothing of him. Consider praying for an opportunity to share your faith with someone this week.
[Thursday, October 10]
Acts 20:7-12
In these passages we see a gathering of Jesus followers sharing a meal and taking communion together. What do you notice in the story? If you were there, where would you be in this scene? How incredible would it be to see a miracle occur?! What questions would you have for Paul?
[Friday, October 11]
Acts 20:13-21
Being a Jesus follower isn’t an easy road. It won’t solve all of our problems. But having a living, vibrant faith and growing in our ability to sense God’s presence through his Spirit as we live is such a gift! How can we always be ready to share the good news of what God has done for us? How can we cultivate the practice of celebrating the work of Jesus with our family and friends?
{extra journey resources}
CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources). You can also download The Bible Project App HERE.
CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project.
CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading.
The Bible App Get the free YouVersion Bible for your phone, tablet, or computer. Experience the Bible anywhere, with options to highlight, save notes, and share what you are reading with others.
The Bible App For Kids YouVersion partnered with OneHope to develop the Bible App for Kids, designing it specifically to engage children with Bible stories on an age-appropriate level. The Bible App for Kids is a free app for Android, Apple, and Kindle devices, available in over 60 languages.
Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
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