Dr.David Jeremiah

The Unopened Gift

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Romans 15:4



We expect a lot from December: Christmas songs, yummy Christmas cookies, decorations, good food, and time with those we love. As we rush to buy last-minute gifts, we try to remain calm amidst the crowds and busyness. It shouldn't surprise us that we tend to overlook the one gift that can help us keep perspective during the month of December: God's Word.

When we open the Bible, we find encouragement for those times when our expectations remain unmet. The birth of Jesus lacked most of the comforts we now associate with Christmas. Mary did not expect to give birth to her first child in a barn. Joseph did not expect Mary to become pregnant before they wed. They were alone and far from family. Despite their difficult circumstances, Mary and Joseph trusted God. They had received the gift of God's voice and they followed His directions.

We too can hear from God. Scripture reminds us of what is important. It speaks to our deepest needs and keeps us focused on God and His will during each season of life. Let's not forget to open this gift this Christmas and throughout the year. God's Word has the counsel, wisdom, and power we need. Open it today.

The first step: By Dr.David Jeremiah

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?

Psalm 56:3-4

Fear is the first step toward obedience. In Scripture, when God calls a person to a specific task or role, their first response is usually an objection, question, or doubt. Fearfully, they ask, "Why have You chosen me? I'm not qualified. I've never done this before."

God chose Israel, although it was a small, insignificant nation (Deuteronomy 7:7). God chose Moses, although he had run away from Egypt in fear. God chose Joseph, although he was ridiculed and sold by his brothers. Jesus chose an unlikely group of men to be His disciples. God delights in choosing those for whom it is impossible to fulfill His commands in their own strength. He assures us "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me" (Psalm 50:15).

When God calls us, He equips us. If we get stuck in fear, we are forgetting who God is. Although fear is a natural first step, we must move from fear to faith to obey God. As we focus on Him, remembering His power and strength, our faith increases. He will be glorified through our obedience and bring to completion all He has promised.

Faith isn't the ability to believe long and far into the misty future. 
It's simply taking God at His Word and taking the next step.

Joni Eareckson Tada

 

Turning point By: Dr.David Jeremiah

Cars and Christians
 

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh.

Romans 8:3

 

     

The idea of the gasoline-powered vehicle to be used for human and commercial transportation is a fabulous idea! In fact, a century of innovations and further inventions have made cars and trucks a permanent part of our life. So why do we only tolerate them instead of love them?

It's because they break down and need repairs. Rubber wears out, metal breaks down, paint fades, wires break, and we crash these machines into one another. It's not the idea of the vehicle that is bad—it's the execution that breaks down. And so it is with the law of God. The law is "holy and just and good" (Romans 7:12), yet we have a hard time implementing the concept. Vehicles are weak because of their parts and humans are weak because of their flesh—their fallen human nature. If inventors ever create parts that last forever, they will do for vehicles what Jesus did for us: be strong, not weak, in the flesh.

The next time your car is in the shop, thank God that Jesus is a permanent, perfect keeper of God's law. He did for us what we could never do for ourselves.

The law tells me how crooked I am. Grace comes along and straightens me out.

Dwight L. Moody

Faith

Faith is not understanding;

Faith is yielding to God's will,

Resting on His word of promise 

In assurance, calm, and still.

Faith is waiting for the answer,

Though no hopeful ray is giv'n,

Knowing that the final outcome

Now is clearly seen in heav'n.

Faith is looking through the shadows 

To the dawn of endless day,

Singing thro' the gath'ring darkness,

"Christ will lead me all the way!"

Faith is looking into Jesus,

Trusting where it cannot see.

Faith is resting on His promise-

Faith is glorious victory!

                    -Avis B. Christiansen  

Youth camp.... Part Two

I know youth camp was back in April, but we have been really busy!! We moved this summer and daddy had surgery. And we have been running here and there since we moved. =) So anyway here are some pictures from youth camp!

I will warn you, this is a pretty long post ;) 

Kaitlyn & I rode with Bro.David. Here we are on our way to Cali!! 

The windmills

       The guys with Bro.David up front 

This is a sweet Girl from Indiana, Her name is Asa =)

 These are some girls from Bro.David's church :) 

(From left to right) Mia,Elizabeth,Vanessa,Nadia 

        This is team 3...  Bro.Gareth's team :)

 Kaitlyn, Kelsey, And Becca. On their way to a mountain the group was going to climb

Stephanie & Melissa

Mrs.Naomi & Paul Daniel

A picture of an owl Kelsey took at the mountains 

The pretty mountains they climbed

Kelsey&Kaitlyn  in front of the mountains 

I like this picture of Kaitlyn :)

Kelsey in her natural pose ;)

Mrs.Naomi & Mrs.Debbie

A nice picture of Kelsey :) 

Kaitlyn

This is a cool picture they took of Kaitlyn :) 

The map of the trail

A picture of the trail..... Very pretty

A sweet lady from Indiana, Her name is Mrs.Debbie

Kelsey

Alyssa & Jonisha coming back from hiking

Kelsey, Jonisha, and Alyssa

Some of the teens waiting for the rest of the group to arrive 

Becca, Mrs.Naomi, Kelsey, And Stephanie

Bro.Travis posing for the camera,  he was acting funny :) 

Tarod did the same thing.....

He cracked up laughing afterward :)

Lillie

Alyssa

Alyssa & Lillie :) two very sweet girls!

A girl from Indiana, Her name was Anjelica :) 

Getting their snack after church

Waiting in line for the snacks

Mrs.Regina & Mrs.Julie

Everyone eating 

This was a surprise guest.. A Chef from Dubai. He made a special drink :)

Stephanie volunteered to drink it!

She said it Tastes like cocktail juice :) 

Me, Kelsey,Becca, And Stephanie 

The guys getting ready to do some paint-balling =)

Some of the girls making pictures for their skits

While the guys did paint-balling, we girls had a nice spa!

The masks they had for us to try :)

And hand scrubs

Marissa! 

Jonisha,Brandy, And Anjelica =)

Mrs.Donna, she did a wonderful job cooking :) the food was great!

Everyone enjoying their snack ;)

Kaitlyn & Stephanie

Kelsey putting her mask on .....

Alyssa putting Her's on :)

We played a game where you couldn't say mask, face,and a couple other words like that... If you did you got your Ribbon taken away if someone caught you saying it ;)the person with the most ribbons got a prize. It was lots of fun! Here Nadia already had a lot of them =) 

Mrs.Regina and Her Baby Boy!! He's so cute :) 

Lillie in her mask =}

Becca =)

Me putting a mask on.......

Kaitlyn in Her's :) 

Then they had another game. They had two teams.. They blind folded two people (one from each team) and the two who were blind folded had to listen to their team's captain on where to go in order to step on things like chains,bells,bowls, etc...  To get points. And the team with the most points got a prize. 

Here Mrs.Regina is explaining the game.

Kelsey and charisma were the team captains. Here they are picking their team mates :)

Marissa, Mrs.Regina's Baby Boy, Alyssa, Lillie, And I watching the game.

Marissa and Mrs.Regina's Baby Boy 

Asa and brandy went the first round 

Mrs.Regina taking pictures and watching :)

I think Anjelica got the most ribbons ;) 

The guys finishing up the paintball.....

They are unloading their guns here 

Bro.Travis& Mrs.Donna's adorable dog!!

Kelsey =)

 Me ;)

Becca playing guesstures ;)

 Alyssa & I making fish's for our skit....

Some of the kids playing basketball.

The overcomers was the name of Bro.David's team... Team 2. Clinton was on that team :)

So needless to say camp was AWESOME!!!!! We are so excited for next year we can't wait =)