Month of May
Scripture: Job 36:26
How great is God--beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.
Lesson Objective: To understand how much we should appreciate the greatness of God.
As human beings we are always trying to define everything around us. We are constantly needing to explain all the unexplainable and discover all of the mysteries of life. What we often times fail to understand that God is not to be understood but accepted. The miracles performed in our life daily are just that--miracles. We do not always need to know the reason why, but we do need to know that God is always in control. Throughout the entire Book of Job, the three friends and Job sought to understand and explain the reasons why Job had been afflicted and only in the end did Job realize that God is God and has to explain nothing to us, but that he will provide.
Thought for today: Realize that you will never understand God, but you must love and accept all that he does in your life.
Scripture: Psalm 2: 7-8
I will declare the decree: the Lord has said to Me, 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession
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Lesson Objective: To understand that we are sons and daughters of God and because of his love he will provide for our every need.
We sometimes do not understand that God has not promised to grant us all of our wants but he will provide all of our needs. The desires of our life are sometimes clouded by our personal self gratifications which can separate us from God. In Matthew Chapter 7, Christ says ask, seek and knock and he will answer our supplications. We must first seek God and understand his desires for our lives and he will provide all that we need to carry out his purpose in our lives. .
Thought for today: Seek first the Kingdom of God. .
Scripture: Psalm 3:3
But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.
Lesson Objective: To understand that God’s love will keep us from harm and danger.
A shield is used to protect us from dangers; however, it is only good if we use it. God can serve as a shield for us if we follow his commandments. How often have we found ourselves in precarious situations only because we failed to heed the word of God? We found ourselves in financial problems because of greed or envy and thus extended ourselves beyond what we could afford. We chose to surround ourselves with individuals who did not have a love of God and ended up making bad decisions that resulted in dire consequences. Our shield of God cannot be penetrated, but only if we pickup the shield and accept God in our life daily.
Thought for today: We can never allow ourselves to drop the shield of God as we are constantly challenged to reflect the love of God in our lives.
Scripture: Psalm 5:1
To the Chief Musician. With flutes. A Psalm of David.
Give ear to my words, O Lord, Consider my meditation.
Lesson Objective: To understand that God loves us and wants to hear from us daily.
We often times measure how much someone loves us by how often they communicate with us. When a love one goes on a trip we wait by the phone for the call that they arrived safely. We even often look for a call each evening while the love one is away. It is not so much what is being said but just hearing their voice. Many times it is not even the length of the call but just the call itself. God loves us and wants to hear from us. While he knows our every need and desire, he still wants to have an open dialogue with us to express his love for us. We can show our love for God by talking to him daily.
Thought for today: Prayer is a two-way conversation and as such we should not only talk to God but also wait for him to answer before jumping up and ending the conversation with an Amen.
Scripture: Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold
Lesson Objective: To understand that God’s love for us allows us to trust him completely.
For most human beings, trust is built over time and is based upon the actions portrayed by the other person. However, trust is very fragile and easily broken and can never be completely put back together after broken. We should never take trust likely. Our word must be our bond and we should live our lives so that those around us can trust that we will always do as directed by God. Lasting relationships are built on trust. We can always depend and trust on God for he has never broken his word with us and he will never leave us or forsake us.
Thought for today: How trustworthy are you in your actions and promises?
Scripture: Psalm 27: 1
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Lesson Objective: To know that God’s love will eliminate fear in our lives.
The number one reason why we loose out on many of our blessings is fear. We are afraid to step out of our comfort zone or we are afraid of failure. It is all about our attitude in life. A failure can be seen as the end result or a failure can be seen as a success in that it lets us know what not to do the next time; which then leads to different decisions and different results. We must realize that God is our safety net and that he has saved us from a life of total failure to one of salvation because of his love for us. We can only receive that salvation by reaching out to God and his love and doing such in faith and trust that we have nothing to fear.
Thought for today: It can truly be said that we have nothing to fear but fear itself.
Scripture: Psalm 32:6
For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they shall not come near him
Lesson Objective: To understand that the love of God results in his protection from many of the pitfalls of life.
