Believe 21: LOVE

Believe 21:  LOVE

Objective:  To learn to walk by the Spirit.

Preparing for the Lesson:

Be in prayer as you read the following: 1 John 4:10-12, Ephesians 5:25, 1 John 1:9, Matthew 18:21-22, Matthew 5:43-45, Matthew 25:34-36, Matthew 10:37-38 and 1 John 4:19.

The Journey of BELIEVE 21:  Love:

My Thoughts:

• Peace flows from an implicit faith, a trust in God that He will handle all problems.
• God's standard for the believer is high; there is no way a Christian could meet it.
• Because of the impossible requirement of God's standard it can be fulfilled only when we walk by the Spirit.

What are your thoughts?  I would love it if you would post your thoughts in the comments section.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Please help me to put this week's key idea into practice.  Thank you for keeping Your hands around me when life becomes difficult.  Help me to reach out my hands to other people, 

In Jesus' name, Amen.

and to share Your love with them.  In 

Believe 20: SHARING MY FAITH

Believe 20:  SHARING MY FAITH

Objective:  To learn to share our faith.

Preparing for the Lesson:

Be in prayer as you read the following:  Ephesians 6:19-20, Romans 10:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, Romans :3:8, 10, and 23; Romans 6:23, Romans 10:4-10, 13; and Luke 23:42-43.  I suggest that you read the scriptures in your version of the Bible and then read the same scriptures in another version of the Bible.

The Journey of BELIEVE 20:  Sharing My Faith.

My Thoughts:

• I shared my faith with a lady and found out she didn't believe in God but I was happy I shared my faith with her anyway.  We are good friends anyway.  
• I need help in sharing my faith with non-Christians.

What are your thoughts?  I would love it if you would post your thoughts in the comments section.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Please help me to put this week's key idea into practice.  I try very hard to share my faith with others but I need your help in doing so.  Please help me to live as You lived, so that those people who look at me will be able to see You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Believe 19: GIVING MY RESOURCES

Believe 19:  GIVING MY RESOURCES

Objective:  To learn to give my resources for God's purposes.

Preparing for the Lesson:

Be in prayer as you read the following:  2 Corinthians 8:7, 1 Timothy 6:9-10, 2 Corinthians 9:7 and Matthew 6:24.  I suggest that you read the scriptures in your version of the Bible and then read the same scriptures in another version of the Bible.

The Journey of BELIEVE 19:  Giving My Resources.

My Thoughts:

• Some people idolize their personal possessions and they don't want to give them up for any reason.
• As Christians, we need to learn to give our resources for God's purposes.

What are your thoughts?  I would love it if you would post your thoughts in the comments section.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Please help me to put this week's key idea into practice.  Please teach me today that everything comes from You, and make me willing to share freely what I have freely received from You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Believe 18: OFFERING MY TIME

Believe 18:  OFFERING MY TIME

Objective:  To learn to give your time to God for his purposes.

Preparing for the Lesson:

Be in prayer as you read the following:   Psalm 39:4-7, Colossians 3:17, Galatians 2:20, Psalm 90:12, Ecclesiastes 3:1, Proverbs 9:11,  John 6:5-13,  Job 14:5.  I suggest that you read the scriptures in your version of the Bible and then read the same scriptures in another version of the Bible.

The Journey of BELIEVE 18:  Offering My Time.

My Thoughts:

• I need to learn to manage my time much better so I can spend more time helping God.
• I need to also thank God more for all that I have.

What are your thoughts?  I would love it if you would post your thoughts in the comments section.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Please help me to put this week's key idea into practice.  Help me and show me how I can plan my time better so I can do work to your glory.  In Jesus' name.  Amen. 

Believe 17: SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Believe 17:  SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Objective: To learn that when using our spiritual gifts, we need to be driven by love.

Preparing for the Lesson:

Be in prayer as you read the following:  Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians 3:5-6.  I suggest that you read the scriptures in your version of the Bible and then read the same scriptures in another version of the Bible.

The Journey of BELIEVE 17:  Spiritual Gifts.

My Thoughts:

• When spiritual gifts are exercised without love, then we fail as a person and go against God.
• God gave us the spiritual gifts with His love.
• Back when I was an Elder with Reid Memorial United Presbyterian Church in Richmond, IN, I had an experience in which I thought my body had been injured when I said no to spending more money for another program when they were $19,000.00 in dept. The rest of the Elders voted to spend the money for the program.  This affected my whole body especially when I heard several years later that they only had 35-40 members coming to Church on a regular basis.  I was sure upset and very sad. 

What are your thoughts?  I would lovve it if you would post your thoughts in the comments section.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Please help me to put this week's key idea into practice.  Help me to always exercise my spiritual gifts with love.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Believe 16: BIBLICAL COMMUNITY

Believe 16:  BIBLICAL COMMUNITY

Objective:  Having close relationships with other Christians.

Preparing for the Lesson:

Be in prayer as you read the following:  Acts 2:44-47, Ephesians 4:4-6, Philippians 2:1-2, Acts 9:36-42, Hebrews 10:24 and Proverbs 27:6.  I suggest that you read the scriptures in your version of the Bible and then read the same scriptures in another version of the Bible.

The Journey of BELIEVE 16:  Biblical-Community.

My Thoughts:

• The threefold cord refers to the three Patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whose lives formed an unbreakable chain that continues to exist to this very day.
• This threefold bond alludes as well to the bond of love connecting souls together.
• The threefold cord is a symbol of strength.

What are your thoughts?  I would love it if you would post your thoughts in the comments section.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Please help me to put this week's key idea into practice.  I believe that with your unconditional love you have for us that You are the one who connects souls together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Believe 15: TOTAL SURRENDER

Believe 15:  TOTAL SURRENDER

Objective:  To learn how to completely surrender to God.

Preparing for the Lesson:

Be in prayer as you read the following:  Romans 12:1, Matthew 16:24-25, Luke 9:57-58, 59-60, 61-62; Luke 14:26-33, Matthew 7:13-14, Matthew 25:37-40, Matthew 22:37-39 and Hebrews 11:1-12:3. I suggest that you read the scriptures in your version of the Bible and then read the same scriptures in another version of the Bible.

The Journey of BELIEVE 15:  Total Surrender.

My thoughts:

• I have tried to acknowledge what's getting in my way.  It is easier said than done.
• I try my best to surrender my time to God.  I feel God is already working in my life.
• In God's time, I will learn to be okay with failure as I learn by failure and there are blessings from failure which I should acknowledge.
• I need God to fill me up.

What are your thoughts?  I would love it if you would post your thoughts in the comments section.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Please help me to put this week's key idea into practice.  Please help me also to imitate You in everything I do so that my example will inspire others to love and follow you and help me to completely surrender to You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Believe 3: SALVATION; Hymn - Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven (Choir)

Believe 2: PERSONAL GOD; Hymn - My Faith Looks Up to Thee - Lyrics with Piano

I PRAY THIS FOR ALL MY PAGE VIEWERS AND SUBSCRIBERS

Believe 1: GOD; Hymn - All Things Bright and Beautiful (John Rutter)