Acts 5:29

 

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

Acts 5:29 ESV

Have a safe and happy 4th of July. 

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Please join me this week in praying for guidance from our loving Father. Let's ask Him what He wants us to do or say. Pray that in everything we do, we please Him. Let's also pray for friends and family who get too wrapped up in people-pleasing and deny what God would have them do. 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #PeoplePleaser #ask #gospel #calling #supplication #judged #prayer #seekGod #serve #listen #stop #SpiritualGift #SermonOnTheMount #epistles #Church #ChurchBody #Christ #Acts

Proverbs

 

When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Proverbs 16:7 ESV 

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

Proverbs 29:25 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for guidance from our loving Father. Let's ask Him what He wants us to do or say. Pray that in everything we do, we please Him. Let's also pray for friends and family who get too wrapped up in people-pleasing and deny what God would have them do. 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #PeoplePleaser #ask #gospel #calling #supplication #judged #prayer #seekGod #serve #listen #stop #SpiritualGift #SermonOnTheMount #epistles #Church #ChurchBody #Christ #Proverbs

Stop and listen

 

This last sentence of today's Bible verse, "and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord" made me wonder how difficult is it to determine what pleases the Lord? I think we know when we're doing something pleasing versus something displeasing, but I believe the real question is, "Am I doing what the Lord has called me to do?"

     There are really two different discussions here. We can behave in a way that is Christlike and that pleases Him. How we handle situations and how we treat others are situations where it's pretty easy to know right from wrong. Doing the best we can to adhere to the Ten Commandments (as elaborated on by Jesus. Read the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew Chapters 5-7), meaning: trying not to hate because to hate is to commit murder in our hearts, trying not to get caught up in lust, because that is committing adultery in our hearts, etc. Even if we stumble, we know whether or not we please Him.

     The other discussion that is more difficult to grasp is doing what God has called us to do. As the Church, we're to serve one another, love one another as ourselves, serve one another. As individuals, and this is where it gets tricky, God has given each of us certain gifts and He tasks us to do specific things for the Kingdom. In this way, we are all different parts of the same body, working separately (yet together) to make a unified body which is the Church.

     There is so much to unpack in all of this, but I can't do it here. It's all in the epistles, and I get really excited about exploring what God wants me to do for Him. This is really the basis for the book I'm writing and for what I'm developing to become my "ministry." It all comes down to listening to God. Talk to Him. Ask Him what he wants you to do for Him. Then, be still and listen. That will please Him.

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:8-10 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for guidance from our loving Father. Let's ask Him what He wants us to do or say. Pray that in everything we do, we please Him. Let's also pray for friends and family who get too wrapped up in people-pleasing and deny what God would have them do. 

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #PeoplePleaser #ask #gospel #calling #supplication #judged #prayer #seekGod #serve #listen #stop #SpiritualGift #SermonOnTheMount #epistles #Church #ChurchBody #Christ

We are His workmanship

Daily Bible Verse

For we are His workmanship, 

created in Christ Jesus for good works, 

which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

Work out your salvation

Daily Bible Verse

Philippians 2:12

Message of Christ

Daily Bible Verse

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly 

as you teach and admonish one another 

with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, 

and songs from the Spirit, 

singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Colossians 3:16 NKJV

Carry each other's burdens

Daily Bible Verse

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

Pray for a caregiver

It can happen in an instant. A fall, an ignored symptom, an accident. Just when you felt like every aspect of your life was finally in sync, the unexpected happens and a loved one is suddenly in need of care. You jump into action without even being asked. You freely and willingly sacrifice your time, sleep, and even feelings.

It's often a thankless job; one that can drain you both physically and mentally. There are times when you feel like your sense of self is completely lost and your identity is wrapped up solely in the life of the person you're caring for.

There aren't enough hours in the day. There aren't any sick days or vacation days. Holidays are double time without pay. You feel stressed, overwhelmed, and in some instances, like there's no end in sight. If you start to feel sorry for yourself, you feel guilty for having any feelings like that so you choke back the tears, and carry on.

I've been the caregiver and the one being cared for. It's not easy on either side of the coin, but we all get through. However, if you know a caregiver, there are things you can do to help.
 - give them a reprieve
 - drop them a note that lets them know someone sees how hard they work and that it's appreciated
 - offer to run some of the errands, or to take the person to doctors' visits
 - let them know that you're there for them if they need to vent, or a shoulder to cry on.
 - pray for them. There's a chance that they are so busy and so drained, that they don't take the time to pray for themselves. Pray that they receive strength, encouragement, hope.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 

1 Peter 5:7

Final Exhortations

Watch, stand fast in the faith, 

be brave, 

be strong. 

Let all that you do be done with love.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NKJV

This Bible verse is being translated into French via google translator. I have no way of knowing if it translates accurately.

Veillez, restez ferme dans la foi, soyez courageux, soyez forts. Laissez tout ce que vous faites se faire avec amour.

I am nothing without love

And though I have the gift of prophecy, 

and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, 

and though I have all faith, 

so that I could remove mountains, 

but have not love, 

I am nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:2 (NKJV)

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I want to try something different, at least for a few days. Since my audience here is worldwide (hallelujah!) I'm going to use google translator to translate the daily bible verse into a different language each day. (I have no way of knowing if it translates accurately.) Today is Ukrainian:

Я нічого без любові
І хоч у мене є дар пророцтва, і я розумію всі таємниці та всі знання, і хоч у мене є всяка віра, щоб я міг усунути гори, але не мав любові, я ніщо.