Often times in life, when things are going well we fail to recognize God in our life. We feel like we are responsible for all that is going on right at that time. When given a compliment, we take all of the glory and can often times go as far as to “to get the big head”. However, as soon as things begin to go awry, we make time in our lives to call on God for his help and salvation. The scripture above suggests that we should call on the Lord in the good times so that when the bad times come he can be a mighty fortress. Truly keeping God in the forefront of all that we do can buffer us when times are rough.
Thought for today: Know God in the good times so that you do not have to go looking for him when times are dark. Keep him close to you always.
Scripture: Psalm 107:1
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Lesson Objective: To understand that God’s mercy does not know a season but is with us always.
There are some people who fret about everything that they do. They want it to be just right. If it is not just right then they lose sleep wondering what everyone else is saying about them. I am so glad that God has mercy on me. The Bible teaches that we are not saved by our work, but by the Grace and Mercy of God. We could never ever be good enough to warrant the love of God. Even Christ said that none is good except God. While it is important that we strive daily to keep the commandments, we must also realize that when we make mistakes, that God is waiting with open arms to forgive us and wipe the slate clean. However, just as he is merciful we must also show mercy to those who may wrong us. We must demonstrate the love of God and his mercy in our daily lives with others.
Thought for today: Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy..
Scripture: Psalm 116: 1-2
I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live
Lesson Objective: To understand that the love of God is with us always even unto death.
Sometimes God seems closer than other times in our lives. It is been said that God never leaves us but we separate ourselves from God. It is times of deepest despair and hurt that we must reach out and bring God even closer to us. We can not crawl into our limited space and turn inward for any type of consolation for our perceived suffering. We should be as David and understand that God has always heard our request and while his answer may not be yes, that does not mean that he has stopped listening. God has and never will forsake his children for he said he would be with us always. I would suggest that when times get tough and you wonder where God is, just remember that God is just waiting for us to reach out to him and to seek his aid.
Thought for today: Know that God is with us always, He will never leave us or forsake us. Even asHe was with Abraham and David, He will be with each of us even until the end of our days here on earth.
Scripture: Psalm 121:1
A Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the hills-- From whence comes my help?
Lesson Objective: To understand that we should always look for God who will always provide any aid that we may need,
I can remember times is my life when I was going though a challenge and chose to go through it alone rather than reach our for help. It was interesting that I did not reach out to God as if he did not already know and that I was somewhat able to hide these challenges from God. David recognized that God was able to help him through all of his challenges to include herding the sheep from dangerous animals as a youth, fighting Goliath as a young man, and leading Israel in many battles on behalf of Saul the King as well as serving as King of a united Israel. We must be like David and recognize that God is our friend and that he loves us and he is just waiting for us to seek his help in times of need,
Thought for today: Think about the many challenges in your life and how much easier it can be if you share those challenges with God and gain his aide in your life. Go out today earnestly seeking the aid of God in your life. You will not be disappointed.
Scripture: Psalm 122:1
A Song of Ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord."
Lesson Objective: To understand that we must gather in the house of the Lord to receive his blessings.
In most neighborhoods, there is a house where most of the children gather to play. It is where they feel safe and sit on the porch or in front on the sidewalk or even in the street. In some tv commercials this was know as the “kool aid” house. Children gathered at this house not because they had to, but because they wanted to be there. God has such a place for us. The Church should be a place where we feel safe from harm and can find peace and love. Attending Church should not be a drudgery but should be a time of delight so that we can be like David and rejoice and look forward to the time when we can enter the house of God and worship and praise him for he is worthy to be praised.
Thought for today: It is up to you to prepare yourself for Church; not for the Church nor the preacher to entertain you while you are there.
Scripture: Psalm 124:1
A Song of Ascents. Of David. "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,"
Lesson Objective: To understand that everything that we have and every thing that we do is a direct result of God.
There is an old Gospel song that says “if it wasn’t for the Lord where would I be”. We must recognize that we can do nothing on our own but with God we can do all things. While we often times go to the Bible to see the handiwork of God in the lives of David, Abraham, Joshua and others, we need go no further than the mirror to see the handiwork of God in our lives. For if we are completely truthful, we can think of many times that God has interceded for us, which allows us to be where we are today. How often do we hear someone say that they fell asleep at the wheel of the car only to wake up at the split second necessary to avoid an accident? Gods grace and mercy defends us from dangers seen and unseen. We should all be like David and say, “If it had not been for the Lord who was on our side”.