The hard truth

This is one those hard truths that I spoke of earlier...{{{deep breath}}}
The only way to get to Heaven is to declare Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior.
Repent your sins, ask for His divine grace and mercy.

That's it. It's that simple.

Paul states it clearly and simply here (me paraphrasing Ephesians 2:8-9):

It is through God's grace you are saved because of your faith in Jesus. It is absolutely nothing that you do or have done. It is a gift from God. You can't take credit for it. No matter what good works you do, or how good of a person you are, if you do not accept this gift from God, you will not see Him in Heaven.

Jesus tells us that we need to “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able." Luke 13:24
This is also found in Matthew: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus also tells us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6

This biblical truth is hard because we as humans like to have control. We like to think that we can make the Bible say what we want it to say, that it means something different to each person, that things have changed since it was written and that we somehow have the privilege of tweaking it so that "sins" back then are "okay" nowadays as long as we're basically "good". But no. That's not how it works. I've struggled with a lot of misinformation that I was taught as a child. Discovering what the Bible really is saying has been a difficult road for me, but it's all finally sinking in and coming together and I've also had to accept that there are some things that I just am not meant to understand; that I can't possibly comprehend some of this stuff with my earthly knowledge and experiences. Some things we just have to accept by faith, knowing that God is sovereign.

If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, please reach out to your Pastor or an Elder in your church. If you don't attend church, find a believer and/or let me know. (Same if you just have questions.)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, 

and that not of yourselves; 

it is the gift of God, not of works, 

lest anyone should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV

My contact information:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

We are the Church

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19-22 ESV

Pray for the health of The Church

When I felt compelled to make this our constant prayer for the coming week, I thought it was for the health and growth of individual churches. My husband and I spent several months visiting (nearly) all of the area churches. We were looking for a good fit, but we didn't know what that looked like. We just went into each church with an open mind and an open heart. Our beliefs dictated a lot of our decision but unknowingly, God was directing us to a healthy church. Not to take anything away from the other churches because, like I said, we didn't know what we were looking for. We were also curious as to how other denominations did things, their beliefs, etc. Our community is definitely rich in churches; there aren't enough people in town to fill all of them.
As I was researching the subject for this week's topic of prayer, what I found could be applied to The Church, not just individual churches. "The Church" as a whole is in just as much trouble as the churches are. We are living in an ungodly world. This country was founded on Christian values and those values are in jeopardy.
So, what makes a healthy church?
A belief in what the Bible actually says; not a loose interpretation invented to give everyone a warm, fuzzy feeling. Our Bible is very straightforward. "You need to do this." "Don't do that." "These are the consequences."
A strong leadership structure - not just a Pastor. There need to be others to help and advise, Elders or Deacons or Shepherds. Just as Jethro suggested to Moses, there need to be many levels of responsibility. Not all of the burden can fall on one man. Our government is based on this model, businesses, families, so it only makes sense that our churches should follow the same model.
A healthy church should serve. We should serve each other, our communities, our world. This can be at any level. Each of us is called to serve. When we serve in unity, we can accomplish great deeds; individually, or in masse, we show the image of God when we serve.

These are the main attributes (that I was able to research) of a healthy church, whether it be a small country church or The Church. It doesn't matter if you have a congregation of ten or of hundreds or thousands, what matters is that you are doing what a church should do.

The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Submit to God, Resist the Devil

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:1-5

Please join our prayer group as we spend the week praying for the health and growth of The Church. Please ask God for guidance as to how to be Christ-like and an image bearer. Ask for guidance as to what you can do to help the Church be healthy. Listen for God's direction. He answers all prayers.

I'll post a daily reminder to pray on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Honor God with your body

Jesus paid the ultimate price for us. We need to remember that our bodies are temples which house the Holy Spirit. If we keep that in mind and take care of our bodies and our Spirit, think how well we will shine as those made in His image!

For you were bought at a price; 

therefore glorify God in your body 

and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1 Corinthians 6:20 NKJV

Our Citizenship in Heaven

Daily Bible Verse

Philippians 3:17-21 (NIV)

Join together in following my example, 

brothers and sisters, 

and just as you have us as a model, 

keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 

For, as I have often told you before and 

now tell you again even with tears, 

many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 

Their destiny is destruction, 

their god is their stomach, and 

their glory is in their shame. 

Their mind is set on earthly things. 

But our citizenship is in heaven. 

And we eagerly await a Savior from there, 

the Lord Jesus Christ, who, 

by the power that enables Him to bring 

everything under his control, 

will transform our lowly bodies 

so that they will be like His glorious body.

Be Patient and Preserving

Daily Bible Verse

NKJV

James 5:7-8 (NIV)

Patience in Suffering

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, 

until the Lord’s coming. 

See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, 

patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 

You too, be patient and stand firm, 

because the Lord’s coming is near.

Are you a child of God?

Daily Bible Verse 1 John 3:1-2 (NIV)

The Children of God

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, 

that we should be called children of God! 

And that is what we are! 

The reason the world does not know us is that

it did not know Him. 

Dear friends, now we are children of God, 

and what we will be has not yet been made known. 

But we know that when Christ appears, 

we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.