Thought for today: Be grateful to God and continue to offer him blessings daily for all of the things in your life.
Scripture: Psalm 139: 1-2
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.
Lesson Objective: To understand that the love of God is shown in that he knows us for he created us in his image.
There are countless verses in the Bible that reflect that God knows us. Jeremiah 1:5 states “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. God created us to serve his purpose. He gave us certain gifts to use to build his kingdom. We must never question how God has made us for God does not make mistakes. God has already prepared us for his mission. Christ, in Matthew 10:30, says that God is in total control of our lives because he even knows the number of hairs on our head. He reassures us that God knows us and thus we should reverence God for who he is.
Thought for today: God knows us so why do we try and hide from him like Adam and Eve?
Scripture: Psalm 146:5
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God.
Lesson Objective: To understand that we are not alone and that God is our help in all circumstances.
Often times in our life we are faced with circumstances or challenges that may seem hopeless to others around us. However, this gives us the chance to witness for God. How can one smile in such adversity, others may ask? The answer is simple. We know that we are never alone. That we are just going through and that when we are unable to continue, God will pick us up and carry us. There is never a need for Christians to be pessimistic but to be eternally optimistic for our hope and aspirations are not based upon our human inabilities but on the unrestricted abilities of God to work miracles in our lives.
Thought for today: When asked why you smile; just simply respond there is nothing today that can happen that God and I can not handle.
Scripture: Psalm 150: 1-2
Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Lesson Objective: To understand that God is worthy of all the praise and worship that we can give.
In the world today, we are quick to reap praise on people. These may be athletes who have had a successful year in sports or people who have garnered wealth or those who may have made significant civic strides in the community. However, more often then not we are just as quick to become disappointed when we find that they too are human and make mistakes. We must be careful not to put individuals on pedestals but to understand that only God is worthy of our unequivocal praise. We can never be disappointed with God for he is truly worthy to be praised.
Thought for today: Be careful of heaping praise and be more careful of receiving praise.
Scripture: Proverbs 3: 5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths
Lesson Objective: To understand that we must make every effort to understand and accept the will of God in our lives.
As children we may have asked our parents for permission to go to a certain place or to stay out late and received a resounding no. At the time, we did not understand and even may have been resentful, but later in our lives we began to understand that the no was in our best interest. It was not our parents being mean or spiteful to us but out of their love and desire for the best for us. It is the same with God, he has a perfect will for us but more often then not, we fail to follow his will and hear that soft voice warning us of impending danger. We must take the time to listen to God and follow his directions even when we may not understand.
Thought for today: Let God be your GPS system. Follow his directions and you will never get lost.
Scripture: Isaiah 2:5
O house of Jacob, come and let us walk In the light of the Lord.
Lesson Objective: To understand that God is our light for every walk in life.
For most people night brings an additional anxiety to our lives. For some, there is a need for a nightlight to be on so there is never complete darkness in the house. For others it is the need to know that there is a flashlight available nearby in case the electricity goes out during the night. This even applies to driving at night. Many do not drive at night because they cannot see as clearly as in the day light or they are concerned of the car stopping and not being able to get aid. It should be the same in our lives. We should be concerned if we are walking in the dark without God in our lives. God is our light and we should never be afraid if we are allowing God to lead us.
Thought for today:
Please be reminded that God is our nightlight and our daylight.
Scripture: Isaiah 30:18
Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
Lesson Objective: To understand that God is gracious and the wait is well worth the reward.
This is a world of people wanting things immediately. We never want to wait for anything no matter how much the reward will be. We believe in instant gratification. We use the microwave because it is quicker even though the food may not taste as good. We go to the fast food restaurant and complain when we have to wait in line more than one minute. We gain weight over 5 years and want to go the gym and loose the pounds and the inches around the waistline in one month. If we do not see immediate results, we stop going to the gym and exercising. The Bible teaches us to wait on the Lord.
Thought for today: Isaiah 40: 31
But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Scripture: Isaiah 38:3
"Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Lesson Objective:
To understand that we can and should petition God in times of need and despair.
The Bible has numerous examples of God’s servants who petition him when in need. They were able to do such because they had lived a life dedicated to God and followed his commandments. God is our father and loves us and is expecting us to come to him not only when we are in need but also when we feel truly blessed. The encouragement is that God does answer prayers. What we must understand is that the answer may be yes, no or not now because I have something better for you. We must learn to accept the will of God in our lives for God’s love will always respond to our petitions.
Thought for today:
After petitioning God, stay on your knees for his answer.
Scripture: Jeremiah 18:6
"O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the Lord. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!
Lesson Objective:
To understand that God is our creator and we are formed by him to meet his purpose.
A Potter takes a lump of clay and molds it until it meets the desired results. Furthermore, each lump of clay is different and while the results may be similar they are never the same. It is also important to note that the clay does not tell the potter what it wants to be, but accepts the hands of the potter. So should it be with us. God loves us and has demonstrated that love in molding us as unique individuals with God given talents to be used to make a difference in the lives of others.
Thought for today:
Are you like clay and willing to be molded daily by God or are you stiff necked and one that tells God what you will and will not do?
Scripture: Ezekiel 37:3
And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord God, You know."
Lesson Objective: To understand that God expects us to be joyful and show others his love.
I always tell children that they should enjoy going to Church and if they are not enjoying themselves then they should tell someone. It is even more so for adults. The Christian life is not meant to be drudgery. We are to rejoice in our walk with Christ and our Christian family. We are not to be dry bones just waiting to be blown away by wind and despair. How can we bring others to Christ if they do not see the joy reflected in our lives daily. No one wants to be around people who never smile, never laugh and never show the love of God in their lives. Psalm 9:2 says I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Thought for today:
Do you have a song that you can sing that shows how much you enjoy your walk with Christ?
Scripture: Daniel 1:20
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.
Lesson Objective: To understand that with God in our life, we will excel and be even better than we could ever imagine.
The Bible has several examples where men who believed and trusted God were able to accomplish great things. Several examples are David who fought the giant Goliath with only a slingshot and rocks, Elisha who brought the dead to life and Peter who was delivered out of jail. God’s love for us is so great that if we believe in him and trust him, we will be able to accomplish much in our life that will demonstrate his blessings on our lives. As Paul says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.
Thought for today:
Never underestimate the power of God when we obey his wish.
Scripture: Daniel 3:25
"Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."
Lesson Objective: To understand that God never leaves us no matter how dim things may look.
There will be times in our lives when we must take a stance for right over wrong. More often then not, taking the stance for right will not be politically correct nor will it be consistent with the majority stance. We may often be ridiculed or even worse, risk loosing our possessions, job security, friends or even more. We must, however, understand that God is with us through it all and that he has the power to bring us through any dangers. We need to know that while he can, that does not mean that he will, but we must always choose right over wrong regardless of the circumstances.
Thought for today:
Know that God has never lost a soul when he is in charge so why start now.
Scripture: Joel 2:28
"And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions
Lesson Objective: To understand that God’s spirit and power is available to each of us if we only believe.
In Acts Chapter 2 on the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached a sermon to the multitude, who did not understand what was happening right in front of their eyes. In verses16 and 17 he recanted to them Joel 2:28-29. This same spirit that is written in Joel is the same spirit referred to by Christ when he told the disciples to wait in the upper room for the comforter and the same one referred to by Christ when he said that we should believe and be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Thought for today:
So you really believe that you have the safety of the Holy Spirit in your life. If so then how are you showing it to others?
Scripture: Matthew 3:17
And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Lesson Objective:
To understand that just as Christ came to earth to please his father, so should we seek to please God.
As a young child, we feel very good when we do things that we know makes our parents smile. It is important to us to please our parents. It is the same in our relationship with God. God so loved us that he created us in his image. He created us for his pleasure and we must seek first to please him in our actions and words. The Great commandment is to love the Lord with all our soul, heart and mind. This love is reflected only by our ability to please him daily. As we grow older we sometimes begin to seek others (peers) for our satisfaction and pleasure. We mus